Chapter 112 Things Are Easy
Not having seen Emperor Shengwu, Zhuang Dongqing feigned regret, inquiring about the emperor's health with concern. Turning away, she let out a long sigh of relief, her heart finally at ease.
That's great, we don't need to see the old emperor.
It's not that I'm afraid.
I just felt it was unnecessary.
When it comes to making herself feel disgusted, Zhuang Dongqing has never liked to put herself through unnecessary strain. She prioritizes being carefree and comfortable, believing that her own well-being is what truly matters.
"Qingqing, you seem very happy."
After the family bid farewell to Eunuch Feng and Li Yang, they left the side hall and headed out of the palace. Cen Yan approached them and suddenly said something.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Clearing his throat, Zhuang Dongqing declared righteously, "No way!"
Cen Yan laughed, but didn't reply. Zhuang Dongqing couldn't help but touch her nose, her eyes darting around.
Cen Yan reached out his hand.
Realizing that the other person wanted to take his hand, Zhuang Dongqing lowered his eyes for a moment, and then, much faster than Cen Yan had expected, grasped his hand.
Cen Yan was slightly taken aback. He turned his head to look at Zhuang Dongqing, who smiled at him as well.
That smile encompassed everything, as if nothing more needed to be said.
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Cen Yan took a few steps and asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Zhuang Dongqing: "I just got back to the manor, is there time to make it?"
With the stove and pots empty, and nothing prepared, Zhuang Dongqing felt it was a miracle that they could even eat. Wanting to order more dishes? She felt like she was dreaming.
Cen Yan rubbed his palm with his thumb and forefinger and said slowly, "If there's no time to cook, let's go eat in the outer room. I noticed that An'an is very curious about going to the capital."
After saying that, the two looked at the little one together. Cen An'an had been waiting all afternoon, but the child couldn't wait that long. He was now lying on Liu Fu's back, fast asleep. Liu Fu carried him out steadily and didn't wake up the whole way.
Zhuang Dongqing and Cen Yan both smiled helplessly. Cen Yan said, "It seems An'an can't give any advice. Qingqing, would you like to go to the outer room?"
I definitely want to.
The restaurants in the capital are different from those in Jiangnan. There are a few that I had been eating during my pregnancy. Cen Yan mentioned them, and Zhuang Dongqing, who hadn't tasted them for two years, started to crave them.
Zhuang Dongqing whispered, "Is it okay? Won't it be bad?"
Emperor Shengwu was seriously ill, and it would be too ostentatious for them to go to a restaurant for a meal as soon as they returned.
Cen Yan: "Sure, what's wrong with that? His Majesty waking up is a joyous occasion, there's nothing to hide."
That perspective does make some sense.
After hesitating for only a moment, Zhuang Dongqing nodded and decided, "Then let's eat out tonight. Let them take care of things at home, so as not to add any more work for everyone."
"I'd like to go to Fengwu Tower, or Yunjing Pavilion... Actually, Shange is also a good choice, it's elegant and serene..."
Cen Yan's smile widened as he squeezed Zhuang Dongqing's hand. "Which house do you want to go to?"
"Don't make a sound, I'm thinking..."
Cen Yan: "Hmm, I'll think about it carefully."
It's fine to eat at one place, but if we visit several places before returning home, Emperor Shengwu hasn't fully recovered yet, and the Censorate will likely submit a memorial impeaching him tomorrow...
On second thought, Cen Yan felt it didn't matter. Given the current situation in the palace, even if a memorial could be written, it wouldn't reach Emperor Shengwu.
Cen Yan lowered the bar, "If that doesn't work, we can choose two places. We can have the main meal at one place and take An'an to try the other place. It'll broaden her horizons."
"That's great, let me pick some more..."
The young eunuch who led them out of the palace gate, Feng Gonggong's apprentice, escorted them all the way. They watched as Cen Yan took Zhuang Dongqing's hand, and then the two figures drew closer and closer in the setting sun. When they were about to leave the palace gate, they almost touched each other because of whispering.
After saying goodbye, the young eunuch bowed and watched the two leave.
When the little eunuch saw Cen Yan smiling at Zhuang Dongqing, he subconsciously wanted to rub his eyes. What was going on? Was this the usually stern and unsmiling Prince Dingxi?
How strange. I took another look, and yes, the smile was still on his face, a warmth I'd never seen before.
The little eunuch: "..."
Returning to the main hall as if in a trance, Eunuch Feng had just finished clearing out the unfamiliar staff when he learned that some of them had already been punished and crippled. He had no time to feel sad and quickly summoned the imperial physician to inquire about the food and medicine. Upon learning that Emperor Shengwu had been drinking plain porridge for the past few days without even a drop of meat, Eunuch Feng cursed under his breath.
After the main hall was cleaned up and people were resting, the young apprentice returned and reported that Cen Yan had left the palace, but then hesitated to speak.
"Speak," said Eunuch Feng, somewhat impatiently.
The young eunuch lowered his head again and said carefully, "I just feel that the Prince of Dingxi really likes this young master. I followed him all the way today and saw that this young master and the heir got along very well. I find it strange that I have never seen the Prince of Dingxi like this before."
