Chapter 3622 Worst Plan
Zhu Chengxuan looked up at her and said with a complicated expression, "I think I understand what Father means."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qiqing hurriedly asked, "What does the emperor mean?"
“…”
However, Zhu Chengxuan did not answer her doubts immediately. Instead, he sat in the chair without saying a word. He seemed as if something was pressing on his back. He looked heavy and even his breathing became heavy.
Seeing him like this, Gu Qiqing's heart seemed to be shrouded in a shadow.
Zhu Chengxuan looked like this, and it was obvious that what he understood was far more severe than he had previously imagined. Even the worst-case scenario would make him more uncomfortable, which was why he acted like this.
Gu Qiqing did not urge him, but turned around to make a cup of tea, gently placed it next to his hand, then half squatted down, grabbed his hands with both hands and placed them on his knees.
Zhu Chengxuan only needed to lower his head to meet her gentle eyes.
Gu Qiqing said softly, "Your Highness, what exactly did you think of? Can you tell me?"
“…”
"Is it really worse than the worst-case scenario Your Highness had previously imagined?"
“…”
Zhu Chengxuan was silent for a while before he spoke again. His voice was unconsciously hoarse as he slowly said, "Indeed, it is the worst-case scenario."
“…”
"But not us."
Gu Qiqing frowned slightly: "Who is that?"
Zhu Chengxuan let out a deep breath, then said, "It's Father."
"What?"
Gu Qiqing was even more confused and looked at him with a frown: "Your Majesty? What do you mean?"
Zhu Chengxuan turned his head and glanced at the potted plant on the table, and slowly said, "You are right. The Imperial Concubine really wants to use this thing to tell us about our father's arrangements. Just like this potted plant, only by cutting off the redundant, old branches and leaves can new branches and leaves sprout and grow well."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qiqing immediately came to his senses.
She also looked at the potted plant, and then slowly said: "Father, it's those old branches and leaves that the emperor cut off because of..."
Zhu Chengxuan said: "It's for me."
“…”
This doesn't seem difficult to understand.
But Gu Qiqing lowered his head and thought for a while, his expression becoming more complicated, and he said, "But, why?"
“…”
"Father has never been an obstacle to Your Highness. On the contrary, Father has always supported Your Highness."
“…”
"Besides, the Emperor is well aware of the relationship between my father and Your Highness. Why would he punish my father at this time?"
Zhu Chengxuan glanced at her and said, "It is precisely because of this time that we have to deal with my father-in-law."
Gu Qiqing frowned: "What do you mean?"
Zhu Chengxuan said, "You know what the emperor and father-in-law were arguing about."
Gu Qiqing said: "In order to send troops——"
After saying this, she suddenly stopped and took a breath unconsciously.
Seeing her like this, Zhu Chengxuan understood, and Gu Qiqing also understood.
He sighed deeply and said, "My father-in-law did have his reasons for preventing my father from launching military action against the Kingdom of Dan this time. It's not just because the common people haven't had much time to recuperate and might not be able to sustain such a large-scale war, but there's also another, more important factor: my father's health."
Gu Qiqing also felt a chill running down her body at this time, with cold sweat pouring down her forehead. She whispered, "The Emperor's health—although no one dared to speak openly, everyone knew in their hearts that it was getting worse day by day. Just a few days ago, I heard that the Imperial Concubine used her private money to have Eunuch Delu buy a large amount of ginseng and send it to the palace, just to provide the Emperor with daily tonic."
Zhu Chengxuan nodded: "My father is very secretive about his illness and he is afraid to seek medical help. No one dares to advise him in person, not even the Imperial Concubine."
“…”
"This is also the reason why my father-in-law risked his life to stop it."
“…”
"But I still can't persuade him."
Gu Qiqing said: "But, doesn't the emperor care about himself? Even if no one tells you, he should know his own body——"
Zhu Chengxuan said: "Of course he knows."
“…”
"Because I knew this, I took this opportunity to deal with my father-in-law."
“…”
Gu Qiqing was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head to think about it, and suddenly understood.
Her face was pale, and her lips trembled for a long time before she stammered, "Your Highness, what you mean is that the Emperor has made preparations for the worst. This expedition might, might—"
She didn't dare to say the following words.
Zhu Chengxuan sighed and nodded.
Gu Qiqing was speechless.
Just now, Zhu Chengxuan was still making his own "worst-case plan" in his mind. Because he had never been favored by the emperor since he was a child, he, the crown prince, had always been living in fear and was even prepared to be deposed at any time. However, he did not expect that the emperor on the other side was also making the "worst-case plan" for him.
The worst-case scenario is that he might not come back at all.
In that case, the prince would ascend the throne directly.
However, the prince's father-in-law, the emperor's right-hand man, and the chief minister of the cabinet, his presence is bound to suppress the prince. Even if Gu Tingqiu is upright and honest, his power is great and some things cannot be decided by people. Naturally, some people will push him into some dangerous positions.
Therefore, Zhu Feng made a countermeasure for his "worst case scenario".
He was using this method to pave a bright and unobstructed road for the prince.
Just thinking about this, Zhu Chengxuan felt heartbroken.
His father, the Emperor, disliked him. He had known this from childhood. Even though their relationship had improved thanks to the Imperial Concubine's mediation, a deep-seated sense of alienation had always remained between them. He also knew that everything he had was hard-earned, and he was even prepared for the possibility that everything he had could be taken away from him at any time.
But I didn't expect——
Looking at Zhu Chengxuan's complicated expression, Gu Qiqing knew that he was a little confused for a moment, but he still asked softly, "Your Highness, what are your plans?"
“…”
Zhu Chengxuan was immersed in his chaotic thoughts. It was a while before he seemed to hear her voice: "What?"
Gu Qiqing said: "Since the emperor has such a plan, what should Your Highness do?"
“…”
Zhu Chengxuan was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, "If that's the case, then I can't let my father use military force against the Kingdom of Dian!"
“…”
"Knowing that he might not come back, we can't let him go!"
Having said that, he immediately stood up and impulsively walked out.
Gu Qiqing was originally squatting there, as if she was thinking about something. Just when Zhu Chengxuan walked to the door, she suddenly walked up to him and stopped him.
"Your Highness,"
She looked at Zhu Chengxuan with a complicated expression, and after hesitating for a long time, she said, "Your Highness, please don't go."
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