I Don't Want to Be a Charmboy【Quick Wear】

Chapter 365 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (3)

Lin Shen has been confined to his bedchamber for the past few days, and is not allowed to wander off even a step.

The medicine was taken three times a day, and tonics were delivered in a continuous stream. The floor heating in the hall was warm and cozy, and only a small crack was opened in the window for ventilation.

Emperor Qi issued a strict order: the Crown Prince had just recovered from a cold and needed to rest quietly. No one was allowed to disturb him, and he was not allowed to go out to catch a chill.

The root cause of this near-fatal cold was not an ordinary change in weather, but a complex and intricate scheme involving the imperial court and the inner palace.

If we were to go into details, it would be a long story.

In short, the root of everything lies in the concubine that Emperor Qi recently took in—Consort Yuan.

This former concubine has a special identity. She is not an ordinary woman who entered the palace through the imperial selection. Instead, she is the cousin of the late Empress, who is also Lin Shen's birth mother. In fact, Lin Shen should call her "aunt".

Back then, Emperor Qi and the late Empress were childhood sweethearts who supported each other through thick and thin, and their affection for each other was extremely deep, truly a loving couple.

Unfortunately, she was short-lived. The late empress suffered a serious injury while giving birth to Lin Shen and passed away not long after, leaving behind the infant crown prince and the heartbroken Emperor Qi.

Lin Shen's maternal family is the Yuan family, one of the four most famous clans.

Since the founding of the nation, the Yuan family has been a top-tier noble family with deep roots and extensive influence.

Lin Shen's grandfather was a regent minister who served two dynasties, and his uncle was a leader of the Qingliu faction and a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. His students and old friends were all over the court and the country.

It can be said that the late empress was able to assume the position of empress not only because of her relationship with Emperor Qi, but also because of the support of the Yuan family's powerful family background.

However, since the death of the late empress, there have been no more women from the Yuan family in the palace.

For such a powerful family, losing its direct ties with the imperial power was undoubtedly a huge hidden danger.

After careful consideration and planning within the family, they finally selected the late empress's young cousin, who bore a striking resemblance to her, and after meticulous training, sent her to the palace.

The intention behind this was almost an open conspiracy—they were after the "resemblance between Wanwan and Qing," attempting to use this similar face to rekindle Emperor Qi's feelings for his former lover and maintain the glory of the Yuan family.

How could the Qi Emperor, so shrewd, not know the Yuan family's plans? He understood them perfectly well.

However, he couldn't bear to look at Abao, who had lost his mother at a young age.

Thinking that this woman resembled the late Empress, I thought that letting Abao see her more might make up for some of the maternal love he lacked.

Out of pity for his son, he tacitly approved of Consort Yuan's existence and even bestowed some favor upon her.

At first, Consort Yuan was quite well-behaved, and she showed great care and concern for Crown Prince Lin Shen, trying her best to play the role of a gentle and loving elder.

Lin Shen had seen his mother's portrait since childhood and knew that she was his aunt, so he was less wary of her.

The child, being naturally kind and gentle, and often bringing him novelties, gradually lowered his guard.

However, human greed is insatiable.

After Consort Yuan was diagnosed with pregnancy, her audacity grew. The ambition hidden deep in her heart grew wildly like vines—she was no longer satisfied with merely existing as a substitute; she began to plot for the supreme position of Crown Prince for herself and for the unborn child in her womb.

The biggest obstacle to achieving this goal is Lin Shen, who has already become the Crown Prince and is deeply favored by the Emperor.

An elaborate conspiracy was thus unfolded.

That day, Consort Yuan invited the Crown Prince to her palace under a pretext and personally served him a cup of sweet fruit tea.

Lin Shen, unsuspecting, drank it readily. Little did he know, the tea was laced with a drug that could induce delirium.

Meanwhile, the incense burning inside the hall complemented the medicine.

After a short while, Lin Shen felt dizzy and the scenery in front of him swayed slightly.

Just then, Consort Yuan casually mentioned that several extremely rare red koi had recently been introduced into the pond in the Imperial Garden. They were lively and adorable, their scales shimmering in the sunlight, making them quite beautiful.

Children are naturally curious, and with the added effect of the drugs, Lin Shen became even more fascinated.

He immediately got up and, ignoring the palace servants' advice, insisted on going to see the fish.

Consort Yuan had already made arrangements; the eunuchs and maids around him were deliberately sent away or reprimanded and kept at a distance.

Lin Shen ran to the pond alone and sure enough, he saw several bright red figures swimming in the water.

He excitedly leaned forward, wanting to get a better look. Just then, a sharp dizziness struck, his vision went black, and he slipped—

"Plop!"

The icy pool water instantly enveloped him.

