Chapter 12: Chapter Twelve Marrying a Male Wife, Wouldn’t That Mean No Heir?

Chapter 12: Marrying a Male Consort? Wouldn't That End the Line?

Wei Zheng's fall created a considerable splash, snapping a cluster of lotus stems and scattering the once tightly closed buds across the water's surface. The pond's surface became a chaotic mess. After a few struggles, Wei Zheng vanished beneath the water, with only a few gurgling bubbles indicating someone was below.

Not only was Wei Heng stunned, but Butler Li's face also went blank with shock.

After a few moments, Butler Li suddenly shrieked desperately: "Help! The prince has fallen into the water!"

The lotus pond was secluded and usually deserted. After shouting several times with no response, Butler Li turned his pleading eyes to the Crown Prince nearby.

"The prince doesn't know how to swim! Your Highness, I beg you, please save him quickly!"

Butler Li knelt and clung to the Crown Prince's leg, weeping bitterly.

*The Crown Prince, who also couldn't swim: "..."*

*Your prince doesn't know how to swim, but do you think I do?*

The Crown Prince pushed Butler Li aside and explained helplessly, "I don't know how to swim either. Instead of begging me, you should hurry and find someone to pull him out."

Butler Li jolted back to his senses and scrambled off to find help.

Fortunately, luck was on his side—or perhaps Wei Zheng wasn't meant to die yet—as he soon encountered a sweeping servant rushing over. Butler Li felt he'd found a savior and pulled the man along with him.

"Hurry, hurry! The prince has fallen into the water. You must rescue him quickly. If anything happens to him, everyone in the manor will pay with their lives."

The sweeping servant was none other than Wei San, disguised with a human-skin mask. He had just learned of the prince's whereabouts from an undercover guard and, before he could get closer, heard the news of his master's fall. Frantic with worry, he was also profoundly relieved that he had chosen to risk coming out due to his concern for the prince.

"Butler Li, please go quickly and fetch Imperial Physician Liu. I'll handle the prince."

Wei San was an assassin who only knew how to kill; saving someone was not his expertise. The palace had physicians on staff. After calling out to Butler Li, he quickly outpaced him in just a few strides.

Butler Li snapped to attention, muttering, "Yes, yes, you're right," before rushing toward Imperial Physician Liu's residence.

By the pond, the Crown Prince stood at a distance, scanning the water to see if any bubbles were still rising, confirming whether his foolish younger brother had drowned.

The pond wasn't actually very deep. If someone stood in the mud at the bottom, the water would only reach nose level. In theory, standing on tiptoes should keep one from drowning.

But the lotus stems underwater were tangled and dense, and the Virtuous Prince couldn't swim. Startled from the sudden fall, or getting entangled in the stems, could easily lead to drowning.

The Crown Prince crossed his arms, a mix of pity and malice in his heart, thinking it would be best if he drowned, sparing him the trouble of dealing with him later.

As he watched, the disguised Wei San passed by him. Unable to suppress his anger, Wei San gave him a venomous look, which the Crown Prince found displeasing, his face darkening.

*How dare a lowly servant, a mere ant, show such disrespect to the crown prince of a nation!*

Wei San ignored his displeasure, focused solely on his master's safety. Without even removing his outer robe, he dove headfirst into the pond.

The water was murky, and Wei San searched briefly before finding Wei Zheng, whose hands and feet were tangled in the lotus stems. Wei Zheng’s face had turned bluish-gray from lack of air.

Panicked, Wei San swam over and, ignoring propriety, gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The pond water was cold, but their lips were warm and soft. The drowning man’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, filling Wei San with hope as he breathed more vigorously into his mouth.

After several attempts yielded no response, Wei San almost thought he had imagined it.

Staying underwater for too long was unwise. Giving up on reviving him with air, he quickly broke the stems and tugged Wei Zheng up to the surface.

"Quick, quick! They're out, they're out!"

A crowd had assembled on the bank—servants sent by Butler Li on his way to fetch the physician. As soon as they saw figures emerging from the water, they rushed to help.

Butler Li returned just then with the physician. The servants pulled Wei San and Wei Zheng ashore, and the physician, upon seeing Wei Zheng’s condition, exclaimed in alarm immediately. He directed everyone, "Quick, take the prince to my clinic."

So, the group found a stretcher and hurriedly carried Wei Zheng to Imperial Physician Liu’s courtyard, with Wei San following closely behind.

In this critical moment for the Virtuous Prince, the Crown Prince was naturally forgotten by everyone.

His gaze followed the departing crowd, his lips pressed tightly together and his brow furrowed.

Wei Zheng’s accidental fall into the water had initially caught him off guard, but upon reflection, it seemed increasingly suspicious.

Because of his guilt toward Noble Consort Xu, the emperor doted excessively on the Seventh Prince. Whether the fall was an accident or not, the Crown Prince would be implicated.

If he didn't want to give others leverage, he had to plan ahead.

***

In Imperial Physician Liu’s courtyard, all unnecessary personnel were dismissed. With no one else in the room, Imperial Physician Liu glanced around, confirmed they were alone, and locked the doors and windows.

Butler Li looked at Wei San, who had stayed behind. "What about him?"

