Chapter 172: Wan Chenghan’s Side Story

Chapter 172: Wan Chenghan's Side Story

About half a month after handling the situation with Chen Yin, Lu Qingyan woke up from the medical cabin.

Wan Chenghan always came to visit him with big bags of stuff, sitting by Lu Qingyan's bedside, griping while munching on the fruits and supplements he brought. In the end, most of those fruits and supplements usually ended up in Wan Chenghan's own stomach.

"Can you just go out and eat your apple somewhere else?" Lu Qingyan said helplessly. "You’ve been munching on it all afternoon, and it’s making my wound hurt."

"You’re lying," Wan Chenghan said, crossing his legs. "You were poisoned with a genetic toxin. That small wound was already fixed by the medical cabin."

Lu Qingyan lay on the bed like a dead man. "It’s the scar on my soul. Do you know how much of a mental blow it is for a patient like me to face you every day?"

Wan Chenghan snorted. "Would you prefer Shen Zhixue and Jiang Huizhou to keep you company?"

Lu Qingyan thought for a moment. "Zhi Zhi would be fine, but Jiang Huizhou can stay away."

"That’s not possible. Those two are practically inseparable now." Wan Chenghan paused, as if recalling some scene of Shen Zhixue and Jiang Huizhou together, and shuddered. "You wouldn’t believe how crazy that Jiang guy has been lately!"

Lu Qingyan, bored and feeling mischievous, asked, "How crazy?"

Wan Chenghan, as if recalling something horrifying, said with a look of terror, "I caught him in a dress last time."

Lu Qingyan nearly choked on his saliva. "What? What kind of dress?!"

"You know, the kind!" Wan Chenghan gestured above his head. "The one with bunny ears! A maid costume!"

Lu Qingyan’s expression turned complicated. "Really? Has he sunk that low? Where does he work? I’ll go support him once I recover."

"In their own house."

"...Wait, how did you know that?"

"I was lonely, so I often dropped by to see Shen Zhixue," Wan Chenghan said matter-of-factly. "You know how fun Shen Zhixue is. Even just sitting in the living room playing Super Oli with him all afternoon was fun! But after I went there a few times, that creep Jiang guy didn’t seem too thrilled about it."

Lu Qingyan reached for the fruit basket beside him, picked up a banana, and started eating. "That’s just Jiang Huizhou’s personality. He’s always been like that, with a heart tinier than your brain."

"Exactly!" Wan Chenghan instinctively agreed, then quickly realized. "Lu Qingyan, what do you mean by that? I’m here keeping you company out of the kindness of my heart, and you’re still insulting me!"

"No, I’m complimenting you," Lu Qingyan said casually. "I’m saying you have a big heart."

Wan Chenghan snorted. "Fine, I’ll let it slide since you almost kicked the bucket. But that creep Jiang Huizhou, we really need to steer clear of him! That day he wore a maid outfit and nearly scared me to death. Seriously, it was terrifying."

Lu Qingyan nodded. "It’s hard to picture."

After a moment of silence, Lu Qingyan suddenly asked, "What about Jiang Xingliu? Aren’t they concerned about their reputation at all?!"

"Jiang Xingliu’s busy," Wan Chenghan said, hissing. "He seems to be searching for some kind of drug. He’s been taking on missions left and right, running all over the cosmos. I haven’t seen him in a long time."

Lu Qingyan frowned. "Is he sick? What drug is he looking for?"

"You’re such an idiot," Wan Chenghan rolled his eyes. "He’s clearly searching for medicine for your nephew. Before Chen Yin died, there was supposedly a pill that could help Du Du recover. But that sly woman Chen Yin was too clever, and the pill was never secured. However, I heard he found a prescription or something on Chen Yin’s body, so now he’s searching everywhere for the medicine."

Lu Qingyan nodded and snorted. "At least he’s got some decency."

The two of them chatted idly, and Wan Chenghan was happy to share the latest updates about everyone with Lu Qingyan, feeling that it made things less lonely.

Before, he used to enjoy hanging out with a group of rowdy friends, but now he found that less interesting. Sitting here with Lu Qingyan, soaking up the sun and chatting, was pretty nice.

After all, they’re both men who’ve been through the same kind of heartbreak, so they’ve got plenty to talk about!

Though Lu Qingyan has always been against this and looks down on Young Master Wan.

As Wan Chenghan was cheerfully telling Lu Qingyan, “Looks like your nephew’s about to be swept off his feet by Zhi Zhi’s son,” the ward door swung open.

He turned, expecting Shen Zhixue and Jiang Huizhou.

Instead, it was Qiu Ying at the door, holding a bouquet.

The deep-seated fear of his mother made Wan Chenghan instantly uncross his legs and meekly say, “Mom.”

Qiu Ying didn’t reply, walked right in, and set the flowers by Lu Qingyan’s bed.

Lu Qingyan gave a polite smile, “Thanks, Officer Qiu.”

“Don’t mention it,” Qiu Ying said. “I’m the one who got you into this mess.”

Hearing this, they were both stunned.

Wan Chenghan was even more baffled, “Mom, what are you saying? How’s Lu Qingyan’s injury your fault?”

Qiu Ying glanced at him and laid it all out, worried her dear son wouldn’t get it.

Wan Chenghan shot up, “You… why?!”

