Chapter 57: Chapter Fifty-Seven Could the Virtuous Prince’s Concubine, Appointed by the Emperor, Have a Child Outside…

Chapter 57: Could it be that the Virtuous Prince’s Secondary Consort, personally appointed by the emperor, had a child outside?

Since that day, Wei San never again questioned Wei Zheng, and their interactions remained as usual. Yet, Wei Zheng couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with him.

Wei San was tight-lipped, and despite Wei Zheng’s earnest attempts, he couldn't uncover the truth. Thus, the matter lingered until their return to the capital.

The group, of course, couldn’t openly re-enter the princely estate. Wei Zheng and Wei San, accompanied by their shadow guards and assassins, slipped back into the manor under the cover of night. Meanwhile, Ruan Xingji drove the carriage himself, slowly entering the city with the still-unconscious patient in tow.

The Virtuous Prince had been unconscious for ten days, his condition steadily worsening. The cause of his coma was discovered the very next day: someone had once again laced his tea with crane's crest poison.

The servant who served the tea was found dead in his room that same night, having poisoned himself. All leads were cut off, and the old emperor flew into a furious rage, ordering a thorough investigation.

The potent crane's crest poison, combined with the effects of the liuying toxin, nearly claimed the Virtuous Prince’s life. The Imperial Medical Bureau was at a loss, and it was only thanks to Zhong Tong’s unique antidote pills that his life was barely sustained. The old emperor, deeply worried about the Virtuous Prince’s condition, found his own health deteriorating in recent days.

With no medical cure in sight, the idea of taking a virtuous concubine to bring good fortune was brought forward. The Imperial Astronomer compared their birth charts and, greatly astonished, reported to the emperor.

"The Virtuous Prince’s concubine possesses a pure and untainted marital star, perfectly complementing the Virtuous Prince’s destiny. However, he lacks a certain nobility. If he remains a mere concubine, he may not be able to suppress the Virtuous Prince’s illness."

The old emperor wasn’t well-versed in destiny and metaphysics, but he grasped the deeper meaning behind the Imperial Astronomer’s words.

Frowning, he twisted the jade ring on his thumb and pondered for a moment before saying, "Then let him be elevated to Secondary Consort. Would that suffice?"

The Imperial Astronomer performed a quick divination and replied, "It should."

Zhao Fu, listening nearby, was inwardly shocked. Previously, he had only a vague notion of the Virtuous Prince’s favor, but now it seemed unparalleled.

He couldn’t help but offer a cautious reminder: "That Young Master Sui Yun is a commoner of truly humble origins. If he were to be married into the princely estate as a Secondary Consort, it might provoke criticism."

"Your point is valid," the old emperor mused.

After a moment’s thought, he penned an edict, ordering the Minister of War, Lord Wang, to adopt Wei San as his foster son. This would provide Wei San with a respectable family background, making his appointment as Secondary Consort acceptable without violating any rules.

The auspicious date was finally set for the tenth day of the ninth month. The ceremonies for taking a concubine and marrying a Secondary Consort were entirely different. While a concubine held a lowly status, a Secondary Consort was appointed by the emperor and held an imperially conferred title. Though the wedding was arranged hastily, all necessary formalities had to be observed, leaving the Ministry of Rites utterly overwhelmed.

Wei Zheng, who had already replaced Wei Liu, was reviewing secret reports submitted by the shadow guards in recent days. When Duan Lin finished reporting on the matter of taking a consort, Wei Zheng looked up and said, "The Imperial Astronomer performed admirably. Send him a gift later and have him speak a few more good words before Imperial Father."

He wasn’t entirely satisfied with this outcome, but given Wei San’s status, becoming a Secondary Consort was the best possible result. Since he had no intention of taking another wife or concubine, he could always find an opportunity to elevate Wei San to principal wife later.

As for the other party involved, Wei San still knew nothing.

The grueling journey had left Wei San exhausted, and the child in his womb, unusually quiet, finally allowed him to get a good night’s sleep.

Wei San slept until noon. By then, Ruan Xingji had already brought the patient into the princely estate under the pretext of seeking refuge with his junior disciple.

Since Wei Zheng had previously claimed that Wei San had broken his leg while saving the Virtuous Prince and was unable to receive guests, it was inconvenient for him to even go to the front courtyard.

Just as he was considering disguising himself as an ordinary servant to go out, the steward Li Dan summoned a servant to bring in a wooden wheelchair.

The wheels of the wheelchair were meticulously wrapped in iron, the armrests polished smooth and covered with a layer of tung oil, and the seat padded with a soft layer of lambswool.

The entire wheelchair looked exquisitely crafted.

"This is..." Wei San withdrew his gaze from the wheelchair and looked questioningly at Li Dan.

Li Dan smiled and said, "His Highness had this made earlier so that you could go out for some fresh air even while pretending to be lame."

Wei San wasn’t one to stay idle. If he were confined to a small room for a hundred days, he would likely go mad. Wei Zheng had considered everything carefully and had started preparing even before Wei San returned from Yangzhou.

Wei San was undeniably touched. Moved, he didn’t say anything to Li Dan but gestured for the servant to bring the wheelchair over.

Adhering to the idea of committing to the role completely, Wei San declined the offers of help from the servant and Li Dan. He supported himself on the armrests and slowly moved into the wheelchair. By the time he was seated, the hair at his temples was damp with sweat.