"He's trustworthy."

Wei Zheng, who should have been unconscious from drowning, sat up on the bed. Aside from his pale complexion, he showed no signs of distress.

Wei San wasn’t surprised. When he pulled Wei Zheng ashore, he had noticed something was off. Someone unconscious from drowning wouldn't deliberately relax their body to avoid weighing him down.

At that moment, Wei San realized Wei Zheng was scheming against the Crown Prince, so he played along to complete the act.

The drowning was fake, but he couldn't help feeling a lingering fear—fear that it might not have been fake, fear that his master might truly have been in danger.

His eyes never left Wei Zheng, not even for a moment. As Wei Zheng stood up, Wei San instinctively took a cloth to dry his still-dripping hair.

The assassin was thoroughly frightened, treating him almost as delicately as a porcelain doll. Wei Zheng took the cloth from him and patted his hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Wei San pressed his lips together, wanting to say something, but then remembered his place. Whatever he said would be overstepping, so he dutifully stepped back, though his gaze never left Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng smiled helplessly and didn't try to comfort him further, letting him be.

Imperial Physician Liu and Butler Li, who had been closely watching the two, exchanged glances, each seeing something meaningful in the other’s eyes.

The way their prince looked at that assassin was far from innocent. Was the iron tree finally blooming?

Imperial Physician Liu didn't find it particularly unusual. After all, the Yu Dynasty was open-minded, and marriages to male wives or concubines weren't rare. If the prince truly took a liking to a man, bringing him back as a noble concubine wouldn't be a big deal.

But Butler Li was deeply worried. He had served Noble Consort Xu for over a decade before her death and had been with Wei Zheng for ten years since. He understood Wei Zheng better than Imperial Physician Liu did and knew that when it came to matters of the heart, Wei Zheng was devoted. If he truly fell for Wei San, he would likely never look at anyone else again.

Butler Li couldn't help but sigh. The consort had only this one son. If he took a male consort, wouldn't that mean he'd have no heir?

Butler Li was troubled, but his master's affairs were not something a servant could interfere with. He could only pray that the prince's interest was fleeting and would fade away after he grew bored. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to face the consort in the afterlife.

Wei Zheng had no idea that in those few moments, Butler Li’s mind had already raced through countless thoughts.

He hung the wet towel and, upon turning back, looked down thoughtfully for a moment.

"Imperial Physician Liu, do you have a method to induce a continuous high fever and convulsions?"

Imperial Physician Liu replied, "There is one, but the prescription is extremely strong. During the treatment, the body will be in considerable discomfort, and it's hard to guarantee there won't be side effects."

"That's fine. Just proceed with the medication, Imperial Physician. If anything goes wrong, I won't hold you responsible." Wei Zheng didn't care about the side effects; at worst, it would be some physical discomfort. Having pretended to be mad and foolish for so many years, the mental anguish and pain were far more unbearable than this.

"Your Highness, what do you mean…"

Imperial Physician Liu wasn't entirely sure of his intentions, but when Wei Zheng gave him a knowing smile, he knew exactly what to do.

"My lord."

Wei San couldn't help but speak up. He knew Wei Zheng must have his reasons for doing this, but he wanted to advise him to reconsider. After all, the imperial physician had already mentioned the prescription had side effects, and he couldn't bear to see Wei Zheng harm his own health like this.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Wei Zheng looked at him leisurely, a smile playing on his lips, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Wei San hesitated for a long moment, but ultimately didn't voice the thoughts in his heart. Instead, he abruptly knelt on one knee.

Bending at the waist, he cupped his hands in salute and said, "Your servant is willing to share your burdens, Master. Please give your orders."

As an assassin, only by doing something for his master could he prove his worth.

Wei Zheng, who had been waiting for the assassin to say some sweet words: "…………"

He massaged his temples in exasperation, feeling that if he didn't give the assassin something to do, he would probably kneel there indefinitely. He said, "There's no need for you to do anything. Just continue maintaining your cover as the male favorite during my feigned illness and guard me. That's all."

Wei San felt two pairs of utterly shocked eyes on him—from Imperial Physician Liu and Butler Li, who had just learned he was Young Master Sui Yun. He flushed with embarrassment, lowered his head, and gave a soft acknowledgment.

After the group had finalized their plan, Imperial Physician Liu prepared the prescription on the spot.

The effects of the prescription were indeed as intense as he had described. Less than a quarter of an hour after drinking it, Wei Zheng collapsed, immediately developing a high fever with cold sweats. His face flushed with a sickly redness, while his lips took on a faint bluish tint, giving the appearance of someone critically ill and on the verge of death.

Beyond the surface symptoms, the side effects of the medication soon followed. Wei Zheng only had time to instruct Butler Li to move him to the side hall for recuperation before he passed out, leaving the three of them staring at each other in dismay.

Imperial Physician Liu was over sixty, and Butler Li was a eunuch in his fifties. These two old men couldn't possibly carry Wei Zheng, a young and robust man.

They exchanged a glance and simultaneously spoke in unison, "Young Master Sui Yun, the task of carrying His Highness back to the side hall falls to you."

Wei San, who was now burdened with their expectations: "..."