Chapter 56

As the weather turned warmer, Chu Zhaoyou’s pregnancy became more apparent, resulting in his decreased attendance at court. He feigned illness and occasionally presided over a court session, covering himself with a blanket.

As a result, rumors began to spread. Some even speculated that the Purple Star was about to fall, to be replaced by the Wolf Star. Combined with Chu Zhaoyou’s reported illness and absence from court, the credibility of these rumors significantly increased.

Prince Regent Xiao Hong had a clear conscience and was unafraid of the gossip. However, the rumors carried a veiled curse against Chu Zhaoyou, prompting him to address and dispel them while taking measures to eliminate their source.

The next day, in the Xuanzheng Hall, during the customary three prostrations of the court officials, the Regent, who usually stood, unexpectedly lifted his robe and knelt, stunning the entire assembly of civil and military officials, as well as the emperor above.

Chu Zhaoyou’s blanket nearly slipped off, and his voice quivered slightly, “Rise, rise, all of you.”

He gazed blankly at the Prince Regent below the jade steps, clad in his official robe, with bended knees and a straight spine, embodying loyalty and uprightness—truly an indispensable pillar of the nation.

Previously, he would stand to the side, looking indifferent as the officials paid their respects. Now, no one remained standing as everybody in the Xuanzheng Hall knelt. The absence of that individual who usually stood at the side and blocked sunlight seemed to deepen the illumination within the hall, with the dragon throne reflecting a dazzling radiance, signifying the emperor’s majesty, extending to all corners of the empire.

Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes stung slightly. The sunlight outside was still too bright. It would be better if the Prince Regent continued to stand and shield him.

Xiao Heng mentioned “Minister” at least twenty times during the morning court. The ministers, initially startled and apprehensive, gradually became numb as they realized that the Regent Prince’s initial words were meant to convey his determination not to seize the throne, but later, he simply focused on addressing the young emperor.

His Majesty might be as unaccustomed as they were; his face turned red from being called so many times. Considering the Regent Prince’s display of martial prowess and grandeur, bowing and returning the country, which emperor wouldn’t be excited upon hearing this?

If they hadn’t been on opposing sides, they would have wept for the young emperor.

Chu Zhaoyou picked at the golden scales on the armrest of the dragon throne, not paying attention to anything during the morning court except for the Regent Prince’s repeated use of “Minister.”

Some people may verbally acknowledge their submission, but their eyes hint at defiance!

Chu Zhaoyou’s gaze wandered, and his cheeks flushed quietly.

Some people truly have no shame.

After the morning court, when the Xuanzheng Hall was empty, Xiao Heng approached to help Chu Zhaoyou tidy up the fur blanket, draping it over his arm, and assisted him to rise, saying, “Your Majesty, forgive the inconvenience.”

Chu Zhaoyou replied, “It’s alright. You don’t need to help me up; I can walk, even run.”

Xiao Heng sternly said, “No running.”

“The Regent Prince shouldn’t kneel in the future; it feels strange.”

Xiao Heng responded, “I’m just keeping an eye on them, to prevent any unwarranted thoughts from spreading due to baseless rumors.”

“It won’t happen again.”

Chu Zhaoyou scratched his ear. He didn’t feel vain when the Regent Prince knelt; standing was better.

The Regent Prince stood there, as if declaring that he would always stand by His Majesty’s side.

However, Chu Zhaoyou was used to this kind of talk and couldn’t say it to the Regent Prince’s face, so he could only think about being a bit nicer to the Regent Prince in the future.

Xiao Heng was determined to groom Chu Zhaoyou into a qualified emperor. Even though he didn’t have to attend court every day to handle memorials, studying governance couldn’t be neglected.

The royal physician warned that Chu Zhaoyou had too much free time, which could lead to excessive rumination and an unhealthy amount of sleep, detrimental for both adults and children, so he needed something to occupy his time.

Thus, the Regent Prince took on the responsibilities of the Grand Tutor and arranged lessons for Chu Zhaoyou.

Chu Zhaoyou felt as if he had returned to high school and began to understand why Lu Jinghuan had left Dayan Country.

He threw down his books. “I’ve learned. Why are you forcing me to study,  Don’t you want to do this anymore?”

Xiao Heng replied, “I’ll always be here.”

“Why should I learn if you’re not genuinely interested in teaching me? You just want to educate the child,” Chu Zhaoyou retorted.

“Be good and focus on your studies,” Xiao Heng responded.

The royal physician warned that Chu Zhaoyou had been eating too much recently. Overeating could make it difficult for him to have children in the future. He was advised to eat less and exercise more, as being a man was not as easy as being a woman.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng felt a bit remorseful. In the past, in his attempts to please Chu Zhaoyou, he had constantly invited him to dinner. When Chu Zhaoyou didn’t come, he resorted to coercion and temptation.

He recalled that during that time, Chu Zhaoyou had gained weight quite rapidly.

He had sinned, and even when scolded by Chu Zhaoyou, he had to steel himself to help him regain control.

