In a great hurry, a group of courtiers nervously helped the emperor into his carriage and then escorted him back to the imperial bedchamber. Looking at the emperor who was lying in bed unable to move, the courtiers all appeared rather anxious. WhWhy was this happening? What should they do if the emperors waist was permanently damaged?

The chairman of the imperial hospital, whose surname was Sun, along with two of the best court physicians, soon arrived with all haste. They said that the room had to be quiet, so the courtiers had no choice but to leave the bedchamber and wait outside. Ling Zhang and the two prime ministers were the only ones staying.

When all the courtiers had left, Ling Zhang looked at the two prime ministers.

The two ministers nodded at him and then quietly moved to the side.

Yuwen Tong sat up, as though the man who had been in too much pain to walk a moment ago were another person.

Physician Sun, are you ready? Ling Zhang asked Chairman Sun.

Were ready, Your Highness, answered Chairman Sun, the other two court physicians standing behind him with their heads down as if pretending they were invisible.

Ling Zhang looked at Yuwen Tong, who rose to his feet, stretched and said, Now that everythings in readiness, lets begin.

An hour later, the doors of the imperial bedchamber opened. The two prime ministers walked out first, followed by Chairman Sun. At the sight of them, the courtiers waiting outside hastened to cluster around them.

Chairman Sun, hows my father? inquired Yuwen Qi, Yuwen Yue standing on his right, Yuwen Lin beside her. The little princess, somewhat frightened, put her arms around her big brothers waist, looking into the bedchamber with a mixture of nervousness and fear in her eyes. She attempted to go inside right away but was stopped by Yuwen Qi, who breathed to her, Wait a moment, Crescent.

After Yuwen Qi asked the question, the others also looked at Chairman Sun.

Chairman Sun replied, His Majesty is fine.

All the others were relieved at the answer.

But

The others felt their pulse throbbing in their throats again.

His Majesty hurt his waist. Itll take a two-month rest cure to nurse him back to health. Hell have to lie in bed all the time for the duration, which means he wont be able to preside over any court meetings or deal with any state affairs.

But hell fully recover from the injury in two months, right? Yuwen Qi looked at him.

Chairman Sun inclined his head. Yes.

Yuwen Qi and Yuwen Lin both heaved a sigh of relief. Can we go in there to see him?

Certainly. His Majesty said that all three of Your Highnesses may go inside directly, responded Chairman Sun.

Yuwen Qi gave a nod and looked at Yuwen Lin and with that the two boys, along with Crescent who had been meaning to get in for quite some time, entered the imperial bedchamber.

Compared with the three young imperial family members who were now relaxed, the courtiers appeared rather tense. One of them asked, Chairman Sun, His Majesty really cant walk before a full recovery from the wound?

Chairman Sun shook his head. He cant. He must lie in bed for a rest cure. Otherwise his health would be severely damaged.

What should we do? The Wan Kingdom

Theres no need to panic. His Majestys being absent from court meetings for two month is not the end of the world. If theres anything urgent, we could still come here to report it to His Majesty, said Old Master Ji, his eyes sweeping across the courtiers around him. Seeing that the speaker lapsed into silence, he softened his face a little and added, His Majesty wants the six ministers in his bedchamber for a consultation in a quarter. You may make some preparations, Your Lordships.

A quarter of an hour later, the six ministers entered the imperial bedchamber. Before long, the courtiers outside were ordered to get on their knees to listen to the emperors instructions.

What with my waist injury, I wont be able to walk anytime soon. Starting tomorrow, my consort will be attending morning court meetings in my stead. After every court meeting, the two prime ministers are to accompany my consort to my bedchamber to report to me on the meeting. Urgent intelligence reports or memorials are to be delivered to me directly. In addition, since its inconvenient for me to write, my consort will be writing my decisions on the memorials on my behalf, said Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tongs voice was as sonorous as always, and there was no panic on the face of any of those in the bedchamber, so the courtiers were convinced that Yuwen Tong was fine except for his temporary loss of mobility caused by the waist injury, and none of them raised any objections. Though Ling Zhang had scarcely shown his face in court meetings in recent years, the courtiers were all fully aware that he had an intimate knowledge of the situation in the court. Besides, currently the political landscape was stable, and the emperor had two adopted sons, which meant that the empresss position was quite secure, so the courtiers didnt have the guts to raise any objections. Furthermore, the couple of top-ranking courtiers didnt say anything, so the others naturally didnt dare utter a word.

