Chapter 48

In the pavilion, only Chu Zhaoyou and Xiao Heng remained.

“I am afflicted with the He Xin Gu,” Xiao Heng suddenly confessed.

Chu Zhaoyou nodded awkwardly. “I know. It was the late Emperor’s doing.”

Xiao Heng asked in a grave tone, “Since you know, do you not wish for me to be cured?”

Staying with Chu Zhaoyou was a great temptation. Even if faced with extreme danger, Xiao Heng would go all out if there was a glimmer of hope. However, that didn’t include betraying himself by introducing a third party between them.

Refusing Miao Ruoqiu was one thing, but if Chu Zhaoyou didn’t want him cured, did it mean… his life was worth far less to Chu Zhaoyou than the empire itself?

At this thought, Xiao Heng’s throat tightened, and he almost let his anger bring forth a spurt of blood.

The misunderstanding was too significant. Chu Zhaoyou hastily clarified, “I’m not preventing her from saving you; it’s just that her method is incorrect. I know of other ways.”

Suddenly, the clouds parted, and the ice melted. Xiao Heng’s breath caught for a moment, and he felt as if he were standing on thin ice with a current swirling beneath, a sign of the approaching thaw after a long winter.

“Do you understand what you’re saying? Have you considered the consequences?” Xiao Heng struggled to stay composed, giving Chu Zhaoyou another chance.

These thoughts were from Chu Zhaoyou, and he didn’t want to consider the possibility of being deceived.

If Chu Zhaoyou were to lie to him about something like this, then what would be the point of living another seventy years?

Before today, he couldn’t bear to involve Chu Zhaoyou in bearing the consequences of the He Xin Gu. But from today onwards, whether living or otherwise, Chu Zhaoyou would be bound to him, unwilling to let go, no matter the cost.

Since Chu Zhaoyou dared to speak out, what else did he have to fear? The price wouldn’t be borne by him alone, would it?

The antidote for the He Xin Gu was like a key, releasing the fierce beast long suppressed in Xiao Heng’s heart. When the cage was opened, it vowed to pounce on Chu Zhaoyou without mercy.

A fierce beast glimpsing the light of day wouldn’t care if the key was real. If it was genuine, it would shield him from all storms, guarding the mountains and rivers. If it was false, anyone pretending to open the cage would be torn apart and devoured.

As Xiao Heng looked at Chu Zhaoyou’s rosy lips and pearly teeth, he realized that every part of this person was deeply embedded in his heart, every word and action exactly what he cherished.

He loved and protected Chu Zhaoyou so dearly and secretly, fearing any harm or misfortune. Even after his passing, he feared that the empire wouldn’t be stable for fifty years, ensuring his safety throughout his lifetime.

In their past disputes, the Regent had learned to compromise. Even in this situation, he was willing to give Chu Zhaoyou another chance to reconsider.

Chu Zhaoyou suddenly felt that the Regent’s gaze, restrained yet fierce, didn’t seem joyful. He nervously pursed his lips. “I’m telling the truth.”

His inspiration struck, and he wrote with a divine hand.

Why should I be the only one to taste the bitter medicine of restraint? Regent, you should taste something that pushes the boundaries.

Chu Zhaoyou, in a retaliatory manner, silently transcribed a recipe for a pregnant woman’s antiemetic, but he didn’t copy it entirely. After listing a few ingredients, he began to fabricate.

“Corn cob, sweet potato leaves, potato stem…”

These were important crops not yet introduced in Great Chu. Chu Zhaoyou had been wanting to find an opportunity to mention them, a modest contribution to the people of Great Chu.

Xiao Heng said, “Try making up another one.”

Chu Zhaoyou stomped his foot. Why should he make one up? This was clearly a good thing for the country and the people!

“They’re real, and I even drew their appearance!” Chu Zhaoyou then pulled over another paper and vividly sketched the crops he remembered, making them easily recognizable at a glance.

After drinking the antiemetic, wouldn’t it be delightful to eat a roasted sweet potato?

He was truly considering the Regent’s well-being!

“The records on the copper scroll indicate that these herbs are not rare, but they don’t grow in Great Chu. They need to be sourced from overseas. I’ve heard that coastal merchants frequently set sail and distribute these images to every ship, offering substantial rewards. Within six months, we’ll have news,” Chu Zhaoyou explained.

Xiao Heng’s expression was complex. Chu Zhaoyou’s concoction was detailed, including images. It was clear that each of these herbs had its own unique qualities, rather than being mere figments of imagination.

