Chapter Sixty: He Was the One Who Always Felt Wronged

Yu Hualiang finally understood: the old man had come to him with a pitiful act, and it was poor Ji Yuzhe he truly felt sorry for.

This whole affair was never Ji Yuzhe’s fault to begin with, and the boy had already been frightened out of his wits by his master—he did have a weak heart, after all!

Yu Hualiang hurried to reassure them, “Please don’t worry, His Highness the Seventh Prince won’t hold Ji Yuzhe accountable.”

The old master painter slowed his movements, looking at him with bright, intense eyes. “How can you say that, Young Painter Yu? He caused you this harm. How could the Seventh Prince possibly let it go?”

Yu Hualiang laid his cards on the table. “Rest assured, I said it was my own carelessness; it has nothing to do with Ji Yuzhe or the Qionglin Painters’ Guild.”

The old master frowned. “How can that be? How could the Qionglin Guild ever make peace with itself after this?”

Yu Hualiang replied, “The Yuhua Painters’ Society and the Qionglin Guild have always had good relations. I can’t be the one to ruin that bond.”

The old master could tell Yu Hualiang was offering him a way out. With a sigh, he said, “Indeed… Young Painter Yu, you are thoughtful beyond your years.”

Yu Hualiang reiterated, “Let today’s incident be as if it never happened. The injury was my own carelessness.”

The old master bowed deeply, startling Yu Hualiang. The old man said, “I have witnessed your generosity and courage, Young Painter. Please do not blame this old man… I am already advanced in age, and in a few days I may well join my ancestors. I do not wish to see the Qionglin Guild ruined by my own hands.”

Hearing this, Yu Hualiang realized how difficult things were for the old man. They exchanged only a few more words before Ji Yuzhe came to support his master away.

Wang Ruosheng entered and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” Yu Hualiang looked up, “Take me to see Ye Hao.”

Wang Ruosheng replied, “He woke earlier than you. Afraid to disturb your rest, I told him to wait in his room.”

Yu Hualiang nodded, and upon entering, saw Ye Hao sitting at the bedside, looking troubled.

As soon as Yu Hualiang entered, Ye Hao’s expression eased a bit. Before Yu Hualiang could speak, Ye Hao dropped to his knees and said, “I deserve death for failing to protect you, Master Yu.”

Yu Hualiang hurried to help him up, worried. “You’re injured yourself, don’t move around. I should be thanking you for saving my life. If you hadn’t shielded me from that blow… I’d probably be a corpse now.”

Ye Hao replied, “It is my duty to protect you, Master Yu.”

“That’s enough, don’t be so formal. Doctor Wang, we’re all friends here—no need for such courtesy. Speak freely.”

After a pause, Ye Hao looked at Yu Hualiang, frowning. “There’s something I’d like to ask, Master Yu.”

“Ask whatever you wish.”

“Why did you deliberately fall?”

Yu Hualiang’s heart skipped a beat, his scalp prickling as a chill spread through him.

Wang Ruosheng, too, looked at Yu Hualiang with a scrutinizing gaze.

Before Yu Hualiang could answer, Ye Hao asked another question.

“Where did you go afterward?”

Ye Hao stared intently at him. Yu Hualiang was left speechless, but Wang Ruosheng intervened, “Master Yu, it’s time to change your dressing. Come with me.”

As they stepped outside, Yu Hualiang still felt that numbness lingering in his body. Wang Ruosheng lowered his voice. “Is it as he says? Where did you go?”

After a moment’s silence, Yu Hualiang replied, “Forgive me—I don’t wish to speak of it.”

“Hey!” Wang Ruosheng called after him, troubled by his retreating figure.

Just then, Ji Yuzhe approached, looking radiant, supported by Ji Yuyun.

Wang Ruosheng asked, “What happened, Brother Ji?”

Ji Yuzhe sighed, “Master punished me with ten strokes of the ruler.”

Wang Ruosheng gently took his hand, “It’s a bit swollen. I have some ointment for that.”

Ji Yuzhe grinned, withdrawing his hand, “That’s excellent. My brother took nine strokes for me.”

Wang Ruosheng glanced at Ji Yuyun, who seemed perfectly unbothered. So, it turned out Ji Yuzhe had only been struck once, and his hand was already swollen.

Ever the considerate younger brother, Ji Yuyun said, “It’s the least I could do for my elder brother.”

“Silly brother, you mustn’t do that again. What kind of elder brother is always protected by his younger brother?”

“Brother… when I was little, you protected me. Now that I’ve grown, it’s my turn to protect you.”

Ji Yuzhe sighed. He remembered the first time he had an attack—it was when he was seven, and Yuyun was five.

Back then, Yuyun was small and thin, often bullied by other children from official families. Too young to understand, he’d never told their parents, only cried to his closest brother.

Ji Yuzhe had been a prodigy in martial arts, a head taller than Yuyun, always standing out among the crowd.

When his brother was bullied, Ji Yuzhe couldn’t tolerate it; he demanded an apology from the ringleader. Who would have thought that the next day, the boy brought along a dozen others of similar size to pick a fight?

To protect Yuyun, Ji Yuzhe took several kicks and, in front of his brother, suffered his first attack.

Yuyun would never forget the look of pain and plea for help in his brother’s eyes that day.

Afterward, he dedicated himself to martial training, and over the years, grew to be even taller than Ji Yuzhe.

