Chapter 108: Fever

Chapter 108 Fever

The river was already dotted with numerous lotus lanterns, each ordinary lantern carrying the hopes and wishes of those who lit them.

A Man carefully crouched by the riverbank and set her lotus lantern afloat, watching as it drifted away with the current.

The little girl clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and seriously made a wish.

"Mom, Mean Uncle, you guys have to do it too!"

After finishing her wish, A Man opened her eyes and saw that the two of them were just watching her, their lanterns still in hand. Playing the little grown-up, she tugged at their sleeves.

"Like this, put it in the water, then make a wish..."

Following her instructions, they released their lanterns and made their wishes. Standing side by side, they looked like a devoted couple.

"Mom, what did you wish for?" A Man asked curiously.

A Yuan had never much believed in such things. When she was at the Spring Smoke Pavilion, she had begged Madam Lin every year to let her go out and release lanterns to pray to the Flower Goddess, wishing that the matrons would beat her less harshly—she promised to behave.

But her wishes had never come true.

Meeting her daughter's expectant gaze, A Yuan smiled faintly. "Mom wished for A Man to grow up safe and happy, forever Mommy’s little treasure."

"Okay! I’ll always be Mommy’s little treasure!"

Giggling sweetly, she cupped her flushed cheeks before turning to Wei Xun.

"How about you, huh, Mean Uncle?"

Wei Xun withdrew his gaze from Ayuan's face, his eyes still gentle, "Just like your mother, I hope Aman can grow up carefree and happy."

As parents, they had no other wishes but for their child to remain innocent and joyful, free from the hardships of adulthood.

"What else?" Aman, having heard two identical wishes, felt unsatisfied and pressed Wei Xun for more.

She had made many wishes herself; the bad uncle must have wished for more than one thing during his long moment of silence.

Wei Xun averted his eyes uncomfortably, pressing his palm against the little girl's upturned face to change the subject.

"Wishes don't come true if you say them out loud."

"But just now, Mother and the bad uncle both said theirs!" Aman pouted, convinced that the bad uncle was lying to her. She wasn't a toddler anymore and wouldn't fall for such tricks.

"Alright, there's a dragon dance over there. Would you like Mother to take you to see it?"

Ayuan pinched the chubby cheeks of the little girl, coming to Wei Xun's rescue.

The little girl, at an age where she was curious about everything, was immediately drawn to the idea of something fun. She grabbed her mother's hand and ran off.

Wei Xun watched the retreating figures of mother and daughter, letting out a quiet sigh. He naturally hadn't made just one wish.

Lotus lanterns floated downstream, their candlelight illuminating the night.

Wei Xun's eyelids drooped slightly, his expression devout.

His first wish was for Ayuan to live a life free of worries and troubles, his second for Aman to grow up safe and happy every year, and his third for him and Ayuan to reunite and stay together forever.

As long as Ayuan was willing to forgive him, no matter how long it took... he would wait.

......

The little girl had been playing nonstop all day and was completely worn out, falling asleep by the time they headed back.

Wei Xun carried her as he walked the mother and daughter to the gate of the general's residence. Away from the bustle of Chang'an Street, the silence between them grew awkward.

"Give A Man to me."

Wei Xun was still injured, and carrying her all the way would likely have worsened his wounds.

A Yuan couldn't deny that seeing Wei Xun like this made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Perhaps those old habits of catering to him had seeped too deeply into her bones, making them hard to uproot.

Her emotions were always swayed by him.

A Yuan frowned, keeping him at arm's length.

Wei Xun had originally wanted to stay with her a little longer, but he'd already schemed just to get this time with them. If he angered her now, she might really cut him off completely.

"Alright."

Wei Xun took the hint and handed A Man over to her. When her fingers grazed his palm, he couldn't help but grasp them.

A Yuan lifted her gaze, their eyes meeting. Wei Xun's lips trembled slightly as if he wanted to say something, but she yanked her hand back.

"It's late. Crown Prince Wei, please return."

A Yuan held her daughter, leaving him only with an icy, retreating figure.

As the gates of the general's residence closed, Xie Yi looked at the pale-faced man outside. Despite resenting Wei Xun for betraying their lady, even he couldn't help but think he looked downright pathetic.

Wei Xun clenched his palm, as if trying to hold onto her fading warmth.

His back screamed with pain, like fresh wounds tearing open. On the empty street, Wei Xun hunched over, finally letting the pain show.

......

From that day on, Wei Xun never came to the general's residence again.

After several days without seeing him, A Man started asking about him.

"Where's the bad uncle? Does he not like A Man anymore?"

The little girl already knew Wei Xun was her father, but she still called him "bad uncle."

Since her mother hadn't forgiven him, she refused to call him "Father."

A Yuan was strangely unsettled. Used to seeing Wei Xun's daily appearances, his sudden disappearance left her relieved...and oddly empty.

Perhaps... something had delayed him?

Chun Tao let out a worried sigh as she entered. Hearing the little girl's question, she said, "The Crown Prince has been running a fever for days and still hasn't recovered."

"A fever?" A Man jumped to her feet. "Why does the bad uncle have a fever?"

Why else? That night, despite his severe back injury, he had pushed through the pain to stay out late playing with A Man. Combined with the cold winter wind, he had come down with a raging fever the moment he returned to his residence.

When Chang Yuan told her, though Chun Tao thought the Crown Prince had no one to blame but himself, he was still her lord, and she couldn't help but worry.

Hearing this, A Man's worry turned to panic. "Mother, I want to go see the bad uncle!"

"Alright, I'll get your cloak ready."

A Yuan didn't interfere. However Wei Xun treated her, he was devoted to their daughter. Since A Man was close to him, she wouldn't stand in the way.

......

Wei Xun had been unconscious for three days, with only Chang Yuan and Zhang Feng attending to him. The two men were clumsy, struggling to even get medicine into his mouth, let alone feed him properly.

For three days, Wei Xun had only consumed some rice broth, leaving him weak.

Dazed between sleep and wakefulness, he heard the little girl’s sobs.

"You mean old uncle, don’t die. A Man won’t be mad at you anymore. Please wake up, okay?"

Wei Xun lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper. A Man had never seen him like this and cried her eyes swollen.

Hot tears fell on the back of his hand, making his fingers tremble slightly. With great effort, he lifted his eyelids.

His lips were dry and cracked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Don’t cry..."

Wei Xun had meant to comfort the little girl, but his frail state only made him seem at death's door, distressing her even more.

"A Man won’t cry, Bad Uncle. Please don’t die."

The little girl flung herself against him, speaking between sobs. "As long as Bad Uncle gets better, A Man will listen to you."

With difficulty, Wei Xun raised his hand and gently stroked the back of her head. "Then, will A Man call me 'Daddy'?"

A Man’s eyes were swollen like walnuts. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and studied him for a long moment. Just as Wei Xun thought she would refuse again, the little girl hiccuped, pouted, and whimpered, "Da... Daddy."

"Yes."

Wei Xun’s eyes reddened at the corners, his chest burning, fit to burst, as if overflowing with emotion.