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Chapter 67 If

Song Guogong seemed like he suddenly realized something. Expression stiff, he called out with difficulty: "Song-er"

"En?"

Just based on hearing this voice, which sounded completely harmless, Song Guogong paused for a moment, then started walking again. Song Song said: "I can only bring you to this point. Take care."

Abruptly, Song Guogong's legs turned soft as he fell before Song Song's feet. He hugged Song Song's legs with both of his arms and said fearfully: "Song-er. You have to save your dad. You can't treat your dad this way!"

"You'll be fine." Song Song said softly: "She won't hurt you."

"Song-er ah .." Song Guogong suddenly burst out in tears: "Dad was wrong. Dad understands his mistakes now. Song-er, please just forgive me this once. I can't. I'm afraid "

Song Song looked at him without moving. His silence made Song Guogong feel even more uneasy. Unable to see out of both eyes, he could only subconsciously grab tightly on to Song Song's legs. The long silence made his heart rattle in panic. He didn't dare to cry anymore as he said trembling: "If I do what you want me to do, will you let me go?"

"If that's what you want."

Song Song told him.

With a servant's support, Song Guogong walked in. His pace was very slow as he prayed in his heart that Song Song might soften a little bit. If it were the Song Song who still had high hopes for him, he might have. But now, Song Song no longer cared about him at all.

He watched as Song Guogong's figure completely disappeared from his view, then stepped on to the stool to climb into his carriage. "Let's return."

On the road away from the imperial prison, he ordered someone to buy a piece of jujube cake. Sitting inside the carriage, he held the cake with both hands and lightly took a bite. The soft texture felt extremely good, but the hot temperature of the cake made him squint his eyes and open his mouth for cold air.

His appetite was the same as before. If he ate too much, he would start to vomit. Therefore, Song Song only ate two bites before he put it down. When he got home, the cake in his hand was still warm. He got off the carriage and caught sight of Li Xiao standing at the entrance looking at him, as if he also just returned.

When he saw Song Song, his brows slightly furrowed: "Where did you go?"

Song Song held the cake and slowly walked over: "Took a visit to the imperial prison."

Li Xiao lifted his foot to walk inside the estate. Song Song followed him in silence. He saw the man head towards the study, hesitated for a moment, then continued to follow behind: "Your highness."

"Recognized your mistake?"

Song Song looked down, feeling wronged in his heart. He said: "Yes."

"What did you do wrong?"

"I shouldn't have taken matters into my own hands. I overstepped." He bent his knees to kneel: "Please punish"

His arms were suddenly supported while Li Xiao picked him up off the ground. Song Song's tears filled his eyes as he was carried to a chair. Li Xiao lightly touched the corner of his eyes: "You shouldn't have gone by yourself. What if you got injured?"

Song Song didn't speak, but his tears surged soundlessly. Li Xiao hugged him tight and said softly: "No need to rush to deal with them so quickly."

Song Song pressed his mouth together and lightly sniffled.

To be honest, he understood that clearly, but he really held too much hatred in his heart. Ever since he learned that Song Guogong was also involved in his grandfather and mother's death, his hate was pushed to the extreme. However, he wasn't the type to express outwardly the feelings he held inside. Even if he hated with all his heart, he still wasn't going to cause a scene or curse in rage. Therefore, all of his different emotions have always been bottled deep inside.

Even in front of Li Xiao, other than feeling so bad that he wanted to cry, he didn't know how to release his negative emotions. He didn't even know how to explain this to Li Xiao.

He really did feel extremely, extremely upset.

Actually, what Song Song said wasn't wrong. Although this issue was handed over to Li Xiao, he crossed Li Xiao's authority today when he went to deal with the empress on his own. In the end, he overstepped. Originally, he could have just waited for Li Xiao to get revenge for him.

He didn't know why he would do such a thing behind Li Xiao's back. This kind of him seemed like he was purposely testing Li Xiao's bottom line or maybe taking advantage of Li Xiao's pampering and love for granted. This wasn't like him, yet he still did it.

If Li Xiao became unhappy, reprimanded him for being impudent, then dragged him outside to be executed, it wouldn't even be unreasonable.

Li Xiao cupped his wet cheek with a hand and said softly: "Alright. No more crying, Song-er. I wasn't blaming you. I was only worried about you."

Song Song sniffled, and admitted his mistake with trembling shoulders: "I won't do it again in the future."

