As the Second son of Jiang family finished his day's work in the imperial palace.
The yellow gates of the palace walls descended, signaling the end of the workday.
Eunuch Yan escorted the Second son of Jiang family as he left work.
The paths within the palace were wide.
High walls stood on both sides.
Guards were also present.
The large bluestone slabs were intricately carved, ensuring a non-slip surface.
Neither had imagined they would have the chance to walk like this again.
In fact, back in Kan'er Village, the two often walked together like this.
When Jiang Er finished work at the County Government Office, he usually walked home.
Jiang Er had a weak constitution.
When he first started working, walking back to Kan'er Village, the road was dark, and hooligans would try to scare him.
Jiang Er carried a knife, putting on a brave face to scare off the troublemakers.
The next day, however, those hooligans brought reinforcements and ganged up on Jiang Er.
Yan San happened to encounter the scene and helped fight off the group.
Of course, both of them didn't escape unscathed and were injured.
Yan San's already tattered clothes were completely ruined, his pants torn, letting in the cold air as he walked.
And so it went.
Sometimes, Yan San would wait for Jiang Er to finish his shift and walk back to Kan'er Village together.
It was around this time that villagers started calling him Yan Laosan.
As they walked back to the village together, the long stretch of road would transition from dusk to complete darkness by the time they reached the village.
Sometimes there would be a setting sun.
More often, there were just dark trees on both sides.
When it got late, they would focus on walking without chatting, hearing only each other's heartbeats and breathing.
Sometimes they would exchange a few words.
They would gaze into the future, gossip about the village widow, or recite poetry.
In reality, Yan Laosan did most of the talking, with Jiang Er just nodding and responding briefly.
Back then, Yan Laosan was a talkative youth.
When he was happy, he would even sing loudly, his voice echoing along the way.
The two enjoyed each other's company immensely.
At least, that's how Yan Laosan felt.
Because he thought Jiang Er was similar to him.
He always said he liked Sister Xia, but it was more of a sisterly affection, without romantic love. He just thought she was genuinely good.
So he idled away his days, doing nothing, until it was time to accompany Jiang Er after work. It seemed pointless, but he actually wanted to protect him.
He was, after all, just an idle troublemaker himself.
Later, as Jiang Er gradually became more capable and mature in dealing with those hooligans, even developing methods to subdue them, Yan Laosan stopped deliberately accompanying him after work.
But who would have thought.
Many years later.
He would once again accompany him after work.
Yan San now wore the elaborate attire of a eunuch, and eunuchs had ranks too. He was equivalent to the highest rank, dressed in purple-red clothing with beautiful, intricate patterns, looking quite splendid.
In winter, he wore an outer cloak with a fur collar, giving him an air of nobility. Perhaps because he was castrated later in life, even as a eunuch, he didn't appear effeminate. He had no odor, was very clean, and looked quite androgynous.
He had a face that both men and women would find attractive.
Jiang Er wore a dark blue robe. After the princess recognized her son, she wanted to promote him and grant him a title, but Jiang Changtian refused.
Mainly because Jiang Changtian felt deep down that this princess mother was unreliable.
Untrustworthy.
It was better to let it be.
Knowing his mother was still alive.
Knowing his mother was a princess.
Knowing his mother was safe and well-fed was enough, he had no further desires.
Jiang Changtian believed that one's path is carved out by oneself.
Manna doesn't fall from heaven, and if it did, it would surely be poisoned.
Judging by his own luck, he believed all his fortune had been used up in meeting Sister Xia.
That was enough.
It didn't matter if he had any luck left; because of this one thing, he could forgive heaven for all its injustices.
With Sister Xia, he had children, he had a family.
It was enough.
After many years, with changed identities, the two met again, leaving work together.
Yan Laosan accompanying Jiang Er.
Now, they no longer had to worry about not having food for their next meal.
Back then, Yan Laosan had boasted, "One day when I'm rich, I'll raise two dogs and eat three bowls of noodles in one sitting. If I can't finish, I'll give the rest to the dogs."
Now that he had money, he didn't raise dogs, and he couldn't even finish one bowl of noodles in a sitting, let alone three.
"When I left your house, I stole your tea to drink. That night I vomited for half the night, but in the days that followed, I felt my body gradually recover. Although I endured various hardships along the way, I never fell ill. It wasn't until I entered the palace and started taking medicinal pills with the emperor that my health slowly began to deteriorate. Later, when I drank the tea you sent me through Eunuch Duan, I felt my body slowly recover a bit," Yan San said casually.
His voice was very low.
The surroundings were spacious.
He deliberately waited until they reached a wide square to speak.
Only Jiang Er could hear him.
Jiang Changtian remained cautious inwardly but showed no change in his expression, maintaining a casual demeanor.
"His Majesty has become dependent on the medicinal pills, and there's little hope for recovery. Be careful when you deliver food."
Jiang Changtian nodded slightly.
"You must be careful."
"Mm."
The two continued walking.
The conversation ended.
They just walked silently.
The once long path seemed particularly short today.
It was as if they had returned to the mountain path in Kan'er Village.
Trees lined both sides, dark and shadowy.
Finally, they reached the yellow gate.
Eunuch Yan stood inside the yellow gate, watching as the Second son of Jiang family left.
Seeing that the Second son of Jiang family was personally escorted by Eunuch Yan, the gatekeeper's smile became even more fawning, his bow even lower.
