However, Fu Zhiyu also found that this child was much clingier than in his previous life. When taking a bath, he would hold his hand and didn't want him to leave. Fu Zhiyu had to help him wash himself. The guards behind him felt that this was inappropriate and were about to step forward, but were immediately sent out by Fu Zhiyu to buy clothes for the child.
He felt that there was nothing wrong with it. Ming Dao was looking so pitiful at that moment that he felt sorry for him.
It was winter now and he was only wearing two thin pieces of clothing, which made him look cold. While Fu Zhiyu was giving him a bath, she looked at the wounds on his body, some big and some small, and couldn't help but sigh.
Yuan Mingdao is an orphan, his parents are unknown and he had a very unhappy childhood. It is because of this that he is willing to risk his life to repay the little kindness I have shown him.
"Do you have a name?" Fu Zhiyu asked him softly, "If you don't have one, can I give you one? But I can't just give my last name to anyone. My mother's last name is fine. How about Yuan Mingdao?"
The child nodded obediently and for the first time spoke, uttered one word: "Okay."
Then he blinked again, stared at Fu Zhiyu closely, and uttered two more words: "Master."
Fu Zhiyu touched his wet hair and said with a smile: "My name is Fu Zhiyu."
As he spoke, he wrote these words on his arm, leaving a few blurry water marks.
"I will teach you calligraphy and martial arts," he continued, "but I didn't bring you back to be your master. If you wish, you can treat me as your brother."
Yuan Mingdao shook his head stubbornly, and called him master again, still holding him tightly and refusing to let go.
Fu Zhiyu did not force it. He spent most of the hour just giving Mingdao a bath. The guards bought a lot of children's clothes and he picked out a light blue cotton coat for Yuan Mingdao to change into.
Yuan Mingdao was very good-looking when he was raw, and after washing, his skin was too pale, which made his green eyes look like clear gemstones. His appearance was different from the people here, with a different exotic style. No wonder the madam in his previous life was unwilling to let him go and had to make him obedient.
His hair was not pure black either, but rather brown. Fu Zhiyu carefully wiped it several times with a handkerchief. It was now half dry, with a few strands hanging by his cheeks, making him look neat.
"You're too thin," Fu Zhiyu put his clothes on him, touched his face, and said distressedly, "You don't have much meat on you. The waiter will bring the food up later. Have some snacks first."
Maybe because he was wearing new clothes, Yuan Mingdao didn't eat this meal like he did in his previous life, like a beggar who hadn't eaten in eight lifetimes. Although he ate very quickly this time, his movements were very disciplined, even a little reserved and elegant. He didn't stare at the meat too closely, and remembered to match the meat and vegetables. He put down his chopsticks when he had almost finished.
After he finished eating, Fu Zhiyu touched his hair, which was already dry. She then took out a prepared hair tie and simply tied up his half-long hair.
From behind he saw Yuan Mingdao's back tense up, then gradually relax.
In his previous life, he was kind to Ming Dao, but he didn't do these things for him personally. At that time, he still regarded himself as a prince. No matter how gentle his personality was, his education since childhood would never make him condescend to do such a thing.
But now Fu Zhiyu has already let it go. To put it bluntly, we are all just data, and the strict etiquette cannot control him. Now he can do whatever he wants, and it is even more impossible for him to be bound by any rules for Mingdao.
In his eyes, Mingdao is now a younger brother who needs protection. He is only ten years old and still young, with plenty of time.
"Do you want to sleep for a while?" Fu Zhiyu asked him, "You probably haven't had a good rest recently, right? When you wake up, I'll take you home."
Yuan Mingdao didn't know which word in his words touched him, and he dived into his arms. Fu Zhiyu was holding him now, and he felt that the child was soft and lively. He was the one he had finally seen again, and the regret he finally had the chance to make up for.
"Don't leave." Yuan Mingdao whispered in his ear, "I'm scared..."
His voice was too soft, and I couldn't hear clearly what he was afraid of at the end.
"I won't leave," Fu Zhiyu patted his back and coaxed him, "I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll stay here with you for a while."
Yuan Mingdao was coaxed by him and gradually relaxed. Fu Zhiyu was really sleepy. After he received Mingdao, it seemed like a knot in his heart was untied.
He slept until noon. When Fu Zhiyu woke up, he saw Mingdao, who was sleeping with his eyes closed, holding his sleeves tightly and refusing to let go. As soon as he moved slightly, the child opened his eyes immediately.
"Don't you want to sleep a little longer?"
Yuan Mingdao shook his head and stared at him.
"Then let's go out and take a look. I have some things to do outside," Fu Zhiyu said with a smile, "I haven't been out like this for a long time. I miss it a little bit."
He was holding Yuan Mingdao's hand, followed by two guards. When he walked down the stairs, he attracted a lot of attention. The noisy lobby even became quiet for a moment, and the students were looking over there intentionally or unintentionally.
Fu Zhiyu had followed Xu Daxueshi out of the palace before, and this time was quite a few times. He had met some famous students and attended several gatherings. He was handsome and recruited people, so there were quite a few people in the capital who knew him.
Besides, it has been so long, and few people probably don’t know that he was named King Zhao even after his brain failed due to an illness.
Fu Zhiyu ignored the whispers and whispered to Yuan Mingdao, "Be careful with the steps. The steps of Fengyue Tower are a bit too high. Do you want me to carry you?"
Yuan Mingdao frowned seriously in front of so many people and shook his head firmly.
No matter how the students speculated in their minds, no one dared to step forward. They could only watch as the group of people walked through the lobby and were about to leave Fengyue Tower.
But at this moment, someone squeezed out from the crowd. The guards reacted quickly, standing in front of Fu Zhiyu with knives in hand, ready to protect him.
He was a scholar, wearing a moon-white robe. He looked weak and posed no threat, but his eyes were shining with excitement.
"My name is Shen Yang," the scholar saw the guards pointing knives at him, but he was not afraid at all. He just bowed to Fu Zhiyu and said, "I was introduced by Xu Daxueshi and had the honor of meeting King Zhao several times. I dare to ask, does King Zhao remember me?"
Ever since this person appeared, Fu Zhiyu felt Yuan Mingdao's grip on his hand suddenly tighten.
To be honest, he remembered Shen Yang very clearly.
When Fu Zhiyu was an emperor in his previous life, he had three trusted ministers, and he treated all of them sincerely, but the three made different choices.
His loyal guard Yuan Mingdao died for him, his beloved general Xie Ke eventually killed him, and the prime minister Shen Yang, who supported him, chose to betray him.
Yes, when Fu Zhiyu was the emperor, he had personally appointed Shen Yang, a commoner, as prime minister, despite all objections. To be fair, Shen Yang was very capable and talented, and it was his idea that gave Fu Zhiyu a lot of advantages when he was competing for power with the crown prince.
However, when Xie Ke rebelled, he was the one who stole the imperial seal. When Fu Zhiyu was in the most dangerous situation, he chose to surrender to Xie Ke and left him.
It was not easy for him to meet these three old friends today, all of whom left deep impressions on him.