Chapter 120. Sober.
After Chu Heng inquired about the Sixth Prince's condition in front of all the imperial physicians, Daiyu visited the Consort De's palace several times to see the child, whose health was gradually improving.
The Sixth Prince was luckier than Chu Heng was back then. The Fourth Prince couldn't get his hands on the potent poison that the late Emperor and Empress had used, and he also met Physician Xu, who was passionate about researching unorthodox and unconventional remedies. With proper care and treatment, he was sure to recover in time.
When Daiyu looked at the Sixth Prince, she would always think of Chu Heng as a child, whom she had never met, and thus she would always unconsciously show some favoritism.
Consort De did not understand the reason, and only thought that Princess Duan truly loved the Sixth Prince, so she did not object to her visiting the Sixth Prince.
Moreover, loneliness is inevitable in the inner palace, and Consort De would also like to have someone to talk to.
The harem was only so big, and Daiyu often came and went. Besides occasionally meeting the Fourth Prince's wife, she would also often encounter the female officials serving in the Crown Prince's palace.
The Crown Prince has moved into the Eastern Palace, but it is still very convenient for the female officials and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace to stroll in the Imperial Garden.
After meeting the female officials of the Eastern Palace several times, Daiyu returned and said to Chu Heng, "The Crown Prince is not strict in managing his subordinates, and there are often cases of people leaving their posts without permission. If someone can be summoned by the Crown Prince at any time, he will think highly of them and consider them loyal to him, and regard them as a confidant."
“It’s not just in the palace; the Crown Prince is also quite naive in court,” Chu Heng said. “He’s not young anymore, and after all these years of governing, he still only has a superficial understanding of many things. That’s not all; he has no desire to learn and relies solely on a few regents.”
If Chu Heng truly wanted to assist the Crown Prince, he would have been driven to his death by now. How could someone so unambitious be fit for a great responsibility?
Daiyu sighed. Although she was on the opposite side of the Crown Prince, she could understand: "The Crown Prince is the fifth son, with four older brothers. No matter how the position was passed, it would never have been his."
If the Crown Prince were here, he would definitely feel that this speaks to his heart. The Crown Prince has never aspired to the throne since he was a child. He only wanted to live a life of leisure and wait for death. After the sudden change, the throne fell into his lap, and he even felt wronged!
Chu Heng smiled and said, "So, should we let him have his way? But no matter how unwilling he is, he'll have to be emperor for a while longer."
Daiyu patted his arm and said, "What I meant was, no matter what the Crown Prince's status will be in the future, at least we should protect his life."
Chu Heng held her hand and assured her, "Don't worry, no matter what the emperor does, I know the child is innocent. He will always be my nephew."
Daiyu naturally believed Chuheng, but the emperor did not believe him at all.
After entering May, the emperor gradually lost his appetite and could only be fed some medicine and ginseng soup. Imperial Physician Xu accompanied the imperial physician to Haiyan Palace to guard the emperor for three days. When he went back to rest, he made an excuse to see Chu Heng.
"Your Highness, I'm afraid His Majesty won't last more than a few days."
Chu Heng was writing a memorial when he heard this, his pen paused, he put it down, and then asked, "Are you sure?"
Physician Xu said, "Even if we can't be sure, taking that pill will confirm it."
Chu Heng almost laughed out loud. He rubbed his forehead and asked again to confirm, "That pill can keep the emperor awake for four or five hours, right?"
Physician Xu said cautiously, "Your Highness, it will be at most five hours."
"Hmm." Chu Heng waved his hand and said, "Okay, I know, you can leave now."
Physician Xu did not move, but said, "Your Highness, now that this matter is settled, I must leave the Imperial Hospital. Please do not forget your promise."
This was something Chu Heng had arranged with Physician Xu long ago. Firstly, Physician Xu was already tired of the constraints of the palace, and secondly, having done these things for Prince Duan, he knew he should be sensible and disappear.
Chu Heng nodded: "Of course, I have already prepared your travel expenses. From now on, the sky's the limit, and you can soar freely."
Physician Xu bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I shall take my leave now."
Chu Heng sent a letter to Daiyu, and after finishing his work, he leisurely washed his hands before heading to Haiyan Palace.
Five imperial physicians were guarding the side hall, while only four eunuchs served in the emperor's bedchamber. One of them was Li Zhong, who rarely left the emperor's side. In terms of loyalty to the emperor, no one could surpass him.
Chu Heng bowed before the emperor's sickbed, but naturally received no response. He then sat down on the stool on his own.
A moment later, a young eunuch carrying a tray entered. Li Zhong stared intently at Chu Heng, and when he got closer, he noticed that the tray contained a pill and a bowl of ginseng soup. He asked, "Where did this medicine come from? It's not yet time for His Majesty to take his medicine."
The young eunuch bowed his head and said, "These pills were brought by the Prince, who instructed us to serve them to His Majesty."
Li Zhong turned and bowed to Chu Heng: "This servant dares to ask Your Highness where this medicine came from? Have you consulted the Imperial Physician? His Majesty cannot take medicine indiscriminately."
Chu Heng casually replied, "I asked, and His Majesty can eat it."
This was strange. Li Zhong didn't believe him. She stood in front of the emperor's bed and said, "Your Highness, I have offended you. Please allow me to invite the chief physician to serve His Majesty his medicine."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "I have something urgent to attend to, Father-in-law."
Before he finished speaking, he raised his hand, and the remaining eunuchs in the room rushed forward, pinned Li Zhong to the ground, and gagged him.
