DLWAV CH28

This matter started five days ago.

At that time, almost half a month had passed since the day Xia Jingyao arrived in Yunzhou, and Ao Ruize’s body finally recovered completely.

—In fact, if he hadn’t worried that recovering too quickly would arouse the suspicion of interested parties, he would never have obediently stayed in his room for so many days.

“I dare say, Your Highness’s complexion today is already better than the vast majority of people.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

Eunuch Qu Ji and others said with a smile.

But there was someone even happier than them, and that was the old Imperial Physician.

Although a month ago, he was still terrified that if something happened to Prince An, the lives of his whole family would be forfeit.

But now, he only had to worry about one thing: whether his small, broken courtyard could hold all the rewards from Emperor Yuanxi and Consort Xian.

After all, he was the one who cured Prince An—

Even if it was by a strange combination of circumstances.

So early in the morning, the old Imperial Physician was waiting outside Ao Ruize’s room.

This was to check Ao Ruize’s pulse one more time to confirm that he was indeed fully recovered.

Ao Ruize certainly wouldn’t refuse; he extended his hand towards the old Imperial Physician.

The old Imperial Physician cheerfully placed his fingers on Ao Ruize’s wrist.

“The liver pulse is straight, long, and taut; the heart pulse has the largest body; the spleen pulse has slightly decreased in momentum…”

As he spoke, the smile on his face deepened.

Because such a pulse condition indicated without exception that Ao Ruize was fully recovered.

Seeing this scene, the faces of Eunuch Qu Ji and the others also bloomed with smiles.

But what they didn’t expect was that the next second, the smile on the old Imperial Physician’s face suddenly froze.

Even his voice dropped: “…The lung pulse has greatly decreased in momentum, the kidney pulse… why is the kidney pulse even stronger than the heart pulse?”

Since the kidneys are where the body’s yang energy gathers, a normal kidney pulse should be deep and forceful. But right now, Ao Ruize’s kidney pulse was even stronger than his heart pulse.

Anyone could tell this was abnormal.

Most importantly, such a pulse condition was recorded in the medical books handed down by the old Imperial Physician’s ancestors, and he himself had seen it quite a few times.

Eunuch Qu Ji and the others were stunned on the spot: “What’s wrong?”

The old Imperial Physician’s fingers, which were originally steady, began to tremble. “Subject… allow this subject to check again.”

As a result, his fingers not only didn’t steady themselves but trembled even more violently, and beads of sweat gradually seeped out on his forehead.

Eunuch Qu Ji couldn’t hold back anymore: “Old Physician, what on earth is wrong with His Highness??”

The next second, the old Imperial Physician fell to his knees with a thud: “Your Highness, Your Highness’s body is indeed fully recovered, but… but because the toxins accumulated in your body for too long, your body seems to have been left with some sequelae…”

The milk dumpling subconsciously scanned Ao Ruize’s body.

“No, this body has clearly recovered.”

Ao Ruize simply asked, “What sequelae?”

Old Imperial Physician: “Your Highness… Your Highness might find it difficult to produce offspring in the future.”

After saying this, his tears nearly fell.

Because he didn’t expect that in the end, he still couldn’t escape death.

Hearing this, Eunuch Qu Ji and the others also felt their vision go dark.

The next second, they all knelt down together, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Such a thing was extremely shameful even among commoners, let alone in the royal family.

This meant Ao Ruize was very likely to silence them to preserve his reputation.

Milk Dumpling: “…”

It couldn’t believe it: “How could he misdiagnose even this? How did this old man become an Imperial Physician?”

Ao Ruize, however, smiled.

He seemed to guess why the old Imperial Physician had misdiagnosed him.

He was a dragon; his innate conditions were right there. His yang energy was definitely more abundant than other creatures, so his kidney pulse would naturally be stronger than humans.

But this explanation was obviously not suitable to tell the old Imperial Physician and the others.

Most importantly, he didn’t intend to explain.

First, according to royal rules, the Imperial Hospital had to check the pulse of the princes every three days, and a different physician was sent each time, so covering this up would be too troublesome.

Second, and most importantly, he had been worrying about what to do if Emperor Yuanxi arranged a marriage for him after returning to the capital.

He was a prince now, after all.

