Chapter 340 Courage
The man's alert expression relaxed: "What is it?"
Lin Hao sat down, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of the man. He got straight to the point and said, "I have a nephew who was born different from ordinary people. His family hid him away from everyone. It happened that a servant of mine went to the south on business and heard about your deeds. So I invited you here to ask if my nephew could be as lucky as the child you saved."
The man's eyes flashed with displeasure: "Then you shouldn't have brought me here like a robber."
Lin Hao bowed again and said, "It's true that the child's hidden illness cannot be disclosed to outsiders. Even if you invite me here, I must keep it strictly confidential. I hope you understand."
After listening to Lin Hao's explanation, the man kept silent for a while with a stern face, then asked, "What's so special about that child?"
Lin Hao hesitated for a moment and whispered, "He has a tail growing on his buttocks."
The man raised his eyebrows slightly, and his expression seemed surprised, but not that surprised.
Lin Hao was delighted: "Sir, can you help him remove it?"
The man shook his head: "It depends."
Before Lin Hao could ask again, he explained, "It depends on whether there are bones in the tail. If it's just flesh and blood, it can be removed. But if there are bones in the tail connected to the spine, then it can't be removed. There's a risk of paralysis if it's removed."
Lin Hao had never thought of this situation.
She thought for a moment and said, "Then please stay here for two days. Whether my nephew wants you to treat him or not, I will discuss it with his parents and give you a reply."
The man looked dissatisfied: "You want to trap me here?"
Lin Hao opened the wooden box on the table, revealing a box full of silver ingots. He said earnestly, "Sir, you are a kind-hearted person. Please be patient for two days. Whether you succeed or not, these are my apologies. If you can cure my nephew's hidden illness, I will reward you handsomely."
The man's expression kept changing, and finally he nodded.
Of course, he would not completely trust this woman who had not even shown her face, but in this situation, if he did not agree, the other party would be helpless even if he used force.
"Thank you, sir." Lin Hao thanked him solemnly and quietly returned to the palace.
The couple had already reached an agreement on what to do once the little prince was cured. After Qi Shuo learned about the situation, he went to see Emperor Tai'an.
"What's the matter, Shuo'er?" Emperor Tai'an smiled at Qi Shuo, which was completely different from his serious expression in front of his ministers.
"There is something I want to say to Father..."
Emperor Tai'an signaled everyone else to leave, leaving only Liu Chuan by his side.
"Some time ago, Ah Hao's people went south on business. When they passed by a certain place, they heard a strange story. When they came back, they mentioned it to Ah Hao, and Ah Hao thought of An An..."
The Fragranceless Flower Dew Shop had opened branches in many places, showing signs of continued expansion. Lin Hao's men traveled extensively for business, and even if Emperor Tai'an sent people to investigate, they wouldn't be able to find any loopholes.
At this moment, Emperor Tai'an was completely oblivious to other matters. His face was livid as he asked, "So, the Crown Princess has already met that man?"
Facing the emperor's pressure, Qi Shuo remained calm: "Ah Hao didn't show his true face, nor did he reveal An An's identity. Whether it succeeds or not, that person will not know who is looking for him."
Emperor Tai'an said nothing. The weather was warming up, but the atmosphere was as cold as ice. After a while, he asked in a deep voice, "Why did the Crown Princess do this?"
Qi Shuo lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Ah Hao learned about An An's situation by chance, and also heard this strange story by chance. I thought that maybe God couldn't bear to see An An suffer for his whole life, so he gave him this opportunity..."
Emperor Tai'an was silent for a moment, then asked, "That person said he couldn't diagnose or treat the disease, but he needed to see the patient to confirm it."
"yes."
There was another long silence. After a while, Emperor Tai'an said calmly, "I understand. You can go back first."
"Son, take your leave."
The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Emperor Tai'an glanced sideways at Liu Chuan and suddenly said, "What do you think, the Crown Prince?"
He asked the Crown Princess why she did this, wanting to know if the two of them didn't understand that this was a thankless task.
Liu Chuan was terrified by the question and dared not say anything careless: "The prince is kind-hearted and friendly to his brothers——"
Emperor Tai'an stood up and walked out without listening to the end.
In the hot summer, Yungui Palace always seemed a little cooler than other places. When the palace maids saw the emperor coming, they all knelt on the ground, all of them were terrified.
Emperor Tai'an saw the little prince who could already speak and run.
He didn't realize it when the little prince was just born, but when he saw him today, Emperor Tai'an discovered that the child looked very much like him.
This made his mood even more complicated.
"Let me take a look."
Although Emperor Tai'an did not say it explicitly, the little prince's wet nurse instantly understood what the emperor wanted to see.
Her face immediately turned pale and she subconsciously looked at the head nanny of Yungui Palace.
Liu Chuan shouted, "Are you deaf?"
The wet nurse's face turned pale and she untied the little prince's belt with trembling hands.
