g Lingxi was astonished. It belonged to Huangfu Qingyun! She had just thought it was someone sent by her mother. It seemed there were many people secretly protecting her."This... this isn't my fault."...Dugu City was summoned, and the Empress Dowager also followed suit, summoning Feng Lingxi. However, Feng Lingxi did not go, but instead Dugu Yu entered the palace.
Now, the situation in the imperial court depends entirely on the attitudes of Dugu City and Dugu Yu.
Emperor Yuan Zhao summoned Dugu Cheng. These days, the court discussions clearly showed that many ministers wanted Dugu Cheng to regain control of the military. However, due to Dugu Yu and the Empress Dowager's interference, more than half of the ministers were unable to agree. The situation between the two sides was very tense.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Du Gu Cheng walked into the imperial study and, seeing Emperor Yuan Zhao reviewing memorials, paid him the proper etiquette of a subject.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment. I have some official documents to attend to."
Dugu City stood at a distance, in an imperial robe. His silver hair did not detract from his handsome features in the slightest. Compared to the sickly pallor of some time ago, Dugu City's complexion was now noticeably much better. His eyes were sharp and piercing, just like they used to be.
When Emperor Yuan Zhao looked up and saw Dugu City, surprise flashed in his eyes.
"It seems that Prince Chen's body has almost recovered. Feng Lingxi's medical skills are indeed unmatched in the world."
Dugu Cheng bowed his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise. Xi'er's medical skills have been honed over the years. She studied under the divine physician of Xigu Kingdom and learned a great deal."
"I envy her. At such a young age, she has already achieved such profound skill in medicine. Crown Prince, you must seize this opportunity and not disappoint her kindness."
Emperor Yuan Zhao's words lacked the usual air of speculation, and one could sense the genuine hope in his tone.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I will definitely try my best to get Xi’er’s forgiveness. Back then, it was my fault towards her. As long as Xi’er is willing to give me a chance, I will definitely not disappoint her for the rest of my life.” Dugu Cheng spoke with sincerity, and Emperor Yuan Zhao nodded in satisfaction.
"That's how it should be. I truly envy you. If I hadn't inherited the throne back then, and had given it to King Yu instead, perhaps things wouldn't be like this now." Emperor Yuan Zhao said, a cough wracking his body.
Dugu Cheng expressed concern, "Your Majesty's health is paramount, I should find a physician to take a look at you."
Emperor Yuan Zhao raised his hand, "No need, these imperial physicians come to see me every day, and I take medicine every day, but my body doesn't get any better, it even gets worse. I'm truly worried that one day I won't be around, then this empire passed down by my father will just disappear like that."
"Your Majesty, you must not think this way. As the emperor, Your Majesty is protected by your ancestors and will surely be blessed with good fortune and well-being."
Emperor Yuan Zhao had long grown tired of such polite words from Du Gu Cheng.
“I know my own body well. Unlike you, I don't have a skilled physician who devotes herself entirely to my treatment. My Imperial Medical Bureau has so many physicians, but none of them possess the skill of Feng Lingxi. If even one had slightly better skills, I wouldn't be in this state now.”
Emperor Yuan Zhao's voice held a hint of anger, yet also a tinge of helplessness.
Dugu Cheng heard the meaning of Emperor Yuan Zhao and thought that he asked Feng Ling Xi to come and treat him. But Xi'er was a princess from Xigu Kingdom, and she was a woman. It would be inappropriate for her to enter the palace to treat the emperor. If this got out, wouldn't it ruin the reputation of the Imperial Hospital Moreover, since Emperor Yuan Zhao didn't speak up, he couldn't let Xi'er come.
"Your Majesty, I do know someone whose medical skills are not inferior to Xier's, and he is a man. Your Majesty must also know him. I just don't know if he is willing to enter the palace to treat you."
Dugu Cheng's words instantly lit up Yuan Zhao Emperor's eyes.
