Chapter 182 Emperor Jingyang Controls the Situation, Miscalculates

Chapter 182: Emperor Jingyang Controls the Situation, Unexpectedly Loses His Advantage

Ji Yuntang nodded. "Eunuch, please go ahead."

Eunuch Zhang entered the Hall of Government Affairs, and the doors immediately closed behind him, cutting off Ji Yuntang's view.

She wasn't bothered, knowing that Eunuch Zhang would report the day's events at Prince Ye's residence in detail to Emperor Jingyang, so she waited patiently.

Inside the Hall of Government Affairs, after hearing Eunuch Zhang's report, Emperor Jingyang was so shocked that he stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief.

"What? Prince Ye's not dead? And he's almost recovered?"

Eunuch Zhang swallowed hard, barely daring to breathe. He knelt on the ground, his head lowered, trembling.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes. Prince Ye's disfigured face has completely healed. Except for his lower body and legs, which still cannot move, his upper body and arms can move them again, and even his vision has returned."

Emperor Jingyang's face darkened. "How is that possible? Just a few days ago, Imperial Physician Zhu examined him and said he was gravely ill and wouldn't make it past the end of the month, didn't he?"

Since Eunuch Zhang wouldn't dare lie, the only explanation was that Imperial Physician Zhu had lied.

"Zhu Rushan, how dare he! He deceived me!"

Emperor Jingyang was furious. He grabbed a teacup and threw it heavily to the ground, shattering it into pieces that scattered everywhere.

By chance, a porcelain shard flew into Eunuch Zhang's face, cutting a small gash, yet he didn't dare to move.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. This is exactly what I find puzzling! Imperial Physician Zhu is a senior physician in the palace, renowned for his medical skill. Even if he were that bold, he wouldn't dare deceive you!"

"But Prince Ye and Princess Ye both insist that when Imperial Physician Zhu visited the residence for consultation, Prince Ye was already in his current state. Prince Chen, Princess Jiu, and Heir Xie can all testify to that. Now, Prince Ye and Princess Ye are demanding that you give them justice. So... I didn't know what to do and had to return to the palace to ask for your advice."

Emperor Jingyang's face turned livid, veins bulging on his wrists. "What a fine Prince Ye and Princess Ye! I have truly underestimated them!"

Now he understood clearly—Imperial Physician Zhu had most likely been set up by Ji Yuntang and Luo Junhe, and the scheme was flawless.

No one would have expected that a girl from the countryside like Ji Yuntang could surpass Imperial Physician Zhu in skill and actually cure Luo Junhe.

With her outstanding medical skills, she could easily alter his pulse or change his appearance slightly, fooling Imperial Physician Zhu easily.

Now the whole city knew about it, and it would be hard to fix this mess.

Eunuch Zhang knew that Emperor Jingyang was in a foul mood, but he had no choice but to press on. "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report. Princess Ye came to the palace with me and is currently waiting outside the Hall of Government Affairs. Would you like to see her?"

"What? Who allowed you to bring her here?" Emperor Jingyang's anger flared, and he felt restless and irritable, as though his head might burst.

He prided himself on being the emperor, always in control of everything, believing that all the princes in the capital were under his thumb and none could escape his grasp. He never expected that Luo Junhe would become the biggest unknown.

At this moment, Emperor Jingyang couldn't put his feelings into words. For his meritorious son Luo Junhe, he didn't feel much affection, but there was a bit of guilt.

When Luo Junhe's achievements threatened the throne, Emperor Jingyang had feared his crown would be usurped, and for three straight months he barely slept a wink.

In his nightmares, he saw Luo Junhe, clad in silver armor and holding a blood-stained longsword, storming into the palace and stabbing him to death.

He dreamed he died on his beloved throne, eyes wide open, while Luo Junhe, dressed in the imperial robe and holding the jade seal, ascended the throne and sat in his place.

Those three months, his dreams were almost the same every night, and he was jolted awake countless times.

It was precisely for this reason that Emperor Jingyang kept his distance from this son.

During the days when Luo Junhe was severely injured, paralyzed in bed, and unable to care for himself, Emperor Jingyang turned a blind eye.

In his heart, he even felt a sense of relief, thinking it served Luo Junhe right for coveting what was not his.

After Luo Junhe became a vegetable, Emperor Jingyang felt at ease.

He believed that nightmare scene would never come true.

And indeed, it hadn't happened for many years.

He had almost forgotten about it.

But now, Eunuch Zhang came to tell him that Luo Junhe was about to recover.

This made Emperor Jingyang's eased heart suddenly tightened again.

He now wished to stay as far away from this couple as possible. Why would he want to see Ji Yuntang?

Emperor Jingyang thought for a moment and said to Eunuch Zhang, "Go tell Princess Ye that I am not feeling well and do not wish to see her today. She can come another day."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

Eunuch Zhang turned and walked out, delivering Emperor Jingyang's words to Ji Yuntang.

"His Majesty is unwell today and cannot receive guests. Princess Ye, please come another day."

Upon hearing this, a dark gleam flickered in Ji Yuntang's eyes. As she had guessed, Emperor Jingyang really didn't want to see her.

But the more he avoided her, the more she wanted to see him.

Ji Yuntang pretended to be surprised. "His Majesty is unwell? Then I cannot leave!"

"I am a physician, and while I may not be the best, I am certainly better than Imperial Physician Zhu. Why don't you go inform him again, and let me go in to see His Majesty?"

Eunuch Zhang: "..."

His old face flushed and then paled. Emperor Jingyang's excuse was clearly a way to avoid her, but it played right into Ji Yuntang's expertise.

She was far more troublesome than he had imagined.

Eunuch Zhang felt a headache coming on, thinking that being a messenger was truly difficult—he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and a misstep could cost him his head.

"Princess Ye, please don't make this difficult for me. His Majesty has been worrying about Prince Ye's health these past few days, and hasn't slept a wink in several days. If you bring up this matter now, wouldn't it be like adding fuel to the fire?"

Ji Yuntang raised an eyebrow and said softly, "Eunuch Zhang, you're mistaken. How can it be adding fuel to the fire? You say His Majesty has been worrying about my husband's health and hasn't slept for days, which shows how concerned he is. So, I should go and reassure him."

Just as Eunuch Zhang was standing at the door, stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Empress's sedan chair approached from behind in a grand procession.

She spotted Ji Yuntang and ordered the procession to stop, then walked over to ask.

"What's going on here? Why is Tang'er standing out here?"

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