Chapter 9

Eunuch Xue boldly asked, “Which foolish dog dared to bite Your Majesty? It should be caught and put down to prevent it from biting others.”

“A dog with some issues…” Chu Zhaoyou was preoccupied with his own thoughts and asked, “What if I want to find a person? Can that be done?”

Eunuch Xue was alarmed, “Your Majesty, you should have the imperial physician check. A dog bite is no trivial matter, especially if the dog is sick.”

Chu Zhaoyou’s expression turned stern, “Xiao Hei is not sick.”

He was defending Xiao Hei!

“I mean, the dog that bit me doesn’t have rabies. I want to find a person. Can you do that, Eunuch Xue?”

Eunuch Xue looked embarrassed and couldn’t meet Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes. He raised his hand and slapped himself, “I’m useless, I’m useless…”

What was going on? He was slapping himself at the drop of a hat?

“It’s my incompetence, what does it have to do with you!” Chu Zhaoyou stopped him from hitting himself. The emperor was even more powerless than he had imagined. At most, he could find a dog, but upgrading to finding a person was out of the question.

He realized that it was no longer possible for him to find Xiao Hei on his own and that he needed to seek help from others.

He had no one to turn to, so he had to borrow someone.

As he pondered what leverage he could use to get the Regent to help him find someone, a young eunuch hurried over.

“Xiao Song requests an audience with Your Majesty.”

Chu Zhaoyou looked at him without moving, so Xiao Song took the initiative to approach and whispered, “The Empress Dowager wants Your Majesty to attend the morning court immediately. She said that as long as Your Majesty goes along with her, you will be able to regain some power from the Regent today.”

Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes lit up. Regain power?

The Regent is the male lead, and the Empress Dowager’s attempt to help him seize power from the male lead made Chu Zhaoyou feel a bit precarious.

The Regent was like a king in the palace, and the Imperial Guards, despite being named “Dragon Guards,” actually protected the Regent. It was common for people like them to feel helpless once caught in the middle.

However, Chu Zhaoyou rubbed the iron lump hidden in his sleeve. Xiao Hei was just one step away from being healed, and he couldn’t afford to fail now. Otherwise, would he be worthy of the courage he had shown?

If he had even a little bit of power…

The temptation was too great. Chu Zhaoyou closed his eyes and clenched the third packet of medicine powder. He knew it was risky, but he had to try.

“I understand.” he said. He grabbed two pastries from the table to stave off hunger. The morning court would certainly not be easy, and he couldn’t afford to faint from hunger.

As the rich aroma of osmanthus burst on his tongue, Chu Zhaoyou looked down at the osmanthus cake on his fingertip.

The imperial crown, with twelve strings of white jade beads hanging from the front and back, was tied under the chin with a bright red tassel, making it the most precious ceremonial headdress worn during grand ceremonies.

Chu Zhaoyou suspected it was to conceal the fact that he hadn’t washed his hair in three days.

He had little to do with the morning court, and yet he had to dress so extravagantly. He was basically a diplomatic mascot, there to look festive.

For the first time, Chu Zhaoyou truly felt like an emperor, wearing the imperial crown and golden boots, the visible symbol of his supreme authority.

“Long live the Emperor.”

“Rise, my lords.”

Chu Zhaoyou’s gaze remained steady, avoiding any wandering glances. He scanned the courtiers, and in the center stood a stern-looking general. The civil and military officials had different thoughts, but there was no one resembling the Regent.

Overall, the atmosphere in the court was still harmonious.

Empress Dowager Wei said, “Just now, Wei Zhuo was the first to find His Majesty in Lianhua Village and escorted him back to the palace with the arriving Imperial Guards. Wei Zhuo brought only a dozen men, yet they still outperformed several thousand Imperial Guards! How can I trust the Imperial Guards! If the Great Chu cannot provide an explanation for us, mother and son, today, then we might as well change the name of this country!”

Wei Zhuo, the Empress Dowager’s nephew, was the white-clad man who first found Chu Zhaoyou. He knelt down and said, “Your Majesty is still young, and the Empress Dowager should take care of her health.”

Empress Dowager Wei shed tears and portrayed herself as a lone mother who had been bullied in front of General Lu Huai.

General Lu Huai’s gaze fell on Chu Zhaoyou. It was his first time seeing the young emperor, who had handsome features and a hint of nobility. His complexion was pale, and his lips were dry. His clear and transparent eyes revealed a sense of dependence and trust, and his hands were neatly placed on his knees. His gaze, seen through the imperial crown, conveyed a hint of reliance and trust.

General Lu Huai was deeply moved. He was an old man who simply wanted to see the young emperor govern the country well, ensuring the people’s peace and prosperity. The Dragon’s Might Army was rooted in the outskirts of the capital, guarding the heart of the nation.

While the world spoke of the Regent’s ambitious nature, General Lu Huai didn’t see it that way. For seven years after the late emperor’s passing, Xiao Heng had single-handedly supported the entire Great Chu, addressing internal and external challenges, without ever directing his attention to the Dragon’s Might Army.

What did this indicate? It indicated that Xiao Heng had no intention of seizing the throne.

Others might not understand, but General Lu Huai did. However, today, upon seeing the young emperor, he found himself unable to resist. With no children of his own, the young emperor’s gaze made him unconsciously regard the emperor as a close relative, unable to bear seeing him suffer.

General Lu Huai asked, “Your Majesty, how did you go missing?”

If it was truly related to the Regent, he would stand by the emperor’s side this time.

“I….”  When Chu Zhaoyou began to speak, his voice somewhat hoarse. He wisely chose to remain silent, leaving the floor to the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Wei looked at Chu Zhaoyou with approval. After so many years, he had finally shown some intelligence in the court.

She sneered, “His Majesty has no state affairs to attend to and has always been fond of opera. He invited a theater troupe from outside the palace and, on a whim, decided to take the stage for a female role. Unexpectedly, the Regent suddenly entered the palace and ordered the Imperial Guards to expel the theater troupe, along with His Majesty, from the palace.”

The Empress Dowager’s ability to distort the truth was truly remarkable, and there was nothing to fault in her words.

Chu Zhaoyou raised an eyebrow inwardly, secretly amused. The Empress Dowager wasn’t entirely on the emperor’s side. If she truly wanted to protect him, she could have found other reasons. It was unlikely that she would bring up such an embarrassing matter as the emperor’s love for opera at the morning court.

He subtly observed the reactions of those present.

General Lu Huai frowned, but his initial impression was that Chu Zhaoyou’s gaze was clear and innocent, devoid of any artificiality. It was evident that he had no real power and had changed his interests out of necessity.

The neutral civil officials looked disheartened. This was truly… a case of a child who couldn’t be taught!

The officials of the six ministries straightened their backs. While the emperor’s indulgence in opera was concerning, the Regent Prince’s actions, though severe, did not go against the late emperor’s wishes.

Empress Dowager Wei accurately gauged General Lu Huai’s reaction and spoke with a mixture of truth and falsehood.

Chu Zhaoyou interjected, “I heard that the theater troupe was going to perform ‘Ma Gu’s Birthday Celebration.’ I wanted to learn it and sing it to wish my mother a happy birthday.”

His voice was not loud, carrying a hint of hoarseness, and his gaze was timid as he looked at the Empress Dowager, revealing a childlike sincerity.