Chu Zhaoyou believed that if the Regent ordered a search, mobilizing the public, as long as these species existed in this world, news would arrive swiftly.

One good deed leads to another, benefiting the people.

“Alright, I will immediately send these images to the coastal regions.” Xiao Heng copied Chu Zhaoyou’s prescription and handed it to the covert guards along with the images.

Seeing the Regent still skeptical, Chu Zhaoyou doubled down. “If the Regent’s He Xin Gu acts up again, I’ll be at your disposal. That day, when I opened the iron box, many Dragon Guards were present. You could have easily apprehended someone for questioning. Regent, can you trust me just this once? Our positions may differ, but I have never intended harm.”

As Xiao Heng gazed at Chu Zhaoyou’s earnest and stubborn eyes, a corner of his heart suddenly loosened.

He had overlooked something all along.

It was after their argument that Chu Zhaoyou had gone to the imperial tomb. They had quarreled fiercely that day, especially when Lady Zhao mentioned the matter of the empress. Xiao Heng had never seen Chu Zhaoyou so angry, even thinking they might remain at odds for months. But when he had gone to find Chu Zhaoyou at the tomb, when he had barged into  the young one’s chamber at midnight, insisting on sharing a bed, his demeanor had suddenly softened. There was no anger or outburst, and the next day, he had even helped Xiao Heng borrow clothes.

Xiao Heng suddenly realized why Chu Zhaoyou appeared somewhat guilty that night. It seemed that he had just learned about the late Emperor placing the He Xin Gu on him, feeling remorseful. Xiao Heng understood his inner turmoil.

Had Chu Zhaoyou now chosen to stand on his side, between his biological father and the Regent?

This was the same Chu Zhaoyou who had told Xie Chaoyue, “You should thank the Regent.” He had indeed not disappointed.

Suddenly, all the hatred vanished completely. The former Emperor, whom he had once detested to the core, now seemed as inconsequential as dust with this new realization.

The Regent asked for little and worried about little. When it came down to it, he sought Chu Zhaoyou and cared about his opinion.

His cheek stung, and Chu Zhaoyou let out a soft groan. Why did the Regent always pinch his face?

Was he getting chubby in the face?

No, this morning when he looked in the mirror, he was still handsome and debonair.

Chu Zhaoyou felt a bit troubled on his way back to the palace. He had intended to hum “Jiangnan is Good” outside the palace, hinting at his desire to visit Jiangnan. However, Miao Ruoqiu had interrupted him, thwarting his plan, and he was forced to fabricate a lie.

He had told so many lies, and they would eventually unravel. He needed to plan ahead.

What other excuse could he use to be away for an extended period?

As Chu Zhaoyou pondered, he ate his meal, nervously touching his stomach while no one was attending to him.

Hey little one, could you slow down in growing? The clothes can barely cover you now.

Chu Zhaoyou let out a long sigh, eating even more nervously.

Lately, he had taken a liking to eating loquats. The loquats in February weren’t fully ripe, but as the Emperor, he always got to taste the first batch of ripe loquats. Chu Zhaoyou wasn’t picky; he liked them sour as well.

Often, the sour ones delighted him more.

Loquats were refreshing, sweet, and could prevent vomiting and colds, making them the first fruit of spring. Since Cui Geng had recorded the Emperor’s fondness for loquats, they were shipped from the southern regions to the capital, with the first batch supplied to the Funing Palace.

Chu Zhaoyou despised himself internally. How could he have fallen so low when he had once memorized poems like “A ride through the world, the consort’s smile”?

He skillfully peeled the fruit, revealing its orange-yellow flesh, and then popped the flesh into his mouth after removing the seed.

The only thing he could do was peel it himself.

Three days later, his nail edges had turned brown from the juice, resembling those of a simple and honest farmer.

Xiao Heng had been inviting Chu Zhaoyou to dine frequently recently. Those who knew about it thought he was pursuing Chu Zhaoyou, but those who didn’t… like Chu Zhaoyou himself, believed the Regent had ulterior motives.

The frequency of rare delicacies always seemed to correlate with his weight.

By late February, the palace staff had shed their thick winter clothing for lighter spring attire.

Chu Zhaoyou looked at the exquisitely styled new spring dragon robes in Eunuch Xue’s hands, holding onto his double-layered, thick old clothes, and tears of remorse welled up in his eyes.

“Just as it warms up, it turns cold again. It’s hardest to catch a break,” Chu Zhaoyou struggled. “My old clothes are better. I feel like I might be getting a cold.”