"You can overstep, but you can't recklessly put yourself in danger. Understand?"

Song Song looked up under his long eyelashes, and gazed at Li Xiao through hazy eyes: "If you keep spoiling me like this, I really will become more and more lawless and unrestrained."

"Go ahead and show me then."

Song Song laughed through his tears, the gloom in his heart finally swept clean. He lowered his head to open the paper bag he's been holding all this time and asked Li Xiao: "Do you want to eat cake?"

Li Xiao didn't reject him. He leaned close and bit down on the area where Song Song had taken a bite previously. Song Song looked at him expectantly: "Tasty?"

"A little sticky." Li Xiao answered truthfully and asked: "Your appetite hasn't been good these days, How come you're still eating all these sweet foods?"

"Because " Song Song found a perfect excuse: "The little prince wants to eat it."

At the moment, Song Song was fairly apparent in his pregnancy. The weather had been gradually warming up. If he got rid of his cotton jacket and cloak, then there'd be no way to block the view. Li Xiao chuckled lightly and pecked him on the cheek. His palm covered over Song Song's abdomen: "What a sweet tooth, maybe it will be a little princess?"

Song Song glared at him: "Not a chance!"

Li Xiao teased him deliberately: "How come you're favoring boys over girls?"

"I'm not, I'm only " Only because in the previous life, he didn't even have a chance to hold the little prince. He held a wish in his heart. Li Xiao looked at him with an almost smiling expression. Song Song glared at him again: "Don't you miss him? Didn't you meet him in the dream as well?"

"I met him." Li Xiao said: "And also held him, kissed him, and slept in the same bed as him "

Seeing Song Song's sour expression, he also felt a bit sour in his heart: "You like him that much?"

(Note: I don't know this is clear but sour is the taste of jealousy.)

"Doesn't the emperor also like you very much?"

Li Xiao hugged him tightly in an overbearing manner: "What if this king commands you not to like him?"

Cupping his face, Song Song gave him a serious appraisal: "You really are unreasonable."

The unreasonable man picked him up and placed him on the soft sofa, then leaned down to kiss him. Song Song couldn't avoid him, and also didn't want to avoid him. Therefore, he obediently allowed himself to be kissed until his head lacked oxygen.

Li Xiao seemed a little impatient but also worried over his body, so he only fondled Song Song with restraint to ease his hunger.

Just at this moment, a summon came from the palace: "The emperor verbally decreed, for Ping Wang to come to Yangxin palace."

Song Song hastily got ready and accompanied Li Xiao onto the carriage.

When they arrived at their destination, the other princes, princesses and their son-in-laws, all rushed over one by one, and stood around the emperor's bed.

As the eldest son, Li Xiao passed through the crowd and walked to the very front.

In a few short days, emperor Hong Ren's sick body rapidly deteriorated. He was sitting against the pillow. Li Yang was leaning against the side of his bed crying soundlessly.

The night that Li Xiao saved the emperor, Song Song didn't come. Li Xiao also didn't say much to him about it. When he caught sight of Li Yang, he thought about the empress who died in the prison again, feeling extremely complicated in his heart.

Hong Ren reached out a hand to pat Li Yang's head: "Everything is done. It's okay. Your big brother is here."

Abruptly Li Yang looked up, his reddened rabbit eyes carrying some hints of fear and shame. He stood up and wordlessly moved to the side, as if making space for Li Xiao.

Emperor Hong Ren said: "You can all go out. Chang Ji can stay."

The group turned and left one by one. Song Song followed out to stand in the corridor. Someone sobbed behind him: "Will something happen to father?"

"No way."

He observed the group of brothers and sisters in front of him and suddenly felt Li Xiao really had a very harmonious family. All these people were just like normal commoners, feeling concerned for their father at the moment.

Unavoidably, he thought about Song Guogong and momentarily felt anguish.

He stood dazed for a while. Li Xiao walked out, his gaze landing on him: "Father said for you to enter."

Surprised for a second, Song Song walked inside. Someone got a chair ready for him in front of emperor Hong Ren. The two crossed gazes. Hong Ren smiled. His voice was very soft, as if he already used up all of this strength: "The person Zhen worries about most right now is Chang Ji."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Song Song's eyes started to burn: "I will take good care of wangye."

"You can cure him for the moment, but can you cure him for a lifetime?"

Song Song replied: "I don't know."

