The Prodigal Son

At Zhao Luan's command, everyone left the ward.

Song Zhuo, lying on his sickbed, looked at Zhao Luan with a puzzled expression, wondering why Zhao Luan had left Qin Yu behind alone.

Could it be related to the campaign against Yan?

That doesn't make sense!

Su Yu also knew about the campaign against Yan. If the real topic was to be discussed, there was absolutely no need to ask Su Yu to step down as well!

"Go pour three cups...of water!"

Zhao Luan turned around and gave instructions to Qin Yu.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhuo said breathlessly, "Don't bother, I... am not thirsty."

Zhao Luan gently shook her head, her gaze unwavering: "My dear teacher, you must drink this water!"

Hearing Zhao Luan's words, a look of confusion flashed in Song Zhuo's cloudy eyes.

However, Qin Yu had already understood Zhao Luan's intentions.

"Let's pour some wine! Let's have a drink with Prime Minister Song."

As Qin Yu spoke, he walked confidently toward the cabinet.

Zhao Luan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright!"

Qin Yu quickly found the wine that Song Zhuo had hidden.

However, the original half-jar of wine seems to have decreased considerably.

Qin Yu was slightly surprised.

Song Zhuo is so ill, it's impossible for him to sneak out and drink alcohol!

That could only be something Song Xian gave him to drink!

Song Zhuo looked at the two of them with suspicion. As he looked, a sudden thought struck him, and his body trembled with excitement. A different light shone in his cloudy eyes. "Is this... a wedding banquet?"

"Um!"

Zhao Luan nodded slightly.

His suspicions were confirmed, and Song Zhuo was immediately thrilled; a trace of color returned to his sallow face.

"Okay, okay!"

Song Zhuo, drawing strength from who-knows-where, gently patted Zhao Luan's hand, "This cup of wine... I must drink!"

At this moment, Qin Yu had also poured three cups of wine.

They are all small wine glasses.

After handing the two cups to Zhao Luan, Qin Yu took the other cup himself and helped Song Zhuo up.

He poured Song Zhuo a small half-cup of wine, gently patted the grieving Zhao Luan, and then stepped forward to help Song Zhuo up.

Song Zhuo looked at Qin Yu and Zhao Luan with a face full of relief, and said in a trembling voice, "To be able to drink... Your Majesty's... wedding wine, I... am content!"

"Many thanks to my mentor for his years of tireless efforts in protecting our nation and country."

Zhao Luan bowed slightly, "I and Qin Yu offer a toast to our revered teacher. Please, teacher, drink this cup to the brim!"

As she spoke, Zhao Luan picked up two glasses of wine, and Qin Yu also handed over his glass.

"clang……"

The three wine glasses clinked gently together before Zhao Luan brought a glass of wine to Song Zhuo's lips.

"well……"

Song Zhuo repeatedly praised, and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty and... Marquis Wuning, may your marriage be harmonious and lasting forever!"

"Thank you very much, my esteemed teacher (Prime Minister Song)!"

Qin Yu and Zhao Luan spoke at the same time, drinking the wine in their cups in one gulp.

The wine is sweet.

But when Zhao Luan drank it, she found it incredibly sour and bitter, almost bringing her to tears.

Song Zhuo opened his mouth and sipped the wine in his glass in small sips, afraid of spilling a single drop.

As the refreshing wine went down his throat, Song Zhuo's face was full of smiles.

His biggest regret was not being able to witness the fall of the Yan Kingdom and not being able to drink Zhao Luan's wedding wine.

But before he died, he unexpectedly got to drink the wedding wine he had been longing for, which lessened his regret a little!

After Song Zhuo finished his small cup of wine, Qin Yu reached out and wiped the wine stains from the corner of Song Zhuo's mouth. He then helped Song Zhuo lie down slowly and said solemnly, "Please rest assured, Prime Minister Song, I will definitely trample Yan Kingdom in the future! At that time, I would like to invite you, Prime Minister Song, to lead the late Emperor, Emperor Xiaowu, and the heroes of my Great Ning to drink a celebratory cup together!"

A smile appeared on Song Zhuo's face as he joked, "Aren't you afraid of...getting scared?"

