The Child Emperor-Chapter 326: Escape is the Best Strategem

Meng E walked over and asked softly, “Is Your Majesty pretending to sleep?”

Han Ruzi nodded and looked at her calmly, waiting for an answer.

“Does Your Majesty want to know what I fed you?”

“Mm.”

“I already told you.”

“When?” Han Ruzi asked in surprise. He had been struggling to stay awake, and now his head felt so heavy it was as if his entire body had been turned upside down.

“Pretending to sleep shows it’s taking effect,” Meng E didn’t answer.

“What effect?”

“Don’t force yourself. Sleep if you can.” Meng E placed her finger on the Emperor’s forehead and gently drew it downward. Han Ruzi felt a trace of warmth, and his eyes involuntarily closed. Before he could voice any objection, everything around him, along with his doubts, disappeared, leaving only pure darkness.

“What are you doing?” a voice asked.

Without turning around, Meng E said, “None of your business.”

“His Majesty’s affairs are my affairs,” Zhang Youcai said in a shrill voice, clenching his fists. He knew he couldn’t defeat Meng E in a fight, but he could shout.

Meng E remained unmoved, still staring at the Emperor, observing every detail of his breathing, expression, and eye movements. “His Majesty must leave this place.”

Zhang Youcai was stunned, his voice softening slightly. “Leave? Go where?”

“To a safe place. I’ve also read those dynastic histories. The Founding Emperor of Great Chu fled alone several times before he could finally defeat his enemies and seize the empire. If he had stubbornly defended a single city each time, he would have been killed by King Zhao long ago.”

Zhang Youcai wasn’t interested in events from over a hundred years ago, but he was very concerned about “fleeing.” “Outside are all Xiongnu people. Everyone says those in the city can’t escape even with wings…”

“I’m going out for a while. You stay here and don’t let anyone disturb His Majesty’s rest. This matter is very important. Do you understand?” Meng E’s tone suddenly became stern.

“I… I understand…” Zhang Youcai was completely bewildered, but Meng E had already left. Zhang Youcai muttered in confusion, “His Majesty is sick because he caught an illness. Meng E isn’t sick, so why is she also talking nonsensically?”

Zhang Youcai had known Meng E for a long time, but he had never felt she was like the people in the palace, or even like a normal person.

He walked a few steps to the chair-bed and found the Emperor sleeping very peacefully. His breathing wasn’t as labored as it had been the past few days, which put his mind somewhat at ease. But he was still undecided, sometimes thinking Meng E really had a solution, other times thinking he was being deceived and missing the best opportunity for treatment.

Chief Overseer Liu Jie entered and asked softly, “How is His Majesty?”

“Still well,” Zhang Youcai turned and replied, deciding to give Meng E one chance.

“Good. This is medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. It’s already been prepared. When His Majesty wakes up, you should serve him the medicine. The physician said it doesn’t matter if it gets cold.” Liu Jie placed the tray and a bowl of medicine on the table.

“Meng E said His Majesty doesn’t need to take medicine.”

“She’s not here, and besides, she’s not an imperial physician,” Liu Jie said sternly.

Zhang Youcai quickly said, “Yes, Lord Liu, I’ll listen to you.”

Liu Jie grunted and looked toward the Emperor. “His Majesty’s illness came too strangely and at too inopportune a time. Now the city is in an uproar and people’s hearts are in chaos. His Majesty must recover quickly.”

“Has news of His Majesty’s illness already spread?”

“Heh, how could such a thing be concealed? They say some people have already secretly left the city to surrender to the Xiongnu.”

“Ah…”

“Watch over His Majesty carefully, and be on guard against Meng E. Zhang Youcai, as a close attendant, these are all your duties.”

“Yes, Lord Liu…” Zhang Youcai almost told him everything about Meng E, but after glancing at the sleeping Emperor, he swallowed his words back.

Whether it was his imagination or reality, he felt the Emperor was indeed sleeping more soundly than he had the past few days.

Liu Jie didn’t notice this. After receiving the affirmative answer, he left the room satisfied.

