Enemies quarrel in the court

Upon hearing this, Li Fengtan also became angry and said, "Old Hu! What nonsense are you talking about! I was just thinking of the people! If you say I have ulterior motives, it's more accurate to say that you and Prince Pingshou are the ones who are going! You insist on sending Prince Pingshou and not letting anyone else go. What, are you trying to use this opportunity to rebel!"

"..." Everyone was stunned by what they saw.

Qi Dou, his head throbbing from the noise, slammed his hand on the dragon throne and roared, "Shut up, all of you! Your noise is giving me a headache!"

The two sides fell silent after hearing this, but then Hu Cun heard Qi Dou say that their noise was giving him a headache, and he whispered to Li Fengtan, "As expected! You traitorous scoundrel! You actually deliberately started arguing with me to give His Majesty a headache."

Hearing Hu Cun's attempt to shift the blame onto himself, Li Fengtan whispered, "You're the real traitor! You're trying to absolve yourself completely. It's clearly your intention to cause His Majesty this headache. You're a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

Their conversation was loud enough for everyone present to hear, leaving everyone stunned.

At a time like this, you still dare to argue?!

Qi Dou was furious and immediately stood up, saying, "Shut up! You will all be punished by copying the laws of the Great Qi Kingdom two hundred times! Go to Jingya Pavilion to copy them! You are not allowed to attend court until you finish copying them! I will send people to watch over you!"

The two then shut up, but Hu Cun was still unwilling to accept it.

Fine, they can plagiarize, but at least I should know who did it.

Thinking this, he asked, "Your Majesty, who should we send to Bashu?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Dou immediately said, "Go and confiscate it for me right now!"

The two could only walk away silently. Hu Cun, having received no answer, vented his anger on Li Fengtan.

"It's all your fault, old man Li! If you hadn't talked back, I wouldn't have had to copy the text as punishment!"

Li Fengtan was baffled and retorted, "Old Hu! You mean I'm just supposed to stand here and let you talk to me? And I can't even talk back? If anything, this is all your fault! Even His Majesty told you to shut up, and you still smear me! Isn't this all your fault?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Cun angrily rolled up his sleeves and started hitting Li Fengtan, saying as he hit him, "I can't stand you anymore! I've wanted to hit you for a long time! I'll beat you to death!"

Li Fengtan rolled up his sleeves and swung at him, saying, "Come on! Let's see who dies first!"

They started again before they even left, making a real fool of themselves. Everyone was speechless and petrified.

Seeing this, Qi Dou rubbed his forehead and said, "Guards! Pull them apart! Also, make them copy it a hundred more times! Half a year's salary is also forfeited. Have someone watch them and make sure they don't speak! Whoever speaks first will have to copy it a hundred more times!"

The two were then separated and taken to the Jingya Pavilion.

The court returned to its previous state, and Qi Dou asked Prime Minister Liu Zhengrong, "Minister Liu, what are your thoughts?"

Liu Zhengrong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Prince Pingshou, along with Grand Commandant Ji Shao and the people from the Imperial Medical Academy, should be sent to go together."

Qi Dou pondered after hearing this.

This method is indeed good. With Ji Shao going along, Qi Hui will probably not do anything more. Even if he does something, Ji Shao will know and inform me.

When the Imperial Medical Academy was mentioned, Qi Xuan Gui's eyes were touched. He hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed.

Qi Dou then looked at everyone and asked, "What do you all think?"

The group exchanged glances, bowed, and said, "We have no objections."

Qi Dou said, "Very well, then I will grant Minister Liu's suggestion."

Afterwards, no one had anything to report, so the court session ended.

As Qi Dou walked away from the court, he said, "Li Fengtan and Hu Cun are really giving me a headache."

Zhao Hongxing said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Although Lord Li and Lord Hu grew up together, they have never gotten along. They always have to argue whenever they meet. It has been like this for many years, as you know."

Qi Dou said, "Even so, they actually dared to quarrel right under my nose, in my court. They really don't know how to restrain themselves."

Zhao Hongxing said, "This... Your Majesty, it was Lord Hu who started it, so Lord Li's actions are understandable."

Qi Dou glanced at him and asked, "Hongxing, are you on good terms with Lord Li?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hongxing was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant dares not have any relationship with any of you gentlemen!"

Qi Dou was slightly displeased to see him kneel down and said, "Stand up and speak to me."

