Chapter 78 The Great Succession Struggle in the Capital (Part 2)...
Winter goes and spring comes.
The journey from Liuzhou to Beijing takes about two months.
Wang Chuandao and Shen Shuzhi took a month and a half to return from their disaster relief mission in Liuzhou. This was because they were traveling with a large group, which slowed down their journey.
Li Banhui, who later returned, took two whole months to reach the capital. His team was small and streamlined, so they should have been faster, but this pampered young master was uncomfortable with the long journey and kept complaining.
One moment he complained that the carriage was too bumpy, the next he complained that the dry rations were hard to swallow, and then he felt bored.
Teenagers seem to have unleashed their true nature, wanting to try everything and everything, except getting sick...
Yes, because if he gets sick, Dr. Bian will really harden his heart and give him a bowl of strong Coptis chinensis decoction.
"...Incomprehensible!!"
Dr. Bian was so angry that he was blowing his beard. He had been practicing medicine in other places for many years and had never seen such an overly spoiled brat.
Before the trip, the Second Prince had a long talk with him, clearly telling him that this Young Master Li was one of his own people, whom he was observing.
—Now, Doctor Bian is itching to write a letter back. What? Under observation? Your Highness, wouldn't you like to reconsider? What kind of people usually surround the Second Prince? And who is this Young Master Li?
Regardless, the poor old doctor, gazing at the tall and imposing city walls in the distance, still entered the capital city in a slowly moving carriage.
The shimmering Luo River is protected by layers of towering city walls, as solid as bronze and iron. With early spring approaching, grasses are growing and birds are singing everywhere, and a fresh scent is carried on the wind, creating a vibrant new atmosphere.
Doctor Bian had been to the capital before. He gazed at the distant buildings with a complex expression, and quickly distinguished which was the imperial palace and which was the neighborhood where the Mu family boy lived. They all looked exactly the same as they had many years ago, unchanged.
But this time he won't go anywhere; instead, he'll quietly follow Li Banhui home.
Then—he entered the palace under the guise of a common doctor treating the Empress Dowager.
"Master, be careful."
The young apprentice skillfully helped Doctor Bian out of the carriage, while another carried the medicine bag on his back. Both of them were used to assisting Doctor Bian, and their skin was rough and dark from the sun.
"Finally home!!" Li Banhui was so happy he almost cried, and jumped down to stretch.
When the Empress Dowager was still alive, he was greatly favored. This kind of person, who held a sinecure but could sneak out to play for almost half a year without any proper reason and didn't even go to court... was nothing to him.
Doctor Bian sighed heavily, utterly unable to empathize with the foolish boy's joy. He calmly recalled the most powerful and troublesome place, remembering the Second Prince's words before their departure:
“Dr. Bian, I know you don’t like going to the capital and getting involved in power struggles. You prefer to practice medicine outside and save more people.”
The young prince sat earnestly before the candlelight, gazing at him. The dim light cast a shadow of his profile on the wall, making it appear and disappear.
"My next request is purely out of personal selfishness, unrelated to saving lives or any wise plan, and full of calculation... but it's very important to me. I can assure you that this request won't bind you to the palace forever; you'll still be free to leave the capital to practice medicine..."
"...Would you like to listen?"
Dr. Bian may look old, but he is still quite robust. Every wrinkle on his face tells a story. His deep eyes slowly gaze out, revealing a wisdom unique to the elderly, a wisdom accumulated over the years.
He pondered for a moment, then stroked his beard with ease and agreed: "This old man will not do anything that crosses the line, but Your Highness, please speak."
What he didn't say was...
After so long, he had come to understand the Second Prince's character. The Second Prince would never ask him to do anything that crossed his bottom line.
Besides, this private matter was of great importance to the Second Prince, and it was decided after the Li family boy arrived in Liuzhou...
As Dr. Bian thought about the uninterrupted correspondence between himself and the Mu family, he had a vague premonition.
