Chapter 50.1
Yesterday, after returning from the Xuan Cavalry barracks to reminisce about the past, as expected, Imperial Censor Xue had been waiting for a long time.
Zong Luo talked with Imperial Censor Xue all night long in the study, and it was not until dawn broke out in the east that he personally sent the elderly man out of the mansion.
This old man was nearly seventy years old, yet he was still hale and hearty, that despite staying all night, instead his face was covered in flush.
Before boarding the carriage, Imperial Censor Xue stroked his long white beard. “Didn’t expect that this old man would see His Highness again in this life, it really made the heart extremely excited. Being prudent and discerning, and even entertained this old man until dawn, alas, this old man will really spend half his lifetime to finish talking about it.”
He had never seen any great storms in his life. When the late emperor was still alive, he became an official, and witnessed firsthand the bloody coup d’état of seizing the crown prince position in the Imperial City. Fortunately, he was an upright official at that time, didn’t partake in it, and only remained motionless amidst the wind and waves.
Now, he was getting old, on the contrary, he began to worry about national affairs more and more, and had a lot of veiled criticism towards Emperor Yuan, therefore he decisively stood in the party of the Third Prince.
That’s right, it was actually Imperial Censor Xue himself who handed in a voting certificate after observing Zong Luo for a period of time. Zong Luo, whose foundation was not stable in the Imperial City back then, was indescribably surprised to receive this voting certificate.
(t/n Voting certificate-Voting certificates were used in ancient times as a sign of loyalty, meaning that before joining an organization, you should show your loyalty with the actions approved by the organization.)
Zong Luo hastily said, “Old Xue, where are the words? Obviously it should be me since I disturb your rest.”
Imperial Censor Xue laughed three times. “Your Highness is too polite.”
“Right, since His Majesty has already given the order, Your Highness, please cooperate with the treatment and take care of your health. After all, what we talked about last night requires a body as capital.”
“Certainly, certainly.”
After watching Imperial Censor Xue leave, Zong Luo turned back to the residence.
As soon as he walked to the corridor, he saw Steward Liao standing there with a smile again. “Your Highness, as the imperial physician said, avoid spicy food, and stay up late less. Yesterday night, you had something important to discuss after all, thus this old servant won’t say much. However, for today’s medicine, I’m afraid you’ll need to drink an extra bowl.”
The imperial physician standing behind him had a serious face. “Your Highness, this is a witchcraft medicine prepared by this subject. In the future, please also stay up late less, please.”
Without exception, most highly skilled doctors have a bit of a temper.
If one encountered such an uncooperative patient on ordinary days, one wouldn’t be able to heal anything. But it just happened to be the Third Prince, supposing he dared not cooperate with the treatment, if he turned around, His Majesty would chop off his head later.
Compared to having a temper, of course, life was still more important.
Thus the imperial physician began to resign himself to fate of grabbing the prescribed herbs for the decoction early in the morning.
Zong Luo: “……”
He looked at the two bowls that were full to the brim witchcraft medicine that exuded a captivating smell, and his expression gradually stiffened.
After painfully drinking the medicine, Zong Luo went back to his bedchamber to rest.
On ordinary days, he would be in the study, making him able to still dump it quietly while no one was watching. But if he was being stared at, he could only accept his fate and take a suffocating mouthful.
When he woke up again, it was almost time for lunch.
“Your Highness, Prime Minister Pei came.”
Zong Luo asked casually, “How long has he been here?”
“Answering to Your Highness, when Your Highness had just rested, Lord Pei arrived. However, Your Highness had not woken up yet. After sitting in the reception room for several hours, Lord Pei seemed to have received an urgent matter, leaving only a brocade box behind and left in a hurry.”
“I see.”
He nodded, put on his coat, tied his belt, and pushed the door out.
The brocade box left by Pei Qianxue contained a few yellow and orange Fuze fruits.
Zong Luo stared at these Fuze fruits, sighed, and handed them over to the pharmacy.
Another day had passed.
Steward Liao went to the palace to grab medicine once, and by the way explained to Zong Luo about Zong Ruichen’s situation. There hadn’t been much information from the palace these two days, tomorrow, Zong Luo would have to enter the palace for a medical consultation on time, and also conveniently bring Ruichen out.
As for the only information, it was still the imperial physician mentioning the Ninth Prince in a mouthful.
The imperial physician also followed back to the palace this morning, and was temporarily called to see the Ninth Prince.
“Not long ago, the Ninth Prince was only grounded once, but for some reason, he angered His Majesty again. It is said that he was grounded alone in the palace crying for heaven and earth, shouting till his voice turned hoarse. When this old man was invited by the eunuch beside him to go over, I presume he’s almost dying. As a result, when touched, the body was clearly excellent without damage, and didn’t even suffer from cold wind.”
(t/n Crying for heaven and earth-which means shouting to the heavens with one’s mouth, and crying loudly while bumping one’s head against the ground.)
While the imperial physician was testing the medicine for Zong Luo on the side, he ridiculed, “This old man is most annoyed by this kind of pretending to be sick without illness, it’s a waste of time. In the early years, there were a few imperial concubines in the harem who liked to play this game. Saying accidental miscarriage or pregnancy slippage, staining the handkerchief with chicken blood, and also covering the whole body, but when feeling the pulse, it completely betrayed oneself.”
Hearing what he said about Zong Hongjiu, Zong Luo couldn’t help feeling guilty.
These imperial physicians were indeed some veteran Jianghu people. If it weren’t for the secret technique of Ghost Valley’s acupuncture that physically causes blood congestion, he really couldn’t guarantee that he could just fool around like this.
But Zong Hongjiu actually made Emperor Yuan angry again?
Zong Luo recalled for a moment.
The most heinous thing Zong Hongjiu did in his previous life was to beat Zong Ruichen to death alive.
Of course, no matter how of no use Zong Ruichen was, he was still a prince, and Zong Hongjiu definitely didn’t have the ability to dispose of him at will. The main reason was that Ye Linghan told him the secret, and coincidentally it coincided with Emperor Yuan’s big birthday. It was unknown what private means were used, that led Ruichen to forget his manners in front of the emperor and intended to collude with the old subordinates in the name of rebellion. As a result, he could only be punished.
Today was the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and before the end of the lunar new year, Emperor Yuan’s birthday would arrive.
During court these days, the courtiers all noticed that His Majesty seemed to be in a good mood for several days in a row, thus they became a bit bolder.
Last year, because of the Hangu Pass incident, even the big birthday wasn’t arranged unreservedly. It was said that the Feng Chang submitted the proposal yesterday, and unexpectedly, Emperor Yuan merely waved his hand and directly agreed, therefore the standard etiquette that had not been dared to be prepared previously was put on the agenda again.
(t/n Feng Chang-the official in charge of the etiquette of the ancestral temple in the ancient imperial court.)
Speaking of Emperor Yuan’s birthday…..
Zong Luo suddenly fell silent for a moment, got up and walked to the bookcase, and opened the hidden compartment fastened on the top.
