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Chapter 37: Indignation

Song Song didn't expect Ji Ying to come up with this kind of plan. Naturally he also wanted Li Xiao to maintain clarity for longer periods, however.

"Doctor Ji. This plan, isn't it a bit. " He said tactfully: "too strange?"

"Wangfei is unaware. This illness that wangye has is essentially a result of a psychological issue. Since the problem comes from the mind, then naturally we have to treat his mind Although the effectiveness is unknown, we should still give it a try first?"

As long as it's for Li Xiao's wellbeing, Song Song naturally wouldn't reject it. Ji Ying's drawing skill was pretty good. But in Song Song's opinion, it was not as good as Li Xiao's drawing skills. However, to him Li Xiao was different, so his opinion didn't count.

That afternoon, madam Qin, who never came to see him after the big wedding, suddenly came over. Her face was pale white, looking like she hasn't done her makeup yet. Respectfully, she greeted Song Song: "His highness is already seperating with me. I came specifically to say goodbye to wangfei."

Song Song said: "Take care."

Madam Qin smiled and said: "Wangfei also, should take care."

She turned and left. Song Song didn't send her off.

This day when Li Xiao returned, there was a smile on his face. He seemed to be in a good mood. Song Song stepped up to help him take off his coat, asking: "Did something good happen today?"

"Song-er can tell?"

"I can tell you're happy, but don't know why you're happy."

Li Xiao sat in front of the heater. Song Song helped him take off his boots and switch into soft slippers. He heard him say: "Ever since my barracks were burnt, there hasn't been enough money to renovate. In this big cold winter, expenses are far more than normal. Today, I went to let 'Tao Tie' know about the situation and troubled them to stay in Dongwei for a few more days "

Song Song suddenly laughed out loud. The corner of Li Xiao's mouth also rose: "Song-er guessed it?"

"It takes a thousand days to raise troops and one moment to use them. However, it's important to raise good troops as well. 'Tao Tie' these people, in Fu Zhao's eyes, are just as the proverb say: 'eat everything in sight, can't do anything." Ever since the first day they arrived from Jinwu camp, it was already set in his mind that your highness sent them specifically to disgust him. This impression is very hard to change, therefore his most important priority should be to immediately return 'Tao Tie' back to you."

"What Song-er said is correct."

Song Song couldn't resist laughing again: "But your camp still hasn't finished renovating. With this excuse present, it's not like he could stubbornly kick 'Tao Tie' out to sleep in the snow. After all, in the beginning when he was trying to steal troops from you, he guaranteed that Dongwei camp had plenty of supplies. So now "

Li Xiao raised his eyebrows and recalled that Fu Zhao's response was the same as Song Song predicted. Gnashing his teeth in anger, Fu Zhao expressed: "Since Jinwu camp is so poor it can't operate, then as fellow comrades, we naturally should help when the other is in need. How about if I donate. Money. To help. Wangye. Renovate?"

Song Song gained some more admiration for Li Xiao in his heart. He said: "No wonder you didn't care about the barracks being burnt."

"The person who burned it should be the one who fixes it. It's the law of the world."

Song Song voiced some concerns: "That may be the case, but I'm still worried that your highness angered him, he will think of some other malicious plans. 'Tao Tie' is still soldiers so they have to follow orders. These days, inside the city is also very chaotic. If they randomly assign a dangerous mission to 'Tao Tie' and use the moment to injure some of them. Then your highness has no choice but to accept the result."

"Although the city is chaotic, it's not a good enough reason to dispatch a squadron. There's only one event that is worth paying attention to at the moment."

Song Song said: "As long as your highness is aware in your heart."

"It's been continuously snowing heavily lately. Plenty of the big families are participating in charity and donating alms to the poor. My estate will also join. Ping wangfei should have a good reputation."

"Okay."

Early morning, someone knocked on the estate entrance. Song Song actually woke up early, ate breakfast with Li Xiao together. At this time, a young man scuttled over. It was the 7th prince, Li Shu: "Big brother, brother-in-saw. I heard you are going to donate alms outside the city today. I came to join for fun."

When he finished, he glanced at Li Xiao quickly, clearly a bit afraid of him. Song Song asked warmly: "Did you eat breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Then sit down and eat with us." Song Song smiled. He didn't have a lot of contact with these royal brothers yet, but his impressions of them were pretty good. Everyone of them raised outstandingly. This 7th prince was only 14 years old. To Song Song, he was still a big kid. He ordered someone to get some more rice. Li Shu sat down well-behaved and said to Li Xiao: "I heard everything. Big brother is so smart, pretending to be short of money to force other camps to donate money. Yesterday when I went to see grandma, she was praising you the entire time."