“Why did I work with Chen Yin?” Qiu Ying said. “Because the empire’s still shaky. Sure, we’ve fixed the population issue, but there’s still a lot left to sort out. I want the empire to be strong—strong enough to keep going without breaking a sweat. Even after I’m gone, even if you’re not the sharpest tool in the shed, you’ll still have the path I’ve laid out for you.”

Wan Chenghan was even more lost, “Wait, what are you talking about?”

“I’m old now,” Qiu Ying said, staring straight at her son.

Only then did Wan Chenghan see the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes as she spoke.

His mother had been tough and overbearing for years, like an unshakable wall.

But what wall never falls?

Time wears everything down, even steel and iron.

Lu Qingyan, ever tactful, got up from the bed, coughed, and said, “I’ll step out for some air.”

Wan Chenghan was at a loss for words, so he just stared out the window.

“But then I realized something,” Qiu Ying said slowly, and for the first time, Wan Chenghan sensed her weariness. “Some people just aren’t cut out for certain things. Maybe it’s because I didn’t pay much attention to you growing up, and you’ve drifted further from the son I imagined.”

Wan Chenghan opened his mouth but stayed silent.

His heart ached a little.

Yeah, Qiu Ying was always busy. Growing up, aside from material stuff, she hardly cared about his actual life.

So he turned rebellious, always causing trouble, because it seemed like only when Qiu Ying cleaned up his messes could he feel a sliver of love from that cold woman.

See, this was his mother—the one who’d always handle everything for him.

“But honestly, this is fine,” Qiu Ying’s tone shifted. “At least now you won’t overwork your brain.”

Wan Chenghan scoffed, “Mom!”

Why are you making personal attacks during such an emotional moment?

"Shen Zhixue helped me realize something: the right person should do the right job," Qiu Ying said. "Living a carefree life like this is still a valid way to live, and it might suit you better than being the commander-in-chief. You might even be happier."

Wan Chenghan scratched his head.

He knew his political instincts were weak, and he wasn’t one for scheming. Since he was a kid, he’d always been the type to stir up trouble, and if the empire were really handed over to him, the future would indeed be bleak.

He had originally planned to talk to Qiu Ying about it, but he thought she could still hold on for another hundred years, so he kept putting it off. Unexpectedly, Qiu Ying brought it up first.

It was like Wan Chenghan being the crown prince, set to inherit the throne, only for the emperor to say, "You’re still the prince, but forget the throne—you’re not cut out for it."

Most people would be furious.

But Wan Chenghan wasn’t upset at all; instead, he felt relieved.

He nodded earnestly, "So who do you plan to hand the empire over to?"

Qiu Ying thought for a moment, "Jiang Huizhou."

Wan Chenghan fell silent.

Three minutes passed.

He couldn’t get the image out of his head: Jiang Huizhou in a maid outfit, shamelessly sprawled out in the living room, letting Shen Zhixue sit on him.

"No," Wan Chenghan struggled to speak, "Jiang Huizhou is full of schemes, sure, but now his mind is completely occupied by one thing: Shen Zhixue. All he does is cling to Shen Zhixue day in and day out. If you’re handing the empire to him, you might as well just give it to me."

Qiu Ying nodded, "That’s a fair point."

Choosing the empire’s successor was a serious matter, and she’d naturally put them through rigorous tests and evaluations.

In the last two weeks, she’d tried to meet with Jiang Huizhou ten times, and nine times he’d brushed her off with, "No time, I’m with my wife." The one time he agreed, he asked if he could bring his wife along.

He’s practically attached to Shen Zhixue at the hip.

If he took over the empire, he’d probably ask during military meetings, "What meeting? Can I sit in my wife’s lap while we talk?"

Even if Qiu Ying were dead and buried, she’d rise from her grave out of sheer anger.

"Jiang Xingliu is an adult now, right?" Wan Chenghan said, "This kid’s as sharp as Jiang Huizhou used to be, but he’s not as ruthless."

Qiu Ying nodded, "He’s racked up a lot of military wins lately. He’s nearly wiped out the space pirates around the empire. He’s got the same flair I had in my younger days. He’s a solid pick."

Wan Chenghan slapped his thigh, "Then it’s decided!"

Qiu Ying looked at him. Since becoming the empire’s commander, she’d rarely had a proper conversation with Wan Chenghan, let alone a calm mother-son discussion.

She truly loved her son.

Under her gaze, Wan Chenghan felt shy for the first time and scratched his head, "Mom, have you eaten?"

Qiu Ying was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Not yet."

"Let me take you to a nearby spot. I know a great place," Wan Chenghan stood up, mustering the courage to take Qiu Ying’s hand, "You’ll love it, I promise."

Qiu Ying followed him, "All you care about is food."

"Of course, now that you’re stepping back from the empire, I’ll show you the best food and fun around. When it comes to good food and entertainment, there’s nothing in this empire I don’t know about."

Qiu Ying didn't speak, just walked alongside Wan Chenghan, listening to him gesture excitedly about the delicious and fun things he was describing.

The setting sun cast their long shadows.

Many years ago, Wan Chenghan had also walked beside her like this, his small shadow, animatedly gesturing about what he had seen and heard at school.

But back then, she had never stopped to listen carefully.

Now, things were better. She would have plenty of time.