The aide: "Congratulations to His Highness, the Second Prince. This marriage bestowed by His Majesty shows his favor towards you. With Chancellor Zhao's support, you are now as powerful as a tiger with wings."
"His Majesty's bestowal of marriage is of course the highest honor. You all must not get carried away."
"Yes."
After everyone dispersed, the Second Prince summoned his hidden guards.
"Go investigate what has happened in the Chancellor's mansion. Do not miss any clues. Also, thoroughly investigate the past of the Chancellor's eldest daughter and gauge the Chancellor's attitude."
"Your subordinate obeys."
The dark figure vanished like a ghost. The Second Prince was left alone, contemplating His Majesty's intentions. However, he was quite satisfied with the choice of his principal consort.
...
"Water... I want to drink water."
Chu Chaojin, who had been unconscious for a long time, finally woke up, seeing only darkness before his eyes.
His voice even more hoarse, he said, "Moying, light the lamps."
Moying was filled with questions. Why light the lamps in broad daylight? Nevertheless, she obediently lit several oil lamps.
The young maidservant immediately stepped forward and fed him water little by little. His throat felt more comfortable after moistening it, and he waved for the maid to withdraw.
"Hiss~ Moying, what exactly is going on? Why aren't the lamps lit? It's so dark I can't see anything."
"Master, it is currently noon. I have lit all the lamps."
Chu Chaojin realized that his eyesight must be the problem. He immediately tried to reach up with his hands, but he didn't even have the strength to lift them, crying out in pain.
"Master, please do not move and injure yourself further. I will immediately fetch the estate physician to examine your eyes."
"Wait, I'm fine. How is Haitang? She must be worried sick."
"Master, you should worry about yourself first. She is already engaged and will soon be the Second Prince's consort."
"Cough, cough, cough."
Chu Chaojin, agitated, coughed up a mouthful of blood and said incoherently.
"Impossible, you're lying to me, you're lying to me. How could Haitang possibly be willing to marry someone else? This is not true."
"Master, please do not get so excited. That kind of woman is not worth it. The future mistress will surely be ten thousand times better than her."
"Be quiet, I forbid you to slander her. She is the most wonderful woman in this world. Was someone forcing her?"
"This..."
"Speak quickly, are you trying to anger me to death?"
"It was His Majesty the Emperor who bestowed the marriage. However, that Chancellor's daughter must have agreed willingly. Master... Master..."
Although it was difficult to say, Moying stammered out the details of his injury.
Chu Chaojin felt all his strength drain away. Why would coming back to life result in this outcome? Scenes from the past flashed through his mind, filling him with an unwillingness to accept it.
He weakly waved Moying away, "Do not disturb me. Let me have some quiet."
"But."
"There is no 'but'."
No matter how urgent, there was nothing he could do. Chu Chaojin was as stubborn as an ox. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Moying could only shake her head helplessly and wait outside.
As soon as Chu Chaojin woke up, the maids in the room rushed to report the good news to the various masters. A group of people were already heading towards his courtyard, bringing along several highly skilled estate physicians.
"Princess Consort, His Highness says he wishes to be alone and see no one."
Due to last night's events and being blocked at the door now, the Regent Princess Consort felt uncomfortable all over. She was his mother, yet a mere subordinate by his side dared to be so insolent.
"What arrogance! This manor hasn't put him in charge yet. He dares to put on airs for me, his own mother, and a mere guard dares to block me."
The Regent Princess Consort was usually a very gentle person. No one in the manor had ever seen her lose her temper. She hadn't come out in a long time, and some people had become lax.
Furthermore, Moying was a favored attendant of Chu Chaojin. She had dared to directly dismiss the Regent Princess Consort, not even bothering to announce her arrival, and her courtesies were extremely improper.
"Butler, take this person away and teach them some proper etiquette."
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Moying quickly knelt and began kowtowing. "Your Highness Princess Consort, please forgive me. I was merely following orders. I beg Your Highness Princess Consort for mercy. I will never dare to do so again."
With a glance from the Princess Consort, Moying was immediately gagged and dragged away. Two maidservants quickly opened the door, and the Princess Consort swaggered in.
"My son cannot rise to greet Mother Consort. I hope Mother Consort will forgive me."
"It is of no consequence."
"Mother Consort, please forgive me and release Moying. It is all my fault. She did not intend to offend you."
"Chaojin, we haven't seen each other for three years. Is this all you have to say to me? If a subordinate is disobedient, they must be disciplined properly."
"Yes, Mother Consort is right."
"Imperial Physician He, please come in. My son's condition is serious. I will entrust him to you from now on."
Chu Chaojin was shocked, his eyes practically burning. He turned his head to look around, but he could only lie on the bed, powerless.
This matter should have been kept from the palace. Now, with his mother's actions, was she planning to abandon him? The position of heir apparent was not something just anyone could hold.
The Regent Princess Consort's people were actually monitoring this room twenty-four hours a day. Although she didn't entirely believe her son was the type to be blinded by lust,
the dream was too bizarre. She couldn't simply entrust the lives of so many Chu family members to him without caution. It was best to guard against any eventualities.
She hadn't expected that this foolish boy, upon waking, wouldn't first show concern for his family or his injured body. Instead, he was concerned about a woman with whom he had no real connection, and even displayed such an expression upon learning of her engagement.
Imperial Physician He, stroking his goatee, examined him carefully and reached the same conclusion as the doctors from the previous night. After testing him and discovering that Chu Chaojin was blind,
he meticulously examined his eyes and performed some tests. He stated that there was no external injury to his eyes and that it was likely a result of the head injury. He could only prescribe some medicine to promote blood circulation and dispel stasis as a trial.
"Then I thank Imperial Physician He."
"Your Highness Princess Consort, you are too kind. This is my duty."
After everyone had left, Chu Chaojin spoke directly, questioning her.
"Mother Consort, what does this mean? Do you want me to make way for my second brother? How can a mere infant hold the command of 200,000 troops? Or do you wish for our Chu family to fall into decline?"
"You were not born with the ability to hold it either. The sons of our Chu family have never been just you."
"Mother Consort, do not regret this. Not every son of the Chu family can win over the hearts of the people."
"That is not for you to worry about. As long as it is not you, anyone else I will be at ease with."
"Hmph, do not celebrate too soon. Do you underestimate me too much? No one can take what is mine."
"These things were never yours, Chu Chaojin, you are out of the game."
"Mother, why do you believe I will never be able to stand up again? It is not good to place your bet so early. If our mother-son relationship is broken today, there will be no turning back. Mother, are you certain you will not regret this?"
"I do not regret it."
The Princess Consort left without looking back. Chu Chaojin let out a somewhat desolate laugh. At this moment, he felt abandoned by the Chu family. On the surface, he appeared extremely pathetic.
In reality, he had always been wary of the Chu family. He had never opened his heart, so there was no disappointment. At his core, he was a cold and extremely selfish person, which explained why, apart from Zhao Haitang, he cared for no one.
However, he had rejoiced too soon. The tiger tally he had hidden had long been obtained by Jun Jiuli. The legendary Dragon Tiger Guard training camp could also be accurately located by Shuǐwá.