Chapter 176 Xiao Yuancheng's Choice

The four princes now realized how shameless Xiao Ji was. Instead of being humiliated by him, they might as well find a way to kill other people.

Xiao Yuancheng naturally did not forget to ask his trusted imperial physician to check the recovery of Xiao Ji's leg, and the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau came in person.

Doctor Xu, the head of the Imperial Hospital, knelt on a cushion, pressing his fingers delicately against Xiao Ji's kneecaps. His brow furrowed slightly. The bones beneath his fingers were healing well, and his meridians were unobstructed. Logically, he should have recovered.

"Your Highness, does it still hurt here?" Doctor Xu asked tentatively.

Xiao Ji frowned slightly, pursed his lips, and nodded. He didn't seem to be in too much pain, which made Doctor Xu nod inwardly, thinking that he wasn't faking it.

"Please, Prince, please stand up and take a few steps so that I can have a look."

Xiao Ji obediently stood up and walked a few steps towards the door. He didn't walk fast and tried his best to maintain his balance. It seemed that he was no different from an ordinary person. Judging from his pulse and bone structure, his leg injury was almost healed.

How should he report this to His Majesty? He hadn't forgotten what the Emperor had said when he secretly summoned him three months ago: "Director Xu, Xue Nu's leg injury... you should say it's difficult to heal."

At that time, the emperor's face was gloomy, and he knew what the emperor meant. Now he didn't know if it had changed...

Just as Doctor Xu was lost in thought, Xiao Ji, who had walked to the door, suddenly turned around. Doctor Xu saw beads of sweat on the young prince's forehead, and in an instant, Doctor Xu misunderstood.

Prince Zhao was clearly enduring the pain and trying to maintain his balance, not wanting to appear embarrassed in front of him.

Well, he was such a favored child in the past, so how could he be willing to spread the bad news that his leg could not recover well and he would have difficulty walking in the future.

Noticing that he was staring at him, the prince wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained with a forced smile, "It's okay, it's just too hot outside."

In Xu Yuanzheng's eyes, this was obviously another excuse made by Xiao Ji to cover up his injuries.

"Your Highness...you..." Doctor Xu suddenly felt a little guilty. How could he not understand why Xiao Ji's legs had recovered well but he still couldn't walk normally and felt pain?

It is true that he is the imperial physician, but doctors cannot cure all diseases. Heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. Prince Zhao still feels pain and has difficulty walking after recovering. It must be because of what he said at the time.

Perhaps as if he had heard his thoughts, Prince Zhao on the opposite side suddenly spoke.

"Xu Yuanzheng, how is my leg...?"

Xiao Ji was really looking forward to it. He was wondering whether Xu Yuanzheng would tell him the truth and whether the almighty emperor would have a little mercy on him.

If I allow my misunderstanding to continue, I might end up with a lifelong disability...

His voice was calm, as if he was just asking casually. But Doctor Xu's heart trembled, and when he met Xiao Ji's clear eyes filled with expectation, he dared not look directly at them.

He lowered his eyes and said vaguely, "Your Highness's leg has recovered well. As long as he rests for a while, it will most likely be back to normal."

This means there is little hope.

Hearing this, Xiao Ji's eyes drooped for a moment and he smiled bitterly.

I still didn't tell the truth, wanting him to continue to misunderstand that his leg could not fully recover.

Whether he didn't dare or the people behind him didn't allow him to do so, Xiao Ji was no longer in the mood to pursue the matter.

He limped back into the hall and gradually disappeared into the cabinet.

Looking at the prince, who was walking unsteadily because his mind was distracted and he had forgotten his disguise, Xu Yuanzheng opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by the beautiful and dignified princess beside him, "Your Highness is in a bad mood. Let's end the consultation today. I will see you off."

Doctor Xu didn't dare to ask Qingwu to send him away, so he quickly bowed and left.

After leaving Chonghua, Doctor Xu went straight to Zichen Palace to report. Xiao Yuancheng was reviewing memorials in the imperial study. When he saw him coming, he asked without looking up, "How is Xuenu's leg?"

