Chapter 10: The Living Emperor

Chapter 10 The Living Emperor

Lately.

The physician said Sang Yu's health had been chronically run-down and he was very weak.

Since it wasn't his own money, Li Zhiming didn't mind spending it, and various tonics and herbs were never lacking, batch after batch, treating Sang Yu as if he were a fragile newborn.

He also had servants take care of his daily needs and meals.

As for the rest, since he knew the guy had no underlings at all, there was no point in sucking up to him. Getting him back to health was like making amends for the original owner—after all, he'd been through hell in that dungeon.

As long as he didn't set off his crazy side, everything was fine.

Once his health was restored, he'd have more confidence when speaking.

Tsk.

Life was slowly getting more comfortable.

One bright, sunny morning, a servant brought Sang Yu his breakfast as usual, while Li Zhiming ate in the garden. The fresh air outside made him feel totally relaxed.

Just like you'd expect from a noble young master, the food was great every day, with tons of variety.

Feng Yin was standing nearby as usual, and Li Zhiming tugged at him: "Come on, come on, sit down and eat with me. Eating by myself every day is so boring."

"No, I couldn't possibly sit with you, Your Highness..."

"I said sit down, so sit down! From now on, you're my bro! Stick with me, and I'll take care of you!"

Without Feng Yin, he probably wouldn't have made it past the first hurdle.

Li Zhiming pushed the fancy breakfast aside and looked at him with puppy-dog eyes: "Come, eat."

Feng Yin sat down, a little embarrassed, so touched he was almost in tears.

At the garden gate, a figure in white leaned against the wall, stared in his direction for a bit, then walked off.

Half an hour later, someone came from the palace.

Word was the Emperor wanted him and Young Master Yu at the palace for something important.

It was his first time seeing the Emperor, so Li Zhiming didn't dare waste any time. He rushed to grab Sang Yu and dragged him out, totally missing the strange, dark look on Sang Yu's face.

As he got into the sedan chair, he realized this was his first time leaving the Prime Minister's estate, and everything was fascinating to him.

Especially the imperial palace—it was seriously grand and gorgeous, oozing wealth from every corner, all shiny gold, towering and imposing, way more impressive than the cheap-looking sets on TV.

"Eunuch, thanks for the trouble. Any idea what His Majesty wants with us?"

Li Zhiming tried to butter him up, hoping to fish for some useful info.

Unfortunately, the eunuch didn't answer, and his look even had a hint of contempt: "Young Master Li should focus on more proper things."

"..."

Fine.

Once inside the palace, he really felt how huge it was. From the gate to the Emperor's hall took a good while.

He and Sang Yu walked in together, and he immediately spotted a middle-aged man in his forties sitting in the middle, dressed in imperial yellow robes, with an unmistakable air of authority.

A real, live Emperor!

So cool!

Li Zhiming only dared one glance before instinctively looking away. His knees hit the ground with a thud as he kowtowed deeply: "Your subject greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"

Sang Yu knelt after him, his hair hanging down, hiding his face, his voice as cold and steady as always.

"Your guilty subject Sang Yu greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty."

The Emperor's eyes swept over Sang Yu, a complex look flashing through them before returning to normal, and his voice gave nothing away: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Zhiming stood up and deliberately moved to the side.

Sang Yu stood right beside him.

He took the chance to check out the people in the imperial study. Besides a few eunuchs, there were four young men standing off to the side like him.

He didn't know any of them.

But one guy wore silver armor and had a fierce look—probably a general.

The Emperor looked over the young men and said: "I called you here to talk about the rebellion in the south. The people are furious, and I plan to send two of you to calm them down. Who will go?"

"I'm willing, Father!"

"I'm willing, Father!"

"I'm willing, Your Majesty!"

Three of them stepped forward at almost the same time and knelt to volunteer.

That left Li Zhiming, Sang Yu, and the armored guy standing.

The Emperor nodded approvingly but stayed quiet, as if thinking it over.

"Father, let me go," one of them said. "As the Crown Prince, it's my duty to share the people's burdens. I should handle this myself."

Crown Prince?

Hearing that, Li Zhiming noticed the guy was also wearing yellow robes, and looking closer, the four-clawed python embroidered on them was kinda similar to the Emperor's.

A golden python—that was the Crown Prince's outfit.

Of the other two, one dressed kinda like the Crown Prince but less fancy, so he was probably a prince; the other wore official robes and looked refined and elegant.

Li Zhiming watched quietly from the side, saying nothing.

He wasn't good at fighting or scheming anyway, so he wasn't about to show off, and he didn't want any glory. Just living a good life was enough.

Another spoke up quickly: "Father, my elder brother has never left the capital. I've been to the battlefield with you before, seen your brilliance, and picked up a thing or two. If I go, I'm sure I can put down the unrest fast."

Wasn't that basically calling the Crown Prince an armchair general?

Sure enough, the Crown Prince's expression turned somewhat displeased: "Father, I've studied hard and trained in martial arts, all to ease the people's troubles. Now that the people are suffering, I'd go through fire and water for them. Please issue the decree, Father!"

He dropped to his knees with a thud.

The other one followed suit, kneeling and kept pushing himself.

As for the one in official robes, he stuck out like a sore thumb.

The Emperor's gaze swept over the three of them for a moment, then suddenly landed on Li Zhiming.

"Zhiming, what do you think? Do you have any desire to go?"

"?"

Li Zhiming's eyes widened, and he shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Your Majesty, I'm not talented or learned enough, and I wouldn't dare go in blind—I'm afraid I'd mess things up."

Seeing how his whole body was screaming no, a hint of displeasure crept into the Emperor's expression.

The emperor's authority was no joke.

"Father, please don't be angry," the Crown Prince said hurriedly. "Zhiming is naturally laid-back and easygoing, and he knows he's not the right fit, so he stays back. He's not trying to grab credit or glory—this is also his way of being responsible for the people, his heart's in the right place."

Li Zhiming was caught off guard.

No wonder he's the Crown Prince—he's got a speech for everything.

The Emperor spoke: "Then Zhiyan, and you, the Crown Prince, the two of you shall accompany General Lu."

"Your son obeys the decree."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Li Zhiming was secretly astonished, wondering if the one in official robes might be his own younger brother, when the Emperor turned to him with an utterly unreadable look.

"Zhiming, as the legitimate son of the Prime Minister, you should pay more attention to your own brother."

That was basically the Emperor flat-out saying he wasn't good enough.

"Yes, your subject will heed your instruction."

Li Zhiming did not care in the least, but he still listened respectfully.

Yet his attention quietly drifted to that younger brother of his. He had to admit, the man's face bore a slight resemblance to his own.

But his own face was more refined and handsome, while Li Zhixing appeared more scholarly, with gentler brows.