"This question, just now Zhen" he panted and said: "also asked him."

He asked Li Xiao? Song Song recalled steward Qi's words. He wasn't special because he could cure Li Xiao's illness, but rather, because he was special, he was able to cure Li Xiao's illness. Then would he be able to remain special in Li Xiao's heart forever?

He looked at Hong Ren and heard the emperor say: "He said, he also didn't know."

In terms of emotion, Song Song felt somewhat disappointed, but logically, he felt this was the most reasonable.

Even if Li Xiao liked him very much at the moment, it didn't guarantee that he will like him for a lifetime or treat him as someone special for a lifetime.

"No matter what, I will do my best to help his highness maintain clarity."

"Zhen called you in here because I want you to promise me a few things."

Song Song looked at him. Hong Ren also returned his gaze. The corner of his eyes were full of wrinkles, but his eye expression still held a sense of imposing presence and dignity: "I want you to guarantee the brothers' safety. No matter what happens in the future, you must prevent Li Xiao from causing the brothers to fight amongst themselves."

Song Song said: "I will do my best."

Hong Ren nodded and said: "Also, if one day you can no longer affect Li Xiao, then just lock him up. You must not let him act recklessly."

Song Song said: "I will watch him well."

"When your child is born, you need to educate him immediately and wholeheartedly. Groom the next heir to the throne while you can still control Li Xiao."

Although Hong Ren already decided to hand over the throne to Li Xiao, he still didn't seem to trust his erratic illness. He chose to trust Song Song, however, one reason was because there was no one else to choose from. The second was because he could promise Song Song a guaranteed position of power. Even if Li Xiao wasn't the emperor, as long as Song Song's child inherited the throne, he would still be in a position above everyone else. With this benefit, he was certain that Song Song wouldn't decline his last wishes.

Song Song said: "His highness and I will make sure to educate the next heir well together."

His answer was very clever. If he held ulterior motives and wanted his child to become the next ruler as soon as Li Xiao received the throne, in the long run, he's bound to conflicted and clash with Li Xiao. However, if he were to raise his child with Li Xiao together, with everything out in the open, then this conflict could be avoided.

Emperor Hong Ren looked at him momentarily and said: "Do you trust in a lunatic?"

Song Song smiled and said: "I trust in his highness."

He trusted that even if Li Xiao became the emperor, he would still be the same Li Xiao. He knew that if he left, he would miss Li Xiao. When Li Xiao went out, he would worry. Therefore, he decided to wholeheartedly trust that man. It didn't matter that in the future he might have other favored concubines. At least for the moment, their hearts were as one.

Emperor Hong Ren also smiled. Then, he tiredly closed his eyes: "It's only a pity that Zhen won't be able to hold a grandson."

Song Song blinked furiously: "Just hold on a bit. It won't be long. By the end of the year, you'll be able to."

"En." Hong Ren didn't say anymore. He sat there, breathing very lightly. Song Song stayed for a while longer as the emperor continued to keep his eyes closed, quietly. A feeling of panic rose gradually in Song Song's heart.

As if recognizing his helplessness, Dou gonggong quickly walked over and moved closer to Hong Ren carefully, checking his pulse. He let out a breath and said: "His majesty is probably tired. This servant will help him lay down. Wangfei, please return."

Song Song swallowed down his almost outpouring sorrow, bowed and left. Li Xiao stood waiting for him outside. His eyes looked very firm. They've never reddened even at this point. When he saw Song Song come out, he held his hands and said: "What did father say to you?"

Song Song recounted everything truthfully. Li Xiao said: "My illness is unstable. His worry is pretty reasonable."

The father and son's hearts were connected. They were able to understand each other very well. Therefore, Song Song didn't say anymore.

Li Xiao turned his head to look at him, then suddenly smiled: "When father asked you if you could cure my illness for a lifetime, I answered I don't know. It wasn't because I wasn't certain of my feelings for you."

Song Song looked at him.

Li Xiao hugged him with an arm and said: "I'm also very worried. What if one day my illness becomes so severe that I won't even recognize you. What should I do then?"

His voice softened while his gaze looked towards the horizon. After a moment, he turned back to look at Song Song: "Although I can't be certain of my illness, I am completely certain that, I will always like Song-er."

"Therefore," he said: "If that day really happens, you must remember this point."

He leaned close to Song Song's ear and commanded: "You're definitely not allowed to abandon this king."