thebusnovel Chapter 466 Extra: Sisters
Chapter 466 Extra: Sisters
"Your Majesty, news has come from the imperial physician outside the palace that Grand Tutor Shen... may be nearing his end!"
Li Yuanke was startled and looked up. "What happened? Didn't the imperial physician say a couple of days ago that I just needed to rest for a while?"
Li Gui said, "Last night they said he suddenly became unwell. The second young lady saw that he was not doing well, so she quickly moved him back from the outskirts. This morning I heard that he coughed up a lot of blood."
When someone coughs up blood, it's really hard to say what might happen.
Li Yuanke closed his eyes, wondering how upset the little one would be. "Summon the Imperial Physician!"
Imperial Physician Zhang, thinking the Emperor was unwell, rushed over, only to hear the Emperor ask, "What's wrong with Grand Tutor Shen? Didn't you say before that he just had a minor cold and would recover with rest?"
Zhang, the imperial physician, dared not deceive the emperor and said, "Judging from the pulse of Grand Tutor Shen, the Grand Tutor must have suffered a great shock, anger attacked his heart, and liver qi became stagnant, causing qi and blood to flow upward and he fainted."
The Grand Tutor was already quite old, and he had just recovered from a serious illness.
Then something happened, and they almost couldn't be saved.
Li Yuanke was deeply saddened, both because he was the Grand Tutor and because of that little brat. The Grand Tutor had been very kind to him. Since he joined the Grand Tutor's tutelage, the Grand Tutor had protected him like his own son and nephew, teaching him with utmost care and dedication.
The Shen family had contributed to the rise of the emperor, but they never took credit for it. After he ascended the throne, the Grand Tutor was no longer in the capital. He gave all his connections and resources to the Grand Tutor and left the capital to avoid suspicion.
And then there's Xi'er. He knows how much the Grand Tutor loves Xi'er. If the Grand Tutor falls seriously ill, he doesn't know how she will get through it.
"Instruct the Imperial Medical Academy to do their utmost to treat him; if they succeed, I will reward them handsomely!"
"Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly do his utmost!"
Li Yuanke then summoned Cen Yin and said, "Go and investigate what Consort Shu did at the hot spring villa yesterday. Also, what happened to the Grand Tutor who was so angry that he suffered a stroke?"
Cen Yin accepted the order and left. He returned quickly and recounted in detail how Consort Shu had angered the Grand Tutor to the point of vomiting blood, and how she had stormed off after the Grand Tutor collapsed.
Li Yuanke held the teacup in his hand, resisting the urge to smash it on the ground.
He deeply regretted allowing Consort Shu to visit him in his illness; otherwise, the Grand Tutor would not have died.
He couldn't imagine how sad Shen Shixi must be.
He dared not even think about whether Shen Shixi would take her anger out on him.
But he still didn't understand Shen Shiyan. How could she do such a vicious thing? Who gave her the courage to think that the Empress's position was hers?
If Xi'er weren't so young, if she didn't want to enter the palace...
Li Yuange remained silent for a long while, then finally wiped his face hard. "The Shen family probably doesn't want this matter to be known by others; these things must not be spread!"
Cen Yin said, "Your Majesty, I obey! The Shen family has also issued a gag order, and not many people know about it. I only learned a little from Song Yan."
Li Yuanke left the palace unaccompanied by his entourage and entered the Shen family's residence as usual. He passed through the peach grove as before, but the little peach blossom spirit was nowhere to be seen.
The peach branch she had sat on for many years was now quite thick. When Li Yuanke stood under the tree, he could almost see the chubby little girl from back then, swinging her legs and scaring him.
She could still remember that she would wait for him here every morning, and when she saw him coming, she would stretch out her hands to him, "Handsome brother!"
Li Yuanke would lift her down, and she would stuff a piece of dried peach into his mouth. Seeing Li Yuanke frown from the sweetness, she would lean against him and giggle.
Li Yuanke originally didn't like sweets, but over time, he eventually got used to them.
