Chapter 1503: 1498: Chu Heng's Vulnerability

Chapter 1503: Chapter 1498: Chu Heng’s Vulnerability

But they all didn’t know that he could already understand the memorials they wrote; it was just that endorsing them was strenuous for him as he did so standing on the dragon throne.

Do they really think he is useless?

Chu Heng shook his head, secretly noting the faces of a few ministers who had just shown doubt towards him. Upon returning to the imperial study, he recorded their names and had Sun Wu go through their memorials so he could properly endorse them.

He was energetically writing on the dragon throne when Su Yingxue came from the warm pavilion, softly calling, “Heng’er.”

“Mother!”

Chu Heng quickly put down the brush and jumped off the dragon throne.

He wanted to throw himself into his mother’s arms for kisses and cuddles, but remembering he was now overseeing the nation, he stood properly beside the imperial table and bowed to Su Yingxue, “Greetings to Mother.”

Su Yingxue helped him up, then looked him over and smiled, “Good, Heng’er now has the presence of an Emperor, dignified and steady. You will surely be a great Emperor in the future.”

Chu Heng grinned and said, “If Mother likes it, I will surely strive to be a good Emperor, but… is Father really leaving the palace?”

Su Yingxue, somewhat reluctant, hugged him and kissed his tender cheek, “Yes, both your Mother and Father are leaving, without a known return date or even knowing if… we will come back.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Chu Heng some harsh truths, so she spoke somewhat cryptically.

She thought Chu Heng was too naïve to understand such deep matters, but Chu Heng knew the truth in his heart. He felt sorrowful yet still smiled, “Mother just wants to travel far with Father, leaving Heng’er to watch over the imperial court! Ah… Father wants to shirk his duties, so I will reluctantly watch over it for a while! I’ll wait for Father’s return!”

“Good.” Hearing this, Su Yingxue couldn’t hold back the choking in her throat anymore.

“Can I go see Father?”

Chu Heng kissed Su Yingxue, “Those palace maids, I don’t know where they heard it from, said that while Father is ill, he also harms his son, which is complete nonsense. How could Father bear it?”

He knew, Chu Yihan loved him the most.

Su Yingxue chuckled, touching his nose, “Don’t pay attention to those people, let them spread whatever they want.”

Actually, she was the one who had spread the rumors, intentionally letting people know that Chu Yihan’s illness was severe, beyond the help of medicine or even her, a genius doctor.

Leaving Chu Heng to oversee the state, as Duke and Regent, was also to give the impression that Chu Yihan’s death wasn’t far off.

Su Yingxue took Chu Heng to the warm pavilion. Chu Yihan’s current state actually didn’t harm anyone – he was very weak, mostly unconscious for much of the day, usually just lying in bed.

When Chu Heng entered, he heard rustling noises; the emperor’s bedside had yellow curtains drawn, so he couldn’t see where his father was.

He walked over to lift the curtain, but from inside came Chu Yihan’s commanding voice, “Stop.”

Chu Heng, hearing this imposing voice, immediately stopped in his tracks and respectfully bowed, “Your son greets Father, how is your health?”

“I am unharmed. How have you been behaving lately? Anything unusual?” From behind the curtain, the man’s voice sounded not like a tender father but like a strict king, holding extremely high expectations for his son.

Chu Heng shook his head, “Your son has been normal, studying literature and practicing martial arts, managing affairs alongside Brother Nine without any negligence.”

Chu Yihan then talked about governance with him; most of the time, it was Chu Yihan speaking, probably thinking Chu Heng wouldn’t understand, but Chu Heng knelt on the ground, posture upright, his eyes showing determination and seriousness, telling Chu Yihan, “Everything Father said, your son has remembered.”

“I said so much just now; did you really remember it all? If you don’t understand, there’s no need to pretend.”

“Your son remembers every single word, though I don’t fully understand yet. But there is still time for me to grow up; someday, I’ll grasp it completely, and even do better than Father.”

Chu Heng repeated everything Chu Yihan had said earlier.

Indeed, he recounted it word for word.

Even Su Yingxue was amazed!

Her son truly was intelligent!

After standing up, Chu Heng did not stay to eat but told Su Yingxue, “Mother, after my afternoon nap, I will train in martial arts with uncle and shall not stay here, bidding farewell to mother.”

Chu Heng then bowed respectfully.

Seeing him bow so respectfully made Su Yingxue feel as if her heart was being sliced by a sharp knife.

She never thought her child could be so sensible.

Chu Heng was always smiling, his adorable and soft demeanor caused the ministers in the court to mistakenly believe he was still just a helpless baby.

He returned to his own palace where Shan Bao was waiting by his dining table, giving him a roar.

Stinky Bao, why aren’t you coming to eat?

Chu Heng dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs, then closed the palace doors and heavily walked towards Shan Bao.

“Roar~”

Shan Bao, with its trimmed front claws, gently scratched Chu Heng, as if sensing his fragility.

“Shan Bao…”

Chu Heng lay on Shan Bao, crying, “Father is ill, mother wants to take him away, I might not have a father and mother anymore!”

“Roar!” Shan Bao widened its eyes, holding him and gently patting his back.

No, your father and mother will live a thousand years, they won’t die so soon!

“Father refused to see me, because he knows that his vulnerable state would cast a shadow in my heart, and be detrimental to my growth. He wants me to remember how strict he has always been with me. From now on, I must also be strict with myself to make the ministers respect me, to be a valiant Emperor like him.” Chu Heng cried louder and louder while nestled in Shan Bao’s embrace.

In the hall, besides Shan Bao, nobody knew he cried.

Shan Bao held the child in its embrace, patting him with its paw, rubbing away all the tears on his face, making its own face even messier.

The ministers outside are fools, not knowing how intelligent the child who grew up playing with it really is!

He never shows it in front of others!

His unhappiness, he saved it all for Shan Bao, only crying to him.

Chu Heng cried until he was tired, then slept in Shan Bao’s embrace. Shan Bao howled twice, telling him, whether or not his parents were by his side, it would always be there!

The mightiest tiger in the Nine Continents would be with him for life!

In the Cold Palace, Noble Consort Xiao waited for Chu Jinling to come for a meal, but when he finally arrived after a long wait, his face was somber, making Noble Consort Xiao lose her appetite.

Noble Consort Xiao patted him, “What’s wrong, child? I asked you to join me for a meal and you look this upset? Is mother’s food not as good as your imperial uncle’s?”

Ever since moving into the Cold Palace, they had set up a separate kitchen, and the meals cooked by the nannies in the palace, who were close to her, were also quite skillful in cooking.

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