Eunuch Feng thought it was something serious, but upon hearing this, he relaxed and said, rubbing his forehead, "Now that you know, be more careful in the future and don't be negligent, or the Prince will skin you alive."
After a pause, he revealed the information: "If His Majesty's condition improves, the Prince of Dingxi will request His Majesty to bestow the title of Empress. If... as you have seen, the Sixth Prince was escorted back by the Prince of Dingxi. In short, there will always be a day when he will be made an Empress. This young master is simple-minded. You should make sure to speak with the people in the main hall in advance, and do not be negligent in the future."
"Okay, Master."
Since Eunuch Feng was free, he asked another question, "Do they go back to their residences as soon as they leave the palace?"
Everyone here has just arrived in Beijing; this is the usual procedure.
But the apprentice denied it, saying, "No, that young master seemed to want to dine at the Shangjing Restaurant, and he was discussing it with the prince on the way..."
Eunuch Feng sensed something was amiss. "Did the Prince agree?"
The apprentice relayed, "His Highness instructed him to visit no more than two restaurants and not to linger in the outer rooms."
"..."
Grandpa Feng suffered a heart attack.
The young apprentice muttered, "That's why I feel the prince is taking things seriously, unlike before when he seemed indifferent to everything."
Thinking of Emperor Shengwu's current state, and knowing the saying "when people leave, the tea cools," Eunuch Feng was too lazy to say anything more. Since Cen Yan wasn't going to put on a show, he would just pretend he didn't know. Anyway, it didn't really matter.
"Understood, go and explain..."
The young apprentice agreed.
While Eunuch Feng was still thinking about his little apprentice's words, he felt that something was not right. At first, he didn't think much of it, but it kept coming back to him. After he finished washing up and had some free time, he finally thought about it properly.
Something's not right. Cen Yan has never acted so presumptuously towards His Majesty.
Even sending the sixth prince to the capital...
The investigation into the Third Prince's case, which was only halfway through, was put on hold. But as the numerous clues were pieced together, Eunuch Feng suddenly began to ponder another question... Right, when did the Prince start having his own ideas...?
The moment the answer was revealed, a cold sweat broke out on Eunuch Feng's back.
The more Eunuch Feng thought about it, the less he dared to delve deeper. He tried to piece together any evidence he could recall as supporting evidence, but... there was none. There was no relevant physical evidence.
If it wasn't the Fourth Prince, but the Prince of Dingxi...
In the golden autumn season, when the wind blew, the weather, which should have been pleasant, felt extremely cold to Eunuch Feng.
But what's done is done, and the die is cast.
Even if we glimpse a corner of the truth, it won't change the current situation.
After standing still for a moment, Eunuch Feng decided to forget about today's absurd speculations.
The third prince was accidentally killed by the fourth prince.
The Eighth Prince then executed the Fourth Prince.
With the sixth prince, Li Yang, back in the palace, and Li De crippled and disgraced, his succession is no longer possible.
Take a deep breath and exhale a long, stale air.
After reviewing the recent major events and repeating them to himself several times, Eunuch Feng gradually came to believe it.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and went back inside. He then called his young apprentice over and gave him another thorough instruction on how to serve the Prince of Dingxi before wearily waving him away.
*
Li Yang has returned, and Li De has been imprisoned in the Dali Temple. The crime of raising a private army has spread throughout the capital.
Privately, the high-ranking officials had also heard about the public humiliation and the fact that he had been paraded through the streets and left disabled.
I thought that once Li Yang returned, he would thoroughly purge the court, just like Li De had done.
But Li Yang did not.
Li Yang... plunged into the main hall and took meticulous care of the newly awakened Emperor Shengwu without even taking off his clothes.
Well, everyone knows who he's putting on this act of filial piety for.
Fortunately, the number of adult princes had dwindled to just one optimal candidate, and Li Yang acted magnanimously, not launching a major purge of Li De's faction. As a result, the atmosphere in the court gradually eased from a state of high tension.
"How is the outer room?"
With a hoarse voice, Emperor Shengwu struggled to grasp the hand of his sixth son.
The force was a bit too strong, pulling Li Yang's hand holding the medicine bowl slightly to the side, spilling some of the medicine onto the quilt.
Li Yang, without changing his expression, called out, "The bed is dirty. Check if the moisture has seeped in. Father Emperor cannot tolerate dampness."
The young eunuch stepped forward, checked repeatedly, and reported: "It's only in the outer room; there's nothing wrong inside the blankets."
Li Yang nodded and looked at Emperor Shengwu, saying, "Father, why are you in such a hurry?"
"As I said, things outside have calmed down. Father, please do not worry."
Emperor Shengwu stared intently at Li Yang, breathing heavily and rapidly, seemingly lost in thought.
After Zhao Ye's medicine arrived, Li Yang watched the eunuchs prepare it every day and personally fed it to Emperor Shengwu.
After drinking it for four or five days in a row, Emperor Shengwu was finally able to speak a few words.
