Chapter 23 Deliberately avoiding the Empress Dowager, I think you've won!

The newly decorated Phoenix Perch Palace exudes extravagance and luxury. The huanghuali Xiangfei couch has been replaced with a rosewood couch inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The red gold dressing mirror in the warm pavilion has been removed and replaced with an ivory mirror stand with relief carvings. Even the celadon teacups have been replaced with Ru ware that is so thin that it is translucent.

When Xiao Yun came over for dinner, he kept complaining that he had come to the wrong palace.

Chu Yueyuan carefully peeled several salt and pepper crispy shrimp that Xiao Yun loved to eat, but the doubts in her heart did not dissipate. Instead, they weighed on her like a heavy boulder, making her uneasy.

"Jin Tong, do you remember what I said to the Regent at the palace banquet last night?"

Jin Tong, who was feeding the young emperor soup, suddenly trembled, causing Xiao Yun to pout and complain in a childish voice, "Aunt Jin, you spilled the soup on me!"

"This servant did not mean it, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Jin Tong didn't have time to answer Chu Yueyuan's question. She quickly picked up the little emperor and rushed into the bedroom to change his clothes.

Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to turn her gaze to Granny Xu, who was setting out the dishes.

In the candlelight, Granny Xu's eyes twitched slightly. She lowered her head, carefully picking out the bones from the yellow croaker in the dish, her tone ordinary:

"His Majesty was very excited while watching the shadow puppet show last night. He was jumping around on the dragon throne and couldn't sit still for a moment. This old servant was worried that His Majesty would bump into something, so I was completely focused on His Majesty and did not notice what happened between the Empress Dowager and the Regent."

Chu Yueyuan frowned her delicate eyebrows and sighed deeply: "Prince Chen and Prince Liang are about to enter the capital to meet the Emperor. The Regent is being so attentive at this time; I'm afraid he has some ulterior motive. Could it be that when I was drunk last night, I inadvertently promised him something..."

Granny Xu continued to carefully pick out the fish bones until all the bones of the yellow croaker were gone, and then she began to pick out the peppercorns in the plate.

Chu Yueyuan put a mouthful of rice in her mouth and muttered to herself, "Otherwise, when I go to the Hall of Diligent Governance tomorrow, I'll ask the Regent."

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

"Your Majesty, no!"

Jin Tong carried the little emperor out after changing his new clothes and happened to hear Chu Yueyuan muttering these words. She and Xu Mama immediately rejected her idea in unison.

Chu Yueyuan put down her jade chopsticks, her gaze shifting back and forth between Jin Tong and Granny Xu's increasingly strange faces, her tone turning somber:

Why not?

"this..."

Jin Tong opened her mouth, glanced at Granny Xu shaking her head slightly at her, and swallowed her words back down.

The two men's attempts to cover up their secrets only convinced Chu Yueyuan that something had happened between her and the Regent last night.

"Why are you hiding this from me? What exactly happened between me and the Regent at the palace banquet last night?" she asked again, emphasizing her words.

The side hall fell silent for a moment. Just then, Xiao Yun, sitting on a high chair carved with coiled dragons, spoke:

"Mother, I know, I saw it all!"

Xiao Yun changed into a bright yellow silk undergarment, with an outer jacket embroidered with a dragon totem of the sea. He had a small tuft of heart-shaped hair hanging down his head, and when he shook his head, he looked particularly adorable and innocent.

Seeing the three people turn to look at him, Xiao Yun seemed encouraged, his dark eyes sparkling, and his voice rising slightly:

"Last night, the Empress Dowager secretly drank the Regent's wine. She was caught by the Regent, but refused to admit it, and the two of you started fighting..."

As Xiao Yun spoke, he gestured, pointing his chubby little finger to his chest, and vividly described, "Your Majesty, I saw that when Mother made her move, her clothes tore, and two lumps of flesh fell out and hit the Regent's face..."

In the end, Xiao Yun looked at Chi You with admiration, as if he were looking at a peerless warrior who, though defeated, was still honorable.

"Mother, I believe you have won!"

Chu Yueyuan: .....

At the palace banquet last night, Xiao Yun sat on the highest seat, a large chair with carved dragons and lacquered gold, which offered the widest view. Although Granny Xu and Eunuch Wang were serving him, they could not stand beyond the emperor's line of sight.

Therefore, what Xiao Yun saw, though seemingly absurd and bizarre, is very likely true.

Chu Yueyuan felt as if she had been hit hard on the head, feeling dazed and confused. Her voice was weak and feeble: "Granny Xu, where is the Hundred Flowers Fairy Dress I wore yesterday? Bring it to me so I can see it."

She wanted to examine the size of the tear in her dress to deduce how much the Regent had seen.

