Binding Spring Love

Young children grow quickly, and in just seven or eight years, Shen Shiyan and Shen Shixiao had grown into teenagers.

The two brothers looked alike, but their personalities were very different.

Shen Shiyan's personality is like his father's; he appears carefree and unrestrained, but he is actually very shrewd and calculating. Moreover, he has been pampered by Shang Rong, Zhao Nanzhang, and others since childhood, and he is also very open-minded by nature.

Even though Shen Shiyan is showered with love and affection, he is not without his troubles.

Many in the court speculated that he and Shen Shixiao might one day fight each other for the sake of the country, but he always felt that if Shen Shixiao really had such thoughts, he would probably be happier.

"Why are you reading these Buddhist scriptures again?"

Snatching the scriptures from Shen Shixiao's hands, Shen Shiyan's brows furrowed: "Didn't Consort Zhao send you to learn riding and archery from her yesterday? Why didn't you go yesterday?"

"Brother, don't be angry. It's Xiao'er who forgot."

Shen Shixiao looked up and smiled shyly.

"If you've forgotten that I sent people to your palace to look for you, why haven't they found you after half a day?"

Shen Shixiao lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Yesterday, he hid under the artificial hill in the Imperial Garden, studying Buddhist scriptures, and became so engrossed that he forgot the time. It wasn't until it got dark and he could no longer see the words that he realized what was happening and hurriedly went to find his father and mother.

"It was Xiao'er's fault, it won't happen again next time."

"How could I not? How many times have you lied to your brother?"

Shen Shiyan pressed one hand on the scripture on the table, but his mind was in turmoil.

"What are you doing, a seven or eight-year-old kid, looking at this kind of stuff all day? Are you planning to become a monk someday?"

"Reading can enlighten the mind and broaden one's wisdom, but it has nothing to do with whether or not one becomes a monk."

Shen Shixiao stood up and obediently took Shen Shiyan's hand: "Today, younger brother will accompany older brother to practice riding and archery. Older brother, please don't be angry anymore."

With his younger brother begging for forgiveness so readily, how could Shen Shiyan possibly stay angry? However, his talk about practicing riding and archery was nothing but a consolation.

Although his younger brother's name contained the character "Xiao," he was not brave or fierce at all. Instead, he was refined and cultured, resembling a scholar.

"Then promise me you won't look at these things anymore, or they'll corrupt your character!"

"Xiao'er will not become a monk. Father and Mother said that Xiao'er will help his elder brother manage the country in the future. Xiao'er knows the responsibility on his shoulders."

"You don't need to think that way. With your brother here, you can do whatever you like."

The responsibility of the world is indeed heavy. If Shen Shixiao had that kind of mindset, he could simply hand over the country to him.

But he knew that Shen Shixiao had no ambition at all.

His younger brother preferred quiet and reading, and had no interest whatsoever in becoming a king or emperor.

Shen Shiyan affectionately patted Xiao'er's head and said, "You can do whatever you want, except become a monk or a hermit."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, Xiao'er won't do it."

"Everyone is born with a mission. Xiao'er has her own mission. She will not hide from the world or shirk her responsibilities. Her interest in studying Buddhism is simply because Buddhism is powerful and can calm the mind."

Shen Shiyan didn't know what the mission he mentioned meant, but as an older brother, he always doted on his younger brother, so he just smiled and let him be.

"Are we going to Consort Zhao's palace today?"

"No, Mother has asked Hengzhi to call the two of us for a meal. I'll come and get you."

The two brothers walked hand in hand toward Chang Le Palace.

Since Shen Qianyu appointed Shen Shiyan as the Crown Prince, he has kept him by his side every day. He never had any ambition to become emperor, and now that he is not yet forty, he thinks all day about how to hand over Dongning to Shen Shiyan so that he can live a peaceful life as the retired emperor.

"I wonder when Yan'er will be able to stand on her own."

"We'll have to wait until he comes of age to be fully grown."

Whenever this topic comes up, Shen Qianyu feels depressed for most of the day.

"The Empress Dowager is trying to get the Emperor to quit again."

Shen Shiyan heard Song Wan's words as soon as he entered Chang Le Palace.

"Mother only knows how to pity Father but not me. Jiang Su said that if I deal with so many folds so early, I won't grow tall in the future."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Shen Qianyu stood up: "If your mother doesn't care about me, who will? You'll have your own wife to care for you in the future."

"Xiao'er, come here and let your father take a look."

Shen Qianyu beckoned Shen Shixiao over, pulled him in front of him, and looked him up and down for a while: "You should read less at night in the future, so as not to hurt your eyes at such a young age."

"Your subject understands."

"good."

He reached out and patted Shen Shixiao's head. Seeing Shen Shixiao blush and smile, Shen Qianyu felt much more at ease.

Although he couldn't give birth to a little princess who looked exactly like Wan'er, Xiao'er's personality was very similar to Wan'er's, which made up for his regrets over the years.

"Go wash your hands and come to eat."

Shen Qianyu sat down first. Although the table was full of vegetarian dishes with no meat, the whole family enjoyed the meal.

Over the years, Shen Qianyu has indeed not touched a single piece of meat, but he did not want to wrong Song Wan, so he often asked the kitchen to prepare extra meat dishes for her.

But Song Wan also felt sorry for him and couldn't bear to eat his favorite foods in front of him. Gradually, the couple started to eat vegetarian food and have continued to do so ever since.

After the meal, Shen Shiyan left with Shen Shixiao, while Shen Qianyu lay down on the couch for a short rest.

In recent years, he has felt increasingly heavy-hearted and has gradually become lazy.

Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, Song Wan took a blanket and covered him with it.

In previous years, Hengwu and Luanjian had both been released from the palace to marry, but Hengzhi remained by her side. She had tried to persuade her several times, but Hengzhi was unwilling to leave the palace, so she gave up.

Perhaps it was because she and Shen Qianyu both preferred quiet, but over the years she became increasingly unwilling to have anyone serve her, and gradually, this huge Chang Le Palace became more and more deserted.

The only sound in the room was Shen Qianyu's soft snoring. Song Wan listened to him while quietly going about her own business.

"How long did I sleep?"

"In less than an hour."

Seeing that Shen Qianyu had woken up, Song Wan closed the small nanmu box in her hand and turned around to pour him tea.

"I'll help you."

Shen Qianyu tried to get up, but suddenly froze as soon as he made the movement.

"Moisten your lips and tongue first, no rush."

She held the teacup to Shen Qianyu's lips, and seeing him drink it in large gulps, she folded up the small blanket covering him and gently massaged his knees.

She applied just the right amount of pressure, and the acupoints she pressed were very precise. In just a moment, Shen Qianyu felt the stiffness and numbness in his calves slowly dissipate.

"That's enough, Wan'er."

"Are you feeling better now?"

Shen Qianyu nodded and gave a nasal "hmm".

Seeing this, Song Wan smiled gently, but just as she was about to get up, he grabbed her wrist.

Shen Qianyu raised his head and said softly, "When I was younger, I didn't feel anything, but as I've gotten older in recent years, I've realized that the ailments that damaged my health in the past have all come back."

"Wan'er... I'm so afraid. I'm afraid my body won't last more than a few years. What will I do then?"