Before Yan Shaoning could climb out the window, Qin Yuanxi hurriedly called him. “I don’t mean to distrust the divine physician. I just… I need time to confirm.”
Yan Shaoning didn’t turn around. “Your Majesty, take your time to verify.”
“Physician Yan.” Qin Yuanxi called out again. “Risking so much to bring me this information, are you satisfied leaving if your goal isn’t achieved?”
“I know what you mean. If what you say is true, then you must be here for Lu Bohuan. Is your purpose solely to inquire why Lu Bohuan hasn’t woken up? But how can you be certain that what you’ve said isn’t what Lu Bohuan desires? How can you be sure if Zhao Tuo has treasonous intentions, Lu Bohuan doesn’t?”
These words from Qin Yuanxi were almost cruel, akin to stabbing a knife into his own heart. He thought he was just navigating a complicated romance, dealing with someone a bit mentally unstable. He never expected it to escalate like this.
Qin Yuanxi actually believed about eighty percent of Yan Shaoning’s words.
Having read the plot, he knew more than Yan Shaoning, understanding Emperor Qin Yuanxi was just a puppet emperor. The Regent Prince seizing power was only a matter of time, as evident from the early foreshadowing. However, Qin Yuanxi thought it wouldn’t happen. Lu Bohuan had assured him that he was indifferent to the throne, and his involvement in court affairs was merely due to the young emperor’s incompetence. He had no choice but to do it. Moreover, Zhao Tuo was his intimate partner, and soon they would have a child together.
Suddenly confronted with these revelations, Qin Yuanxi was taken aback. He needed time to process it all.
“Your Majesty, you’re wrong. I already know why Prince Lu hasn’t awakened yet, and I’m sure it’s all Zhao Tuo’s doing. It has nothing to do with Lu Bohuan,” Yan Shaoning said in a solemn tone, pulling out a small bottle from his pocket and handing it to Qin Yuanxi. “Have you seen this before?”
“I have, I’ve seen Zhao Tuo take it, more than once,” Qin Yuanxi replied honestly. “Is there something wrong with this medicine?”
“Big problem,” Yan Shaoning stared at the small bottle. “I was detained by Zhao Tuo because I found this thing. Otherwise, I’d probably be in the villa like Your Majesty, at his mercy.”
A faint trace of irony curled at the corner of his lips. “Your Majesty, have you ever wondered why Prince Lu hasn’t appeared for so long? It’s because of this thing. Zhao Tuo uses this medicine to stay awake continuously.”
“I’ve heard my master talk about this medicine. I wanted to research it for Prince Lu, but I never thought I’d let Zhao Tuo find it before me. He’s really cunning.”
Yan Shaoning sighed, “It seems that Zhao Tuo had been prepared long ago. This timing is much earlier than we could have imagined. His scheming is indeed quite heavy.”
“I’ve said everything. What else would Your Majesty like to know?”
“You mentioned that he always presented himself as Prince Lu when outside?”
Qin Yuanxi organized his thoughts and grasped onto a piece of information he wanted. “Since I arrived at the palace, has he always acted as Regent Prince in handling state affairs?”
“Yes,” Yan Shaoning nodded.
“If, if that’s true, I’m in a passive position now. What should I do?”
“Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth?” Yan Shaoning’s eyes carried a hint of helplessness. “Zhao Tuo is sincerely different. Your Majesty, you don’t have the ability to confront him head-on. He has military power, supporters in the court, and Your Majesty has no chance of winning. The only person who can stop Zhao Tuo now is one, and that’s why I took the risk to come find Your Majesty.”
Qin Yuanxi said, “You’re not going to say that person is Lu Bohuan, are you? Yan Shaoning, don’t forget, they are the same person. If Zhao Tuo wants to rebel, how do you know Lu Bohuan doesn’t think the same? How do you know Lu Bohuan isn’t intentionally going along with Zhao Tuo? How do you know Lu Bohuan doesn’t want to use Zhao Tuo’s hand to rebel against me?”
“Counting on him to stop Zhao Tuo? Well, the Divine Physician Yan is a bit too naive.”
“Does Your Majesty not trust Prince Lu?”