Xu Mama's expression was hesitant as she carefully advised, "It's all in the past, Your Majesty, please don't look at it."

Chu Yueyuan was momentarily dazed. She pressed her throbbing head acupoints, realizing that, according to Granny Xu's words, she had seen everything.

Jin Tong chimed in, trying to comfort her: "Last night, all the candles in the main hall went out. Apart from the Regent, who was closest to the Empress Dowager, no one in the court noticed, not even this servant. It wasn't until we returned to Fengqi Palace and I removed Your Highness's cloak that I realized your clothes were torn..."

Wow... that's really a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Chu Yueyuan's mind was in a daze. She slowly stood up and said in a relaxed manner, "I'm full. You all continue to serve His Majesty his meal. I... I'll go back to lie down for a while."

She strode out, raising her hand to lift the crimson, floral-patterned brocade curtain, and heard Xiao Yuntong's innocent question behind her:

"Granny Xu, Mother clearly defeated the Regent, so why is she still unhappy?"

The following words were unclear, but it should be that Granny Xu stuffed a mouthful of food into his mouth.

Chu Yueyuan quickened her pace and stumbled into the warm pavilion, burying her face in the soft, mother-of-pearl-inlaid rosewood couch.

Alas, fate really likes to play tricks on her. Just when she refused Shen Zizhan's offer to take her out of the palace and was preparing to be a dutiful puppet empress dowager, she actually lost her temper while drunk and "molested" the Jade-Faced Yama who would later hold the power of life and death over her.

How could she possibly have the face to step into the Imperial Study again?

———

Since that day, Chu Yueyuan has claimed illness and stayed away from home, temporarily leaving to attend government affairs at the Qin Zheng Hall.

The Regent sent Eunuch Wang to convey a few words of concern, telling Chu Yueyuan to rest and recuperate. Seeing the changing winds, the Imperial Household Department rushed to deliver precious tonics such as Ganoderma lucidum and deer antler.

After a few days of rest, just as Granny Xu said, no matter how insurmountable the obstacle in one's heart, time, like the waves constantly lapping against the riverbank, gradually flattens that high obstacle.

Compared to her drunken indecent behavior towards the Regent, Chu Yueyuan is now more troubled by something else.

Xiao Yun couldn't walk yet.

Emperor Shang had a son late in life, who was also the only heir in the palace. He naturally took great care of the prince, fearing that the prince's delicate skin might be bumped or bruised.

When Xiao Yun turned one year old, the palace assigned an experienced tutor to carefully teach him how to walk.

It's inevitable for a child learning to walk to stumble and fall.

When Emperor Shang saw the bruises on his beloved dragon prince's knees, he immediately ordered the execution of all the palace servants who served the prince, citing inadequate care.

With the bloody lesson of the past before them, the newly appointed palace servants who came to serve the crown prince were extremely careful. Whenever they saw the crown prince crawling on the ground, they would lay a thick layer of Persian wool felt on the blue bricks.

Despite such careful protection, Xiao Yun did not learn to walk until she was three years old.

Chu Yueyuan was very worried that Xiao Yun might have some hidden ailment in his legs, so she summoned Imperial Physician Zhao to examine Xiao Yun's legs.

The imperial physician Zhao's real name was Zhao Qiming. He came from a family of doctors and was in his early twenties. He was handsome and served as the Left Vice Minister of the Imperial Hospital because of his superb medical skills.

Not only was Imperial Physician Zhao skilled in medicine, but he also possessed a loyal and righteous heart. On the day of the palace coup, he was on duty at the Zichen Palace. When the rebel army attacked, he did not scatter and flee like the other palace servants, but stayed behind and blocked the palace gate with Granny Xu and Jin Tong.

Therefore, Chu Yueyuan trusted Imperial Physician Zhao quite a bit.

Zhao Qiming examined the young emperor carefully, asking about his daily life while taking his pulse, listening attentively to Xiao Yun's childish answers, and finally touching his leg bones for a long time.

After the inspection was completed, he bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, if a child of His Majesty's age cannot walk, it is either due to flaccid paralysis or incomplete development of the leg bones."

He paused, then said, "Both of these illnesses are incurable. Fortunately, His Majesty is of sound mind. Although his lower body strength is weaker than that of children of the same age, it is not a major problem."

Chu Yueyuan's heart was pounding with anxiety. She picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

"Imperial Physician Zhao, at this point, you don't need to use the process of elimination with me. You might as well speak frankly: why is His Majesty still unable to walk?"

