Half a month later.
Liu Zhao took the tiger and wolf medicine.
The process is so agonizing that only real men can endure it.
Liu Zhao survived the most critical first three days.
Gu Jiu stayed beside him, his eyes red and tears welling up.
"I thought you weren't going to make it."
"I promised to stay with you until you are sixty. No matter how painful or hard it is, I will persevere. I am fine now, don't cry!"
"I'm not crying!"
Gu Jiu secretly wiped the corners of his eyes, which were bloodshot.
"Have you not slept these past few days?" Liu Zhao was extremely worried. "Hurry up and go to bed for a good sleep. Don't let me not get well before you fall ill again."
Gu Jiu shook his head. "I do rest, but the rest time is relatively short. I can't sleep well because I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine now, go and rest."
Gu Jiu followed the advice and lay down on the bed, sleeping for a whole day and night.
When I woke up, it was dark.
She rubbed her eyes and saw Liu Zhao beside her.
"You're finally awake! If you don't wake up soon, I'll have the imperial physician wake you up."
"How long have I slept?"
"One day and one night. The clock goes two and a half rounds."
Gu Jiu smiled when he heard that.
She grabbed Liu Zhao's wrist and took his pulse.
"I'm fine!" Liu Zhao emphasized, but did not refuse Gu Jiu's pulse diagnosis.
Gu Jiu's serious expression turned into a smile.
"This medicine is indeed effective. My pulse has become much stronger."
Liu Zhao laughed heartily, his pride evident in his words, "I can still live for at least another 10 to 20 years."
Gu Jiu was happy to accompany him.
Then, I started to worry again.
She dismissed her attendants and said sternly, "Let's just give up on the abdication. Just pretend it never happened."
silence!
Liu Zhao was silent for a long time.
Gu Jiu's heart sank.
When it comes to the throne, she always prepares for the worst.
After a long pause, Liu Zhao finally spoke, "Before you woke up, I was also thinking about this question. Should I stick to my previous decision and abdicate next year?"
"Do you have an answer?"
"I want to hear your opinion."
Gu Jiu bit his lip, looking embarrassed.
After a moment, she said with a firm look in her eyes, "I respect your opinion on this matter. Whether you abdicate or not, I support you."
"You have no stance." Liu Zhao complained to her.
Gu Jiu smiled bitterly, "Then what do you want me to do?"
If she insisted on abdicating, would Liu Zhao blame her many years later?
If she suggested not to abdicate, would Liu Yu blame her when he found out about this many years later?
It was a dilemma for her to make a decision on this matter.
Liu Zhao said, "The imperial physician told me that this medicine can significantly alleviate my pain, but if I want to live a few more years, I still need to take good care of myself. I can't overwork myself or worry."
Gu Jiu nodded heavily. "The original purpose of this medicine is to relieve pain. As for prolonging life, people will feel less pain and have a better quality of life. Perhaps this is what prolongs life."
There are many ways to relieve pain, and some ready-made medicines can do that.
However, these drugs, without exception, are addictive.
Gu Jiu didn't dare give it to Liu Zhao.
She used a stupid method.
In the end, I decided to use tiger and wolf medicine, but I had no choice.
Liu Zhao suffered pain all day and night, and that kind of torture could really kill a person.
She couldn't bear to see him living in such agony.
Tiger and wolf medicine is the worst option, so I didn't dare to have any hope at the beginning.
Fortunately, they succeeded.
Liu Zhao no longer had to suffer day and night.
Next, just take good care of your body, eat well and sleep well.
If you are in good mental and physical condition and nothing unexpected happens, you can certainly live a few more years.
In the past, despite suffering from illness, Liu Zhao still insisted on handling state affairs.
Now that the pain is within the tolerable range, is it possible for Liu Zhao to give up the throne?
Gu Jiu couldn't make the decision for him whether to abdicate or not.
From then on, she couldn't even bring up the matter on her own initiative.
