Jiapingguan Chronicle

Shen Cha glanced at Xiao Fengqi and nodded slightly.

“I already sensed it when I went to Linhuang Prefecture last time, but I didn’t ask, and they didn’t say anything. We just understood each other implicitly, and we all knew it in our hearts? That’s about it.” She looked at Xiao Fengqi, smiled, and said, “As for when they started to take action, I don’t actually know, but based on my guess—and this is just a guess, I’m not very sure—it should have been when the Regent fell ill.”

“Everything else is correct, but the timing is not quite accurate. The Regent fell ill because he learned what they had done, and he was so angry that he suffered a stroke.” Xiao Fengqi looked towards the Third Grandfather. “He always believed that the Old Master was on the side of the younger generation, so even though he knew that the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital were far inferior to the Old Master, he would never ask the Old Master to come and see him.”

"So the old man himself is on his side?" Jin Miaomiao frowned. "From what I can tell, my uncle doesn't have a good impression of the Regent. Even though he's a relative and a junior, he gradually develops a dislike and aversion to him."

“I do dislike him, especially his usurping of my position and his attempt to replace Young Master Lan.” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “However, the old man is a renowned physician with medical ethics. He confronted the Regent in person. As a doctor, he would not harm his own patients. If we had sought his help earlier, we wouldn’t have fallen to such a critical condition.”

“Uncle is right. As doctors, even if the patient is our enemy or our sworn enemy, we cannot stand by and watch them die.” Jin Miaomiao agreed with her third uncle’s words. “Before my master and uncle taught us medical skills, they would tell us one thing: those who study medicine must first learn to be good people. If you stand by and watch someone die, you are not worthy of this profession.”

"That's right, the Regent is judging others by his own petty standards. It's said that he regretted it immensely after hearing the old man's words, but it was too late. Even if Hua Tuo or Sun Simiao were alive again, they couldn't save him. Even so, he begged the old man to give him medicine to keep him alive. He believed that as long as he didn't die, Young Master Lan and Young Master Nan would have no hope of succeeding to the throne and seizing power."

Upon hearing this, Shen Cha exchanged glances with Shen Haolin and Jin Miaomiao, and the three of them simultaneously revealed knowing smiles.

"What, this has something to do with you guys?" Chu Han looked at the three of them. "You got involved?"

“No, it’s just that the Regent’s thoughts coincide with those of the two young masters. They once said that they don’t really want to take power and ascend the throne right now. They still have things to finish and need at least five years. So, they asked the old man to help keep the Regent alive with medicine. At least he must live for the next three years, even if…” Shen Cha looked at Chu Han and smiled faintly, “In any case, he can’t swallow this insult.”

"Kids these days really have a lot on their minds." Chu Han raised an eyebrow and looked at Xiao Fengqi. "You just said that Yelü Ertu got so angry because he found out what his son and nephew had done behind his back?"

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “Their scheme started a long, long time ago. It wasn’t initially aimed at the Regent, because the Regent wasn’t the Regent back then.”

"I understand." Chu Han sighed. "Those two kids!"

"Grand Uncle?" Shen Cha looked at Chu Han curiously. Their grand uncle really knew everything. Nothing that happened in anyone's family could escape his eyes.

“I guess you know that too.” Xiao Fengqi smiled. “During the period when it caused the most scandal and became the most ridiculous, you were in Linhuang Prefecture, right? If I remember correctly, you even stayed at our residence for a while.”

"Yes!" Chu Han smiled. "Speaking of which, I wanted to check on you that time, to see if you were alright, to see if the Qi family's baby was alright, to see if you were affected by that abduction, to see if you had any health problems. If so, I wanted to find out and treat them in time, so they wouldn't cause you any future suffering. Besides, I also wanted to check on your great-aunt's well-being. I didn't expect to catch the most exciting show in Linhuang Prefecture. But..." He paused, looking at Xiao Fengqi, "How old were they back then? They already had such thoughts?" "There's no way around it. They've been bullied too much. Even the most innocent child would probably fight back, right?"

"Being bullied?" Jin Miaomiao asked, puzzled. She munched on a pastry and looked at Xiao Fengqi. "Impossible! The two young masters of Yelü are of noble status. Would anyone dare to mistreat them?"

"That is to say, especially since Young Master Lan is the heir to the throne."

“No, no, no, he wasn’t the heir to the throne at that time. He had two older brothers.” Chu Han held up two fingers and raised an eyebrow at the children. “So, their grievances were caused by their own family.”

"Two older brothers?" Jin Miaomiao looked at Shen Cha, then at Shen Haolin, Song Yaojia, and Xia Chen. "I've never heard of them before!"

“You’re too young to know for sure. By the time you grow up and have memories, they’ll both be gone.” Chu Han sighed. “Those two from the Yelü family were no pushovers.”

"For the throne of the King of Liao?"

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “Although we were not very old at that time, we had a very deep impression of those two, after all, it was a painful experience. My brother Xiao Qi and I were a little better off, since we didn’t live in the palace, so we suffered less. Moreover, they mainly targeted Young Master Lan, and we, as well as Young Master Nan, were just incidental.”

"Why? What grudge do they have?" Shen Cha frowned slightly. "Back then, you were all very young, weren't you?"

"Yes, they were about ten years older than us. At that time, they were already very powerful princes. Even the Regent, their uncle, was not as powerful as them. My great-aunt said that at that time, many people were considering whether to choose the eldest prince or the second prince. As for Young Master Lan, basically no one cared about him."

"But there are still people who care, right?"

“Of course, quite a few people in the North and South Courtyards actually look down on these two. It’s just that…” Xiao Fengqi glanced at Chu Han, “I’m not entirely sure how dazzling and powerful they are outside, but they’re certainly very high-profile, and both of them act like the throne will eventually fall into my hands.” He sighed, “But the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind. If they’re in the limelight for too long, they’ll be suppressed sooner or later. So, those who are truly in power in the North and South Courtyards don’t take them seriously at all. They don’t force it either, knowing that these important ministers in the North and South Courtyards are only loyal to the royal power. Whoever becomes the Golden King will win their favor, so they don’t insist.”

"But do you also feel hatred in your heart?"

"Yes, they will." Xiao Fengqi nodded, looking at Chu Han, "When our benefactor rescued me and my younger brother Xiao Qi, they were actually involved." (End of Chapter)