Chapter 350: Chapter 350 Triumphal Return to Court to Watch the Tigers Fight from Afar (5)
Eunuch Shiyuan froze for a moment, then nodded and bowed to the Prince while apologizing, "Yes, yes, the princess has taught me well; this old servant does not know how to speak, but this... the imperial edict... Your Highness, please reconsider." Holding the imperial edict, Shiyuan made a final desperate struggle.
"My dear husband, the medicine warming on the stove must be ready by now. Let me help you inside," Feng Xuxu glanced at the anxious Eunuch Shiyuan, feeling incredibly pleased with herself.
"Thank you for your trouble, my wife." He watched his wife with a smile, feigning weakness as he rose to his feet. The two supported each other as they walked towards the side hall, and just as they were about to enter, Feng Xuxu abruptly turned around.
"Eunuch Shiyuan, as you have seen, my husband indeed is unwell. It would only be proper for His Majesty to come out of the city ten miles to receive him, to truly show the breadth of the emperor’s benevolence and affability towards his subjects." Xuxu did not look at the eunuch’s face, which had turned the color of a purple eggplant, and with a cunning smile, she and Dugu Chen entered the side hall.
Lenglei held back his laughter, utterly admiring the princess’s scheming nature. Demanding that a sovereign come out of the city ten miles to receive someone, and yet phrasing it so righteously, would surely make Dugu Han spit blood when he found out.
Seeing that the pair had left, leaving him with such a statement to ponder, Eunuch Shiyuan had no choice but to take the imperial edict back to the palace.
The moment Eunuch Shiyuan entered the Imperial Study, he knelt on the bluestone tiles, speechless because he dared not speak.
Dugu Han, seeing that Eunuch Shiyuan was still holding the imperial edict he had just issued that morning, furrowed his brows fiercely, and his icy gaze bore into Shiyuan. "Speak, what exactly happened?"
With a ’thud,’ Shiyuan’s forehead struck the polished bluestone heavily: "The Prince claims he is unwell and thus did not receive the decree."
"The crime of deceiving your sovereign, do you wish to commit it as well?" Dugu Han put down the Vermilion Brush, leaned back in his chair, and looked disdainfully at the person on the ground.
Eunuch Shiyuan’s eyes widened in panic as he gazed at the emperor: "Your Majesty, spare my life; I will speak."
As Shiyuan spoke in fits and starts, Dugu Han’s expression shifted constantly, a cold, cruel glint passing through his downcast eyes.
Quite the clever Feng Xuxu, urging me to travel outside the city to receive them. How very inventive and bold of you to suggest such. Hmph, you underestimate me, but soon enough, you will reap the consequences of your actions.
"Issue a decree for Prince An to go and receive them."
"Yes," Eunuch Shiyuan promptly rose to his feet and hastened to the Prince An Residence.
In Wangyou Palace, the retired emperor leisurely played chess by himself, a content smile on his face as he held a teacup in one hand and a chess piece in the other.
Fu Wei entered the palace and saw his master playing chess. He quietly stood to one side, silently waiting for the retired emperor to address him.
Glancing at Fu Wei, the retired emperor put down his cup and beckoned, "Come, come, join me in a game of chess. I’m in need of a challenge."
Fu Wei looked over the board, then picked up his robe and sat across from him. Their hands moved pieces across the board in combat, until eventually, white won by a narrow margin.
Fu Wei stood up, bowed deeply, and praised, "I admire Your Majesty’s skills in chess."
Dugu Kangze waved his hand dismissively, chuckling, "Ah, how could you still address me as Your Majesty? I am now the retired emperor." Shaking his head, he stood up and patted Fu Wei’s shoulder.
"You will reclaim power sooner or later," Fu Wei said intently, looking at the retired emperor.
"Haha, let’s wait for that day to come," he said as he walked out of the hall.
Fu Wei followed, and together they leisurely wandered the small garden within Wangyou Palace.
"Retired Emperor, as you predicted, the emperor currently harbors deep dislike for the Prince, demanding this morning that the Prince come out of the city ten miles to welcome Marshal Hou Wei back to court after his victory."
"Haha, Dugu Chen certainly didn’t go," Dugu Kangze turned to look at Fu Wei."
"Indeed, and the princess suggested that the emperor himself should go out to receive them, to demonstrate his magnanimity and approachability," said Fu Wei, who couldn’t help but be amused when he heard it. The princess was quite interesting.
"We’ll just watch the tigers fight from the safety of the mountain," he arched an eyebrow. "Dugu Han, you had better not disappoint me."
"Yes," Fu Wei concurred.
Inside the Prince An Residence, after Eunuch Shiyuan delivered the decree without lingering, he swiftly left. Prince An, Dugu Hai, bid him farewell with a smile and then returned to his study as soon as Eunuch Shiyuan had exited the residence.
"What does the emperor mean by this?" An Yun, a close confidant and adviser to Prince An, slightly furrowed his brow at Prince An, truly perplexed by what the emperor might be implying.
With a mocking laugh, Dugu Hai said, "Hmph, he’s trying to intimidate me. Knowing full well that Marshal Hou is my uncle, yet he insists I go out of the city to meet him. What does this mean? He’s generous, he’s not suspicious, whereas we should feel ashamed for suspecting the noble of ignoble intentions."
"Prince, no matter what, keep your composure. After all, Marshal Hou is returning victorious from battle, and from what I observe, there seems to be a rift developing between the emperor and the Prince. This is an opportunity; the more the emperor leans on Marshal Hou, the more it will be to your benefit," An Yun hastily advised, for fear Prince An might act irrationally.
Prince An snorted disdainfully, "Rest assured, I shall not be petty. I can swallow this slight until I have firmly established myself."
An Yun exhaled in relief and resumed his usual smiling demeanor, "Your wisdom is commendable, my lord."
Prince An chuckled and turned to look out the window, pondering the task of receiving his uncle on the morrow.
Seeing this, An Yun quietly left the study.
