Chapter 312 Valuation (First Update)
The emperor didn't calm down until late at night and fell into a deep sleep.
Even in his sleep, he vaguely heard someone calling him Hong'er.
One sound after another, each sound reaching the ears.
He also felt a warm, burning hand holding his hand tightly.
When the emperor finally awoke, it was already broad daylight.
The emperor was somewhat confused, unsure whether it was a dream or reality.
The familiar "Hong'er" voice came again.
The emperor slowly opened his eyes, and a figure appeared in his blurry vision. The figure's owner was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, holding his hand and looking at him with incredibly kind eyes.
Why does this person look so much like the little doctor's younger brother?
Little Jingkong patted the Emperor's hand and called out in a kind tone, like Zhao Xiaobao's great-grandmother coaxing her great-grandson, "Hong'er~"
The emperor suddenly snapped out of his drowsiness, his body jerked, and he was wide awake!
The emperor recuperated in Bishui Hutong for seven days, and the stitches were removed, with the wound healing well.
Eunuch Wei's injuries are also recovering well. It's just that he is old, and his fractures heal more slowly than those of younger people, but the injuries to the rest of his body are basically not a big problem.
The days he spent living in Bishui Hutong were the most relaxed time of his life. Ever since he could remember, he knew that he was a prince of low birth. His mother, Consort Jing, treated him very well, but he could never shake off the shadow of his birth.
Afterwards, he lived separately from his family and was suppressed by Consort Liu and his elder brother, the Crown Prince, and lived on thin ice at all times.
He finally managed to ascend the throne, only to find himself ruled by Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was now ruling from behind a screen.
He never let his guard down for a moment.
This time, misfortune turned into blessing, and I enjoyed a few days of leisure.
However, he couldn't really hide in Bishui Hutong and be a hands-off manager for the rest of his life. He was the ruler of a country, and he carried the weight of the Zhao Kingdom on his shoulders.
After dinner that evening, the emperor prepared to return to the palace.
The emperor publicly announced that he was recuperating at the imperial palace. To mislead the enemy, the emperor specially transferred the palace's top guards to the palace and surrounded it tightly.
No one can guarantee that an assassination attempt won't happen again; it's always best to be cautious.
As the emperor departed from Bishui Hutong, Eunuch Wei secretly went to the temporary palace, where he would accompany the emperor back to the imperial palace in a high-profile manner.
Just before the emperor boarded his carriage, Aunt Liu suddenly ran over shyly, handed him a purse, and then covered her face and ran away!
emperor:"……"
Gu Changqing escorted the emperor back to the palace.
Sitting in the carriage on the way back, the emperor felt that something was off, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
It wasn't until he entered the Imperial Study that Eunuch He reported to him: "The Empress Dowager has fallen ill. She has been ill for several days, but she insisted on attending court. Today, she finally couldn't hold on any longer and fainted in the imperial carriage on her way back to Renshou Palace."
The emperor suddenly realized what was wrong. He said that the strange thing was that the poisonous woman hadn't been monitoring him in Biyue Alley for the past few days.
The emperor's first reaction was one of great satisfaction; even that wicked woman had finally fallen.
My second reaction was one of concern. First, he was assassinated, then the Empress Dowager fainted. Each of these events was a significant upheaval, let alone when they happened together. This could easily cause unrest among the people and panic in the court.
"It hasn't gotten out, has it?" the emperor asked, frowning.
Eunuch He said, "No, Renshou Palace kept the news tightly under wraps. They only said that the Empress Dowager was reviewing memorials and focusing on handling state affairs, and did not allow anyone to disturb her. The Empress Dowager fainted on the way. This servant was secretly monitoring the Empress Dowager and that's how I found out. If she had fainted after entering Renshou Palace, I'm afraid even this servant wouldn't have been able to get any accurate information."
Renshou Palace was originally an impregnable fortress, but after the Empress Dowager contracted leprosy, the people inside were replaced, and now not even a fly can get in.
The Emperor had a very poor impression of Empress Dowager Zhuang and was extremely prejudiced against her. He didn't feel sorry for her, but he was mostly suspicious: "What a coincidence! She fell ill just as I was about to return today? Could it be that she was putting on an act to deceive me?"
Well... that's something that Eunuch He doesn't know.
