Chapter 881: Past Events (Long Chapter)
The prince suddenly smiled and said, "If you don't tell me, I won't ask. You've always been like this, so why should I get angry with you..."
"Second brother..." The Fourth Master looked at the Crown Prince and felt a little uncomfortable in his heart: "I... there are some things that are not yet the time to talk to Second Brother."
The Crown Prince looked at the Fourth Master for a long time before finally sighing, "I was attacked on my way back to the palace. Those attackers were very unnatural. Cutting off my arm to survive was a helpless act. I'm actually very grateful."
The villains I encountered...are very similar to the ones you said attacked Big Brother. In your previous letter, you said they were called...mountain monsters?"
The Fourth Master collected his thoughts and said, "As expected, we encountered these mountain monsters during our northern tour, but we didn't expect them to appear in the capital. I'm sure this person with ulterior motives also returned to the capital with them. Second brother, I'm afraid someone is coming for you this time."
The prince frowned slightly: "Why do you say that?"
Fourth Master: "There have been a lot of things going on in the mansion these past two days. I always feel like someone is deliberately trying to stop us. When I came to my senses, I found that something had happened to you."
Thinking of this, the Fourth Master frowned again. "But why did Second Brother leave the palace? Even though the northwest is covered in heavy snow, what good is praying for blessings? Why did the Emperor send Second Brother on this trip?"
The prince's expression darkened slightly when he heard this: "You guessed right, I'm certainly not going there to pray for blessings."
The Fourth Master frowned and looked towards the Crown Prince: "This..."
The prince paused and said in a calm voice, "The Emperor had been dissatisfied with me before, but now that he has returned, he found that I am not seriously ill and thought that I was afraid of being blamed and wanted to repay him.
Fourth Brother, do you still remember the corruption and bribery case that rocked the capital a few years ago?"
When the Fourth Master heard this, his pupils shrank sharply: "Second Brother..."
The prince lowered his eyes. "You guessed right. The case of corruption and bribery was traced back to Ling Pu. I have already handed Ling Pu over. The emperor was obviously not very satisfied with this and punished me to reflect on my mistakes in Fengxian Palace."
The prince said this and took a long breath.
Seeing that he was in pain, the Fourth Master took the tea beside him and fed him a sip.
The prince paused for a moment before continuing, "Fourth Brother, you know that Suo Etu can't stand seeing me suffer any injustice.
Although the Emperor hasn't imprisoned him yet, he's already lost the Emperor's favor. By pleading for me, he's been charged with harboring someone, and he and Ling Pu were both thrown into prison.
Ling Pu deserved his punishment, so I naturally don't have the face to plead for him. He's my wet nurse's younger brother, and by doing something like this, our twenty-plus years of master-servant relationship have been shattered in one day. I've now fully repaid my wet nurse's kindness to me.
But Soetu... I can't just ignore him.
Even if today he is truly evil-hearted and his crimes are unforgivable, others can ridicule him, mock him, insult him, and curse him, but I cannot.
Actually, I don't know what crime he has committed. I am also afraid that he will be like Ling Pu, but, at present, he has not done anything wrong. "
Fourth Master: "So, Second Brother finally pleaded for Soetu..."
Yes, the Fourth Master could also guess that the person was Soetu.
Everyone knows that his second brother was raised by the emperor and taught by him personally. But few people know that his second brother actually spent even longer with Soetu.
The Fourth Master could no longer remember how many times Soetu had rescued his second brother from the hands of the King of Hell.
In the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, the second brother was seriously ill with a high fever and became confused. The emperor's father and grandmother were not in the palace. It was Lord Soetu who drew his sword, carried him on his back, and broke open the door of the imperial pharmacy.
In the tenth year of the Kangxi reign, his second brother incurred the Emperor's wrath and was imprisoned in the Fengxian Hall. A member of the family, known for its unscrupulous nature, poisoned his meal. Lord Soetu knelt at the gates of the Qianqing Palace in the dead of winter, eventually begging the Emperor to see his second brother, who then discovered his misfortune.
It was also after that incident that Soetu became lame.
In the 12th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, his second brother was assassinated. In the critical moment, it was Suo'etu who stood in front of him. To this day, there is still a scar on his right chest that is as long as his forearm.
The Fourth Master knows a lot, and there are countless other things, big and small.
It hadn't been easy for any of the children of the royal family to reach this point, especially the second brother. He had been crowned crown prince at a young age, without a mother to protect him. His life wasn't as smooth as he'd imagined. Countless people watched him back then. It's fair to say that without Soetu, there wouldn't be the second brother we know today.
