Pei Ruoqing had a natural disposition to attract disaster. He had taken up almost two-thirds of all the good and bad things along the way.
The research was still going on and did not stop because of this accident. Shi Yunshu could not abandon the students and only care about his own matters. Hence, after Qi Xiu Zhu's condition stabilized, he brought Pei Ruoqing back to his residence.
In the ward, Qi Xiuzhu was still unconscious. Pei Yuanshao stood at the door and listened to the doctor's report on Qi Xiuzhu's condition." He fainted because he was overworked and had a nervous breakdown.”
"Why would he have a nervous breakdown?" Pei Yuan Shao realized that his voice was a little hoarse. He turned around and looked at the person lying quietly on the hospital bed, frowning.
"We found a large amount of sleeping pills in his body. It should be the result of long-term consumption. Moreover, the medicine he took was high-purity. Ordinary sleeping pills have no effect on him.”The doctor paused for a moment before saying earnestly," According to his body's functions, if he continues to use it like this, he can only last for three to five years at most…"
Pei Yuan Shao did not pay attention to what the doctor said after that. It was as if fireworks had exploded in his mind, causing him to panic. He walked to the bed and looked down at the person on the bed coldly. He tried his best to match him with the elegant and beautiful brother in his memory, but sadly, he could not find the shadow in his heart.
The sunken jaw, the gray sideburns, the weathered face…No matter how one looked at it, he was completely different from the person from sixteen years ago. Pei Yuan Shao's heart twitched, the resentment and hatred in his heart couldn't cover his current heartache.
You can live for three to five years. Qi Xiuzhu, you're doing very well!
His gaze turned to the two bottles of medicine at the head of the bed. They had fallen out of his clothes when he was changing his clothes. The words on the label had faded a little. It was obvious that they had been used for many years.
After so many years, did he have to rely on medicine to sleep?
When Qi Xiu Zhu woke up, he saw Pei Yuan Shao's face that was as black as the bottom of a pot. He silently glanced at him and then turned his head.
Pei Yuan Shao held a bowl of porridge and said in a tough tone," Do you want to eat something, or should I get the doctor to give you a nutrition shot?”
Qi Xiu Zhu simply closed his eyes and ignored him. Pei Yuan Shao felt that his forbearance was useless against him, and he had nowhere to vent the anger in his heart. He put down the bowl with a bang and pressed the call bell at the bedside. Qi Xiuzhu finally opened his eyes and looked at him with a dark gaze.
After a while, a nurse walked in." May I know what you need?"”
"The patient refuses to eat. Can you give him a nutrient injection?”Pei Yuan Shao suppressed the inexplicable frustration in his heart and said to the nurse.
The nurse glanced at Qi Xiuzhu and said tactfully," It's best if the patient can eat on his own. After all, nutrition injections aren't omnipotent. Eating something can increase the movement of the intestines and stomach and mobilize the body's functions.”
"Can he eat in this state?”Pei Yuan Shao mocked, his tone extremely aggressive.
The young nurse was frightened by him and shut her mouth in embarrassment. Pei Yuan Shao also realized that his tone was too extreme and rubbed his eyebrows." Sorry…"
"There's no need to trouble yourself. I'll eat." Qi Xiu Zhu's voice successfully interrupted Pei Yuan Shao's words.
The nurse left. Qi Xiuzhu struggled to get up and tried several times before he could lean against the headboard. Pei Yuanshao pursed his lips and looked at him. He lifted his leg but still stood still.
Qi Xiu Zhu reached for the bowl on the bedside table. Because he had used too much strength, his forehead was covered in sweat. Seeing his weak appearance, Pei Yuan Shao's heart was extremely bitter.
Seeing that he was about to reach the edge of the bowl, Pei Yuan Shao seemed to have thought of something and snatched it away." It's already cold. Don't eat it. I'll buy another one."”
"Hand it over." His tone was not heavy, and it was even obvious that he was powerless. Pei Yuan Shao felt as if he had returned to many years ago. Every time he made a mistake, his adopted brother would make him obediently lower his head with just a glance and two words that were neither too light nor too heavy.
Qi Xiu Zhu was not only his senior brother, but also his adopted elder brother. Before he became his disciple, the one who cared about him the most was not his father Pei Yansong, but his elder brother who was only two years older than him.