"Be quiet." Li Shu closed his mouth, quietly focusing on shoving food in his mouth. Song Song also had his head lowered, not speaking. After the meal was finished, they rode the carriage out of the city. Li Xiao suddenly asked: "I heard you recently made a friend?"

"Yes he's Mingxuan's manager. A few days ago I went to buy meat buns. Coincidentally, there was only one basket left. I wanted to eat it but he also wanted to eat it. In the end, we shared and became acquainted with each other like that."

"Don't casually make friends, careful not to get sold."

Li Shu immediately said: "He's a good person. Please, he doesn't know who I am. He won't betray me."

Li Xiao didn't say anymore. Li Shu seemed like he still wanted to explain something, but suppressed it in the end. This child was raised simple. He spent the entire way silently disagreeing with what Li Xiao said, but as soon as they reached their destination, his mood instantly was all better and ran around enthusiastically pouring congee for the homeless himself. The maids could only let him be.

Song Song got off the carriage, saw plenty of people holding little children waiting in a line. His line of sight skimmed through a few of the homeless and discovered some people wearing plain cotton clothes. In this group wasn't only the homeless. It was also mixed with some regular citizens who wanted to take the advantage to feed their family. In addition, there were also a group of young people wrapped in warm winter coats, yawning lazily as if they've just woken up, also standing in line.

"What's Song-er looking at?"

"I feel like there's a large number of people here who aren't beggars or refugees. But rather it seems like they're just too lazy to make food and came to mooch a meal."

He pointed for Li Xiao: "Look at that man."

He even brought his own salted vegetable, and probably wanted to steal a bread roll or drink some congee. Even more ridiculous was that there were some people, who after receiving the bread roll, walked out of the crowd and secretly added a piece of meat inside.

Li Xiao said: "The people who came to donate do not belong to the government so they can't really check everyone's identity one by one. And plus, this charity event is a means for the big families to raise their reputation. No one cares if they were really people in need."

"Do people donate all year long?"

"No. That's not the case. It's only because in the winter, it's cold. Sometimes people die of the cold. Therefore, some of the big families step forward to lend aid."

"But this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause." Song Song said: "In this world, no one will always be available to provide them emergency relief. If they don't want to starve, it's best to do it themselves."

"Many of these homeless do not have identification. They can't work in the city."

"Then the government should do something about this. Before I heard mother say that giving a man fish is not as effective as teaching a man how to fish. I think this is very logical. The emperor is kindhearted. Why doesn't he let these homeless go to a barren land and have them cultivate the fields? Give them a little land and let them become self-sufficient, wouldn't that be good?"

Li Xiao contemplated. Song Song continued: "And all these opportunistic lazy people. The more they eat, the more likely some homeless person will starve because of it. The government should be more thoughtful on this matter. If the living standards of citizens in the nation rise and everyone can eat their fill, then the chance to become the strongest nation is just around the corner."

Li Xiao stared at him and said: "Our nation's military power is strong and powerful. No one dares to offend us. We're already the strongest nation."

"But if we continue to campaign continuously, we'll only be strong in appearance but weak inside." Song Song said: "Just by looking at these people in need I can tell, a bowl of congee is definitely not enough to eat. It can barely prevent them from dying of starvation. However, if they can all eat well, then they can be combined into a strong force."

On his face spoke a vision for the future. He also lived like these refugees before. Every day, he only had watery congee or a bread roll to eat. After eating, he continued on with great difficulty and barely had the energy to do anything. If he wasn't so desperate to escape the Song estate, he wouldn't even have had the energy to scheme.

Looking at these clearly healthy civilians who came to eat congee that were supposed to be for the homeless, he recalled the servants in the Song estate who stole his food before. They took from him not because they wanted to eat it, but so that he couldn't eat it.

Li Xiao didn't say anymore. Song Song returned from his thoughts: "These are some ideas that suddenly came to mind. They're juvenile. Don't mind them, your highness."

Li Xiao nodded, looking pensive.

At this moment, another carriage stopped next to them. Madam Song walked off it supported by someone. Other than her already married 3rd daughter, also appeared another person---

Song Ge.