In fact, as the third uncle of the second brother, Soetu would not have done anything wrong even if he did not do this.
But he protects his second brother like his own son. This kind of affection is rare.
The Fourth Master thought that if he were the second brother, he would not be able to be cruel to Soetu, right?
"It is true that I have begged for mercy, but the Emperor is really fed up with me right now, so how can he listen to me?
Huguo Temple...It was the Emperor who asked me to go there. His original intention was to let me reflect for some time.
I thought it would be a good idea to go, as my mother's death anniversary is approaching. I went over and took a look at her eternally burning lamp. But unexpectedly, something went wrong."
The prince paused, turned to look at the Fourth Master, and said in a gentle tone: "
“Old Four, sometimes I think this is actually a good thing.
Although I lost my arm, the Emperor no longer needs to worry about my rebellious intentions. Presumably, he also doesn't have to be wary of Suo Etu. At least, Suo Etu's life is safe."
"Second brother..." The Fourth Master didn't know what to say, and in the end he just sighed.
The prince's gaze fell lightly on the prince's dragon robe beside the bed: "Tell me, does the emperor have any affection for my mother?"
Hearing what he said, the Fourth Master couldn't help but frown, but he didn't say anything.
The Crown Prince curled his lips coldly, "Everyone says that the Emperor and my mother were deeply in love. He didn't appoint an empress for many years after her. He also valued me, your son, very much. Not long after I was born, he made me the Crown Prince. He brought me up by his side, nurtured me, and took good care of me."
But in fact, he didn't even remember my mother's death anniversary.
He said that his mother was a queen with great knowledge, that her favorite color was bright red, and that her favorite food was braised beef with soy sauce.
But you know what? My third uncle described my mother as someone who loved martial arts, not literature. She was proficient in swords, spears, and halberds.
My mother doesn't like bright red either. She prefers plain clothes and simple attire. She also doesn't like braised beef in soy sauce. Before she got married, she never touched beef or mutton..."
"The late queen was such a person?" The Fourth Master couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
The prince curled his lips slightly and said, "Yes, I found a box of military books among my mother's belongings, but these things are buried deep in this palace."
"Do you remember when you were little, you always had all sorts of novel snacks or gadgets you had never seen before?
When you were little, you were the closest to me and always gave me things. Later I found out that those were all bought by the Emperor for Concubine Tongjia.
When you were little, with Concubine Tongjia, the Emperor would always hold you in his arms. If you cried, the Emperor would hold you and comfort you. I was wondering, what does it feel like to be held by the Emperor?
The Fourth Master was also somewhat bewildered when he heard this. He had forgotten everything and couldn't even imagine the Emperor hugging him and coaxing him. Just looking at his second brother in front of him, the Fourth Master felt a sense of panic in his heart.
"Fourth Brother, do you remember when our eldest brother moved out of the palace?"
The Fourth Master didn't know why the Crown Prince suddenly asked this, but he nodded immediately and said, "I remember that Big Brother was very reluctant and even got angry."
The prince nodded. "Yes, my eldest brother even spoke to the old ancestor several times, saying that he wanted to stay for another two years, but in the end the emperor didn't budge at all. He seemed to have been angry for several days and didn't seem happy on the day of the move."
"Yes, my brother still remembers this."
"Fourth Brother, you have no idea how much I envied him back then. I couldn't stand staying in this palace any longer. Now you see how miserable my life is, but I feel relieved.
My mother is imprisoned in this palace, so I have to... go outside and take a good look for her.
Fourth Brother, I want to leave the palace."
The Fourth Master was stunned: "Second Brother, you are from the Eastern Palace, how can you get out..."
"What's the East Palace or not? Fourth brother, you are confused. Look at my arms. Can I still sit firmly in this position?" The prince pulled the corner of his mouth in self-mockery.
The Fourth Master sighed, "...Second Brother, it's not that I'm confused. Regardless of whether the position of the Eastern Palace is stable or not now, the future will definitely be stable."
The prince was stunned for a moment and then suddenly smiled: "Yes... yes... it's not you who is confused, it's me."
After saying that, he frowned tightly, and sweat had already appeared on his forehead without him knowing when.
Seeing his expression, the Fourth Master immediately took out a jade bottle from his arms, poured out a pill and fed it into his mouth.
"What is this?" asked the prince after taking a look.
The Fourth Master placed the medicine bottle beside the Crown Prince's bed. "This is a painkiller. I gave Second Brother the same medicine before. Jiu'er accidentally invented this medicine. One pill can keep you pain-free for a whole day. I still have a dozen pills here. Give them all to Second Brother."