Qi Shuai went to Ming Hua and was a rough and wild man, but he hoped that his child would be a scholar. Therefore, when Qi Xiu Zhu was born, he was directly thrown to his sworn brother Pei Yansong. Over time, Qi Xiu Zhu became a member of the Pei family. Later on, when he was in his teens, he became Shi Yanjie's disciple. Qi Xiu Zhu paved the way for Pei Yuan Shao and made him his junior brother. It could be said that the relationship between the two of them had long surpassed that of a biological brother.
If not for the estrangement caused by the great changes in the past sixteen years, they would be one of the closest people to each other.
Hearing Qi Xiu Zhu's commanding tone, Pei Yuan Shao stiffened for a moment before mocking," Torturing yourself for who? She made herself look like a rag without anyone looking at her. Was she very capable?”
"Kneel down and apologize!" As soon as he finished speaking, the two of them were stunned at the same time because this scene was extremely familiar.
Qi Xiuzhu's hands that were placed by his side involuntarily tightened. After a long while, he lowered his eyes." Forget it, I'm not qualified to…"
Before he could finish speaking, an "I'm sorry" sounded in his ear. When he looked up again, the person was already kneeling in front of him.
Qi Xiuzhu sighed." Is there any benefit in deliberately provoking me?”
"I don't want to see you so lifeless.”Pei Yuan Shao looked at him with a serious expression.
Qi Xiuzhu's heart trembled and he said with difficulty," Didn't you want me to eat? Get up and make a new one."
Pei Yuan Shao went downstairs again to buy a set of food. He set up the dining table on the bed for him and watched him finish the food at an extremely slow speed. Pei Yuan Shao went forward to clean up the cutlery and whispered," Come back with me. My brother and father have been waiting for you."”
Qi Xiu Zhu was silent for a while, then wiped his mouth and hands with the handkerchief Pei Yuan Shao handed him." I'll go back with Xiao Ruo and the others.”
Pei Yuan Shao looked at him suspiciously. Qi Xiu Zhu was angered by his gaze and laughed. He threw the handkerchief at his face and said with a restrained expression," What should come will come. This time, I have no intention of leaving."”
"It's impossible for you to leave even if you want to, unless you want Dad and Brother to break your legs.”Pei Yuan Shao expressionlessly said a childish and threatening sentence.
Qi Xiu Zhu's breathing stopped. He felt that if he continued to chat with this bastard, he would die of anger.
When Pei Yuan Shao walked out of the room, the corners of his mouth curled up imperceptibly. So what if he could live for three to five years? Who knew what would happen in the future?
Pei Yuan Shao quickly dealt with the hostage situation and found some time to have a secret discussion with Shi Yunshu and Pei Ruoqing. On the third day, Pei Yuan Shao took the earliest flight back while Qi Xiu Zhu stayed behind.
After Qi Xiu Zhu's identity was exposed, Pei Ruoqing did not know how to get along with him. Did he hate her? He did not know.
His grandfather died because of him, and his grandmother and mother died because of him. It seemed impossible for him to forgive them now. However, his hatred was not that intense. After all, he had not been born when the incident happened, so he did not have a direct feeling of those tragic things.
Qi Xiu Zhu seemed to have noticed Pei Ruoqing's distance from him. He smiled and did not say anything. He was as thoughtful and meticulous as usual, but he was not only attentive to Pei Ruoqing. He would hand a bottle of water to the students at the right time, help them up when they accidentally stepped on the air, help them collect their items when they lost them, and answer their questions with a smile when they were confused about the content of their studies...
Silently, everyone was used to his existence. Pei Ruoqing did not know how he felt. He had once guessed what kind of person Qi Xiu Zhu was. He thought that someone who could use his brother and disregard the friendship of his sect was a selfish person, even if he was not a ruthless person.
However, everything he saw and felt was the complete opposite of his original guess.
Five days later, they arrived at the last place of study, Yunjing.
Starting from Nanjing and ending at Yunjing, it was equivalent to going from east to west and then from west to east. The study tour route traversed the entire country.
It was already past nine o'clock at night when the group arrived in the capital. Pei Ruoqing and Shi Yunshu did not go home. Instead, they stayed in a hotel as arranged by the research company. Like before, Qi Xiuzhu stayed in the same hotel as them.
The group of people had been on the train since eight o'clock in the morning. They had only eaten some simple food on the train to fill their stomachs. By now, they were already starving. Each and every lively youth had turned into a dangling balloon, unable to muster any strength.
