Chapter 150 Sweet Poison

Chapter 150 Sweet Poison

The emperor drank two bowls of medicine, ordered his men to prepare bows and arrows, changed his clothes, and prepared to go into the mountains to hunt.

The palace servants around her dared not utter a sound. Consort Wei offered a few words of advice, but was reprimanded by the Emperor.

Consort Wei was so angry that she left the imperial tent.

"If you're out hunting in the autumn, what's the point of coming all this way if you're not going to shoot some game?"

The emperor muttered to himself as he carefully examined the bow and arrows.

"This bow and arrow is the one I used when I was young. This time, I will use it to drink blood again."

At this moment, a guard came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince requests an audience!"

The Emperor frowned, his lips pursed thoughtfully. "Let him in!"

When the Fifth Prince entered, the Emperor was holding a bowstring taut and pointing it at him. The Fifth Prince was startled and took two steps back before the Emperor moved the bow away.

"Father, you have frightened your son!"

The Fifth Prince knew that his father was suffering from illness and his temperament had become unpredictable. He feared that his father might do something reckless in a fit of rage.

The Emperor chuckled and put down his bow and arrow. "My fifth prince isn't bold enough! How will he be able to secure this throne in the future?"

The Fifth Prince's expression changed slightly. "Father, I... am worried about your health!"

Xie Yuan gave him a deep look. "What brings you here?"

The Fifth Prince glanced at the palace servants around him, and the Emperor waved his hand, and the servants filed out.

Inside the imperial tent, all was silent.

"Father, I need an identity to bring Grand Commandant Shen to justice."

The emperor glanced at him. "I can give you that identity!"

The Fifth Prince lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with barely suppressed elation.

"However, I still think you are being too cautious."

The Fifth Prince frowned, not understanding the meaning of the Emperor's words.

The air was so still you could hear a pin drop.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on the nose of the Fifth Prince Xie Heng. "Your subject is foolish and asks Your Majesty for guidance."

The emperor's slightly cloudy eyes held the cunning of a monarch.

"To secure the throne, one must be ruthless; a monarch must be ruthless and soft-hearted."

"I gave you a card, a card that could defeat all opponents, and you've only used a quarter of it."

Xie Heng's eyes were filled with confusion, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. If what the Emperor said was true, wouldn't he be a mediocre person, incapable of great use?

Even when a knife is handed to you, you don't know which way to cut.

What the emperor said next plunged him into despair.

"With you like this, how can I dare to entrust this empire to you?"

The emperor looked at him with piercing eyes.

Xie Heng swallowed hard, and finally realized something at the crucial moment. "Father has good intentions, but I am not as wise as you. I can only think of one layer. Please enlighten me on the other two layers."

"Your subject will surely fight to the death."

The Emperor shook his head. “I only gave you a knife, not asked you to kill your own brothers. If you leave no room for maneuver, the dragon throne will be overthrown sooner or later.”

The Fifth Prince trembled slightly. "Your subject understands. Thank you for your guidance, Father."

The Emperor said, "Since you haven't figured out the third cut, I'll give you a few pointers."

"Do things anonymously; by using someone else's name, you can kill two birds with one stone."

The Fifth Prince had a sudden inspiration and immediately knelt down. "Your subject will remember your teachings, Father, but I still can't understand the fourth cut."

The emperor took two steps, came to the imperial desk, picked up the bow and arrow, nocked the arrow, and drew the bowstring taut.

"If you have used the first three strikes well, you are already a qualified monarch. As for the fourth strike, I will personally take action!"

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince was overjoyed. "Father, I will do my best to satisfy you."

The emperor put down his bow and arrow. "You don't need to do things to my satisfaction. You need to pave your own way to a bright future."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will remember your teachings."

The emperor handed him the pre-written edict, saying, "This is your edict of regency. Do whatever you want!"

The fifth prince got up, took the imperial edict, and said, "Father, I will go down first. Please take care of yourself."

The Emperor picked up his bow and arrow again and said to the palace servants outside, "I'm going hunting. I hope to have a great victory this time!"

＊

As evening approached, many people came down from the Shilin Mountain.

Shen Nanzi took Cheng'er to the mountains and forests and hunted two pheasants. Cheng'er shot both of them and was overjoyed!

Holding one in each hand, he would raise them to everyone he met, shouting, "These are the ones I hunted! What do you think?"

The visitor said, "Your Highness is extraordinary."

Cheng'er's lips curled slightly, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

Children's happiness is so simple and pure; I imagine that he, like men, would also be fond of the sense of accomplishment that comes from capturing prey.

"There will be a barbecue feast tonight, and you'll have to hand over your prey," Shen Nanzi said with a smile.

"Huh?" Xie Chengze was a little reluctant, after all, it was the first prey he had ever obtained.

Shen Nanzi knew exactly what he was thinking. "After the chef finishes cooking, he will shout to the whole room, 'This is the prey that so-and-so hunted.'"

Xie Chengze's eyes immediately lit up, "Mother, I want to hand it over, I want to hand it over."

"Okay, okay!"

"Mother, Cheng'er will go with you."

"good!"

Shen Nanzi stroked Cheng'er's head, and together they went to hand over the spoils of war.

As we walked along the road, something seemed off. "Qinghe, have you ever met my brother's family?"

Qinghe said, "I didn't see it. Should I go and inquire about it?"

"Okay, go ask."

After Qinghe left, she didn't return until the barbecue feast began.

"I have inquired for a long time, and the Grand Commandant's office did not come to the autumn hunt today at all. They said that the Emperor assigned them to stay in Luoyang for official business."

Shen Nanzi nodded, but she felt a little strange. Logically speaking, her brother could stay away, but her sister-in-law and her nephews and nieces could come out for an autumn hunt!

The kids love it!

"Qinghe, send someone to deliver a message to my brother later, and ask him to reply."

"Yes, Your Highness."

At the barbecue feast, the torches burned fiercely, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat.

The imperial chef's skills were excellent, and the meat was so delicious that it was addictive and impossible to stop eating.

Shen Nanzi and Cheng'er ate until their bellies were round and then returned to their tent with satisfied burps.

The mother and son washed up and went to bed.

Xie Chengze had been running on the mountain all afternoon and was exhausted. He lay down on the bed and his breathing became even after a short while.

An oil lamp was lit inside the tent, its dim light illuminating Cheng'er's fair face.

At the last ice skating banquet, he had hoped that Xie Yan would sleep with him, but now he hasn't mentioned it at all.

This is the change that time brings.

Temporary hardship is not a permanent prison; one day, they will break free and be reborn.

＊

There was no one around the stream at the foot of Shilin Mountain.

Xie Yan soaked in the stream, washing his body, revealing his strong upper body under the moonlight.

With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, her figure was clearly defined. She emerged from the stream, her long, straight, and slender legs gradually becoming visible.

He picked up the robe from the stone, casually draped it over his shoulders, and let his long hair cascade down his back.

Wuying walked over and said, "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince left the autumn hunting grounds at 3:45 PM."

"He held the Emperor's edict of regency in his hand."

Xie Yan frowned. "Send someone to follow them immediately. If they go back to deal with Grand Commandant Shen, find a way to substitute one for the other."

Wu Ying looked at Xie Yan and said, "Your Highness, if you've decided to do this, what will happen if the Second Princess and Lord Xue find out?"

Xie Yan gazed at the bright moon in the sky, "Whether they know it or not, I will do this."

Wuying cupped his hands in greeting, "Your subordinate will take care of it immediately."

Xie Yan fastened his clothes and walked towards Prince Jing's tent.