Ji Heng felt even more disgusted with these people, especially the Minister of War, who had troubled his mother the empress dowager more than once.
He coughed twice, trying his best to calm himself down and not get angry with them.
"The Minister of War, you're quite bold. What? Do you wish something bad would happen to the empress dowager? Or do you have some other motives?"
The Minister of War had been fighting on the front - line for many years. In fact, he had no fear of the young emperor in his heart. Instead, he was full of disrespect.
He was an old man, but now he had to kneel in front of a teenager. It would be a laughing - stock if word got out.
"Your Majesty is joking. I just hope that the empress dowager will stop interfering in state affairs in the future. Otherwise, it won't sound good if this spreads."
Ji Heng knew exactly what was on his mind. However, he wasn't a good - tempered person either and wouldn't let this man have his way.
The young emperor gently tapped on the dragon throne, deep in thought.
After a while, it was the Minister of War who couldn't hold back and provoked again.
"Does Your Majesty think what I said is wrong?"
"How could it be wrong? But you're really too bold, accusing the empress dowager in front of everyone. It seems that I've been too kind and indulgent to you on normal days, which gives you the nerve to do this."
His face darkened. He slapped the dragon throne hard with his small hand. The dragon robe he wore accentuated his figure. Although he was just a teenager, his air of superiority over the world was already unrivaled.
All the people present involuntarily knelt down. This was the power of the dragon.
When facing this emperor, they had no choice but to kneel and obey.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. We dare not."
The Minister of War was seeing this young emperor like this for the first time. He suddenly felt a little scared and somewhat regretful. Why did he talk back just now? After all, the one sitting above was the current emperor.
But now it was too late to regret. He could only kneel down.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I know I'm wrong. I hope Your Majesty can forgive me."
"Forgive you? That's easy to say. You've been disrespectful to the empress dowager. If I don't teach you a lesson, you might say something even more excessive next time."
Fu Lu quickly understood and his shrill voice echoed in everyone's hearts.
"Guards! The Minister of War has been disrespectful to the empress dowager. Drag him out and give him fifty big boards as a warning to others."
Soon, howls of pain came from outside. The Minister of War was a veteran of two dynasties. Such a punishment not only hurt his body but also shamed his pride.
After thinking that things were about done for the day, the young emperor rubbed his forehead wearily.
"That's all for today. I'm tired."
"Court is adjourned!"
...
When the young emperor arrived at the Shoukang Palace, laughter could already be heard inside.
Since the empress dowager had an accident, there hadn't been such laughter here for a long time. A thought suddenly occurred to him and he was eager to verify it.
He quickened his pace. In just a few steps, he was at the door.
He heard Shi Muyuan's slightly weak voice.
"You've all worked hard. When I'm fully recovered, I'll give you all a vacation."
"Why are you being so polite, Your Highness? Taking care of you is our duty. Besides, luckily, Aunt Xiao hasn't come back yet. If she were here, we'd probably be punished for not taking good care of the empress dowager."
Ji Heng's heart skipped a beat and he walked right in.
"Mother is awake?"
Seeing the young emperor, Shi Muyuan's face broke into a smile.
"Your Majesty is here."
Ji Heng nodded and carefully observed her expression.
She had just recovered from a serious illness. Her lips were pale and she still looked a bit sickly. But this was already a relief compared to the previous days when she had just lain in bed silently.
"How do you feel, Mother? The divine doctor said that you would be fully recovered in just five days. I didn't quite believe it at first, but now I do."
Shi Muyuan was stunned for a moment before she grasped the most important information.
"Your Majesty means that the divine doctor has been here?"
"Yes, but why didn't I see him? He should have met you, Mother."
The young emperor then turned to look at the maid beside him. Min'er stepped forward and bowed. She had been promoted recently to be the empress dowager's personal maid.
"Your Majesty, the divine doctor left after prescribing the medicine. He said that if the empress dowager feels unwell, we can go to the inn to find him."
Shi Muyuan sat on the bed and pursed her lips. It was not easy for the divine doctor to enter the palace. It seemed that all her previous sufferings hadn't been in vain.
"I'll go and see the divine doctor when I'm feeling better."
Ji Heng disagreed.
"He should have treated you, Mother. You don't need to thank him specially. It's all he owes you."
"No, Heng'er. Anyway, the palace owes him. His friend lost his life here and there's still no explanation. I should give him an account."
This time, Ji Heng didn't refute. Although the previous incident had nothing to do with them, it was a fact.
He could only agree.
"Then this time, let me go with you, Mother. Otherwise, I won't be at ease."
"Okay."
After they made the decision, they began to make preparations. Five days later.
Everything was almost ready. This time, when going to see the divine doctor, Shi Muyuan decided to ask him if he could cure the poison on the young emperor. At the same time, she would explain the previous incident clearly.
When they arrived at the inn, San Qi was just about to leave Changjing City. He wasn't surprised at all by their arrival.
"I've let go of the past. Don't worry. I won't make things difficult for you anymore. I'm leaving and I'll never set foot in Changjing City again."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan sighed and took out the evidence she had prepared long ago.
"The divine doctor should know the truth. Why don't you take a look at what's inside and then make a decision?"
San Qi was a bit surprised when he saw the box she took out. "Isn't this supposed to be his thing? How did it end up in your hands? You still dare to say this has nothing to do with you."
Although there was still anger in his tone, this time San Qi didn't do anything.
Shi Muyuan opened the box and took out a letter from it.
"This was what he intended to give you before he left, but he didn't have the chance in the end. Once you read it, you'll understand the whole truth."
San Qi opened it half - believing and half - doubting. When he saw the familiar handwriting inside, his hands trembled.
His lips quivered and tears welled up in his eyes.
Every word on it was accompanied by the familiar catchphrases. They had known each other for many years and were already familiar with each other's every habit.
For example, he would always draw a plum blossom at the end of the letter.
He still remembered that at that time, his friend said that the plum blossom was as tough as himself.