My father is Yongle, and all I want is to cultivate immortality.

Chapter 38: People from the Imperial Medical Academy Arrive; Zhu Gaoxu Performs Top-Notch Feigned Il

"This kid is defying the imperial decree!"

Zhu Di angrily said, "I appointed him to oversee the country, and he behaves like this, even feigning illness to me. What does he mean by this?"

Yao Guangxiao said with heartache, "Your Majesty, my tea set, my chair!"

Zhu Di: ...

"Damn it, it's just a chair and a tea set. Look how much you're worried about it. I'll just send you another set, won't that be enough?" Zhu Di glared at him.

Yao Guangxiao said, "These tea sets and chairs have accompanied this old monk through countless years."

Zhu Di was too lazy to speak; he just felt a headache coming on.

Yao Guangxiao said, "I think His Highness the Prince of Han doesn't want to oversee the country; he only wants to refine elixirs. If you insist on making him oversee the country, how can he not feign illness?"

"Hmph, I think he did it on purpose, and the fact that he angered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to death was also for my benefit," Zhu Di said angrily. "He just wants to leave me, to escape me, to go to some damned Yunnan."

"Very well, then I'd like to see whether he's truly ill or faking it."

Zhu Di turned and headed towards the Fengtian Hall.

"Sigh, His Majesty is getting more and more stubborn," Yao Guangxiao began to complain.

…………

Zhu Di returned to the Fengtian Hall, and he ordered the Imperial Medical Academy to go to the Prince of Han's residence.

There was only one purpose: to see if His Highness the Prince of Han was truly ill.

This action has attracted a lot of attention.

Zhu Gaochi and his family in the Eastern Palace looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Is the King of Han really sick, or is he deliberately feigning illness to avoid overseeing the country?" Zhang Yan couldn't figure it out.

Zhu Gaochi said, "Is there even a question? He definitely doesn't want to be regent; otherwise, why would he pull this stunt?"

"That would be troublesome," Zhang Yan said. "If he's really sick, that's fine, but if he's faking it, then he's deceiving the emperor."

Zhu Zhanji laughed and said, "So, we can impeach him?"

"Get out of my way!" Zhu Gaochi slapped his head. "He's your own uncle, blood is thicker than water! How dare you kick him when he's down?"

"If your grandfather finds out about this, he'll skin you alive!!"

Zhu Zhanji shivered and quickly said, "Father, I was wrong, I misspoke."

"Good to know. I'm telling you, don't you dare have any wicked thoughts in the future," Zhu Gaochi said.

Zhu Zhanji looked to Zhang Yan for help.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Your father is right." Zhang Yan also began to lecture, "You're not allowed to have such crooked thoughts again, understand?"

"I understand." Zhu Zhanji could only nod.

…………

The Prince of Han's Palace.

"Will this work?"

Inside the room, the Princess Consort of Han said worriedly, "If His Majesty finds out that you are faking illness, then we're doomed."

Zhu Gaoxu said calmly, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

"How can I not worry? If His Majesty finds out about this, you'll be accused of deceiving the Emperor."

"Think about it, this is deceiving the emperor."

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Zhu Gaoxu smiled.

He feigned illness so that he wouldn't have to oversee the country and could focus on alchemy.

After all, the emperor had entrusted him with overseeing the country, so he was responsible for all matters, big and small.

He wasn't stupid; he knew that in the Ming Dynasty, it was extremely difficult to become an official, let alone the crown prince.

Think about the previous crown prince, didn't he die from overwork?

He's not leaving the capital now because he's going against Zhu Di!

If you won't take the soft approach, I'll take the hard one!

You won't let me leave, huh? Fine, I won't leave. Even if you beg me to leave, I still won't go.

You think you can take advantage of me? Do you think you're Zhu Yuanzhang?

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, a royal physician has arrived from the palace. He says he's here to examine the Prince of Han's pulse." A voice suddenly rang out.

Princess Han and Zhu Gaochi felt a sudden unease.

"My lord, what should we do?" the Princess Consort of Han asked worriedly. "If the imperial physicians diagnose something, it will be a real problem..."

Before the Princess Consort of Han could finish speaking, she froze on the spot.

Zhu Gaoxu, who had been standing aside talking, suddenly lay down on the sickbed, looking weak and frail.

Holy crap? This actually works?

The Princess Consort of Han stared wide-eyed.

"Go and deal with it quickly," Zhu Gaoxu said.

"OK."

Now that the Princess Consort of Han felt more confident, she stepped out of her room and bumped into the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital.

"Greetings to the Princess Consort of Han."

The leader was named Du Tong. He was a physician during the Yongle reign, and his medical skills were superb. He was also an upright person and was deeply trusted by Zhu Di.

"Why have you come here in such a grand manner?" Princess Han feigned ignorance.

"His Majesty heard that His Highness the Prince of Han had fallen ill, so he sent us to examine his pulse and treat his illness."

"After all, His Highness is highly regarded by His Majesty and also serves as regent. Now that he has fallen ill, we, the Imperial Medical Academy, cannot sit idly by."

Du Tong said, "Your Highness, please allow us to enter and see what is going on."

Princess Consort Han feigned difficulty, saying, "My lord also fell seriously ill yesterday and is not fit to receive guests right now. Isn't it inappropriate for you to go in at this time?"

Looking at the Princess Consort of Han in this state, these people had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

Du Tong stepped in front of her and said earnestly, "We are imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy. We are here to treat the Prince of Han. Your Highness, there is no need to worry."

After saying that, he pushed the door open.

At a glance, the King of Han was lying on his sickbed with his eyes closed.

Not only that, his face was also extremely pale.

Even Du Tong, the imperial physician, and the other imperial physicians behind him were startled by what they saw.

"Ah...this..."

The imperial physicians were completely dumbfounded.

Zhu Gaoxu seemed to sense someone's arrival, and he struggled to open his eyes.

He saw Du Tong and others.

The Princess Consort of Han watched from the side, inwardly exclaiming, "Wow!"

My husband is truly amazing! His acting skills in faking illness are simply unmatched!

"Your Highness, are you that seriously ill?" Du Tong asked.

Zhu Gaoxu opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Du Tong and the imperial physicians immediately began to bow.

"Your Majesty's decree has brought us here to take Your Highness's pulse. We hope Your Highness will cooperate and extend your hand," said Du Tong.

Zhu Gaoxu laboriously raised his hand and placed it in front of the sickbed, allowing Du Tong and others to take his pulse.

His acting was so compelling that even the current Princess Consort of Han would probably be amazed if she saw this scene.

My dear husband, your acting skills are absolutely amazing, simply unmatched!

Du Tong dared not be careless. He placed three fingers on Zhu Gaoxu's pulse and carefully felt it.

The atmosphere in the room became quiet.

The Princess Consort of Han asked cautiously, "Imperial Physician, how is the condition?"

Du Tong frowned and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, His Highness's pulse is weak and his qi and blood are deficient."

"Judging from his appearance, he seems to be suffering from some kind of weakness. I wonder how Your Highness's diet has been lately?"

Zhu Gaoxu said, "The food is alright, but I suspect it might be related to what happened yesterday?"

"What happened yesterday?" Du Tong and the others looked bewildered.