Faced with Zhu Di's weighty trust, heavy as a mountain, and his unquestionable command, Zhu Zhanjun fell silent for a moment.
The atmosphere inside the main tent was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Zhu Di thought his grandson had finally been persuaded and was finally ready to accept this heavy fate.
However, Zhu Zhanjun's next words nearly made him vomit blood.
"Grandfather, did you get something wrong?"
Zhu Zhanjun raised his head, his face full of bafflement. "Who told you my father was in poor health?"
"Hm?"
Zhu Di froze.
"Let me tell you, Grandfather—my father is in excellent health right now! He has a hearty appetite, and he can climb five floors in one breath without even getting winded!"
Counting on his fingers, Zhu Zhanjun said with complete seriousness, "A few days ago, when I left the capital, he was even discussing it with my mother. He said he wanted to have a third child!"
"Pfft—"
The Commander of the Imperial Guard, who had been standing to one side as mere background decoration, really could not hold it in. He nearly laughed aloud, then hurriedly forced it back down, his face swelling to the color of pig liver.
The Regent Crown Prince wanted to have a third child?
If those words got out, the censors throughout the capital would probably trample the threshold of the Eastern Palace flat.
Zhu Di's face instantly turned black.
"Nonsense! Don't I know your father's condition?"
"He has been tormented by illness for years. He pants after walking only a few steps."
"During this campaign, he even vomited blood and collapsed from illness because of the shock and fear."
"These were all secret reports sent by Fang Bin and the others. How could they be false?"
"Fang Bin?"
Zhu Zhanjun curled his lips, his face full of disdain. "Grandfather, you still believe his nonsense?"
"That old bastard has a grudge against me. He would love nothing more than to see our family suffer."
"Could the intelligence he sent really be true?"
"Let me tell you the truth."
Zhu Zhanjun cleared his throat. "My father was indeed a little weak some time ago, but before I left the capital, I had already nursed him back to health."
"Nursed him back to health? How?"
Zhu Di was skeptical.
"Hehe."
With a mysterious air, Zhu Zhanjun pulled a small jade bottle from his robes and poured out a golden pill the size of a longan, one that radiated an extraordinary fragrance.
The moment the pill appeared, an invigorating, refreshing scent filled the entire main tent.
"I used this."
Zhu Di stared at the pill the size of a dragon's eye, sensing the surging vitality rushing toward him. His eyes instantly went straight.
Though he did not know what it was, as an emperor of his generation, he could clearly feel that this thing was absolutely a supreme treasure beyond the mortal world!
"This... what is this?"
Even Zhu Di's voice trembled slightly.
"Dragon Origin."
Zhu Zhanjun began spinning his tale without even blushing. "When I was young, didn't I like wandering around everywhere?"
"Once, I accidentally entered an immortal's cave dwelling and gained a bit of providence."
"This Dragon Origin was one of the things I obtained there."
"They say it can bring the dead back to life, restore flesh to white bones, dispel every illness, and extend one's lifespan."
"Before I left the capital, I gave one to my father."
"His health is better than mine now."
Zhu Di stared fixedly at the pill called "Dragon Origin," his breathing growing rapid.
He remembered the Pill for Cultivating Origin and Solidifying Foundation that Zhu Zhanjun had produced earlier, the one capable of bringing the Crown Prince "back from the dead."
He remembered that divine steed capable of traveling a thousand li in a day.
He remembered that terrifying repeating crossbow.
At last, he understood just how unfathomable his grandson truly was.
There might really be... an immortal standing behind him!
"You... you still have treasures like this?"
Zhu Di swallowed with difficulty.
"Of course."
Zhu Zhanjun shook the jade bottle in his hand. "There are two left."
"I originally planned to give one to my Elder Brother and keep the other to eat when I grow old."
"Since your health isn't good, Grandfather, I'll offer this one to you as a token of filial respect."
As he spoke, he handed the Dragon Origin to Zhu Di.
Zhu Di looked at the gleaming pill within arm's reach, then at his grandson's sincere face, and felt a thousand emotions well up inside him.
Just moments ago, he had still been plotting against this grandson, wanting to bind him with the Imperial Throne.
Yet this grandson had immediately brought out a divine medicine capable of saving his life.
"You... aren't you afraid I'll... take it by force?"
Zhu Di asked in a hoarse voice.
"What's there to fear?"
Zhu Zhanjun shrugged indifferently. "You're my grandfather."
"Besides, I still have more of this stuff."
"If you like it, once I return to the capital, I'll just go ask that immortal for a few more."
Zhu Di fell silent.
He accepted the Dragon Origin and clenched it tightly in his palm, feeling its warm, surging power.
He knew that all his earlier schemes now seemed utterly laughable.
"Good... good grandson!"
Zhu Di gave Zhu Zhanjun's shoulder a heavy pat. "Your grandfather... judged a gentleman with a petty man's heart."
"About the Imperial Throne..."
"You can forget about that."
Zhu Zhanjun hurriedly interrupted him. "My father is in excellent health. Let him do it."
"When he can't do it anymore, there's still my Elder Brother."
"As for me, I'll just focus on expanding the territory of the Old Zhu family and earning a little hard-earned money. That sounds pretty good."
"Although..."
Zhu Zhanjun changed tack, rubbing his hands as he revealed a foxlike smile. "Grandfather, I've sent troops out and offered you medicine. Shouldn't you give me some... tangible reward, too?"
Seeing his grandson's vulgar, money-grubbing expression, the emotion that had only just risen in Zhu Di vanished without a trace.
He laughed in exasperation.
"You little bastard! I knew you weren't being kind for nothing!"
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