Shi Yunshu and Yi Shujue were busy greeting the students to queue up for food in the hotel cafeteria and could not take care of Pei Ruoqing.
Pei Ruoqing did not join the crowd but stayed in the corridor. Before Shi Yunshu went in, he said that he would bring him a portion, so he did not join in the fun.
Qi Xiu Zhu was also left behind. Pei Ruoqing hesitated for a moment, but she still wanted to ask him about his plans. She had already arrived in the capital. It was only a matter of time before she returned to the Shi family.
However, when he turned around, he saw Qi Xiu Zhu's pale face and sweat all over his head. Pei Ruoqing jumped in shock and could not help but ask," What's wrong?”
"I'm fine. My stomach hurts a little." Qi Xiu Zhu leaned slightly against the wall, his expression normal. If it weren't for the beads of sweat on his forehead and his pale face, no one would have noticed anything unusual.
Pei Ruoqing reached out to support him." I'll send you to the hospital.”
"No need, just send me back to my room." Ye Xiu Zhu frowned and whispered.
Pei Ruoqing only realized that he couldn't use any strength after she helped him take two steps. She didn't know how long this situation lasted before it hurt him to this extent.
Pei Ruoqing leaned over to give him some support. Anger rose in her heart for no reason." How long have you been in this situation?”
Hearing his questioning tone, Qi Xiuzhu was stunned for a moment and chuckled softly." Your personality is not like your father at all.”
Pei Ruoqing really wanted to curse. Those who could still laugh at such a time were probably not normal people. The corners of his mouth twitched and he said unhappily," I've never seen someone as patient as you.”
"There is. Your dad is much more tolerant than me.”Pei Ruoqing wondered if there was something wrong with this person.
It was a very strange phenomenon. Usually, when you interacted with Qi Xiu Zhu, it was difficult to treat him as an elder. No matter what age group he interacted with, he could be at ease. Such a person was actually more suitable to be an official than his father.
In just a few words, the two of them arrived at the room. Pei Ruoqing helped him to the bed and took a pillow for him to lean against the headboard." Take a rest first. I'll go boil some hot water. Tell me what you want to eat, I'll get my brother to bring it up.”
Qi Xiuzhu's eyelashes fluttered as he watched him busy himself. His voice was low as he murmured," You should have been my child…" He paused for a moment and smiled bitterly." Fortunately, you're not my child."”
It is difficult to atone for one's sins, and how can one be worthy of the joy of human relations?
Pei Ruoqing did not hear what he said clearly. As she busied herself, she tried to find a topic to talk about." Your research journey will end in a few days. What are your plans?”
"Did your dad ask you to ask?" Qi Xiu Zhu asked as the pain in his stomach eased a little.
"My dad wants to know, and so do I.”The kettle boiled water very quickly, and it didn't take long for the water to be ready. Pei Ruoqing poured half a cup of hot water and walked to the bed. She reached out and handed it to him. The mist blurred his gradually darkening eyes." You have to give an explanation for the truth of the past.”
Qi Xiuzhu did not expect his words to be so straightforward. It was so straightforward that there was no way to escape. The bitterness in his heart surged up, but he still had a slight smile on his face." Your straightforward personality is really like your mother.”
Pei Ruoqing frowned. He did not know why he was unwilling to hear about his mother from others. In his previous life, he had disliked Song Yuyan from the start because his father had married a new lover less than two years after his mother's death. Even his father had become an eyesore. Although many things changed gradually, his initial feelings remained the same.
Qi Xiuzhu also noticed the change in his mood. He changed the topic without batting an eyelid." Your grandfather…How has he been all these years?”
Pei Ruoqing sent a message to Shi Yunshu. When she looked up, she heard his question. He put down his phone and said casually," Grandma passed away. My father left home for more than ten years and could not return. Grandpa is the only one left in the huge Pei family. What do you think of him?”
The extremely calm description was like a sharp knife stabbing into the heart, instantly making people bleed.
Qi Xiuzhu's heart ached, and the smile on his face could no longer be maintained. His expression was a little absent-minded, as if he had returned to the small courtyard of the Pei family many years ago. The person who returned late was full of fatigue, but his figure was still stern and inviolable. However, when he saw the two little children waiting at the door, he quickly hid his hardships and his eyes were filled with gratification and satisfaction.
He held the older child's hand in his left hand and the smaller dumpling in his right hand as he walked towards the brightly lit courtyard.