It turns out that Dugu Cheng cares about the distinction between men and women. If he helped Dugu Cheng and Feng Lingxi remarry, as the princess consort of Chen, wouldn't he be able to openly ask Feng Lingxi to come see him for treatment
"Then, Master Chen, please tell me, who else has medical skills that surpass Feng Lingxi"
"The doctor who left my side, his name is Li Wu Yan. This man's medical skills are exquisite, not inferior to Xi Er."
"Li Wu Yan."
Emperor Yuan Zhao pondered those three words repeatedly, looking into Dugu Cheng's earnest eyes, and asked, "King Chen, I recall when I tasked you with investigating the whereabouts of King Feng five years ago, you said there were no results. Now, after all this time, is there still no progress"
“Your Majesty, I apologize. The clues did appear back then, but later, the Prime Minister claimed that the clues I found were all wrong, proving that Li Wu Yan was not Emperor Tai Zu's fifth son, Du Gu Feng.”
Emperor Yuan Zhao's eyes immediately sank.
He remembered this, back then what he found out was indeed Li Wuyan, but later the prime minister presented evidence to refute Du Gucheng's findings. He believed the prime minister and did not admit that Li Wuyan was the emperor's fifth son. Afterwards, Du Gucheng's military power was reduced, and he was confined in Chen Wangfu. The matter was never mentioned again.
“I still remember that you found out the truth about him back then. It was indeed Li Wu-yan, but he was denied by the prime minister. If I summon him now, he could treat me. I distinctly remember Luoli saying that Li Wu-yan is not from our Great Yuan Dynasty; he is a distinguished guest of their Yao clan.”
A distinguished guest of the Yao people
Du Gucheng was slightly surprised. It turned out that Luo Li positioned Li Wu Yan's identity so highly. No wonder Li Wu Yan and Luo Li walked around the capital without anyone daring to provoke him. It seemed that the protection Luo Li gave Li Wu Yan was indeed extraordinary.
"This subject truly doesn't know."
Emperor Yuan Zhao sighed, "Forget it, I can't get Li Wuyan to come and treat me."
Du Gucheng wanted to speak but held back. It was obvious that he wanted Xi'er to examine him, but there was no way she would agree so easily.
"I wonder what summons the Emperor has for me"
Dugu City circled back to the main point, and only then did Emperor Yuan Zhao think of the key issue.
"I just wanted to see how well your body is doing. The Chancellor told me you returned to court to serve as a military officer. Now, the Duke of Wei has too much power in the court and wants control over the army. I cannot allow him to succeed."
Emperor Yuan Zhao said, "At this point, there's no need to hide anymore. You've been leading troops for many years, winning every battle and conquering everything. You've already earned the reputation of a War God. If King Wang, who is recovering from illness in Liangzhou, were in control of the army, then the entire Yuan Dynasty would fall under his rule."
"Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence. If Your Highness were able to share the burden for you, perhaps handing over these military powers to him wouldn't be a bad idea."
Emperor Yuan Zhao looked at Dugu City, suppressing his anger.
"Prince Chen, aren't you trying to get me to hand over the entire Yuan Dynasty to you"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I didn't mean it that way. King Yu is deeply favored by the Empress Dowager, and I believe she would agree to this."
Emperor Yuan Zhao let out a cold snort, "Of course I know Empress Dowager agrees to this matter. If I didn't agree, I wouldn't have come to you for advice. King Chen, haven't you forgotten King Yu has always wanted the throne. Just the other day, he even tried to take your woman. Could it be that you can tolerate this"
When it came to Feng Lingxi, Emperor Yuan Zhao still didn't believe that Dugu City could endure.
"Your Majesty, I am now without office or rank. How could I possibly compete with the esteemed King for glory"
"So, as long as King Yu is vying for power, you would even be willing to give up your woman"his king's queen. This king will not betray her."Li Hao looked at Feng Lingxi and nodded with satisfaction."I know."Lu Hao was very fortunate that Xi'er hadn't met a father like him, just like her mot...