He choked on several mouthfuls of water, struggling weakly with his limbs, his consciousness rapidly fading in the cold, suffocating sensation.

When the old eunuchs and palace maids who had been scolded and were standing far away heard the commotion and rushed over in a panic, they saw only the prince's small body floating in the water, already silent.

The crowd scrambled to pull him out, applying pressure and calling for the imperial physician. After much effort, they barely managed to pull him back from the brink of death.

Lin Shen was wrapped in a thick, warm silver fox fur coat. The snow-white fur around the collar made his small face look even paler, but also more delicate.

He had been confined inside the palace for several days, and now he could only cling to the window sill, gazing longingly outside.

Springtime was in full bloom, and the golden sunlight streamed into the courtyard. Sparrows hopped about on the newly sprouting branches, creating a vibrant scene that contrasted sharply with the medicinal smell and stifling atmosphere that permeated the hall.

His small brows furrowed slightly, but he was thinking about something else entirely.

He already knew the truth about falling into the water that day thanks to the merged memories, but as for Emperor Qi... he probably really thought that the original owner had accidentally fallen in while playing around.

Otherwise, given Emperor Qi's level of concern for the Crown Prince, Consort Yuan would never have been able to get away with just a light reprimand for "failing to properly supervise the Crown Prince."

This loss is truly frustrating.

How could he both seek justice and escape a passive, manipulative position without arousing Emperor Qi's suspicion? Finding the right balance required extreme caution. He was lost in thought…

A pair of large, warm hands with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out from behind him, skillfully slipping under his armpits and lifting his small body off the ground with a slight effort, then embracing him in a broad and warm embrace.

Lin Shen was startled. Before he could turn around, a familiar scent, carrying the crisp fragrance of ambergris, enveloped him.

Immediately afterward, a bright, untroubled smile bloomed on his incomparably handsome face, a face that exuded both majesty and charm. Emperor Qi lowered his head, gently rubbing his straight nose against his son's soft cheek, and asked in a low voice with a smile, "My darling, what are you looking at so intently all by yourself here? Hmm?"

As they spoke, his restless fingers had already quietly reached out to tickle Lin Shen's side, and with a hint of playfulness, he gently began to scratch.

"Ah! Father... Haha... No..." Lin Shen was caught off guard, his body reacting before his mind could react. This body seemed to be particularly sensitive to tickling, and with Emperor Qi's "experienced" technique, he immediately began to writhe uncontrollably, a clear laugh escaping his throat, tears almost welling up in his eyes.

The gloom and lethargy of the past few days seemed to be somewhat dispelled by this sudden burst of play, and the childlike nature of the child was unconsciously brought out.

He laughed and dodged, protesting incoherently, "Father! Stop teasing me! I... I'm going to get angry!"

Seeing his cheeks flushed from smiling and tears welling in his eyes, and now he was trying hard to put on a serious face and look "I'm very angry", Emperor Qi felt as if his heart had been brushed by the softest feather, and he was completely melted.

He stopped what he was doing, but hugged the little one in his arms even tighter. He lowered his head and kissed the little one's puffed-up, soft cheek, which was as round as a glutinous rice ball. His voice was full of doting and laughter: "Really? How come my little treasure is still so cute when it gets angry?"

Lin Shen was somewhat embarrassed by his direct and passionate intimacy, and her cheeks turned even redder, as if they were tinged with the sunset.

He stretched out his two chubby little hands and pushed them against the handsome face of Emperor Qi, who was leaning closer. He frowned and pouted slightly, making a very disapproving expression.

This sight, far from being intimidating to Emperor Qi, softened his heart once again, making him wish he could pluck the stars from the sky and present them to his son.

He took the opportunity to grab that chubby little hand, kissed it again, and barely managed to suppress the overwhelming tenderness in his heart.

Taking the opportunity, Lin Shen changed the subject and asked the question that had been bothering him: "Father, why did the morning court session end so early this day?" According to the usual schedule, the court should still be in the midst of heated discussions.

When the morning court session was mentioned, a hint of undisguised annoyance flashed in Emperor Qi's eyes, like a dark cloud suddenly drifting in from a clear sky.

He snorted, his tone carrying a hint of disdain and childish capriciousness: "Hmph, it's just those old scoundrels who talk the same old clichés all day long, which I find utterly tiresome. I punished them all and then came back."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shen couldn't help but twitch his lips inwardly.

Look, this is Emperor Qi.

In public, he is a dignified and authoritative ruler, but when facing his son, he occasionally reveals a childlike joy and anger that is completely undisguised.

He could personally change his son's urination because he loved him dearly, and he could also arbitrarily cancel court sessions because he was tired of hearing the ministers' advice.

Jiji: "This world is the original world, but I won't reveal the details to everyone."