The good thing is that he immediately asked about the situation in the imperial court. The bad thing is that he started by asking about the situation in the imperial court.
Li Yang's smile was gentle, but it was hard to tell what was going on. Emperor Shengwu asked hoarsely, "How are Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince?"
I asked him once before, but Li Yang brushed me off.
He asked again today, his expression resolute. Li Yang could tell that if he insisted on not telling him, Emperor Shengwu would probably lose his temper today...
Master Zhao had instructed that Emperor Shengwu, given his current health condition, should avoid extreme joy or sorrow.
After a moment's thought, Li Yang said, "Fourth Brother has been locked up by Little Eight."
Underground. In the tomb.
"Xiao Ba has presumptuously proclaimed himself Crown Prince and is currently imprisoned; he has not yet been dealt with."
However, it did not mention that Guan was in the Dali Temple and that he was raising a private army with Li De.
It sounds like he's confined to his own residence.
Emperor Shengwu, not letting up, struggled to ask, "What else...?"
Li Yang sighed and said the same old thing: "The imperial physician said that Father Emperor, you need to rest and recuperate these days. They can't escape. I won't do anything to my brothers. You should eat and take your medicine well. Once you feel better, you can return to court soon."
"How dare you!"
Emperor Shengwu was halfway through his roar when he suddenly started coughing violently.
As soon as he was in trouble, all the servants in the main hall sprang into action. Some fetched water, some fetched spittoons, some carried medicine, and some even ran out to the side hall to call the imperial physician on duty...
After all that commotion, by the time Emperor Shengwu stopped coughing, he was completely exhausted.
Li Yang stood upright to the side, looking worried and helpless.
Emperor Shengwu was initially filled with resentment, but after seeing the worry in Li Yang's eyes, his anger inexplicably dissipated.
"Am I... do I... never get better?"
After saying that, his voice became completely hoarse, and he could no longer utter a sound.
Li Yang patiently took the medicine bowl and said as usual, "How could that be? May Father Emperor live a long life. He is just ill. Once he recovers, he will naturally take charge of court affairs and properly manage state affairs. Da Sheng cannot do without Father Emperor."
Emperor Shengwu's expression softened slightly.
After taking the medication, I fell into a deep sleep.
"He seemed better a few days ago, but he lost his temper today. We'll just have to see how things go tomorrow."
"If that's the case, Your Highness needs to make plans as soon as possible..."
The imperial physician tried to explain Emperor Shengwu's condition in a tactful way.
Li Yang nodded, her expression remaining blank.
The following day, Emperor Shengwu's condition indeed relapsed, and he developed a low-grade fever.
After Mr. Hu had seen it, on the way back to their palace from the main hall, he whispered, "I think His Majesty probably won't last much longer. Perhaps we should use the life-saving medicine provided by Cen Yan."
Li Yang interrupted him without hesitation, saying, "Let's observe for a few more days."
Mr. Hu was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered his head.
Since returning to the palace, Li Yang has become increasingly opinionated and rarely asks for his opinion anymore.
Hu Lin thought it was a good thing, but sometimes he felt a little lost.
It was as if the junior he had been looking after was slowly disappearing, while the new generation of rulers of the Great Sheng Dynasty was awakening in Li Yang's body.
A few days later, Emperor Shengwu recovered somewhat under careful care.
Master Zhao's medicine was still being simmered, but its effects were not as good as before.
After recovering, Emperor Shengwu seemed to sense his decline. When he saw Li Yang again, and his son who cared for him so much and never showed the slightest impatience, he finally felt a little guilty and asked Li Yang what he wanted and what reward he wanted to give him.
"Anything is fine?"
Li Yang's usually calm eyes suddenly stirred with emotion.
"Speak," Emperor Shengwu said weakly, leaning back on the bed.
So Li Yang asked, "Could you perform a religious ceremony for my mother?"
Emperor Shengwu paused for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
"I thought you'd grown up, why are you still arguing with me?!"
Li Yang's eyebrows twitched slightly, but the ripples of hope returned to silence once more.
...
After Emperor Shengwu finished his reprimand, Li Yang left the main hall, and the imperial physician also came out after taking her pulse.
"His Majesty's health... we should try medicine first and then see how it goes..."
The imperial physician was startled by Li Yang's expression when he suddenly looked up.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just felt incredibly terrifying.
Li Yang's next words matched his expression, "Stop with the empty talk, tell me exactly how Father's health is, whether the medicine can still help, and how much time he has left...
After the imperial physician left, drenched in sweat, Li Yang stood alone outside the main hall for quite some time.
When Hu Lin found Li Yang, he reported the situation in the court. Li Yang, with his back to him, said, "Father's health is already failing, and I'm afraid Zhao Ye's prescription won't be able to cure him."
Mr. Hu was a little confused. Didn't they say this morning that he was slowly recovering?
How come...
Just as that possibility came to mind, Li Yang's voice followed.
"Starting tomorrow, let's use the medicine from the Prince's residence."
After a pause, Li Yang continued, "Father has always wanted to summon the Prince."
"Perfect, I'll summon him once I'm feeling better."
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