Chapter 23 Deep Love Like the Long Wind

Chapter 23: Deep Love Like a Long Wind

When Cheng Ge woke up again, his entire body felt extremely stiff, even his tongue was numb.

He blinked hard, staring at the canopy above the bed, and suddenly his eyes reddened.

Hearing a faint sound, Lin Nanshu placed the lid back on the incense burner and approached the bed.

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?" He took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Cheng Ge's forehead.

"Brother Yuli, I can't move. Am I... paralyzed?"

The thought of being confined to bed at such a young age, unable to control his own shit and piss, instantly filled Cheng Ge with an urge to bite his tongue and end his life.

"I have a hundred-tael banknote hidden in the fifth brick seam from the inside, near the head of my bed in the official quarters. Please, go to the southern part of the city and get me a coffin."

Lin Nanshu: "???"

"Just buy whatever you see, the cheapest one is fine. I don't really care about these superficial things.

If there's any silver left, buy me some chestnut cakes from Furongzhai. I'd like to taste one last bite before I die."

Lin Nanshu was at a loss for words, torn between amusement and exasperation. He simply draped the handkerchief over Cheng Ge's eyes.

"Should I also find someone to carry the mourning bowl and support the coffin for you?"

Cheng Ge reached up and removed the handkerchief blocking his vision, his eyes lighting up. "Really? Does it cost a lot?"

"Hmm, we'll deduct it from your spirit money later." Lin Nanshu bent down, fetched a soft pillow, placed it properly, and helped Cheng Ge sit up.

"Drink some water." Cheng Ge obediently opened his mouth and took a few sips, then suddenly paused.

Then, Cheng Ge slowly lifted his foot, wiggled his plump, round toes a few times, and quickly flashed a victory sign at the air.

Cheng Ge's eyes widened in shock, a huge wave of emotion surging in his heart. "Holy crap, I'm not paralyzed! I'm fine again!"

Lin Nanshu sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead, and reached out to push Cheng Ge's foot back down.

"The doctor came earlier to administer acupuncture. You probably haven't recovered from it yet.

You swallowed a lot of medicine this time. It was hard enough to save your life; you can't be so reckless next time."

Cheng Ge suddenly felt the illusion of a miraculous escape from death. His world was bright again.

"Oh, I know." After saying this, he remembered the funeral arrangements he had just dictated and felt a bit embarrassed.

Lin Nanshu naturally noticed his discomfort. Knowing he was thin-skinned, he didn't tease him further, just patted his head. "Let's eat first."

...

Cheng Ge recuperated at the Lin residence for several days. Lin Nanshu helped him request leave from the Hanlin Academy, so he didn't even have to go to work. He was thrilled.

He later found out that shortly after he spat blood and collapsed that day, someone who was up at night discovered him. Otherwise, he probably would have been a goner.

However, that person was quite frightened, initially thinking Cheng Ge wouldn't survive. Because of this, rumors started circulating in the Hanlin Academy these past few days that Cheng Ge had died.

As the saying goes, spreading rumors takes just a mouth, but refuting them requires running your legs off.

In just two or three days, the rumor that Cheng Ge had suddenly fallen ill and died had been solidified as fact, while Cheng Ge remained completely unaware.

At this moment, Cheng Ge had a straw hat on his head, one leg crossed over the other, holding a fishing rod in one hand and accepting a peeled lychee with the other to put into his mouth.

The abundant juice mixed with sweetness exploded in his mouth, making Cheng Ge squint his eyes happily.

"Brother Yuli, you try one too." As he spoke, he quickly peeled another lychee and brought it to Lin Nanshu's lips.

Lin Nanshu was momentarily stunned but opened his mouth to accept the lychee. The clear, sweet taste spread in his mouth, and the lychee he was halfway through peeling in his fingers suddenly seemed to become burningly hot.

Cheng Ge swayed the fishing rod, looking utterly relaxed. "On the tip of the peach leaf, the willow leaves have covered the sky.

Oh, esteemed sir in your position, listen carefully to my words~ This matter occurred at the Lándiàn Factory west of the capital..."

The sound of Cheng Ge's casual humming reached his ears. It sounded a bit strange, but upon closer listening, it resembled storytelling heard in a teahouse, which was actually somewhat interesting.

"The sun sets behind the mountain, autumn insects chirp noisily. Day and night I think of Brother Liu, who has come to my door~

We agreed to meet tonight at the third watch, and I, Dalián, bow my head shyly, speechless.

...

At the fifth watch, dawn breaks, my parents learn the details. This shameless girl, ah, has disgraced our family's name..."

Cheng Ge leaned forward to glance at the water's surface, then turned sideways to pick up a piece of cloud slice cake and began eating it.

A maid serving them bent down to refill their tea. She stole a glance at Cheng Ge, hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke up.

"Young master, the song you sang was truly lovely..."

Cheng Ge felt immensely pleased being praised by a pretty young lady and feigned a modest wave.

"Ah, it's just so-so. Just the Nightingale of the Capital, that's all."

The maid was silent for a while, finally unable to hold back. "Young master, what happened later to Dalián and Brother Liu?"

Hearing this, Lin Nanshu also couldn't help but glance in Cheng Ge's direction.

"They died~" Cheng Ge said lightly.

"Ah? Both of them died?" The maid's expression turned sorrowful.

"Yes. They were caught during their secret meeting. Dalián jumped into the river and died. When Brother Liu found out, he followed her."

The maid looked regretful. "What a pity. They loved each other so much."

Cheng Ge tilted his head. Seeing she was about to cry, he casually handed her a handkerchief.

"In this world, eight or nine out of ten things don't go as one wishes. In this case, the young man had feelings, the maiden had intent, and they both went to the Yellow Springs together. That can be considered a kind of fulfillment.

But if one encounters a young man where the flower is willing but the stream is heartless, then the world gains another heartbroken soul~"

Lin Nanshu chuckled softly, reached out, and brushed a dried leaf from Cheng Ge's hair. "Shallow fondness is like fleeting clouds, deep love is like a long wind. If one can always stay by their side, that is also acceptable."

Cheng Ge looked up, watching the line of wild geese just then flying across the vast sky.

Then he leaned sideways onto the tea table, a smile spreading across his face. He dipped his fingertip in some water spilled on the tea table and gently traced a few lines.

"Then that's no different from lasting friendship. But... that seems pretty good too.

Throughout history, the famous poems and verses left behind about love, aside from unrequited love, mostly consist of resentment."

"At first sight, joy; over time, annoyance. Even Sima Xiangru, who wrote 'The Phoenix Courts His Mate' for Zhuo Wenjun, received 'The Song of White Hair' years later."

"Take those brothers next door—totally different story. Each one's more sincere and profound than the last."

"Beneath the spring, your bones rot to mud; I dwell in the world, my head covered in snow. Peach blossoms, spring breeze, a cup of wine; ten years of rain by the river, lamplight at night..."

With that, he straightened up, turned to the maid, and patted her on the shoulder.

"A man caught up can still get out; a woman caught up, she's stuck. So don't go trusting some jerk's sweet talk."

The maid's gaze fell on Cheng Ge's face, and for a moment, she couldn't look away.

Cheng Ge curled his lips into a smile at her, then bent down, grabbed the chair at his feet, and slammed it hard onto the water's surface, sending up a splash.

Wiping the water from his face, he leaned over and reached into the pond, pulling out a hefty fish weighing eight or nine jin.

"You wouldn't take the bait! You wouldn't take the bait, huh? Daring to mess with me!" Cheng Ge slapped the fish's head a few times, cursing and grumbling.