Living leisurely in Tang Dynasty

Chapter 73

No one dared to divulge news about the royal family. Even though Yan Liben was still hanging around the royals he couldn’t get information about anything. All he could do was comfort his brother to stay calm.

“His Majesty has visited the North and fought in the South. His body is strong and will be fine. Let’s just wait calmly for news.”

But how can Yan Lide feel at ease? Last summer, the Emperor ordered him to visit Luoyang to supervise the construction of Xiangcheng Palace. When he arrived it was already autumn. The autumn air was crisp and the plants were in yellow hues. There were no mosquitoes, snakes or ants. Therefore, he concluded that the weather and location was great. How would he know that it changes so drastically in spring and summer? It’s useless to say anything now. This is an issue he has created and will have to endure its full repercussion.

Yan Lide sighed and silently prayed for His Majesty’s health.

Yan Liben also concluded that things are bad. Why did a summer escape turned into such a mess? It would be better to just stay in Chang’an.

The brothers were feeling helpless and Li Yuanying was no better. Initially, they weren’t informed about the Emperor’s illness. When news spread and they found out, they weren’t allowed to visit him and could only wander around anxiously outside.

Yuanying waited for a full day and saw physicians walking in and out of the room but no one dare to reveal anything. He grew impatient and dragged Li Zhi to a window intending to get Li Zhi to climb in to see what is happening to the Emperor.

Li Zhi shook his head hastily. He’s not going to mess around. If father doesn’t want let them in, how dare they climb in through the window? Plus the guards are vigilant and not blind, it’s impossible to sneak in through a window unnoticed!

“If you’re not climbing, I’ll do it. Just look around and alert me when someone passes by.”

Li Zhi was helpless at young uncle’s request and stood around watching him clambered up the window. When the guards were not paying attention, he jumped into the Emperor’s bedroom. It’s likely because the two boys have been hanging around the whole day that no one paid them much attention. Li Yuanying managed to infiltrate smoothly!

He slipped in and waved to Li Zhi, gesturing for him to join him.

Li Zhi looked around and then towards young uncle who was inside the room. He then gritted his teeth and climbed in.

The Emperor’s residence was large and somewhat empty. The people serving him were all trembling in fear of making any mistakes. After sneaking in, Yuanying walked around calmly with his chest upright. He had a serious appearance that hinted that he had permission to be here. Naturally no one dared to stop them.

Li Zhi unconsciously copied Li Yuanying’s action. They are here to see father. What the issue?! Nothing! They should be visiting his ill father!

The two reached Li Er’s bed chamber and startled the people guarding the Emperor. Thinking deeper, Li Zhi is the Emperor’s biological son and Li Yuanying his favorite younger brother. It’s not weird that they are allowed in. The guards stepped back so that they boys could take a closer look at the Emperor.

Li Zhi can’t believe that they actually snuck in.

But what’s more important is father’s condition. Although Li Zhi doesn’t have medical knowledge, he could tell that the Emperor looks haggard and was obviously very sick.

Li Zhi quickly looked towards young uncle.

Yuanying was already kneeling down and took the emperor’s hand from under the quilt. The Emperor has never allowed his younger brother to check his pulse and from this action alone Yuanying could already guess that he was not in good health. Seeing the Emperor’s veins, Yuanying hesitated before putting three fingers on it.

But he couldn’t calm down and his fingers were trembling.

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Sun Simiao had once said that “a person might have healing skills but cannot heal themself.” He also said that when it comes to people close to you, making mistakes are not uncommon. The young boy brushed off those statements in the past but now he understood them.

Just when Li Yuanying was in a mess, the system’s voice suddenly rang: “Do you need testing help?”

Li Yuanying was overjoyed. Can this be done?

“Turn on medical channel and upload the specimen’s body condition. Then you’ll get a corresponding health report and recommended treatment plan.”

The system then added: “This requires a large number of points. Looking at your current points, you will be left with only a thousand points.”

All functions within the Library were obtained through points exchange. Based on experience, 1,000 points will probably give you a carriage blueprint. If I wanted to build another community like sunflower garden, I’ll probably need to start accumulating points from ground up again. However, my audiences have already question my channel’s credibility. It may no longer be easy to obtain lots of points!

After listening to the system’s explanation, Yuanying chose the medical channel without hesitation.

He then scanned and uploaded his brother’s condition according to the system’s instructions.

Soon, His Majesty’s health report appeared in front of Li Yuanying in full.

After reading it, Yuanying calmed down. Older brother was only in his forties but was seriously burnt out.  No only does he not have good rest, he often think too much. Both mental and physical health are in bad shape.

The 3D image displayed even marked the time and causes of each injury which looked shocking.

The young boy sat on his knees before collapsing into tears.

Li Zhi wasn’t aware that young uncle was communicating with his secret system. He could only see him weeping after checking father’s pulse. He immediately became anxious.

“Young uncle, what’s wrong?”

Li Er also noticed the movements around him.

He opened his eyes and saw a crying Li Yuanying and an anxious looking Li Zhi.

Li Er was still weak but he sat up with great difficulty and scolded with a straight face: “Who let you in?!”

The people serving all fell to the ground in panic to plead guilty.

