The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 7 Mother and Son Conversation
"Besides," Li Heng smiled, "we have only been married for one day. Now that you know I am sick, you can marry again."

Yang Yuhuan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "That's right."

"Uh" Li Heng was stunned.

Seeing Li Heng's expression, Yang Yuhuan smiled from tears and said, "I lied to you. My husband is in danger of death. Even if there is no love between us, I will not leave at this moment, let alone..."

Yang Yuhuan leaned over and leaned against Li Heng's chest, and then said, "My dear, you are my soulmate."

Li Heng was moved by what he said and hugged Yang Yuhuan.

Yang Yuhuan added: "My dear, you are ill, but instead of complaining about your illness, you come to comfort me. It is so hard to find a good man like you."

Li Heng had never thought about what Yang Yuhuan said, because he was pretending to be ill and it was a blessing in disguise. He didn't know what would happen if Yang Yuhuan knew the truth one day, and whether she would be angry.

But that was a matter for the future, and he didn't have time to think about it now.

He sorted out his thoughts and asked, "Chang'an is prosperous and makes people nostalgic. If I want to travel outside the capital, would you be willing to accompany me?"

Li Ying's original intention was to avoid being cheated on. If Yang Yuhuan was greedy for prosperity and insisted on staying in Beijing and was unwilling to be with him, then half of the plan would be ruined.

"Okay." Yang Yuhuan looked up at Li Heng and said, "I grew up in Shuzhou when I was young, and moved to Chang'an when I was ten years old. Actually, I have lived in Shuzhou longer than in Chang'an. I always want to go back to Shuzhou to take a look."

Shuzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiannan, and Li Heng is now the governor of Jiannan. If he goes straight to Shuzhou, Li Longji will definitely suspect that he wants to dominate the area.

Although being in charge of a region is part of his plan, he cannot be so hasty. He needs to proceed step by step carefully, so he cannot go to Shuzhou for the time being.

Thinking of this, Li Heng said, "We can't go to Shuzhou for the time being. I'll take you there in a few years, okay?"

"Yes." Yang Yuhuan nodded, "Wherever my lord goes, I will follow him."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng hugged Yang Yu even tighter.

The next day, many famous doctors gathered at Prince Shou's mansion, and Imperial Physician Zhang accompanied them throughout the whole process.

With the help of Imperial Physician Zhang, the famous doctors all determined that Li Heng suffered from acquired knotty pulse, which was incurable and could only be treated by recuperation.

The famous doctors all said the same thing, so others had to believe it.

So the news that Prince Shou was suffering from an incurable disease spread throughout Chang'an within a few days.

Li Ying stayed in the mansion, welcoming and seeing off batches of famous doctors and visitors.

It was not until more than ten days later that the visitors gradually dwindled, the sky in Chang'an gradually became colder, and snowflakes began to fall.

Li Ying braved the wind and snow and went into the palace to pay his respects to Concubine Wu Huifei.

Concubine Wu Huifei was the person who was hit the hardest by Li Ying's illness, because she was sad about her son's illness, and she was also disappointed because her son could not become the crown prince, which made her wish to dominate the harem for a long time shattered.

At this time, Concubine Wu Huifei was not as energetic as before, but had a sad look on her face.

The mother and son came and sat down beside the charcoal fire. Concubine Wu Huifei said, "Ying'er, I have four sons in my life. Your ninth brother, Li Yi, died at the age of two. Your fifteenth brother, Li Min, also died early. Now I only have you and..., but you also..."

At this point, Wu Huifei shed tears. In history, it was precisely because of the death of his first two sons that Li Ying was raised by Ning Wang Li Xian outside the palace since he was a child, and later he was canonized as Shou Wang for this reason.

Concubine Wu Huifei has always had a bad reputation because she framed Crown Prince Li Ying.

But for Li Ying, he can now feel Wu Huifei's motherly love for him, and he can also feel Wu Huifei's sorrow of losing her son before her.

Li Ying consoled her, "Mother, life and death are determined by fate. Jiulang and Shiwulang died young because of fate. It is not something you can change. And it has been so long. You don't have to be sad. As for me, I am still alive and well."

When there is no one else around, their names are less official.

Concubine Wu Hui forced a smile and said, "Your father has already asked Imperial Physician Zhang about your wish to travel. Imperial Physician Zhang said that traveling would actually make your condition better. When winter is over, I will ask your father to let you leave the capital."

"Yes." Li Heng really needed Wu Huifei's help to leave the capital. He did not make false excuses and agreed directly. After a pause, he said, "Mother, what do you think of the prince?"

"Him?" Concubine Wu Huifei didn't expect Li Ying to suddenly mention Li Ying. After thinking for a while, she said, "He has decent talents, but he is impatient and not good at making compromises."

"What about Li Heng?" Li Ying asked again.

Wu Huifei said: "Li Heng is good at political schemes, can be patient, and has decent talents. Why are you asking them?"

Li Heng smiled and said, "According to what A Niang said, neither of them is incompetent. After I leave Chang'an, the struggle for the government will most likely be centered around them. At that time, A Niang just needs to watch and don't interfere."

"This...what do you mean?" Concubine Wu Huifei was puzzled.

Li Heng said, "My father favors my mother now. After I withdraw, my mother will no longer be their enemy in the court. At that time, they will most likely come to win my support, but I can't pay attention to them."

Historical records have various reasons for Wu Huifei's death, and some are full of legends, but generally speaking, they are all related to Li Ying's death, in other words, related to the political situation.

Li Heng didn't want Concubine Wu Huifei to die so early, because even if we put aside the perspective of family affection, if Concubine Wu Huifei lived one more day, Li Longji would not be so anxious to find a replacement, and the probability of snatching Yang Yuhuan would be smaller. In addition, if Concubine Wu Huifei was alive, it would also extend his influence.

But he knew that Concubine Wu Huifei was ambitious, and even if he withdrew from the fight for the throne, Concubine Wu Huifei would most likely interfere in the political situation, so he came specifically to persuade Concubine Wu Huifei to stay away from the fight, which was also his arrangement before leaving Beijing.

"Yes." Concubine Wu Huifei nodded in agreement, but obviously didn't listen.

Seeing this, Li Heng said, "Mother, you are the daughter of the Wu family. Now many people in the Tang Dynasty have deep resentment and fear towards the Wu family. No matter who you help, they will not fulfill their promise to you. Not only that, it would be a benevolence to let you die peacefully."

Wu Huifei was slightly surprised when she heard this and asked, "Then what do you think I should do?"

Li Heng said, "Don't worry about anything. When you have no choice, justice comes first. Also, although Li Linfu is a man of outstanding talents, he cannot be trusted. Mother, you must be careful with him."

Wu Huifei said: "He promised that he would protect you."

"Promises are the most unreliable things, especially for the court." Li Heng looked at the charcoal fire in the brazier. "In winter, everyone will approach this charcoal fire, but in summer, everyone will avoid it. The reason why Li Linfu promised to protect me is because he wants to climb up the ladder by relying on your power. You have helped him a lot, but he may not really be grateful to you. One day, once you fall out of favor, he will show his true colors."

Concubine Wu Huifei was stunned.

In her impression, although her son had some talent, he was cowardly and not good at scheming. But today, Li Heng's insights exceeded her expectations.

She began to think about what Li Heng had said before. After thinking for a while, she said, "Heng'er, I thought you would be fully focused on your condition at a time like this. I didn't expect you to think about it more than usual."

(End of this chapter)