Dugong

Chapter 67 Supernatural Powers and Destiny

The following month.

Li Ping'an stayed by the bedside without leaving for a moment, feeding the medicine on time every day.

Perhaps it was due to the superb medical skills of Physician Li, or perhaps the rare medicinal herbs were indeed effective, but Eunuch Chu did not faint again, although his body became increasingly swollen.

His already obese body swelled even more, making him look like a mountain of flesh when he lay on the bed.

Li Ping'an held the medicine bowl and said softly, "Grandpa, open your mouth, ah—"

Eunuch Chu slightly opened his mouth, letting the bitter medicine flow into his throat.

After drinking three bowls in a row, his blurry vision cleared up slightly, and Eunuch Chu was able to see the young man in front of him clearly. He was seventeen years old and had a tall and slender figure.

Unfortunately, he was born with a round, flat face, which caused him to go from a handsome young man to just another ordinary person.

"It's good to be plain-looking. How could we servants be qualified to be born handsome? With our fat and chubby appearance, we've made countless noblemen look handsome and dashing!"

Eunuch Chu moved his fingers, and Li Ping'an immediately understood, helping him to stand up from the bed.

In the past, he would pretend to have difficulty walking so that others could help him. Now, his limbs are cold, his muscles and bones tremble and atrophy, and he cannot stand steadily without support.

He shuffled to the door, gazing at the gloomy sky.

"It looks like the snow is going to continue, and we might not see the sun for ten days or half a month."

"Grandpa, you have a discerning eye."

Li Ping'an chimed in, pointing to the rocking chair in the courtyard: "I got some wood from the Imperial Workshop and added a canopy to the chair. Now you can lie down and enjoy the snow!"

"This is great stuff, we need to try it out quickly."

Eunuch Chu tried to channel his inner energy into his dantian, but the blood and qi in his meridians were as thick as grease, creating numerous obstacles and shackles. Only a few strands of his full inner energy remained in his legs.

Li Ping'an's true energy burst forth from his body, enveloping Eunuch Chu's legs as he took steps forward, one to the left and one to the right.

Grandpa Chu struggled to climb onto the rocking chair. The canopy blocked the joy of looking up at the sky, but he didn't mind. His grandson's filial piety was much more comforting than the ethereal clouds.

“Little Anzi, back then I said I would die in a rocking chair, and who would have thought it would come true.”

Li Ping'an comforted him, "Grandpa, don't be discouraged. Didn't Physician Li say that he is consulting ancient books and will surely find a prescription to treat diabetes?"

He took the prescriptions given by the imperial physicians every day, but instead of getting better, his symptoms worsened day by day.

He needed help to walk and spoke weakly. In just one month, Eunuch Chu went from being a sprightly man to being on his deathbed.

Eunuch Chu murmured, "That fellow is always good at making excuses and shirking responsibility. Even if you were about to die, he would say, 'You'll be fine after some rest.'"

Li Ping'an asked, "Grandpa, does the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion have any miraculous skills that can prolong life, heal injuries, and bring the dead back to life? I will go and retrieve them to practice."

"There is no such thing as a miracle cure that can bring the dead back to life..." Eunuch Chu's eyes were clouded with a thin mist, and his murmurs were filled with relief and resentment.

"This illness has been suppressed in our family for over twenty years. Once it flares up, even a miracle can't save us. We can't blame Dr. Li..."

"What is Consort Yuan anyway? She's just a stupid, barbaric woman. Once I'm out of the Cold Palace, I'll be able to assist the new emperor in seizing power in a couple of years..."

"What a pity, even divine power cannot overcome fate. I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill His Majesty's expectations..."

"Your Highness is too protective of her own and acts impulsively and easily angered. I'm afraid she's no match for Consort Yuan. I imagine His Majesty will have other plans. This old servant need not worry..."

Li Pingan quietly stood by the recliner, listening to Eunuch Chu's rambling.

From the time he entered the cold palace in the 43rd year of the Wude era until now, they have relied on each other for five years, from being wary to becoming master and disciple to grandfather and grandson.

To say that the two were deeply in love would be a lie, but Li Ping'an would not betray Eunuch Chu.

