"If it were any other ti, General Yingyang visiting the brothel at Yi Hong Yuan would at most cost him a position, but if it happens during the late Empress’s mourning period, then the punishnt would be doubled," Zhao Yao continued, "The Crown Prince’s people are waiting for this mont, aiming to make Prince Dai lose his staunch supporter, General Yingyang."
Tong Xi remarked with a sense of realization, "The Crown Prince’s people are truly insidious."
"It’s not insidious, it’s clever. Besides, if anyone is to bla, it’s General Yingyang himself. If he had kept himself pure, the Crown Prince’s n wouldn’t have caught him by surprise," Zhao Yao said. "And Prince Dai is also to bla, for if he had strictly controlled his subordinates, such a thing wouldn’t have happened."
"Your Highness is right," Tong Xi said, "Now everyone is saying that Prince Dai does not govern strictly and that he shows disrespect to the late Empress."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao’s expression imdiately changed. With a deep aning, he said, "It turns out that the Crown Prince’s main aim was to ruin Prince Dai’s reputation -- truly killing two birds with one stone."
Hearing Zhao Yao say this, Tong Xi also understood it.
"Indeed, His Highness Prince Dai is now tarnished with the reputation of being unfilial for disrespecting the late Empress. The glory he received after his victory has suddenly vanished."
"Prince Dai truly suffers in silence this ti, unable to express his grievances," Zhao Yao said with a smile, "I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to turn the tables so quickly, and with such finesse. The forthcoming drama will only get more exciting."
"The Crown Prince is indeed formidable."
Zhao Yao didn’t think this was the Crown Prince’s idea alone. He suspected it might be the suggestion of Duke Zhen, or perhaps of the eighth prince.
"By the way, how is Tong An?"
"Tong An’s wound has healed significantly. He stays quietly in the Cold Palace without asking around," Tong Xi said, "He even helps Tong Le take care of Lai Lu and the others."
Zhao Yao appeared thoughtful.
"Your Highness, what arrangents should be made for Tong An next? Should he continue to help Tong Le with Lai Lu and the others?"
"Tong An is skilled in painting. Later, bring him so brushes, ink, paper, and paints, and then ask him in detail what he is most adept at painting -- whether it’s people, landscapes, or animals." Zhao Yao needed to find out what Tong An excelled in to arrange his future duties effectively.
"This servant will go at once."
Zhao Yao thought of Zhao Yao in the dream, who also could paint, but used a different kind of pen.
"Go get a charcoal pencil."
"Charcoal pencil?" Tong Xi was at a loss hearing of such a thing for the first ti, asking, "Your Highness, what is a charcoal pencil? Is it a pen?"
"It’s a pen made of charcoal."
"Can charcoal be made into a pen?"
"You shape the charcoal into a pen form, then wrap a layer of wood around it, just like a brush."
Tong Xi understood Zhao Yao’s intention, "This servant understands."
"Go and have breakfast." In the dream, Zhao Yao could paint; it was uncertain if he could draw.
Liang Zhaoyi, Gui Xing, and the others had already set the breakfast. They, along with Yu iren, had already had dinner.
It just so happened that Zhao Yao couldn’t eat greasy food. His breakfast consisted only of porridge, stead buns, baked cakes, two plates of pickles, and vegetarian dishes.
"Mother, my mouth tastes bitter. Can I have so sugar in the porridge, or honey?"
"Alright, I’ll add honey for you." Liang Zhaoyi scooped a spoonful of honey into the porridge before Zhao Yao, "Eat up."
"Mother, it’s not sweet enough, add another spoonful of honey."
"Too much sweetness isn’t good; one spoonful is enough."
Zhao Yao pouted but obediently began to eat. The porridge, with honey added, quickly turned sweet, and Zhao Yao soon finished a bowl.
"Another bowl, please."
After two bowls of porridge and two buns, Zhao Yao finally felt full.
Just after finishing breakfast, Doctor Lu arrived.
Seeing Doctor Lu, Zhao Yao only felt his mouth turn bitter again.
Doctor Lu first paid his respects to Liang Zhaoyi and Zhao Yao before checking Zhao Yao’s pulse.
During the pulse-checking, Zhao Yao’s heart was tense, really scared that Doctor Lu would say his illness hadn’t improved.
"Your Majesty, His Highness’s wind-cold is no longer a concern."
Upon hearing this, a joyful smile imdiately appeared on Zhao Yao’s face, and he exclaid, "I’m cured! Finally, no more dicine!"
Liang Zhaoyi inquired, "Does he still need to take dicine?"
Upon hearing Liang Zhaoyi say this, Zhao Yao swiftly turned his head, glaring fiercely at Doctor Lu with a "If you say I still need dicine, I’ll fight you" expression.
Amused by Zhao Yao’s cute and fierce deanor, Doctor Lu stifled a laugh, saying, "His Highness needs to take two more doses of dicine..."
His words were interrupted by Zhao Yao’s exclamation, "I’m already cured; I don’t need more dicine!"
"Your Highness, to prevent a relapse of your wind-cold, you must take two more doses of dicine for complete recovery."
"You’re doing this on purpose." Zhao Yao glared at Doctor Lu angrily.
"Yao Yao!" Liang Zhaoyi exclaid with a warning tone.
Zhao Yao instantly beca obedient.
"Please ask Doctor Lu to prescribe two more doses."
"It’s my duty."
"By the way, Doctor Lu, can Yao Yao consu the 400-year-old ginseng to nourish his body?" Yesterday, they received two ounces of 400-year-old ginseng sent by the Fourth Prince.
"He can, but only a little each ti, best stewed in soup," Doctor Lu advised, "When making soup, just a small slice of ginseng will suffice. His Tenth Highness is still young; too much ginseng at once would not only fail to nourish but could harm the body."
Liang Zhaoyi nodded and said, "I’ve noted it."
"Doctor Lu, could you make the prescription less bitter?" Zhao Yao complained with a scrunched face, "Your dicines are so bitter that I’m near death every ti."
"Your Highness, all dicine is bitter, especially good dicine."
"Could you make it into pills with a sugar coating outside? That way, I won’t taste the bitterness." In the dream, Zhao Yao’s dicine was small pills, easy to swallow with water.
Doctor Lu hadn’t thought of that, "I’ll give it a try."
Hearing this, Zhao Yao bead, "That’s more like it." Taking pills is better than drinking dicine.
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