Zhao Tuo’s actions were undeniably significant, causing quite a stir in the court. Those who were in the dark about his intentions watched with curiosity, not quite grasping the meaning behind this move. His Majesty had been absent from court for several days, and it was precisely during this time that the palace guards were replaced. Even some of the more politically wise senior officials couldn’t understand what was happening.
However, regardless of the confusion, these were matters within the palace and had little to do with the external officials. Moreover, the replacements in the guards were all loyal to His Majesty. With such a major change, it surely had the approval of Prince Lu. In the court, who knew better than Prince Lu, who held military and political power? If Prince Lu allowed it, then there was no room for objections; everything went through his scrutiny, so what could possibly go wrong?
The only person who felt something was amiss was busy drying herbs.
Yan Shaoning was just a commoner, his expertise lying in medicine and a compassionate heart for helping people. He had followed Prince Lu in the military for a few years, but he had no political sensitivity. However, he couldn’t help but feel deeply concerned about this seemingly insignificant matter.
He had some speculations about Zhao Tuo’s behavior.
He wasn’t like Prince Lu, who was overly confident. Prince Lu had immense trust in Zhao Tuo, and even in that trust, there was a degree of indulgence. Prince Lu was indulging Zhao Tuo, no matter how you looked at it. He knew that Zhao Tuo’s thoughts were just a part of him, not even a complete person. Yet, Prince Lu indulged him.
Everything Zhao Tuo possessed was given to him by Prince Lu. Prince Lu had transformed Zhao Tuo from a mere idea into a flesh-and-blood person, one who held his authority without constraint!
But what about Zhao Tuo?
What was Zhao Tuo really like? Was he truly as integrated with him as Prince Lu believed?
Prince Lu dared to be certain, but Yan Shaoning didn’t share that certainty.
He still remembered the night when Zhao Tuo woke up in the Moonlight Pavilion, the coldness in his eyes. Prince Lu had never seen Zhao Tuo before, and he didn’t truly understand him. That one look was enough to send shivers down one’s spine. Zhao Tuo wasn’t as pure-hearted as Prince Lu believed.
While some people are worried, others are happy. The person who is worried is Yan Shaoning, and the person who is happy is naturally Qin Yuanxi.
Zhao Tuo’s arrival had greatly eased the anxious emotions of Qin Yuanxi. Before this, he had been subjected to various trials by Prince Lu, even locked up in confinement for several days. He was anxious and lacked a sense of security. However, Zhao Tuo’s arrival changed everything.
The child’s biological father was indeed the best.
Qin Yuanxi only made a cautious request, and Zhao Tuo immediately removed the guards stationed outside his quarters. He took Qin Yuanxi for walks in the Imperial Garden every day, played with him, and even taught him swordplay to make him happy. In summary, while Prince Lu was present, Qin Yuanxi felt like he was in a freezing hell. With Zhao Tuo’s arrival, that hell turned into a paradise with blooming flowers, and Qin Yuanxi began to enjoy life to the fullest.
“What’s this ‘pregnancy tonic’? Why should I drink it? I’m perfectly fine, and so is the child. Do we really need this tonic? I don’t like taking medicine, and the child is healthy too. Drinking medicine isn’t a good thing, so let’s not do it, okay?” Qin Yuanxi even became more spoiled, refusing to drink the pregnancy tonic that Yan Shaoning had sent, tugging at Zhao Tuo’s sleeve, and pouting, “I don’t like medicine, and the child is healthy. Drinking medicine isn’t a good idea, so let’s not do it, okay?”
When Lu Bohuan was around, due to the bitter medicine he had to take, Qin Yuanxi really suffered. Now that the core has been changed, Zhao Tuo’s approach is entirely different from Lu’s. He not only uses all sorts of gentle words to comfort Qin Yuanxi but even personally tastes the medicine. If it doesn’t taste good, he shoots a cold glance, and Physician Yan has to immediately go back and rewrite the prescription until a bowl of soup medicine is brewed that’s not bitter and has an acceptable taste.
Being so attentive, it’s like a modern-day ideal man.
This is what a good life should be.
Qin Yuanxi is deeply immersed in Zhao Tuo’s tender care. When they have nothing to do, they stick together, and soon enough, everyone inside and outside the palace knows that His Majesty and Prince Lu’s relationship has improved. The monarch and his subject get along harmoniously, returning to the way they used to be when His Majesty was young, and Prince Lu taught him with care. They were both monarch and subject as well as teacher and student, and their relationship was very harmonious back then.
However, in recent years, as His Majesty has grown older, the winds of court politics have become unpredictable. Disharmony began to surface gradually. There were disputes between the power of the monarch and the power of the prince, and the power of the monarch had not yet prevailed. The young emperor was suppressed by the regent prince. The monarch and his subject had long lost their harmony. In this environment, unexpectedly, His Majesty reconciled with the regent prince.
They dine and walk together during the day, and late at night, the prince even lodges in the palace. This is a situation that hasn’t been seen in many years, causing the ministers to be confused about what’s going on.
Some ministers understand, but those who don’t aren’t important. What’s important is that Yan Shaoning is getting anxious.