"Don't be afraid!"

Qin Yu gently shook his head, his gaze calm and open. "They are all heroic spirits of my Great Ning. I am eager to see them, so why should I be afraid?"

"it is good."

Song Zhuo replied with difficulty, "I believe in you... you can definitely do it! With you assisting His Majesty, I... am very relieved!"

"Rest assured, Prime Minister Song, I will do my utmost to assist His Majesty!"

Qin Yu nodded solemnly.

Zhao Luan grasped Song Zhuo's hand and asked softly, "Does my mentor have any last wishes?"

Last wish?

Song Zhuo was stunned.

It seems like he doesn't have any last wishes!

After a brief moment of thought, Song Zhuo smiled slightly. "Take me...outside for a look! I've been lying inside for so long...I want to go outside and soak up some sun...feel the breeze, and see the sky..."

"good!"

Zhao Luan knew that Song Zhuo's body was not suited to being exposed to the wind, but at this point, there was no need to worry about anything.

Qin Yu stepped forward and picked up Song Zhuo from his sickbed.

It feels very light when you hold it, probably weighing only forty or fifty pounds.

Zhao Luan quickly got up, went forward to open the door for them, and looked up at Song Xian outside the door, "My mentor wants to see what's outside, so have someone prepare a reclining chair immediately!"

"I will personally make the preparations!"

Song Xian immediately ran off.

Soon, Song Xian set up a deck chair in a sunny spot in the courtyard.

At this time of year, there was already a bit of heat in the courtyard.

But Song Zhuo was on his deathbed, and no one cared about these things anymore.

Qin Yu laid Song Zhuo down on the recliner, and as Song Zhuo basked in the long-awaited sunshine, a look of enjoyment immediately appeared on his face.

Everyone gathered around Song Zhuo, looking at him bathed in sunlight, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

Song Xian leaned forward, his eyes red-rimmed, and said, "Dad, shall I pour you another glass of wine?"

"No, no!"

Song Zhuo chuckled and turned his eyes to Su Yu: "There's something I've always wanted to tell you."

"Okay, go ahead!"

Su Yu quickly stepped forward, looking at Song Zhuo with reddened eyes.

A faint smile appeared on Song Zhuo's face as he said with difficulty, "You're just a... terrible chess player!"

"Bullshit! You old geezer, you're the real chess idiot!"

Su Yu laughed and cursed, then lightly punched Song Zhuo: "You old bastard, just you wait down there! In two or three years at most, I'll come down to find you! When that time comes, I'll slaughter you without leaving a trace..."

As she spoke, Su Yu's eyes welled up with tears.

That old bastard!

Even on his deathbed, he still had to say a few bad things about himself.

"Goodbye! You should live a few more years!"

Song Zhuo smiled weakly, his gaze falling on Qin Yu again. "Please tell your grandfather that I have always disliked his boorish nature. Let him stay in this world a little longer, and don't come to the underworld too soon... to disturb my peace..."

Song Zhuo's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Finally, Song Zhuo's eyes closed completely, and his voice disappeared entirely.

In an instant, only a long and heavy silence remained in the room.

Everyone watched Song Zhuo silently, except for the imperial physician who quickly stepped forward to take his pulse.

A moment later, the imperial physician looked at Zhao Luan with a somber expression: "Your Majesty, Chancellor Song... is gone!"

"father!"

Song Xian let out a heart-wrenching cry, then knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to Song Zhuo's body.

Zhao Luan turned away, wiping the tears from her eyes, before bowing to Song Zhuo's body: "Respectfully bidding farewell to my revered teacher!"

"Respectfully seeing off the esteemed Minister!"

Everyone bowed to Song Zhuo in farewell.

Zhao Luan glanced at Song Xian and ordered in a deep voice, "I will return to the palace first. You must immediately prepare for the funeral! The funeral rites shall be in accordance with those for a Duke!"

Song Xian was taken aback for a moment, then turned and bowed to Zhao Luan: "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty!"

"Go and prepare for the funeral!"

Zhao Luan replied to him, then silently patted Song Zhuo's hand before walking outside...