Chu Zhaoyou had no one he could trust by his side, and he didn’t know where he could hide the items. Even his sleeping quarters were accessible to anyone. He was afraid that if the Regent and the Empress Dowager found the seal of authority and the medicine, or if he accidentally lost them, the consequences would be unbearable.

“I’ll give you a month,” Chu Zhaoyou said. “If I don’t ask you for them within a month, please hand them over to the Regent and tell him that I gave them to him for his illness.”

With just a few words, Lu Huai felt the weight of the items in his hands.

Chu Zhaoyou would certainly remember to retrieve the medicine and the seal of authority and find an excuse to give them back to the Regent. If he couldn’t retrieve the seal of authority, it would indicate that he was in a difficult situation and his life was in danger. At that time, the medicine would be his lifeline.

Either General Lu would use it to seek help from Xiao Heng, who would then come to his rescue, or Xiao Heng would insist on seizing the throne, and his danger would come from Xiao Heng. With this intermediary, if General Lu was willing, he could also send troops to save himself.

Finally, with both him and General Lu remembering this, Xiao Hei would definitely not miss the third package of medicine.

For both him and Xiao Heng, it was a double insurance for their personal safety.

From his observations, it seemed that the Regent was keeping the matter of his mental decline under wraps. Whenever it was mentioned, his expression turned unpleasant. It was understandable, as no person in power would like to expose their weaknesses.

After settling the major issue, Chu Zhaoyou returned to the initial topic, “General, lend me some of your men for use outside the palace. This is a private matter and doesn’t involve the court. Even if you haven’t seen the seal of authority, you can lend me some men based on trust, right?”

The usually stern Lu Huai  was softened by Chu Zhaoyou’s request. His gaze suddenly became affectionate. “Alright.”

Chu Zhaoyou smiled and poured him a cup of tea. “Thank you, Uncle.”

Lu Huai found himself growing fonder of the young man. He couldn’t compromise on matters of principle or interfere in political affairs, but he couldn’t help but offer a piece of advice, “Uncle is quite an endearing term. Do you know that you have an aunt?”

“An aunt?” Chu Zhaoyou was taken aback. He had no idea about the original owner’s family, let alone any relatives. When he saw the Empress Dowager in the morning, he had noticed that she was too young, and they didn’t resemble each other. It was possible that they weren’t mother and son.

Where could he find an aunt?

Chu Zhaoyou wanted to ask, but he was afraid of revealing the truth about his soul exchange. He decided to suppress his curiosity and planned to ask Eunuch Xue when he returned.

As Chu Zhaoyou left the side hall, he immediately asked Eunuch Xue, “How is the courtesan industry in Great Chu?”

“Erm… I don’t know,” Eunuch Xue replied innocently.

“Tell me what you know,” Chu Zhaoyou insisted.

Eunuch Xue blushed. “According to the guards, the largest establishment in the capital is called Chunmanlou, and it offers everything one could desire.”

“Very well,” Chu Zhaoyou said.

Eunuch Xue added, “Although the Empress Dowager hasn’t selected any concubines for Your Majesty, if you wish… you could ask the Empress Dowager to accept a few proper noblewomen.”

Chu Zhaoyou couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that the Emperor didn’t even have a harem. It was quite rare. It was fortunate that he didn’t like arranged marriages. If he had to face the women left behind by the original owner, he wouldn’t know what to do.

He gave Eunuch Xue some instructions on how to contact Lu Huai’s men.

As Eunuch Xue left to carry out his orders, a stern-faced eunuch suddenly appeared. “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”

Chu Zhaoyou’s expression turned serious. The Empress Dowager had finally summoned him. He had disrupted her grand plan, and it was unlikely to end well for him.

However, at this moment, Lu Huai was still in the palace, so the Empress Dowager would likely keep her anger in check.

The atmosphere in the Renshou Palace was heavy.

As soon as Wei Wanhong returned to the palace, she smashed all the porcelain in the Shou Kang Palace, causing it to shatter into pieces.

Chu Zhaoyou stepped over the shards and saw the Empress Dowager lying on the bed, her eyes flickering but not fully opening.

It wasn’t until Chu Zhaoyou had been standing there for a while, feeling stiff and almost sitting on the ground, that she slowly opened her eyes, her anger still not completely concealed.

“Your Majesty, do you know what you said at the morning court today?”

Chu Zhaoyou pursed his lips and spoke in a low voice, “I know, but the Regent is here, and I dare not.”

He had only spoken a few words at the morning court today, and the civil and military officials had reacted as if they had seen a rooster lay an egg. It seemed that the original owner rarely spoke at court. His reluctance was in line with his character.

Suddenly, a cup of hot tea exploded at Chu Zhaoyou’s feet, and porcelain shards flew everywhere. Chu Zhaoyou closed his eyes to avoid getting any in them.

“You coward!” Wei Wanhong was furious. She knew that Chu Zhaoyou was surrounded by the Regent’s people, and it was not wise to anger the Regent. Yet, she couldn’t help but vent her anger. She knew that she had deliberately pushed Chu Zhaoyou to this point, and for the first time, she regretted raising such a timid child.

“Your father entrusted the Great Chu to you, but you dare not take the power from Xie Heng, an outsider, who is causing trouble and abusing his power. You are a disgrace to your ancestors and to the dragon robe you wear!” she scolded.

Chu Zhaoyou lowered his eyelashes. He had indeed been inconsistent in this matter and had let the Empress Dowager down.

After venting her anger, the Empress Dowager took a deep breath and opened her eyes again. She spoke with a tone of concern, “You are nineteen this year, and you don’t have a confidant by your side. Don’t you understand?”

Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes flickered. The original owner had the same appearance as him, but he was three years younger.

“I am dull,” he replied.

“Xiao Heng wants to ensure that there is no successor to the Great Chu, so that he can take over!” the Empress Dowager clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. “I have spoken to Xiao Heng several times about selecting concubines for you, but each time I was refused, and he didn’t even provide a reason. He can’t bear a son, so he has gone mad!”

Can’t bear a son?

Chu Zhaoyou looked up, realizing that he was hearing some incredible gossip from the Empress Dowager.

Xiao Heng couldn’t bear a son? How could he feel that… he was quite capable?

Chu Zhaoyou looked at the Empress Dowager encouragingly, hoping she would say more, as he felt he could still stand for a while longer.

However, the Empress Dowager didn’t want to say more. After showing concern and authority as a caring mother, she glanced at Chu Zhaoyou and said, “You should not know about this. You have made a mistake and must be punished. Tonight, you will kneel in the Fuxian Hall and repent to your ancestors. Without my permission, you are not allowed to get up.”

The Fuxian Hall was cold and drafty, and the Empress Dowager’s eyes were stern. His knees would be sore and he wouldn’t be able to stand up and say “I don’t agree” in the future.

Chu Zhaoyou felt conflicted. Last night, the Regent couldn’t make him kneel, but was he now facing retribution?