Chapter 266: Beating (Part 1)
Yu quickly agreed and pulled Huan Lingxian to kowtow again.
Sun Wei thought to herself that the Queen Mother's behavior today was rather strange. Her words just now actually sounded like they were biased towards her.
Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard the Queen Mother ask, "Is Ziheng's illness getting better?"
Sun Wei hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I took the medicine two days ago and he is a little more awake. I thought he would get better, but after a few days, he is only a little more awake. When he gets up and walks a few steps, speaks a few words, he is tired again and has to go back to sleep. Judging from his condition, I am afraid he will not recover for ten days or half a month."
The Queen Mother frowned upon hearing this.
"This disease keeps coming back. It's so troublesome."
Sun Wei said, "I've thought about it over and over again, and it's probably due to overwork. The prince has been busy all day and night, and now he's suddenly free. I'm afraid his body can't handle the strain. Plus, the west wind was blowing hard a few days ago, and the weather was cold. It's possible that the prince caught a cold, causing his old illness to relapse."
The Queen Mother thought for a moment and said, "But I remember there was a time in the summer when there was no west wind."
"Is it because of the heat? Extreme cold or heat can easily lead to illness."
The Queen Mother disagreed: "How can you be so spoiled? Ah Jun has been fighting with his father all over the country since he was young. He has suffered a lot. This little bit of cold and heat is nothing."
Sun Wei smiled apologetically, "Your Majesty is right. I'm a bit slow-witted and can't figure it out."
"Forget it. The Imperial Hospital can't find the cause, let alone you." The Queen Mother glanced at her, thought for a moment, and said to Yu: "I know everything about the situation in Jingzhou. But it's almost the New Year, and Ah Jun is ill, so it's really not appropriate to send troops. I heard that you are also weak. You have finally come to the capital, so you should recuperate and wait until the New Year is over before making any decisions."
Huan Lingxian was somewhat dissatisfied, so Yu quickly stepped forward and saluted the Queen Mother: "I will obey your command."
After saying this, he pulled Huan Lingxian to kowtow and express his gratitude.
After the mother and daughter left, only the empress dowager and Sun Wei were left in the hall.
The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and asked, "Was Huan Ding really killed by Huan An?"
"Your Majesty, that's right." Sun Wei replied respectfully.
"The Duke of Nanjun is indeed that..."
"Her Majesty, this man's name is Luqiu Yan," Sun Wei said, "He was the one who killed the Duke of Nanjun."
The Queen Mother looked at her and said, "As far as I know, this Lü Qiuyan is just a chief official. You seem to know him quite well."
"When he was in Jingzhou, this man was accustomed to instigating rebellions between Jingzhou and Jiangzhou and profiting from them," Sun Wei said. "I also know that Huan An's murder of Huan Ding was inextricably linked to this man."
The Queen Mother was silent for a moment, then said, "But the one who now controls Jingzhou is Huan An. The court can only attack Huan An, understand?"
Sun Wei said, "I know."
"Now that you know, can you make Ah Jun better?"
The Queen Mother looked at her with sharp eyes.
Sun Wei looked puzzled.
"I hope the prince can get better, but I have no medical skills and cannot treat illnesses. Moreover, the prince has been traveling for a whole year, and now he has finally returned to the capital and is sick again. I hope the Queen Mother will allow the prince to rest for a while longer."
"I'm not being unsympathetic. You just heard me say there would be no fighting before the New Year. So, Jun can still rest for a while. But after the New Year, Jun will have to go to war. Do you understand?"
Sun Wei looked embarrassed: "But concubine..."
The Queen Mother laughed and interrupted, "You know, since I'm keeping you here, I have high hopes for you. If you always side with me and help me, I won't treat you unfairly. But if you can't figure things out and act foolishly, there's no need for me to keep you here. You should know that if Ah Jun doesn't comply this time, not only will I be unable to protect you, but even the Yuzhang Palace will change hands. Do you understand the risks involved?"
This knock made everything clear.
Sun Wei's face showed a look of panic. She kowtowed and said, "Her Majesty, please understand! I really want to serve you. You asked me to bring the Crown Prince and Princess together. I dare not disobey you. The Her Majesty also knows this."
"Not enough, far from enough," she said, putting down her teacup. "Never mind. You sometimes get confused, but you can think clearly. Until then, stay in the palace. When you think clearly, you can go back."
——
When the news that Sun Wei was detained by the Empress Dowager reached the Prince of Yuzhang's Mansion, Sima Jun was talking to Yu Yi.
The one who came back to deliver the message was Aju.
"The princess specifically asked me to come back and tell the prince that she is fine. She also asked the prince to consult the Grand Tutor and not to act rashly."
Sima Jun's face darkened, and he immediately said to Deng Lian, "Prepare the horses and enter the palace."
Yu Yi said, "No. What the princess just said was for Ziheng. And the Queen Mother also said that the decision will be made after the New Year. Ziheng still has a lot of time."
Sima Jun looked at him with cold eyes.
A'ru also hurriedly advised: "This is exactly what the princess meant. Please do not be impulsive, otherwise, the princess will be embarrassed in the palace."
Sima Jun said nothing, walked a few steps in the room, and then called Deng Lian.
"Go there in person and escort A'ru to the palace, saying she's there to serve the princess. If they don't allow it, don't argue. Just go straight to the East Palace and ask the Crown Prince to send A'ru to the princess."
Deng Lian said yes.
A'ru asked, "Does the prince have anything for me to tell the princess?"
Sima Jun pondered for a moment and said, "Just tell her that I will handle it calmly and ask her not to worry."
"knew."
After Aju left, Yu Yi immediately asked, "The Queen Mother actually knew to use the princess to control you. What did she know?"
"This is her usual tactic," Sima Jun said. "The princess has a reputation for being calculating, and they just think I can't live without her, and see it as my weakness."
"This is definitely not the time to act on impulse," Yu Yi said. "I will try to find out about my cousin's relationship with Lu Qiuyan. Why don't you, Ziheng, listen to the princess and consult with the Grand Tutor?"
"I will go myself." Sima Jun nodded. "I'll trouble you with Lu Qiuyan's matter."
Yu Yi accepted the offer and bowed as he said goodbye.
When Deng Lian returned from the palace, it was already late, but he saw Sima Jun still in the study, having changed into clothes for going out.
"Sir," he reported, "Aju has been sent in."
Sima Jun said, "There is a letter on my desk. Please send a reliable person to the Princess's Mansion early tomorrow morning and make sure to hand the letter to the Grand Tutor personally."
Deng Lian agreed and asked, "Is the prince going out?"
"You will go on a long journey with me," Sima Jun said. "Please make sure the letter is properly arranged and that no one else knows about it."
Deng Lian received the order and immediately went to do it.
Sima Jun simply packed his bag and chose a sword that suited him from the knife rack.
Moonlight shone through the gap in the door onto the couch.
The scene of that day is still in my mind.
——"If you feel unwell, you should find a doctor to check it out. Prince, please do not neglect it."
He walked out of the corridor and strode away, leaving the ground covered with moonlight.
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