Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 264: Chapter 159: The Imperial Edict Strikes Chapter 264: Chapter 159: The Imperial Edict Strikes “`

Seething with indignation, he sat down and fiercely guzzled a pot of tea, feeling that this was the only way to cool the flames of anger in his heart.

Seeing that the time was about right, the procuress, flaunting her charm, appeared before the two of them again, and with a hand gesture signifying it was time to leave, she said, “Time is up, sirs, please go.”

“If we must go, then we’ll go! Do you think I actually enjoy being here?” Du Chenzhi, upset by the whole affair, vowed never to visit a brothel again! Marching angrily toward the exit, he suddenly remembered something and turned to look at the procuress, “Since we didn’t do anything, shouldn’t our silver be returned to us?”

Two thousand taels of silver, at that! They couldn’t just let Cool Breeze Bright Moon Tower or Yue Xilou profit from this!

The procuress glanced at them, then burst into laughter, “Are the two gentlemen joking? In business, who ever heard of returning the silver that’s already in hand? Our Cool Breeze Bright Moon Tower only deals in transactions with no returns!”

Du Chenzhi was dumbstruck, pointing at her with a gaping mouth, and finally spat out a resentful remark, “You’re ruthless!”

And so, they came in high spirits and left utterly dejected.

Within a single night, the news of the resident military commander lavishly squandering money in pleasure quarters spread throughout the Southern Fujian entertainment circles and, like the wind, quickly dispersed throughout the region.

The commander-in-chief deserted his post, attempted to assassinate a court official, causing great disorder in Southern Fujian, meanwhile, the negligently performing Deputy General indulged in the pleasures of the flesh!

One memorial after another, as expected, continuously landed on the emperor’s desk.

“Bang!” A memorial was slammed onto the desk, Emperor Zhoulin breathing heavily, his face flushed with fury, “Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!”

Zhou Mu’s killing of officials in Southern Fujian shocked the entire court, and the constant impeachment memorials put Emperor Zhoulin on edge every time he attended court, carefully dealing with his ministers.

He believed in his imperial grandson, who would not kill those officials without good reason. There must be something those men did to provoke his grandson. If they offended him, they deserved their fates!

Thus, his dealings with the court officials were nothing but feigned cooperation, waiting for Zhou Mu’s explanation.

But the explanation was not forthcoming; not with the first report, nor with the second. He hadn’t heard even a word of explanation when the news of a great upheaval in Southern Fujian reached him!

The eunuch Grand Steward, Han Shan, carefully holding a jade gu, stepped forward and, with calming words, tried to soothe him, “Your Majesty, do not be angry. Take care of your health. Prince Mu’s memorial is likely delayed on its way. Your Majesty must not become enraged because of this.”

“Delayed? Delayed my ass!” He slammed his hand on the desk harder than before. Even Emperor Zhoulin, who usually hid his feelings, couldn’t help but curse. He pointed to the south, complaining to his trusted attendant, “Liuzhou may be far, but can it be farther than Southern Fujian? The memorials from Southern Fujian have come several times over. Even if his memorial was being brought by someone walking on two legs, it should have arrived by now! What do I see? Nothing!”

Seeing this, Han Shan quickly stepped forward and started to rub his chest to help him relax, cooing, “Your Majesty, please calm down, calm down…”

Finding it hard to catch his breath, Emperor Zhoulin, with a dark expression, pointed to the door and asked, “Are those old coots still kneeling out there?”

Looking out the door with concern, Han Shan nodded and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, the Prime Minister and several Grand Secretaries are still kneeling outside.”

Hearing this, the emperor hit the desk again, “These old fools acting hoity-toity, do they really think I can’t touch them? Buddy Mu might have made a serious mistake, but he is still my imperial grandson! All of the Zhou Dynasty belongs to me; can’t I protect my own grandson? Are they feeling guilty as if they are in a conspiracy?”

Emperor Zhoulin paced around the desk, still unable to calm his anger, “Those old fools are just waiting for me to take action against them, aren’t they? Wanting to earn a reputation as righteous officials who aren’t afraid to offer blunt advice? I will not fulfill their wishes! Summon someone, have the Empress call their families to the palace. Teach them a good lesson about the consequences of kneeling at the palace gate as if they are committing treason!”

A little eunuch, who had been standing by, bowed and quickly left.

Seeing this, Han Shan approached to flatter, “Your Majesty’s stratagem is brilliant. Letting those imperial decree ladies create a commotion will certainly change the nature of the situation. Let’s see how long those officials can hold out.”

Emperor Zhoulin scoffed, “Thinking they can climb over my imperial grandson to make a name for themselves? No chance! They are still too naive to play this game with me! My imperial grandson is only for me to discipline. My family affairs are my own. Do they really need to be involved? It’s nonsensical!”

His brilliant and exceptional imperial grandson, the only remnant of his and Momo’s bloodline! Whatever he did was right, and even if he wasn’t right, he was still right in his own way!

Han Shan wiped the sweat from his brow, silently criticizing in his heart, who is the real fool here? Prince Mu may be Your Majesty’s imperial grandson, but he is also the Commander-in-Chief and a court official! You are biased in your protection, without choosing means, so self-righteous — what do you make of the Zhou law that ‘The Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as the commoners’?

Han Shan firmly believed that if any court official dared to raise this point, the emperor would undoubtedly retort without hesitation, “The Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as the commoners, but my dear imperial grandson is not the Son of Heaven, nor does he need to follow any damned Zhou Laws!”

Although he criticized to himself, outwardly Han Shan remained solemn. Seeing Emperor Zhoulin pacing back and forth, deeply troubled, he cautiously offered advice, “Your Majesty, even if the imperial decree ladies can persuade those officials to leave, the lack of response from Prince Mu is ultimately problematic.”

