Chapter 6: For me, please persevere!
Chapter 6: For me, please persevere!
Su Li took Princess Changles small hand into her own once again. As Su Li understood it, a patient in a vegetative state was not entirely unconscious but had a hazy consciousness.
Some patients might have a vague sense of their condition, while others could even fully perceive the outside world during certain moments. After experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence, there was a high likelihood that their consciousness was in a clear state.
The human body had a certain response to the stimulation of excretion. In this situation, it could often stimulate the recovery of consciousness. Although they couldnt react, comatose patients could feel clearly that they were experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence. Because of this incontinence their self-esteem would also be severely affected.
Su Li was unsure whether Princess Changle was currently in a conscious state and could hear external sounds, but providing psychological support was necessary after experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence. If the patient was entirely unconscious, it would be better because they would not feel embarrassed by their incontinence, and their self-esteem would not be significantly affected.
However, if the patient was conscious during incontinence, it could be an extremely challenging situation. The patient would often feel intense shame, and without proper psychological support, relying solely on self-encouragement, they could quickly experience a psychological breakdown and lose the will to live.
Princess Changle was a young girl, only twenty-two years of age. She was in the prime of her life, a pure and flawless beauty, and shone like the brightest pearl in the entire Tang Dynasty. Now, she couldnt even control her bowel movements, significantly contrasting her previous state. It was a jarring reality for a young girl who had not yet experienced the fullness of adulthood. How could she cope with such a distressing situation of falling from grace?
Although Su Li had initially regarded Princess Changle as a means to earn points, it did not mean that Su Li was inhumane or didnt want Princess Changle to recover. Especially when he could see her present condition, if we took a step back and examined Su Lis life, we could see that it was intertwined with that of Princess Changle. Though he held the title of prince-in-law, in reality, he was just a destitute man hurrying to make it to the wedding.
Once Princess Changle completely gave up her will to survive for psychological reasons, her physical condition got worse and worse in a short time. If Princess Changle died, Su Li had to be buried with her. So it was necessary for Su Li to help Princess Changle.
I am a peasants son, Su Li slowly spoke, trying to help Princess Changle with some psychological support. He didnt know whether Princess Changle was conscious or not, but even if she could hear him just a little, it might help the 22-year-old princess.
In the dark prison of her consciousness, Princess Changle, who was going through a breakdown of her self-esteem, suddenly became dazed.
Did Iget married? Princess Changle thought, feeling a bit confused.
Her consciousness would intermittently awaken, and most of the time, she only had a complete perception of the outside world during defecation or eating, so she was unaware that she had already gotten married. When she first heard the news of her marriage, Princess Changle felt some inexplicable emotions stirring within her heart.
Princess Changle was actually engaged to her cousin, Zhangsun Chong, at an early age. Her Mother and Father also mentioned her future marriage occasionally. So, she was supposed to marry her cousin, Zhangsun Chong, next year.
As a mother and a philanthropist, Princess Changles mother had a vision for the future, but most of the future she envisioned was peaceful. The idea of getting married was very close to Princess Changle, yet it still felt so distant.
How did I get married? she thought.
I was in a coma, and now Im married to a peasants son instead of my betrothed, Zhangsun Chong?
At this moment, facing the major events in her life, curiosity overwhelmed the shame of collapse.
As for methe reason I married you is because of Wedding-Benediction, Su Li said.
His Majesty and the Empress both love you deeply. They sought medical help, offered prayers, and even consulted eminent monks and Taoists, but to no avail. Therefore, guided by Yuan Tiangang, they chose me, a peasants son, to perform the wedding ceremony and bring you good fortune, Su Li explained in a gentle tone.
The female officer who was standing nearby was looking at Su Li with a curious gaze. She wondered why he was sharing this information with Princess Changle, who was unresponsive. Did he harbor some dissatisfaction in his heart?
She considered that even though he was a peasant, he was still a son of a respectable family.
In this peaceful era, even if one had to endure some hardships and work hard, at least, there was enough food to eat, and in the future, one could get married and have children without worrying about the family bloodline being cut off.
The female officer had a certain understanding of this newly arrived son-in-law.
It seemed that Su Li got married to Princess Changle and became a noble son-in-law of the royal family, but after all, it was nothing more than a facade. His Majesty even ordered him not to step out of the princesss mansion, which meant he couldnt marry anyone or have children. If Princess Changle passed away, the son-in-law would also be buried with her. It was normal for him to feel dissatisfied.
The female official was hesitant about whether to stop Su Li from continuing, afraid that his dissatisfaction might cause him to blurt out something shocking. Meanwhile, Princess Changle listened to Su Lis words, feeling inexplicably saddened. Everything had changed with her prolonged sleep, including the surrounding people.
She couldnt even see the wedding she was most looking forward to with her own eyes. She didnt even know what her husband looked like. After her death, she would even have to be buried with this completely unfamiliar person.
Princess Changle worried that Su Li might resent her since she passed away, and they would be buried together as strangers. She seemed to struggle with her own emotions and circumstances but was reluctant to blame Su Li entirely. She could not pity him either, as her own life had also been ruined.
Su Li seemed to take the situation in stride and tried to reassure Princess Changle by saying that it was not so bad.
Do you know what its like to be a peasant? Wake up before dawn to plow the fields. You can only rest when the moon is high in the sky. You can only eat two meals daily, and your stomach growls at night when you try to sleep hungry. Su Li rambled on.
I think its not bad to become a marquis. At least I can wear silk clothes Ive never worn before and eat delicacies Ive never tasted before. Even after I die, I dont have to be buried in a small plot of land thats only two feet wide. You probably dont know, but a peasant has to count every penny in his entire life, even when buying a coffin. If you die, I have to be buried with you. I heard the imperial tomb is very large. I estimate our tomb will be bigger than the fields Ive worked on for my whole life. Su Li spoke softly and tenderly.
Princess Changle found it oddly amusing to hear Su Li talk about death so seriously. Can you hear me, my lady? Su Li asked while gently scratching her palm.
I think thats enough for now, but if its for me, please keep insisting! Su Li spoke softly, and his words lifted Princess Changles spirits.
This was a crucial aspect of psychological rehabilitation for patients to feel that they were not always a burden and didnt need to ask for help constantly. Many patients gave up on surviving because they couldnt bear the collapse of their self-esteem and felt like they were endlessly dragging and demanding.
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