Chapter 200: Attending the Emperor in Bed

Chapter 200: Attending the Emperor in Bed

Huo Lang always felt that there was something going on between the emperor and Wei Tan.

Back when he was just a minor officer in the army, he often saw the two of them discussing poetry and philosophy, playing music and chess together, considering each other as kindred spirits. The atmosphere between them was so intimate that no one else could intrude.

Huo Lang was jealous back then, and he still is now when he thinks about it.

When Lu Yan heard this, he chuckled quietly. Was his relationship with Wei Tan really that good? It was merely two people with deep thoughts testing each other out. At that time, Wei Tan frequently entered the palace, fully aware of Zhao Kang's health condition. Seeing Lu Yan, his doppelganger, naturally raised suspicion, so he deliberately used the pretense of playing music and chess to test him, causing him endless annoyance. How did it end up looking like something else in Huo Lang's eyes?

Lu Yan propped his head with one hand, his eyelashes slightly drooping, unable to hide his amusement. "Is His Majesty the Regent perhaps feeling jealous?"

Huo Lang was somewhat annoyed. "What are you laughing at?!"

Lu Yan's eyes filled with deeper amusement. "I laugh because I'm happy."

Huo Lang gritted his teeth. "What's there to be happy about!"

But Lu Yan leaned over and kissed him, whispering softly, "Anything related to you makes me happy..."

His gaze was gentle, reminiscent of peach blossoms in early March, like a babbling stream in a valley, or more like smooth, soft silk, wrapping around Huo Lang layer by layer, slowly suffocating him without him even realizing it.

Hearing this, the corners of Huo Lang's lips curled up, unable to be suppressed, but he still had to put up a tough front. "Is that so? But when I hear about your affairs, all I want to do is get angry."

This was the truth.

Because that evening, Zhao Kang summoned a concubine to attend him in bed. One must remember that his throne was teetering on the brink, and nine times out of ten, the reason was his weak body, which also affected his fertility to some extent. Therefore, he was particularly obsessed with the plan to produce an heir.

And now, just as his health improved a little, he started favoring concubines again.

When the news reached the Regent's Mansion, a pile of vases in the main courtyard was smashed.

"Shatter! Shatter! Bang!"

The maidservant responsible for cleaning crouched in the corner, listening carefully to the sounds. When the seventeenth vase was thrown, the noise was clearly different. She dared to peek through the window crack, only to immediately shrink back in fright, her heart pounding wildly:

Goodness, the prince actually shattered an inkstone!! Who on earth made him this angry? The last time he got this upset was when the emperor established the empress!

Wait, the empress?!

The maid widened her eyes, suddenly feeling like she had stumbled upon a significant secret. She quickly covered her mouth in shock, swept up the shards in the yard with her broom, and left the place as if her buttocks were on fire.

These days, being a servant wasn't easy; knowing too much could be fatal!

Huo Lang vented his anger in the room, his eyes red and terrifying. He ended up slumping in a chair, his chest heaving: What did the damn emperor take him for? One day they were entwined in the side hall, exchanging sweet nothings, and the next he summoned a concubine to attend him in bed?! It was a grave insult!

Damn emperor!

He should have deposed him when he seized military power!!

"Shatter!"

With a wave of his sleeve, another priceless vase was destroyed.

No one dared to cross Ho Lang when he was in a bad mood. Even his younger brother, Ho Pi, had to stay out of the way, let alone those chattering advisors. Yet, at this moment, Master Sang went against the wind and stood outside the courtyard gate, saying, "Your Highness, I have urgent matters to discuss."

He was old, with white hair and a frail body. Ho Lang couldn't possibly vent his anger on him, so he endured his fury and said in a deep voice, "We can discuss it tomorrow!"

Master Sang, however, said, "Your Highness, this matter cannot be delayed. Just now, a black-robed Taoist priest suddenly came to the mansion gate, specifically requesting to see Your Highness. We initially thought he was some random charlatan and were about to have the guards chase him away, but we didn't expect him to possess great abilities. I fear Your Highness might miss out on a talented individual, so I am risking my life to request an audience."

Huo Lang remained unmoved by this. These people from the martial world would wander around the capital seeking powerful patrons, spinning any lie imaginable. Their antics were annoying, and although he already had three thousand guests, the recruitment of talents was optional for him. Still, out of respect for Master Sang, he impatiently asked,

"Abilities? What abilities?"

Master Sang then entered the room, respectfully presenting a black scroll from his sleeve. "This person can predict and calculate, his skills are divine. He claims to know what Your Highness seeks in life and can help you achieve your lifelong wish. You will understand once you see this scroll."