Sure enough, the young prince sat under the lamplight, his fingers clenched, gazing at the window in the night, and slowly told him something: "..."
As night deepened, even the footsteps of the Imperial Guards changing shifts outside the window slowed considerably.
"...Leave it to me."
After listening to the contents, Dr. Bian agreed with the same confidence and without any intention of going back on his word.
He looked up and saw the young prince's somewhat surprised expression. He hadn't expected him to agree so quickly and so decisively to participate.
"Does Your Highness think I'm not interested in anything other than practicing medicine and saving lives?" Doctor Bian retorted.
If he truly didn't care at all, he wouldn't have accepted his old friend's invitation to come and treat the Second Prince's health.
Some things... if successful, are more useful than him saving countless lives by himself.
Doctor Bian regained his composure and, supported by the young apprentice, walked towards the majestic city wall. Before him stood Li Banhui, striding confidently, his former spoiled demeanor completely gone.
...
"They've entered the city, sir." A shadowy figure appeared outside the same old, peeling window paper, reporting in a low voice.
"Understood." The man replied, clenching the paper in his hand, making it crumpled, before quickly smoothing it out again.
In this small room that resembles a study, there is a sturdy wooden box on the table, containing many papers with writings like these.
Shen Shuzhi's fingers twirled the paper, tracing the uneven ink marks on it, her expression somewhat grave: "..."
[Li Jiazi has returned from Liuzhou, accompanied by the renowned physician. His condition warrants close attention. 46.]
The note was written in perfect pinyin and the new numerals, the final result of the spelling. From the font, ink, paper to the pen stroke, every effort was made to leave no trace of the sender's identity.
Shen Shuzhi knew perfectly well what was going on.
This was the latest message he had received not long ago, but it wouldn't be the last. Ever since returning to the capital after completing his flood control mission, Shen Shuzhi knew how correct it had been to send people to keep an eye on Grand Secretary Mu's actions.
...See, he's found out everything!
Although Shen Shuzhi still doesn't know who his "allies" are, he has a general idea of who they are.
That group of people kept their relationship a secret... none of them wanted to reveal themselves normally. Getting them to sit down together openly and reveal the truth would be harder than climbing to heaven. They also couldn't meet and gather frequently, as that would be seen as unusual activity by others.
Moreover, these court officials were more adept at using a more subtle and indirect approach to subtly provide their power.
This ancient method of communication naturally arose.
The message was only understandable to their group of people, and it originated from the residence of Grand Secretary Mu. However, the way they frequently passed notes still needed improvement... I heard that it was going to be changed soon.
Shen Shuzhi regained his composure and began to ponder the content of this session.
Since connecting with these reborn colleagues, cautiously testing and counter-testing each other, scheming and undercurrents of intrigue, until confirming each other's positions and developing into an alliance... several months have passed.
They were still unsure how to help the new emperor avoid the predicament of his previous life, achieve greater success, and subtly showcase himself. All they could do was try their best to connect with Liuzhou.
Now, this thing that never happened has happened.
Did Li Jiazi also have a fortuitous encounter? Did he say something that led the new emperor to take action? Or was it an action he initiated on his own initiative? The legendary physician, Doctor Bian, is one of the new emperor's men; he must have given instructions behind the scenes.
Shen Shuzhi pondered it carefully.
Just as the note said, all that's left is to observe. But without a doubt, the Li family's son is a breakthrough point...
Shen Shuzhi thought of her eldest son, narrowed her eyes, and made a decision.
...
The weather in early spring was still chilly despite the warming trend. Nearly half a year had passed since the hurricane disaster in Liuzhou, and Emperor Hongren had long forgotten about it. The war in Jinzhou and other places was his current focus.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash...!"
Emperor Hongren no longer smashes objects; instead, he stands in the main hall, unleashing a furious tirade, his mood unpredictable as he berates everyone who comes to report.
