When the emperor entered the hall, his complexion was still not good.
The pills stopped, the medicine tasted bitter, and the headache eased but didn't go away.
The matter at the Hall of Supreme Ultimate weighed heavily on him, and his eyes were still bloodshot.
Everyone bowed.
The emperor raised his hand. "No need for formalities."
Several young princes were pushed to the front.
One held a purse, another held a longevity character, and the third recited two lines of birthday wishes, but got stuck on the third line, his eyes reddening with anxiety.
The emperor watched, his expression unchanged.
The young concubine hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Little Nine stayed up very late last night and pricked her hand this morning, so she forgot for a moment."
The emperor looked at the child's finger.
Why embroider something that's prickly to the touch?
The young concubine's lips trembled, and she immediately knelt down.
"I tried to stop him, but the child insisted on fulfilling his filial duty."
The emperor waved his hand. "Rise."
Although the tone wasn't harsh, it dissipated most of the heat in the hall.
The Empress seized the opportunity and called out, " Nianli, serve tea to your father, the Emperor."
Gu Nianli stepped forward with a teacup in hand, his steps slow, and knelt down at a suitable spot.
"Father, please have some tea. Mother says that Father is currently recuperating, so the tea should be weak to avoid upsetting his stomach."
The emperor took the tea and glanced at him.
Who taught you to say that?
Gu Nianli lowered his head. "Your Majesty taught me to remember people's hardships, Imperial Physician Shen taught me to drink less tea after taking medicine."
The emperor took a sip.
The tea was indeed weak, but the temperature was just right.
The slight burning sensation in his chest subsided slightly.
"Where are you in your studies?"
Gu Nianli replied, "I have only learned a little about the ' Summary of the Rules of Propriety ' section of the Book of Rites. It says that one should respect one's superiors and know when to stop."
The emperor's eyes flickered.
Know when to stop.
Hearing those two words today, they actually sound quite pleasant.
Gu Nian'an was also gently pushed forward by the nanny.
He held the book in his little hands and looked at the Empress first.
The empress simply looked at him without saying a word.
Gu Nian'an knelt down. "Father, I have read the Classic of Filial Piety. Our bodies, hair, and skin are given to us by our parents, and we dare not damage them; this is the beginning of filial piety."
The emperor looked at him. "Do you understand what that means?"
Gu Nian'an nodded earnestly. "I understand a little. It's just that I can't let Father and Mother worry. Yesterday, I fell while climbing a tree, and Mother punished me by making me copy the book ten times."
The old woman took a gentle breath.
Why did this child mention climbing a tree?
The emperor asked, "Where did you fall?"
Gu Nian'an pulled up her sleeve a little, revealing the bruises on her arm.
"Here. Your son will not climb high again."
The empress watched his actions without saying a word.
The emperor remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly.
"It's better to admit your mistakes than to cover them up."
Upon hearing these words, the faces of several concubines in the hall changed.
The Empress is indeed shrewd!
Gu Nianli and Gu Nian'an returned to the Empress's side.
The emperor looked at them; one was steady, the other still had a childlike air, but both were pure.
The word "clean" pressed down on his mind.
When the Crown Prince makes a mistake, the Second Prince offers him a elixir, and the Third Prince always manages to stand on the cusp of opportunity.
Adult princes in the capital have people in their residences, advisors by their side, and in-laws outside; if one thing happens, it will affect a whole string of others.
Small differences.
It can still be raised.
I can still teach.
The emperor put down his teacup and looked at the empress.
"You've done a good job raising the two children."
The Empress rose. "Your Majesty, I dare not take credit. The children are young; I only hope they will make fewer mistakes."
The emperor paused for a moment upon hearing "young age".
Being young means having time.
While Chu Tianxing's statement about living to a hundred years old without worries may be an exaggeration, the Imperial Medical Bureau says it can be treated.
He's not going to die tomorrow.
Since there are still a few years left, why rush to establish a new ruler of Chu?
The emperor rose.
"I am tired today. You may all leave."
The concubines dared not linger any longer and each took their children and withdrew.
The empress escorted the emperor to the palace gate.
Only after the imperial carriage had gone far away did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
Gu Nian'an jogged over and lowered her voice, "Mother, did I say something wrong just now?"
The Empress patted his head.
"No."
Gu Nian'an breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Nianli stood to the side without saying a word, but simply pulled her younger brother back a little.
The Empress looked at the two children, her hand slowly tightening in her sleeve.
There is never a shortage of children in this palace.
What's lacking are children who will survive to the end.
As night deepened, only the emperor remained in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
Chen Dehai placed several booklets on the imperial desk in order.
The case of the Second Prince offering elixir.
