Ch 341: Courage

The man’s alert expression softened slightly: “What is it?”

Lin Hao sat down, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of the man, and said straight to the point: “I have a nephew who is different from ordinary people from birth, and he is hidden by his family and dare not be seen by others. It just so happens that a servant went to the South on business and heard of Sir’s deeds, so he invited Sir to ask if my nephew could be as lucky as the children Sir saved.”

The man’s eyes flashed with displeasure: “That’s no reason to bring me here like a robber.”

Lin Hao bowed again: “The child’s hidden illness cannot be revealed to outsiders, even if Sir is invited, the secret must be kept strictly, I hope Sir understands.”

After listening to Lin Hao’s explanation, the man remained silent with a stern face for a while, then asked: “What is unusual about the child?”

Lin Hao hesitated for a moment, and whispered: “He has a tail growing on his buttocks.”

The man raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression seemed surprised, but not that surprised.

Lin Hao’s heart leaped with joy: “Can Sir help him remove it?”

The man shook his head: “It depends on the situation.”

Before Lin Hao could ask again, he explained: “It depends on whether there are bones in the tail. If it’s just flesh and blood, it can be removed. If there are bones in the tail connected to the spine, then it cannot be done. Removal would risk paralysis.”

This situation was something Lin Hao hadn’t considered.

After thinking for a moment, she said: “Then please, Sir, stay here for two days. Whether my nephew needs Sir’s treatment or not, after I discuss it with his parents, I will give Sir an answer.”

The man showed dissatisfaction: “You want to keep me here?”

Lin Hao opened the wooden box on the table, revealing a box full of silver ingots, and pleaded earnestly: “Sir is a kind-hearted person, please bear with it for two days. Whether it succeeds or not, this is compensation. If you can cure my nephew’s hidden illness, there will be another generous reward.”

The man’s face changed constantly, and finally he nodded.

He certainly wouldn’t completely trust this woman who hadn’t even shown her face, but under these circumstances, if he didn’t agree, the other party could use force, and he would be helpless.

“Thank you, Sir,” Lin Hao thanked him solemnly and quietly returned to the palace.

The couple had already reached an agreement on their plans after the young prince’s treatment. After Qi Shuo understood the situation, he went to see Emperor Taian.

“Shuo’er, what is it?” Facing Qi Shuo, Emperor Taian smiled, completely different from his seriousness in front of his ministers.

“There’s something I want to tell Imperial Father…”

Emperor Taian gestured for everyone else to leave, only keeping Liu Chuan by his side.

“A while ago, Ahao’s people went south on business, and heard a strange story while passing through a certain place. After returning, they mentioned it to Ahao, and Ahao thought of An An…”

The Wuxiang Flower Dew Shop had opened branches in many places, with a strong trend of further expansion. Many of Lin Hao’s underlings traveled all over the country for business. Even if Emperor Taian sent people to investigate later, they wouldn’t find any flaws in this explanation.

At this time, Emperor Taian couldn’t care about anything else, and asked with a livid face: “So, the Crown Princess has already seen that person?”

Facing the imperial pressure, Qi Shuo remained calm: “Ahao didn’t reveal her true identity, nor did she reveal An An’s identity. Whether it succeeds or not, that person won’t know who sought him out.”

Emperor Taian remained silent. Although the weather was hot, the atmosphere was as icy as if it had frozen. After a long while, he asked in a low voice: “Why did the Crown Princess do this?”

Qi Shuo lowered his eyes, his tone calm: “Ahao happened to learn about An An’s situation, and she also happened to hear this strange story. She thought that perhaps Heaven was unwilling to see An An suffer a lifetime of pain, giving him an opportunity…”

Emperor Taian was silent for a moment, then asked again: “That person said whether he could treat it or not, he needed to see the person to determine?”

“Yes.”

There was another long silence. After a long time, Emperor Taian said indifferently: “I understand, you may go back now.”

“Son leaves.”

The room was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping. Emperor Taian turned his head and looked at Liu Chuan, and suddenly said: “What do you think the Crown Prince thinks?”

He asked why the Crown Princess did this because he wanted to know if they didn’t understand that this was a thankless task.

Liu Chuan was startled by the question and dared not speak nonsense: “The Crown Prince is kind-hearted and loves his brother—”

Emperor Taian didn’t finish listening and walked out.

The summer heat was intense, but Yun Gui Palace always seemed a little cooler than other places. Upon seeing the Emperor arrive, the palace attendants knelt down, all trembling with fear.

Emperor Taian saw the young prince, who could already speak and walk.

When the young prince was just born, it wasn’t noticeable, but seeing him today, Emperor Taian discovered that the child actually looked very much like him.

This made his mood even more complicated.

“Let me take a look.”

Although Emperor Taian didn’t say it explicitly, the young prince’s nursemaid immediately understood what the Emperor wanted to see.

Her face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously looked at the head mammy of Yun Gui Palace.

Liu Chuan shouted: “Are you deaf?”

The nursemaid’s face turned pale, and she tremblingly untied the young prince’s trousers.

