Chapter 499: Disdain (2)_1
At Jingshan Villa, Xiao Ruiyuan had a temporary residence where he would often rest if he was unable to return to Jing City in time after discussing urgent matters with Chu Heng.
Now that night had fallen, coming out from Doctor Gui’s house, Xiao Ruiyuan went straight back to his quarters without going to the back courtyard to find Chu Heng. He also didn’t plan to tell him about what happened tonight, lest it stirred up unnecessary worries.
At this moment, Xiao Ruiyuan was seated motionlessly in front of the desk, staring at the ginseng box atop it, feeling not the slightest bit of drowsiness. Under the flickering candlelight, his face revealed an indescribable weariness.
Chu Heng’s life was left with less than a year, and the ministers in the Central Plains who originally supported legitimacy witnessed his hopeless recovery and gradually harbored other intentions, who wouldn’t want the huge benefits brought by Merit of the Dragon?
What worried Xiao Ruiyuan the most was that Emperor Huian seemed to have other plans. Previously, he had been schemed against and nearly lost his life, and the attitude and measures taken by Emperor Huian were quite thought-provoking. Not only did he notice it, but many ministers in the court also speculated a thing or two.
And those Princes coveting the position of Crown Prince Chu Heng, needless to say, wouldn’t have banded together to put him to death on the way back to Jing City. They did so, simply because they were worried that after Chu Heng passed away, he would be coaxed over by competing brothers, which would be unfavorable to themselves.
Xiao Ruiyuan was very clear that the current situation was extremely disadvantageous both for Chu Heng and himself. Only by finding the Thousand-year Ginseng and quickly curing Chu Heng’s illness could they resolve their predicament.
However, after searching for so many years and finally having a glimmer of hope, the hope was so easily shattered, a blow to him that could not be called insignificant!