The young eunuch carrying the medicine approached and fed the pill to the emperor. Li Zhong's eyes widened in horror, and only one thought occupied his mind.
Prince Duan is plotting to assassinate the emperor and rebel!
The eunuchs tied Li Zhong up, gagged him, and threw him out of the emperor's sight while he was on his sickbed. They then straightened themselves out and continued to serve him with their heads bowed.
When the emperor awoke with a soft cough, a young eunuch came in to report: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has already entered the palace."
"..." The emperor tried to speak, but his mouth was so dry that he couldn't utter a single word and could only exhale twice.
Chu Heng instructed, "Feed His Majesty some ginseng soup."
Two eunuchs approached, one helped the emperor up, and the other fed him soup with a silver spoon. The emperor looked at the shiny silver spoon, opened his mouth and swallowed a mouthful of soup.
After a while, the emperor ate a small bowl of ginseng soup and his mind became clear. Although he was physically weak and could not move a single finger, his mind was perfectly clear.
The emperor was not without awareness; he knew his time was coming to an end and had been in a daze for many days. This feeling he was experiencing now was truly strange.
Turning his gaze to Chu Heng, who was still sitting by the bedside, the emperor asked hoarsely, "Prince Duan...why are you here?"
Chu Heng did not answer, but simply raised his chin. The eunuch brought a large pillow for the emperor to lean on, while he himself stood at the foot of the bed.
The emperor frowned deeply. When did the eunuchs of Haiyan Palace start to obey Prince Duan's every word?
"Where is Li Zhong?" the emperor asked.
Chu Heng shrugged and laughed, "Who knows? Your Majesty, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Everyone says the mountain is about to collapse. If this tree is no longer reliable, we will naturally have to find the next one."
The emperor stared at Chu Heng in disbelief: "How dare you!"
"Your Majesty, I have something even more audacious to say." Chu Heng rose and brought the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to the emperor, casually placing them on the brocade quilt covering him. "While I still have the strength, I humbly request Your Majesty to personally draft a will..."
"Get out!" The medicine began to take effect, and the emperor raised his hand and overturned the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The ink rolled all the way from the bed to the white fox fur carpet in front of the bed.
"Prince Duan has overstepped his bounds and committed treason. Drag him away immediately and sentence him to death!"
After the emperor roared at the top of his lungs, no one responded. Only Chu Heng sighed, "These are top-quality inksticks. Even if Your Majesty has no shortage of them, as a ruler, you should at least cherish some manpower and resources."
"You..." the emperor pointed at him and demanded, "What have you done?"
Prince Duan had actually taken control of the entire Haiyan Palace, leaving the emperor with nowhere to go. He belatedly realized what had happened and was covered in a cold sweat. What exactly had Prince Duan done while he was seriously ill and unconscious?
"What?" Chu Heng asked in confusion. "Oh, Your Majesty understands that you have not seen your son for many days and must be missing him terribly while you are ill. Therefore, I have specially asked the Princess to have someone bring your son here."
The emperor's eyes widened in fury: "You treacherous scoundrel, what do you intend to do to the crown prince?"
Chu Heng shook his head helplessly: "The Crown Prince is a good child. Your Majesty and I both like him very much. He will be fine. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
The emperor looked at him with suspicion and uncertainty. After a long while, he leaned back on the soft pillows and said in a softer tone, "Prince Duan, I have treated you well all these years. Now that the Crown Prince has ascended the throne, you are the new emperor's uncle. You will enjoy endless wealth and honor in the future. Why... why do such a rebellious thing? In the future, when the historians write their stories, you... not only you, but you and your husband, and your descendants will be cursed for all eternity!"
Chu Heng nodded and smiled: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. They are truly enlightening. I will remember them."
Seeing that he was unmoved by reason or persuasion, the emperor felt a surge of anger rising within him, and he gasped for breath: "Prince Duan, do you think you can deceive the emperor and the people? I have already established an heir apparent and appointed the crown prince to oversee the country. Why would I pass the throne to you? Won't the implications arouse suspicion?"
Chu Heng held up one finger and said, "Save your energy, Your Majesty. I only have one question: are you willing to write a will in your own hand?"
The emperor roared, "Don't even think about it!"
"Alright," Chu Heng said, "then let's wait a little longer."
The emperor was puzzled and powerless because he was controlled by others, so he could only wait. After a while, two eunuchs helped the fourth prince in and told him to kneel in front of the emperor's bed. One of the eunuchs took a cup of water and splashed it on him to wake him up.
Before the fourth prince could even cry out, his mouth was gagged, and he was pinned to the ground, unable to move.
The eunuch replied, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has gone to see the Sixth Prince at Consort De's residence."
Chu Heng nodded and said, "Understood."
Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince… The Emperor pressed his hand against his heart, which was pounding in his chest: “Prince Duan, what have you done to my sons?”
Chu Heng rolled up his sleeves and said indifferently, "What is he anyway, worth me getting my hands dirty for him?"
The emperor was taken aback, finding the words strangely familiar, but he couldn't quite place why...
"Your Majesty, please draft the decree," Chu Heng said. "I am growing impatient."
"I am the ruler of this country, how can I submit to a traitor like you?" The emperor pounded the bed in a rage. "I am the rightful heir, the crown prince is the rightful heir, you treacherous traitor, don't even think about... cough cough cough cough!"
After the emperor finished coughing, Chu Heng said, "Therefore, I request Your Majesty to issue a will, requesting that the Crown Prince succeed to the throne after your passing."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
