Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 106 - 103: Please Punish Prince Dai Severely_2

Chapter 106: Chapter 103: Please Punish Prince Dai Severely_2

Fu Zhong spoke a few more words before leaving the Li Mansion.

At this time, Prince Dai was already at Chengguang Hall attending the morning court.

Li Chuan did not attend the morning court, and Prince Dai requested leave for him, stating that Li Chuan was unwell and thus did not come to court.

As soon as Prince Dai finished requesting leave for Li Chuan, a minister stepped forward to report to the emperor: "Your Majesty, General Yingyang is not ill. Yesterday, General Yingyang stayed overnight at the brothel Yihong Court and left there only this morning."

"Your Majesty, during the former Empress’s memorial period, General Yingyang going to a brothel to consort with courtesans is truly unacceptable."

"Your Majesty, this is not the first time General Yingyang has spent the night at a brothel. Every time he returns to the capital, he stays at a brothel. There was a time he stayed for several days and nights."

"The court has regulations prohibiting officials from visiting brothels. General Yingyang dares to flagrantly flout the law by visiting a brothel, which is utterly outrageous!"

"During the former Empress’s memorial period, General Yingyang unrestrainedly visits a brothel, showing blatant disrespect as if he disregards the former Empress entirely."

The faction of the Crown Prince seized this matter to file numerous complaints against Li Chuan.

"General Yingyang is a subordinate under Prince Dai. That Prince Dai indulges his subordinate to visit a brothel during the former Empress’s memorial period suggests he, too, disregards the former Empress."

"The former Empress was Prince Dai’s legitimate mother, and doing this is unfilial to her."

"Your Majesty, with Prince Dai acting this way, he is insulting the former Empress."

Ministers allied with Prince Dai naturally spoke in defense, accusing them of slandering General Yingyang and Prince Dai, and asked if they had any evidence.

General Yingyang is a fifth-rank general in the court, and slandering an official is a serious offense.

The Crown Prince’s faction stated they had evidence. Someone personally saw General Yingyang at the Yihong Court last night, and another witnessed him leaving the brothel an hour ago. If disbelieving, anyone could go to Yihong Court and inquire.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s faction speaking with such confidence, the ministers supporting Prince Dai became somewhat apprehensive.

Prince Dai once again stepped forward, stating: "Father, General Yingyang truly is unwell." Prince Dai insisted that Li Chuan was ill. He sent Fu Zhong to find Li Chuan to reprimand him and to ensure he genuinely falls ill.

He had long anticipated that requesting leave for Li Chuan might arouse suspicion from the Crown Prince’s faction, so Li Chuan had to genuinely appear sick, or it would be deceiving the emperor.

"Your Majesty, whether General Yingyang is truly ill or not, let the Imperial Physician examine him to find out."

The emperor glanced at Sun Kui, who immediately responded, then bowed and left.

Prince Dai maintained a composed demeanor.

Before attending court, he had a young eunuch inform Noble Princess Consort Rong to notify the on-duty Imperial Physician for today.

Sun Kui walked out of Chengguang Hall and instructed Sun Doudou to fetch an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Hospital to the Prince Dai Mansion.

"Master, this matter..." Realizing how much favor the Crown Prince enjoyed from the emperor, Sun Doudou was indecisive and sought his master Sun Kui’s counsel.

Sun Kui said: "Act impartially."

Sun Doudou hesitated for a moment before speaking: "About the Imperial Physician..." Most of the physicians at the Imperial Hospital have a good relationship with Noble Princess Consort Rong, and he feared the physicians might cooperate with Prince Dai.

"Who are the on-duty physicians today? Is Doctor Feng, who takes the emperor’s pulse, available?" The Chief Imperial Doctor, Doctor Feng, is the one who specifically attends to the emperor.

"Doctor Feng is on his rest day today."

Sun Kui thought for a moment and said, "First, go to Feng Mansion to find Doctor Feng, then take him to General Yingyang’s Mansion."

"Ah?" Sun Doudou was surprised, "Master, are we really going to do this?"

He couldn’t help but show a worried expression on his face and lowered his voice, saying, "Master, if Prince Dai and Noble Princess Consort Rong find out, they might blame us."

Sun Kui tapped Sun Doudou’s head with a horsetail whisk and said, "Would you rather be blamed by the emperor or by Noble Princess Consort Rong?"

Sun Doudou replied without hesitation: "I’d rather be blamed by Noble Princess Consort Rong and Prince Dai."

"We both serve by the emperor’s side, and we only do what the emperor asks, understand?"

Sun Doudou quickly nodded: "Understood. But Master, the emperor has always favored Prince Dai; will our actions displease the emperor?"

Sun Kui understood Sun Doudou’s implication and said meaningfully, "Right now, nothing is more important than the former Empress’s memorial day."

"Disciple understands, I will leave the palace now."

Sun Doudou left the palace and first went to Feng Mansion to find Doctor Feng, then brought Doctor Feng to Li Chuan’s residence.

Doctor Feng is the emperor’s exclusive physician. In the past, both Noble Princess Consort Rong and Empress Xie tried to bribe him but were refused. His loyalty lies solely with the emperor, making him the most suitable to diagnose Li Chuan.

Li Chuan did not recognize Doctor Feng and assumed he was an Imperial Physician arranged by Prince Dai. Following Fu Zhong’s instructions, he pretended to be ill sincerely.

Doctor Feng finished taking his pulse and advised Li Chuan to have a good rest but said nothing more.

Li Chuan instructed the Deputy General to escort Sun Doudou and Doctor Feng out of the mansion.

Sun Doudou then took Doctor Feng back to the palace.

The morning court session had not yet ended.

Sun Doudou walked into Chengguang Hall, bowed, and respectfully reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Doctor Feng is outside the hall."

Hearing it was Doctor Feng, Prince Dai widened his eyes in astonishment, thinking to himself: How could it be Doctor Feng?

The emperor was unaware that Doctor Feng was on his rest day today and found no surprise in Sun Doudou bringing Doctor Feng to Li Chuan’s residence.

"Let him come in."

Prince Dai’s expression immediately turned very unpleasant.

Doctor Feng walked in and respectfully saluted the emperor.

"This servant greets Your Majesty."

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You examined General Yingyang; how is his condition?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Yingyang’s health is generally fine, except..." At this point, Doctor Feng suddenly paused, showing a hesitant expression.

"Except what?"

Doctor Feng honestly replied: "Except that General Yingyang is suffering from excessive indulgence, and drank quite a bit last night, so he is currently somewhat weak."

The emperor, having heard Doctor Feng, cast a cold gaze at Prince Dai.

Feeling the emperor’s piercing stare, Prince Dai hastily knelt and said: "Father, your son was unaware of General Yingyang’s situation... Your son believed he was truly unwell..."

The emperor waved Doctor Feng away, and Doctor Feng left, bowing.

The Imperial Censor stepped forward with a loud voice: "Your Majesty, General Yingyang, during the former Empress’s memorial period, visited a brothel, exhibiting lawlessness, immorality, and disregard for filial duty. I urge Your Majesty to impose severe punishment."

These words immediately garnered support from the Crown Prince’s faction.

The Imperial Censor further stated: "Prince Dai condoned his subordinate’s actions and deceived Your Majesty, which constitutes the crime of deceiving the emperor. I beseech Your Majesty to punish him severely!"