Liu Zhao frowned, obviously upset.
He said, "I need to think about abdication again."
"Good! It never hurts to think more about things."
After that, neither the couple mentioned abdication again.
Liu Zhao asked about state affairs from time to time.
After the hot summer passed and the cool autumn arrived, the couple returned to the palace from Xiaozhu.
When his father returned to the palace, Liu Yu was ready to hand over the power of regent.
However, he did not expect that Liu Zhao would issue an imperial edict allowing him to continue to supervise the country.
Liu Yu was very worried.
Gu Jiu told him not to worry.
Liu Zhao no longer attended the imperial meeting.
The grand court meeting would last two or three hours, or even four or five hours, from early morning to dusk.
After sitting on the dragon throne for such a long time, Liu Zhao felt very tired.
After every grand court meeting, he had to rest for a few days before he could recover his energy.
Occasionally, a small court meeting was held, and King Liu Yu of Qi was always invited to attend.
No matter big or small, he would ask King Liu Yu of Qi to express his opinions and make suggestions.
As long as the suggestions made are sound and in line with Liu Zhao's wishes, Liu Zhao will say, "Just do as the King of Qi says."
After a few times, the court officials figured out some of the meaning and imagined various possibilities.
So much so that later, for some less urgent matters, court officials would directly seek the opinions of King Liu Yu of Qi instead of waiting for Emperor Liu Zhao to make a decision.
Faced with this situation, King Liu Yu of Qi was not confused, but rather a little worried.
He went to Chang'an Palace.
Gu Jiu told him, "Don't worry! As long as your father doesn't object, you can do it."
King Liu Yu of Qi did not dare to be careless.
He would report everything to Xingqing Palace in detail.
Liu Zhao did not comment on this.
…
Autumn goes and winter comes.
On the day when the first snow fell in the capital, Prince Rong Liu Heng and Princess Ruyang returned to the capital with their families.
King Liu Xun of Lu was still halfway on his way. Even if he set out early, his journey by land would still be much slower than by sea.
The palace suddenly became lively.
Gu Jiu was very happy.
The family dinner lasted from noon to night.
During the break, Gu Jiu asked Liu Zhao, "Are you happy that the children are back?"
"Of course I'm happy!"
Gu Jiu curved his eyebrows and smiled.
The couple had a tacit understanding and didn't say a single word that shouldn't be said.
By the twelfth month, King Liu Xun of Lu finally arrived in Beijing.
After so many years, the family is finally together.
Taking advantage of the snow in the capital, Gu Jiu and Liu Zhao left the palace and went to the mountains to see the snow scenery.
After watching the snow scene, Liu Zhao returned to the palace, wrapped in a thick cashmere blanket and curled up on the soft couch.
The study has floor heating and it's very warm.
Gu Jiu was only wearing a single layer of clothing, but her cheeks were still red from the heat.
Liu Zhao couldn't do it.
The room was so warm that he had to wrap himself in a cashmere blanket.
Gu Jiu poured him a glass of warm water and said, "Your lips are dry, drink some water."
Liu Zhao held the water cup and motioned Gu Jiu to sit next to him.
"My health is getting worse every year. You wear thin clothes, but I have to wrap myself in a blanket."
"Since I know my health is not good, I can't be careless on a daily basis and must take good care of myself."
Liu Zhao put down his teacup and held Gu Jiu's hand. "I haven't seen you smile recently. Are you hiding something in your heart?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "You have something hidden in your heart. I've never seen you smile."
Liu Zhao immediately smiled and said, "I have been thinking about that matter for the past six months."
That matter, naturally, refers to the abdication.
Gu Jiu said nothing.
At this moment, nothing she said would be appropriate.
Liu Zhao continued to talk to himself, "I won't hide it from you. Ever since I took the medicine and my old injury has become less painful, I've been wavering for a long time. I don't want to abdicate, I don't want to give up the throne while I'm still alive. That dragon throne is too attractive to me. Especially since I've sat on it for more than ten years, almost twenty years. I can't bear to give it up."
