Chapter 13
Quality
Madam Gu took the prayer beads that the servant girl picked up and muttered to herself, “So fast?”
Eight years ago, when the late emperor was still alive, the Great Jin Dynasty signed an armistice agreement with the State of Yue in the south. To show his sincerity, the late Emperor sent his eldest grandson, Chu Yi, who was only 10 years old at the time, to the State of Yue as a hostage. This trip lasted for eight years.
At the end of last year, the late Emperor passed away. For the official enthronement at the beginning of the year, it was negotiated with the State of Yue to bring Chu Yi back.
This was a major matter that concerned the country’s foundation, and it was spreading like wildfire in the capital. Many people were worried that the State of Yue would not allow the prince to return safely.
Initially, Madam Gu thought so too and even secretly hoped so.
However, reality poured down like a bucket of cold water. The Eldest Prince had actually successfully returned to the country!
Granny Xu naturally did not know what Madam Gu was thinking and echoed obsequiously, “The heavens have blessed us. The Emperor has been looking forward to this day for eight years.”
“…” Madam Gu’s expression instantly darkened. She glanced at Granny Xu gloomily.
Granny Xu felt her scalp go numb and hurriedly reported, “Madam, the Eldest Prince seems to be seriously ill. The personal guard accompanying him invited a doctor to treat him. Unexpectedly, not only did he not cure him, but his illness became even worse. The personal guard had no choice but to alarm the magistrate. Today, the magistrate just invited the Eldest Prince to the Danyang Manor.”
Serious illness?! Madam Gu’s eyes lit up and her heart raced.
It would be wonderful if the Eldest Prince was seriously ill.
He had always been weak and sickly, and it was difficult for him to live long. If anything happened to the Eldest Prince, in the future… According to the laws, the ministers would have to ask the Empress Dowager, the ancestral decree, and the elders to choose a suitable new ruler among the relatives.
The current Empress Dowager was the successor to the late Emperor.
Kang Wang was her only biological son. He held the title of legitimate son and had a virtuous reputation. It was obvious that he would be the first candidate to inherit the throne.
Madam Gu seemed to have seen the grand occasion of Kang Wang’s ascension to the throne, and a hot light flashed in her eyes.
Her Rong’er would definitely marry Kang Wang. In the future, her wife would become the Empress of the Great Jin Dynasty and become the mother of the world.
At that time, as the mother family of the Empress, their Dingyuan Marquis Household would definitely be able to return to its former glory… No, to a higher level!!
Madam Gu turned around slightly and looked in the direction of the Danyang Manor.
High in the sky, there were no clouds.
The weather had been hot of late. The air was stale and windless. Everything from the trees to the people was listless and lazy.
Only the Danyang Manor in the middle of the city was an exception. The entire prefectural government office was on high alert because of the arrival of their esteemed guests.
An octarine palace lamp was lit in the hall. The candle flames flickered.
“Cough…”
The handsome young man sitting at the head of the table pressed his fist against his lips. His face was half lowered as he coughed repeatedly.
He was dressed in a snow-white robe. It was spotless and as loose as jet-black hair that was half bunched and half scattered.
The warm candlelight poured gently over him, coating him in gold powder. His skin shone faintly with a pale golden luster, making his face as pale as paper. The mole at the end of his eye was as red as blood. He had a sickly but elegant beauty.
“Your Highness, are you alright?” A middle-aged man in a fourth-grade embroidered robe asked carefully.
Chu Yi wiped his mouth with a square of white handkerchief. There was a sickly flush on his pale cheeks, and his thin chest rose and fell with a slight urgency.
“Quite all right. Thank you for your concern, Lord He.” He smiled, his voice a little husky, his manner gentle and cultured.
The Eldest Prince was as gentle as he was rumored to be. Magistrate He thought to himself, ‘I’ll send a doctor to see His Highness…’
Before he could finish, a middle-sized servant walked in quickly and reported to Magistrate He, “Magistrate He, Doctor Cheng is here.”
Half a cup of tea later, a physician in his 50s with a straight green beard hurried into the hall with the manservant. He had a square face, a goatee, and a black turban. His forehead and neck were covered in fine beads of sweat.
Doctor Cheng had long been reminded that the patient today was a noble. He bowed to the two of them in fear.
Magistrate He instructed with a dignified expression, “Doctor Cheng, take His Highness’s pulse carefully.”
Doctor Cheng agreed repeatedly. Then, he invited Chu Yi to extend his left wrist and respectfully take his pulse. He focused and lowered his eyes.
The pulse under his finger was soft and heavy, weak and smooth, like cotton under water. This was asthenia syndrome, an illness characterized by insufficient vital energy and blood. It was even a sign that his lifespan was not long.
Silence filled the hall.
After a while, Doctor Cheng finally retracted his hand and wiped his sweat with his sleeve. Then, he said tactfully, “Your Highness, your Qi and blood are insufficient, and there’s blockage of your muscular interstices. You also have pathogenic wind. Please allow me to prescribe some nourishing medicine for Your Highness.”
Chu Yi turned his face away and covered his mouth with his handkerchief. He coughed again.
Xiao Shi gently stroked his back and shouted at Doctor Cheng angrily, “What are you doctors talking about? When will His Highness get better?”
“…” Doctor Cheng was sweating profusely. He stammered, “He’ll have to take a few doses to know…”
Xiao Shi was about to say something when Chu Yi raised his hand to silence him.
Chu Yi smiled gently. “Doctor Cheng, my subordinate is impatient…”
“It’s fine.” Doctor Cheng did not dare to argue with the people around the Eldest Prince.
Soon, a servant prepared the brush and ink. Magistrate He reminded him in a high and mighty tone, “Doctor Cheng, if you need any expensive herbs, just let me know.”
Doctor Cheng agreed obediently and quickly wrote down the prescription. He also instructed Chu Yi to take good care of himself. From the beginning to the end, he did not dare to look at Chu Yi directly.
Chu Yi seemed to feel that his subordinate was being rude, so he instructed his other guard, “Si Hai, send Doctor Cheng out.”
The plain-looking gray-clothed youth cupped his fists and personally sent Doctor Cheng out.
The sunset at dusk was so golden that it was blinding. The sticky air seemed to have frozen.
After passing through a moon cave, Si Hai suddenly stopped and reached out to stop Doctor Cheng. He asked, “Will the Eldest Prince recover?”
No one was around except the two of them.
Doctor Cheng looked at the four seas uneasily and swallowed. “My medical skills are limited… However, the imperial physician should have a way.”
Si Hai stared at Doctor Cheng without blinking. After three breaths of silence, he said coldly, “Let him weaken naturally and then die of illness. You should have a way to do that, right?”
The rays of the setting sun filtered through the layers of leaves, casting mottled shadows on Si Hai’s face, making his originally ordinary face look abnormally strange.
Doctor Cheng: “!!!”
Even though he tried to remain calm, his eyes still widened uncontrollably. His pupils flickered and his body tensed.