“My uncle sent men to Mujing Bay to kill Zhao Cheng. When I learned of my uncle’s actions, I tried to stop him, saying that Zhao Cheng was the consort of the Great Jing, and if he died, wouldn’t the Princess be left to live as a widow? But my uncle was determined to do so, and I was powerless to stop him.”

Yuan Xiu snorted, picked up his porridge, and said as he drank, "Then what is the meaning of you coming to tell me all this? Are you here to denounce Wen Tai?"

"Quite the opposite!"

Wen Hu grabbed Yuan Xiu's foot and said, "Chen Jiudao and Tulip were killed in the Left Prime Minister's residence. From their wounds, I can tell that they died by the sword of Wuchang! This means... it means that His Majesty actually knew the truth, which is why he sent Xu Qingshan to kill them. Although they were ruthless, Xu Qingshan was familiar with them and could easily take their lives by surprise."

"Since Your Majesty is aware of the situation, it is superfluous for me to say these things. However, I cannot bear to see my uncle suffer the same fate, so I have come to plead for him!"

"Your Majesty! Although my uncle went a bit too far, he is utterly loyal to Your Majesty and all he did was for Your Majesty's benefit!"

Yuan Xiu kicked Wen Hu in the chest and said in a deep voice, "Speaking nonsense and treating my people like dirt, is this what you call thinking of me?!"

Wen Hu said, "Your Majesty is unaware that Mr. Yu witnessed the vastness of Zhao Cheng's business during his trip to Yanchuan City. My uncle is worried that the Right Prime Minister's residence might become wealthy and cause trouble. However, Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler and has been very tolerant of the Right Prime Minister's residence. That's why my uncle thought of eliminating this potential threat for Your Majesty!"

"I just didn't expect... Chen Jiudao and Tulip to be so cruel, disregarding the lives of ordinary people!"

"My uncle is now filled with remorse!"

Yuan Xiu got up from his chair and paced around Wen Hu, saying, "Wen Tai sent you?"

"No! My uncle was unaware that I had come to see Your Majesty."

“Wenhu, what you’re saying sounds like you’re pleading for Wentai, but you’re actually absolving yourself of any responsibility.”

Yuan Xiu squatted down, stared into Wen Hu's eyes, and said, "Could it be that you really weren't involved in this matter?"

Wen Hu suddenly laughed.

Yuan Xiu angrily said, "I'm asking you a question, what are you laughing at?"

Wen Hu looked directly into Yuan Xiu's eyes and said, "Your Majesty, it is not that I am arrogant, but if I had gone to Mujing Bay, Zhao Cheng would probably not have survived!"

Yuan Xiu was stunned for a moment, then remembered what Lü Lu had told him about Wen Hu's strength, and knew that what Wen Hu said was true.

If Wen Hu and Luo Ying were both there, even if Lü Lu went, he wouldn't be able to stop them.

Yuan Xiu asked, "Since we've made things clear, I won't beat around the bush. The Mujing Bay incident was originally a struggle between the two prime ministerial residences. Now that Chen Jiudao and Tulip are dead, the matter is considered settled. I don't intend to pursue the matter with the Left Prime Minister, so why bother with this unnecessary trouble?"

Wen Hu immediately got up, knelt down, and bowed deeply to Yuan Xiu, saying, "Because I am Your Majesty's loyal subject!"

Yuan Xiu stared quietly at the back of Wen Hu's head for a while, then got up and sat back down in his chair.

"Get up and eat something, or the porridge will get cold."

"yes!"

Wen Hu then sat down opposite Yuan Xiu and ate quietly without saying another word.

After a long silence, Yuan Xiu finally asked, "Do you really want to be my loyal subject?"

Wen Hu said, "I have already promised Your Majesty that I am Your Majesty's sword."

"Have you ever considered that this knife might one day be used to strike the Left Prime Minister's residence?"

"Xu Qingshan has already done this, I can't fall behind."