From his observations, Chu Zhaoyou was deeply engrossed in his studies, with a focused and undistracted mind.

A refined gentleman, well-versed and not one to idle and overindulge.

He could only encourage him to continue studying.

Chu Zhaoyou, when restricted in his diet, would find excuses to make things difficult if he was displeased.

Xiao Heng complied with every demand.

At first, Chu Zhaoyou thought to himself, “Lu Jinghuan is, after all, an emperor; he can’t be kept idle in the palace forever, he would feel guilty.”

It definitely wasn’t because he found studying alone boring.

Lu Jinghuan said, “I don’t want to. You’re studying about governance in Great Chu, what does that have to do with me?”

Chu Zhaoyou: “Won’t applying the same principles to different situations be beneficial?”

Lu Jinghuan: “But that’s what the Regent Prince wrote for you to read!”

Chu Zhaoyou: “Then shall I write to Master Fengguo to send over your Sixteen Histories?”

Lu Jinghuan: “…Can’t I just learn yours as well?”

The Emperor’s training program forcibly admitted a new member.

Afterward, Chu Zhaoyou and Lu Jinghuan met and quickly developed a passion for studying governance.

Even the Regent Prince found it strange and asked a guard, “Has His Majesty taken a liking to reading lately?”

The guard replied, “Probably because he found a study partner.”

The Regent Prince, alert, inquired, “What do they talk about every day?”

The guard responded, “His Majesty doesn’t allow eavesdropping.”

Chu Zhaoyou and the Regent Prince made an agreement. They had to trust each other and not have someone monitoring him every day. When he asked for privacy, no one was allowed to eavesdrop.

When making this demand, Chu Zhaoyou gestured threateningly towards his own stomach, clearly implying repercussions.

The Regent Prince had no choice but to agree.

Xiao Heng was personally informed by Chu Zhaoyou, “Your Majesty conversed with Lu Er for two hours today.”

“Are they plotting against me? Could it be a romantic rival?” Xiao Heng inquired.

Chu Zhaoyou remained unfazed, “We are discussing how to integrate theory with the national situation.”

In reality, after finishing their daily studies, they eagerly talked about the misdeeds of the powerful figures.

They had an endless litany of complaints about the Regent Prince and the Imperial Tutor, a list of wrongdoings that seemed never-ending.

To fully express themselves, they maximized their study efficiency to save time for lengthy talks.

Chu Zhaoyou and Lu Jinghuan both exclaimed in disbelief, “No one has ever understood us like this before!”

Feng Xingzhou could never have imagined that his little emperor would one day be so enthusiastic about studying the governance of other countries, absorbing it all at a glance.

Xiao Heng, still skeptical, tested Chu Zhaoyou.

Chu Zhaoyou responded fluently.

The Regent Prince pondered, “Are they really studying?”

Chu Zhaoyou raised an eyebrow, swished his tail, and left with his hands clasped behind his back. Today, he had discussed state affairs with Lu Jinghuan and remembered a few more of the Regent Prince’s misdeeds.

…

That day, as usual, the Regent Prince had the royal physician administer acupuncture. Lately, vague fragments had been flashing through his dreams, and he felt that his memory recovery was imminent.

Recently, Chu Zhaoyou made a new friend and had no time for the Regent Prince. Moreover, he expressed his displeasure at being controlled in his diet and even brought up the issue of memory loss.

“Some people threatened to force-feed me last month, and this month they won’t let me eat. It’s like they have amnesia, constantly changing their mind,” Chu Zhaoyou expressed.

The Regent Prince, indeed suffering from memory loss, remained speechless.

Not wanting Chu Zhaoyou to feel burdened, he didn’t relay all of the physician’s words. However, Chu Zhaoyou had probably guessed, as he didn’t overeat as freely as before. His willpower was at its peak, but he wasn’t going to let up in his verbal sparring.

“It’s my fault. I won’t pressure you anymore,” the Regent Prince acknowledged.

Chu Zhaoyou replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “Let’s not bring up living arrangements either.”

It was said that the Regent would always take a cold shower upon waking up, for obvious reasons.

With his current immense power, there were numerous ways for him to inquire about the Regent’s daily routines.

Chu Zhaoyou speculated that the Regent might recall a bit of that certain process, but nothing else, and he dared not bring it up.

He found it both amusing and nerve-wracking.

Last time was truly a pressing matter, a desperate situation where he had to muster the courage. Did the Regent really expect him to teach a second time after such a humiliating experience? No way.

It was nearly six months now, and whatever the Regent had in mind, Chu Zhaoyou had to keep it to himself.

Chu Zhaoyou’s temper was gentle, but every time Xiao Heng broached the subject at night, he tested the limits of his agreement. To appear more resolute, he had to put on a stern front.

He needed to maintain a clear and uncluttered mind to recover his proper memories.

Today, without the touch of the Regent’s hand, the unreliable suggestions of Xie Chaoyun lingered in his mind.

With Chu Zhaoyou now at five and a half months, he truly couldn’t bear to let him sleep alone at night.

