Chapter 112 Becoming Emperor.
In the end, only the little eunuch who accepted the fourth prince's money to deliver the sweet soup was convicted. The chief eunuch sent by the emperor to investigate returned with the following account: one day, the little eunuch made a mistake while serving the Prince of Duan's heir and was reprimanded by the prince. He then harbored resentment and came up with this wicked plan.
The emperor coldly ordered, "Beat him to death with sticks!"
The Fourth Prince stared wide-eyed, still not understanding how this could have happened. Seeing that Prince Duan and his son had escaped punishment, he hurriedly tried to speak, but the Fifth Prince grabbed his sleeve.
The fourth prince impatiently shook him off: "Fifth Prince, why are you pulling me like that!"
Fifth Prince: "..."
Fourth Brother is beyond saving.
Not wanting to be angered to death, the emperor said fiercely, "You two... step back!"
The Fifth Prince had long wanted to get away from this place of trouble, and he couldn't wait to hear this: "Yes, Father, I take my leave!"
The fourth prince didn't want to leave: "Father, Prince Duan..."
"Get out!" the emperor shouted, pointing at the door and glaring at him.
The fourth prince was so frightened that he dared not say another word and scrambled away.
At this moment, only the emperor, his trusted eunuch, and Prince Duan's family of three remained in the hall. The emperor had a splitting headache, but he had no choice but to force himself to speak: "I wronged Yang'er before. The Sixth Prince's matter had nothing to do with him."
Chu Heng said indifferently, "I don't blame my brother. After all, who would have thought that a mere eunuch would be so audacious as to poison a prince? I thought it was only his mother and brother!"
Such bold words, directly addressing events of the past, show that the emperor has suffered far too much humiliation today, something that hasn't happened in many years, yet he has no choice but to endure it.
The emperor suppressed his anger and said, "This matter ends here. No one is allowed to mention it again."
Chu Heng did not get up, but simply said, "As you command."
The emperor, unable to contain himself any longer, slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "Chu Heng, you..."
Chu Heng looked at the emperor: "Your Majesty has been disrespectful. How about Your Majesty grants my entire family the death penalty?"
The emperor now truly wants to execute this obnoxious, unreasonable, and disrespectful family of three, but can he?
He can't!
If the matter is covered up and then the Prince Duan's family is convicted again, the emperor will not only be contradicting himself, but also giving others a handle to use against him.
The Prince of Duan was just angry that his son had been wronged. The Emperor thought, "Since I have already compromised, why not take another step back?"
He is the ruler of the country, while Prince Duan is just a prince. There will always be a chance for Prince Duan to kneel and beg him in the future!
Despite his rage, the emperor ordered many treasures to be brought out to calm the Prince of Duan's nerves, and the Prince and Princess of Duan were also rewarded.
Chu Heng snorted coldly, and was about to speak when the emperor suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed onto the dragon throne. The eunuchs scrambled to their feet, some rushing to help the emperor up, others shouting, "Call the imperial physician! Quickly, call the imperial physician!"
Chu Heng raised an eyebrow. He didn't know if the emperor had really fainted from anger or was faking it, but Chu Yang did need to have the imperial physician examine his leg.
Therefore, Chu Heng whispered to Daiyu, "Let's have the imperial physician examine Yang'er's leg, and then you can take him back first."
Daiyu frowned and asked, "And you?"
Chu Heng glanced sideways at the emperor: "I have to keep an eye on him. If he really dies today, how can I avenge my son?"
Chu Yang raised his hand and rubbed his father's face: "Dad, be careful, I will protect Mom."
Daiyu's eyes reddened again, and she hugged the child in her arms: "Silly child, I failed to protect you."
Chu Heng felt a lump in his throat. He grasped Daiyu's hand, rubbed his son's head, and said firmly, "Just this once."
Chaos reigned in Haiyan Palace, and no one noticed the family of three. Soon, a large group of imperial physicians arrived, and Chu Heng casually called one over.
The imperial physician failed to get to the front and reach the emperor's bedside. When Prince Duan summoned him, he was still somewhat bewildered: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Chu Heng said, "Take a look at the young master's legs."
At this moment, Daiyu had carefully rolled up Chu Yang's pants, and they saw that the little guy's knees were bright red. Chu Heng and Daiyu were so heartbroken that they almost burst into tears.
Chu Yang has never suffered like this in his entire life!
The imperial physician knelt down and examined the area carefully, then gently pressed on it. Chu Yang hissed, tears welling in his eyes: "It hurts."
Chu Heng quickly said, "Be gentle!"
Daiyu comforted Chu Yang, "It'll be alright in a moment."
The imperial physician bowed and said, "Your Highness, the young master has accumulated blood stasis. After applying the medicinal oil and massaging it in, he will recover in a few days."
Chu Heng then asked, "Won't it leave you with some kind of chronic illness?"
The imperial physician hurriedly said, "Your Highness, rest assured, it's not a serious symptom and won't leave any lasting effects."
Chu Heng and Daiyu were relieved. Chu Heng then said, "Take the medicine oil and go back to the manor with the Princess. You don't need to worry about things here. I will take care of it for you."
The imperial physician dared not contradict Prince Duan. Even though he was inwardly groaning, he could only say, "Yes."
Daiyu looked at Chu Heng: "You...go home early."
Chu Heng smiled gently: "Don't worry."
After watching Daiyu and Chu Yang leave, Chu Heng turned around and returned to Haiyan Palace.
The imperial physicians seemed to have reached a conclusion and were gathered around the head of the Imperial Medical Academy watching him write a prescription. Chu Heng stepped forward and asked, "How is His Majesty?"
