Emperor Liang Cheng sat listlessly behind his desk. Chen Wufu, seeing that it was getting late, came over and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. You should rest."
Emperor Liang Cheng sighed softly and said, "Wu Fu, tell me, did I do something wrong?"
Chen Wufu naturally knew what Emperor Liang Cheng meant. In the evening, Xu Rao came over and told Emperor Liang Cheng about the matter. Upon hearing this, Emperor Liang Cheng immediately sent people to interrogate those people. Not only did they find out who the Sixth Prince was, but they also implicated the Seventh Prince.
Chen Wufu didn't dare to say anything. This was not just a matter between father and son, but also a matter concerning the imperial family. Who would dare to criticize the affairs of the imperial family?
Emperor Liang Cheng continued, “I have already deposed three of my sons. I originally hoped that these two could have a peaceful end, but who knew they would be so foolish. Even when making a case, they are so crude, yet they feel so good about it. I really can’t bear to look at them. But no matter what, they are still my sons. They called me father from childhood, and later called me king. They are all my responsibility. If a son is not taught, it is the father’s fault. They were not properly taught, and the responsibility lies entirely with me.”
Chen Wufu dared not pretend to be deaf and dumb this time, and quickly knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't do this."
Emperor Liang Cheng leaned back in his chair, saying, "It's too late to say anything more now. My son is still traveling abroad, so I'll stay here in the palace and watch over him. When he returns after completing his studies, I'll hand over this responsibility that has bound me for so many years to him. Only then will I be able to face the ancestors of the Xiao family with a clear conscience."
Emperor Liang Cheng spoke for a long time but did not say how he would deal with the two princes. Chen Wufu knew that Emperor Liang Cheng still cared about his two sons, but when he thought of those who were hurt because of these two princes, Chen Wufu felt heavy-hearted.
Chen Wufu saw it clearly: if Emperor Liang Cheng were to discipline these two princes now, someone would eventually take over. The only question was who would do it and how.
Emperor Liang Cheng stood up, intending to leave from behind his desk and go to the east room of the imperial study to rest. However, he felt dizzy and, supporting himself on the desk with one hand and his forehead with the other, swayed a few times. Chen Wufu was terrified and quickly stepped forward to support him. After Emperor Liang Cheng recovered from the dizziness, he whispered to Chen Wufu, "Go and invite the head of the Imperial Medical Academy over."
Chen Wufu knew that Emperor Liang Cheng did not want anyone to know, so he helped Emperor Liang Cheng to the east side room and then sent his most clever apprentice to the Imperial Hospital.
The chief physician arrived quickly. After taking Emperor Liang Cheng's pulse, his face turned very pale. Upon seeing this, Emperor Liang Cheng sneered twice and said, "Just say what you have to say."
The chief physician bowed and said, "Your Majesty, your pulse doesn't seem very good; it appears..."
Emperor Liang Cheng's heart jumped, and Chen Wufu beside him also changed his expression. The two of them stared intently at the head of the academy, making the head of the academy break out in a cold sweat.
The chief physician gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to examine Your Majesty's eyes and tongue."
After examining them one by one, the Imperial Physician, his face pale, said in a low voice, "I suspect that Your Majesty has been poisoned by a strange poison from the southwest. I saw it in the southwest when I traveled with my master many years ago. This poison is extracted from a kind of grass in the southwest. It is slow to take effect, but it is difficult to cure."
Emperor Liang Cheng was both surprised and furious, and asked, "What's wrong with the solution?"
The abbot said softly, "This poison is very rare in the southwest. It was discovered by a Taoist priest in a Taoist temple there when he was refining elixirs. I heard people there say that after the poison was made, the Taoist priest found a similar-looking herb around it and spent a lot of effort to detoxify it. Moreover, this poison is not something that can be ingested in one or two doses; it requires long-term use before symptoms appear."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wufu immediately knelt on the ground. He was in charge of Emperor Liang Cheng's daily life, but Emperor Liang Cheng had been poisoned right under his nose. This was a responsibility he could not simply shirk.
Emperor Liang Cheng did not look at Chen Wufu, but stared at...
The abbot asked in a deep voice, "Is this poison intended for food or other everyday utensils?"
The chief physician shook his head and said, "This subject is not sure about this. Your Majesty, the eldest son of the Chen family is an expert in poisons. I think he should know more about this."
Emperor Liang Cheng nodded and said to Chen Wufu, "Wufu, go to the Chen family and ask the eldest son of the Chen family to come and take a look for me. Make sure no one sees him."
Chen Wufu, covered in sweat, bowed and retreated. He immediately dispatched two guards with his token and a personal letter to the Chen family to invite someone. The person was to quietly enter through the side door, making sure no one saw them. Chen Wufu knew that countless people were secretly watching the movements in the Imperial Study every day.
Chen Wufu entered from outside. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy had already left. Emperor Liang Cheng sat upright at the kang table on the daybed, his face grim. He held a cup of tea in his left hand and lightly tapped the tabletop with his right index finger. Chen Wufu had served Emperor Liang Cheng for decades and knew that this gesture meant he was plotting something.
After a long while, Emperor Liang Cheng chuckled and said in a low voice, "They can't wait any longer. They want to take my life. They even went to the far southwest to bring over this rare poison. They've certainly gone to great lengths."
Chen Wufu had no idea what Emperor Liang Cheng was thinking. This emperor was a kind and benevolent man, but he was also a cunning and scheming one. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been the one who was able to win among his many brothers.
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