Eunuch Xue looked at Chu Zhaoyou’s rosy complexion and clear voice, feeling conflicted.

Cui Geng recorded nearby, “His Majesty consumes three pounds of loquats daily, claiming it’s to prevent colds. Today, he’s showing signs of a cold, suggesting that loquats are ineffective. This mistaken belief should be corrected. The supply of loquats to the Funing Palace should be slightly reduced.”

Pretending not to hear Cui Geng’s undermining, Chu Zhaoyou realized that Cui Geng was completely devoid of any loyalty, a true spy for the Regent.

Whenever Cui Geng goaded him into doing something, there was always a conspiracy behind it.

Chu Zhaoyou would rather give up loquats than give up his thick dragon robes.

He refused to change and walked up to Cui Geng, snatching the pen and crossing out the line “reduce the supply.”

“I just want to eat a few more loquats. It’s not like I’m asking for some rare delicacy.”

Speaking of which, the Regent had been using the excuse of inviting Chu Zhaoyou to dine to extravagantly spend on meals. It was as if he had become a different person. At times, Chu Zhaoyou even wondered if Xiao Heng had found out about his antidote, causing an uplift in spirits and a hearty appetite, shifting from having no desires to indulging in rich and flavorful dishes.

Let him eat if he wants to eat. Why use him as a pretext?

Although he ate a lot at every banquet, inwardly, Chu Zhaoyou was extremely reluctant.

The change of seasons had made Chu Zhaoyou a bit apprehensive, and he decided he would no longer dine with the Regent.

Chu Zhaoyou instructed, “I believe this is truly where expenses should be reduced. In the future, when the Regent dines in the palace, only prepare a single serving. I intend to tighten my belt for a while, praying for good weather and a bountiful harvest this year.”

Cui Geng: “…”

The Regent ordered the Emperor to wear the new dragon robes and dine with him.

Cui Geng didn’t dare ask for the reason. Based on his observation, the Regent’s attire today, apart from the color and the pattern on the chest, was identical in style and embroidery to the one Eunuch Xue held.

Cui Geng fervently wrote a short treatise, feeling somewhat anxious now.

It was one thing not to change clothes, but why refuse to dine together?

Chu Zhaoyou had no idea that Cui Geng was more anxious than he was. In any case, today he had a basket of loquats and had no intention of eating dinner. This should definitely help him lose weight.

Xiao Heng waited and waited, but Chu Zhaoyou didn’t show up. Instead, he got the excuse of Chu Zhaoyou intending to tighten his belt.

Xiao Heng almost burst out laughing. He strode into the Funing Palace to see Eunuch Xue earnestly advising, “Loquats are cooling, Your Majesty. You should eat fewer of them.”

Chu Zhaoyou had one in his mouth and mumbled, “Ten more.”

He glanced at the pile of peels and pits next to him—it was hardly anything. He clearly hadn’t eaten much.

Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over him, and a cold voice rang out.

Xiao Heng furrowed his brow, grabbed Chu Zhaoyou’s wrist, and saw his messy fingertips. Unable to contain himself, he said, “Can’t you have a eunuch peel them for you?”

“Take all of these away.”

Eunuch Xue replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Chu Zhaoyou watched as Eunuch Xue cleared the table of loquats, even sweeping away the peels.

For a moment, he was stunned. His palm was pinched, and as he looked down, he saw the Regent, unsparingly, confiscate the loquat he held in his right hand, tossing it in a parabolic arc into the fruit tray Eunuch Xue was about to carry out.

He still had half a loquat in his left hand. Chu Zhaoyou was quick, but not nearly as quick as the Regent.

“What are you doing?” Chu Zhaoyou’s face flushed with displeasure. Why did he eat the half-eaten loquat, making them appear entirely harmonious as sovereign and subject?

“You’ve eaten too much, Your Majesty,” Xiao Heng pretended to scold.

The little rascal wouldn’t dine with him but was hiding here to eat loquats.

Hmm, what’s so good about loquats?

Xiao Heng swallowed the loquat that Chu Zhaoyou had peeled in two bites.

Quite sweet.

Xiao Heng looked around, searching for any remaining stragglers, while Chu Zhaoyou stared at his retreating figure, feeling both angry and exasperated, pinching his own stomach.

He couldn’t take on the bigger one, so he could only be extremely timid and bully the smaller one a little.

“Change your clothes and come with me,” Xiao Heng issued a final ultimatum, as if he would personally take action if Chu Zhaoyou dawdled any longer.

Chu Zhaoyou was suddenly startled. Could he feign a faint?