Zhao Qiming's handsome brows furrowed slightly. He turned his head to look at Xiao Yun, who was crawling rapidly on the Persian carpet, and said in a deep voice:

"Please forgive my bluntness, but apart from his lower limbs being thinner and weaker than those of ordinary children, His Majesty is not seriously injured. The reason for this is that His Majesty is used to crawling every day and has never had the opportunity to walk independently. His calf muscles are weak. If this continues, even a child who is physically normal at the beginning will become disabled as a result."

Chu Yueyuan put down her teacup and nodded, saying, "Since it's not a congenital deficiency, then it's easy to talk about."

Outside the long, vermilion-lacquered, intricately carved window, the sunlight was perfect, the sky was cloudless, and the temperature was just right.

Chu Yueyuan stared at the sun for a moment, then gave the order: "Granny Xu, Jintong, change His Majesty into some comfortable clothes. Let's go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden."

She turned to Imperial Physician Zhao and smiled slightly: "Imperial Physician Zhao, you may come along as well, so that His Majesty can receive timely treatment if he suffers any injuries."

Zhao Qiming was stunned by the Empress Dowager's radiant smile. After regaining his senses, his handsome face flushed, and he quickly bowed to accept the order.

In the height of summer, the Imperial Garden is lush and green, with a fragrant aroma of flowers.

On the cobblestone path, two tall figures emerged one after the other from under the lush ancient banyan tree.

The man walking in front had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He wore a crimson robe with wide sleeves and a dragon-shaped crown on his head. He also had a belt tied around his waist. The smooth brocade could not conceal his imposing aura. Beams of light shone through the gaps in the tree canopy and fell on his well-defined profile.

The man walking behind wore a crimson official robe, had extremely fair skin, and his bright, almond-shaped eyes were slightly narrowed. He raised his hand to push aside the flower branches blocking his path and said in a low voice:

"Among the imperial relatives, only Prince Qinghe has affixed his official seal to the reform document; the rest are still observing. There are also those hesitant ministers in the court, all waiting for Prime Minister Shen's move. Prince Chen and Prince Liang will be arriving in the capital soon; if they see that the reform is not progressing smoothly, they may become disloyal to the prince."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his narrow eyes: "To shoot an arrow, shoot the horse first; to capture a thief, capture the prince first. In my opinion, Your Highness might as well deal with the Shen family just like you dealt with Prince Duan, and eradicate them completely. Those stubborn old officials in the court who follow the Shen family to the letter will naturally be defeated without a fight."

Pei Muwei stopped, his fingertips slowly caressing the smooth, white jade thumb ring with its string-like pattern on his thumb, his voice soft:

"Si Zhou knows that when shooting arrows, one should first shoot the horse; when capturing thieves, one should capture princes. He should also understand the principle of drawing a strong bow and using a long arrow. The Shen family is a double-edged sword. If used well, it can achieve twice the result with half the effort; if used poorly, it can damage the foundation. Although the Duke of Shen has not made any achievements in the court and has made some minor mistakes, he is not unforgivable. If we use the Shen family as an example to warn others, it may just be handing a handy weapon to the southern border."

The man stood by the lake, the sunlight reflecting off the water and casting shimmering light onto the hem of his deep purple brocade robe with auspicious beast patterns, making him appear refined, handsome, and extraordinary.

Pei Muwei called the official in the scarlet robe, Si Zhou, whose name was Lin Si Zhou.

He now serves as the chief official of the Privy Council in the central government, in charge of confidential matters.

Lin Sizhou was quick-witted, resourceful, and upright—a rare talent. However, he was young and ambitious, always eager to eliminate the obstacles in the court and support his ideal emperor to ascend the throne and rebuild the prosperous era of the Great Qi Dynasty.

A look of shame appeared on Lin Sizhou's face: "It was my oversight. The Fangtian Equal Tax Law drafted by the Secretariat can fundamentally alleviate the exploitation of land by the people and benefit their livelihood."

"Although this policy damages the permanent estates of the aristocratic families, it will not harm their foundation. The prince even granted them compensation. I don't understand why these people are so stubborn and delusional, even trying to get a share of the profits from this reform, when they can clearly sacrifice their immediate, shallow interests for lasting prosperity a hundred years from now!"

Compared to Lin Sizhou's indignation, Pei Muwei's expression was calm. The man stood with his hands behind his back, his posture elegant, gazing at the graceful pink lotus flowers standing tall on the lake.

People are all like this, only caring about immediate interests and not considering the consequences of indulging in pleasure.

Just like his "father" who forcibly took the pregnant wife of a minister, did he ever consider the various criticisms the child would face after birth?

"Wow... Mother... hug me... Waaah..."

"Waaaaah...Mother...my bottom hurts so much..."

From the hexagonal pavilion nestled among the green willows across Xuanwu Lake, the faint, intermittent cries of a young boy could be heard.

A note from the author:

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