in2ebook Chapter 151 Follow-up 2
Chapter 151 Follow-up 2
At that time, in the Cloud Recesses of the Lan Clan of Gusu, there was a bamboo room (a private residence for Lan Qiren).
Wearing a plain white undergarment, Lan Zhan lay with his eyes closed on the simple and elegant bed. Madam Lan, with a pale face and a deep melancholy between her brows, was holding Lan Huan in her arms and guarding the bed with tears streaming down her face, staring intently at the little boy who had been sleeping all day.
She was supposed to be confined to the Dragon Gallant Pavilion and not allowed to go out, but unfortunately, Lan Zhan fainted suddenly in public yesterday. The disciples who served him were relatively young and could not withstand the storm. Before they could inform Lan Qiren and Qingheng-jun in time, the news had already spread throughout the entire Cloud Recesses.
Upon receiving the news, Qingheng-jun immediately suppressed the rumors that had spread throughout Cloud Recesses and strictly ordered the Lan clan members not to spread the news. He specifically instructed them not to tell Madam Lan so as not to worry her.
However, no matter how fast he issued the order, it couldn't keep up with the speed at which those within Cloud Recesses harbored deep malice towards Madam Lan due to old grudges. As soon as they learned of Lan Zhan's soul leaving his body, they rushed to Dragon Gallant Pavilion and, in front of the melancholy Madam Lan, gloated over the vivid recounting of this terrible news, adding along the fact that the Third Elder, the best physician in the Lan Clan, was in dire straits.
As they expected, upon hearing this terrible news, Madam Lan was immediately shocked and vomited blood. Her expression became even more miserable and ashen as she slumped to the ground, as if all her energy had been drained away in an instant, leaving her utterly dejected.
Seeing Madam Lan's pained expression, as if struck by a heavy blow, they left satisfied, watching the two maids in the small building with indifference.
After a moment of silence, filled with endless worry for Lan Zhan, Madam Lan, having recovered from the sudden bad news, disregarded the obstruction of her two maids and forced her way out of Longdan Xiaozhu. Amidst the indignation and surprise of the Lan clan members she encountered along the way, she ran all the way and finally met Qingheng-jun, who was seeing the Third Elder out of the Bamboo Chamber, at the courtyard gate.
After a great deal of commotion, Qingheng-jun was unwilling and reluctant to further agitate his wife, who was nearly driven mad by the news of her beloved son's death. He took the initiative to back down and allowed Madam Lan to leave Longdan Xiaozhu and stay in the bamboo room to watch over the unconscious Lan Zhan. He also forcefully suppressed all the opposition within the clan, including the dissatisfaction of his own younger brother, Lan Qiren.
Madam Lan has been keeping vigil by Lan Zhan's bedside for a day and a night, without eating or drinking, remaining motionless as she gazes intently at him. Little Lan Huan, who had also been watching over him for a long time yesterday, scurried to the bamboo room to snuggle in his mother's arms as soon as he woke up today, continuing to watch over him.
The creaking sound of the door being pushed open pierced the suffocating silence in the room. Qingheng-jun, who had been talking with the Third Elder all morning, and Lan Qiren, whose eyes were bloodshot from searching all night for a way to wake Lan Zhan, walked in one after the other.
"Ah Su (I've created a fictional character for Qingheng Jun's wife, named Lin Yingsu), how about Ah Zhan?"
Qinghengjun asked in a low, worried voice. Lan Qiren bowed to Madam Lan, stood up straight, and looked at Madam Lan expectantly with pursed lips.
Madam Lan seemed not to hear them and remained in the same position they had seen when they entered. "...A-Su?" Qinghengjun's brows furrowed, and his worry deepened. He hurriedly took two or three steps to the bedside, leaned down slightly, and reached out to touch Madam Lan's forehead, but was stopped by Madam Lan's immediately furrowed brows and the look of resistance on her face.
A hint of disappointment quickly flashed across Qinghengjun's eyes. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, about to say something, when little Lan Huan, nestled in Madam Lan's arms, poked his worried and sorrowful head out and replied in a tearful voice.
"Father, Uncle, my brother hasn't woken up yet! What should we do? Will he be alright? Please think of a way to wake him up! Ah Huan wants my brother..."
"Huan'er..." Faced with her eldest son's tearful pleas, Qinghengjun was speechless, feeling as if her heart was being torn apart.
"Ah Huan, come to your uncle. Come with me to the kitchen and get some food for your mother, otherwise she'll get sick from hunger!" Although Lan Qiren was also disappointed with this answer, and was even more worried about his unconscious nephew, he was used to taking care of his two nephews. He could tell at a glance that this little rascal Lan Huan hadn't even had breakfast as soon as he woke up and had come to keep watch over her. Judging from the situation, his brother and sister-in-law probably hadn't had breakfast either this morning.