“`

“The boy’s heart is completely devoted to that woman Gu Changsheng. How could he care about these matters?” The thought of Gu Changsheng made Emperor Zhoulin gnash his teeth with hatred. If it weren’t for rushing back to visit her, would his always calm and wise Imperial Grandson have committed such an unforgivable and treacherous act?

Anyway, his Imperial Grandson is not wrong! The ones who are always wrong are others!

“Indeed, a femme fatale, deserving of death! Deserving of death!” An Abandoned Wife, yet she dared seduce his brilliant and exceptional Imperial Grandson, a paragon among men, simply deserving of death! Emperor Zhoulin continued to pace hatefully around the imperial desk.

Seeing Emperor Zhoulin on the verge of Venting Anger, Han Shan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he quickly shifted the topic. “Your Majesty, look, why not issue an imperial edict and summon Prince Mu back to the Capital City for a while? This matter can then be concluded, can it not?”

Once Prince Mu shows up, which court official in the full assembly will not silence themselves like cicadas in winter? Not to speak of raising accusations, they probably wouldn’t even dare to let out a peep!

Emperor Zhoulin considered summoning Zhou Mu to the capital and felt a momentary stirring in his heart, but his mood soured again in an instant, and he pointed at Han Shan with an unhappy expression, “A sovereign should not speak lightly. Are you suggesting that I contradict myself?”

He also wanted to see his grandson, but he harbored regret and guilt for what had happened in the past, was angry that the prince was not more competitive, and yet didn’t dare to face him. He had even made the declaration that he would never see him again for all eternity—taking back such words now would not be easy!

“Why should Your Majesty worry? This matter is only known by Your Majesty, Prince Mu, and this Servant. Who else knows that you’ve said such words?” Han Shan spoke as quietly as a mosquito, his face full of obsequiousness.

That’s right, most of the people who knew about the Eastern Palace incident back then have been silenced, and aside from former Grand Secretary Chancellor Du, only he has survived, being the close confidant eunuch of His Majesty.

Emperor Zhoulin looked at him disdainfully and snorted coldly, “You should know very well what kind of temper Buddy Mu has. Even if I summon him with an imperial edict, he may not come. In doing so, I will only give those old men an excuse, on top adding a charge of disrespect and defiance!”

Han Shan also felt his suggestion was somewhat foolish, so he bowed his head and dared not speak any further.

Emperor Zhoulin appeared deep in thought, a plan forming in his mind, “Han Shan, hold onto the imperial edict appointing Li Mufeng to succeed as the Commander-in-chief of the Three Armies in Southern Fujian; I have another person in mind for that position.”

Han Shan, looking puzzled, lifted his head. As Emperor Zhoulin’s close Attendant, he was still someone who could be consulted, so he promptly asked with confusion, “Your Majesty, hadn’t you already given this considerable thought? Li Mufeng is capable and young, and has repeatedly proven his valor in Liaodong. He is the best candidate to take over command of the Three Armies. Moreover, he was personally promoted by Prince Mu, making him all the more suitable as a successor. Why replace him at the last minute?”

“I have other plans,” said Emperor Zhoulin, his face inscrutable as he stroked his beard and continued, “If I can’t summon Buddy Mu, can’t I summon someone else? Han Shan, order someone to draft an edict to summon Medicine God Gu Changsheng to the capital! I want to see for myself what this Gu Changsheng, who has been so successful in the Liuzhou Region, looks like—what sort of person they must be to captivate my Imperial Grandson!”

While he had no power over the Liuzhou Region, as long as Gu Changsheng set foot in the capital, their life and death would be entirely in his hands. Striking the snake at its vital spot, he couldn’t believe that with Gu Changsheng in his grasp, he, the Son of Heaven, would not be able to handle that stubborn mule, Buddy Mu!

Hearing the subtle murderous intent in Emperor Zhoulin’s voice, Han Shan’s brows furrowed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately remained silent and turned to signal the literary Attendant to draft the imperial edict.

The bright red Jade Seal was stamped on the newly drafted imperial edict, which was sent as an emergency dispatch over five hundred miles to the south in the blink of an eye.

That night, a pigeon also took off lazily from deep within the harem, heading in the direction of Liuzhou, spreading its wings high into the sky.

Meanwhile, Gu Changsheng, utterly unaware of being the object of someone’s attention, had just managed to catch Du Chenzhi, who had been hiding in Commander Du’s Mansion on Jiangnan Road, and brought him back.

Du Chenzhi knelt on the ground, not even daring to breathe heavily as he looked up at Zhou Mu and Gu Changsheng sitting above him.

Prince Mu truly deserved his title. Just by sitting there, his dignified and commanding presence was intimidating; even more formidable than his father’s, who once held high office.

Seeing Du Chenzhi’s timorous demeanor and remembering that this man had actually thrown himself onto his beloved, not letting go, Zhou Mu instantly frowned and harrumphed coldly.

Du Chenzhi was instantly terrified, trembling all over, and breaking out into a cold sweat!

It’s over! It’s all over! Prince Mu had just burst the heads of all the officials in Southern Fujian! Could he hope for a good outcome?

Wanniang, I have wronged you—you are destined to be a widow, **** alone lamenting over my failure to become a commendable consort.

My son, I won’t be able to watch you grow up.

Father and mother, I am an unfilial son. I hadn’t been an official for long, yet I’m going to leave this world before you!

Du Chenzhi’s face was pale as death, forlorn as if in mourning, silently recalling all his loved ones in his heart, seemingly ready to breathe his last at any second.