The prince nodded. "This thing must be hard to come by, right? No wonder I haven't felt that much pain since you reattached my arm that day. I thought the pain had passed, but I never imagined you had given me medicine beforehand. Fourth Brother, I'm so lucky to have you this time."
"We are brothers, why is my second brother saying all this? Don't worry, I will take care of everything for you. One day, whatever you want, I will definitely help you accomplish it."
The prince curled his lips slightly: "Okay."
The Fourth Master felt the atmosphere was so oppressive that he felt a little breathless. He exhaled and said, "Oh, Second Brother, we must be on guard against this Master Guangci. I suspect he is the mastermind behind this. Moreover, his power is unfathomable. So far, I am not sure I can defeat him."
"Guangci?" The prince frowned slightly. "If it's this person, this matter will be difficult to handle."
"Hmm?" The Fourth Master frowned and looked over.
The Crown Prince said: "He saved the Emperor's life. You also know that the Emperor had smallpox in his childhood.
Actually, it was thanks to this master that I was able to survive.
Later, the Queen Mother had no choice but to choose the Emperor's father, largely because the Emperor's father had suffered from smallpox.
To the emperor, Guangci was the person who brought him luck and helped him ascend to the throne.
Furthermore, the Empress Dowager had once suffered a serious illness, and countless imperial physicians were helpless. The Emperor posted a notice inviting doctors from all over the world to the palace for treatment, but her condition remained unresolved. That year, Master Guangci happened to be traveling to Kyoto and cured the Empress Dowager. The Emperor even awarded him a yellow riding jacket.
At this point, his popularity in the palace was unmatched by ordinary people.
Even so, who in the world doesn't know the name of Master Guangci? His followers are spread all over the country. This person should never be underestimated."
The prince's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke. "But I just can't understand why he would want to harm me? What good would this do him? He's a solitary monk, what's up with this?"
The Fourth Master also frowned. "This is something I can't understand. This time, perhaps he was too anxious and gave himself away. He had previously attempted an assassination at my residence, but didn't hurt anyone. It seemed more like a test. Now it seems that his target may have been Second Brother from the beginning. The incident at my residence was nothing more than an attempt to hinder me and Old Ninety-Third and the others."
The prince pondered for a moment: "Could it be that... he is a remnant of the previous dynasty?"
The Fourth Master shook his head slightly. "I've checked, it's impossible. Guangci is now nearly 70 years old, and he became famous when he was young. At that time, Zhu San was still on the run."
The prince frowned and said, "If this is as you said, then whatever Guangci is planning is not simple. You must be careful."
After a pause, the prince continued, "Did you get injured while reattaching my arm? I heard from your sister-in-law that you vomited blood after treating me. How is your health now?"
The Fourth Master subconsciously put away his right hand and said calmly, "It's okay, Second Brother, don't worry. I'm already recovered. Let's wait until Second Brother is well again, and then we brothers can drink together."
"Okay." The Crown Prince's face showed some worry. "Fourth Brother, you should be careful. Because of me, your feigned illness has been exposed. I'm afraid the Emperor might be worried about you. You should be mentally prepared. Now that Second Brother is lying in bed and can't do anything, I can only rely on you."
"Don't worry, second brother. I'll take care of everything. Nothing will go wrong."
The Fourth Master sat beside him and covered him with a blanket. "Second Brother's arm still needs to be healed. It's not good to spend too much time on it. If you feel sleepy, go to sleep first."
The prince was clearly feeling a bit tired, and the medicine would only make him even sleepier. His eyelids were practically drooping. But he didn't try to force himself, simply nodding. "Call your sister-in-law in. I have a few words for her. I won't see you off."
"Okay." The Fourth Master nodded and went out to call the Crown Princess.
The two of them did not stay long and returned to the Qianqing Palace with warm wine.
"Fourth Prince, please go back. The Emperor said he will not see anyone today."
Liang Jiugong looked at the Fourth Master with embarrassment and smiled.
The Fourth Master frowned and glanced inside. "Please ask Anda to report again. Just say that I have something important to discuss with the Emperor."
"This..." Liang Jiugong hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Let me ask you one more question. Thank you for waiting here, Fourth Prince and Concubine Jin."
Fourth Master: "Thank you, Anda."
"I dare not."
Watching Liang Jiugong enter the inner room, the Fourth Master indifferently shifted his gaze to Wen Jiu and helped her tuck in her cloak.
"Is it cold?"
"It's not cold." Wen Jiu shook his head slightly: "It's just that the emperor is angry, sir. I'm afraid he won't see us today."
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