Gu Jiu held his hand tightly, "I understand, I understand everything."
For example, if she were asked to give up the world and the four seas now, she would be reluctant, and she would struggle and get angry.
Liu Zhao shook his head. "I've been struggling and hesitating in my heart. Sometimes I look at the eldest brother, who is young and strong, full of energy, with clear thinking, strategy and a broad perspective. He can think of things that I can't think of, and he can also think of things that I can't think of. I actually feel jealous.
Before, I didn't dare tell you because I was afraid you would spit on me. You'd say I was the same as the emperors of all dynasties, intolerant of others, even their own children. I held it in, believing I was different from the emperors of all dynasties. I could tolerate the excellence of children and wasn't afraid of being outdone by them. Sigh..."
A sigh, full of inexpressible sorrow.
"I overestimated myself! Once jealousy arises, it's hard to suppress. I simply turned a blind eye, but I'm still worried. I still have to continue to evaluate the boss's ability to govern. These days, my heart has been tormented. I despise myself and am madly jealous. I wish I could be twenty years younger."
Liu Zhao's expression was calm and composed.
Open up your heart and expose your most selfish and unbearable side to your lover.
Gu Jiu hugged him and said, "People eat grains and cereals, and they have seven emotions and six desires. Jealousy is human nature, and there is no need to feel ashamed."
"I am jealous of my own children."
"No! You are not jealous of your own child as a father, you are jealous of your young minister as an emperor."
"It's all the same!"
"It's different! You have to distinguish between the two identities. At this moment, you are just a pure person, without the burden of being an emperor, so you dare to reveal everything to me. But when you are in Xingqing Palace, in the Golden Throne Hall, your identity is the emperor. At that time, you look at the eldest brother, not with the eyes of a father looking at his son, but with the eyes of an emperor examining his heir. You will be jealous of him, but it is only human nature, it does not mean that you are intolerant."
Liu Zhao smiled bitterly, "You can find any excuse to comfort me."
"Shut up! I'm not making excuses. Think about it yourself. Are you the emperor or the husband at this moment? Is it the same?"
Liu Zhao was stunned.
Gu Jiu sighed and stroked his cheek gently, "Don't dwell on it, don't be so quick to deny yourself."
Liu Zhao nodded slightly, "At this moment, I am just your husband, not the emperor."
Gu Jiu laughed.
Liu Zhao laughed and continued, "I just can't make up my mind! That chair is too tempting. I can't bear to let it go."
"Since you can't bear to give it up, then don't give it up." Gu Jiu was very straightforward.
Liu Zhao shook his head. "I promised you that I would stay with you. If I don't give up, I won't be able to fulfill my promise."
Gu Jiu frowned and said solemnly: "I don't need you to fulfill your previous promise, I just need you to follow your heart. When you consider this matter, you must put aside any factors and only ask yourself, are you willing to give up?
If the answer is no, don't worry, just stay in that position. No one will blame you. Don't do anything against your conscience for me. I don't want you to ever feel resentful.
Liu Zhao said, "No matter what choice you make, there will be regrets. I have been weighing the pros and cons."
“If you can’t make up your mind, use maximizing profit as the criterion.”
"I... promised something, but now I regret and hesitate. Will you blame me?"
Gu Jiu laughed, "Of course not. This is no small matter. It's human nature to hesitate and struggle."
Liu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. "You are the only one who cares about me the most. You are the only one who thinks of me wholeheartedly."
"If you can't come up with an answer, don't think about it for now. In short, no matter what decision you make, I support you."
"Thanks!"
Liu Zhao solemnly thanked Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu despised him, "If you really want to thank me, take good care of your health."
"I have always followed the doctor's orders."
"Who was it that secretly reviewed the memorials?"
"It's the end of the year, and there's a lot to do. I'm the emperor, not a hands-off boss."
"Don't show off! Don't review memorials secretly next time."
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