The Martial Doctor

"Lady Shi Yin, please slow down."

With Qingtang not by her side, Shi Yin found it much more convenient, and Luu Wan accidentally revealed a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

...

After the assassination attempt at Cloud-Riding Ridge, Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze, escorted by Zhuo Qingfeng and Fahai, returned to Li Jing without further trouble, safe and sound.

The very best assassins had been mobilized.

This was enough to frighten Zhao Yuanze. When did that old fifth brother manage to recruit such high-level experts? If not for Fahai’s timely intervention,

his life might have ended at Cloud-Riding Ridge.

Therefore, on the way back, apart from necessary rest breaks, they rushed all the way. Initially, Zhuo Qingfeng worried that the Crown Prince’s body couldn’t handle the high intensity of the journey, but surprisingly, the Crown Prince was fine, though the Crown Princess Consort certainly suffered along the way.

She was a delicate woman. Although she had learned some body-strengthening exercises in recent days, enhancing her physical condition a bit, she remained a fragile lady.

This might have been her only chance to travel afar in her life. Standing under the city of the capital, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but gaze at the road they traversed with a flood of emotions.

"Return to the capital, return to the palace!"

Zhao Yuanze mounted his horse, waved his hand broadly, and entered through the western gate of Li Jing under the escort of the Eastern Palace guards and the experts from the Imperial City Department.

In the palace, preparations for the annual banquet had already begun. This year, for the banquet, all officials in the capital of rank five and above, except those on duty, were to attend and could bring their wives.

This was a yearly grace from the emperor.

Thus, the annual banquet was of an especially grand scale, with a particularly large number of attendees, necessitating early preparations and certainly requiring a substantial square.

Given the harsh cold weather, brazier stoves were needed.

The evening also featured splendid dance performances, offering an opportunity for the ruler and ministers to share joy.

However, the scale of the annual banquet depended on the emperor’s mood and budget allocation. If the emperor was willing, with a larger budget, the banquet would be grandly organized.

If the emperor was displeased, with less money, the banquet would be organized on a smaller scale.

Holding an annual banquet, which was financed by the emperor’s internal treasury, cost over a hundred thousand taels of silver just for the food.

The feast, the drinks, couldn’t be of low standard, as it represented the royal face. Not to mention the dance performances, costumes, props, and stage setup, all of which cost money.

It’s said that this year, a troupe from the Great Yue Country is also coming to Li Jing to perform, though the specifics remain unknown.

...

At the Prime Minister’s residence.

"Lien, indeed, the Crown Prince left the capital. The one in the Eastern Palace seems merely a stand-in. His Majesty knows as well."

The speaker was a guest from the Prime Minister’s residence, and also the close friend of Lien Yanru, Tan Fei.

Despite having profound knowledge, Tan Fei was unwilling to enter officialdom and only served as a Guest Elder in the Prime Minister’s residence, offering advice.

According to him, he wasn’t cut out for official duties, only suitable as a strategist. He lacked the ability for on-the-spot decision-making and was easily influenced by emotions.

Lien Yanru remained calm in expression. During this period, he had already delegated most of the political affairs to the assistant Tang Jing, intending to resign after this year is over.

The emperor might hold him back as a courtesy, but would eventually approve his resignation, allowing him to return to his hometown for retirement.

Though he wished to leave without a care, the Lien Family still resided in Li Jing, with its descendants and proteges embedded in the Da Li officialdom, matters not easily severed.

Therefore, even as he prepared to step away from the court, he continued to support and sponsor, though not as extensively as in the past.

The Lien Family prospered under his hand, yet might decline in his hands again, largely because younger generations failed to excel. Though some among the students he promoted were promising, without his presence, opportunities for them might diminish.

"Tonight, accompany me to the palace banquet. For all these years, you’ve diligently supported me from behind, and before departing, I want you to witness it once." Seated solemnly on the chair, Lien Yanru slowly opened his eyes and said.

"Lien, is this appropriate?"

"Every year, I take the women of the family, but this year, I don’t want them to be watched with strange eyes," Lien Yanru stated. "Therefore, accompany me."