Seeing that General Zhao has been out of his official duties for three days, during these three days, Zhao Tuo really hasn’t done anything serious. Of course, maybe his serious duty is to make His Majesty happy? If that’s the case, then he has done it, as it was a serious duty assigned by Prince Lu. Zhao Tuo really hasn’t done anything.
Yan Shaoning was responsible for taking the emperor’s pulse and inquiring about his well-being. It’s been several days, and he hadn’t seen any movement from Zhao Tuo. Yan Shaoning is very suspicious that Prince Lu didn’t deliver the message at all.
Or perhaps he did deliver it, but Zhao Tuo ignored it.
If that’s a possibility, Yan Shaoning is really breaking out in cold sweat. Lu Bohuan trusts Zhao Tuo too much. If Zhao Tuo can’t handle that trust, the consequences would be unimaginable!
His heart is restless, and Qin Yuanxi’s heart is also uneasy. It’s great to be with Zhao Tuo, but he’s always afraid that Lu Bohuan might suddenly appear. Just thinking about it is terrifying, okay?
While they were being loving and affectionate, or while kissing each other, and if suddenly Lu Bohuan appeared over there, it would probably scare Qin Yuanxi out of his wits, and the good love would no longer be fragrant.
Qin Yuanxi pondered over and over again, and finally came to Yan Shaoning.
Firstly, Physician Yan is definitely aware of this matter, probably the only one besides Qin Yuanxi who knows about it.
Secondly, Prince Lu trusts Physician Yan very much.
Qin Yuanxi was thinking of digging up some useful information from Yan Shaoning. After all, knowing oneself and the enemy was the key to victory. His current situation was quite complicated. A seemingly perfect romance had turned into a life-and-death thrill ride, like the duality of light and shadow, representing two completely different feelings.
On one hand, he enjoyed sweet moments with Zhao Tuo, but on the shadowy side, Regent Lu Bohuan was after his life.
This was really not exciting; Qin Yuanxi sometimes wondered if he’d have to split into two to handle it all.
Another day, Yan Shaoning routinely examined Qin Yuanxi’s pulse, while Zhao Tuo stood guard, vigilant and protective, watching Yan Shaoning closely. It was as if, in Zhao Tuo’s eyes, if he blinked, Yan Shaoning might transform into a wolf and mistreat his wife and children.
To this, Yan Shaoning could only sigh in helplessness.
“Your Majesty, your pulse is stable, and the young prince is in excellent health.”
This was his daily routine—simple, without any complicated procedures. He’d check, and if everything was fine, he’d leave. Just as he was about to pick up his medicine chest, Emperor Qin gestured to him, and before Yan Shaoning could fully grasp the situation, Qin Yuanxi spoke up.
“Physician Yan, take another look. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit dizzy, especially when I wake up in the morning, my vision goes black for a moment. What could be the reason?”
Qin Yuanxi was just casually making things up. His mornings were filled with leisure, and any mention of dizziness was merely an excuse to keep Yan Shaoning around a bit longer.
“Why is that happening? Is there any discomfort elsewhere?”
With Qin Yuanxi’s casual remark, Zhao Tuo became visibly anxious. His gaze remained fixed on Yan Shaoning, as if he wanted to eat someone.
Yan Shaoning was trembling with pressure, unable to fathom what the Emperor was up to. There was nothing wrong with the pulse, and the Emperor was in the peak of health. Yet now, this act, wasn’t it deliberately making things difficult for a humble physician like him?
“Don’t worry,” Qin Yuanxi quickly reassured Zhao Tuo. “Physician Yan says it’s a normal phenomenon. After all, my current situation is different from the past. Isn’t it normal to have some minor issues?”
Although Qin Yuanxi said this, Zhao Tuo didn’t relax. Yan Shaoning, under immense pressure, examined Qin Yuanxi’s pulse again, listening carefully, but there was no indication of any problem. He could only use a bunch of medical slang that outsiders wouldn’t understand to brush off the task. He couldn’t help but think that dealing with Zhao Tuo was much trickier than dealing with Prince Lu.
Prince Lu was cold-faced, but this one, Zhao Tuo, was cold-hearted. Yan Shaoning didn’t feel this much pressure even in front of Prince Lu; it seemed that being with Zhao Tuo was truly nerve-wracking.
What a calamity! Why did he have to get involved with such a troublesome matter?
Wait, the real troublemaker here was Prince Lu. Why did he have to involve this guy? Wasn’t it stirring up trouble for no reason?
“In the future, Physician Yan, you’ll come in the early morning to check my pulse again,” Qin Yuanxi decided, wearing a friendly smile after Yan Shaoning’s incomprehensible medical slang.
With these words, he cast a meaningful glance at Zhao Tuo. “You have your training in the morning. If you can’t make it back, don’t worry. Physician Yan will be here again in the afternoon. You can ask him any questions you have then. Is that alright?”
Yan Shaoning had a gut feeling that something was wrong, and it showed in Zhao Tuo’s hesitation.
“Of course, Your Majesty’s arrangements are always right,” Zhao Tuo quickly agreed.
“Your Majesty’s health is of the utmost importance, but be careful not to neglect yourself, or you might lose your life!”
Yan Shaoning involuntarily shrank his neck. If he had to choose, he’d rather face Prince Lu than Zhao Tuo. Perhaps it was his doctor’s intuition, but he felt that following Prince Lu was safer than following Zhao Tuo.
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)
