#5: Reprimand

After releasing the river lanterns, Wu Ruian first sent Di Jiang back to the medical hall, and then returned to his own princely manor. As soon as he stepped through the gates, the housekeeper Liu Changqing came up to him, bowing and saying, “Your Highness, you’re back! His Majesty has urgently summoned you to the palace to see her at once!”

Wu Ruian glanced at the sky, frowned, and asked, “When did Imperial Mother issue the decree?”

“Replying to Your Highness, at the hour of You (5-7 PM).”

“Then that’s easy enough,” Wu Ruian’s brows relaxed, and he chuckled, “It’s already nearing the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). Imperial Mother should be asleep by now. This Prince won’t disturb her.”

“But…”

“No more buts. Even if the sky is falling, we’ll deal with it when it falls.” Wu Ruian finished speaking, stretched, and yawned as he headed back to his room.

Wu Ruian could actually guess what Emperor Chen Zhao wanted to say. It was nothing more than how the Changsun family’s power was deeply entrenched, that whoever married Changsun Yuming would gain control of the empire, and that he shouldn’t be ungrateful or oblivious to such a good opportunity.

But he thought and thought, and he just didn’t want the empire... Even possessing thousands of miles of rivers and mountains wouldn’t be as comfortable as going home and hugging Di Jiang.

Wu Ruian lay in bed, looking at his hands, suddenly filled with regret... he hadn’t hugged her today!

What a miscalculation, a complete oversight… Next time they met, there had to be some substantial progress.

As Wu Ruian thought about it, he grew happier and happier, and soon fell asleep.

In his dream, he dreamt that he and Di Jiang were married, and they built a wooden house in the forest, living a secluded life.

They also had two children.

One named Dihuan, and one named Jiangyue.

Di Jiang. Joy.

He thought, the highest form of loving someone is wanting to give them all the most beautiful things in the world, hoping they can be happy and joyful every day, right?

He was very pleased with these two names.

The next day, Wu Ruian slept until dawn before finally getting up. The housekeeper called several times, but he pretended not to hear. Clearly, he was avoiding some things.

Wu Ruian had not returned to Taiping Prefecture for three years and found that in those three years, things had changed so much that his position in the imperial court was no longer as important.

Now that his Imperial Mother was ill, his second elder brother, Wu Long, was overseeing the state.

Wu Long had been emperor for five years, and he knew better than anyone what it felt like to sit on the throne. After being deposed by his Imperial Mother, he had lived a life of leisure for many years, and now, being summoned back to Taiping Prefecture by Emperor Chen Zhao again, his mood was probably even more complex.

Let whoever wants the throne take it.

As someone who had ‘died’, he really didn’t need to provoke him at this time.

If possible, Wu Ruian even wished to return to the days of childhood when brothers were friendly and respectful, instead of now, when even meeting became a luxury. And even if they did meet, he could imagine the other person smiling deceptively, grinding their teeth internally.

He should not have returned this time.

________________________________________

Wu Ruian could evade for a while, but not forever.

After the morning court, Emperor Chen Zhao issued three consecutive decrees to Prince Wu’s manor, summoning him to the palace.

The first time, Wu Ruian claimed illness, saying he was dizzy, bedridden, and unable to move.

The second time, the young eunuch carrying the decree also brought along three senior imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office. The imperial physicians naturally saw through Wu Ruian’s trick, but Wu Ruian also had a way to deal with them.

He kept all the imperial physicians in his manor, accompanying him for afternoon tea.

An hour later, Emperor Chen Zhao issued a third decree, personally announced by An Suyun, stating that Emperor Chen Zhao was gravely ill and ordered Wu Ruian to immediately proceed to her presence for instruction.

Upon hearing that Emperor Chen Zhao was seriously ill, Wu Ruian, regardless of whether it was true or false, immediately got up and went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In the imperial study of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Emperor Chen Zhao sat regally on her throne, engrossed in reviewing memorials. Her demeanor appeared unwell, but not to the extent of being critically ill.

Wu Ruian rushed in anxiously, forgetting even to perform the proper salutation, cupping his hands and saying, “Imperial Mother, you deceived your son?”

Emperor Chen Zhao didn’t even raise an eyelid, coughed, and said calmly, “You may deceive me, but I may not deceive you?”

“How can Imperial Mother joke with her own body!” Wu Ruian’s heart, which had been in suspense, finally settled. He took a deep breath, pulled up his robes, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, “Your son overstepped, please forgive me, Imperial Mother.”

Wu Ruian’s adherence to propriety improved Emperor Chen Zhao’s mood slightly, but she still harbored anger. Her face stern, she asked, “Where did you go last night?”

“Keeping vigil,” Wu Ruian spread his hands, smiling nonchalantly.

“Nonsense!” Emperor Chen Zhao put down her imperial brush and angrily said, “The Changsun Manor reported that you left in the afternoon.”

Wu Ruian frowned, incredulous, “They actually reported me to you?”

“Nonsense, why would they report me to you? But if I didn’t even know this, how could I be emperor?”

Wu Ruian knelt on the ground, saying nothing more.

Emperor Chen Zhao dismissed her attendants, ordered the main doors to be tightly shut, then descended from her throne, took Wu Ruian’s hand, and sat on a nearby couch, speaking intimately.

This was something Wu Ruian, three years ago, had never dared to imagine.

“An’er, Imperial Mother is old, don’t disappoint me…” Emperor Chen Zhao held a silk handkerchief, occasionally covering her mouth to cough.

