The Prodigal Son

"Luan'er, how are you?"

As soon as the Empress Dowager arrived, she inquired about Zhao Luan's condition with concern.

"Mother, don't worry, I'm fine."

Zhao Luan held the Empress Dowager's hand, "She was just a little frightened after falling into the water, it's nothing serious."

"It's good that you're alright!"

The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at Yun Ying with a hint of annoyance, "What were you thinking? You're supposed to be His Majesty's personal protector, how could you let him fall into the water?"

Yun Ying was completely innocent, but she did not defend herself: "This humble subject has failed in her duty, please punish me, Your Majesty."

"It has nothing to do with her."

Zhao Luan pulled the Empress Dowager to sit down. "It was my daughter who tried to kick Qin Yu into the water, but she accidentally fell in after him."

Qin Yu?

The Empress Dowager was surprised, her face instantly showing a gossipy expression. "He just made such a great contribution, why would you kick him into the water?"

"Don't even mention it."

Zhao Luan glared angrily at Qin Yu. "Right now, I not only want to kick him into the water, I wish I could hang him up and give him a good beating! Just like the Duke of Wei said, hang him from the roof beam to dry!"

As she spoke, Zhao Luan mentioned to the Empress Dowager that Qin Yu would rather be demoted than become the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

After hearing Zhao Luan's words, the Empress Dowager's heart stirred once again.

This is a good thing!

He would rather be beaten than be promoted, which shows that he truly has no interest in power!

"How can you be so ungrateful?"

The Empress Dowager glared at Qin Yu with a smile, "The court is in dire need of capable people right now, are you really that unwilling to contribute to the court?"

"Your subject is willing to serve the court."

Qin Yu replied with a wry smile, "It's just that I lack the ability! The reason I've been able to achieve merit time and time again is purely due to a bit of cleverness!"

"Young man, don't underestimate yourself." The Empress Dowager looked at him with a smile. "I believe that you are both literate and martial; with a little nurturing, you will surely achieve great things in the future!"

Holy crap?

Qin Yu looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Didn't the Empress Dowager used to think that her nose wasn't a nose and her eyes weren't eyes?

Now you're starting to care about yourself again?

Could it be that I have the potential to become a heartthrob for housewives?

But he really can't be the Vice Minister of Revenue!

Qin Yu, lost in thought, leaned closer and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to speak with you privately. Would that be convenient for you?"

Ok?

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered. "Alright, let's talk over there!"

With that, the Empress Dowager got up and walked to the side.

Zhao Luan had no idea what tricks Qin Yu was up to this time, so she gave him a warning glare.

Qin Yu ignored Zhao Luan's gaze and followed the Empress Dowager to the side.

Zhao Luan didn't know what Qin Yu said to the Empress Dowager, but she saw that he had made the Empress Dowager smile and nod repeatedly with just a few words.

Soon, the Empress Dowager brought Qin Yu over and said to Zhao Luan with a smile, "You can't force a melon to ripen; since Qin Yu really doesn't want to be the Right Vice Minister of Revenue, don't make things difficult for him!"

Ok?

A surge of curiosity welled up in Zhao Luan's heart.

What exactly did Qin Yu say to the Empress Dowager that made her change her mind so quickly?

Curious, Zhao Luan glared at Qin Yu with a hint of annoyance: "Since Mother is pleading for you, then let it go!"

She had only meant to scare him by threatening to hang him up and whip him, but Qin Yu preferred to be hung up and whipped rather than become the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, which put her in a difficult position.

The Empress Dowager's words had conveniently given her a way out.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "Then this humble subject will not disturb Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager any longer. This humble subject will take his leave now."

Go!

Zhao Luan waved her hand impatiently.

Qin Yu bowed to the mother and daughter, then immediately made a hasty escape.

After Qin Yu left, Zhao Luan asked the Empress Dowager with great curiosity, "What did Qin Yu say to Mother?"

"This damned bastard tried to negotiate with me!"

The Empress Dowager smiled. "He said that if I plead for him, he'll give me another grand fireworks display!"

