Chapter 112: Defeat the scheming boy and tease the sultry general (22)
If Li Ziyan was a woman, this matter would be easy to resolve. Just granting the marriage would not only silence the gossips, but also make the King of Southeast feel intimidated. Naturally, the court would be more stable.
After all, Chu Heng was a great general, a military hero of his generation. If he married a princess of the imperial court, it would surely make it easier for the emperor and the imperial court to hold on to military power.
But the problem lies here. Li Ziyan is not a woman, he is a man, a man with the blood of the previous emperor who can challenge the imperial power.
If he and Chu Heng were to marry, the first thing people would think of would not be any benefits to the court, but whether Li Ziyan had any rebellious intentions.
Chu Heng knelt on the ground with his fists clenched. He was a dull person and even more dull in emotions. It was not until this incident that he realized why he had different feelings towards Li Ziyan, and understood why he had paid so much attention to this little prince from the beginning.
But now, he wanted to protect someone so much and wanted to be with this person legitimately, but he had neither the opportunity nor the qualifications.
"Your Majesty, this humble general..."
"Huanzhi, I actually regretted it. If I hadn't asked you to accompany Ziyan, wouldn't we have ended up like this?" Li Zihan leaned on the chair with both hands, frowning. "I have never doubted you and Ziyan, and I know you don't have bad intentions. But now, I can't grant you a marriage. I can't harm you, and I can't harm the Great Jin Dynasty."
Chu Heng didn't say anything. He couldn't let the people suffer and couldn't harm the Jin Dynasty, but how could he give up Li Ziyan?
"Your Majesty, even if this general and the prince... don't get married, we can't have both of us. These people are already angry, they won't keep the prince."
"I know, I know..."
Li Zihan sighed. Ever since he ascended the throne, his staff and "old ministers" had been urging him to get rid of Li Ziyan. Now that something like this had happened, they would probably not stop.
There was a moment of silence in the imperial study. Before they could say anything, the chief eunuch spoke from outside the door, "Your Majesty, the Holy Prince requests an audience."
"Zi Yan?! Let him in!"
"yes!"
Li Ziyan came in a low-key manner this time. He did not go through the main gate of the palace, but sneaked into the imperial study without being discovered by others.
The door was opened and the figure appeared in front of him. Chu Heng broke the rules for the first time and stood up suddenly and walked to Li Ziyan.
The muscle softening powder and aphrodisiac hurt Li Ziyan's body. The excessive lust drained his energy. Coupled with the high fever for several days, Li Ziyan seemed to have lost several pounds. He looked light and thin.
Yun Le escorted Li Ziyan in, her eyes still red. When she saw Chu Heng coming, she handed her prince into his arms.
The person in his arms was so weak and feeble that it broke Chu Heng's heart.
"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to take good care of him?" Li Zihan felt even more distressed. He exempted Li Ziyan from the formalities and asked the eunuch and Yun Le to leave. Then, he and Chu Heng helped Li Ziyan onto the bed.
"Ahem, your humble servant, ahem, I haven't been feeling well lately and haven't come... to see you, my Royal Brother." Although Li Ziyan's fever had subsided, illness is like a mountain falling, and curing it is like pulling out a thread. For someone as sick as him, it was even more difficult. Now even speaking was a bit of an effort. "Since your humble servant has come back, ahem, since you came back, I've caused trouble to your Royal Brother..."
"Why do you say that..." Li Zihan was so distressed that he didn't care about the overly intimate posture between Li Ziyan and Chu Heng. He quickly poured a glass of water for Li Ziyan and said, "I'm sorry for you."
If Li Ziyan hadn't saved him, he wouldn't have fallen into the water during the coldest days of winter, becoming ill, and he wouldn't have bided his time and gotten the chance to ascend the throne. If Li Ziyan hadn't asked to be a hostage, he wouldn't have been wandering around, facing suspicion upon his return.
"I'm sorry for you."
"Royal brother, it is my honor to share your worries. I am willing to watch over you." Li Ziyan coughed a few times, leaned in Chu Heng's arms, took a deep breath, then tilted his head and met Chu Heng's eyes. "Royal brother, I have never asked you for anything. Today, let me speak for you."
"……you say."
"General Chu Heng of Dingyuan, devoted to the country's affairs, was loyal and devoted. To observe the Saint Prince's loyalty, he asked to befriend him in the palace. He discovered the Saint Prince's rebellious intentions and evidence of his collusion with his followers. Four days ago, he uncovered the Saint Prince's conspiracy with the King of Southeast."
"you!"
"Zi Yan!?"
Li Zihan stared, his hands trembling. He had thought that Li Ziyan would ask him to grant them a marriage. He had thought that no matter what, he would fulfill Li Ziyan's wish, but he had no idea...
"Do you know what you're talking about? Do you know what it means to collude with foreign enemies and plot a rebellion?!"
"Your Highness knows, ahem...Your Highness knows, the King of Southeast dared to use this trick because he knew that Your Highness would not abandon you. But if Your Highness does not abandon me, Huan Zhi will not be able to be saved." Li Ziyan saw it clearly. He was not a fool. Although he had not experienced the real battle for the throne and the intrigues of ancient times, he could see the purpose of these people. "The old ministers left by the court are too greedy. They will not be satisfied. The existence of your Highness and Chu Heng threatens their status and goals. They will definitely use ahem, ahem, this matter to get rid of us. Your Highness saved us once, and he will do it again."
"Emperors have always been suspicious. They saw this and wanted to take advantage of it, but they are too stupid and only think about themselves..." Li Ziyan was a little tired after saying so much. He rubbed against Chu Heng's arms. The other's arms tightened and his lips fell into a straight line. "One day, they will force my brother to submit. If they succeed, it will be a disaster for the Great Jin Dynasty."
"Strike first and gain the upper hand. Since the King of Southeast has given us this opportunity, let's use it. My royal brother only needs to replace the followers related to me with those people, and that will be it."
The imperial study fell into silence. Li Ziyan's heavy but weak breathing was particularly clear. Li Ziyan had a cold face and did not speak. Chu Heng did not say anything either. He just held Li Ziyan's hand and had forgotten to control the strength.
"Huanzhi," Li Ziyan looked up and held Chu Heng's hand, "Huanzhi, I know you understand me."
Chu Heng looked straight into Li Ziyan's eyes. The pale face made it difficult for him to breathe, and he felt extremely uncomfortable in his heart.
"... Zi Yan," Chu Heng realized that his body and mind were hoarse after he said it, "Chu Heng, I will not let the country down, nor will I let you down. Your Majesty, just do as the prince says." "..." Li Zihan felt a sharp pain in his eyes. The young emperor, who had not shed tears since he was a teenager, now had red eyes and tear marks on his face. "The Great Jin Dynasty is lucky to have you."
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