Huo Lang scoffed, his sarcasm evident. "Know what this prince seeks in life?"

This scroll looked ordinary, its end tied with a silk rope. Clearly, Master Sang hadn't opened it. Ho Lang took it, pinched it to ensure there were no hidden blades or mechanisms, and then slowly unrolled it. The first word he saw was "Emperor."

An emperor is a ruler.

People saw Ho Lang wielding great power and repeatedly overstepping his bounds, so they assumed he wanted the imperial throne. Those martial artists also used this as a stepping stone.

Seeing this word, Ho Lang sneered inwardly, thinking that this was yet another presumptuous person. He was about to toss the scroll onto the table and order the black-robed Taoist to be driven away, but unexpectedly, as he continued to unroll the scroll, he found another word—

Heart.

Combined, it read "Imperial Heart."

The heart of the current ruler, Lu Yan's heart.

Huo Lang's gaze flickered, his face darkening as he pondered something. After a while, he snapped the scroll shut with a loud sound. "Bring him in!"

Master Sang seemed unsurprised by this. He hurriedly sent servants to welcome the guest. Soon, a Taoist dressed in black robes, holding a whisk, walked over under the guidance of a servant.

The man was pale-skinned and appeared to be in his twenties, but he had three long strands of beard. His black hair and eyebrows were fine, but strangely, even his lips and nails were a dark purple-black, as if he had been poisoned by some ancient toxin. He didn't look like a good person at all.

"Priest Mo Hen pays respects to His Majesty the Regent—"

Just as Ho Lang was secretly sizing up this strange man, the man bowed to him, his manners quite proper, not appearing to be someone who was arrogant due to his talent.

Huo Lang showed no expression as he waved his hand, signaling for Master Sang to retreat. A low, deep voice echoed in the study, making it hard to imagine that he had just thrown a tantrum. "Mr., please rise. I wonder why you sought an audience with this prince at the mansion gate. Is there something important?"

The other party was merely here to seek refuge. It was best to make things clear, he couldn't be too eager.

The demon-taoist had lowered his posture to the extreme, speaking with intonation and rhythm, exuding the demeanor of a hermit sage: "This poor Taoist has wandered far and wide in the past, and I have also heard of His Highness' illustrious reputation. This time, passing through Beishu, I specially came to pay a visit. Moreover, with nothing but the wind and the stars for company, I truly have no place to settle down. Therefore, I boldly ask for His Highness' assistance!"

Huo Lang picked up a cup of tea, lifted the lid, and skimmed off the floating foam on top. The mist rising from the cup blurred his cold and stern brows: "It's not difficult for this Prince to assist you, but the Regent's Palace does not support idlers. Master Mo Hen must demonstrate your true abilities."

Upon hearing this, the demon-taoist smiled: "This poor Taoist is willing to help His Highness fulfill your long-cherished wish."

Huo Lang raised his eyelids: "What is that wish?"

Demon-taoist: "A person's heart."

Huo Lang sneered disdainfully: "Just a heart, could this Prince not seize it myself?"

The demon-taoist said meaningfully: "An ordinary person can indeed do so, but the person His Highness desires was born without a heart. You would need this poor Taoist's assistance."

"Clang—!"

Huo Lang looked at him with piercing eyes as the tea lid fell from his hand, producing a dull yet crisp sound.

Just after the night watch had passed, two burly eunuchs carried a roll of brocade quilt into the Emperor's bedroom. The quilt was tightly wrapped, concealing a naked beauty inside—the Empress Consort Lan, who had been summoned by Zhao Kang for her services.

Zhao Kang could tolerate Lu Yan being his substitute and sitting on his imperial throne, but he could never allow him to touch his women. After all, no one wanted to be a cuckold. Thus, every time he summoned a concubine for service, Lu Yan stayed in the secret room.

The mute servant bowed and prepared the bed, hanging a commonly used sachet on the canopy. Seeing the eunuchs bring in the concubine to serve, he quietly withdrew and returned to the secret room.

At that moment, Lu Yan was sitting in the medicine cabinet reading medical books. Seeing Lan Yin return, he put the book aside: "Done?"

Lan Yin nodded.

Lu Yan waved his hand: "Retire. You don't need to stay up tonight."

He was indifferent to Zhao Kang summoning concubines, as the latter's body was now like a dry pot boiling soup—desiring but unable to act. However, news spreading out might displease Huo Lang, which was a troublesome matter.

The underground palace was damp, often infested with snakes, insects, rats, and ants. Lu Yan got up, holding a lamp, walked to one of the dark corners, and used a wooden stick to dig through the soil. A nest of weakly venomous red ants was seen lurking in the corner.