Her illness had truly not improved.

Wu Ruian, while helping Emperor Chen Zhao regulate her breath, said, “Imperial Mother is in her prime. How could she be old? In your son’s heart, Imperial Mother will never be old.”

“You don’t need to comfort me; I know my own body. Cough cough…” Emperor Chen Zhao’s cough grew heavier. The inner attendants outside the door heard it and immediately knocked, but Emperor Chen Zhao did not summon them. It wasn’t until a quarter of an hour later, when Emperor Chen Zhao was coughing uncontrollably, that Wu Ruian opened the door and allowed the inner attendants to enter.

Shi Yulin handed Emperor Chen Zhao a steaming bowl of medicinal concoction. After Emperor Chen Zhao drank it, he did not rush to leave.

Emperor Chen Zhao glanced at him and asked, “Do you still have something to say?”

Shi Yulin bowed and cupped his hands, saying, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Third Prince, Wu Yu, seeks an audience outside the hall.”

As soon as Shi Yulin spoke, both Emperor Chen Zhao and Wu Ruian were startled.

“Yu’er has arrived?” Emperor Chen Zhao’s eyes showed some joy, but in front of Wu Ruian, it was not appropriate to show too much delight.

Wu Ruian’s heart was somewhat complex; this was an undeniable fact.

When Emperor Chen Zhao gave birth to Wu Ruian, she was busy with state affairs and neglected his upbringing. Wu Ruian was practically raised by Empress Dowager Shu’s people.

Empress Dowager Shu was extremely doting on him, indulging his every whim. As a child, Wu Ruian was practically a little tyrant in the palace, arrogant and unyielding, preferring to walk sideways than straight. The Third Prince Wu Yu, not much different in age from Wu Ruian, had, however, suffered countless slights and bullying in his childhood, hence the long-standing animosity between the two.

Emperor Chen Zhao had not yet had the chance to tell Wu Ruian about summoning Wu Yu back.

Now, Wu Yu’s sudden arrival caused an awkwardness between the two of them.

Emperor Chen Zhao glanced at Wu Ruian, then said to Shi Yulin, “I understand. Let him wait.”

“Yes.”

After Shi Yulin withdrew, Emperor Chen Zhao looked at Wu Ruian, several times wanting to speak but holding back. Wu Ruian read the awkwardness in her eyes, shook his head, and said calmly, “Imperial Mother, your son has not seen his third imperial brother for a long time and misses him greatly. Please do not feel constrained; quickly invite imperial brother into the hall.”

“Cough cough…” Emperor Chen Zhao waved her hand and smiled, “It’s nothing. Let him wait. Today, I just want to speak with you properly.”

“Yes, your son obeys the decree.”

Wu Ruian appeared obedient on the surface, but in reality, he truly didn’t want to continue chatting with Emperor Chen Zhao.

Wu Ruian remained distracted, listening to Emperor Chen Zhao’s nagging words. He initially didn’t want to refute her, until Emperor Chen Zhao said, “Yuming has reached the age of marriage, and she has waited for you for three years. Now that you have finally returned, you should no longer avoid her.”

“What do you mean, your son shouldn’t avoid her?” Wu Ruian’s voice rose, and he anxiously asked, “If she waits for your son, must your son marry her? There are countless people in this world who wait for your son; must your son marry every single one?”

Emperor Chen Zhao’s face turned green. After a long pause, she still suppressed her anger and slowly said, “It is true that there are countless women in this world who like you. However, only Changsun Yuming can bring you a stable empire for generations to come.”

“Your son will not marry her,” Wu Ruian said decisively, shaking his head. “If your son is to marry, he will only marry the one he loves.”

Emperor Chen Zhao suppressed her anger, patiently asking, “Oh? You already have a beloved?”

“Yes. I’ve liked her for a long time.”

“Which family’s daughter is she? Have I ever met her?”

“You have,” Wu Ruian hardened his heart and nodded generously, “The person your son likes lives at the end of South Street; she is the shopkeeper of Jiansu Medical Hall. She has a benevolent heart, exceptional medical skills, and is a medical…”

“Nonsense!” Before Wu Ruian could finish, Emperor Chen Zhao erupted in fury. With a flick of her right hand, teacups, fruit plates, and pastries scattered across the floor.

“How can you marry a medical hall doctor! This is utterly ridiculous!”

“Your son will marry no one but her.” Wu Ruian prostrated himself on the ground, speaking plainly, “If you do not agree, then simply kill your son.”

“You! You… you are utterly senseless! You will kneel here for me and reflect properly!” Emperor Chen Zhao finished, rising abruptly. She walked back to her desk, composed herself for a moment, and then resumed handling the mountain of memorials.

Emperor Chen Zhao, while reviewing memorials, also handed Wu Ruian a heavy ironwood ruler, weighing several tens of jin, instructing him to kneel in the hall and not rise until he had thought things through.

During this time, the Imperial Attendant knocked twice, but Emperor Chen Zhao ignored him, even when he mentioned the Third Prince Wu Yu several times, she still paid no attention.

It was clear that neither the Second Prince Wu Long nor the Third Prince Wu Yu held as much weight as Wu Ruian. As soon as he returned, Emperor Chen Zhao practically staked all her hopes on him, and he just told her that he wanted to marry a mere pharmacy shopkeeper!

Utterly nonsensical!

It infuriated me to no end.