"Yes, Tan Fei understands."

"How many years have you been in my residence?"

"Returning to Lien, almost twenty years," Tan Fei slightly bowed.

"I’m old and feeble, while you’re still in your prime. Your knowledge shouldn’t be buried. If you’re willing, I can recommend you for office. At this point, His Majesty likely wouldn’t disregard my face, allowing you to start governing a region, away from the capital," Lien Yanru said.

"Your honor is too kind, but Tan Fei truly isn’t suited for officialdom. I’m afraid I’d even bring trouble to you, so it’s best I don’t assume office."

"What are your plans for the future, then?"

"If you don’t find it inconvenient, may I accompany you back to your hometown?"

"No, having you accompany me to my hometown would indeed be a waste. How about this: I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. You can go to Dongshan and find Pei Jian. He might be able to accommodate you," Lien Yanru suggested.

"Pei Jian, the former Eastern Palace Assistant?"

"Yes, Pei Family’s twin sons, and Pei Jian, an illegitimate son, managed to pass the imperial examination with his talent, being selected as the Eastern Palace Assistant, then promoted to an assistant academic, and finally was recommended by the Crown Prince to serve as an official in Dongshan Prefecture," Lien Yanru explained.

"Pei Jian indeed has talent and capability, but if the Crown Prince ultimately doesn’t ascend, his future may also dim."

"The Crown Prince may not necessarily lose."

"Lien, do you favor the Crown Prince?" Tan Fei asked in surprise.

"Until the end, it’s hard to say who will be the last one smiling," Lien Yanru laughed lightly. He was about to retire, especially with the emperor granting him a graceful exit, which was something to be satisfied about.

Prime Ministers withdrawing peacefully wasn’t common in the Da Li Dynasty. Anyone in this position had to be prepared for ruin.

While being in position was glorious, after the glory, it was a mess.

He had seen it too often.

...

Inside Rouyi Palace.

"Mother Consort, he’s actually back, he’s actually back..." Zhao Yuanchun’s face twisted and flushed as he hysterically shouted in front of Consort Xue,

"Chun’Er, you’ve lost your composure. How can you reassure your father the emperor to grant you the Crown Prince position like this?" Consort Xue quickly reprimanded.

"Yes, Mother Consort, I was wrong." Zhao Yuanchun immediately became like an obedient child, rushing forward to embrace Consort Xue’s leg, quieting down.

"Chun’Er, your primary task now is to give birth to a royal grandson for your father. As long as you can have a child before that useless Crown Prince brother of yours, your position as Crown Prince is secure!" Consort Xue patted Zhao Yuanchun’s back, soothingly saying.

"I know. Aren’t I working on it? The other day, there was that female medical officer at the Imperial Pharmacy who seemed promising. I’ll try harder again in a while, what do you say?"

"Hmm, that’s right. No matter who it is, as long as she can give us a grandson, we’ll give her a wealthy life in the future!" Consort Xue stated.

"Mother Consort, what if she’s a bit older?"

"If she’s older, so be it. Could she be older than your mother consort?" Consort Xue chuckled indifferently.

Zhao Yuanchun squeezed out a smile, sheepishly saying, "That’s impossible. In my heart, you’ll always be the youngest."

"You rascal, you’re sweet-tongued," Consort Xue teased.

"Your Highness, Eunuch Wu seeks an audience."

"Let him in," Consort Xue instructed. This Eunuch Wu was, of course, Xue, who had been castrated and entered the palace as a Eunuch.

"Yes."

Having entered the palace, Xue thrived under Consort Xue’s care, soon becoming a superintendent. As a superintendent, he was no longer a mere eunuch, freed from the dirty and menial tasks, now having young eunuchs or the lowest-ranked palace maids to serve him.

The heir of Marquis Lingyang now turned eunuch, his hatred could fill three rivers and five seas. Yet, outside, he’d surely be mocked, leaving the palace as his only hope for a future.

As long as the Fifth Prince, his cousin, became Crown Prince, he’d rise to the heights of power as a grand eunuch.

Only then could he have the power to take revenge on the one who ruined his life.

For now, he had to lie dormant.