Emperor Taian only glanced at it before turning away with a dark face, suppressing his discomfort and waving his hand: “Take him in.”

He confirmed again that he could never accept a son with a tail.

The news of Emperor Taian’s visit to Yun Gui Palace reached Consort Zhuang’s ears, making her uneasy. She wanted to ask but was afraid of annoying the Emperor further, so she could only keep it in her heart.

After Emperor Taian returned to the palace, two images appeared alternately in his mind: one was the lovely infant with eyebrows and eyes similar to his, and the other was the disgusting and ugly tail.

“Liu Chuan!”

“This servant is here.”

Emperor Taian’s face looked a little bad, and his lips were pale: “Tell the Crown Prince not to leak the young prince’s identity.”

In the same inconspicuous residential house, Lin Hao appeared before the man, holding the young prince, whose clothes and appearance were no different from those of children from ordinary wealthy families.

“Please, Sir, take a look.”

The young prince was asleep, making it convenient for the man to examine him.

After carefully examining him, the man’s tense expression softened slightly: “It can be removed.”

Lin Hao smiled brightly: “That’s great!”

The man changed his tone: “But it will inevitably injure the flesh and blood. Even if it can be removed, there is a risk of infection if the wound becomes suppurated.”

“We understand this. Compared to the pain this child will have to endure for his entire life, his family is willing to take this risk.”

“In that case, it can be done.” The man mentioned a few things for Lin Hao to prepare.

The treatment process was very agonizing for those waiting. In the palace, Emperor Taian was restless, pacing back and forth.

Consort Zhuang was even more nervous, secretly blaming Emperor Taian for disregarding the young prince’s life and death at one moment, and having a faint expectation at another, but mostly worry.

Liu Chuan came in and reported in a low voice: “Your Majesty, the young prince is back. Because he was given Mafeisan, he is still asleep.”

Emperor Taian’s eyes lit up: “Summon the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess!”

Soon Qi Shuo and Lin Hao came in.

“How is it?” Emperor Taian stared intently at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao smiled: “Thanks to Imperial Father’s blessing, that Sir successfully removed the extra part. As long as the wound is carefully cared for and prevented from becoming infected and suppurating, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Regarding wound care, the imperial physicians who knew about the young prince’s condition could completely take over.

“Good, good, good!” Emperor Taian said “good” three times in succession, unable to hide his joy. “You have my heartfelt thanks.”

Consort Zhuang also smiled brightly.

“Let’s not let that Sir leave yet, let’s wait until An An recovers,” Emperor Taian instructed after calming down.

“Imperial Father, rest assured, your daughter-in-law will make the arrangements.”

After Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left, Emperor Taian personally went to see the young prince.

The young prince was asleep, his buttocks covered with white cloth, so the wound couldn’t be seen, but it could be seen that it was flat.

At this point, Emperor Taian finally breathed a sigh of relief, and Consort Zhuang couldn’t help but shed tears.

Afterwards, Qi Shuo handled government affairs as usual, and Emperor Taian still only inquired about major matters. In the eyes of the officials and nobles, everything was as usual.

Only Qi Shuo and Lin Hao knew that changes would soon come.

When they heard that the young prince could run around, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao went to see Emperor Taian together.

Emperor Taian saw the two of them and smiled slightly: “I was just about to call you over, and here you are.”

“Imperial Father, do you need us for something?” Qi Shuo asked with a smile.

“Liu Chuan—”

Hearing the Emperor’s call, Liu Chuan came over with a scroll in his hands and unfolded it in front of Qi Shuo.

Qi Shuo glanced at it and immediately knelt down.

It was actually an abdication edict!

Lin Hao knelt beside Qi Shuo, also stunned.

They had already discussed it. If the young prince could be cured, they would take the initiative to give up the position of Crown Prince, leave the capital, and enjoy the freedom of the world, avoiding any unpleasantness later.

They never expected that before they could even mention it, the Emperor had already produced the abdication edict.

“Imperial Father, you are still young, this edict, your son dare not accept it. Today, Ahao and I came here actually to—”

Emperor Taian interrupted Qi Shuo: “I know.”

Qi Shuo was taken aback.

The Emperor, with gray hair at his temples, looked at the kneeling couple, his eyes unusually soft: “Shuo’er, I have watched how you’ve handled the regency for more than a year. You are excellent, Ahao is also excellent. Entrusting the Qi family’s empire to you, I am at peace.”

He was old, and the young prince was too young. Even if he were normal, there were still many years until he came of age. Who could guarantee that he would be reliable?

Even if he were reliable, would his children also have that… thing?

If he were ten years younger, Emperor Taian would be unwilling, but now he dared not gamble, nor did he want to gamble anymore. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s actions regarding the young prince also gave him the courage to give up.

“Come with me to see An An. An An is still young, you, as his older brother and sister-in-law, should take care of him more in the future.”

Emperor Taian got up, his hands behind his back, and walked towards Yun Gui Palace first.

There should be one more chapter to finish, the child has a competition tomorrow, so I’ll take a weekend break to wrap it up.