Song Song's eyes stared unmoving at the other's face---

Ever since the twin thing that occurred a few days ago, he suddenly started feeling his blood run cold and hair stand on end whenever he thought about Song Ge. Originally, Song Song planned to wait for an opportune time to deal with him, but only now did he understand that in his heart, there wasn't only hatred, but fear. He wanted to kill Song Ge immediately to avoid any future troubles.

They also saw Song Song. The bitter resentment in madam Song's expression did not dissipate, but maybe because Song Shi's death struck her too hard, face pale white, she managed to strongly suppress her temper and slowly walk away to the soup kitchen.

Song Ge came over to greet Song Song. Li Xiao returned it indifferently. Song Song stared at him, unmoving.

Song Ge was confused, but remembered the two huge slaps in the face he received before from Song Song, and felt he wasn't easy to deal with, therefore turned to follow his mother.

A glimmer flashed across Li Xiao's eyes. Song Song, however, felt his heart rate increase, a glob of blood gushed out of his throat and instantly filled his mouth with a taste of iron. Song Song realized the situation was not good, hurried to turn around, cover up his mouth and swallow. Then he quickly flew towards an area with no people.

Li Xiao immediately followed him: "Song-er?"

Song Song couldn't speak and only dared to catch his breath when he reached an isolated corner. He faced away from Li Xiao and said: "Don't come closer."

He was afraid he would stimulate Li Xiao.

The tip of Li Xiao's nose twitched and he grabbed Song Song over with an arm. His gaze landed on the blood at the corner of his mouth. He pulled open his hand and saw there was also bloodstain on his fingers: "Why would you"

"I'm fine!" Song Song quickly took out his handkerchief and cleaned his palm, then wiped the corners of his mouth, soothing him: "I'm fine. My stomach is just a little uncomfortable."

Li Xiao didn't speak. Song Song's vision already began to darken. He reached out to hug the man around the neck and coaxed: "I'm fine. Really. Let's return first. Bring me back. Don't get angry. There's a lot of people here "

Li Xiao wordlessly carried him off the ground. Song Song clung onto his consciousness, afraid to faint. He was scared that Li Xiao would lose it right here. There were so many innocent commoners here and it's also close to New Years. If anything happened, it would be hard to deal with.

Vision waning, he managed to maintain a sliver of consciousness and repeatedly reassure Li Xiao quietly: "Nothing is wrong, your highness. I'm really fine "

At first, that voice could still be heard, but gradually, it became hard to discern. Song Song's head was full of thoughts about not stimulating Li Xiao, when he fainted he was still worried about this. He saw Li Xiao furiously destroying the soup kitchens; the people didn't even have time to escape before Li Xiao pulled out their hearts with his bare hands. But he was still unconscious and couldn't do anything no matter what. He was so worried cold sweats poured out nonstop. Even when he jolted awake, he was still yelling Li Xiao's name.

He sat up suddenly, his gaze ran straight into Li Xiao's: "Your highness."

"I'm okay. How about you?" Song Song finally realized that he already returned to the estate. He laid back down, his vision starting to turn black again. After resting for a while, he finally looked at Li Xiao's face again. He pulled at the man's hand and said: "Your highness, just now. "

"You've been unconscious for an entire day. Right now it's almost midnight." Li Xiao pushed away the sweaty long hair sticking to his forehead: "Ji Ying came by to see you. He said that you got too upset and it damaged your heart. Your body is weak so you need to have some self-restraint. Don't get angry."

Song Song nodded. Li Xiao ordered someone to bring over the prescribed medicine. Song Song glanced at it and was a little sulky: "I have to take medicine again?"

"Not bitter. I also have some honey here for you." His tone was gentle. Song Song stopped protesting and obediently picked up the bowl and took a sip. As promised, it was not bitter, instead it was even a bit sweet at the end. However, the sweetness in herbal medicines still tasted a bit strange in a way that people couldn't get used to. He still couldn't resist frowning.

All the medicine were so bad tasting, he didn't know how he's going to survive the rest of the days. Li Xiao turned and took the honey from the tray and put it in Song Song's mouth, instructing: "Drink it like this."

Holding the honey in his mouth, Song Song drank all of the medicine in one go, wiped his mouth and handed over the bowl. Suddenly, he heard Li Xiao say: "In the dream, the person who replaced you was Song Ge?"

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Scared Scared: That's right! upsetcrywaawaa.jpg

Cray Cray: Hug tight!