Chapter 289: A Twist
‘How did he come back!’
At this moment, the expressions on the faces of the First Prince and the Third Prince were very unpleasant.
“Speaking of Chancellor Rong, when I returned, I did hear some stories that were different from what you lords said.”
After simple pleasantries, they returned to the main topic. The young Yin Yuanli stood upright, and although his voice was still tender, it carried imperial majesty.
“Oh? What did the Crown Prince hear?”
Yin Yuanli said: “Chancellor Rong’s birth father married Miss Zhou. However, because Miss Zhou was from a merchant family, her life in the Rong family was not good. Later, Rong Zhi’s father took a fancy to a courtesan.
The Rong family brought her into their residence and allowed her to bully and trample on the legitimate wife. His father doted on his concubine and neglected his wife. Shortly after Miss Zhou passed away from illness after giving birth, he hastily elevated that courtesan to the position of main wife.”
The Emperor patted the bed: “Outrageous!”
Although he was lecherous and promiscuous, he had never considered letting any concubine in the harem surpass the Empress.
It was precisely because he was promiscuous that he had some interest in every woman in the harem, but he did not favor any one too much, so the Empress’s position became even more stable.
Yin Yuanli continued: “I also heard that when Chancellor Rong was taking the Xiucai exam, that woman’s son, who is your younger brother, pushed him into a pond, causing Chancellor Rong to take the exam while ill that year. After the exam, he fell seriously ill and almost didn’t survive.”
The Emperor became even angrier.
Compared to those people in the Rong family, he naturally trusted his Chancellor more. Just thinking that someone as distinguished as Chancellor Rong almost died, the Emperor grabbed the memorial on the table and threw it at the officials kneeling on the ground.
“Cough cough cough…”
Due to excessive emotional fluctuation, the Emperor coughed violently.
Yu Wuyou smoothly stepped forward and gave him acupuncture.
The Emperor felt a little better. He couldn’t help but ponder in his heart, what medicine had Imperial Physician Shen given him? He felt as if he was seriously ill.
“Imperial Father, Imperial Father, please take care of your health.”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”
Regardless of what they were thinking in their hearts, at this moment, everyone had a worried expression on their faces.
The Emperor waved his hand: “I am fine. At that time, Chancellor Rong had already passed the Tong Sheng exam. How dare he? Chancellor Rong, didn’t your father do anything about it?”
The Crown Prince said: “Not only did he not do anything, but later when Chancellor Rong recovered from his illness and told his father about it, that person favored his second son and said that Chancellor Rong was unlucky and petty, and that minor squabbles between children were not worth complaining about.”
“Fortunately, Chancellor Rong was exceptionally knowledgeable and passed the Xiucai exam despite being ill, though he only achieved a middle rank. In his jealousy, the second son almost burned Chancellor Rong to death. Later, when taking the higher imperial examinations, Madam Yuan and her son, fearing and unwilling, not only had someone drug Chancellor Rong but also tried to frame him for cheating. Chancellor Rong, with his quick wit, dodged all those schemes one by one.”
The Emperor coughed for a while longer, then rebuked those ministers angrily: “This is the reason you want to accuse Chancellor Rong of being unfilial. Filial piety between father and son, with that family’s character, how could Chancellor Rong be filial? It’s truly laughable. From ancient times to the present, I have never heard of anyone elevating a courtesan to the position of main wife. With such a stepmother, Chancellor Rong’s reputation has been completely disgraced by them!”
“What was that woman’s surname?”
Rong Zhi stepped forward: “Your Majesty, her surname is Yuan.”
The Emperor waved his hand: “Issue an imperial decree, Madam Yuan is a courtesan and is not worthy of being Chancellor Rong’s mother. Order… What is Chancellor Rong’s father’s name?”
Rong Zhi: “My father is Rong Linzhong.”
“Order Rong Linzhong to deal with Madam Yuan himself!”
As for Rong Linzhong, although he disliked him, he was ultimately Rong Zhi’s father, so the Emperor said no more.
The ministers below, who had originally accused Rong Zhi, were now kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.
What could they say? That although Madam Yuan did so much, she was ultimately his father’s wife?
Let alone the fact that Madam Yuan’s identity was already criticized, the things she and her son did, each and every one of them would have caused them hatred if they had happened to them.
Those were matters that could ruin a person’s future.
The Emperor looked at Rong Zhi with affection: “Chancellor Rong, you have suffered.”
Then, as if his face changed, he glared at the others: “You, cough cough cough… Do you all have nothing better to do? Next time you impeach someone, investigate thoroughly for me, and get out!”
No one dared to stay now, and they all left with their necks shrunk, looking dejected.
The First Prince and the Third Prince were extremely unwilling, never expecting the Crown Prince to return at this time and interfere.
Moreover, he believed whatever their Imperial Father said, without any suspicion. This was too much favoritism!
“You may all leave. I need to rest.”
The Emperor’s spirit seemed to have weakened further, and his complexion had become even paler.
The older princes, including the First and Third Princes, spoke words of concern while actually observing his condition.
The Crown Prince suddenly said: “Imperial Father, when I was outside, I heard of a divine doctor from the Southern Border who specializes in treating difficult and complicated illnesses. I have already sent someone to find him. Perhaps he can find a way to treat Imperial Father’s illness.”
Upon hearing his words, the expression on the Third Prince’s face almost broke, and he felt a rare sense of urgency in his heart.
Did others not know, but he didn’t? The Emperor was not sick at all.
When the words “Southern Border” were spoken, he instinctively felt something was wrong.
The Emperor patted his hand: “The Crown Prince is thoughtful. You have also been traveling for a long time, go and see your Empress Mother and rest.”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince left, and the other princes followed.
The Third Prince left particularly hastily.
Yin Yuanli and Rong Zhi stood at the entrance of the Imperial Chamber, watching the backs of the princes as they left.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, who do you think is the mastermind behind all this?”
Yin Yuanli answered without hesitation: “My good Third Brother.”
He trusted his intuition.
“However, he is very well hidden. This time, we may not be able to expose him.”
Rong Zhi said calmly: “It doesn’t matter, if not this time, there will be next time.”
After speaking, he was about to leave when Yin Yuanli called out to him.
“Lord Rong, I have some things. Please take them back to Wanwan for me.”
Yin Yuanli’s “some things” referred to…
“Some?”
Rong Zhi looked at the carriage in front of him and asked with a questioning tone.
Yin Yuanli touched his nose: “Just some trinkets, and… things given by others.”
Unknowingly, it had accumulated into a whole carriage.
“Doesn’t she like plants? I asked people to collect some plant and flower seeds, and some things that children like to play with.”
Rong Zhi: “Okay, I will tell her when I get back.”
Suddenly he asked: “The Crown Prince cares quite a lot about my Wanwan.”
Yin Yuanli’s alarm bells immediately went off, but he maintained his composure.
“Does Lord Rong think Wanwan is not worthy of such care?”
Rong Zhi gave him a half-smile: “Naturally, she deserves the best in this world.”
