[Oh no, what should I do? Duke of Dingguo is likely to have an incident tonight.]
Xiao Chuchu was anxious.
She lost her appetite for instant noodles.
On the other side, Duke of Dingguo was preparing to leave the palace. "Your Majesty, if you plan to inspect the troops at West Mountain, please send someone to notify this old subject. I will return home and wait, ready to depart at any time."
[Alas,] Xiao Chuchu's mouth drooped and her eyes grew sorrowful. [At that time, you may not be able to get up anymore...]
Duke of Dingguo looked tall and robust, his frame broad and sturdy. Even at the age of seventy, he did not have the withered appearance of an ordinary elderly person.
But at that moment, Xiao Yunzhou felt a pang hearing his daughter's words.
His martial arts prowess, which had once reached 95 in his prime and was dedicated to Jing Country for his entire life, was now about to drop below 60.
And it was irreversible.
He could not let Duke of Dingguo leave the palace in such a state!
At least inside the palace, there were imperial physicians!
[For an acute stomach illness, if treated promptly, there is still hope~]
Xiao Chuchu also felt that it would be better for Duke of Dingguo not to return home.
[I just remembered, it seems like in the novel, the imperial physician said that if treated in time, Duke of Dingguo's condition would not have become so severe and untreatable. But Duke of Dingguo could endure pain so well that he suffered for two whole days before calling the imperial physician, which was too late.]
Xiao Yunzhou took a deep breath.
"Duke of Dingguo, ——"
"You taught me archery and horsemanship in the past. Would you be willing to stay tonight and teach my princes tomorrow morning?"
Duke of Dingguo was taken aback.
The infant Xiao Chuchu also blinked her big, grape-like eyes at Xiao Yunzhou. [Hmm, a coincidence?]
[I just recalled Duke of Dingguo's illness tonight and the Emperor father has already arranged for him to stay?]
Xiao Yunzhou's body stiffened.
If possible, he truly wished his little princess would never find out.
She could remain happy and carefree, freely imagining whatever she pleased in her heart.
But looking at the white-haired Duke of Dingguo, Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes, and in that breath, he made a choice.
Even if his daughter sensed the abnormality today and realized that her father the Emperor might have read her spiritual hints, he had to do it!
If he abandoned the old meritorious official who protected the country, letting the flying birds be shot, the good bows hidden, the sly rabbits killed, and the stray dogs boiled... then when he, the Emperor, died, he would have no face to meet his ancestors and these meritorious officials of Jing Country!
"Wei Zheng, arrange accommodations for Duke of Dingguo, in the side palace of my Chonghua Palace." Xiao Yunzhou spoke.
Wei Zheng was astonished, and the Xiao Chuchu he was holding was also surprised, blinking her eyes.
The palace rarely allowed officials to stay overnight.
Previously it was the elderly Liu Wenchang, and now it was Duke of Dingguo!
[Ah, is it really such a coincidence? Is the Emperor father going to summon imperial physicians for Duke of Dingguo next?]
The little face of Xiao Chuchu displayed utter shock.
Xiao Yunzhou smiled wryly, but could only continue instructing Wei Zheng, "The Duke is of advanced age. He has accompanied me and worked hard today. Go and summon imperial physicians to examine the old Duke's pulse."
[!]
The infant Chuchu in the swaddle widened her large, watery grape-like eyes.
Biting her pink lips,
[According to the storyline, Duke of Dingguo fell ill in winter and did not receive timely treatment. How did the Emperor father discover it this time?]
[Oh my, is it my fault or the Emperor father's fault?]
Behind Xiao Yunzhou, his fists clenched tightly.
And beside him, Concubine Liu, who had intended to speak, furrowed her brow with concern as she heard her daughter's thoughts and looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, this subject need not stay overnight. My body is still sound, and there is no need to trouble the imperial physicians." Duke of Dingguo waved his hand, refusing.
However, Xiao Yunzhou had already made up his mind. "An old horse knows the way. Today, I was able to have the instant noodles thanks to recalling the stories of war and horses that Duke of Dingguo once told me."
Duke of Dingguo was taken aback, for it was indeed true.
It was because the Emperor reminisced about the hardships that he came up with the idea of instant noodles.
"In the future, I will also grow old," Xiao Yunzhou sighed. "I hope my princes will always remember Duke of Dingguo's past hardships, and remain vigilant even in times of peace, so that Jing Country's soldiers will continue to improve."
Duke of Dingguo was stunned, his dim old eyes flickering, as if seeing the Emperor for the first time.
And beside him, Concubine Liu, who had previously been smirking at the Emperor's pretentiousness, also had the same expression.