Qin Yuanxi was momentarily silenced but quickly replied, “If I don’t trust Zhao Tuo anymore, then I won’t trust Lu Bohuan either.” He looked at Yan Shaoning, his tone unusually serious. “I remember Prince Lu telling me that in his world, Zhao Tuo and he are the same person. Zhao Tuo’s current situation is entirely the result of Lu Bohuan’s indulgence. He nurtures Zhao Tuo, entrusting a part of himself to Zhao Tuo’s identity. In this case, how can I trust him?”
Now it’s Yan Shaoning’s turn to be speechless. From start to finish, Yan Shaoning never treated those two as one person. Zhao Tuo was Zhao Tuo, and Lu Bohuan was Lu Bohuan. Zhao Tuo wanted to rebel, but Lu Bohuan had no interest in that position at all!
“Believe it or not, Your Majesty can give it a try,” Yan Shaoning reminded him. “As long as Prince Lu wakes up, I believe he can stop Zhao Tuo. Does Your Majesty have a better plan right now?”
Qin Yuanxi had nothing, let alone a better plan. His mind was a mess. He had placed too much trust in Zhao Tuo, a deep-rooted trust from the beginning. Even when Qin Yuanxi was vigilant and suspicious of Lu Bohuan, even when he misunderstood Lu Bohuan wanting to harm him, he never doubted Zhao Tuo for a moment.
Zhao Tuo’s honest and simple image had already settled in his heart. Zhao Tuo’s wholehearted protection and care, in every aspect, couldn’t make Qin Yuanxi suspect him even a little. Now, with this sudden revelation that Zhao Tuo was the one plotting rebellion and trying to kill him, it was like the world turned upside down for Qin Yuanxi.
“I need the help of a divine physician. The divine physician can stay in the villa temporarily. I’ll cover your identity, but you need to disguise yourself so he doesn’t suspect,” Qin Yuanxi sighed deeply. “After that, I need some time to make other arrangements.”
The villa was large, and the defense was tight externally but loose internally. It would be quite easy for Yan Shaoning to hide, especially with Qin Yuanxi’s cooperation and cover. After Yan Shaoning left, Qin Yuanxi, staring at the waning moon outside the window, thought about many things—about Zhao Tuo, about Lu Bohuan, about both of them, and even how to escape the current predicament. However, he couldn’t understand why Zhao Tuo would deceive him. Was he deceiving him from the beginning?
Zhao Tuo said he was busy with state affairs and didn’t return for a day and night. Qin Yuanxi couldn’t focus on the book in his hands and threw it away. He ordered the attendant behind him, “Prepare the carriage; I need to go out for a while.”
“Your Majesty,” the attendant nervously said, “Is Your Majesty leaving the villa? Wouldn’t it be better to wait for the general to return?”
Qin Yuanxi’s face turned cold. “What do you mean? Do I need to report to him when I go out? Since when can’t I even leave the door?”
Saying this, he ignored the pale-faced attendant and walked out. “If he doesn’t come back, can’t I move around a bit?”
It was just a pretense to go out. Qin Yuanxi was heavily pregnant, and he was afraid of being seen every time he went into the garden. He had to be urged by Zhao Tuo three or four times to take a few steps. Now, suddenly saying he wanted to go out was just a test. He wanted to see if Zhao Tuo had really confined him here, to confirm if he still had any freedom of movement.
The fact was, without Zhao Tuo around, he really couldn’t leave the palace gate. Qin Yuanxi looked at the guards in front of him, a hint of a sneer on his face. “What? Did the general order you to ensure my safety, or did you imprison me? Are you following the general’s orders, or my imperial decree!”
“Your Majesty, forgive us. We dare not!” Seeing Qin Yuanxi’s displeasure, the guards knelt on the ground, sincerely apologizing. “It’s just the general’s orders. Your Majesty, during special times, it’s better not to leave the palace. If Your Majesty has any issues, please instruct us.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” Qin Yuanxi said repeatedly. Looking at the kneeling people on the ground, he suddenly asked, “When did he give the orders? Could it be that he already arranged everything when I first entered the villa? If I’m not mistaken, there should be more than just you guarding the palace. Are there also stationed outside the villa? I didn’t expect the general to be so meticulous. Truly loyal.”
“Enough, I won’t go out today. I’ll wait for my general to come and personally take me out of this gate. I don’t know if I still have that chance!”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