The Emperor never woke up. After waiting for two quarters of an hour, Zhang Youcai steeled himself and drank the bowl of medicine himself. The bitter taste almost made him want to cry.

After waiting a while longer, he took the tray and empty bowl out of the room. Liu Jie was even more satisfied when he saw this.

When the sun was high in the sky, Meng E still hadn’t returned, but Prince Donghai and Cui Teng arrived. They glanced at the Emperor and each found a place to sit.

Zhang Youcai found it strange. These two had come late today, and their expressions weren’t quite right either. They deliberately chose the two chairs farthest apart from each other, as if they were having a quarrel—they were always quarreling, usually competing for the same position, but they rarely separated voluntarily.

With the Emperor’s illness, Zhang Youcai sighed inwardly, knowing it would stir up countless troubles. He couldn’t control others, but he could only stay by the Emperor’s side and provide what little help he could.

“Why hasn’t His Majesty awakened yet?” Cui Teng couldn’t help but ask. Usually the Emperor would wake for a while, then sleep for a while, but today he had been lying there motionless the entire time.

“He woke once, but you came late and missed it,” Zhang Youcai lied.

Cui Teng yawned. He hadn’t slept all night and was truly tired now. He glanced at Prince Donghai across from him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Was I looking at you? I didn’t notice myself.”

“Hey, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’re gloating over my misfortune, preparing to report me to His Majesty.”

“Why would I need to report you? This is something His Majesty must know about. You should confess voluntarily.”

“How can you blame me for this?” Cui Teng said angrily, his voice unconsciously rising.

Zhang Youcai said irritably, “Keep your voice down. His Majesty is finally sleeping more soundly.”

Cui Teng smiled sheepishly, stood up and beckoned to Prince Donghai, indicating they should talk in the outer room.

There was no one else in the outer room. Cui Teng said quietly, “What should we do?”

“What do you mean, what should we do?” Prince Donghai feigned ignorance.

“Oh come on, give me some advice. Do I really have to beg you?” Cui Teng said urgently.

“We can only tell the truth. There’s no other way.”

Cui Teng thought for a moment, waved his fist, and said through gritted teeth, “I only hit two servants a couple of times. I never said I wanted to kill them. Was it really necessary for them to flee and surrender to the Xiongnu?”

“Who told you to insist you remembered what they looked like? And at a time like this—Prince Dai has died, Jincheng is under siege, and the Emperor has fallen ill. Of course they’d flee if they could.”

Two servants from Prince Dai’s mansion had been overheard privately gossiping about Miss Cui. When Cui Teng heard this, he kicked one and punched the other. The two men were terrified, thinking they would surely face retaliation, so in desperation they decided to leave the city and surrender to the enemy.

A maid from the Deng mansion was the mistress of one of these men. She found someone to secretly write a city exit permit and stole the general’s seal to stamp it, letting the two men leave the city first to scout the situation. If there really was a way to survive, they would then bring her out too.

However, when questioned by Fan Zhuangshan, she hadn’t told the truth, instead framing her own master.

Prince Donghai was more cautious and re-interrogated the maid, finally uncovering the truth.

“It’s all your fault for insisting on letting those two men leave the city. Now look what’s happened—Deng Cui isn’t guilty of treason, but I’m the one who’s been trapped,” Cui Teng complained.

“Deng Cui was careless with his seal and negligent in vetting his people. He still bears some responsibility.”

“What about me?” Cui Teng asked in a trembling voice.

“You? I suppose you’re the instigator.”

“They spoke about my sister that way—was I supposed to just endure it?” Cui Teng was both frightened and angry.

“Normally, even if you beat them to death, it wouldn’t matter—they’re just servants. Even if they wanted to flee, they’d have nowhere to go. But now there are Xiongnu everywhere outside, and Jincheng could fall at any moment. Did you think this was still the Capital, where you could act like the second young master of the Cui clan?”

Cui Teng became even more frightened and angry, grabbing Prince Donghai by the collar. “You’re the one who insisted on letting those two leave the city!”

