Chapter 90 The Emperor's Instructions
Inside the Prince's study, Su Wenzhen had just finished his work when Jiang Hai pushed open the door and entered.
"Your Highness."
"What's wrong?" Su Wenzhen leaned against the bed, dozing off, looking somewhat tired.
Jiang Hai paused, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to.
Su Wenzhen waited for a while, and seeing that Jiang Hai did not speak, he looked at him with some doubt. Seeing his embarrassed expression, he couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. Could it be that something had happened to her? "What's wrong?" Su Wenzhen felt a chill run down his spine and asked anxiously.
After a long pause, Jiang Hai finally spoke, "The Princess Consort..." He paused, "...the Princess Consort went to Yichun Courtyard."
Su Wenzhen was taken aback. "What was she doing at the Yichun Brothel?" After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "And now?"
“The Princess Consort…” Jiang Hai glanced at Su Wenzhen’s face, and seeing nothing amiss, steeled his heart and said, “It seems the Princess Consort intends to stay at the Yichun Courtyard permanently. Today, a scout from the Yichun Courtyard reported that the Princess Consort went there today, so the madam there prepared a room for her…”
"What!" Upon hearing this, Su Wenzhen was taken aback. He frowned and looked at Jiang Hai. "You're not mistaken? Are you sure it's the Princess?"
"Yes." Jiang Hai nodded.
"Nonsense!" Su Wenzhen was furious. He quickly got up and walked outside.
Jiang Hai paused, looking at Su Wenzhen with some confusion, "Your Highness, what is this...?"
"I've spoiled her way too much!" Su Wenzhen gritted her teeth. "Now she's completely lawless! You come with me to bring her back!" A woman spending the night in a place like that—if word gets out, people will laugh their heads off! Besides, what if something happens in such a filthy place!
"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Hai quickly followed.
The two had barely opened the door when Steward Li rushed over, exclaiming, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Someone from the palace has arrived!"
Su Wenzhen was taken aback. He looked up at the sky. It was so late. Why were people from the palace coming? Had something happened?
Inside the carriage, Su Wenzhen felt utterly exhausted, and he lightly tapped the wooden armrest of the seat with his left hand.
Hearing the commotion inside the carriage, Jiang Hai knew that Su Wenzhen was worried about Ye Wanning, and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, why don't you go to the palace and I'll go and invite the Princess back?"
Su Wenzhen's hand froze for a moment. After a long while, he said, "No need. Let's talk about it tomorrow." If he suddenly sent Jiang Hai over now, Wan Ning would probably blame him again. Thinking this, Su Wenzhen sighed. He really wanted to deal with these troublesome matters as soon as possible. His gaze was somewhat deep. If it weren't for these things, he and Wan Ning wouldn't have ended up like this.
Upon entering the palace, Su Wenzhen sensed something was amiss. He followed the leading eunuch, looking around suspiciously. Jiang Hai, behind him, seemed to have noticed the abnormality as well, frowning as he looked at Su Wenzhen. "Your Highness..."
"Your Highness, please do not be puzzled." As if noticing the question from the person behind him, the eunuch said, "I have already transferred the patrolmen to other places."
Su Wenzhen was startled and only then did he come to his senses when he found himself at the entrance of Jianzhang Palace. The eunuch stopped and looked at Su Wenzhen with a kind expression. "Your Highness, please go in quickly. Don't keep His Majesty waiting."
Su Wenzhen nodded, turned to Jiang Hai and gave him a few instructions, then walked into the hall. Upon entering the inner hall, Su Wenzhen could vaguely see the figure on the dragon bed. "Father."
Upon hearing the voice, the figure moved slightly, and after a long while, a strangely aged voice rang out, "Wenzhen, come here quickly."
"Yes." Su Wenzhen walked inside and saw Su Yikun lying on the bed looking at him. Although he had a smile on his face, he could not hide his exhaustion.
Su Yikun coughed twice, paused, and said weakly, "Now that I see you like this, I'm relieved."
“Father…” Su Wenzhen’s voice choked with emotion, “Your son…”
“Wenzhen…” Su Yikun shook his head, a hint of sorrow in his eyes, “It’s all Father Emperor’s fault… He’s sorry to you.”
