Chapter 169 Gloating over misfortune
There is a row of bird cages hanging on the pavilion in the back garden.

The emperor was obviously in a good mood and was feeding the bird in the cage.

Xia Shouzhong hurried over. Before he could speak, the emperor spoke: “How is the third son’s condition?”

Xia Shouzhong: “Replying to the Emperor, it is no longer a problem.”

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, “Where is the crown prince?”

Xia Shouzhong paused and said, “It’s an old illness. I can only slowly recuperate and take good rest.”

The emperor nodded and asked, “Where’s the second son?”

Xia Shouzhong: “He has also woken up. According to the eunuch who came back from the Imperial Hospital, he needs to stay in bed for at least a month and rest in a place with good conditions for several months, otherwise he will easily develop a chronic disease.”

The emperor admired the row of bird cages hanging on the pavilion and said, “This kid is brave and ruthless enough. He will definitely give everyone a surprise in the future!”

He paused, “This kid is too simple-minded. He should be cautious at this time to avoid unnecessary trouble, but he insisted on taking the opportunity to kill Li Hu. Wait, he will regret it.” Having said this, he turned around and looked at Xia Shouzhong: “What’s going on?”

Xia Shouzhong looked around and replied softly, “Everything has been arranged. There will be no problem.”

The emperor said “hmm” and looked into the distance again: “This should be the last time we take action in the palace.”

Xia Shouzhong: “The Second Prince’s appearance is like a drop of cold water falling into a frying pan. It’s going to be a blast.”

The Emperor: “Don’t waste your time on this kid anymore. Focus more on the third brother.”

Xia Shouzhong: “Yes. What about the Fourth Prince?”

The emperor shook his head and said, “That little beast can’t be trusted!” Then he walked out.

West Warm Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Li Yuanzheng and several chief physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau had all arrived. They were standing there with their backs bent in silence, waiting for Emperor Yongchang to review the medical records.

After reading the medical records, Emperor Yongchang slowly raised his head and said in a hoarse voice, “You must take the patient’s pulse carefully and take good care of him. You have to take turns to serve the patient in Yuqing Palace every day. You can’t stop.”

The doctors said: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: “We must also pay attention to the Second Prince.”

The doctors said: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Okay, you all go back.”

Li Yuanzheng and several attending physicians bowed and left.

Looking at the medical records on the imperial desk, Emperor Yongchang sighed deeply, then he slammed the medical records shut, pressed his palm on the imperial desk, stood up, walked to the window and looked at the dead leaves falling outside.

At this time, Dai Quan came in hurriedly and called softly, “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongchang looked out the window and said, “Go ahead.”

Dai Quan: “I was a step too late. He committed suicide by taking poison.”

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then asked, “What else?”

Dai Quan paused and said, “Your Majesty, people did go to Zhou Mansion, and people from Zhou Mansion did go to Shuntian Mansion to inquire about Li Hu’s property in the capital.”

Emperor Yongchang snorted, “This is causing trouble.”

“Your Majesty, I have been ordered to accompany the commander of the Rui Shi Camp, General Li Hu, to investigate a case.” The voice of the eunuch on duty came from outside.

“So soon?” Emperor Yongchang’s eyes flashed, “Come in.”

The eunuch on duty walked in with his head bowed, holding a thin case record in his hand.

Emperor Yongchang turned around and looked at him: “Where is Li Hu?”

The eunuch on duty knelt down, raised his hands high and replied: “Your Majesty, General Li and I encountered the Queen’s phoenix chariot at Jingyun Gate, and General Li was detained by the Queen for questioning.”

With a “humph”, Emperor Yongchang picked up the thin case record and began to read it.

There was silence in the warm room.

After reading it, Emperor Yongchang threw the paper away and looked at the eunuch on duty: “Were you there during the trial?”

The eunuch on duty replied, “Your Majesty, the incident was over when I arrived.” Emperor Yongchang frowned and was about to get angry.

The chief eunuch on duty said: “Thinking of your majesty’s instructions, I personally interrogated him again. The confession is the same, not a single word needs to be changed.”

Emperor Yongchang’s face looked better. He glanced at the piece of paper that fell on the brick floor and asked again, “Did Li Hu use severe punishment?”

The chief eunuch on duty said: “I was just about to report to your majesty that General Li tortured the prisoner. I personally checked the wounds on the prisoner’s body and found that they were just whip marks, not too serious, but…”

Emperor Yongchang: “What’s wrong?”

The chief eunuch on duty said: “The prisoner didn’t even dare to look at General Li, his eyes were filled with fear.”

Dai Quan spoke up: “The military has ruthless methods specifically designed to interrogate prisoners and spies.”

Emperor Yongchang was silent, thinking for a long time, but then asked a simple question: “Where are the people?”

The eunuch on duty said: “Your Majesty, the person has been taken to the Silijian duty room.”

Emperor Yongchang was about to speak when he suddenly saw a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department standing outside the door with sweat all over his forehead, making gestures to Dai Quan who was inside.

Emperor Yongchang: “What’s the matter?”

The eunuch walked in quickly, knelt down before Emperor Yongchang, and whispered, “Your Majesty, the prisoner seems to be a little crazy, and he kept mumbling along the way.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Oh? What is he shouting about?”

The chief eunuch: “He said he was following the orders of the Second Prince.”

“Shut up!” Dai Quan shouted urgently, then knelt down beside Emperor Yongchang: “Your Majesty, that dog slave has gone mad, I will kill him right now!”

Emperor Yongchang was startled for a moment, then picked up the piece of paper, looked at it for a moment, and sighed, “Li Hu is giving me face!”

Dai Quan understood that the Zhou family was in trouble. There was no other way. The crime of sowing discord between the emperor and his subjects and slandering court officials could not be put on the second prince.

The emperor also wanted to take this opportunity to release the second prince.

Releasing the Second Prince would have caused dissatisfaction among the Queen and the Crown Prince, and now with the incident of Li Hu, it would be even more difficult. Anything even remotely related to Li Hu would cause the Crown Prince to be alert and react strongly.

Thinking of this, Dai Quan sighed in his heart. If only Li Hu hadn’t run into the Queen, he could just give Li Hu some compensation and suppress the matter. There wouldn’t be the current trouble. How could this be such a coincidence? !
Emperor Yongchang spoke: “Go and clean it up.”

The chief eunuch said, “Yes.” He kowtowed, then got up and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then said, “Let’s go to Yuqing Palace.”

Prince Zhongshun was obviously in a good mood and was drinking alone in his study at this time.

He drank another large cup of wine in one gulp, and King Zhongshun praised, “Good wine!” Then he shook his head and sang, “People say that the emperor’s family has nine nights of spring, but who knows that it is still frost, snow, guns and swords. One day, the golden palace collapsed.”

He drank another glass of wine, “Retribution! This is God’s punishment for you, the usurper who killed your brother and forced your father to the throne!” At this point, he shook his head, “What a pity, neither of the two little bastards died. God is blind!”

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Prince Zhongshun, who was pouring wine, trembled and the wine spilled onto the desk.

The butler came in excitedly, greeted Prince Zhongshun, and then whispered, “We found out that the news was leaked deliberately by the Third Prince’s people.”

King Zhongshun was startled: “Are you sure?”

Butler: “No doubt.”

Prince Zhongshun was a little excited and unbuttoned his collar, his eyes shining: “The emperor’s son is colluding with bandits, this is really unheard of!”

The butler nodded.

King Zhongshun sneered again: “This third brother is not a good guy either!” As he said that, his eyes rolled around and then he waved his hand.

The butler came over.

Prince Chungshun whispered something in his ear.

(End of this chapter)