Farm Girl's Manor

Chu Heng looked at Prince Qi, who had an unpleasant expression, and offered a gentle smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, "Have you and the others come here for a reason?"

Upon hearing this, King Heng called over the other princes and said with a smile, "Second Imperial Brother, it’s your first time joining us younger brothers for the autumn hunt. We are all so delighted, but we are worried about the rigors of the journey. We fear that it might be too much for you, so we specifically came to check on you."

Chu Heng appeared very pleased upon hearing this. He extended his emaciated hand, only skin and bones, through the carriage window towards Thirteenth Prince, who was closest to him. His eyes brimmed with gratitude as he spoke, "I thank all my younger brothers for their concern. A bumpy ride is nothing! I am very happy to be with you all, and I hope to see everyone’s impressive skills on the day of the grand hunt!"

The Thirteenth Prince, a mere child of five or six, looked at Chu Heng’s unsightly, one might even say ghastly, face with a growing sense of fear. The cold touch on his forehead felt like the chilling hand of a ghost from the stories, causing him to shrink in terror and involuntarily turn his head aside. Yet, knowing better than to make a scene, he didn’t cry.

Chu Heng’s hand fell back emptily, a flicker of pain crossing his face as he stared at his own pallid, bloodless hand, and spoke with an air of profound melancholy, "This is the first time I’m joining you for the autumn hunt, and I suppose it will also be the last."

King Heng saw this, a flash of dark intent twinkling in his eyes and then disappearing as quickly as it came. Moistening his eyes, he adopted a sorrowful expression, "Second Imperial Brother, you must not have such negative thoughts before the very end. Who knows, perhaps someday a hermit of exceptional ability will appear and cure you of your poison!"

"A hermit of exceptional ability? Where would we find such a person? To live another day is simply to prolong my agony; I’d rather be freed from it sooner, to suffer less from this affliction..." Chu Heng said distractedly, as if he had lost all vitality. He seemed engulfed by layers of deathly aura, unable to break free.

"No, Second Imperial Brother, you must not give up so easily. Our father and Empress Dowager are advanced in years and are especially fond of you. Could you bear to have them witness the agony of white hair mourning black hair? All of us, your brothers and sisters, are longing for you to be safe and well. Second Imperial Brother, you must find the strength to go on..."