Chapter 598 Receiving News of the Assassin
The two whispered sweet nothings to each other for a while before letting go. As evening approached, Aunt Zhou and the Third Prince arrived.
Aunt Zhou waited outside Zhou Ruiyuan's bedroom for a long time, but eventually she couldn't hold on any longer and was helped to the palace by the Third Prince to rest.
Today, upon hearing that Zhou Ruiyuan had awakened, she immediately went to the palace. When she arrived at the garden gate, she heard from Doctor Xu that Wanchun was inside the hall, so she did not go in until Du Wanchun came out.
As soon as Du Wanchun opened the door, she saw Aunt Zhou striding in. "Wanchun, how is Ruiyuan?"
Du Wanchun quickly welcomed her in, "Mother, Ruiyuan's poison has been cured, why don't you go in and see him?"
Overjoyed, Aunt Zhou hurriedly walked into the house, lifting her skirt. Seeing Zhou Ruiyuan sitting half-on the bed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mother, I'm fine, you don't need to worry so much," Zhou Ruiyuan said with a smile.
Aunt Zhou wiped her eyes with a handkerchief in her hand, walked over and sat down slowly beside him, looking him up and down. "That's wonderful, the poison is really gone. Yesterday when I saw you, you were pale and your lips were bluish-purple, but today you're all back to normal."
Zhou Ruiyuan didn't want his mother to worry, "It's just ordinary poison, it won't hurt me, but, Father..."
After he finished speaking, he looked up at the doorway.
Aunt Zhou put down the handkerchief, held it tightly in her hand, and said, "He was already dying, and he even took medicine that harmed his health in order to escape the palace. Saving you is a way of doing something for him."
For Granny Zhou, the emperor was the enemy who killed her father, brother, and son; it was impossible for her to forgive him.
She was grateful that he had taken an arrow for Zhou Ruiyuan, but gratitude was one thing, hatred was another.
He couldn't possibly hope to win Zhou Da Niang's compassion by sacrificing his own life.
Zhou Ruiyuan understood all of this, and he slowly said, "I'll leave Father Emperor's funeral arrangements to Eunuch Zhang. I heard he's already awake."
Aunt Zhou nodded, "He woke up last night. It's quite a coincidence that he woke up as soon as the emperor died. But it's good that he can help you share some of the burden."
The emperor's funeral will be conducted according to normal etiquette.
Once the funeral is over, Zhou Ruiyuan will be able to officially ascend the throne.
Their family's suffering has finally come to an end.
Aunt Zhou smiled with relief, her eyes red, and slowly said, "Ruiyuan, after you ascend the throne, the Prince and I will return to Cheng'an County."
"Back to Cheng'an County?" Zhou Ruiyuan looked surprised. "Mother, in the capital, you can be a princess in peace and quiet, and no one can disturb you."
Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "The prince and I have discussed it. We're tired of life in the capital. It's good to go back to Cheng'an County. We still have our estate there."
"That estate is like a paradise on earth, and I can even go boating on the lake with the prince," she said, her face full of longing.
As Zhou Ruiyuan listened, he also began to feel nostalgic.
Although life in Changliu Village was a bit tough in the past, it was carefree and comfortable.
He thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, as long as Mother is happy, that's fine."
Aunt Zhou smiled, looking at her son, her heart filled with emotion.
Not long after, the Third Prince arrived. After Aunt Zhou left, he told Zhou Ruiyuan what Lu Yan and Doctor Xu had said.
Zhou Ruiyuan's eyes darkened, and he asked the Third Prince, "Has Zhou Feng recently sent any merchant caravans to the Southern Barbarians?"
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's eyes lit up. "I've been there. Zhou Feng is right outside the door. Why don't you call him over and ask him?"
Zhou Feng was originally collecting goods at a ferry crossing dozens of kilometers outside the capital when he heard that Zhou Ruiyuan had been assassinated. He immediately rushed back and, before even returning home, hurriedly went to the palace.
"Let him in," Zhou Ruiyuan said.
He had barely finished speaking when Zhou Feng strode in, calling out, "Big brother! Big brother!"
He was usually very composed, but when he heard that Zhou Ruiyuan had almost lost his life, he panicked.
Zhou Ruiyuan called out to him, "Second brother, I'm fine."
Zhou Feng almost ran to him and saw Zhou Ruiyuan sitting properly, clutching his chest. He plopped down in a chair, his previously pale face looking much better.
"That really scared me to death. I received a message from Yan'er saying that you almost lost your life, brother."
The Third Prince patted him on the shoulder and said, "Ruiyuan is a blessed man. He won't be in trouble so easily. Don't worry too much, or your mother will worry too."
As he spoke, he looked at Aunt Zhou outside the door.
The Third Prince and Zhou Ruiyuan were about to discuss serious matters, so they asked Du Wanchun to sit in the garden with Aunt Zhou.
Zhou Feng quickly composed himself, regaining his composure, and took a slow sip of tea.
The Third Prince sat down opposite him and said, "Your eldest brother has something to ask you."
Zhou Feng put down his cup and looked at Zhou Ruiyuan, "What is it, brother?"
Zhou Ruiyuan asked slowly, "Did you send a caravan to the Southern Barbarians a few months ago?"
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