Su Wenzhen felt a tightness in his chest, and after a long while, he finally spoke, his voice trembling, "Father, it's not your fault..."
“If it weren’t for me…” Su Yikun sighed, his expression somewhat inscrutable. He waved his hand, “Never mind, there’s no point in talking about it anymore. Let’s not talk about this anymore.” As he spoke, he opened his eyes and looked at Su Wenzhen, “Wenzhen, I called you here today to entrust you with something.”
"Father, please speak freely." Su Wenzhen lowered his head, his emotions unreadable. "As long as it is something I can do, I will do my best."
"Wenzhen, you are kind and benevolent. I can only feel at ease entrusting the Chu Kingdom to your hands!"
Upon hearing this, Su Wenzhen's body trembled. He raised his head and looked at Su Yikun with disbelief, "Father, what are you doing...?"
Su Yikun slowly straightened up. He fumbled around beside the jade pillow for a long time before taking out an object wrapped in yellow cloth and handing it to Su Wenzhen.
Su Wenzhen was taken aback. "What is this?" As he spoke, he took the small cloth bag in his hand and immediately understood. "Father!"
"This imperial seal will be in your hands from now on." Su Yikun smiled. "Father's days are numbered, and this is all I can give you."
"Father, please don't say such things!" Su Wenzhen frowned and raised the jade seal in his hand to Su Yikun. "Your son knows that he is incompetent and cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. Moreover, if Father acts like this, where will the Crown Prince be!"
“If the Crown Prince really ascends the throne,” Su Yikun said with a bitter smile, “then the Chu Kingdom will belong to the Wen family. Wen Zhen, do you really want to see the empire that Emperor Gaozu worked so hard to build ultimately handed over to others?”
Su Wenzhen stiffened. "Father's meaning is..."
Su Yikun sighed softly, "Wen Zhen, you know this in your heart, don't you? How many of the people in this court are spies of the Wen family? General Wen holds military power; he is the foundation of the Chu Kingdom. Even if he is a loyal minister now, what about in the future?"
“Although the Crown Prince is resourceful, he is impatient and lacks your composure. Right now, he is relying on the Wen family's power to win over the hearts of the new officials, but in the future, if the Wen family wants to dominate, how can he stop them?” Su Yikun shook his head helplessly. “This is fate! Wen Zi is destined not to be the emperor…”
“Father…” Su Wenzhen’s eyes darkened, “But I…”
"I entrusted this world to you because of your forbearance." Su Yikun looked up at Su Wenzhen, his gaze intense. "Wenzhen, you've probably been pretending to be stupid all along, haven't you?"
Su Wenzhen stiffened, but seeing that this matter was known to others, he quickly recovered and nodded, "Father saw through it at a glance."
Su Yikun closed his eyes and after a long while spoke, "Wenzhen, sometimes even your father can't see through you!"
Su Wenzhen smiled but didn't reply. If he hadn't pretended to be stupid back then, he probably wouldn't be in this world today!
"What happened today will probably get out," Su Yikun said softly.
Su Wenzhen nodded. "Father, don't worry, I won't tell anyone about what happened today."
“It’s not impossible to tell others.” Su Yikun half-closed his eyes, as if he was thinking about something. “However, we must not let others find out about the matter of the imperial seal.”
"Yes," Su Wenzhen replied.
"Wenzhen." Su Yikun paused, then suddenly said, "How about we release the news? The throne will be yours in the future."
Su Wenzhen was taken aback, and looked at Su Yikun with a puzzled expression, asking, "Father... what is this...?"
After calming himself down, Su Yikun didn't reply. He looked at Su Wenzhen again and said, "Wenzhen, Father's health has improved a lot recently. What do you think about holding a banquet?"
Su Wenzhen was taken aback, looking at Su Yikun with some confusion, "Father, you've only just recovered, perhaps you shouldn't..."
“Everyone else is waiting.” Su Yikun looked at Su Wenzhen meaningfully and said, “Some things really require Father’s intervention to achieve good results.” He smiled and said, “Father also wants to do something for you in his lifetime. Father owes you too much. Now you can accept Father’s compensation, but Father no longer has the energy to compensate you.”
With that, Su Yikun sighed, "Let's leave it at that and pass this on."
Su Wenzhen felt a tightness in his chest. His father, the Emperor, said, "Yes..."
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