Ji Yuzhe himself didn’t dwell on that incident. As the saying went, what is meant to happen will happen. It just so happened that it was then. But Yuyun always blamed himself, thinking that if he hadn’t spoken up, Ji Yuzhe wouldn’t have fought, and wouldn’t have fallen ill.

He felt that he had ruined his brother’s chance to practice martial arts, even doomed him to die before thirty…

Ji Yuzhe comforted him, “Don’t worry, Yuyun. With my fate tied to Doctor Wang, I believe I’ll be cured.”

Wang Ruosheng, flattered, smiled, “It is my duty and honor.”

Ji Yuyun remained stoic, “We must rely on your esteemed father.”

Wang Ruosheng smiled modestly, “I’ve been researching such illnesses myself. In time, I believe I can cure you.”

Ji Yuzhe laughed, “Doctor Wang, you are most considerate. That day, Doctor Yue from the palace was supposed to join us, but schedules never match. Why not gather for drinks today?”

“Brother, you shouldn’t drink,” Ji Yuyun reminded.

Wang Ruosheng glanced at Yu Hualiang’s room and smiled, “Brother Ji is right. Let’s invite Master Yu as well and enjoy tea together.”

Yu Hualiang sipped his tea, unmoved by their banter. Ye Hao, now recovering, began to keep a close eye on him, making Yu Hualiang feel like a prisoner. Ji Yuzhe noticed and invited Ye Hao, “Brother Ye, don’t just stand there. We’re all friends; please join us.”

Ye Hao, as always, replied, “I dare not drink with the three of you.”

Yu Hualiang’s mind wandered back to what Cao Zhiling had said—“We’ll speak later.” Did that mean he would seek him out again? And now, with Ye Hao catching his slip, it would be hard to shake him off. He’d have to wait until he was back at the Seventh Prince’s residence.

Lost in thought, Yu Hualiang set down his teacup. “My friends, I’m a bit tired. I’ll rest now—please, carry on.”

Knowing he was injured, no one stopped him. But as soon as he entered his room, Ye Hao followed.

Yu Hualiang asked, “Your room is next door. I’m going to rest. Why are you following me?”

Ye Hao glanced at him, “The Fourth Prince ordered me to stay by your side for your safety.”

Yu Hualiang sighed, “You’ve done more than enough. I’m giving you leave—go get some sleep.”

But Ye Hao was immovable, and Yu Hualiang, seeing he couldn’t get rid of him, simply lay down to sleep, ignoring him.

Still, the idea of someone standing in the room while he slept was thoroughly unsettling.

He got up, turning to see Ye Hao standing rigidly by the door. “Hey! Stop standing there. Go to sleep.”

Ye Hao replied, “To ensure your safety…”

“All right, you win. Come sleep on the bed.”

Ye Hao frowned slightly, “How could I share a bed with you, Master Yu…”

“Do you want to? Fine, I’ll sleep on the floor,” Yu Hualiang joked.

Ye Hao took him seriously, “No, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Uh… I was joking, man. Stop it. Come on, the bed’s big enough for both of us.”

Ye Hao politely declined, dutifully making a bed on the floor and lying down as still as a board.

Yu Hualiang wondered, were people in ancient times always this disciplined when they slept?

But seeing Ye Hao finally lying down, Yu Hualiang relaxed and soon drifted off. The next morning, he woke to find the bedding on the floor had already been neatly packed away.

At last, Yu Hualiang was able to change back into his own blue robe. Staring into the bronze mirror, he could think of no words grand enough to praise his own appearance.

Words like “charming” and “graceful” were mere understatements, if anything.

Why was he so happy today? Perhaps because it was his last day at the Qionglin Guild—he’d soon return to the Seventh Prince’s residence.

He would no longer need Ye Hao’s constant watch, and would finally be free of any connection to the Seventh Prince.

Ye Hao brought him water to wash, watching as Yu Hualiang dressed, fumbling with his sash—it seemed he must have always had someone to dress him before.

Yu Hualiang looked up. “What is it?” he asked.

Ye Hao pointed, “Your sash…”

Yu Hualiang looked at the two trailing ends in his hand. “What about it?”

Unable to explain, Ye Hao gently took the sash from him, undid it, and tied it properly.

Yu Hualiang looked down and smiled, “So that’s how it’s done. I thought it worked the other way.”

As Ye Hao gathered it together, he noticed how slender Yu Hualiang’s waist was—most people would only need two loops, but for him, it took three.

Ye Hao finished the knot with careful attention, then looked up suddenly, finding Yu Hualiang watching him the whole time.

His heart thudded wildly as if startled by something.

Yu Hualiang wondered why he had frozen.

“Young Master!” The Fourth Prince burst in, snapping Ye Hao out of his daze.

Yu Hualiang bowed, “Long live the Fourth Prince.”

“No need for that. You look well today, Young Master.” As he spoke, the prince deliberately drew closer, pressing on Yu Hualiang’s injured arm.

Yu Hualiang cried out in pain. Realizing something was wrong, the prince rolled up his sleeve to inspect the injury.

All traces of his usual rakishness vanished as the prince’s face turned grave. “How did this happen?”

Yu Hualiang explained, “I fell from a tree by accident.”

“A fall?” The prince’s brow furrowed. Suddenly, he turned and kicked Ye Hao hard, sending him sprawling and coughing up blood.

“Useless dog! I’ve wasted my care on you—can’t even handle a trivial matter like this!”