Chapter 159: The Crown Prince Confesses

At the same time, Dongfang Qi was in the Imperial Palace undergoing questioning by Qi Zhaodi.

"Did you take action because of Lin Qingyue and the Prince of Jin?" Qi Zhaodi sighed, "I actually failed to see that you harbored such feelings for Lin Qingyue!"

It was not that his eyes were dull, but rather that he felt his son was a heaven-favored child, and even if Lin Qingyue had some beauty, she had already been married.

And she had married Dongfang Qi's cousin, no less!

"She is your sister-in-law, how could you..."

Dongfang Qi suddenly raised his head and looked stubbornly at his father: "Father Emperor, they have already divorced. She is no longer my sister-in-law."

"You! Absurd!" Qi Zhaodi said, realizing it only then, "No wonder you wanted to give her such a high status, and were so worried about her divorce!"

"You are truly muddled, truly muddled! Regardless of whether she is divorced, she is ultimately a woman who has remarried; how could she be worthy of you? Or are you planning to take her as a secondary consort? But someone as unruly as her, who has also been enfeoffed as a Prince, how would she be willing to lower herself?"

"A secondary consort is naturally inappropriate. If she is willing, I will marry her properly."

"Is this a matter of a proper marriage? You are the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the country."

"Your mind should be focused on state affairs, not hindered by feminine beauty!"

"Whether it is appointing an Empress in the future or selecting consorts, the purpose is to consolidate power and produce heirs."

"Father Emperor," Dongfang Qi did not agree with these words.

"Back then, you and Mother Empress were also childhood sweethearts with deep affection."

"But later, in order to fight for the throne, you married many Consorts. And Mother Empress had to help you govern the inner palace and manage those warblers and swallows."

"Others only saw Mother Empress's outward magnanimity and virtue, but I saw her silently weeping behind the scenes many times."

"If she hadn't kept her depression bottled up inside, how could she have passed away from illness so early?"

"And you, Father Emperor, you possess many beauties in the inner palace, but they love nothing more than the power in your hands. Yet, not one of them could love you as sincerely as Mother Empress did. Father Emperor, are you truly happy?"

Qi Zhaodi's face turned cold: "Do not think that bringing up your mother will be of any use!"

Dongfang Qi said: "I know it is useless. It is just that I saw too much backstabbing in the inner palace during my youth, to the point where I cannot muster the slightest interest in other women. Father Emperor can still have heirs, but I often worry that I might end the family line."

"What did you say?" Qi Zhaodi was shocked.

"You haven't even married yet, why would you smear your own reputation?"

Dongfang Qi said: "It is not smearing, but rather a doubt I have held. I am already 22 years old now, yet I truly cannot muster interest in other women. Otherwise, I would not have repeatedly refused the matter of taking a consort. Only..."

He paused, his gaze revealing a hint of tenderness: "Only Prince of Zhaolan makes me feel different."

Other matters were fine, but when it came to heirs, Qi Zhaodi dared not be careless.

He hurriedly said: "Do not be so rash yet; I will have the imperial physician examine you. In case there is something, it can be treated in time."

Qi Zhaodi had injured his body in his early years, resulting in few heirs, leaving only the Crown Prince as his sole bloodline. Not expecting his son to face the same situation, he was naturally extremely anxious.

He was also worried that Dongfang Qi was saying this on purpose for Lin Qingyue's sake. Therefore, he immediately wanted to summon the imperial physicians to diagnose him.

When the examination was about to take place, Qi Zhaodi was still watching from the side, full of worry.

Dongfang Qi said coyly: "Father Emperor, I am truly too ashamed to speak of such private matters. Please grant me some dignity."

Qi Zhaodi: "I am your biological father, what is there to be coy about?"

Dongfang Qi said: "Then I shall not be examined."

Qi Zhaodi had no choice but to withdraw from the inner chamber, but before leaving, he said to the imperial physician: "Examine him carefully; if there is any mistake, beware of your nine generations!"

The imperial physician responded tremblingly.

The one examining the Crown Prince was the Head of the Imperial Hospital, surnamed Lu.

Head Physician Lu said respectfully: "Please undress, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Dongfang Qi glanced at him coldly: "Lu Zheng, I heard that you personally designate the supply of imperial medicinal herbs for the Imperial Hospital?"

Head Physician Lu said: "Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. All medicinal herbs are for the masters in the palace to regulate their bodies, so the quality must be strictly controlled. For this reason, every time a batch of herbs enters the warehouse, I personally inspect the quality to ensure there are no mistakes."

Dongfang Qi chuckled: "Is it to ensure there are no mistakes, or to ensure that the kickbacks all enter your pocket?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince..." Head Physician Lu hurriedly knelt down to defend himself.

Dongfang Qi said: "No need to quibble. If I had no evidence, how could I make such an accusation? Even if your medical skills are high, once the crime of corruption is established, you should know the consequences."

Head Physician Lu kowtowed: "Your Highness, spare my life!"

Dongfang Qi said: "This time, I can cover for you, but if there is a next time, the crime will be unforgivable. Besides..."

He paused before continuing: "... later, when my Father Emperor asks about my condition, you must report it according to what I say."

Head Physician Lu was not a stupid man and immediately understood the Crown Prince's meaning.

"But Your Highness the Crown Prince, deceiving the Emperor is a grave crime! Furthermore, the Emperor just warned me; I truly dare not risk my nine generations!"

Dongfang Qi said: "I promise to protect your nine generations."

Not long after, Head Physician Lu and Dongfang Qi came out of the inner chamber.

Qi Zhaodi hurriedly asked: "How is the Crown Prince's health?"

Head Physician Lu knelt to answer: "His Highness's situation is somewhat special. It should be due to excessive worry and pent-up emotions, leading to a deficiency of Qi and blood, and the sinews being left unnourished. Even if there is desire, I fear he is unable to perform the rites of man."

Qi Zhaodi only half-understood the series of messy words beforehand, but he understood the final sentence, "fear he is unable to perform the rites of man," perfectly.

"So, the Crown Prince truly..." He hurriedly asked again, "Is there a way to treat it?"

Head Physician Lu said: "The Crown Prince's condition is a heart ailment. A heart ailment requires a heart cure; only by self-healing, relaxing the mind, resolving the pent-up emotions, and slowly nourishing the Qi and blood, might there be a one-in-ten chance of recovery."

"Only one-in-ten?" Qi Zhaodi's heart tightened.

His only son, the Crown Prince of Da Qi Guo, the future ruler, was someone unable to perform the rites of man. Wouldn't that mean the family line was broken?

"Lu Zheng, I don't care what method you use, you must cure the Crown Prince's hidden ailment! Otherwise, I will have your head!"

Lu Zheng was drenched in cold sweat, his whole body trembling. He truly could not understand why the Crown Prince wanted to pin such a disgrace on himself.

Yet, he had a handle held by the Crown Prince and had to cooperate with the act.

At this moment, even knowing it was deceiving the Emperor, he could only bite the bullet and answer:

"Human desire arises from the heart. To have the heart but not the strength is the most difficult to resolve. Even if the God of Medicine were alive, he could only treat the symptoms, not the heart."

"As for the current plan, we can only, on one hand, nourish his Qi and blood, and on the other, let the Crown Prince open his heart and find a beloved partner soon. Perhaps in this way, he will be able to break through all obstacles and continue his lineage."