Prince Donghai sneered coldly. “If it weren’t for me, what you caused would only be trouble. Now there’s a remarkable achievement right in front of you. Instead of thanking me, you’re complaining?”

Cui Teng released his grip. “Remarkable achievement? What remarkable achievement?”

“When His Majesty wakes up, I’ll explain.”

Cui Teng immediately put on a fawning smile. “Prince Donghai, my good cousin, I know you’re the smartest. Please stop teasing me and tell me—could there really be some benefit to letting those two leave the city?”

Prince Donghai coughed with dignity. “I’m thirsty.”

Cui Teng hurriedly poured tea and presented it to Prince Donghai, saying apologetically, “It’s a bit cold.”

Prince Donghai took a sip, frowned slightly, and returned the teacup to Cui Teng.

Cui Teng looked at Prince Donghai expectantly. “Well? Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“What this so-called remarkable achievement is?”

“Oh, it’s actually quite simple. The maid from the Deng mansion said those two men’s surrender to the Xiongnu was reconnaissance. If the Xiongnu don’t kill them and even give them rewards, they’ll find a way to bring her out too.”

“The Xiongnu kill Chu people on sight. They won’t spare those two, will they?”

“Once Jincheng falls, everyone will be killed, but right now is the time of siege. The Xiongnu only need to think a little and they’ll keep those two men, letting them lure more people to surrender, causing Jincheng to fall without attack.”

“Ah, then didn’t I cause an even bigger disaster?” 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Fool, this is also His Majesty’s chance to escape from Jincheng.”

Cui Teng blinked, not understanding.

“Those two servants truly surrendered to the Xiongnu, so there are definitely no flaws. They don’t know the maid has been captured yet, and they don’t know the truth has been exposed. When they send the signal, won’t we control who can leave the city?”

Cui Teng was greatly shocked and thought for a long while. “This—this is too risky. What if His Majesty is recognized…”

“So someone needs to scout the path for His Majesty, leave the city first, and after ensuring safety, tell the Xiongnu that they can lure out more people to surrender…”

Cui Teng gritted his teeth. “I’ll scout the path. Even if I die at the Xiongnu’s hands, I accept it.”

“Those two servants know you,” Prince Donghai reminded him.

“That’s true. Then who should leave the city to scout?”

“Don’t rush. This plan still has many flaws that need to be gradually perfected.” What Prince Donghai wanted to say was himself, but he didn’t want to appear too eager, lest he arouse suspicion.

He almost admired himself—coming up with this plan in such a short time. If he could truly escape from Jincheng… Prince Donghai’s heart raced with excitement. As long as he could return to the capital, Great Chu’s disaster would be his fortune. As for how to achieve this, it would require more planning.

More likely he would die at the Xiongnu’s hands, but Prince Donghai would rather take this risk.

“Why hasn’t His Majesty awakened yet?” Cui Teng was getting anxious.

“Only the Imperial Medical Academy in the capital can detoxify His Majesty, so His Majesty must leave Jincheng as soon as possible. Let’s not keep watch here and hurry to perfect the plan.”

“Shouldn’t we tell His Majesty?”

“Let’s wait until we’re confident, so His Majesty won’t be disappointed for nothing.”

“Right, right.” Cui Teng was now completely convinced and followed Prince Donghai as they walked out.

Shortly after noon, Han Ruzi finally awakened. His face was pale, not as spirited as usual, and he didn’t immediately sit up. He stared blankly with open eyes for a while before saying, “Is there food?”

Zhang Youcai only noticed the Emperor had awakened when he heard him speak and hurriedly said, “There’s porridge and pickled vegetables, but they’ve gone cold. I’ll have someone make a fresh portion.”

“No need. Cold is fine.”

Han Ruzi ate the entire large bowl of cold porridge and still wanted more, but didn’t ask for it. He turned his head and looked around. “Where’s Meng E?”

“She went out. She didn’t say where.”

Han Ruzi grunted in acknowledgment. He vaguely remembered having a conversation with Meng E, but couldn’t recall the specific contents. He only remembered one thing—when they were in Pengcheng, Meng E had once said she would prepare medicine to help him cultivate internal energy.

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