He untied the sachet around his waist, took out some powder, and sprinkled it inside. Then, he slowly retreated along the path. The group of ants followed him, attracted by the scent, until they reached the stone gate.

Lu Yan chuckled softly: "Go."

Humans couldn't leave the stone gate, but the ants could.

Due to the poison in his body, Lu Yan temporarily didn't want to provoke Zhao Kang into a cornered dog's desperation. However, there were countless ways to make the other party suffer endlessly.

After doing all this, Lu Yan returned to the medicine cabinet to continue concocting his antidote. That night, the palace spread the news that the Emperor had been bitten by a poisonous insect while summoning a concubine, causing Empress Consort Lan great suffering. Both were stung by ants, jumping around in distress, and the Imperial Hospital spent the entire night devising an itch-relieving method.

Now, everything was fine. The Emperor, due to his damaged health, couldn't engage in sexual activities for at least half a month. Empress Consort Lan, still shaken, cried and refused to go back to the bedroom. It was a scene of universal joy.

Wu Mei always felt that there was more to this matter than met the eye. Unfortunately, when the incident occurred, the sachet had already been taken away by the mute servant, leaving nothing to investigate. In the end, it could only be attributed to the digging of the underground palace beneath the bedroom, accidentally allowing poisonous insects and rodents to crawl up.

Zhao Kang fell ill, so Lu Yan had to approve the memorials on his behalf. He handled government affairs with ease, as if he was born to be an emperor. However, he paused upon inadvertently discovering Huo Lang's sick leave memorial.

It wasn't the first day Huo Lang had taken sick leave. He would take sick leave when he was lazy to attend court or when he was in a bad mood. Out of 365 days a year, he rested for 300 days. Yesterday, just after Zhao Kang had summoned a concubine, he took sick leave again. It seemed he was unhappy.

Wu Mei was attending to Zhao Kang in the bedroom. Today, Wu Mu was serving beside him. This eunuch was honest and reliable, making him more trustworthy than the former.

Although Lu Yan guessed that Huo Lang was feigning illness, he still asked: "Why is the Regent sick?"

Wu Mu replied: "I heard that he was troubled by worries and vomited blood last night in the mansion. He called many doctors to see him."

"…"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan paused his vermilion brush, and a large drop of bright red ink splattered onto the memorial, smearing a large area. An inexplicable unease filled his heart. His brows furrowed, and his tone became unusually cold: "How could he suddenly vomit blood?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that Wu Mu couldn't possibly know these details. He threw the brush aside: "Send a royal physician to check on him. Carefully diagnose the Regent and report back to me."

Wu Mu didn't dare delay and immediately dispatched the head physician to the Regent's Mansion for diagnosis. However, before stepping through the door, they were politely declined:

"Thank you for the Emperor's grace. This is an old ailment of the Prince. He has already taken medicine and fallen asleep. It wouldn't be good to wake him up now. Thank you, Physician Ji, for coming all this way."

The steward was relatively courteous, stuffing a bag full of silver coins into the physician's hands, then bowed and left. He passed through the winding corridors and went straight to the main courtyard, then reported the matter through the door.

A low male voice came from inside the room, indiscernible of anger or joy:

"I see. Retire. Go collect your reward."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Separated by a door, besides Huo Lang, there was another black-clothed taoist in the room. Seeing the taoist bow, he smiled and said: "Congratulations, Your Highness. This plan has succeeded. Within three days, the Emperor will definitely come to the mansion to visit you."

Huo Lang stood in front of the desk, painting with a brush. The scenery beyond the pass was majestic, hinting at the aura of war and iron horses. Hearing Mo Hen's words, he casually removed the floating hair from the tip of the brush and scoffed:

"This Prince isn't taking sick leave for the first time. He merely sent a doctor with medicine; how could he step out of the palace? Perhaps one day when this Prince dies on the battlefield, he might come to burn incense and mourn."

His words were tinged with loneliness and self-mockery.

Taoist: "Why must Your Highness belittle yourself? How about this poor Taoist makes a bet with you? At the latest, tomorrow, the Emperor will come over."

Huo Lang looked at him with piercing eyes upon hearing this: "If he really comes, this Prince will have to admire Mr. for your skills. What reward does Mr. desire?"

The taoist stroked his beard, feigning profundity: "This is just a small trick. When the matter is truly accomplished, Your Highness can reward me then."

Huo Lang put down his brush upon hearing this, somewhat curious: "So, does Mr. have a grand strategy?"