The emperor sneered, "I have just returned to the palace and should go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
The emperor went to Renshou Palace.
Eunuch He was a spy for the emperor, and the emperor sent him back to prevent anyone from seeing him having any dealings with him.
As for Eunuch Wei, he had an arm injury, so the emperor sent him back to his room to rest, taking only a young eunuch with him.
Judging from this, they clearly don't care much about Empress Dowager Zhuang.
The emperor was stopped by the palace guards as soon as he arrived at the entrance of Renshou Palace.
"The Empress Dowager has ordered that no one be seen," said the imperial guard.
The emperor sneered, "Does 'anyone' include me, the ruler of the country? I'd like to know, since when has there been a place in this palace that I can't go?"
The imperial guard looked at him suspiciously. "It's always been like this, Your Majesty. Is this the first time you've found out?"
emperor:"……"
The emperor has a toothache!
That wicked woman wields too much power; even he, the emperor, cannot force his way in!
Just as the emperor's face was turning as black as charcoal, Eunuch Qin emerged, whisk in hand.
He bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The Empress Dowager is your mother. She cannot see anyone but you. Please, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Qin gestured for him to proceed.
Eunuch Qin was Empress Dowager Zhuang's confidant, and his every move represented her will. The palace guards thought that Empress Dowager Zhuang had really woken up and wanted to see the Emperor, so they stepped aside to let her pass.
Eunuch Qin led the way, taking the emperor to Empress Dowager Zhuang's bedroom.
The emperor thought Empress Dowager Zhuang was alright and was just making a fuss, but when he saw the tightly closed curtains of the phoenix bed, an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
Eunuch Qin came to the bedside and gently pulled back the curtains, revealing Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was lying on the phoenix bed with a pale face.
This version of Empress Dowager Zhuang is so unfamiliar.
She always appeared in front of people with an imposing presence, and even in coarse linen clothes in Bishui Hutong, the sharpness in her eyes could not be hidden.
But at this moment, she lay there quietly, her breath faint, clearly indicating that she was seriously ill.
"How could this be...?" the emperor exclaimed in surprise.
Eunuch Qin sighed: "Why is the Empress Dowager acting this way? Does His Majesty really have no idea?"
That's a rather blasphemous statement.
But the emperor was too shocked to scrutinize the words for a moment. What Eunuch Qin meant was... that Empress Dowager Zhuang's illness was related to him.
How is that possible?
He hasn't done anything lately!
...Could it be...that night?
The emperor thought it impossible.
This wicked woman wished she could get rid of him as soon as possible, so she wouldn't take care of him all night, nor would she call him like Consort Jing did.
He was only hearing voices from a dream.
But this doesn't explain why Xiao Jingkong said "Hong'er".
If he hadn't heard or seen it, how could Xiao Jingkong have imitated an adult by holding his hand and calling him Hong'er?
The emperor's mind was in a state of confusion.
He refused to accept this fact, not only because he refused to believe Empress Dowager Zhuang's good intentions, but also because he felt a long-lost warmth that night.
In his dazed state, he seemed to sense that his mother, Consort Jing, had returned.
If it really is Empress Dowager Zhuang, wouldn't that imply that she carries the aura of Consort Jing? This is a desecration of Consort Jing!
He won't accept it!
I don't admit it!
"Eunuch Qin, the Empress Dowager's medicine is ready." A palace maid entered carrying a bowl of medicine. Upon seeing the Emperor in the hall, she quickly bowed and greeted him, "Your Majesty!"
The emperor waved his hand impatiently.
The palace maid placed the medicine bowl on the bedside table.
The emperor's gaze unconsciously followed the medicine bowl, and in a casual glance, he noticed a small iron box on the bedside table.
It looks somewhat familiar.
He didn't allow himself to think about it further.
At this moment, Empress Dowager Zhuang was also awakened by the commotion in the bedchamber. She was a woman who had seen many storms, and her expression did not change much when she saw the emperor standing in front of her bed.
"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine," Eunuch Qin said with a smile.
"Take it away, I won't drink it," Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly.
She was very weak, and even her eyes and tone of voice had lost their usual sharpness.
Eunuch Qin smiled and said, "His Majesty has come to see you."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said expressionlessly, "I don't want him to see it."