"..."

Zhao Luan's pretty face twitched slightly, both annoyed and amused: "This bastard will stop at nothing to shirk his responsibilities and avoid promotion!"

"I think this is quite good!"

The Empress Dowager gently patted Zhao Luan's hand, "You can consider what I told you before!"

"Mother..."

Zhao Luan was both amused and exasperated.

How did we end up talking about this again?

The Empress Dowager shook her head and smiled, "I won't make things difficult for you, I just want you to think it over!"

Zhao Luan nodded helplessly, then said, "I have ordered a meal to be prepared. Now that Mother is here, why don't we..."

"No!"

The Empress Dowager stood up. "I've already eaten! I came to check on you after hearing you'd fallen into the water and been frightened! Now that you're alright, I should go back and rest! I haven't slept well these past few days because I've been worried about the Prince of Chengyang. Tonight I can finally get a good night's sleep!"

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mother."

Zhao Luan rose to see him off.

After being escorted out of the palace by Zhao Luan, the Empress Dowager instructed Zhao Luan to rest early and then return to Cixi Palace.

Not far away, the Empress Dowager ordered someone to summon the imperial physician to Cixi Palace.

Not long after she returned to Cixi Palace, the Imperial Physician rushed over.

"Tell me, what exactly is wrong with Qin Yu's health?"

The Empress Dowager went straight to the point and asked the Imperial Physician.

Faced with the Empress Dowager's questioning, the Imperial Physician's expression changed immediately. He stammered for a long time, but didn't know what to say.

The Empress Dowager keenly noticed the Imperial Physician's unusual behavior, and her face immediately fell. "Speak, what exactly happened?"

The imperial physician trembled and knelt on the ground with a thud. "Empress Dowager, it's not that I'm unwilling to speak! It's... it's that His Majesty instructed me not to tell anyone about Qin Yu's condition!"

The Empress Dowager's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately dismissed her attendants.

"Now it's just you and me, so speak freely! I won't tell anyone!"

The Empress Dowager stared coldly at the Imperial Physician, "If you still don't tell the truth, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Meeting the Empress Dowager's gaze, the Imperial Physician's face was filled with fear.

After hesitating for a moment, the Imperial Physician stammered, "Actually, Physician Qin is not sick at all..."

Then, the Imperial Physician recounted all of Zhao Luan's instructions in one go.

After hearing the imperial physician's words, the Empress Dowager was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This girl, isn't she just being silly?

Qin Yu wasn't sick at all. What if she really made him sick by scaring him like this?

Qin Yu has made so many contributions, and so much time has passed since that incident. Even if she's still angry, she should have calmed down by now!

Or perhaps she initially only wanted to scare Qin Yu, but later fell for him and considered him hers, not wanting him to have anything to do with other women, which is why she hesitated to tell him the truth.

If that's the case, it would be a good thing!

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through the Empress Dowager's mind.

After a moment of contemplation, the Empress Dowager waved her hand at the Imperial Physician, "Alright, I will keep this a secret! You may leave!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you!"

The imperial physician trembled as he got up and left, covered in cold sweat.

The Empress Dowager sat there, her mind racing with thoughts.

Hmm, let's observe Qin Yu for a while longer!

I'll find some time to test that girl myself!

At the same time, Zhao Luan left the palace again and walked towards the pond.

Shangguan Youyi guessed what Zhao Luan was going to do and quickly advised, "Your Majesty has just been frightened and should rest well first!"

"Need not!"

Zhao Luan shook his head slightly, saying in an unquestionable tone, "If I cannot even overcome this little fear, I am not worthy to be emperor!"

Shangguan Youyi wanted to persuade her again, but seeing Zhao Luan's determined eyes, she swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

Soon, they returned to the edge of the pool.

Zhao Luan stood still, and Yun Ying and Shangguan Youyi jumped into the pool without saying a word, ready to rescue Zhao Luan.

After taking a few deep breaths, Zhao Luan steeled her resolve and jumped into the pool...