"Are you officials just there to eat for free?!"
Reporting to the front hall has recently become a chore for the eunuchs. Only the head eunuch, Fu Man, remains all smiles and goes eagerly every time, earning the admiration of the younger eunuchs, who exchange glances with each other.
"...No wonder Eunuch Fuman is the Grand Eunuch!" "He can still laugh like that, isn't he afraid of incurring His Majesty's wrath?"
"Our Emperor only sees those who are useful..." another eunuch whispered. "What are we? Just breathing ornaments. Besides, it's rare to see someone like Eunuch Fuman who isn't afraid of His Majesty at all... We can't even learn that."
Maybe the emperor will like this attitude?
The eunuchs were impressed but had nothing to say, and they dispersed.
"Hoo... I'm going to see the Empress Dowager." Emperor Hongren took a deep breath, barely managing to control his emotions, and then went out with a flick of his robe.
Of all the bad news lately, there was only one piece of news that could barely be considered good, which made him feel much better.
The playful boy from the Li family sent over a folk healer. In previous years, the Empress Dowager was prone to illness every winter, and in the spring she would be bedridden and never recover. This old ailment was cured in just a few days by that healer.
...It's much better than in previous years.
It seems his order to seek out renowned doctors was effective. That young man from the Li family is quite thoughtful.
Emperor Hongren arrived at the inner palace and saw his mother's rosy, glowing face. He saw the open windows, the hall no longer filled with the smell of medicine, and the sunlight streaming onto the floor tiles in front of the palace.
He felt that everything was fine, and his appearance had changed so much compared to previous years.
"Good, good, you've put in the effort! Now, what reward do you want?" Emperor Hongren was overjoyed and couldn't wait to give the reward that was supposed to be given after the cure was completed.
Now, I'll make a promise, reward you with some silver, silk, and medicine, and once you're cured, I'll directly bestow upon you the title of divine physician and a house, and that will be all you need. In recent years, the Empress Dowager has grown old, and Emperor Hongren is quite worried about her.
Doctor Bian thought for a moment, neither humble nor arrogant, his eyes inadvertently glancing in the direction of the Empress Dowager.
The old woman's cheerful voice rang out: "This time, let me make the decision. My son, you're not allowed to compete with me for it."
"...Yes." Emperor Hongren reacted quickly, though he felt a little regretful.
The Empress Dowager wanted to bestow the title upon someone personally, so he naturally wouldn't try to interfere. But it seemed there was another layer of meaning: the Empress Dowager had also taken a liking to this doctor.
Emperor Hongren had originally intended to bestow an official position upon the divine physician, allowing him to enter the Imperial Hospital and thus be able to examine Consort Rong. Now… never mind.
He regretted it and stopped thinking about it.
A few days later, when Emperor Hongren came to visit again, he found two familiar figures sitting in the hall. He was somewhat surprised: "Empress?"
"There is a divine physician here. It was the Empress Dowager who sent me... cough cough, it just so happens that Consort Rong is also ill, so I took the liberty of sending her." The Empress lowered her head respectfully and gently to explain. Sitting next to her was Consort Rong, who looked sickly.
Emperor Hongren was greatly pleased and gave his wife an approving look: "You've put your heart into this."
"It's nothing." The Empress smiled gently, her eyes lowered, but her gaze was icy cold as she recalled the words her mother and Physician Bian had recently spoken to her...
She needed to carefully devise a plan for her son.
After some time, the Empress Dowager's old illness was cured. After being richly rewarded, Physician Bian was promised that he could leave the capital freely, but before that, he was asked to stay a little longer to cure the Empress's illness.
Doctor Bian's position remained with the Empress Dowager, but the focus inevitably shifted temporarily to the Empress.
"The plan is initially successful." Doctor Bian breathed a deep sigh of relief. He was not good at these petty schemes and had been exhausted lately, but what could he do when it was his own request?
Let's see how it goes...
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