Regent’s Mansion, Study Room.
Lu Bohuan’s expression soured as he pinched the bridge of his nose. During the morning court, the Emperor claimed to have fainted, complicating Lu Bohuan’s already unclear understanding of the situation. Today, the Emperor’s demeanor had been strange after waking up, especially his gaze – a feeling Lu Bohuan struggled to put into words. It exuded an eager anticipation, yet whenever Lu Bohuan tried to scrutinize it, there was nothing to grasp.
Moreover, Lu Bohuan sensed that the Emperor wasn’t as afraid of him anymore.
Though there was still some fear, it was evidently different from before, not the cowering, defensive fear he was used to. The Emperor’s eyes seemed cleaner and purer, lacking the constant wariness. If a comparison had to be made, they were a bit like a clever yet innocent desert fox, radiating both cleverness and purity. Those eyes were nothing like what one could expect from the depths of the palace.
What had happened?
Lu Bohuan’s interactions with the Emperor were limited and he knew only a little about him. However, the Emperor he saw today was entirely different from the one he knew.
With this realization, his brow furrowed even tighter.
Lu Bohuan refrained from further analysis; he couldn’t even clarify his own circumstances. He clenched his fists, a frosty layer settling on his face.
“Prince, the medicine is here.”
After three polite knocks on the study room door, a fragile-looking man entered, holding a medicine bowl. He cautiously observed Lu Bohuan’s expression before exhaling in relief, “Prince, please take your medicine.”
A mocking smirk touched Lu Bohuan’s lips. “Useless medicine. I might as well not drink it.”
Yan Shaoning looked a bit embarrassed, rubbing his nose before carefully placing the medicine on Lu Bohuan’s desk. “This is the medicine Master left behind before passing away. The Prince has been taking it all along. It’s still effective.”
“Effective?” Lu Bohuan cast a glance at Yan Shaoning and snorted. “If it’s effective, then tell me, where have I been for the past half month? What did I do?”
“The Prince led His Majesty to suppress the bandits,” Yan Shaoning replied, realizing his fault, “The court knows about it. Prince can be assured.”
“Assured?” Lu Bohuan stood with hands behind his back, his tone growing colder. “My military token and the personal jade pendant, all disappeared. Is this your version of assurance?”
Yan Shaoning’s surprise was evident, “How is that possible? Even General Zhao should understand the significance of the token and pendant. How could they be lost? He knows his boundaries, and such a thing has never happened before. Prince, perhaps…”
Yan Shaoning trailed off, unable to continue, as he observed Lu Bohuan’s expression. Then, he slowly clenched his fist. “Prince, grant me some more time. I promise, I guarantee to cure Prince’s ailment. Such an incident will never happen again!”
“Whatever.” Lu Bohuan waved his hand. “It’s an incurable condition. Even Master Xiu Han couldn’t cure it. Why should I trouble myself for you?”
Yan Shaoning sighed, bitterness in his words. “If my master could live a few more years, Prince’s illness could have been cured. My master had made some progress before his passing, but I’m too dull to comprehend it.”
Lu Bohuan sighed. “Perhaps it won’t be long before I even forget who I am.”
Yan Shaoning wanted to say more, but looking at Lu Bohuan struggling to speak, it was evident that Prince’s condition was increasingly uncontrollable. The appearances of that other personality were becoming more frequent and prolonged. Initially, when this other persona emerged, Prince had vague memories. But now, he didn’t even know that he had lost his own military token.
Lu Bohuan’s ailment originated from the battlefield, a fact Yan Shaoning remembered well. At that time, he wasn’t yet known as Prince Lu. He had gone by Zhao Tuo, exuding an aura of heroic elegance. His every battle was a display of valor, accumulating countless merits. Rapid promotions followed his achievements, soon becoming the formidable junior general under the veteran commander.
It was during this time that Yan Shaoning, recently graduated from his studies, had been sent by his master to the borderlands to heal the wounded. Through repeated interactions, he became familiar with Lu Bohuan. Despite his youthful accomplishments, Lu Bohuan was, after all, human. But, no matter the severity of his wounds, his face never betrayed pain. A great general, nothing more.
Lu Bohuan’s ailment could be traced back to that final great battle, a battle that earned him fame. Yet, it was after this battle that Yan Shaoning noticed something amiss.
Lu Bohuan’s pseudonym, Zhao Tuo, should have been one and the same. But after the battle, it was as if an extra person had appeared out of thin air. He called himself Zhao Tuo, yet his demeanor was distinct from the Zhao Tuo known as Lu Bohuan. It was as if an entirely different person had emerged.
Initially, this Zhao Tuo only surfaced occasionally. Each time he did, he didn’t recognize Yan Shaoning. Gradually, Yan Shaoning realized this pattern. He cautiously consulted Lu Bohuan, learning the specifics from his own mouth.
Yan Shaoning didn’t take chances. He sought the expertise of his master, the renowned healer and physician Master Xiu Han. But even Master Xiu Han, famed for his skills in treating complex ailments, couldn’t heal Lu Bohuan. Yan Shaoning had followed the prescribed medicine diligently, yet Lu Bohuan’s condition not only failed to improve, but it worsened.
From appearing once every few months and lasting a few hours, Zhao Tuo’s presence now spanned over half a month. Yan Shaoning speculated that the root of this ailment might reside within Prince’s heart. However, who could fathom Prince’s thoughts?
