C29 – Wang Zizhao?
When the Yueyang Marquis saw the crutches the next day, he was annoyed. “Didn’t Yue’er warn you not to give things that could aggravate his illness?”
“If you give him crutches, won’t it be obvious that he’s disabled? You’re being foolish!” he exclaimed.
“It’s not the same thing,” Wang Zizhao countered. “This is something I can use. I’m advising him to be sensible about his treatment,” he added, clearly holding a grudge against Tang Yue.
Yueyang Marquis wondered why Wang Zizhao’s words always made sense.
After loading everything into the carriage, the Yueyang Marquis, his son, and their servants headed to Prince Zhao’s Mansion.
Despite many people cutting ties with Wang Zizhao, the Yueyang Marquis arrived at the mansion with great fanfare, which many families sneered at.
The South Jin family had the surname Li, and Li Zhao was ninth in line for the throne. His mother was the queen of the main palace, and her family held significant power. Due to his intelligence, martial arts skills, and stable position, Wang Zizhao was considered the best candidate for the crown prince.
It was rumored that the king had already prepared an imperial edict conferring the crown prince position to Wang Zizhao, but they were waiting for him to return from the border.
Unfortunately, in the last battle, Wang Zizhao fell off his horse, and his legs were severely injured by the horse’s hooves.
When Wang Zizhao suffered a leg injury far from the border, there was a limited range of medical expertise available. They could only provide him with basic treatment and send him back to Ye City as soon as possible.
However, Hu Jinpeng, who was escorting Wang Zizhao, was ambushed and assassinated on the way, which caused a significant delay.
As Wang Zizhao’s leg injury grew worse, they had no choice but to seek treatment from a renowned local physician. The physician’s medical skills were said to be excellent and were comparable to those of the imperial doctors in the Imperial Medical Office.
By the time they returned to Ye City, Wang Zizhao’s leg bones had healed, but they had also become misaligned, making it difficult for him to walk properly. Even after consulting the imperial physicians, no solution could be found.
With no news of the imperial decree, everyone knew that it was impossible for a crippled prince to ascend to the throne.
Tang Yue accompanied Yueyang Marquis into Prince Zhao’s Mansion and observed the surroundings discreetly. He noticed that the buildings and decorations were grand, but not overly luxurious or extravagant. They didn’t seem like they belonged to a royal family.
Furthermore, they didn’t come across any maids on their way to the inner courtyard. The people they saw were either guards or male servants. Tang Yue couldn’t help but wonder if Wang Zizhao was different from those in the mansion.
“Master Hou and Young Master, please wait for a moment. The doctor is currently treating the head of the household. Please enjoy some tea and snacks in the garden,” the butler said as he escorted them to a picturesque garden before leaving to attend to other matters.
Tang Yue couldn’t resist asking Yueyang Marquis, “Have you been to Prince Zhao’s Mansion before?”
The Marquis of Yueyang shook his head. “No, I have not had the chance to get to know Wang Zizhao personally. Despite his young age and noble status, he spends most of his time at the border and has not formed close relationships with courtiers.”
“I didn’t expect the Prince Zhao’s Mansion to be so quiet,” remarked Tang Yue.
The Marquis of Yueyang sighed and shook his head. “That is the reality now. In the past, even if Wang Zizhao was not in Ye City, the Prince Zhao’s Mansion was a bustling place. Now…sigh, the world is cruel.”
Tang Yue knew this was normal. Everyone wanted to secure their future with power and influence, so they did not want to waste their time and energy on someone they considered a cripple. While understandable, she wondered how Wang Zizhao felt about it.
Falling from heaven to hell would probably be a massive disappointment for most people. Not everyone could handle such a drastic change.
Thinking about Wang Zizhao’s expression of disappointment and coldness in the ruined temple, Tang Yue felt a twinge of sadness.
Meanwhile, Wang Zizhao was examining a long list of gifts in the inner chambers. Hu Jinpeng, who stood beside him, craned his neck to see the list. After perusing it, he clicked his tongue and said, “There are over 300 gold coins worth of gifts here. Yueyang Marquis is quite wealthy!”
Wang Zizhao tossed the list of gifts onto the table, and the heavy bamboo slip made a dull thud. His expression was somewhat perplexed but also serious.
“Not many nobles are willing to bring so many gifts to our doorstep these days. Is the Marquis of Yueyang really only here to repay us?” Hu Jinpeng could not help but wonder with a villainous mind. Nevertheless, he found that the Marquis did not have any hidden motives.
A prince without the right of inheritance held only slightly more power than an ordinary noble. Based on Wang Zizhao’s current condition, his authority would soon be revoked.
Wang Zizhao did not respond directly but instead inquired, “Have you discovered what happened yesterday? Who was responsible?”
Hu Jinpeng sneered. “Who else could it be? Your dear brother, Wang Zixian. He wanted to take your place since you have a crippled leg. He’s living in a dream world!”
“It’s not a certainty. Li Xian has been in hiding for many years and is skilled in strategy. The other princes are no match for him,” Wang Zizhao replied nonchalantly.
Hu Jinpeng shook his head. “It’s impossible for his mother to be solely from North Yue. How could the king grant the throne to a prince with the bloodline of an enemy?”
Wang Zizhao touched his deformed leg. “That’s why he made his move. Once the prince who posed a threat to him is eliminated, Royal Father has no choice but to let him take the lead.”
“This…” Hu Jinpeng’s gaze also fell on Wang Zizhao’s legs, and he let out a silent sigh.
If Wang Zizhao’s legs weren’t crippled, how could the clown Li Xian ascend to the throne?
Hu Jinpeng’s father had once said that Madame Hu’s future lay in Wang Zizhao’s hands. One’s success was everyone’s success, and one’s loss was everyone’s loss. Additionally, with Wang Zizhao’s abilities, he would undoubtedly bring wealth and prosperity to South Jin.
Everyone believed that Wang Zizhao would become a wise and successful ruler who exceeded the king. It was a pity…
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