As the casual mentor Wen Zhiyun met by chance in Anshui Prefecture, the six siblings did not have a deep impression of Wu Suowei.
Especially after the lapse of four years, many memories have become blurred.
Even Wen Zhiyun thought that without returning to Anshui Prefecture, there would be no chance to see Dr. Wu again.
But now.
Not only did they meet him, but also in the Grand Inner Court of the imperial palace, and even in front of the emperor's bedroom.
The young doctor in his twenties stood under the candlelight in brocade robes, smiling brightly, and the shadows cast by his long eyelashes fell on his face, which did not detract from his handsome appearance but brought out a different charm.
Wen Zhiyun stood three feet in front of him with a look of astonishment on his fair face, as if he had just listened to an outstanding opera, or as if he had learned an earth-shattering secret.
As the footsteps of the long banquet came to a halt, the two turned around at the same time with different expressions.
"So it turned out to be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Long time no see, I hope you are doing well recently?" Wu Suowei still spoke in a casual tone, but his form of address seemed to know everything.
Wen Zhiyun's face was full of joy, while Chang Yan's eyebrows gradually sank.
"Dr. Wu, what are you doing here?" His tone was solemn.
Wu Suowei smacked his lips. "It seems I have startled Your Highness. Let me apologize first. There is also something else...I am not surnamed Wu."
"A name like Wu Suowei that sounds obviously fake, I can't believe you actually fell for it." He reached out and rubbed Wen Zhiyun's head, "My surname is Sun. I am Sun Siji from the Sun family. I was sent by His Majesty to Anshui Prefecture to protect a prince who ran away."
"In order to get close to him without letting him notice, I simply had a chance encounter with Dr. Wen and taught him some medical skills I learned from the Yan family, so that I could protect His Highness and complete my mission at the same time."
So he really has nothing to do with the Wu family.
Even the name was made up, and it’s unbelievable everyone believed it so much.
Wen Zhiyun angrily took two steps back to escape the random paw that was rubbing him.
"Oh, don't be angry. After all, I am your teacher, and once a teacher, always a father." Sun Siji, or rather Sun Siji, reached out his hand as if he was addicted to rubbing.
Wen Zhiyun could only retreat again and again, shrinking his neck to avoid it.
The two of them chased each other, and neither noticed that Chang Yan in the shadows was stunned, and something kept dripping down, soaking the ground.
"Your Highness, what's wrong with you?" The guard asked tentatively, "Are you worried about the health of the imperial family?"
Chang Yan didn't know how to answer.
Just now, he had still categorically put away all his emotions and determined that his father was cold-blooded and indifferent, unworthy of his respect.
In a twinkling of an eye, Sun Siji said that his father actually loved him.
Although this love could not be compared with that of Zhu Changhong, it still undoubtedly existed.
So was Chang Yan happy?
No.
He didn't get the love he desperately wanted at the age he most wanted love. After being cold-hearted, he learned that he was loved after all. This love was thin but present, leaving him with no way to thoroughly hate or thoroughly love.
It was like a hand clutching his throat, making him uncomfortable without killing him, with neither the comfort of being alive nor the refreshment of death.
And the hand's owner was lying ill in bed, leaving him unable even to choose whether to hate or love.
Isn’t it nice to make a clean break?
Be thorough if you want to be ruthless, abandon it cleanly if you want to abandon it, right?
Leaving some warmth when being indifferent, what is the intention?
Chang Yan trembled and reached out to wipe away all the tears that rolled down. The fourteen-year-old pretended to be calm and staggered along the long palace corridor.
The guard wanted to comfort him, but the words disappeared into the night.
Along with the figure of the teenager, everything was swallowed up by the ink color.
Wen Zhiyun finally stopped moving. His big watery eyes blinked, and a bean-sized tear slid down his cheeks. "Dr. Sun, my brother is so sad, and I as his elder brother can do nothing about it."
I can’t even be with him when he sheds tears.
Such a strong fifth younger brother must not want his crybaby fourth brother to find out he is sad.
"In fact, something can be done." Sun Siji patted his little disciple on the shoulder. "The Sun family will fully support the establishment of the Crown Prince, but with the predetermined Crown Prince, the entire Fengjing city will be stormy, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will become a target for everyone."
"And you need to protect him well."
According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, the establishment of the crown prince is the end point of the struggle for power.
In order to stabilize the regime of the crown prince and prevent fratricide between brothers, the crown prince can establish the Crown Prince's Residence to freely cultivate his confidants and powerful officials.
In this way, even if the imperial court has an accident, the crown prince can succeed smoothly without worrying about anyone usurping power and rebelling.
The Sun family is undoubtedly the confidant of the imperial court. At this moment, following the father-son night talk, it successfully turned to support the crown prince.
Coupled with the Jiang, Dou and Yao families, the Fifth Prince has overwhelming say in the court, and as the legitimate heir, even the He family dare not say "no".
This was also mentioned by Xu Mo before, that there is no question of bias under the big trend.
As long as you don't side with the enemy, you are an ally.
The other aristocratic families in the court are unlikely to gain momentum, while the alone Ju family is barely able to support itself. What needs most attention is actually the taciturn Second Prince and the Fang family who escaped from adversity.
As a target, there are countless opportunities to get hurt.
A doctor is the best chain mail.
Wen Zhiyun held back his tears, clenched his fist and nodded, "Dr. Sun, rest assured, I will definitely protect Xiao Wu well and never let anyone hurt him."
Sun Siji reached out his hand again and rubbed his little disciple's fluffy head.
The next day.
It is not known what method the Imperial Hospital used to pretend to be sick for more than ten days while actually falling ill. The imperial court, who was sitting on the dragon chair, calmly listened to the memorials as calm as water.
Because of the long distance and inability to look directly, as long as speaking less, it looked no different from before.
Only Jiang Jizong clenched the memorial tablet, complex emotions surging inside.
With the cabinet ministers and the six department heads, government affairs did not accumulate much, and after simply reporting a few sentences, the court meeting was nearing its end.
The He family continued to sing counterpoint with the Jiang and Dou families, and they could argue until their faces turned red over a trivial matter.
As always, the Zhu and Tao families were taciturn, while the Ju family complained about everything regarding Consort Ju, but did not get any response.
Sitting on the dragon chair overlooking all living beings, the imperial court glanced meaningfully several times.
Jiang Jizong let go of the tablet and finally took the opportunity to come forward, bowed solemnly, and said, "I beg to report to Your Majesty that in recent years Your Majesty has been unwell many times, government affairs have piled up quite a lot, and according to the records of previous years, it is time to establish the crown prince to share Your Majesty’s worries."
The entire court instantly fell silent.
The Ju family couldn’t believe it, the Zhu and Tao families’ eyes widened, and even the Dou and He families didn’t know what was going on.
Only Jiang Jizong held his hands behind his back and repeated, "Please, Your Majesty, establish the crown prince."
"Please, Your Majesty, establish the crown prince." The Yao family lord stood out.
Most surprisingly, it was the Sun family. "Please, Your Majesty, establish the crown prince."
The lack of harmony between the Jiang and Dou families was just superficial. After a short astonishment, Dou Weiming resolutely stood up, "Please, Your Majesty, establish the crown prince."
At this point, nearly half of the people in the court bowed down.
The He family lord looked left and right, and finally shouted as well, "Please, Your Majesty, establish the crown prince."
This was not discussed in advance, but trust and support for allies.
The corners of the imperial court’s mouth rose, and with the terrified eyes of the Ju, Zhu and Tao families, he nodded his head and said, "Approved."