"Ah Shao is messing around with brother again. Don't you know that it's cold at night?”The child on his right arm pouted in protest." It was Brother Ah Xiu who pulled me out. He said he wanted to wait for Daddy to come back.”
He raised his hand and rubbed the child's head on his left, laughing heartily." Xiu 'er is still filial.”
Parents are still alive, don't travel far! He had lost his mother when he was born, and his father was a typical war maniac. All his delicateness and gentleness were learned from the Pei family. In the end, he had caused the family he cherished to be shattered, and he had been away from home for 16 years. How could he be unfilial?
Qi Xiu Zhu woke up from his memories, and the bitterness in his heart became even more wanton. He bowed slightly, and his breathing became rapid. His eyes were dry and unbearable, but he could no longer shed a single tear.
Her tears had already dried up when she learned that her teacher had committed suicide and her foster mother had passed away in a car accident. And what right did he have to cry? No matter how much he cried, no matter how regretful and desperate he was, he could not exchange for two lives.
Pei Ruoqing looked at his pained expression, but she did not feel much pleasure from revenge. Instead, she felt a secret heartache." I'm sorry. I shouldn't have exposed your scar!”
"I deserve it." Qi Xiu Zhu gritted his teeth. When he looked up again, he was already sweating profusely.
Pei Ruoqing did not know what to say. Her words of comfort were too pretentious. She could not harden her heart to speak sarcastically, so she could only remain silent.
Not long after, Shi Yunshu knocked on the door with two lunch boxes. The strange silence in the room made him frown, but he didn't ask any more questions. He neatly set the chopsticks." I brought you a bowl of scallop porridge. It's good for your stomach. Eat it while it's hot."”
Qi Xiu Zhu did not want to reject his good intentions and helped Pei Ruoqing's hand out of the bed. The porridge was very fresh, but every time he ate a mouthful, it was as if there was a hand in his stomach throwing the food he had eaten out. He suppressed his nausea and drank the entire bowl bit by bit.
Shi Yunshu was relieved when he saw that he had eaten." It's very late. You should rest early!”After a pause, he continued," Uncle Master Pei said that if you can't sleep, you can call him. He can 'chat' with you for free.”
Pei Ruoqing's mouth twitched. Why did he have a feeling that his father had been replaced?
Qi Xiu Zhu's eyes flashed, and then he broke into laughter. Pei Yuan Shao had taken away his remaining two bottles of sleeping pills when he left, and he had not had a good sleep these few days. However, he had no choice but to not eat. When people were extremely hungry, they would sleep to preserve energy and maintain their life. However, he did not expect that something would happen when he was hungry.
He sighed slightly. Sixteen years of grudges couldn't be removed easily. Pei Yuan Shao was treating him like this because he was his older brother. It had nothing to do with forgiveness!
There was a knot in his heart that could only be resolved with time and blood!
At this moment, Pei Ruoqing seemed to have thought of something and slowly interjected," Oh, right. Teacher also said that he has tolerated you for a long time. If you dare to run away again, he doesn't mind kidnapping you personally.”
Shi Yunshu was speechless.
Qi Xiuzhu was speechless.
Pei Yuan Shao was nothing, this was the ancestor! What Pei Ruoqing did not tell them was that Shi Yihong's words were even more overbearing. He didn't know to come back, and he was waiting for me to invite him? Don't blame me for embarrassing him!
For so long, Shi Yihong had been holding back his anger. He knew that Qi Xiuzhu was back, but he did not contact him through any means.
The study was still going on. For Shi Yunshu and Pei Ruoqing, who were already familiar with the capital, there was nothing much to see.
Qi Xiu Zhu, on the other hand, was carefully observing his surroundings like the other students. He walked to a Camphor tree and looked at its lush leaves with his hands behind his back." When I came here with your dad and the others, this tree had just been transplanted. At that time, it was still a small sapling. I didn't expect it to grow so tall now."”
"Trees will grow taller, and people will change. I've also grown to 16 years old. In a few days, it will be my birthday, my real birthday-the tenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.”Pei Ruoqing expressionlessly threw away this hellish day for Qi Xiuzhu.
On the tenth day of July, his teacher jumped down from a building in the city center. On the tenth of July, his foster mother died in a car accident. On the tenth of July, the child of his brother and his lover was born…
Qi Xiu Zhu's expression was as gentle and calm as ever. However, only he knew that he was about to lose his balance. Any random child would be able to make him fall to the ground with a finger. The sunlight above his head was as hot as fire, but he felt cold all over his body, cold that seeped into his bones.
