Chapter 462 – Escape

Imperial Physician Chu didn’t stay long in Great Zhou. Five days later, he left the imperial city. On the day of his departure, the capital was under overcast skies, and Luo Wei’s leg injury acted up again, keeping him bedridden and unable to bid farewell to Imperial Physician Chu at Yi Jin Garden.

Three days after Imperial Physician Chu left, Long Xuan also departed the capital, heading to Linshui Pass in Southern Zhao. This time, Luo Wei reluctantly braved the rain and led the officials out of the capital to see Long Xuan off.

“Wait for my return,” Long Xuan said to Luo Wei before mounting his horse. “I will come back as soon as possible.”

“Alright,” Luo Wei replied. “This time, you must return in triumph.”

As Long Xuan rode off with his army towards the south, he looked back at Luo Wei from atop his steed. Amidst the bustling crowd near the city gate, he spotted Luo Wei with just one glance.

Seeing Long Xuan looking back, Luo Wei waved his hand in farewell.

Long Xuan smiled from afar and waved back. He didn’t need any more imperial concubines in his harem. In such a huge palace, he only needed Luo Wei to be there. Long Xuan now wished to fulfill all of Luo Wei’s desires, but Luo Wei’s only wish was to leave the palace, something Long Xuan couldn’t fulfill. He did not need to lead the troops himself to quell the rebellion in southern Zhao. Long Xuan simply wanted to escape; he did not know what to do with Luo Wei. Perhaps if he distanced himself, Luo Wei would wait for him to return to the capital. Or perhaps Long Xuan meant nothing to Luo Wei, but Luo Wei would never abandon the realm of Great Zhou. Long Xuan thought they still had plenty of time together. Maybe after a long time had passed, there would finally be a place for him in Luo Wei’s heart.

“March!” Long Xuan urged his horse forward with a flick of his whip.

The army quickened its pace, raising clouds of dust in its wake.

“Let’s go back,” Luo Wei said to the officials after the last soldier in the rear column was out of sight.

The court of Great Zhou returned to the situation of Long Xuan being away at war while Luo Wei managed state affairs as regent.

No one was dissatisfied with this arrangement. Seven years had already passed this way, and people felt there was nothing wrong in continuing this way for a few more years.

Only Imperial Physician Wei was dissatisfied. After returning to Yi Jin Garden, Luo Wei complained of severe leg pain. Imperial Physician Wei rolled up Luo Wei’s pant leg to find that the injured leg had swollen. “Regent,” he said as he applied a cold compress, “can you really continue to handle state affairs in this condition? Don’t you value your life at all?”

“How much longer can I live?” Luo Wei asked.

“Your Highness could live to a ripe old age,” Imperial Physician Wei replied.

Luo Wei laughed, “Do I get to ascend to immortality as well?”

Imperial Physician Wei applied medicine to Luo Wei’s leg. He was concerned for his well-being but knew it was no use advising Luo Wei to take care of himself, so he remained silent.

Luo Wei lay on the bed and instructed Zhao Fu to summon Xie Yu and Long Xiao.

Xie Yu entered the room after Long Xiao. Upon seeing Long Xiao standing by Luo Wei’s bedside, Xie Yu was taken aback.

“Mingyuan,” Luo Wei beckoned Xie Yu closer and said, “From now on, you will guide the Crown Prince.”

“Does Your Highness wish for me to familiarize the Crown Prince with state affairs?” Xie Yu asked.

Luo Wei replied, “The Crown Prince is already twelve years old; he cannot spend all his time studying in the Imperial Study. You will accompany him and serve as his tutor. Xiao’er.” Luo Wei then addressed Long Xiao, “You must respect Master Xie as your teacher. Governing is not child’s play. If you act recklessly and disrupt state affairs, I will not let you off easily.”

“Sixth Uncle, I understand,” Long Xiao hastily agreed, then bowed to Xie Yu, “Teacher.”

Xie Yu returned the courtesy.

“Very well,” Luo Wei said, considering the two as officially teacher and student now. He turned to Long Xiao, “You haven’t finished writing your assignments yet. Go finish them quickly. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Zhao Fu take you to Master Xie’s place. No sleeping in, understood?”

Long Xiao grinned at Luo Wei, then excused himself to continue practicing calligraphy in the study room.

“Do you intend for him to inherit the throne?” Xie Yu continued watching Long Xiao until he left and waited a while to ensure he would not return before speaking in a low voice to Luo Wei, “What are you planning? He is Consort Chang’s son!”

“The Chang clan has been eradicated,” Luo Wei replied. “He won’t know.”

“The Chang clan may have been eliminated, but others still know the truth,” Xie Yu argued. “If His Highness truly gains the Emperor’s favor one day, do you think there won’t be others to reveal this past affair to him? Yunqi, you’re not usually so naive!”

Luo Wei coughed twice, unsure how to respond to Xie Yu. In his previous life, the one who ultimately ascended to the throne was the fifth prince, Long Ting. However, in this life, Long Xuan only had three sons so far, and it was uncertain whether this fifth prince would even be born. Of the three princes alive now, Luo Wei had tutored them all. In terms of talent, Long Xiao was the best. Luo Wei wasn’t afraid of Long Xiao resenting him in the future because he wouldn’t live long enough to see Long Xiao become emperor.

“Well? Say something!” Xie Yu urged, “Don’t think just because he’s close to you now means he won’t favor his biological mother. His relationship with Chang Ling has always been affectionate. After His Highness learns the truth, what will you do?”

“He can only become Emperor when Long Xuan dies,” Luo Wei replied indifferently to Xie Yu’s concern. “Mingyuan, do you really think my life can outlast Long Xuan’s?”

Xie Yu was rendered speechless by Luo Wei’s words. He knew Luo Wei’s health was poor and that his lifespan would not be a long one. But that did not mean he wished for Luo Wei’s early demise!

“Just teach him for now,” Luo Wei said hurriedly when he saw Xie Yu opening and closing his mouth without saying anything, speechless from anger. “I also want to see if he has the ability to govern. Even if he doesn’t become emperor, being a virtuous prince is also good, isn’t it? Long Xuan is still healthy; among his sons, who will succeed him is not up to us to decide.”

“Then let the three princes learn governance together,” Xie Yu suggested. “This way, there will be no bias, and those with ulterior motives won’t be able to speak ill.”

“But they are princes,” Luo Wei said. “Won’t it be too tiring for you alone to teach them all?”

“My health has always been excellent,” Xie Yu retorted unenthusiastically. “And I have officials to assist me. Do you think I can do everything by myself?”

“I stand corrected,” Luo Wei cheerfully admitted his mistake. “We’ll do as you say: the three princes will learn governance together under your guidance. It’s for the best. No matter which of them becomes emperor, you’ll be their imperial tutor.”

“Luo Yunqi!” Xie Yu was truly angered now and rebuked Luo Wei in a hushed voice, “I’m considering this for your sake, not my own!”

Luo Wei shrugged, feigning innocence. “Alright, alright, I know you’re a good man. Let’s do it this way, not for you, but for me.”

“In that case,” Xie Yu persisted after seeing Luo Wei acknowledge his fault, “did His Majesty mention how long it might take to suppress the rebellion in Southern Zhao this time?”

“How would I know that?” Luo Wei replied. “When it comes to war, no one can predict.”