Xiao Jinghan secretly reported from the prison.
Initial Records of the Investigation of the Eastern Palace Prince's Palace.
The correspondence records of the six families of Prince Yi's Residence.
The emperor first reviewed the case of the second prince offering elixir.
Old wax.
Danpu.
A medicine slave surnamed Tao.
Abandoned well in the east of the city.
His fingers rested on the word "Tao" for a long time.
Gu Mochen said he had been deceived by the sorcerer.
The word "deceive" might be acceptable if used once, but if it's used repeatedly, it becomes a joke.
He closed the booklet and then flipped through the secret reports from the Crown Prince's prison.
Fragment of the waist tag from Hall of Proper Beauty.
Jail Officer Wei's confession.
Zhou Yun pending trial.
Xiao Jinghan testified.
When the emperor saw the words "Kill Lady Liu, then kill Prince Yi," his eyes darkened.
The crown prince has already dared to use the remnants of the previous dynasty to commit murder.
They even dared to set fire to the prince's residence.
He flipped to the correspondence records of the six families of Prince Yi's Residence and frowned.
Gu Moran always says he's afraid of his wife.
But all six families reside in his mansion; any one of them could influence the political landscape.
The emperor put the book down.
The candlelight illuminated the imperial desk, casting overlapping shadows of several documents.
He pressed the crown prince's name to the corner of the table.
He did not take the edict to abolish the crown prince.
If it's abolished now, the court will be in chaos.
The Chen Family will make a move, the former officials of the Eastern Palace will make a move, the Second Prince will pounce, and the Third Prince will continue to play dumb.
The Empress has two obedient young princes.
If I can recover for a few more years, I might be able to find someone even more pleasing to the eye.
The emperor closed his eyes, and a headache returned.
Chen Dehai stepped forward. "Your Majesty, shall we summon the imperial physician?"
"No need."
The emperor opened his eyes and took out two blank edicts.
A note addressed to Gu Mochen.
A note written by Gu Moran.
The pen tip hovers over the paper.
The second prince cannot stay in the capital.
If the case of offering elixir is not resolved and he remains in the capital, he will only be silenced and implicated in other cases.
The third prince cannot be allowed to live either.
Gu Moran is always in the eye of the storm, yet he always manages to escape unscathed.
Six wives stood behind him.
Keeping it in front of you will only increase your suspicions.
The emperor put pen to paper.
The ink was pressed heavily on the paper, making the four characters appear very prominent.
Each returned to their fiefdom.
Chen Dehai stood to the side, his whisk motionless.
The emperor stared at those four characters, his voice hoarse.
"How are things in Yi Prefecture and Xiang Prefecture now?"
Chen Dehai bowed and replied, " Xiang Prefecture is relatively peaceful, but in Yi Prefecture, I've heard that the governor and the military commander have always been at odds."
The two were the top scholars and military leaders of their year; the governor was from Min County, and the commandant was a military man from the Yi Prefecture Heluo. Their political views and words clashed constantly, but strangely enough, these two tough guys managed to govern Yizhou with remarkable efficiency.
Upon hearing this, the emperor chuckled.
"That's perfect for using these two tough nuts to dampen the third brother's arrogance."
"The decree will be drawn up tomorrow."
Chen Dehai bowed his head. "This servant obeys the decree."
Yi Prefecture.
A small courtyard in the suburbs.
As soon as the Commandant Zhen Daijin entered the door, he began to curse.
"Damn it! What nonsense are you spouting today? Aren't you going to give me any face?"
Governor Si Renyou calmly poured the wine, his tone gentle and soothing.
"Why must you get angry, Commandant? I was merely stating the Chen Qing in court, not trying to embarrass you. Military and political matters are of great importance. If we blindly agree and give in, neither of us will be able to escape responsibility when the Censor investigates. It would be better to sit down and discuss it properly."
"Hey, you old turtle, stop pretending. We've been comrades-in-arms for years, both military and defense comrades. Can't you at least have a little tact in your speech?"
"Brother Zhen, please don't be so rude. Let's talk this out. All I said was that I was going to dig up your ancestral graves."
"Get lost! Which of my ancestors for eighteen generations hasn't been insulted by you over the years?"
Zhen Daijin down, picked up a wine cup from the table, smelled it, and then put it back in disgust.
"You said we listened to Lord Liu, and we've endured all these years. Why hasn't the Emperor allowed Prince Yi to return to his fiefdom yet? If he doesn't come soon, I'll publicly declare tomorrow that I'll smash your ancestral hall tablet!"
The wine jug in Si Renyou's hand stopped in mid-air.
"I can't believe it! You even went after the memorial tablets, Gan Linmu!"