But with this matter coming out, at least for a short time, he wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Thinking of this, Ao Ruize’s expression appropriately changed to disbelief and anger.

Until a few minutes later, he said, “All of you, get up.”

“Your Highness?”

Eunuch Qu Ji and the others looked at Ao Ruize in disbelief.

Ao Ruize fell silent for a moment, then said, “I originally thought I could only live to twenty-five at most. Now that my body can recover, it is already a great favor from Heaven, and I am already very satisfied. As for other things, there is no need to force them.”

Saying this, he turned to the old Imperial Physician again: “You get up too.”

“Rest assured, Father Emperor has always been wise. Even if he knows about this, he won’t blame you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

The old Imperial Physician hadn’t expected to escape death once again.

His eyes reddened on the spot, moved by Ao Ruize’s benevolence.

“Please also rest assured, Your Highness. Aside from reporting to His Majesty, this subject will absolutely not spread this matter.”

Eunuch Qu Ji and the others also breathed a sigh of relief: “Thank you, Your Highness!”

“We slaves will also keep our mouths shut tight and will never betray Your Highness’s trust.”

Thus, half an hour later, Xia Jingyao received this secret report.

He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Prince An was ruined; he wouldn’t be able to fight the First Prince anymore.

Because no minister would be stupid enough to support a prince with no future in seizing the throne.

Nor would any emperor be willing to pass the throne to a prince destined to have no descendants.

What a pity.

A good show ended before it even started.

Most importantly, he probably wouldn’t get to eat the dishes made by Prince An anymore.

After all, since Prince An’s path to seizing the throne was already cut off, he naturally wouldn’t need to spend effort trying to buy him over.

But what he never expected was that at noon, the Yunzhou Yamen not only sent a food box over but also included an extra chicken soup compared to before.

Xia Jingyao was truly stunned for a moment.

Then he laughed: “So, this Prince An actually hasn’t given up yet?”

“Why does he think that Emperor Yuanxi would still pass the throne to him when he’s already a ruined man?”

Xia Jingyao suddenly found it even more interesting.

Just at this time, Ao Ruize received the imperial decree from the capital ordering him to return and report, and the new Yunzhou Provincial Administration Commissioner appointed by the court also arrived.

Learning the news that Ao Ruize was leaving Yunzhou, the people of Yunzhou couldn’t sit still immediately.

Soon, the Yunzhou Yamen was surrounded by gentry and commoners who rushed over upon hearing the news.

Seeing this, the guards on duty in front of the Yamen could only invite Ao Ruize out.

Seeing Ao Ruize, a white-haired old man leading a group of gentry bowed their heads and said, “The people of Yunzhou ask for nothing else but to send Your Highness off for a stretch of the journey.”

Ao Ruize looked moved: “Ruize dares not refuse such kindness!”

But considering their advanced age, Ao Ruize didn’t dare let them send him too far.

So upon reaching the Ten-Mile Pavilion, Ao Ruize stopped. “Let’s stop here.”

“Very well.”

The old man also knew Ao Ruize was considering them.

He let go of Ao Ruize’s hand.

Immediately, several gentry came over with wine jars and cups.

The old man raised his cup: “On behalf of the 2.33 million people of Yunzhou, we respectfully toast Your Highness three cups.”

“First, wishing Your Highness good health.”

“Second, wishing Your Highness everything goes as you wish.”

“Third, wishing Your Highness a bright future.”

Ao Ruize immediately drank three cups of wine with them in succession.

Following closely, the old man said again, “Besides this, we have one more thing to present to Your Highness.”

It was a Ten-Thousand People Umbrella.

It was densely covered with names.

Around it hung strings of pearl curtains.

Only, the pearls on the curtains were irregular, even varying in size.

The old man said, “These pearls were taken from river mussels dug up by the laborers of Yunzhou while clearing the silt in the city.”

Yunzhou was originally rich in pearls.

“Today, we present them all to Your Highness.”

“We only wish that when Your Highness sees them, you will not forget the 2.23 million people of Yunzhou.”

Hearing this, Ao Ruize solemnly accepted the Ten-Thousand People Umbrella: “I certainly won’t.”

Then he raised his wine cup again and looked around: “Everyone, the mountains are high and the waters are long; we shall meet again.”

