Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Pei Yanli, Minghe, and Danzi gazed quietly at Xiao Yu, none of them speaking, as if afraid to scare him away.

After a while, Xiao Yu spoke again, "Don't recognize me anymore?"

"Uncle, Uncle," Minghe and Danzi called out together.

"Yes," Xiao Yu said, tears still streaming down his face.

Now certain, Minghe and Danzi realized their uncle had truly awakened. Their pent-up emotions finally found an outlet, and they burst into tears, rushing towards Xiao Yu.

Pei Yanli quickly grabbed the collars of their clothes to stop them.

The children ceased crying and turned back with teary eyes to look at Pei Yanli.

"He just woke up; his body is still very weak. You can't pounce on him," Pei Yanli explained.

The children turned their gaze back to Xiao Yu.

Indeed, Xiao Yu was very weak; just sitting up for that short time seemed too much for him, and he began to lean to one side.

Pei Yanli swiftly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.

Xiao Yu leaned against Pei Yanli's chest, smelling the familiar clean scent. He looked up into Pei Yanli's handsome face and said, "Yanli, I'm alright now." Although he had just returned, he felt an unprecedented sense of reality; he knew he could truly stay here this time.

Pei Yanli gently looked down, "Let's call the imperial physician to check on you again."

Xiao Yu responded softly.

Wiping his tears, Minghe said, "I'll go call the imperial physician," and he turned to run out.

"I'll call the monk," Danzi also ran out.

The imperial physician, Yan, hurried over and was startled to see Xiao Yu truly awake. He couldn't believe it. Xiao Yu had been in a coma for two to three months, yet he had miraculously woken up.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

He quickly went to examine Xiao Yu.

"Imperial Physician Yan, how is he?" Although Pei Yanli also knew some medicine, Xiao Yu's sudden awakening had left him too emotionally unsettled to calmly treat him. He anxiously asked the imperial physician.

When Xiao Yu first fell into a coma, his pulse was steady and normal, but as the coma lengthened, his pulse grew weaker. Thus, Yan and other physicians had predicted Xiao Yu wouldn't survive beyond fifteen days. Now, with his pulse stable again, Yan couldn't understand what was happening with Xiao Yu but reported truthfully, "His pulse is steady now."

"He's okay?" Minghe asked.

"Everything has returned to normal. However, he has been lying down for days, and his body is very weak. He needs to pay attention to his diet and gradually exercise to fully recover," said Yan.

"So Uncle won't fall into a coma again?" Minghe asked with concern.

"That..." Yan really didn't know.

Pei Yanli said, "Let's focus on recuperating for now."

Yan agreed, "Yes, let's concentrate on recuperating first, then we can reassess."

Pei Yanli thanked him, "Thank you, Imperial Physician Yan."

"Of course, it's necessary. Since Xiao Yu has just awakened, he should start with light food. Vegetables, eggs, rice, and flour are essential, and it's best to make them into a soft porridge for easy digestion. Then gradually introduce other foods," Imperial Physician Yan instructed.

"Understood," Pei Yanli agreed.

Bowing, Yan said, "If there are any issues, please inform me."

"Alright, Minghe, please see the physician out."

"Okay." Minghe escorted Yan out and then saw Danzi returning, "Little brother."

"Brother, is Uncle still awake?" Danzi asked eagerly.

"He is. Let's go and see him," Minghe, holding Danzi's hand, said.

Danzi entered and said, "Uncle Yanli, the monk has disappeared."

Pei Yanli was surprised, "Disappeared?"

"Yes, we looked everywhere but couldn’t find him," Danzi said.

"What monk?" Xiao Yu asked weakly.

"After you fell into a coma, Lu Ming met a strange monk. We brought him to treat you. He just glanced at you and said your soul wasn't here," Pei Yanli explained, looking at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was startled, "He was that powerful?"

"Yes, he has been diligently setting up formations these past days." But the monk also mentioned that he came and went as fate decided.

Xiao Yu said, "I did hear the sound of the temple bell, and then I heard you talking."

Pei Yanli pondered for a moment, then said, "Then this monk really..."

"But he's gone," Danzi said.

Minghe speculated, "Maybe he's gone wandering again."

Pei Yanli remarked, "When fate ends, let it be." This was a phrase often said by the monk.

"The porridge is here," Xiao Zhongzi brought in the porridge.

Pei Yanli instructed, "Minghe, bring some blankets over and put them behind your uncle."

Minghe hurried to do so.

Unable to sit up, Xiao Yu leaned against the thick blankets.

Pei Yanli carefully fed him porridge, spoon by spoon.

It was a vegetable and egg porridge, with finely chopped greens and scrambled eggs, the rice grains soft and mushy, melting easily in the mouth and smoothly sliding down the throat. Xiao Yu felt much more comfortable as he slowly finished the entire bowl.

Pei Yanli handed the bowl back to Xiao Zhongzi, saying, "You should rest a bit more."

Xiao Yu grabbed Pei Yanli's hand, gently shaking his head, "I've slept enough." He felt no sleepiness at all now.

Pei Yanli asked softly, "Aren't you tired?"

"Not tired," Xiao Yu replied, his gaze shifting from Pei Yanli's face to Minghe and Danzi. Though he had heard their voices, he was unaware of the specifics and asked, "Tell me what happened while I was in a coma."

Minghe and Danzi nodded in agreement.

After listening from morning until lunchtime, Xiao Yu suggested, "You should have lunch first."

"I'll feed you first," said Pei Yanli.

