Chapter 61: Chapter Sixty-One Why Would the Old Emperor Suddenly Want to See Me?…

Chapter 61: Why would the Old Emperor suddenly want to see me?...

In the end, Wei Zheng didn’t get to accompany Wei San for a refreshing stroll, because Wei Yi arrived.

Wei San instinctively moved to withdraw but was stopped by Wei Zheng.

He said, "There are no secrets between us. From now on, there's no need to avoid anything."

Wei San was taken aback, his emotions a tangled mess. He felt as though his heart ailment had flared up again.

Wei Yi, standing nearby, couldn't help but glance at him, subtly giving him a thumbs-up.

Wei San easily saw the teasing behind Wei Yi's calm expression. With slightly reddened earlobes, he averted his gaze, ignoring him.

Wei Zheng watched their subtle exchange with a faint pang of jealousy. He knew his possessiveness was unreasonable, but he simply couldn't bear the thought of anyone else occupying Wei San's attention besides himself.

He squeezed Wei San's hand, openly expressing his displeasure.

Wei Yi, who found himself inexplicably targeted by this hostility, thought, "Tsk, tsk, tsk! How utterly saccharine."

Feeling like he was being subjected to his master's public display of affection, Wei Yi quickly got straight to the point to avoid further discomfort.

He relayed the conversation between the Crown Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Qi verbatim, concluding with his own speculation.

"This subordinate observes that the Prince of Qi and the Crown Prince of Huainan are merely feigning unity. Their cooperation is likely not as solid as it appears on the surface."

In response, Wei Zheng let out a soft chuckle but offered no comment. Instead, he turned to Wei San and asked, "What do you think?"

Wei San, who had been listening intently, was surprised to be addressed. He blinked at Wei Zheng in confusion before collecting himself under the latter's encouraging gaze.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "The Crown Prince of Huainan possesses the audacity to plot rebellion. It's unlikely he would be content with merely being an equal. This subordinate believes the Prince of Qi is using him, and he, in turn, is likely using the Prince of Qi as a stepping stone."

"A keen observation. My Secondary Consort Yun is truly intelligent."

Wei Zheng lavished praise upon him. Wei San, feeling a blush creep up, cleared his throat into his hand and said, "You flatter me, Master."

Wei Yi found their exchange so cloying it made his teeth ache. He couldn't help but shake his head to himself, thinking that love truly makes people foolish—his master and Wei San were the perfect examples.

Feeling even more resolved to remain unmarried for life, he diligently continued with the rest of his report.

He recounted what the Grand Tutor had said while drunk. Wei Zheng, who had been only half-listening, suddenly grew serious.

He frowned skeptically and asked, "Did the Grand Tutor truly say that?"

An Yi nodded firmly. "Yes, this subordinate did not misreport a single word."

Wei Zheng knew full well that the Old Emperor would never hand the throne over to him. He had considered all the princes but never imagined that the Old Emperor would find none of his sons worthy.

The Grand Tutor was the Old Emperor's confidant, entrusted even with the imperial edict, a testament to the emperor's trust in him. The Grand Tutor was also not one to feign drunkenness or lie. Wei Zheng knew him well—he prided himself on his integrity as a scholar and disdained falsehoods. Being drunk would not change his nature.

The information revealed by the Grand Tutor was most likely true.

"If it's not one of the princes or the crown prince, then there is one person who perfectly fits His Majesty's requirements."

Wei Zheng had an inkling of the answer but was not yet certain.

Wei San, his curiosity piqued, couldn't help but ask, "Who is it?"

Had it been before, no matter how curious Wei San was, he would have certainly kept his mouth shut and not asked. It was Wei Zheng who gave him the confidence to speak up.

Wei Zheng ruffled his hair affectionately with a pleased expression and gently explained, "It's Wei Min, the crown prince's legitimate son."

With this reminder, both of them recalled who he was.

The imperial grandson Wei Min was intelligent and level-headed since his youth, indeed a promising candidate for the throne. Unfortunately, he was still too young, merely nine years old. For him to become the emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty was far too early.

"If it really is Wei Min, what was the Emperor thinking?"

Wei Zheng didn't quite understand, but he didn't care whether he could seize the throne or not. All he wanted was for everyone who had harmed his mother and the entire Duke of Dingguo's residence to pay for it with their lives.

As for what would happen to the Great Yu Dynasty, he wasn't concerned. However, he wondered what his crown prince brother's face would look like if he knew that after a lifetime of scheming, his own son would turn out to be his greatest enemy.

Feeling mischievous, Wei Zheng playfully instructed Wei Yi, "Such important information, as the crown prince's confidant, Wei Yi, you must make sure he hears all about it."

Wei Yi smiled meaningfully, "Understood, my lord."

By the time Wei Yi left, it was nearly dawn. Wei San was getting tired, and though Wei Zheng asked him to stay and rest in the main hall, he turned him down.

"There's still much to prepare for the grand wedding. Although I may not be directly involved, I must still oversee things."

With less than ten days left until the tenth of September, and Wei Zheng still publicly playing unconscious from poisoning, the task of reviewing the wedding details fell entirely to Wei San and the steward Li Dan. The Minister of Rites came to the palace daily, and Wei San couldn't risk being seen leaving Wei Zheng's bedchamber.

Even ignoring the gossip that might spread about him serving the prince while he was unconscious, he had to consider the risk of the Minister of Rites noticing something.

Anyone who could become the Minister of Rites was definitely no fool.

Adhering to the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble, Wei San insisted on leaving. Wei Zheng wanted to keep him but ultimately put the bigger picture first and let him go.

He watched as Wei San vanished into the thick morning fog and suddenly felt there was no need to keep pretending any longer.

Whether he was awake or not, Wei Yan would still lead troops into the capital on the day of his wedding. It would be better to wake up early and be there openly with Wei San.

Having made up his mind, Wei Zheng sent the assassin to convey his decision to Ruan Xingji. Ruan Xingji wasn't surprised at all and even remarked, "I thought he could hold out a few more days. I didn't expect just one night with Wei San to change his mind."

"Young lovers just can't help themselves."

He concluded thus, and Zhong Tong nearby couldn't resist teasing him, "Sounds like you know all about it, senior brother."

Ruan Xingji, who had been single his whole life: "…………"

"Go away, go away! How dare you mock your senior brother? Watch out for the sect rules!"

Zhong Tong shrugged, not scared at all, which infuriated him.

While the two were bickering, the sun had already risen slowly in the east. The servants and maids in the Virtuous Prince's residence went about their duties as usual.

But today was destined to be unsettled. The old emperor, who hadn't visited for two days, was worried about his son's condition and got out of court early to come to the Virtuous Prince's residence.

Instead of going to see Wei Zheng first, he had the steward Li Dan summon Wei San, who was learning etiquette with the matron.

"His Majesty wants to see me?"

Wei San didn't understand why the old emperor suddenly wanted to see him. He frowned in confusion, sensing that this couldn't be good.