The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 108 Emperor Yonglong is critically ill, and undercurrents are surging.

A dart in the butt, and it keeps running faster? Is this even human?

Not only the lame Taoist priest, but even the mad monk sped up once again.

Everyone watched helplessly as they ran further and further away, soon disappearing from their sight.

If it weren't for the trail of blood on the ground, they would have almost doubted whether it was all a dream.

Having lost track of the person, they had no choice but to return disappointed.

This scene was witnessed by many passersby.

This matter gradually spread.

As the story spread, things gradually became bizarre.

Ultimately, it evolved into the story of a monk and a Taoist priest, both members of a demonic cult, who were skilled in poisoning.

They poison people beforehand, and once the poison takes effect and the person is beyond help, they come to the person's door to treat them and then swindle money from them.

Furthermore, these two are extremely malicious.

After swindling money from others, they refuse to provide proper medical treatment and ultimately try to kill them.

As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

This rumor quickly spread throughout the entire capital city.

The entire capital city became wary of this monk and Taoist duo.

Meanwhile, the bald-headed monk and the lame Taoist priest fled the city in a very disheveled state.

It wasn't until they reached the dilapidated temple where they stayed that the lame Taoist priest had time to apply medicine to the wound on his buttocks.

They were utterly baffled as to why they had fallen to such a state of universal condemnation, and after much discussion, they still couldn't grasp the reason.

Ultimately, the two decided to sneak into the city the next day to investigate.

The next day, as soon as they reached the city gate, they found that the passersby were looking at them with lustful eyes, like wild dogs seeing a big meat bun.

The sight sent chills down their spines; they were unaware that the Jia family had already issued a reward for their capture.

A reward of five hundred taels of silver will be offered for the capture of the two men.

These two are worth five hundred taels each, totaling two hundred and fifty taels each.

Soon, passersby at the city gate rushed to arrest them.

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The two, unaware of the reason and without bothering to ask further questions, turned and ran away.

They ran until they were breathless before finally escaping their pursuers.

The two had no idea what had happened, and after secretly investigating, they finally learned the truth.

Both of them were furious, wondering who was so malicious as to slander them like this.

In this way, it would be impossible for them to sneak into the capital.

Left with no other choice, they had to return empty-handed and report back to Fairy Jinghuan.

Xia Chengzong paid close attention to the matter throughout, but apart from providing intelligence to the Rongguo Mansion, he remained behind the scenes the entire time.

This bald-headed monk and the lame Taoist priest had shown up just two days ago.

He didn't show up for the next few days, and Xia Chengzong was completely relieved.

Next, Xia Chengzong continued to focus on training troops.

After six months of training, his thousand guards had completely transformed from youths into iron-willed soldiers.

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Their physical fitness and martial arts skills are constantly improving.

Xia Chengzong, on the other hand, had been studying military formations.

He wanted to create a simpler, more flexible, and adaptable military formation.

The smallest units in the army were the wu and shi, which consisted of five and ten men respectively.

He wanted to enable a small group of men to form a minimal military formation, where they could cooperate to achieve local superiority in numbers.

A single unit can form a military formation, and later, a hundred-man unit or a thousand-man unit can be combined to form a complex military formation.

However, the military formation cannot be too complex.

Or, to put it another way, for soldiers, it should be simple and concise.

Soldiers need to undergo continuous training to develop muscle memory and adapt quickly.

The complexity of military formations applies only to the commander, not to the soldiers.

As long as the commander-in-chief coordinates properly, the military formation can unleash its full power.

A month later, Jia Zhu personally paid a visit.

Xia Chengzong invited him into his study, and upon meeting him, Jia Zhujing knelt down.

Xia Chengzong quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

"Young Master Jia, what are you doing? Get up and speak."

Jia Zhu said, "If it weren't for Your Highness's miraculous medicine, I'm afraid I would already be buried in the ground."

"A life-saving grace is like a second birth; if a student does not remember it, how is he any different from an animal?"

"Your Highness gave me this life, and I will obey any command Your Highness may give me in the future."

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water. Between you and me, what matters is sincerity. Why bother with such formalities?"

"Come, sit down and let's talk. You're in poor health, so you need to be more careful in your daily life."

"While studying is important, good health is the most crucial thing. It's essential to exercise regularly."

"Here's what we'll do. I'll teach you a set of boxing techniques for fitness. If you practice diligently, your health will gradually improve."

Jia Zhu said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Jia Zhu's positive emotions +10 +10 +10

Xia Chengzong taught Jia Zhu a set of health-preserving boxing techniques. The movements of this set of boxing techniques were simple and gentle, and not complicated.

Jia Zhu, however, had to study it more than a dozen times before he finally learned it.

He has an amazing talent for reading, but his martial arts skills are questionable, even inferior to ordinary people.

Jia Zhu himself was extremely ashamed to report it.

Fortunately, Xia Chengzong had enough patience and kept repeating the instructions until he taught him.

Before we knew it, it was May, and the weather was getting hotter.

Emperor Yonglong fell ill again, this time very seriously, and within just a few days he was bedridden.

As was customary, the princes and grandsons all rushed to the palace to serve.

Xia Chengzong observed secretly, but for a time he could not figure out the cause of the illness. His medical skills were no better than those of the imperial physicians.

Perhaps it's just because of aging.

He couldn't find the right medicine in the mall either.

After all, medicine cannot cure all diseases, and Buddha only helps those who are destined to receive it.

The pills in the shop can cure diseases and detoxify, but they can't prolong life, at least not now.

Emperor Yonglong's illness immediately stirred the ambitions of his three sons who were vying for the throne.

Although they were at the bedside every day to fulfill their filial duties, it was clear that their minds were no longer on the matter.

They secretly plotted and conspired to seize the divine throne.

Undercurrents were swirling throughout the imperial court.

Even Prince Chung-jang became uneasy.

He secretly approached Xia Chengzong and asked him if he should make any preparations.

Xia Chengzong said softly, "Father, Grandfather is watching our every move."

"Although Grandfather is ill, he is not confused. At this time, it is better to remain still than to move around."

"Father, you can simply focus on being filial to your father at his bedside."

Upon hearing these words, Prince Zhongzheng listened attentively and nodded repeatedly.

In reality, even if he wanted to do something, he lacked the ability to do so.

The Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion has too shallow a foundation and has hardly any followers.

Even if I wanted to do something, I didn't know where to begin.

Next, Prince Chungjang settled down to fulfill his filial duties at the bedside.

Meanwhile, the three princes who aspired to seize the throne spent less and less time by their bedside, their minds entirely focused on the outside world.

Finally, on this day, Emperor Yonglong fell into a coma.