Next, Yuwen Tong made a lot of other arrangements and eventually instructed, Except for those who have urgent business to report, the two prime ministers and the heads of the six major departments, nobody is to come to this palace lest my rest be disturbed. If your service is needed, Ill have the two prime ministers or the other six ministers inform you.

Yes, Your Majesty.

All right, you may leave. Today is a festive day and I want my subjects to enjoy the celebration, so do not tell anybody else about my injury. Let them spend the festival without having to worry about my health.

Yes, Your Majesty, chorused the courtiers. Then they rose to their feet and filed out of the bedchamber.

Old Master Ji and Chu Liangyan, along with the other courtiers, left the bedchamber. When they had descended the stairs, Chu Liangyan said to the courtiers, Your Lordships, the Wan Kingdom is itching for a war, so its best if we keep the matter of His Majestys injury to ourselves. Please make sure you dont let slip anything about it.

Your Lordship may rest assured we have enough sense of perspective to stay tight-lipped, a courtier hurriedly replied.

After seeing the group of courtiers off, the heads of the six major departments and the two prime ministers also took their leave. Chairman Sun, along with the other two court physicians, went to the side hall, and the imperial bedchamber quieted down again.

Yuwen Yue, leaning propped against the bed, was gazing at Yuwen Tong with her big eyes, the expression in which suggested her heart was aching badly for her father. Does it hurt, Father? You want Crescent to blow at your injury to ease the pain?

Yuwen Tong, whose heart melted at his daughters cajoling voice, reached out a hand and stroked Yuwen Yues head. Im not in pain or experiencing any other discomfort. I just cant move.

A considerable part of Yuwen Yues distress dissolved at these words, but she was still holding Yuwen Tongs hand, refusing to let go. Seeing this, Yuwen Tong felt somewhat guilty, but Yuwen Yue was still a child, and she might not be able to keep the secret if he confided it to her, so Yuwen Tong, guilty as he was, had no choice but to continue to conceal the truth from her.

Yuwen Qi and Yuwen Qi were also unaware that Yuwen Tong was faking his injury. Mistakenly believing that Yuwen Tong was really wounded, they both looked upset.

He had a hard job coaxing his daughter into leaving. When his two sons had also left, Yuwen Tong heaved a sigh of relief and sat up. Lying prostrate on the bed motionlessly for such a long time turned out to be quite an ordeal. What we need to do next is just wait for the Wan Kingdom to declare war on us.

Ling Zhang said with an inclination of the head, Since youre hurt, your great-uncle and my grandfather and some others may well come here to visit you this afternoon or tomorrow, so youll have to keep up the pretence in the next two days. Ill keep an eye on the kids and make sure they dont come here to disturb you, so you wont have to lie on your stomach to hoodwink them again.

Yuwen Tong sighed, Did you see Crescents eyes when she was looking at me a moment ago? They were so sad. It seems our daughters grown up and learned to show concern for her father.

A short while before, his daughters gaze had almost rendered Yuwen Tong unable to maintain his pretence, because her eyes looked so much like Ling Zhangs. At the sight of the eyes full to the brim with sorrow, Yuwen Tong had felt as though he were looking at a young version of Ling Zhang whose heart was aching for him, and he had had an almost overwhelming urge to immediately recover and get out of bed to console her.

Looking at Yuwen Tong with his bright eyes, Ling Zhang said, Crescent is quite stubborn. I wouldnt like to be in your shoes when she finds out about it.