Thinking that she hadn't eaten or drunk anything yesterday, and fearing that she and Lan Huan would starve themselves, Lan Qiren suppressed his worries for Lan Zhan and gently coaxed Lan Huan to come out and have a meal with him in the dining hall, and to bring a portion for his mother as well.
Lan Huan wanted to refuse after hearing Lan Qiren's words, but he couldn't bear to let his mother go hungry. He pouted and obediently climbed out of Lin Yingsu's arms and walked obediently to Lan Qiren's side.
"Qi Ren, thank you for your help!" Qing Hengjun, realizing what she had overlooked only after hearing Lan Qi Ren's words, glanced at the motionless Lin Ying Su with annoyance, then turned to Lan Qi Ren with relief.
Lan Qiren ignored his brother, whose brain had been sluggish and who seemed to have lost his mind. He bent down, reached out and took Lan Huan's small hand, then turned around and prepared to leave the bamboo room and head towards the dining hall.
Just as he turned around, he heard his brother and sister-in-law's joyful exclamations beside him, "Ah Zhan, you're awake?!"
He immediately turned around and was shocked to see Lin Yingsu leaning halfway in front of the bed, excitedly wrapping her arms around the bewildered little Lan Zhan who had just opened his eyes.
Qinghengjun stood to the side, overjoyed, repeatedly muttering, "It's good that she's awake! It's good that she's awake..."
Little Lan Huan quickly let go of Lan Qiren's hand, shouting "Little brother!" as he rushed to the bedside and hugged the mother and son who were embracing each other tightly.
Lan Qiren, who was a step too slow, stood still, his eyes red as he looked at the excited and distraught family of four in front of him. After a moment of thought, he quietly walked to the door and beckoned to the disciples on duty. He instructed one of them to go to the clinic to call the Third Elder, and the other to go to the dining hall to fetch a few breakfasts. He specifically instructed the disciple to make sure that the portion for the Second Young Master was light and easy to digest, and to also bring a bowl of hot water for the newly awakened Young Master to wash up.
Upon learning that the Second Young Master had awakened, the disciples' worries vanished. The two disciples whose names were called bowed respectfully to Lan Qiren and immediately turned to carry out the orders. The remaining disciples suppressed their surging joy and stood upright in place to continue their duty.
After giving all the instructions, Lan Qiren anxiously returned to the inner room of the bamboo chamber, unable to hide his excitement as he went over to the awakened Lan Zhan and inquired about his well-being.
After the Third Elder went through the process of examining, washing, and eating, Qingheng-jun, Lan Qiren, and the others finally had time to inquire about Lan Zhan's specific situation at the time.
No matter what questions they asked, Lan Zhan remained silent except to answer that he was fine. Qingheng-jun, Madam Lan, and Lan Qiren, who were worried and confused, were restless and had countless conspiracy theories swirling in their minds.
Only Lan Huan, who was most familiar with Lan Zhan, noticed the change in his younger brother's demeanor immediately. He poked Lan Zhan's little face with surprise and asked in confusion, "Little brother, how come you seem to have grown so much after just one night's sleep?"
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Lan Huan. His childlike question instantly reminded the adults, who were stuck in a dead end. They quickly exchanged glances, as if suddenly enlightened.
Could it be that Ah Zhan has encountered the legendary adventure?
The adults, as if by unspoken agreement, realized that Lan Zhan's appearance perfectly matched the criteria for encountering a fortuitous adventure.
Look, in the heavily guarded Cloud Recesses, for no apparent reason, his soul left his body for a day and a night; upon waking, his demeanor had drastically changed, as if he had aged several years overnight, and his speech and thought processes had matured considerably; he remained silent about his unusual behavior...
Wow, this meets all the criteria for a serendipitous encounter!
Within moments, the adults were certain that Lan Zhan's recent accident was most likely due to the legendary fortuitous encounter, but this encounter was something Lan Zhan was forbidden from revealing to others. They simply didn't know if this fortuitous encounter was a one-time event or if it would happen again in the future.
The group was filled with worry, but at the same time, they tacitly decided to keep this news a complete secret and not let anyone else know. Otherwise, as the saying goes, "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Once the news leaked out, their Lan Zhan would become the target of all the cultivation sects. Even within the Lan family, they couldn't guarantee that no one would covet him. At that time, the three of them would be outnumbered and powerless to protect Lan Zhan's safety.
So from now on, the three of them, no, there's also little Lan Huan, who must keep the secret and try their best to reasonably cover up the difference in Lan Zhan!