He casually tucked the stray hair behind his ear and turned to Li Dan. "Steward, please take me to the main hall."

Li Dan naturally didn’t refuse. After dismissing the servant, he diligently pushed the wheelchair toward the main hall.

The front hall of the princely estate was unusually lively today. After learning about the Virtuous Prince’s condition, Ruan Xingji boldly claimed he had a way to wake him. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau scoffed at this. If an itinerant doctor could solve a poison that had stumped all the imperial physicians, then the entire Imperial Medical Bureau might as well retire in disgrace.

Who did he think he was looking down on? Ruan Xingji’s temper flared. He shot a glare at his junior disciple, who was about to dissuade him, and turned to make a wager agreement with the imperial physicians: he would wake the Virtuous Prince within three days. The loser would have to hand over their most prized medical book to the winner.

The stakes were high. Every physician’s medical book was a treasured family heirloom, not to be shared lightly. Losing it would be a disgrace, making them ashamed to face their ancestors even in death.

The physicians hesitated, but Ruan Xingji rolled his eyes and taunted, "Imperial physicians? Utterly mediocre."

This was an insult. Enraged, the physicians agreed to the wager on the spot.

After signing the wager agreement, the physicians left the princely estate with dark expressions. As Wei San was being pushed toward the main hall, he happened to pass by them.

Wei San had met a few of these physicians before—arrogant individuals who held some favor with the old emperor. Although he was the Virtuous Prince’s male favorite, his status was lowly. He was about to ask Li Dan to move him aside to let the physicians pass when, to his surprise, they turned back and bowed to him with flattering smiles, offering congratulations.

Wei San was baffled, unsure what occasion warranted such congratulations from these dignitaries. Knowing that saying too much could lead to mistakes, he remained silent and listened to their flattery.

Finally, Li Dan, unable to watch any longer, stepped in and said, "Our Young Master Sui Yun has pressing matters to attend to. Gentlemen, please carry on."

"Our apologies," the physicians said, retracting their flattering attitudes and stepping aside to let them pass.

These physicians held official positions, yet Wei San, a commoner, was treated with such courtesy. Instead of feeling honored, he grew suspicious that they had ulterior motives.

He remained cautious. As Li Dan pushed him through the main hall’s entrance, he clearly heard the physician who had first greeted him say in a contemptuous tone, "He’s just a pretty boy who rose to power through sexual favors, and he dares to put on airs!"

"Lord Zhang, keep your voice down. He’s not the same person anymore—his status has changed dramatically. He’s now the Virtuous Prince’s Secondary Consort, personally appointed by the emperor. Be careful, or the walls have ears and someone might impeach you."

Someone whispered a warning, and Lord Zhang fell silent, disgruntled.

Wei San, who had overheard everything, was stunned, his pupils dilating in shock, wondering if he had misheard.

The Virtuous Prince’s Secondary Consort, personally appointed by the emperor? Since when? How did he not know anything about it?

Wei San felt no joy, only shock.

In the over hundred years since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, there had never been a male consort, let alone a Secondary Consort. Even if it wasn’t the principal consort, it was still preposterous.

He couldn’t understand what considerations had led the emperor to appoint him as Secondary Consort. All he wanted now was to see Wei Zheng as soon as possible and ask for an explanation.

The wheelchair rolled over the cobblestone path through the archway of the main hall’s front courtyard, and at a glance, he saw Ruan Xingji unfolding the wager agreement, drying the ink.

"What brings you out here?" Ruan Xingji asked as soon as he saw Wei San, tossing the wager agreement to Zhong Tong and walking toward him.

"I came to see His Highness."

Wei San answered honestly. Ruan Xingji took the wheelchair handles from Li Dan, instructing him to leave and attend to other matters, then pushed Wei San back to where Zhong Tong and the Senior Imperial Physician were standing.

As he spoke, Ruan Xingji naturally reached out and placed his fingers on Wei San’s wrist to check his pulse. At first it seemed normal, but then his brows furrowed.

“You’ve been overthinking lately, keeping everything bottled up. It’s no good for you or the child. My advice hasn't changed: young people should speak their minds early. Whatever the outcome, it’s better than tormenting yourself.”

He knew what Wei San was holding back and offered his disapproval along with the advice. Wei San pressed his lips together, with complicated emotions, and replied, “I understand.”

Zhong Tong also knew the inside story. The only one completely in the dark, the Senior Imperial Physician, suddenly interjected, “Child? What child?”

Was it possible that this Virtuous Prince's Secondary Consort, personally appointed by the emperor, had already been married and had a child outside the palace?

The Senior Imperial Physician was utterly astonished and couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild.

His suspicious, probing gaze was too glaring. None of the three present offered him an explanation. Just as he was about to dig deeper, the tightly shut door to the main bedchamber swung open.

A young maid in a light yellow gauze dress stepped out. Her lively eyes scanned the area outside, and when her gaze landed on Wei San, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes instantly lit up.

“Ah! Young Master Sui Yun, you’re here! His Highness was just asking for you in his dreams. Please come inside quickly—perhaps being with you will help him recover completely.”

She rushed toward Wei San, grabbed the wheelchair handles, and tried to pull him away. Ruan Xingji swiftly caught her arm, his eyes turning icy.

“What are you trying to do with Wei San?”