If he pretended to be naive and aroused Chu Zhaoyou’s sympathy, successfully living in the Funing Palace, then recovered and regained his memory, once this door was opened, could Chu Zhaoyou still drive him away?

Moreover, Chu Zhaoyou had been unusually studious recently, and the Regent Prince felt like half of his attention had been diverted by Lu Er.

Pretending to be naive could make Chu Zhaoyou focus solely on him.

He could be tenderly cared for by Chu Zhaoyou.

Once the thought arose, it grew like wild vines, entwining his rationality.

The Regent consulted the old man to confirm the possibility of memory recovery, and the result was close to what he had expected. The royal physician said that he could recover within five days.

Xiao Heng nodded, “Xiao Qi.”

Xiao Qi responded and opened a box of gold.

“I won’t do anything outrageous,” the old man had his own medical ethics and immediately accepted the gold, “but I can deceive the little fool.”

Xiao Heng said, “Since the royal physician has noticed, please help convey a few words to His Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

“Just tell His Majesty that I am about to regain my memory, but before full recovery, due to the influence of the medicine, I will temporarily return to the state I was in during those three days. It’s not dangerous, and I’ll recover in a day or two. Tell him not to worry and to take good care of me.”

The old man was very adept and led the Regent to Chu Zhaoyou, saying, “I’ve developed a prescription that happens to counter the side effects of the medicine after the head injury. This medicine, when taken, will temporarily bring back the state from that time after waking up.”

Having finished reciting the script, the old man added, “This period is crucial for his gradual memory recovery. The more attentive you are, the more complete his memory will be. It’s best to treat him during his ‘naive’ phase as you would now.”

I, the royal physician, need more money.

Chu Zhaoyou was anxious, “No… not another medicine. It’s better if he doesn’t remember. I forbid it. I won’t allow it.”

He was truly afraid of the royal physician’s medicines. The Regent Prince was fine now; there was no need to stir things up. If he didn’t remember, he had accepted it.

The old man insisted, “I guarantee there are no side effects! He’s already taken it! Keep a close eye on him.”

The old man swiftly slipped away.

The Regent found himself in a predicament. He hadn’t expected the royal physician to take liberties and concoct another medicine, nor had he anticipated Chu Zhaoyou’s disapproval of him taking it.

He felt overwhelmingly guilty inside but could only continue with the charade. He had already received the care he sought from Chu Zhaoyou’s fleeting gaze, any more and he wouldn’t have the heart to carry on.

Xiao Heng decided to find an excuse to take a nap and then claim to have returned to normal upon waking up.

Anxiously, Chu Zhaoyou grabbed Xiao Heng’s arm, tiptoed to look into his eyes, and asked, “So, are you the Regent now, or Xiao Hei?”

“Xiao Hei…” The Regent Prince faced this address, feeling a hitch in his breath. Memories of Chu Zhaoyou inadvertently calling him that after returning flooded his mind, stirring up complex emotions, making it hard to discern whether he felt more jealousy or touched by the situation.

Xiao Heng maintained a bewildered expression, manifesting just the right amount of perplexity. He looked into Chu Zhaoyou’s beautiful and gentle eyes, which held concern, anxiety, and everything he yearned for.

“Sorry, I was too hasty,” Chu Zhaoyou cursed himself internally. The old man had said he had become naive, but he hadn’t mentioned that he would remember being Xiao Hei.

“Do you have a headache? Do you need to rest?” Chu Zhaoyou, fearing that Xiao Heng might develop a headache, pulled him into the sleeping quarters. “If your head hurts, don’t knock it. I’ll go find the royal physician.”

“Do you understand? Xiao Hei? This is the head. When it hurts, come to me.” Chu Zhaoyou, like a concerned mother, pointed to his own temple, explaining.

Suddenly, Xiao Heng understood why Chu Zhaoyou, upon returning, repeated things twice and used hand gestures when speaking to him.

His eyes reddened, filled with poignant bitterness.

In a fleeting moment, he felt the urge to confess, but as he looked at the imposing dragon bed so close by, he baselessly hesitated. Xie Chaoyun was right; the treatment of a naive person and that of the Regent were truly worlds apart.

If he confessed, he’d probably be locked out for a year.

Perhaps he should stick to the original plan and just pretend to be fine after a nap?

Chu Zhaoyou lifted the covers, “Xiao Hei, undress and lie down to sleep, let me take a look at your head.”

Xiao Heng was still struggling intensely in his mind, but his slender, jade-like fingers had instinctively moved to the buckle of his belt and swiftly unfastened it.

Today, he had deliberately dressed like Xiao Hei, hoping to evoke Chu Zhaoyou’s sympathy. It was a calculated move.

Just as he was about to reach out to help unfasten, Chu Zhaoyou paused, “…”

The Regent unfastened it quite quickly.

Last time, when he acted naive, he couldn’t remember it for anything.

Author’s note: Feng Xingzhou: I heard that my emperor skipped his studies to read governance strategies written by another man. (Do I need to make a big deal out of this???)

Chu Zhaoyou: Daring to play dumb? It’s my turn to take charge.