When the head of the Imperial Medical Academy saw him, he frowned and stood up, saying, "Your Highness, His Majesty is not seriously injured. He will recover after taking two doses of medicine."
Chu Heng looked at him and smiled slightly: "That's good."
Chu Heng made a move to walk towards the emperor's sickbed, and all the eunuchs in Haiyan Palace stared at him. He stopped and asked the emperor's chief eunuch, "Eunuch Li, why are you looking at me like that?"
Li Zhong knew the cause and effect of the emperor's fainting from anger, and Prince Duan played a significant role in it. Although he could not commit regicide in public, Li Zhong was still subconsciously wary of Prince Duan.
He bowed and said, "This servant is worried that Your Highness is disturbing His Majesty's rest."
“That makes sense.” Chu Heng nodded. “His Majesty needs to rest and recuperate now, and it is indeed not appropriate for him to be disturbed. In that case, I will not stay here any longer.”
After watching Prince Duan leave Haiyan Palace, Li Zhongcai breathed a long sigh of relief. He asked the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to arrange for imperial physicians to be on duty, while he himself arranged for eunuchs to serve the emperor.
Li Zhong thought that once Prince Duan was gone, the emperor could focus on recuperating, but little did he know that an even bigger problem awaited the ailing emperor.
...
As the imperial physician packed his medicine chest, he couldn't help but steal glances at the Prince Duan's heir, who was being held in his mother's arms. Back in the palace, the prince had almost burst into tears at the slightest touch from the physician, but just now, when the physician applied the medicine and massaged the wound, the prince had gritted his teeth and endured it without uttering a sound.
This young prince is certainly not like the usual pampered and precious children.
"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician." The Imperial Physician was daydreaming when he suddenly heard Princess Duan say, "Please come again tomorrow to examine the Heir Apparent."
The imperial physician hurriedly replied, "No, no, it is my duty."
Daiyu then said, "Wang Mama, when you escort this imperial physician, give him a generous sum of money for his travel expenses."
The imperial physician bowed in thanks and left. As he did so, Granny Wang handed him a thin purse.
Upon seeing the silver notes, the imperial physician's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Wang Mama smiled and said, "Our young master is the apple of the prince and princess's eye. The imperial physician cured the young master's leg, so this little reward is nothing."
The imperial physician's mind cleared up a bit. He knew he was indebted to the person who had paid him, and this was Princess Duan's way of telling him to focus on treating the Crown Prince and not to have any other intentions.
"I understand," the imperial physician said with a smile. "I understand."
As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw Prince Duan walking hurriedly. The imperial physician quickly bowed and reported the prince's condition.
Chu Heng breathed a sigh of relief: "The young master is alright. I will definitely repay the imperial physician handsomely in the future."
The imperial physician hurriedly replied, "It is my duty, Your Highness. I dare not accept your thanks."
Chu Heng then said, "There's nothing urgent with His Majesty, you can go back now."
"Yes," the imperial physician replied, bidding farewell to Prince Duan and hurrying back to the Imperial Hospital.
When Chu Heng entered the room, Daiyu was whispering to Chu Yang, "Does it still hurt?"
Chu Yang shook his head: "Mother, I'm not in pain, don't worry."
The more he said that, the more Daiyu felt sorry for him. She turned her head away to hide the tears in her eyes, but then she saw Chu Heng, who had just returned.
"you……"
Before Daiyu could finish speaking, Chu Heng had already rushed over to the mother and son, saying, "It's alright, I'm back."
Daiyu leaned closer to him and said, "Mmm."
Chu Heng held the mother and son in his arms, stroking Daiyu's back, and looked down at Chu Yang: "Is Yang'er feeling better?"
Chu Yang obediently replied, "I'm all better, Father. How's things in the palace?"
Chu Heng touched his forehead: "Everything is fine in the palace. His Majesty is just upset by his son."
Chu Yang curled his lip and said, "Fourth Prince actually came up with such a stupid way to frame me. Father, he's even dumber than I've ever said."
“He will pay the price for his foolishness,” Chu Heng said slowly but firmly. “The Emperor will too.”
Chu Yang blinked and asked, "Father, do you want to be the emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Daiyu rested her chin on Chu Heng's shoulder and whispered, "We've reached the end of the road of discarding the bow after the birds are all gone."
They have always accepted that both thunder and rain are imperial favors, and that the emperor is using them. All they want is to stay away from the capital and live their own quiet lives.
However, the emperor did not want to give them this opportunity. When he needed them, he required them to be available at any time; when he did not need them, he wanted them to be cooked like dogs.
They can no longer be at the mercy of others.
Chu Heng turned his head, gently kissed Daiyu's cheek, and said with a casual smile, "Doesn't our son want to be emperor? I'll give it to him."
Chu Yang covered his eyes and exclaimed, "But, Father, you said that even though I'm not the emperor's son, I can still become emperor?"
“But you are the emperor’s grandson.” Chu Heng pinched his cheek, took his hand away, and looked into his eyes. “You don’t need to worry about these things. Heal your wounds, study hard, and… learn how to be a good emperor. Can you do that?”
Chu Yang looked at his father, then at his mother: "Then... will I always be with you, Father and Mother? Will you teach me how to be a good emperor?"
Chu Heng nodded: "Of course."
Daiyu stroked his head: "Of course, your parents will stay with Yang'er."
Chu Yang thought about it seriously for a quarter of an hour. He left his parents' embrace and said firmly, "Father, Mother, I want to be a good emperor."
"I will be a good emperor!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