This is already quite remarkable for a eunuch!
As he spoke, Eunuch Chu suddenly asked, "Little Anzi, do you think fate exists in this world?"

Li Ping'an shook his head: "Grandson doesn't know."

"Of course it is. Our family rose to prominence through sugar, and we also lost our lives because of sugar. It is clearly a karmic retribution arranged by God long ago." Eunuch Chu climbed from a lowly eunuch to the position of patriarch, experiencing countless life-and-death battles along the way. He was the least believer in fate and retribution.

Now, as I approach my death, a sense of fear and awe arises inexplicably.

Li Ping'an is young and doesn't know what it's like to be old or sick, so he's naturally not afraid. Even if he falls into God's trap, he will choose to strike back hard.

"Grandpa, is your illness really arranged by God?"

"Of course it is, it must be, it's God!"

……

Qinzheng Hall.

The cold wind blew past the courtyard pillars, sounding like a mournful wail.

Emperor Wude huddled on the dragon throne, gazing at the empty palace hall, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"How long has it been since I last visited the Hall of Diligent Governance? Ten days... or half a month? I'm really getting old, I can't remember anything clearly..."

Gently stroking the handle of the dragon throne, which had been rubbed by four emperors including Emperor Wude, it had become oily and smooth.

"When was the first time I sat on the dragon throne? Was I thirty-two or thirty-three? I can't quite remember. I only remember that my fifth brother died in battle in the northern frontier that year, and his head was made into a wine vessel by the Golden Wolf King!"

A deep-seated hatred flashed in Emperor Wude's eyes. His fifth brother was his own flesh and blood brother, who had cared for him since childhood and personally taught him martial arts and guided his studies.

He is like a brother and a father, a teacher and a friend.

Emperor Wude originally only wanted to be a carefree prince, but unexpectedly his fifth brother, who was brave and good at fighting and defeated the barbarians, died on the battlefield from a stray arrow.

"Supernatural powers cannot overcome destiny, supernatural powers are determined by destiny..."

Emperor Wude muttered to himself, increasingly feeling that the will of Heaven was unfathomable: "My days are numbered, and my hasty plans have not been successful enough."

In a daze, a figure appeared beside him.

Eunuch Wei bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu has passed away after catching a cold."

Emperor Wude's eyes sharpened, and he instantly snapped out of his daze, asking in a deep voice, "Has the Imperial Medical Academy done its utmost to treat him?"

Eunuch Wei replied, "More than ten imperial physicians have treated her one after another, but unfortunately, Consort Shu is frail and has been suffering from continuous snow and wind for months. In the end, there is no cure."

Emperor Wude then asked, "Did Consort Shu leave any message?"

Eunuch Wei took out a booklet from his sleeve and presented it: "Consort Shu left a letter for Prince Chen. I have copied it word for word and ask Your Majesty to review it."

Emperor Wude opened the booklet and glanced at it. The letter contained many words of concern for Zhao Zhe, but he skipped over them and finally focused his gaze on two lines of text.

“I am by nature weak and cowardly, and I was unable to protect my son from his infancy. Now I have become a burden to him.”

“You are a descendant of the Cui family, and can be considered a member of the Jiangnan lineage. However, you should remember: you are not a member of the Cui family, but a member of the Zhao family; you are not a member of the imperial family, but a member of the imperial family of the whole country.”

Emperor Wude handed the book back and sighed, "Consort Shu's love for her child is so profound; I am far inferior to her!"

With a gentle squeeze, the booklet turned to ashes: "His Majesty has the world in his heart, so naturally he has no time for personal feelings."

"This is the first time I've heard of such flattery, sir."

Emperor Wude gave a sarcastic remark and took out an imperial edict from his sleeve: "If Prince Chen wishes to posthumously confer the title of Consort Shu in the future, you should give him my will to avoid any illegitimacy or lack of legitimacy."

Eunuch Wei asked, "What if His Highness does not posthumously confer a title?"

"Then I have misjudged him."

Emperor Wude didn't care at all and said with a smile.

"If Prince Chen can deceive my eyes, it only proves that I have not chosen the wrong crown prince!"

(End of this chapter)