Li Zhi was pleasantly surprised that His Majesty has woken up. Meeting father’s angry eyes, he explained: “We, we, we climbed in through the window. Father, we are worried!”

The Emperor coughed twice and turned his head to look at Li Yuanying who was wiping away tears. Even an idiot would know that Li Yuanying instigated that they sneak in through the windows. This b*stard has been trying to check his pulse since forever and now he has succeeded!

His Majesty slowed down his tone: “Okay, just go home. I’m fine. I’ll just need to rest for a day or two.”

Li Zhi pulled young uncle but he refused to leave.

“No. I want to see the medicine the imperial doctor gave.”

He didn’t care that the floor was dirty and sat his buttocks firmly down stubbornly.

“I won’t leave.”

Li Er was really tempted to stand up and kick him.

But he was still sick and didn’t have energy left.  He ordered that Li Zhi leave, leaving Li Yuanying who was sulking at his side.

Only the two brothers were left in the room.

Yuanying then turned his head to look at Li Er who was lying down.

Li Er had his eyes half closed and didn’t bother about his younger sibling.

“Brother, why don’t you step down from being Emperor?”

If he weren’t the Emperor, Li Er wouldn’t have to work so hard and fall sick due to frustration over this or that.

Li Er kept his eyes closed and said flatly: “That statement. If it was by someone else, their head would have rolled.”

“I know Brother won’t be angry with me, that’s why I said it.” After further thinking, there’s still some risk so Yuanying quickly tried to flatter the Emperor. “Brother, you have a big heart!”

“That’s right, you would have been dragged out and have your head chopped off long ago. No chance for you to create trouble everyday.”

Li Yuanying felt his neck go cold. But since he has already said something, he doesn’t want to hold it back. The boy continued to express his opinion tenaciously: “There is nothing good about being the Emperor. You are so busy, sleep so late and wake up so early. Everyone with something to complain about comes to you. Floods, droughts, mystical dragons are all your responsibility. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.”

The Emperor stayed silent.

“My eldest, third and fourth nephew all wants to be the Emperor. Just pick one and let them do it. I think my eldest nephew is quite a good candidate and the grand-nephew is smart and cute. They are all capable. If you don’t like the eldest then choose the third or the fourth.  You have so many sons, just pick whichever you like.”

Li Er opened his eyes and stared.

Li Yuanying looked back at him with eyes full of hope.

This was the best solution he can come up with.

“Chengqian and my other sons are all great. They are my pride.” He continued firmly: “But I am only forty-three and in my prime. I still have lots to accomplished. I cannot live like our father who only seek and indulges in wine and pleasure.”

Li Yuanying wanted to cry again.”I don’t understand,” he whimpered.

“You will understand, you are smarter than Chengqian and the others.”

Li Yuanying calmed down.

He actually understood it well.

Not everyone wants to have fun like him. People like Li Er, Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling are all different from him.

They have big ambitions and set their sights on the broader horizons. They want to do things their predecessors have never done and want to bring the country to a prosperous era that their predecessors couldn’t.

He just didn’t want his dear brother to lose his life trying to achieve it.

The Emperor’s father and wife are both long gone. Another person lost is one less close ally for him. Even if there will be many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, sons, daughters, and grandchildren in the future it will be different.

Neither brother spoke after that.

The imperial doctors came to deliver medicine.

This time the Emperor fell ill suddenly and shocked all the accompanying doctors. Their hands were trembling as they serve the concoction.

Yuanying has a clear understanding of his brother’s situation but he has managed to calm down. He took the medicine and tasted it. The medicinal soup has definitely been tasted and certified as non poisonous.  Yuanying was just afraid that the physicians would use medicinal materials that were in conflict with His Majesty’s health and might aggravate his condition.

After all, not everyone can be as comprehensive as a system’s scan.

He didn’t think it was too bitter so he pouted and thought about it carefully and was able to roughly analyze the ingredients in the bowl. After concluding that the medicine was not harmful albeit also  not very useful, he personally gave the medicine to the Emperor.

Li Er  don’t say anything and drank it in one gulp.

Li Yuanying quickly slipped a candy next to Li Er’s lips.

This candy was given to him by the system together with the Emperor’s health report. Apparently this candy had medicinal properties and would be good for the Emperor’s health.

There’s only one piece and no way for others to try it first. So Li Yuanying could only try his best to persuade the Emperor: “The medicine is bitter, brother, take this piece of candy! It’s sweet and neutralizes the bitter taste in your mouth!”

The Emperor glanced at the hesitant expressions of his servants and then at the candy. He finally opened his mouth and ate it.

It’s just a piece of candy, it’s no big deal. After becoming the Emperor even food sent by his sons and daughters had to be inspected multiple rounds.  Being the Emperor is indeed very tiring, let’s make an exception once.

Li Yuanying was happy.

By evening the Emperor started to feel better. He visited his children for dinner. After that, he summoned his ministers to tell them that he was in good health so everyone should be at ease.

Now that the Emperor has recovered, we will discuss the action points on Xiangcheng Palace and Yan Lide tomorrow morning.

Notes from the author:

Little Prince: Lord Brother, if you have anything you don’t want or anyone you don’t want, you can give it to me! (rubbing hands)

His Majesty Li Er: Get out!