Yuwen Tong gave a little cough and said, Which is why we have to make sure she never comes to know Im faking my injury. Im counting on you to keep this secret from her, my dear empress. Whether or not Ill be able to get away with this purely depends on you.

Ling Zhang gave an involuntary shudder at the words my dear empress, sliding Yuwen Tong a reproving glance.

Yuwen Tong chuckled. Indeed, his daughters eyes closely resembled Ling Zhangs, but in his sight, Ling Zhangs eyes were the most charming in the world. No matter whether Ling Zhang was smiling or sulking, the gleam in Ling Zhangs eyes always made him feel as though it were tickling his heart, filling every fibre of his being with joy.

Though angered by the fight between Yuwen Jin and the former champion, afterward the emperor still rewarded the top twenty contestants handsomely and gave the order for fireworks to be set off on the palace ramparts at night. As a result, residents of the capital city still enjoyed the ship-lantern show very much which was lively and uproarious. None of them was aware that their emperor was injured and lying in his bedchamber, unable to move.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Jin, after hearing about the emperors waist injury, immediately requested permission to go into the palace to help nurse the emperor back to health, saying that he would stay in the imperial bedchamber until the emperor made a full recovery. In order to show his sincerity, he knelt outside the study of the Marquess Fuan for quite some time. Eventually, the Marquess Fuan became resigned and the next day specially went into the palace and petitioned the emperor to allow Yuwen Jin to enter the palace to help instead of introspecting about his faults at home, and give him an opportunity to make amends for what hed done. The empress also interceded, so eventually the emperor granted Yuwen Jins request. On that very day, Yuwen Jin moved into the imperial palace, beginning to help nurse the emperors injury.

Sire, Ive done everything you told me to. Do I have your permission to go to the south-west with you? asked Yuwen Jin, looking at Yuwen Tong, expectation written all over his face. In order to make his act convincing enough, he had suffered a lot of wounds and been suspended from his post as Assistant Commander of the Western City Garrison Battalion too. He felt that he wouldnt be able to refrain from kicking up a stink if the opportunity to go to the south-west was denied to him.

After hearing this, Yuwen Tong who was reading a memorial didnt even lift his eyes.

Yuwen Jin became anxious. Sire, would you please look at me? Am I allowed to go or not?

Yuwen Tong still made no reply. Ling Zhang, now unable to keep from staying silent, reproached, Are you really a fool or pretending to be one?

Yuwen Jin looked at him, a faint glitter in his eyes. Can you drop a hint to me, dear Brother Zhang?

Why else would your second cousin go to such trouble to get you in here, if not to have you go to the south-west? asked Ling Zhang. Yuwen Tong would never have tolerated such a talky guy lingering in his bedchamber for so long if it werent for that reason.

Yuwen Jins eyes instantly brightened. Are you saying that He paused and then delightedly swiveled around and said to Yuwen Tong, Thank you, Sire!

It was not that Yuwen Jin was stupid. The main reason was that he didnt dare risk stepping out of line in front of Yuwen Tong. Though having a speculation, he had been uncertain and apprehensive before receiving a definite reply.

Yuwen Tong coldly snorted, You expect me to put an army under the command of someone as slow-witted as you? Im not sure I could afford to take the risk.

These remarks deflated Yuwen Jin instantaneously. Please dont change your mind, Cousin!

Given that he was addressing Yuwen Tong as Cousin, Yuwen Jin was indeed anxious. II was just worried there might be unexpected changes. I promise Ill never make that kind of mistake again! Please dont leave me in the capital city.

Ling Zhang decided that it was best if he stayed out of it when Yuwen Tong lectured Yuwen Jin lest he get himself into trouble. He picked up the intelligence report which had been delivered here by Wang Dashan a moment before, and which told him that staff members of the chamber of commerce had successfully got the medicines and physicians ready and were now transporting them to the south-west. After reading the report, Ling Zhang instructed Wang Dashan to send a message to the chamber of commerce, telling them they must be extra careful not to rouse anybodys suspicions.