Chapter 850 - 853: Master and Servant
Chapter 850: Chapter 853: Master and Servant
Hua Shunming managed to sit up with Le San’s support. The palace maids who had been waiting nearby immediately came over to attend to him.
"My body is becoming more and more useless. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get out of bed tomorrow," Hua Shunming said.
Tears welled up in Le San’s eyes, but he smiled and replied, "The Holy Emperor is in good health. After drinking the Imperial Physician’s medicine today, you will surely get better."
"I know you’re just flattering me, but I still like hearing it.
"I’m starting to understand why so many Emperors sought the path to immortality. Now that I’ve reached this point, I can’t help but feel the same!"
"Holy Emperor?" Le San asked softly.
Hua Shunming was amused by his expression. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any other expression on your face. You’ve been so worried lately, it’s rare to see you surprised.
"Don’t worry, I am not a foolish ruler. I won’t resort to those dark arts.
"If there truly was a way to achieve immortality, this throne would never have fallen into my hands."
"The Holy Emperor is wise," Le San replied. "The Crown Prince is already waiting outside. Should I call him in?"
Hua Shunming stared blankly ahead. "Xiao Lezi, do you think I made the wrong choice?"
Le San didn’t dare answer the question. Instead, he said with a hint of nostalgia, "It’s been a long time since the Holy Emperor called me Xiao Lezi..."
"Indeed. Ever since I became the Emperor, no one has called you that anymore. To think that in the end, you’re the one who has stayed by my side the longest.
"Sigh... Everything has already been arranged for you outside the palace. You should leave sooner rather than later."
"Holy Emperor, didn’t we agree?" Le San protested. "I still have to serve you. Those young eunuchs are so clumsy. They could never be as attentive as I am."
"You insist on doing everything yourself. In all these years, I’ve never seen you tired. I’ve already accepted my old age, but I didn’t expect you to still be so stubborn." Hua Shunming knew very well that Le San just wanted to accompany him through his final days.
Although he had arranged Le San’s future life, the harem was a place of endless turmoil. He was afraid that an accident might happen and he wouldn’t be able to protect this old man.
Refusing to back down, Le San said, "Holy Emperor, I can still do my duty! If you don’t believe me, just give me an order. If I don’t handle it well, you can punish me."
With a lifetime of loyalty between them, even though Le San knew he could live a life being served by others once he left the palace, he truly had no desire for it.
"I can never win an argument with you. Go and call the Crown Prince in. It’s rare for him to come so early every day." Under the palace maids’ care, Hua Shunming was already dressed and ready.
"Your son greets Imperial Father." Seeing that the Emperor’s expression was relatively gentle, Hua Zhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he had been following the Emperor closely these days, enjoying the prestige of being the Crown Prince, only he knew the inner hardships. Aside from facing various problems, he also had to deal with endless unreasonable demands. A single mistake would only earn him more reprimands. He came here every day trembling with fear, yet he couldn’t afford to slack off.
If his other brothers knew about his thoughts, they would probably curse him for acting aggrieved while reaping all the benefits.
"Has the Crown Prince memorized the geographical names from yesterday?"
"I have memorized eight or nine out of ten," Hua Zhang replied.
He had learned to hold back a little. Previously, he would be full of confidence, but if he failed to answer even a single detail, the resulting look of contempt was unbearable.
"Logically speaking, these should have been memorized long ago. This empire will belong to you in the future. But if you can’t even distinguish directions and locations, how can you tame the officials?
"It seems I have been too lenient with all of you in the past. The Crown Prince still needs to work harder."
Hua Zhang hastily agreed.
"I feel that my health is much worse today than yesterday. I will leave the memorials for you to handle. You will attend the court session in my place today."
"I am terrified and unworthy," Hua Zhang replied, stunned.
"You have to take this step sooner or later." Hua Shunming stared at the sky outside, which was still slightly dark. "Don’t think being an Emperor is easy. Wait until you truly take over, and you’ll understand my difficulties."
Waving his hand, he added, "Go! I also want to quietly enjoy my morning meal."
"I obey the decree," Hua Zhang said.
Only after Hua Zhang left did Hua Shunming speak again. "Doesn’t the Crown Prince look like a puppet on a string? Even if he has doubts in his heart, he doesn’t dare bring them up to my face."
Le San personally supported Hua Shunming as they walked forward. "Holy Emperor, the Crown Prince is purely filial. Naturally, he has to be obedient in front of you.
"I presume the Holy Emperor letting the Crown Prince attend court alone today is also a way to train him.
"He is still a child, after all. He will always learn bit by bit."
"I hope so!" Hua Shunming stopped to catch his breath. "Anyway, my body is useless now. I’ll just let him handle everything from now on.
"It’s just that I’m still unwilling to accept it deep down. I’m afraid that the solid foundation I’ve laid won’t bring about a golden age."
When he had just ascended the throne, he was immediately faced with natural disasters and man-made calamities. He had finally managed to catch a breath, but he was already physically and mentally exhausted.
Le San was worried, but he didn’t show it on his face. He carefully supported Hua Shunming for a moment. "Holy Emperor, should I have someone summon the Imperial Physician?"
"No need. Aside from forcing me to drink a large jar of bitter medicine every day, they can’t do anything useful. Why not let me have an easier time in my final days?" Hua Shunming had made his peace, so he spoke without any taboos.
In his eyes, birth, aging, illness, and death were all normal. Having been the Emperor for so many years, he was truly tired.
Hearing this, Le San even ignored his status and spat a few times. "Touch wood, touch wood!
"All the gods, please do not take offense! Do not take offense!"
Hua Shunming was amused by him. "I remember you entering the palace when you were just a boy. Where did you learn these superstitious tricks?"
"I did enter the palace at a young age, but I still know some of the customs of the common folk," Le San replied. "I would rather believe they exist, just so I can pray to serve the Holy Emperor again in my next life."
Hua Shunming grabbed his hand. "Just a moment ago you were scolding me for talking about death, and now it’s your turn? If there is a next life, you should live with dignity as an upright man and become a wealthy patriarch."
"I thank the Holy Emperor for the auspicious words." Le San helped him to the desk. "Holy Emperor, didn’t you agree to let the Crown Prince handle these matters? How about I accompany you for a walk in the back garden before you eat?"
Looking at the mountain of memorials piled on the desk, a flash of heartache appeared in Le San’s eyes. He had said he was leaving it to the Crown Prince, but he still couldn’t let it go, and his feet had led him right back here.
"Look at my memory," Hua Shunming said. "It’s a habit of decades. I just couldn’t change it all at once.
"Never mind. Let me take a look first to see how the Crown Prince handles things today."
But just as he was about to leave, he casually opened a memorial. That single glance threw him into a violent rage.
"Look at these people! They all have their eyes on my private treasury!" Enraged, Hua Shunming swept the memorial onto the floor.
They had just audited the accounts in the royal court, and the moment a few major problems were rooted out, people started crying poor again.
"They really think I’m too old to do anything about them." Hua Shunming gritted his teeth. "Pass on my decree: investigate the Ministry of Revenue."
Not daring to say another word, Le San helped Hua Shunming sit down properly before hurrying out to announce the decree.
This investigation didn’t even need to go through the outer court. The Emperor had his own group of people who operated independently. Before the Minister of Revenue had even finished his court session, the entire Ministry of Revenue’s account books had already been relocated.