Fierce “Husband”

“Yes. Maybe when we go back this time, Moxi’s condition will be even better. He is also not a fool, but very smart. No matter what we play, none of us can beat him.” Madam Weng was overjoyed, thinking that Kangchan, that poor child, could finally put an end to his suffering. The corner of her eyes also could not help but moisten.

“Madam.” Madam Weng immediately controlled her emotions. “Come in.” Madam Weng’s personal maid walked in. “Madam, the master sent a message that he would have lunch with Master Cen in the study and to tell the two ladies not to come in or wait for them.”

“Understood. The two of us will also have our meal in the room at noon.”

“Yes.” After the maid went out, Madam Weng said, “I’m afraid these two brothers have too much to talk about, so don’t worry about them.” Madam Cen just nodded. 

In the evening, Madam Cen returned to her son’s residence alone, since Elder Cen wanted to stay in the Weng mansion for a few days. Madam Cen came back to pack some clothes and other things, since she would stay with Elder Cen for these few days.

Emperor Yongming was having dinner with the Empress in Jingyou Palace. The Empress’ face was very pale and from the relaxed expression on Emperor Yongming’s face you could tell he was a bit reluctant. The Empress has not been in good health for the past few days and the abdominal pain that he hasn’t had for a long time has begun again, making him eat even less. Emperor Yongming almost ordered Shao Yunan to come to the capital to cook for the Empress, but was stopped by the Empress.

Eunuch An originally wanted to return to the palace to serve him, but the Empress told him to work at ease. Those businesses were related to the Great State of Yan’s grand economic plan, so there could not be any delay. His body has been like this for many years and he was used to it.

Eunuch Zhuo, who was waiting, received a wink from a young eunuch, who walked over with silent footsteps and asked in a low voice, “What’s the matter?” Immediately, he then turned around and walked up to Emperor Yongming and said, “Your Majesty, the elder is asking for an audience. He is with Cen Yuebai, the Dean of the Yongxiu County school.”

If Emperor Yongming didn’t have a deep impression of Elder Cen before, he definitely had one now. He immediately said, “Bring the imperial master and Cen Yuebai to the imperial study.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Yongming reached out to hold the Empress’ cold hand. “I’ll go to the imperial study, do you want to lie down for a while?” Dai Qiyou tried to pull himself together as he said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry about me. The old teacher and Cen Yuebai must have come with something important.” Emperor Yongming squeezed the Empress’ hand hard and then stood up.

“Your Majesty rises–” Emperor Yongming walked away with a heavy expression. Dai Qiyou slowly stopped smiling and pressed his one hand to his abdomen which had been hurting today. He couldn’t give up, he couldn’t give up. He still had many days to go.

As soon as the Emperor entered the imperial study, Elder Cen immediately knelt. “Cen Yuebai bows to the Emperor, my Emperor will live a long time.”

“Stand up and take a seat.” Elder Weng, who had been excited all day, calmed down and asked in a loud voice, “Your Majesty, is something wrong?” Emperor Yongming could not hide his anger as he walked to his dragon chair and sat down, but he did not evade saying, “The Empress has been suffering from abdominal pain for several days and the quack doctors at the Imperial Hospital still can’t get rid of the residual poison. If the residual poison is not cleared, how can it not cause abdominal pain?! I really want to cut off their heads!”

Both Elders Weng and Cen were shocked and Elder Weng said, “Why don’t we post an imperial list and invite famous doctors from all over the world to treat the Empress?” Emperor Yongming said heavily, “I am afraid that once the imperial list is posted, some people will take advantage of it to make trouble.”

Elder Weng and Elder Cen immediately thought of it. Yes… the Empress was a thorn in the eyes of many aristocratic families. As long as the Empress was there, there would be no other people in the eyes of the Emperor. There will also be no selection of concubines and they would have no chance to send their daughters into the palace to give birth to a prince.

Elder Cen asked, “Your Majesty, is Yunan’s paste useless?” Emperor Yongming sadly said, “I thought it was useful, but now it seems to have become useless. Since I took the solid yuan paste, there was no special effect at first, but after taking it for several months, I really felt much more energetic. But for the Empress…” Emperor Yongming’s sadness let the excitement and joy in Elder Weng’s heart disappear.

After taking a deep breath, Emperor Yongming asked, “The Imperial Teacher must have something important to say since he entered the palace so late, right?” Elder Weng calmed down, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, the reason why this old minister entered the palace at this time is indeed because of something important. I have to report this matter to the Emperor.”

Elder Weng raised his body and looked around, Emperor Yongming signaled and the personal eunuch who was serving him in the imperial study retreated. Then Elder Weng personally picked up the bamboo box that was placed aside and walked forward, putting it right in front of Emperor Yongming.

“Please take a look, Your Majesty.” Emperor Yongming looked suspiciously at Elder Weng before he opened the bamboo box. There were books in the box, which made Emperor Yongming raise his head and ask, “Books?”

“Please read it carefully, Your Majesty.” Emperor Yongming took out a book and became even more puzzled. “The Analects of Confucius?” Emperor Yongming was not as knowledgeable as Elder Weng and just thought it was some book he had never read. Elder Weng made a gesture for the Emperor to continue reading, as Emperor Yongming picked up the book and turned to the first page.

“Tzu said, ‘Learn and…'” Emperor Yongming read with a serious expression. He then looked back at the book again and after carefully reading the content on the first page, he raised his eyes again. “Imperial Teacher, what kind of book is this? I can’t believe there are words I can’t read.”

Elder Weng just said, “The Emperor should also look at the others.” Emperor Yongming put down ‘The Analects of Confucius’ and picked up the next one, ‘The Book of Songs.’ After reading through a page, Emperor Yongming put down the Book of Songs and picked up ‘The Doctrine of the Mean.’ Then he picked up the anthology of famous poems from the Tang Dynasty. He then finally realized something and looked at Elder Weng and Elder Cen in shock.

“Your Majesty…” Elder Weng knelt down on both knees and kowtowed. “The miracle man descended to bless our Great State of Yan. The prosperous time will come, Your Majesty.” Elder Weng lifted his head, his eyes filled with hot tears of excitement. “Even this old man has never seen these books before. Any one of them will set off a shockwave in our Great State of Yan. In October of the fourth year of Yongming, the miracle man presented His Majesty with new tea and new wine, outlining for His Majesty the way to economic prosperity for the Great State of Yan. Now the same miracle man is presenting His Majesty with several masterpiece books, opening up the path of wisdom for the students of the Great State of Yan. Your Majesty is blessed to have the help of the miracle man. Even if I die here, I will die without regret…”

“Your Majesty…” Elder Cen also knelt down and told the Emperor the origin of these books. The origin that Shao Yunan explained to him. Emperor Yongming experienced a huge shock in his heart.

“Your Majesty is the body of a real dragon and with fate in your favor, the Great State of Yan will only prosper!” Elder Weng’s excitement was beyond words. The sadness in Emperor Yongming’s heart was also washed away quite a bit. He put his hands on the box and gradually clenched his fists. “I… I will revive the Great State of Yan!”

“Your Majesty…”