Zhao Hongxing then stood up, bowed, and said, "It was this servant who forgot. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Zhao Hongxing had followed Qi Dou since childhood, and they were very close. Over time, Qi Dou felt that Zhao Hongxing seemed particularly distant when he knelt down to talk to him, so he exempted him from kneeling.

Qi Dou frowned and said, "Hongxing, why do you like asking me to forgive you so much? I was just asking if you have any relationship with Minister Li, not trying to punish you."

Zhao Hongxing breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "This servant has no relation to Lord Li whatsoever."

Qi Dou asked in confusion, "Then why did you seem to favor him in your words just now?"

Zhao Hongxing explained, "This servant simply believes that this is indeed not Lord Li's fault. Lord Li's character is evident to all; he is someone you trust, and..."

He secretly glanced at Qi Dou.

Qi Dou asked, puzzled, "Hmm?"

Zhao Hongxing withdrew his gaze and continued, "Moreover, he is the Empress's biological father, and your father-in-law."

Qi Dou then realized that Zhao Hongxing had spoken up for Li Fengtan for his own sake! Firstly, because he was someone Qi Dou trusted, and secondly, because he was the father of the person Qi Dou liked, and his father-in-law.

Qi Dou said helplessly, "Why didn't you just say so? You've made me think I've been too harsh on you."

Zhao Hongxing smiled after hearing this, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant didn't know that's what you meant."

Qi Dou asked, "Hongxing, you've been with me since you were a child, for over a decade now, and you're not much older than me. How come you still don't understand my thoughts?"

Everyone else and their personal servants have great chemistry, so why is it that when it comes to me and Zhao Hongxing, it's a bit lacking?

Zhao Hongxing could only awkwardly reply, "Haha, this servant didn't know either."

Qi Dou sighed and said, "Never mind, let's take it slow. Come with me to the Imperial Hospital."

Zhao Hongxing smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

At this time, Li Xingyi went to pay his respects to the empresses dowager and was preparing for the selection of concubines. Then he heard Qianwu tell him that Li Fengtan had a big fight with Hu Cun during court today and was now being punished by being sent to Jingya Pavilion to copy books.

When Li Xingyi heard that it was an argument with Hu Cun, he lowered his eyes and said, "They're here again."

Qingyi said, "Master and his wife are natural enemies; it's inevitable that they'll clash."

After Li Xingyi hummed in agreement, he asked Qianwu, "Is there anything else besides this?"

Qianwu said, "I heard that a plague has broken out in the Sichuan and Chongqing area."

Li Xingyi asked in confusion, "Plague? How could this be? Did it just happen today?"

Qianwu said, "I heard that it has been a while. Today, an official reported it. He said that he only learned about it yesterday and immediately reported it when he went to court today."

Li Xingyi kept his eyes down after hearing this.

...A plague? That man is unlucky; something like this happened in his own territory. It seems even Heaven won't protect him.

This person is clearly Qi Hui.

Li Xingyi asked, "Is it true that there is a plague in Bashu? What does Your Majesty say?"

Qianwu replied, "This servant does not know. His Majesty sent Prince Pingshou, Lord Ji, and people from the Imperial Medical Academy to go together."

Li Xingyi felt somewhat relieved after hearing this and stood up, saying, "In that case, the Imperial Hospital must be very busy right now. Why don't you come with me to help?"

After hearing this, Qianwu did not ask for the reason, but said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Qingyi then spoke up and asked, "Your Majesty, why do you want to go? The Imperial Hospital should have enough people. Even if they don't, you can send more people instead of going in person."

Li Xingyi glanced at her and said, "Qingyi, the people have been infected with the plague, and I am unable to go to help them. I can only pray for their safety in the palace. I hope to do something for them, even if it is just a small thing, so I must go to the Imperial Hospital."

These words were also meant for Qianwu's ears, but Li Xingyi thought to himself that there was another reason.

The Imperial Medical Academy has a genius in him, so it's natural to get to know him. Besides, the plague can only be dealt with by him.

Qingyi understood immediately and said, "So that's how it is. Your Majesty is indeed kind."

Li Xingyi said nothing and walked towards the Imperial Hospital.

At the Imperial Medical Academy, Zhao Hongxing still shouted, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and went to the door to bow, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Qi Dou stepped into the Imperial Hospital and said, "No need for formalities, you all go about your business, I just came to take a look."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The group then went back to their work.