He would also bring her palace snacks, and if any family outside the palace had any delicious dried fruit or pastries, he would buy them for her and bring them back. The little girl was always chubby, and he thought that a little peach blossom spirit should be chubby and sturdy.
Although it was very strenuous for him to carry or hold me.
She was a lazy girl who would rather sit than stand, and rather lie down than sit. Over the years, he felt as if she were an extension of himself, and he would panic if he couldn't feel her for a moment.
Time passed, and she grew up.
The Shen family came out to greet him. Shen Xianzhang, with red eyes, led him to the Grand Tutor's bedside and then withdrew. Only the Grand Tutor and he remained in the room.
Seeing the Grand Tutor in such a state, Li Yuanke's eyes immediately reddened. He grasped the Grand Tutor's hand and said, "Don't worry, I will have the imperial physicians do everything they can to treat you!"
The Grand Tutor was very magnanimous. "Your Majesty should not worry! I am old, and this day will come eventually. What difference does it make whether I go sooner or later?"
Li Yuanke took a deep breath, suppressing his tears. "If you leave, Xi'er... will be very sad! From now on, I will have no one to advise and guide me. I have been taught by the Grand Tutor for so many years and have long been used to it. Without the Grand Tutor, I am afraid I will not feel at ease!"
The Grand Tutor said, "Your Majesty is too kind! Your Majesty is a wise ruler. Whether or not there are ministers, Your Majesty will do a good job! In matters of the court, Your Majesty should not be impatient. Even the most supreme person sometimes needs to be patient."
Plan things slowly and carefully, and you will eventually achieve your goals; but Your Majesty must always remember that "it is easy to begin but difficult to finish," and always keep the people of the world in mind, so as to become a wise ruler for all ages!
Li Yuanke nodded. "This student will remember your teachings, Grand Tutor! But I still hope you can recover well!"
The Grand Tutor said, "In my life, having Your Majesty as my student will surely earn me a place in history. As people grow old, such a day will inevitably come, so Your Majesty need not be saddened."
Li Yuanke was truly saddened, and knowing that the Grand Tutor was unlikely to recover, he asked, "Does my teacher have something on his mind that he wishes to entrust to me?"
The Grand Tutor said, "After my death, my funeral should be simple. Your Majesty should not bestow favors upon the Shen family. Consort Shu is unfilial, and I do not acknowledge her as a descendant of the Shen family. If she commits any sins in the future, I hope Your Majesty will consider my old minister's feelings and not take offense."
The Grand Tutor also knew that the Emperor was certainly aware of the matter of the hot spring villa, and he did not want to hide it.
Li Yuanke readily agreed, "Teacher, rest assured, I will certainly not allow it to implicate the Shen family."
The old Grand Tutor was already very tired after speaking for a while, but he insisted on saying, "Xi'er has grown up with the Emperor and is still young. The Emperor knows her talent and wisdom very well! This old minister originally wanted to stay with her for a few more years and leave after she came of age and chose a good husband, but who knew that Heaven would not grant her a long life!"
This old minister entrusts Xi'er to Your Majesty, hoping Your Majesty will protect her safety. She is the most filial child and should have a peaceful and prosperous life, but unfortunately, these years of migration between the south and the north have been truly bitter. When she comes of age, I hope Your Majesty will find her a place to settle down, and then I will die without regret!
This was the only thing the Grand Tutor couldn't let go of.
Li Yuanke was silent for a while, then said, "I once thought she would be willing to stay by my side; I want to wait for her forever, no matter how long it takes, as long as she is willing to come back, I will always be happy."
The old Grand Tutor sighed deeply, "Back then, Xi'er was still young, and it was this old minister who couldn't bear to let her enter the palace. Over the years, while she was outside, she always kept the well-being of the people and His Majesty's empire in her heart. If Your Majesty is willing, please be sure to wait until she comes of age."
"Of course!" Li Yuanke said. "If she is unwilling, I will never force her."
The old tutor had been speaking for so long that he couldn't hold on any longer, so Li Yuanke got up.
He walked from the front yard to the back yard and stood in Shen Shixi's yard for a long time. He wanted to see her, but he also knew that she would not want to see him. Even if they met, what difference would it make?