“Tomorrow, you’ll go to the palace and examine the Emperor’s pulse.”
“Alright.” Yan Shaoning nodded in agreement.
He had heard that the Emperor had collapsed during morning court. It was worth checking. If something was amiss, they needed to prepare.
Unexpectedly, Lu Bohuan had something else in mind for him to observe.
“Ask him a few questions, see…” Lu Bohuan hesitated momentarily, then continued, “He seems not to recognize me. Find out what’s going on.”
“He doesn’t recognize you?” Yan Shaoning was surprised.
“Prince’s intention is…”
“Just as you’re thinking,” Lu Bohuan said in a grave tone. “He has been away for over half a month and he’s been with me all the time, yet he fails to recognize me. It’s as if he knows Zhao Tuo but remains oblivious to the Regent Prince. Investigate this.”
Lu Bohuan harbored suspicions.
During the morning court, the Emperor’s gaze at him had been strange. At the time, Lu Bohuan hadn’t thought much of it. But the subsequent fainting incident was odd. Upon reflection, Lu Bohuan realized that the Emperor had collapsed right after court officials had consulted him, and the Emperor seemed surprised, unable to accept their advice, before fainting.
Upon awakening, the first name he called was Zhao Tuo’s.
This was peculiar and defied logic. Regardless of the angle, it made no sense.
Furthermore, those distinctly clear eyes were utterly dissimilar from those of an Emperor raised in the palace. Lu Bohuan had reason to suspect that the current Emperor was not the same person as before.
After all, he had set a precedent.
As Lu Bohuan pondered this, a deeper irony danced in his eyes.
Yan Shaoning understood the situation, yet he dared not fully agree. Such circumstances were indeed rare. There must be a reason for Prince Lu’s condition. While Lu Bohuan himself didn’t reveal much, as a skilled physician, Yan Shaoning knew the horrific toll of that final battle. He remembered the image of Lu Bohuan drenched in blood. Given such a torment, Yan Shaoning found it reasonable for him to develop this strange ailment.
As for the Emperor in the palace, he enjoyed a life of luxury and abundance, shielded from the harsh realities. His actions seemed more like a deliberate act to avoid being confronted by Prince Lu.
Yan Shaoning entered the palace under the name of Prince Regent to both diagnose and gauge the situation for Prince Lu. Being intimately acquainted with Lu Bohuan’s ailment, Yan Shaoning was the first to sense his anomaly. His expertise was substantial, and after a thorough examination, he saw no signs of concern in the Emperor.
No matter how Yan Shaoning artfully inquired, the Emperor smoothly responded, his clarity of mind standing in stark contrast to Zhao Tuo’s confusion. The latter often found himself lost, even unaware of his own origins, let alone the finer details. Though Zhao Tuo existed, his life held many voids, whereas the Emperor’s past appeared meticulously preserved. Yan Shaoning even managed to extract details about the first queen mother.
Every detail fits neatly, it doesn’t look like a person with that kind of illness at all.
“He left?” Qin Yuanxi handed a medicinal broth brought by a eunuch to Ding Yi. “Was that one of the Regent Prince’s men? With so many palace physicians, why would the Regent Prince need to bring an outsider from Jiang Hu?”
Is he trying to harm me? Why so many questions, thinking that cleverly phrased inquiries would hide his intentions? Qin Yuanxi was no fool, even if he had fainted during yesterday’s morning court. That was a matter of the past. Moreover, the Imperial Physicians had already given their assurances, stating no issues. So, why this need for an additional outsider?
What does Prince Lu Bohuan intend to do? Qin Yuanxi couldn’t quite figure it out, but he was certain it wouldn’t be anything favorable. Especially considering that Lu Bohuan’s military token was still in his possession, the situation was even more troublesome. Lu Bohuan was not one to be taken lightly, and he might already be plotting something against him, Qin Yuanxi.
Prince Lu received Yan Shaoning’s feedback as well.
“Are you certain there’s no issue?”
Yan Shaoning nodded, “Absolutely. Whether in speech or demeanor, there’s no doubt. Your Majesty not only speaks casually with clear logic, but even recalls childhood memories. General Zhao is quite different.”
Seeing Lu Bohuan’s grim expression, Yan Shaoning refrained from excessive explanation, merely offering enough for him to grasp the implication.
“Then why doesn’t he recognize this Prince?”
“This, well…” Yan Shaoning hesitated, meeting the prince’s eyes before continuing, “The notion of anonymity is the Prince’s own speculation. Has His Majesty ever explicitly said he doesn’t recognize the prince? Or displayed behaviors indicating anonymity?”
Lu Bohuan remained silent on this matter.
Because he couldn’t answer. The Emperor looked at him differently, and his attitude differed from the Emperor Lu Bohuan once assisted. Whether in any aspect, it was distinct from before. This concept of anonymity was, in essence, a presumption on his part.
“There’s another possibility.” Yan Shaoning observed Lu Bohuan, a suggestion on his lips, “Perhaps the Emperor is just acting.”
In an instant, Lu Bohuan’s expression turned cold.
Of course, Qin Yuanxi was capable of acting. If it were Zhao Tuo, looking at the pure gaze and distinct attitude of Qin Yuanxi today, cheating him out of the military token through an act wouldn’t be entirely implausible!
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)