Feeling somewhat hungry, Xiao Yu nodded, "Okay."

Pei Yanli brought over a bowl.

It was porridge again, this time with green vegetables and minced meat.

After eating, Xiao Yu leaned back against the pillows, sitting up in bed.

Pei Yanli, Minghe, and Danzi sat at a nearby table eating, each bite followed by a concerned glance at Xiao Yu, fearing he might lapse back into unconsciousness.

Xiao Yu offered a resigned smile and said, "Enjoy your meal."

After a good meal, the three of them sat beside Xiao Yu.

By this time, the Grand Princess and others had heard that Xiao Yu had awakened and each wanted to visit him.

Now, as Xiao Yu was weak, he needed to recuperate. Pei Yanli thus turned away all visitors, and at dusk, he sent Minghe and Danzi home.

The two children, having finally seen their uncle awake, were reluctant to leave.

Xiao Yu, equally unwilling to part, asked, "Can they stay here for the night?"

Pei Yanli, seeing his intention, immediately answered, "Yes."

"Then we'll return tomorrow," Xiao Yu said.

Pei Yanli sent a message to Emperor Yongxi.

Minghe and Danzi happily had their dinner, then lay beside Xiao Yu's bed. Knowing their uncle was very weak, they dared not touch him, so they just propped up their lovely faces, smiling and watching Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu, having regained some strength after eating a bowl of porridge, finally raised his hand and tenderly caressed the children's cheeks with his slender fingers.

Minghe and Danzi, having not been close to their uncle for a long time, felt the familiar warmth. They tried hard to hold back their grievances and longing, but couldn't control their tears, which fell drop by drop.

"Don't cry, your uncle is here," Xiao Yu said.

The two children, still buried in Xiao Yu's palm, began to sob quietly.

Xiao Yu's heart ached as he let the boys cry for a while, then said, "Come here, let uncle hug you."

The two children climbed onto the bed one by one.

Xiao Yu gently embraced them and kissed their cheeks.

The children's emotions finally began to stabilize.

Xiao Yu asked, "How are you getting along with your classmates at Taixue?"

"Really well!" Minghe replied.

Danzi nodded, "Many say my brother and I are super smart."

"Don't get arrogant, okay?" Xiao Yu said with a light laugh.

"Yes, we're still studying hard," Minghe added.

"Our Minghe and Danzi are truly amazing!" Xiao Yu praised.

The boys chatted non-stop with Xiao Yu, continuing well into the night.

Pei Yanli brought over chicken soup noodles for Xiao Yu.

The soup was clear, and the noodles were soft; Xiao Yu felt full after half a bowl.

Pei Yanli asked, "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good," Xiao Yu replied, turning to the children, "It's late, you should go to sleep."

"I'll come to see you again tomorrow," Minghe said.

"Me too," Danzi added.

Xiao Yu smiled, "Okay."

The two children then left the room.

Pei Yanli brought a towel to wipe Xiao Yu's face and hands.

Xiao Yu asked, "Did you wipe my face like this when I was unconscious?"

Pei Yanli nodded, "Yes."

Xiao Yu suddenly joked, "Then you've seen all of me, haven't you?"

Pei Yanli looked up at Xiao Yu's lively appearance, feeling grateful to the heavens, and replied, "Yes."

"Then I'll have to see all of you too," Xiao Yu declared playfully.

Pei Yanli gazed at him tenderly and said, "As long as you're well, you can look however you want."

"You said it."

"I did," Pei Yanli affirmed, kissing Xiao Yu's hand gently.

Xiao Yu suddenly realized that the warmth he felt on his hand while working was Pei Yanli's kiss. He looked at Pei Yanli's handsome yet haggard face and suggested, "It's late, let's go to sleep."

"Alright."

Pei Yanli first helped Xiao Yu lie down, then lay beside him.

Knowing that he and Pei Yanli were married, and being a man not much for ceremony, especially after their separation, Xiao Yu felt no regret for missing the wedding. The most important thing was that Pei Yanli was with him. Lying face to face, Xiao Yu said, "It's late, you need to sleep."

"Are you going to sleep?" Pei Yanli asked.

"I'm not sleepy right now," Xiao Yu replied.

"I'm not sleepy either," said Pei Yanli.

"You're lying; your eyelids are drooping. Go to sleep," Xiao Yu, holding Pei Yanli's hand, reassured, "I won't leave."

Pei Yanli stared intently into Xiao Yu's eyes.

"Really, I won't leave. I'll be with you till we grow old," Xiao Yu gently caressed Pei Yanli's hand.

Pei Yanli, exhausted from the past days, finally seeing and feeling Xiao Yu, could hardly keep his eyes open and slowly closed them.

Xiao Yu watched quietly.

Suddenly, Pei Yanli awoke with a start, calling out, "Xiao Yu."

Startled, Xiao Yu quickly embraced him, saying, "I'm here, right here."

Relieved, Pei Yanli held Xiao Yu tightly in his arms.

"Go to sleep," Xiao Yu gently patted his back.

"Okay," Pei Yanli murmured and fell asleep again.

Soon, Xiao Yu felt moisture on his neck and realized Pei Yanli was shaking, so he gently called, "Yanli, Yanli."

Pei Yanli woke up again, his eyes brimming with tears as he gazed at Xiao Yu.

Sensing Pei Yanli's unease, Xiao Yu, with heartfelt sympathy, held his hand and decided not to keep any secrets from him. "Yanli, what the monk said was true. I come from another world."