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    Chapter 94: Calculated Plans

    The royal physician arrived promptly. After being led by a young eunuch to examine Rong Liangdi's pulse, he was then taken to the prince's quarters.

    Kneeling in haste, the physician noticed the prince inquire meticulously about his diagnosis and specifically asked, "Yesterday during the wedding ceremony, the emperor bestowed a love potion in the wine. Could it have any adverse effects?"

    The physician, who had previously served his daily shift and checked on the prince's well-being, had never seen such concern for his health. The prince now repeatedly questioned him and even requested a sample of the remaining wine for testing. "Please ensure that all heat toxins are thoroughly removed. Liangdi has suffered from an arrow wound in battle and is physically weak. After consuming this aphrodisiac wine, she must undergo extra care to cleanse her body."

    The physician promptly replied, "Your Highness, rest assured. This is indeed just a common love potion. Yesterday, the emperor did indeed request 'Five Son Continuation Pills' from the pharmacy, which were combined with suhe incense and honey. Its effect is mainly to enhance virility, but there are no harmful components. A prescription for calming the mind, replenishing vitality, and strengthening qi should suffice."

    Only then did Yuan Jun feel slightly relieved. The physician hurriedly asked, "Did Your Highness also consume the wine? Would you like me to check your pulse for your well-being?"

    Yuan Jun dismissed the offer, as he always did, not overly concerned about his own health. However, Yan Xin, standing nearby, intervened out of genuine concern, "Your Highness, please allow the royal physician to examine your pulse."

    Yuan Jun reluctantly raised his hand, and the eunuchs promptly stepped forward to place a wrist support. The physician attentively took his pulse from both sides and reported, "Your Highness has significantly recovered, but since you've just overcome a major illness, it's crucial to continue recuperating slowly. Above all, maintain a calm mindset. I will prescribe a regimen for your gradual recovery. If you prefer not to take medicine, that's fine too; simply focus on rest and proper nutrition."

    Yuan Jun paid little attention and merely instructed his servants to reward the physician. He then requested that the physician attend to Liangdi's pulse for the next three days.

    Naturally, news of the prince's unusual attentiveness towards Rong Liangdi first reached the emperor.

    Li Dongfu bowed his head deeply. Yuan Zixu smiled and said, "It seems the Crown Prince truly holds this Rong Liangdi in high esteem. Excellent, excellent. The Liangdi has served well; reward her accordingly. The Empress has also managed this matter well—she too deserves praise. Order that something be bestowed upon the Empress."

    Li Dongfu acknowledged, and Yuan Zixu looked at him, amusement flickering across his face. "What are you, Little Fu, worried about? I'm doing this for the sake of our offspring. I have so many sons, yet not a single one has been born to the Crown Prince. How can that be? The heir to the throne is the foundation of the kingdom; how can he not have an heir?"

    Li Dongfu promptly replied, "Your Majesty speaks the truth."

    Yuan Zixu looked at him meaningfully. "Or is it that Little Fuzi, having been instructed by me to serve the wine, fears offending the next ruler and thus sealing his own future prospects?"

    Li Dongfu promptly prostrated himself, repeatedly bowing his head, his clothes soaked with sweat. "This servant's loyalty to Your Majesty is unwavering. Whatever task Your Majesty entrusts me with, I shall carry out diligently, without the slightest deviation or hesitation."

    Yuan Zixu chuckled softly. "The Crown Prince is benevolent; all the ministers wish to see him take his rightful place."

    Li Dongfu remained silent. The emperor had been raising the Crown Prince like a pig, only for the purpose of producing an heir, without allowing him any real authority. It was clear that the emperor's distrust was growing. Who could truly fathom the emperor's thoughts?

    Yuan Zixu rose slowly, his tone leisurely. "The Crown Prince has great fortune, but alas, there seems to be some conflict in destiny between him and I. One's rise comes at the expense of another's fall..."

    He gazed out the window. It was spring, and the crabapple trees were in full bloom, scattering petals across the courtyard. He chuckled. "'Yesterday the tree was covered with red flowers, today it stands bare among countless branches. Its vitality depends on the beauty of the three spring months, its transformation brought by the wind overnight. Beyond this world, time is self-governed, and in human life, who can escape the cycle of birth and death? A century's worth of prosperity and decline, all passes like a dream.' I read this poem by Qi Chujie when I was young and found great insight in it. Can a half-lived man like me, who has seen so much of the world, possibly be outdone by a young, inexperienced boy? He has no wife or children, has not governed the realm, yet pretends to have transcended worldly affairs and seeks immortality. What of his own father?"

    Being sensitive to heat, he wore a loose, gauzy robe, which now made him feel restless. Checking the time, he realized it was almost time to take his medicinal pills. Dismissing the matter, he instructed, "If the Crown Prince does not desire the mundane riches and familial harmony of this world, do I, the emperor, truly care? Isn't it all for the sake of the Yuan dynasty? Pass on my edict."

    Yuan Zixu returned to the temple, where Master Chong Xiao approached him, personally presenting a golden pill. Yuan Zixu glanced at it and said, "Today, the Crown Prince has taken a concubine. I hear he has already consummated the marriage."

    Chong Xiao's expression froze. Yuan Zixu held the pill in his hand but didn't rush to consume it. Instead, he leisurely kept it in his palm, "After taking these pills lately, my astral projections have decreased, and my body feels more fatigued. However, the Crown Prince is diligently practicing meditation every day. You said that the path he follows is different from mine. I suppose you're right. Whether Taoist or Buddhist, one must be able to endure solitude to attain enlightenment."

    "But if my connection with the divine realm weakens while the Crown Prince has broken his maidenhood, wouldn't that suggest there might be an issue with the master's golden pills?"