In her heart, she had never truly revered Xiao Yunzhou.
In fact, she had always maintained a wariness towards him.
Emperors were cruel and suspicious, capable of sacrificing many for their own interests.
But Concubine Liu never expected that Xiao Yunzhou would be willing to risk being discovered by his daughter for reading her thoughts, and potentially never hearing her thoughts again, just to save the elderly Duke of Dingguo, who could no longer take the battlefield.
The Emperor... might be more benevolent than she had thought.
He might... truly be starting to exhibit the qualities of an enlightened ruler.
"Very well, then this old subject shall stay. No need to wait until tomorrow! Tonight, Your Majesty can summon the princes, and this old subject will tell them stories all night!" Duke of Dingguo exclaimed excitedly.
Xiao Chuchu let out a sigh. [If the Emperor father also knows the storyline, he would not agree to let Duke of Dingguo stay up all night.]
Xiao Yunzhou smiled wryly, but he could only object to the Duke's unhealthy proposal, as his daughter had suggested.
But before he could open his mouth, Concubine Liu spoke first.
"Have the princes completed their studies in the study room? Last time, Cheng Qian was still reciting and memorizing until the late hours."
Xiao Yunzhou listened and indeed felt greatly relieved. "That's right, that's right! Complete today's tasks today. They still have their lessons for tonight."
Duke of Dingguo frowned but could only let it go.
"Your Majesty, this concubine has not stood for such a long time in a while and is feeling a bit tired." Concubine Liu lightly furrowed her brow.
Xiao Yunzhou was even more delighted upon hearing this. "Then it's perfect timing to see the imperial physicians!"
"I knew you must all be tired. I... I also have a backache."
Concubine Liu suppressed a smile.
Duke of Dingguo was taken aback, and only then turned to examine Xiao Yunzhou's expression, looking him up and down, especially at his back.
"I've told you before, Your Majesty should not practice Taoism or meditate. How can a man's back endure sitting all day long? You can't do anything with a... you know..."
Xiao Yunzhou: "..."
His face turned red, then black, then green!
[Hahaha, is it true? It turns out my father is the one who needs to see a doctor but is too embarrassed to say it.]
Xiao Chuchu couldn't help but snicker in her heart.
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched.
Duke of Dingguo had good eyesight and noticed the Emperor's constipated expression. He immediately understood. "Oh, I get it. I'll have the head physician take a look."
He turned and glanced at Concubine Liu, then pulled the Emperor forward four or five steps.
He winked mysteriously at Xiao Yunzhou.
"Some diseases must be treated early."
"Don't be afraid of embarrassment. The Emperor can just say that it's the old minister's back problem, and have the imperial physician take a look."
"..." Xiao Yunzhou opened his mouth, then closed it again. He resolutely refused to acknowledge this nonsense.
[Ding, your father Xiao Yunzhou has gained a die-hard follower—the Duke of Dingguo!]
Xiao Chuchu opened her mouth, [Holy crap? How did he manage that?]
Xiao Yunzhou soon heard his daughter's exclamation and was stunned himself.
The Duke of Dingguo held his hand, patted his shoulder, and at that moment they seemed not teacher and student, nor ruler and minister.
But rather brothers of many years.
"A small matter. On the battlefield, there are many men who've injured their backs."
"Don't be afraid! They all have the old minister accompany them to see a doctor!"
Xiao Yunzhou coughed and choked, unable to speak.
Looking at Wei Zheng again, he saw him staring fixedly at his own shoes.
Xiao Chuchu in his arms had a shocked little pink face.
[I see, I see, the Emperor Dad didn't know the situation.]
[He himself has a hidden ailment, so he accidentally hit the mark~ Oh, I've used up all my martial power viewings for today, otherwise I could still see his old back's combat power...]
Xiao Yunzhou took a breath, his face turning even darker.
The fairy princess had been corrupted by the old guy!
*
During the tea break, the head of the Imperial Physician Bureau hurried to the Chonghua Palace, and immediately saw the Emperor's jet-black expression.
But soon, with the Duke of Dingguo striking a pose, winking broadly, and letting the head diagnose his pulse, not long after,
The head's expression turned solemn, and he directly said,
"The Duke of Dingguo has a hidden ailment, and the onset is imminent."
"If it were delayed even a moment longer before calling me, I'm afraid no medicine or treatment would be effective."
The Duke of Dingguo: "???"
He widened his eyes, what?
"Your Majesty, this minister will prescribe a medicine for the Duke right away to be decocted and taken! And acupuncture for an incense stick's time, three times continuously tonight!"
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