Chapter 018: I Don't Want Them to Fulfill Their Wishes

Song Wuji sat alone in the study, the "Materia Medica" that he always kept close at hand was now placed on the desk, but he had lost interest in picking it up.

It is said that a long illness makes a good doctor, and Song Wuji was no exception.

About half of the books in his study were medical books, some were acquired by Tiaofu, and some were gifts from old friends, the most frequent sender being his cousin, the current Crown Prince.

While treating his illness, he also looked through these medical books, hoping to gain a better understanding of his own condition.

However, his symptoms always seemed to resemble those described in the medical books, but before long, they would change into a different set of symptoms.

This cycle repeated itself, and even he couldn't remember how many times it had occurred.

If it weren't for Xu Lan's insistence, he would have despaired and given up.

After all, there was nothing in this world worth clinging to, and it would be better to end it all, rather than having to drink that bitter medicine every day like water.

But in doing so, it would benefit the people at Xiangxiang Courtyard.

Over the years, he had long known what his stepmother Xue and his younger brother Song Wuyou were plotting. They were hoping for his early demise, even his own father was waiting for him to breathe his last breath, so that he could pass the position of heir to Song Wuyou.

But he was determined not to let them have their way.

To prevent them from harming him, he drove everyone out of the courtyard, leaving only a few of his mother's former attendants.

He cut off contact with the people in the mansion, closed the doors, and lived a life like a solitary island.

But this time, he truly felt tired.

Was it worth it to live so tired just to defy them?

After all, he couldn't take anything from Ningguo Mansion with him when he died.

His chest felt like it was being weighed down by a breath of impurity, making him feel uncomfortable.

Lost in thought, Song Wuji seemed to hear the bamboo curtain outside the study being rustled, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed, "Tiaofu, didn't I tell you? Let me be alone for a while!"

However, the person who came in was Zhao Ruyi, who smiled sweetly and said, "As long as the young master finishes this breakfast, Ruyi guarantees that you will be left alone, and I won't bother you!"

With that, Zhao Ruyi placed the reheated breakfast back on the table and moved it in front of Song Wuji.

"Take it away, all of it!" Song Wuji, whose tongue had already gone numb from the medicine, shouted impatiently, "I don't want to eat, can't any of you understand me?"

Seeing that Song Wuji seemed to be getting angry, but Zhao Ruyi was not intimidated by him.

Because through these days of getting along, Zhao Ruyi found that although the young master looked cold, he was not a heartless person.

So she smiled and said to Song Wuji, "People aren't made of iron, how can you not eat? And today, my mother made pickled vegetables. Would the young master like to try it?"

Zhao Ruyi pushed the plate of pickled vegetables forward, her eyes full of encouragement.

But the plate of pickled vegetables she brought was unimpressive, completely black, making it hard to tell what it was.

Song Wuji turned his head in disgust, not bothering to pay attention.

"Young master, don't look down on these pickled vegetables," Zhao Ruyi said, standing there alone, "My mother said that when the lady was still alive, her favorite was the pickled vegetables she made. She said that when the lady was carrying you, she couldn't eat anything because of morning sickness, but she could eat a small bowl of rice with my mother's pickled vegetables at every meal."

With that, Zhao Ruyi picked up a small piece of pickled vegetable and brought it to Song Wuji's mouth, gesturing for him to open up.

Originally looking disgusted, Song Wuji, after seeing Zhao Ruyi's action, unconsciously opened his mouth.

Zhao Ruyi smiled and fed the pickled vegetable to him, then blinked her big eyes and said, "I didn't lie to you, it's delicious, isn't it?"

"Our pickled vegetables at home are even better with clear porridge," without waiting for Song Wuji to speak, Zhao Ruyi scooped up a spoonful of corn porridge, "Unfortunately, the kitchen made lily and corn porridge today, so let's make do."

"My mother said, no matter what happens, you have to eat first!" Zhao Ruyi fed Song Wuji a mouthful of pickled vegetables and a mouthful of porridge, not letting her mouth idle, "When my father had his leg amputated, my mother said the same thing, no matter how big the matter, eat first!"

Seeing Zhao Ruyi's stubborn look, Song Wuji couldn't help but smile, "So you're not worried when something happens, is it because you're like your mother?"

Zhao Ruyi was stunned to hear this.

In her impression, her mother had always been timid and weak, so in her previous life, when she was working at Ningguo Mansion, she always showed a strong side, because she didn't want to end up like her mother, but she didn't expect to end up worse than her mother.

She lowered her head and laughed at herself, "I wish I could be like her. My mother always seemed to accept everything that happened to her, but on second thought, that's what real courage is."

As Song Wuji listened to Ruyi's constant chatter, he suddenly felt that he had been too self-pitying before, and realized that Ruyi, this little maid, was actually trying to comfort him in her own fragmented way.

It felt really good to be cared about!

Suddenly, a warm feeling welled up in Song Wuji's heart, and a smile appeared on his face.

Seeing this, Ruyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Under her half persuasion and half coaxing, a bowl of millet porridge had unconsciously reached the bottom, but Song Wuji still felt a bit unsatisfied.

He thought there would be another bowl, but to his surprise, Ruyi had already begun to tidy up the bowls and chopsticks, then eagerly watched as she handed the food box containing the morning meal to Tianfu, who had been waiting outside the door.

And Tianfu promptly presented the prince's medicine: "This is brewed according to Dr. Xu's new prescription. Dr. Xu said to observe its effectiveness..."

Before Tianfu could finish, Song Wuji waved his hand and quickly drank the bowl of medicine in one gulp.

Feeling that there was nothing more for her to do by the prince's side for the time being, Ruyi curtsied and was about to take her leave, only to be met with a sudden change in Song Wuji's expression as he frowned and said, "Where do you think you're going?"

What had been alright just now, why did he suddenly change his face?

"Didn't the prince say he wanted to be alone for a while?" Ruyi gestured towards the study door. "So, this servant wants to wait outside."

"Did I say you could go?" But Song Wuji continued with a stern face, "Last night, I asked you to recite the Thousand Character Classic, and you fell asleep before reciting even half of it. Since you have time today, start over!"

Huh? Ruyi stared at him in astonishment.