"Your Majesty," Doctor Xu knelt on the ground, "Prince Zhao's leg bones have healed to about 80% and are recovering well."

Xiao Yuancheng immediately raised his head. This was not what he expected. "Then why is he still walking unsteadily? Is he pretending?"

Doctor Xu rested his forehead on the ground and hurriedly explained, "He's not pretending! There are illnesses in this world that aren't physical. Your Highness's heart is still tied, and he feels like his leg injury hasn't healed, which is why he stumbles when he walks. This is a mental illness, and it can't be cured by medicine."

Somehow, Xiao Yuancheng breathed a sigh of relief. "So Xue Nu's leg has recovered well. The reason he can't walk normally until now is because he thought his leg was beyond saving?"

"Exactly. I believe it's because of what I said back then..."

Doctor Xu's voice became smaller and smaller. He naturally did not dare to mention that the words were said at the emperor's instruction, but in his heart he could not help sighing at the ruthlessness of the royal father and son, and also at the emperor's hypocrisy. Isn't this exactly the ending the emperor wanted?

This was indeed the ending Xiao Yuancheng wanted most. As a father, he didn't want his son's legs to have any sequelae, nor did he want his son to be disabled for life. But as an emperor, he couldn't help but be wary of the queen's legitimate son.

Even though this legitimate son had grown up to be the most upright and kind person in accordance with the requirements of a crown prince and a gentleman under his intentional instructions, and he was smart, had good morals, and would never do anything rebellious, he still could not tolerate Xiao Ji's existence as he grew older.

He was old, and his designated successor was still young. This prince had the most superior background, the best teachers, and was highly praised by outsiders. It was hard to say that Xiao Yuancheng did not feel jealous, even though that was his own son.

Xiao Yuancheng was satisfied. He waved his hand and said, "Go down."

Looking at the relaxed emperor at the top of the table, Xu Yuanzheng opened his mouth but couldn't help but remind him, "Your Majesty..." Doctor Xu spoke cautiously, "If Your Highness continues to suffer like this, I'm afraid the fake illness will become a real one."

Doctor Xu whispered, "Your Highness always limps when he walks now. If this continues for a long time, his muscles and bones will become fixed, and then it will be real."

Xiao Yuancheng's fingers suddenly pinched the ring, but he was silent for a while and only said: "I know."

Then he waved his hand as if he hadn't heard anything and said, "You can leave now."

Xu Yuanzheng had mustered up the courage to remind the emperor of this, but if the emperor still didn't take it seriously, there was nothing he could do.

Thinking of the young Prince Zhao, Xu Yuanzheng lowered his head helplessly. Was this young man, still in his prime, really going to go from a fake disability to a real one?

Looking at Xu Yuanzheng's receding back, Xiao Yuancheng's eyes were dim and unclear. It took him a long time to pick up the pen again, but he didn't write a single word for a long time.

It should be fine. If he recovers well, it will only take a few years. After a few years, when his body can't take it anymore, he will tell Xue Nu the truth. Then he can exercise more and everything will be back to normal.

Xiao Yuancheng convinced himself this way.

After an unknown amount of time, he put down his pen and said, "The palace has been cleaned. Let Xue Nu and the others leave the palace tomorrow."

After Xiao Yuancheng said this, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

"Prepare some more of the palace's precious medicines and cloth for them to take away tomorrow." Xiao Yuancheng suppressed his discomfort and said, "Also send a box of gold."

This way, he wouldn't be considered heartless as a father.

In fact, Xiao Ji in the cabinet couldn't help but hold on to the last glimmer of hope. His performance today was to see if the emperor would have a little mercy. He hoped that Xu Yuanzheng would come back and tell him that his leg could recover completely.

But no, Xu Yuanzheng did not come back to tell him the truth. He only received the oral order to leave the palace.

Looking at the young man who kept smiling bitterly, Qingwu walked up and gave him a hug.