Emperor Tai'an only took one look before looking away with a dark face. Suppressing his discomfort, he waved his hand and said, "Bring him in."
The news that Emperor Tai'an came to Yungui Palace reached Concubine Zhuang's ears, which frightened her and made her uneasy. She wanted to ask but was afraid of making the emperor more annoyed, so she had to keep it in her heart.
After Emperor Tai'an returned to the palace, two images appeared in his mind alternately. One moment, it was a cute baby with eyes and eyebrows very similar to his, and the other moment, it was that disgusting and ugly tail.
"Liu Chuan!"
"The servant is here."
Emperor Tai'an's face looked rather grim, and his lips were pale. "Go tell the Crown Prince not to reveal the identity of the young prince."
Still in that inconspicuous house, Lin Hao appeared in front of the man holding the little prince, who was dressed like an ordinary child from a wealthy family.
"Please take a look, sir."
The little prince was sleeping, making it convenient for the man to check.
He examined it carefully, and his tense expression softened a bit: "It can be removed."
Lin Hao smiled and said, "That's great!"
The man's tone changed: "But after all, it will hurt the flesh. Even if it can be removed, there is a risk if the wound becomes festered."
"We understand this. Compared to the pain this child will have to endure throughout his life, this is a risk his family is willing to take."
"If that's the case, then that's fine." The man mentioned a few things and asked Lin Hao to prepare.
The treatment process was very painful for those waiting. Emperor Tai'an in the palace was restless and paced back and forth.
Concubine Zhuang was even more nervous. She secretly blamed Emperor Tai'an for not caring about the life and death of the little prince. At the same time, she had a faint expectation, but more of it was worry.
Liu Chuan walked in and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the little prince has returned. He is still in a coma due to the Ma Fei San he took."
Emperor Tai'an's eyes lit up: "Call the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"
Soon Qi Shuo and Lin Hao walked in.
"How is it?" Emperor Tai'an stared at Lin Hao closely.
Lin Hao smiled and said, "Thanks to my father, that gentleman successfully removed the excess tissue. As long as we take good care of the wound and prevent it from festering, there won't be any major problems."
As for wound care, the imperial physician who knows the little prince's condition can take over.
"Good, good, good!" Emperor Tai'an said "good" three times in a row, unable to hide his joy, "You are so thoughtful."
Concubine Zhuang also had a smile on her face.
"Well, don't let that gentleman leave yet. Wait until An An recovers." Emperor Tai'an instructed after calming down.
"Don't worry, Father. Your daughter-in-law will make all the arrangements."
After Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left, Emperor Tai'an went to see the little prince in person.
The little prince was sleeping, his buttocks covered with white cloth. The wound could not be seen, but it was obvious that it was flat.
Only then did Emperor Tai'an finally breathe a sigh of relief, and Concubine Zhuang couldn't help but shed tears.
Qi Shuo then handled government affairs as usual, and Emperor Tai'an still only cared about major matters. To all officials and nobles, everything seemed normal.
Only Qi Shuo and Lin Hao knew that changes would happen soon.
When they heard that the little prince was able to walk, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao went to see Emperor Tai'an together.
Emperor Tai'an smiled slightly when he saw the two of them: "I was just about to call you over, and here you are."
"Father, does he want to talk to us about something?" Qi Shuo asked with a smile.
"Liu Chuan——"
After hearing Emperor Tai'an's shout, Liu Chuan came over with a scroll in both hands and unfolded it in front of Qi Shuo.
Qi Shuo took a look and immediately knelt down.
This turned out to be an abdication decree!
Lin Hao knelt beside Qi Shuo and was also stunned.
They had already discussed that if the little prince could be cured, they would offer to give up the position of crown prince and leave the capital to live a free life from then on, so as to avoid embarrassing each other in the end.
Unexpectedly, before he could even propose it, the emperor took out the edict of abdication.
"Father, you are still young. I dare not accept this imperial edict. Ah Hao and I came here today because we wanted to..."
Emperor Tai'an interrupted Qi Shuo: "I know."
Qi Shuo was stunned for a moment.
The emperor, with gray hair on his temples, looked at the kneeling young couple, his eyes as soft as water. "Shuo'er, I have seen how well you have done as regent over the past year. You are very good, and Ah Hao is also very good. I am relieved to leave our Qi family's kingdom to you."
He is old and the little prince is still too young. Even if he is no different from ordinary people, he still has so many years to go before he becomes an adult. Who can guarantee that he is reliable?
Even if it is reliable, will the children born also have that thing?
If he were ten years younger, Emperor Tai'an would be unwilling to give up, but now he dared not gamble, nor did he want to gamble. The actions of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess regarding the little prince also gave him the courage to give up.
"Accompany me to see An'an. An'an is still young, so you, as his brother and sister-in-law, must take good care of him in the future."
Emperor Tai'an stood up, put his hands behind his back and went to Yungui Palace first.
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