Pei Ruoqing lowered her eyes. Uncle-Master…this is the last time I'll make you unhappy. From now on, our grudges are even!
Although there were many accidents along the way, it did not affect everyone's mood at all. The palaces were endless, and along the way, there were pavilions and stone lion statues.
Yi He stood at the entrance of a hall, looking at the two pillars on both sides. His stoic face revealed a hint of nostalgia.
"Teacher, how do you read the words on the pillar? I don't understand the seal script." A girl walked to Yi He's side and asked with a puzzled expression.
Yi He deliberately moved the muscles on his face, trying to put on a smiling expression, but in the end, it was very stiff and funny. The girl couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yi He's face immediately turned red.
Pei Ruoqing noticed the situation here and felt a little amused. He did not know how Teacher Yi, with his 'shy' personality, could teach others. He seemed to be very bad at communicating with strangers.
He walked over and smiled to help him out." Teacher, tell us about this couplet.”
Yi He finally gave up adjusting his facial expression and said in a flat voice," The two pillars beside this palace are called Hua Biao, also known as Wang Zhu. The words carved on them are called couplets. On it was written,'Only one person can rule the world; It meant that one had to govern the country personally and not just be worshipped by the world.”
Yi Shujue walked over and took over his words at the right time." This sentence was originally said by Zhang Yungu, a famous minister of the Tang Dynasty. It was slightly changed by Yongzheng to be inscribed in Yangxin Hall. This couplet reflected Yongzheng's desire to concentrate power during the period when he was in power behind the curtain.”
"There are many things in this palace complex that are worth studying and learning. There might be thousands of couplets like this. Everyone can take note of it when they visit. We can study together when we discuss it.”Shi Yunshu, who had been attracted over, also said with a smile.
Qi Xiuzhu stood behind the crowd with his hands behind his back. His gaze was gentle, as if he was looking at other people and things through them.
On the fifth and final day of their studies, Shi Yunshu brought everyone to Yun Jing University. The last lecture would be held in the Yun University auditorium. As the host, Shi Yunshu naturally arranged the itinerary.
The group of young people looked at the towering gate of Yunjing University with great excitement. It was a top university in the country, the cradle of culture, and the palace that countless students dreamed of. No matter which one it was, it was enough to touch the hearts of young men and women who were filled with dreams.
However, Qi Xiuzhu looked at the tall school gate and couldn't move. He asked the person beside him with difficulty," Who's the speaker of today's lecture?”
Shi Yunshu smiled lightly." Haven't you already guessed it?”
In Yunjing University, no one was more qualified than Shi Yihong to study traditional Chinese culture.
Qi Xiu Zhu's palms were covered in sweat. He lowered his eyes to hide the panic in them. The two people he was most afraid of when he returned were his senior brother Shi Yihong and his foster father Pei Yansong. One of them lost his father and sister because of him, and the other lost his wife because of him and was almost plotted against by him. No matter how many reasons he had to back then, he could not remain calm.
"Martial Uncle, let's go. The lecture is about to start.”
Qi Xiu Zhu sat at the back of the crowd while Pei Ruoqing deliberately chose a seat next to him. Pei Ruoqing looked at Shi Yihong, who was dressed in a Tang Dynasty scholar's Han costume for this lecture, and said in a low voice," Uncle-Master, do you see any changes in Teacher?”
"Life is full of ups and downs, and it is difficult to measure gains and losses. And some people's elegant bearing was more fragrant with time. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up to Senior Brother's magnanimity in this lifetime.”Qi Xiuzhu looked at the person on the stage absent-mindedly. Coincidentally, Shi Yihong cast a glance at him, and Qi Xiuzhu subconsciously avoided his gaze.
"Once you understand the mechanism, you will forget all your worries. You're already back, so what's there to worry about? You know, we won't shut you out.”Even if he had to face the punishment of the family, he wouldn't give up so easily.
Qi Xiu Zhu lowered his head and smiled. Only he knew the bitterness in his heart. Sixteen years of nightmares. Every day and night, as long as there was a dream, it would be a scene of pain that seeped into the bone marrow and regret that seeped into the soul. The figure that jumped down from the tall building, the flesh and blood on the ground that could not be identified, the desperate screams, the extremely disappointed eyes... All the real and imagined images tortured him to death.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]