Meeting those gazes filled with gratitude and reluctance, the milk dumpling couldn’t help but take a deep breath: “No wonder they say bad systems can never understand the joy of being a good system.”

Who could withstand this?

—Although the object of their gratitude was Ao Ruize, Ao Ruize was brought to this world by it, so it felt it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim a quarter of the credit for this matter.

The old man and others said with tears in their eyes, “We shall meet again.”

With that, Ao Ruize boarded the carriage.

Only when the figures of the old man and the others completely disappeared from their sight did the milk dumpling recover.

As if thinking of something, it became increasingly excited: “Let’s go, let’s go—”

Ancient capital, here they come!

……………………

But soon, the milk dumpling couldn’t laugh anymore.

Because the road was simply too bumpy. Although they were traveling on official roads, in ancient times without cement, the vast majority of official roads here were worse than small paths in remote mountainous areas of modern times.

Also, their carriage had absolutely no shock-absorbing facilities.

So sitting in the carriage was about the same as sitting in a “kiddie ride” for twelve hours a day.

Although the milk dumpling used to like playing on kiddie rides.

But right now, it really couldn’t take it anymore.

So it ran directly into the depths of Ao Ruize’s sea of consciousness to shut itself away.

Ao Ruize was fine; after all, his soul strength was there.

He was even in the mood to learn martial arts from the accompanying guards.

On one hand, it was so he would have an explanation when he used them later.

Of course, the main reason was to strengthen his body.

And the results were remarkable. Just as they entered the boundary of the capital, his sword moves already looked decent, and the muscles on his body gradually became firm.

Xia Jingyao was woken up by bursts of cheering coming from outside the house.

He draped his clothes over his shoulders, got out of bed, and pushed open the window to look.

Ao Ruize was competing in martial arts with a colonel. The two went back and forth, and it actually looked quite pleasing to the eye.

Just then, the butler led a group of maids and pages carrying toiletries and breakfast in.

“My Lord Duke!”

Listening to the endless cheers outside, Xia Jingyao only instructed, “Move the table to the window.”

The butler paused. “Yes.”

After washing his face, Xia Jingyao sat directly at the windowsill, eating breakfast while watching the fight outside.

Until the butler spoke up: “My Lord Duke, the process for this Osmanthus Sticky Rice Lotus Root cannot be said to be uncomplicated. The sticky rice and black rice must be soaked in water the night before, then stuffed into the lotus root in the morning, and finally boiled in a pot for at least an hour. This Mushroom Shao Mai is even more complex…”

“To make this table of breakfast, it takes at least one or two hours of effort.”

Hearing this, Xia Jingyao stopped his hand movements.

He didn’t think the butler had been bought by Prince An and was speaking up for him here.

The butler then said, “This servant just feels that Prince An seems… overly enthusiastic.”

They originally thought Prince An did this to win over Xia Jingyao.

But once or twice would have been fine; it had been over a month, and Prince An still showed no sign of stopping.

Ask any superior: who would go to such lengths to win over a subordinate?

The main point was, there were obviously many ways to buy Xia Jingyao, so why did Prince An choose this method specifically?

“A few days ago, this servant heard some gossip saying something about ‘to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach’…”

The butler didn’t need to say more about the rest.

Xia Jingyao’s hand movements stopped completely.

After a good while, he said, “You mean, Prince An indeed wants to buy me over, but he also knows I won’t easily take the bait. After all, I am deeply devoted to the First Prince and definitely won’t betray the First Prince for him. And he also assumes I am a fool who can be swayed by love, so he came up with the idea of seducing me, waiting for me to take the bait, and then easily controlling me?”

The butler didn’t speak again; clearly, this was what he thought.

Xia Jingyao turned to look out the window again.

Because it was too hot, the colonel facing Ao Ruize and many soldiers who had just finished training had gone shirtless.

Only Ao Ruize was still wrapped up tight.

Seeing this scene, Xia Jingyao suddenly smiled.

He had to admit, this Prince An was indeed quite clever.

Pity that he lacked experience, so his methods were too naive.

Because even if he sent him food every day, at most it would only leave an impression in his heart that his cooking was good.

But if he opened his collar now and revealed the muscles underneath, maybe he really would be ‘fooled’.

After all, who wouldn’t like a tall, brave man baring his chest to seduce them!

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