Chapter 673: What? Li Shimin is really poisoned?

The next morning.

After Li Shimin's remarks yesterday, Chen Yan skipped the Court and, side by side with Prince of Yue Li Tai, leisurely lay in the backyard.

Between their lounge chairs sat a small tea table; the two basked in the morning sun, utterly relaxed.

Li Tai sipped his tea, set the cup down, gazed at the fish drifting in the pond, and laughed, "Zi Anxiong, why do I feel like you're waiting for someone?"

"Why do you think so?" Chen Yan asked lightly.

"Need I say more?" Li Tai tilted his head, nudged with his chin the hot tea on the table inside the nearby pavilion, while Qing'er waited beside them.

Chen Yan shifted his body, settled into a comfortable position, squinted, and lazily said, "What do you think?"

Li Tai chuckled, "I think... today quite a few people might show up at our door."

"Let me calculate..." he counted on his fingers, "First, someone from your Ministry of Revenue will definitely come; most likely it's Du Gou."

"One, there are too many people in the Ministry of Revenue to all come over; sending a single representative to inquire is best."

"Moreover, behind Du Gou is Du Ruhui, who will also assume your post; Du Gou's arrival can represent both the Ministry of Revenue and Du Ruhui."

"Of course, that's the ideal case; if they become anxious over His Majesty's news, it's not impossible they'd all come."

"Wei Zheng and his group... might not come; they may already know some inside information."

"Father Emperor is about to leave; perhaps he already warned them in advance, otherwise Wei Zheng might end up confronting my Father Emperor again."

"Besides that, there's Kang Chong of the Ministry of Works; the fine salt project your two ministries recently collaborated on has just gotten on track, so his visit wouldn't be strange."

"Finally..." Li Tai paused, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Finally, of course it's the Crown Prince!"

Chen Yan shook his head, "Not only that."

Not only that?

Li Tai was startled—could there be anyone else?

"Just lie back and relax," Chen Yan said lightly, "Everyone who should come will come; you'll see soon enough."

"Fortunately your Father Emperor didn't send me to the Court today; otherwise, while I was in the Court I'd be bombarded with questions, and after the session I'd be blocked."

"Now it's perfect; we just lie at home and wait a couple of days before setting out."

Li Tai agreed wholeheartedly and then raised another matter, "By the way, Zi Anxiong, what route are we planning to take?"

"From where we depart, and which places we pass through?"

"How would I know?" Chen Yan spread his hands, "We all follow your Father Emperor; you ask me, who should I ask?"

"Besides, didn't your Father Emperor say everything's already prepared? The route must have been planned long ago."

"Don't overthink it; we just follow. On the road we eat when we should, drink when we should, and have fun when we should."

"I said it before, we treat this as a trip for fun."

Li Tai: "Fine, you decide; I'll just go along and have fun..."

"Zi Anxiong!" Li Tai hadn't finished speaking when a shout came from the backyard entrance—it was Du Gou's voice.

Chen Yan and Li Tai exchanged glances, both a little surprised.

Did he really come so fast?

Then the two rose slowly, and before Chen Yan could invite Du Gou over, he rushed forward, anxious, saying:

"Zi Anxiong... what's the situation?" Du Gou had a flood of words to say, but upon seeing Chen Yan, he didn't know what to say.

His expression said it all: "What trouble is this? How can His Majesty, perfectly fine, suddenly need to convalesce due to illness?"

Chen Yan pursed his lips, "Then ask His Majesty; why ask me?"

"I'm just a subordinate who follows orders; what can I do?"

"It's not..." Du Gou was momentarily speechless; seeing Chen Yan leave, he hurried after him.

"Zi Anxiong, this isn't a formal setting, is it? It's private, right?"

Chen Yan went into the pavilion, sat down, gestured for Qing'er to pour tea for Du Gou, and replied, "Of course, this is my own home, so it's private."

"Then I'll speak plainly," Du Gou lowered his voice, "Tell me honestly, are you and His Majesty scheming again?"

After speaking, he seemed to realize his words were improper and his emotions too hasty, and added, "Of course, if it concerns matters I'm not meant to know, you don't have to answer."

"I just don't get why, at this moment, His Majesty, perfectly fine, needs to go into convalescence?"

"Is His Majesty really poisoned?"

Poisoned?

Chen Yan, hearing that, was slightly startled, "What did His Majesty tell you?"

Du Gou asked puzzled, "You don't know?"

"His Majesty said the alchemist was a fraud; he had taken a poisonous immortal pill and needed gradual treatment, you are to tend him, and your post is temporarily assumed by my father."

Chen Yan: "......"

Li Tai: "......"

Fine.

Whether to mention it or not, in a sense, Li Shimin really didn't make a fuss.

Didn't they eat a poisonous immortal pill?

They did!

Didn't they get poisoned?

They did!

Does their body need gradual recovery?

Indeed it does!

Not joking at all!

Chen Yan, half laughing, half exasperated, "Brother Du, His Majesty's words are true; those alchemists are indeed swindlers. Whatever they forged as an immortal pill, calling it a poisonous pill wouldn't be an overstatement."

"Remember the First Emperor Yingzheng? He ate a celestial pill, which is why he died early."

"His Majesty didn't eat that much, but he still needs a long period to recuperate, otherwise endless future troubles will arise."

Hearing this, Du Gou was instantly stunned.

Isn't it?

Are you being serious?

Really poisoned?

Du Gou blinked, and after he recovered, he suddenly stood up, hurriedly looked around, and found that aside from Qing'er, everyone present was his own people.

Even Qing'er was an orphan adopted by the Chen family since childhood, and could be trusted.

Only then did he sigh in relief.

Then Du Gou sat down again, struggling to speak: "So… His Majesty isn't making an excuse? He really ate a poisonous celestial pill?"

Chen Yan silently nodded.

The fewer people who know about their departure, the better.

Du Gou could naturally be trusted, but the more people who know, the greater the chance of the news leaking.

Therefore Chen Yan didn't intend to tell Du Gou about them.

Du Gou learned from Chen Yan that Li Shimin was truly poisoned, not a joke, and fell silent at once.

He remained silent for a good while, then stood up: "Brother Zi An, just pretend I never came today; I have other matters, I'm leaving now."

Chen Yan said calmly: "Let the Ministry of Revenue proceed according to my plan; during my absence, develop step by step. As for the land seized from the Buddhist Establishment, there's no need to arrange it hastily."

Du Gou gave a brief assent, then took his leave.

Chen Yan stared at the untouched tea belonging to Du Gou on the table, shook his head and laughed: "Brother Qingque, His Majesty really is......"

He said so, seemingly unable to find a suitable word to describe it.

Li Tai instantly understood and whispered, "Immature."

The two exchanged a glance, then fell silent.

"......"