"So that's why."

Yuan Xiu chuckled and said, "Xu Qingshan's betrayal provoked you?"

Wen Hu shook his head and said, "I do not believe that Xu Qingshan betrayed us. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. What Xu Qingshan can do, I can also do."

"What a wise bird chooses its tree to perch on!"

Yuan Xiu pointed at Wen Hu and said, "Lord Sha, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were no honest man!"

Wen Hu put down his chopsticks and said, "Thank you... for your praise, Your Majesty."

Yuan Xiu said, "But you are different from Xu Qingshan. You are the Left Chancellor's nephew and a true member of the Wen family. If you want me to trust you, this performance is not enough."

"In my eyes, there is neither the Wen family nor the Zhao family; there is only one Yuan family in the whole world!"

Wen Hu knelt down for the third time and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, how can you gain my trust? Please give your instructions!"

Yuan Xiu pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Xu Qingshan cut off Chen Jiudao and Tulip's heads to tell me that he has no way out. What about you?"

Wen Hu immediately stood up and said, "I will go to the Left Prime Minister's residence right now and cut off a few heads!"

"Look at you, how reckless you were!"

Yuan Xiu waved his hand and said, "Even if you are my loyal subject, I have not made you sever ties with the Left Prime Minister's residence. You can continue to stay in the Left Prime Minister's residence and collect some things for me."

"What is that?"

"Evidence of crimes committed by left-wing officials."

Wen Hu's expression hardened.

Yuan Xiu asked doubtfully, "What, it can't be done?"

Wen Hu frankly replied, "I am but a military man, and I am not particularly sensitive to such matters. But Your Majesty, rest assured, given more time, I will certainly be able to complete the mission!"

"Good!" Yuan Xiu stood up, patted Wen Hu's arm, and said, "I'm waiting for your pledge of allegiance!"

...

Because they had to wait for Zhao Hu to wake up, Zhao Cheng and Yuan Yun were not in a hurry to return to Yanchuan. Yuan Xiu also hoped that they could stay longer and often took the time to come and play with Zhao Changli.

Shi Minghua has been there for three days. He has locked himself and Zhao Hu in their room and will not come out. Zhao Cheng will stand guard outside the door whenever he has free time, but he does not dare to disturb them.

That evening, Shi Minghua finally pushed open the door and went out.

Zhao Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "He's awake?"

Shi Minghua shook his head.

Zhao Cheng asked, "Dead?"

Shi Minghua sighed.

Zhao Cheng's face turned pale instantly. He pointed at Shi Minghua and yelled, "Even the imperial physicians couldn't kill him, but you killed him! Do you still want your reputation as the 'Divine Physician of Jinghai'?!"

"He's not dead!" Shi Minghua glared at Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Why are you sighing if you're not dead?"

Shi Minghua said, "I sighed because you're so easily startled, it's annoying!"

Zhao Cheng quickly put on a smile and asked, "Then... then how is he?"

Shi Minghua said, "You're quite attentive. I didn't see you act like this when Park Moo-di was seriously injured."

Zhao Cheng said, "That's a completely different matter! You don't understand how important Zhao Hu is to our Zhao family!"

Shi Minghua said, "His injuries are healing. I've been watching over him for a few days, and his vitality is getting stronger, but he just can't wake up."

"Then what should we do?"

“I’ve done everything I could; the rest is up to him. If his will to survive is strong enough, he will definitely wake up.”

"What if he's stupid enough to not want to live anymore?"

Shi Minghua countered, "Is there anything in this world that he cherishes?"

"Things I cherish..."

“Think carefully about the people and things you care about. Sometimes even a person in a coma is conscious. You can stimulate them through the external environment.”

After saying this, Shi Minghua walked forward and said, "I haven't slept for days, I need to go and rest."

"Thank you, Mr. Minghua."

Zhao Cheng bowed to Shi Minghua's retreating figure and murmured, "The person I care about? Isn't that me?"