After the truth came out, the two of them almost never pretended to be a loving mother and filial son, unless they were in the imperial palace.
The emperor stood tall and straight in front of the bed, looking down at her.
At this moment, he truly felt that she was old and might not live for many more years. Once she passed away, the power of the court would naturally return to his hands.
Thinking this to himself, he said sarcastically, "If the Empress Dowager were to pass away like this, the Golden Palace would be lonely in the future, and there would truly be no one to discuss state affairs with me."
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared at him coldly: "Unfilial son. Stop your delusions. I will definitely outlive you."
The emperor looked at her with a leisurely air.
Empress Dowager Zhuang struggled to sit up.
Eunuch Qin quickly stepped forward to help her up and handed her the medicine.
Empress Dowager Zhuang drank the entire bowl of bitter medicine in one gulp, not leaving a single drop.
After the Empress Dowager finished drinking the medicine, the Emperor left Renshou Palace.
Instead of rushing back to his own palace, he went to the Imperial Study and had the Crown Prince summoned to test his studies over the past few days.
The emperor noticed that the crown prince had made great progress in mathematics: "Who taught these problems?"
The crown prince paused for a moment, then replied, "The Hanlin Academy."
The emperor looked at the crown prince and said, "I know your mathematics was taught in the Hanlin Academy. Which Hanlin official am I asking about?"
The Crown Prince reluctantly opened his mouth and said, "Xiao Xiuzhuan."
"It's him?" The emperor's eyes lit up, then he smiled with delight. "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Your math skills haven't improved for years. I originally thought you were just slow-witted, but it seems that's not the case. With an excellent teacher, you can still learn."
How was the Crown Prince supposed to respond to that?
It's simply impossible to refute, isn't it?
I can't very well say, "Father, you've praised me wrong; I really am dull-witted."
To be fair, the Crown Prince's aptitude is not bad. Although he is not as good as the eldest prince, Prince Ning, he is far better than the other princes.
However, the crown prince was biased towards certain subjects; he simply disliked mathematics, yet the emperor valued mathematics immensely.
The emperor had only intended to try it out, but to his surprise, it was effective. He nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, I'll have him come and lecture you again next time."
The crown prince's expression changed: "Father!"
The emperor glanced at him indifferently: "What? You have a problem with that?"
Realizing his lapse in decorum, the Crown Prince cupped his hands in apology and said, "Your subject... Your subject is merely wondering why Father would allow a mere scholar to lecture me? Does Father not value your subject?"
Having a newly appointed Hanlin scholar lecture the crown prince seems like a perfunctory gesture.
The emperor put down the memorial in his hand, frowned, and looked at the crown prince: "If I didn't value you, why would I go to such lengths to teach you? You are the heir apparent, can you please stop caring so much about what others think?"
The Crown Prince stammered, "Your subject doesn't care what others think..."
"What is that?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.
The crown prince hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.
The emperor frowned: "If you're not going to speak, then step down."
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes and said, "He looks too much like my cousin. Whenever I see him, I am reminded of my cousin who died young, and it makes me sad."
The emperor seemed to be deep in thought: "So you need to be sad to be able to study?"
The crown prince was taken aback.
Wait, Father, you seem to have misunderstood me!
The emperor hummed in agreement: "Your historical studies are somewhat lacking. From now on, let Scholar Xiao teach history."
The Crown Prince is going crazy!
Seeing each other once every ten days wasn't enough, so now it's twice a ten days!
He didn't want to look at Xiao Liulang's face!
The crown prince clenched his fists: "Father!"
The emperor had made up his mind. He waved his hand and said, "It's settled then. Go back now. Have Xiao Qi come to my place tonight."
I haven't seen the little fat boy for a few days, and I kind of miss him.
The emperor was not an ordinary father; he was first and foremost a ruler, and only then a father. Yet, during the few days he spent recuperating in Bishui Hutong, he kept seeing Xiao Jingkong wandering around in front of him, which made him especially want to be a father.
Of course, he wasn't going to be a father to Xiao Jingkong; that kid was too mischievous and clever, he couldn't handle him.
He wanted to regain his sense of accomplishment as a father through his own chubby little boy.
After the Crown Prince left the Imperial Study, the Emperor summoned Prince Ning.
(End of this chapter)
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