    Chong Xiao hurriedly smiled, "Your Majesty's divine connection is profound; great achievements will surely follow."

    Yuan Zixu smiled slightly, taking the pill as usual and swallowing it with wine. Soon, he reclined leisurely. Chong Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and, quietly, walked over to stir the incense on the desk. Under the guise of adjusting the scent, he secretly dropped a piece of incense into the censer without being noticed by the eunuch attending nearby. As it heated up, it emitted an enchanting fragrance.

    Chong Xiao held his breath, then silently retreated. Before leaving, he glanced at the emperor meditating cross-legged, whose face had once again assumed an otherworldly demeanor. Stepping out softly, his heart raced.

    Lately, the effects of the golden pills seemed to be fading. The intervals between the emperor's consumption were shortening. Despite his fear and concern for the scarcity of ingredients, he hadn't dared to increase the dosage. Now, it appeared that the golden pills... needed to be significantly increased. But how long could this situation last?

    On that day, even the emperor sensed the weakening power of the pills and casually asked if preserving the Crown Prince's virginity enhanced his connection with the divine realm.

    Back then, Chong Xiao vaguely mentioned that their methods of cultivation were different, not comparable. He hadn't expected the emperor to interpret their divine connections as a zero-sum game, resulting in an imperial edict compelling the Crown Prince to take a wife and break his virginity.

    Indeed, the emperor's mind was inscrutable... but if things continued like this, it would become challenging.

    In the Lingming Palace, Empress Lao had also received news and said to Yuan Yixue, "It seems your suggestion was indeed effective. The Crown Prince has truly taken a fancy to Concubine Rong."

    ==

    Yuan Yixue smiled. "Right? I said that since she's from Yi Yang, the Crown Prince would surely give her some face."

    Empress Lao frowned slightly and shook her head. "You're oversimplifying it. Do you know that during yesterday's wedding ceremony, His Majesty specially sent Li Dongfu to present the wine. He said that if Concubine Rong didn't serve the Crown Prince well and they failed to consummate their marriage, she would be given poison and her family would be held accountable. The Crown Prince was furious at that moment."

    Yuan Yixue's eyes widened. "Why would Father issue such an edict?"

    Empress Lao replied, "Let's not talk about your younger brother being young. Yuan Ya isn't exactly a child either, but why doesn't the Emperor care about his marriage? Besides, the Crown Prince's Liangdi holds an official rank. For the Emperor to issue such an order forcing the Crown Prince to consummate the marriage, have you thought through the implications?"

    Yuan Yixue asked, "Is Father hoping that the Crown Prince will quickly produce an imperial grandson like before?"

    Empress Lao frowned. "Your father hasn't thought of deposing the Crown Prince. There must be another reason for him to force the Crown Prince to consummate the marriage now. Moreover, Princess Yi Yang's influence has already been established. Beiting is in her grasp, making it difficult to incite conflict there. As for the Capital Army, Duke Song is in charge. Not to mention the Marquis Cheng'en's family. Although they're currently lying low, their son is still by the Crown Prince's side. The Marquis Cheng'en family is a genuine political powerhouse with connections throughout the court and military."

    She looked at Yuan Yixue. "For all these years, we've only managed to place Li Kangliang in the Five Cities Military Commission. The palace guards remain under His Majesty's direct control. Yixue, our position is precarious, which is why I asked you to form alliances with military officials. It's not that Mother doesn't care for you, so you should understand and stop thinking about Zheng Tanhua."

    Seeing Empress Lao's sharp gaze, Yuan Yixue felt a sense of unease. "Mother... I just... Most powerful military officials in the court are older..."

    Empress Lao scoffed. "I'm ten years younger than your father the emperor! Would you rather have power and status, with everyone fawning over you, or marry a young nobleman and live a life of luxury and leisure? If the crown prince gains influence, you might not even be able to live that leisurely life! Do you know how furious the emperor was when he granted wine to the court yesterday? Rong Liangdi was my choice for the palace. Who's to say the crown prince doesn't also hold a grudge against me? Do you think you can remain untouched? Do you believe he'll treat you like his sister?"

    Yuan Yixue whispered, "Mother, I understand…" Her thoughts raced. "But, Mother, forming alliances through marriage takes time. However, Princess Yi Yang has sent her trusted maid to the capital to contact the noble families and high-ranking officials. I don't believe Father won't feel threatened by this. Why not seize this opportunity to find a way to strip Duke Song of his command over the Capital Garrison?"

    Empress Lao was surprised she had seen through this, praising her. "I've thought of this as well and was about to ask someone to speak with your uncle."

    She smiled slightly. "Duke Song has indeed held sway over the Capital Garrison for too long. The emperor has actually wanted to replace him for a while now. He's merely giving an excuse in this case."

    ==

    Inside Bao Han Palace.

    At the vernal equinox, Tang Xi had already sourced an abundance of rare and exquisite fruits from the southern regions to send over.

    Rong Bi oversaw the servants as they filled ice bowls with creamy cheese, complemented by chilled sour yogurt. Fresh live fish were brought in to prepare sashimi, thinly sliced and arranged on a bed of translucent ice. Accompanied by diced fruits, lotus roots, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and watercress, the spread was impressive. Next, peppercorns and ginger slices were stir-fried, followed by the addition of spring water to make a delicious chicken broth, which would be used to blanch tender green pea shoots.

    Already familiar with the palace gardens and kitchen, Rong Bi efficiently directed the attendants, turning the usually quiet and isolated Bao Han Palace into a bustling scene. In no time, a lavish feast was set up along the winding bridge in the middle of the lotus pond.

    Yuan Jun stood beneath the arcade, watching Rong Bi orchestrate the banquet arrangements. For some reason, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

    The once-desolate and secluded Bao Han Palace seemed to have come alive all of a sudden.

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