On the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, the Crown Prince returned to the capital in triumph.
What should have been a day of universal celebration was instead marked by a somber atmosphere in Yanjing.
Just a few days ago, news came that the Crown Prince had been ambushed on his way back to the capital and was seriously injured and in critical condition.
Therefore, the people who originally planned to line the streets to welcome the prince's triumphant return had to cancel their plans.
Shen Tangning leaned on the railing and looked out at the soldiers in armor on Zhuque Street, which stretched like a long dragon, their momentum like a rainbow, into the distance, but the Crown Prince was not among them.
She felt a sense of relief. Her cousin had been intelligent since childhood and would surely understand her hints and make a quick decision.
...
"Where is the Crown Prince?"
A man dressed in a dragon robe, his face full of majesty, stepped into the palace.
"Your Majesty, this servant greets you. Your Majesty, the imperial physician is inside examining Your Highness's injury!"
Emperor Chongde narrowed his eyes, a deep and unfathomable light flashing in them: "I heard he's badly injured? I'll go in and see him."
He entered the inner palace, and the palace servants knelt down to pay their respects. The imperial physician also hurriedly got up. Only then did Emperor Chongde see the weak young man on the bed.
Yan Huai was his eldest son. Like his mother, he had a gentle and refined appearance, and his virtue was impeccable. Even the usually strict Grand Tutor praised him highly.
People praised him as flawless as jade, as if he were born into an imperial family.
The young man looked haggard, with a pale face and deeply sunken cheeks, appearing as if he were terminally ill.
Yan Huai struggled to rise and pay his respects, his voice barely audible as he managed to say, "Your subject greets Your Majesty..."
He swayed precariously, almost falling off the couch. Emperor Chongde was startled and quickly stepped forward to support him, frowning as he said, "There's no need for such formalities with injuries like this. How could you be so badly injured?"
Yan Huai's dark eyes were gentle, and he lowered his head in shame: "It is your son's incompetence..."
Emperor Chongde still harbored doubts and coldly glanced at the imperial physicians: "Why is the Crown Prince's injury so severe? What are you Imperial Hospital doctors doing?!"
The imperial physician knelt on the ground, his face filled with fear and trepidation: "Your Majesty, His Highness has been poisoned! This poison is extremely rare and its toxicity is potent; this humble servant has no clue what to do at the moment..."
"Poisoned?" Emperor Chongde was taken aback, his face showing astonishment.
The Crown Prince's deputy general, Cheng Ce, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, in order to reach the capital as soon as possible, and because heavy cavalry is inconvenient to move, Your Highness led a group of men ahead. Unexpectedly, we were ambushed by the enemy on the way!"
He gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "The other side was determined to fight to the death. Your Highness was already injured from an old wound and was ambushed and shot with a poisoned arrow during the fight!"
Yan Huai coughed twice, covering her mouth: "Cheng Ce, shut up! It was my carelessness and underestimation of the enemy..."
His voice faltered, and a heart-wrenching cough escaped his throat intermittently. His body trembled violently, and he subconsciously covered his lips with a handkerchief.
Despite his swift movements to conceal it, Emperor Chongde still caught a glimpse of a flash of blood, and a look of surprise crossed his eyes.
He helped Yan Huai lie down and said in a deep voice, "You should rest well first. Once you are healed, I will reward you according to your merits!"
Yan Huai frowned, a conflicted look flashing across his face. Before the emperor could suspect anything, he spoke as if he had nothing to lose: "Father, I am guilty and cannot bear this reward!"
Emperor Chongde paused, narrowing his eyes as he stared at him: "What do you mean by that?"
Yan Huai gave a bitter smile: "In the Battle of Pingcheng, the enemy was besieged in the city and threatened the lives of the people. General Wei suggested using fire, but I refused because of my womanly compassion."
Wei Mingyuan was a rather radical man, and he was quite ruthless in his pursuit of his goals. His idea was to massacre the city, which would save time and effort and allow him to win in the shortest possible time.
Yan Huai disagreed with him.
Napingcheng is located at the border between Daqing and the barbarians. It was originally part of Daqing, but was forcibly occupied by the southern barbarians more than ten years ago.
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