The Emperor is Critically Ill!

Thus, Jiang Zhe and his companions settled into Wang Yun's residence. While the others were fine, Jiang Zhe seemed to be having a difficult time...

Two months later...

"Ha..." Jiang Zhe yawned, propping his head up on his hand as he sat at the table. He then said to Xiu'er, who was embroidering not far away, "Xiu'er, when do you think we can go back to Xuzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu'er looked up at Jiang Zhe and hesitated, "I've spoken with Uncle for quite some time now, but he only said that he owes us a great deal and wants us to stay a little longer..."

"Just a little longer?" Jiang Zhe gave a strange look, angrily slamming the Book of Han on the table. "It's been two months! I get up early every morning to read and write, and that old man still won't let me go out? It's outrageous! What's worse is that every night he drags me out to explain some essential points, and if I can't answer his questions, he unleashes a torrent of rage... I can't take this anymore!"

"Husband..." Xiu'er was both amused and annoyed. She got up and walked to Jiang Zhe's side, gently massaging his shoulders. "Uncle has high expectations for you, husband... please don't disappoint him, especially regarding your studies..."

"You make it sound so easy," Jiang Zhe scoffed.

"If that's the case..." Xiu'er bit her lip and said weakly, "If my husband is lonely reading alone, why not call me to join him..." She lowered her head and spoke in a very soft voice.

"Do you really want to study?" Jiang Zhe asked Xiu'er curiously.

"..." Xiuer glanced at her own home with mixed feelings, then nodded hesitantly.

"That's great!" Jiang Zhe exclaimed happily, hugging Xiu'er tightly. "Then we'll be together from now on!"

"Really?" Xiuer asked with a look of surprise.

"certainly!"

"Cough!" A loud cough came from outside the door.

When Xiu'er saw that it was her uncle, her face flushed red. She immediately tried to get off Jiang Zhe's lap, but Jiang Zhe held her tightly, glaring at the newcomer. "Uncle, it's not time for you to ask your questions yet!"

"Absurd!" Wang Yun stepped in, glanced at Xiu'er, and said, "Xiu'er, as a woman, you should uphold the proper conduct of a wife. If outsiders see this, what will they think?"

Xiuer's face darkened, and she lowered her head slightly. "Uncle is right, Xiuer knows she was wrong..."

Jiang Zhe was immediately annoyed and said, "Old man, my wife has her own way of being taught, so don't bother!"

"You!" Wang Yun was speechless. After spending nearly two months with this young man, Wang Yun naturally understood his nephew-in-law's personality and knew that Xiu'er was his precious treasure, and no one else could say anything about her! But as Xiu'er's elder, how could he not speak up?!

"Old man, either let Xiuer read your lousy book with me, or hurry up and let us go back to Xuzhou!"

Wang Yun was speechless. Return to Xuzhou? Forget about it! As for letting Xiu'er study... He frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Forget it! Why should I interfere so much in the affairs of the younger generation?"

"Then so be it, but if you're lazy... Humph!" Wang Yun suddenly remembered that this boy was stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason, and he was a little discouraged. He sighed and said, "Xiuer, call the servants to bring a pot of tea. I have something important to tell Shouyi."

"Yes..." Xiu'er struggled for a moment, and Jiang Zhe, seeing that he had achieved his goal, immediately let go.

Seeing Xiuer leave, Wang Yun closed the door, found a chair, sat down, and said, "Shouyi, come here!"

"Damn it!" Jiang Zhe sighed and got up, sitting down next to Wang Yun. "What's wrong with you today? I didn't see you start lecturing as soon as you walked in. Perhaps you took the wrong medicine today... Ah!"

Wang Yun glared at Jiang Zhe, withdrew his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Kid! Watch your words!"

"..." Jiang Zhe rubbed his head, secretly cursing the old bastard.

"The Emperor... is critically ill..." Wang Yun sighed.

"Holy crap!" Jiang Zhe's eyes widened. "Really? This time, the old emperor is finished?"

Wang Yun knew Jiang Zhe's temperament; if he were angry about what he just said, he would have been driven to death by anger within the last two months.

"...This news is probably true!" Wang Yun sighed. "In that case, the Emperor will have to issue an edict to abdicate. However, the Emperor's son is still young, and there are two princes. This truly confirms what Shouyi said some time ago! Indeed! Indeed!"

Wang Yun was finding Jiang Zhe increasingly pleasing to the eye. This young man appeared careless and lazy, yet his judgment was nearly on par with Wang Yun's own after decades in the court—truly a rare talent! If only he were a little more diligent…that would be even better…

Wang Yun wished he could carve Jiang Zhe, this stubborn rock, into a beautiful jade, but Jiang Zhe's "homebody nature" was too stubborn, and he was still fighting to the death.

He would wake the couple every morning and then go to court.

That evening, he personally went to Jiang Zhe's study to answer his questions.

Even late into the night, this elderly man in his seventies would recall the books of the sages he had read, write down their essential points, and hand them over to Jiang Zhe the next day.

To have achieved this much, Wang Yun is truly admirable... well, excluding Jiang Zhe...

"I've been thinking it over. Tomorrow I'll send someone to inform the Emperor that you've been feigning illness and staying home for the time being. Now that you have this opportunity, Shouyi, why don't you come with me to visit some of the most esteemed officials in the court? It will greatly benefit your knowledge and literary understanding!"

I'm practically half dead already, and you still want to come? Jiang Zhe grimaced. Following this old man was nothing compared to reading with Xiu'er! At least when things got boring, I could hug my wife and take advantage of her. Why would I want to live a better life with you… ugh…

"Uncle, this seems a bit inappropriate!" Jiang Zhe said, sweating profusely, making a final stand. "You've been claiming illness and staying home. If you go to visit your friends, and someone with ulterior motives tries to slander you, I'm afraid..."

"Hehe!" Wang Yun stroked his long beard and said with a smile, "It's alright. I am now in a high position but with little power. What do I have to fear? He Jin has long since seized my power... Alas! I am now a man of no importance. Why should they create unnecessary trouble?"

"Uncle is a pillar of the Han Dynasty, how can you say he is without merit..." Jiang Zhe kept praising Wang Yun.

"Haha, it's good that you have this intention!" Wang Yun was very pleased to hear Jiang Zhe's words. He stroked his beard and said, "Not long ago, the Emperor was still frequently attending court, until the day before yesterday... I'm afraid the Emperor is truly seriously ill... unable to attend court anymore... Alas! The world is in such a predicament!"

Jiang Zhe pursed his lips.

"That's settled then!" Wang Yun said in a deep voice. "In a few days, I will take you to visit some of my old friends to broaden your horizons!"

"That's settled? You old fool, who did you settle with?" Jiang Zhe looked surprised. "Old man! Are you talking to me about this?"

When Wang Yun heard Jiang Zhe address him as "old man" again, his beard trembled with anger. "When did I say I wanted to discuss this with you?"

"what……"

"Have you forgotten everything I taught you in the past? Respect your elders! Respect your elders! I am your uncle! How dare you call me 'old man'? Don't give me that 'elder is respected; head is revered' nonsense! Do you think I can't see through you?"

Jiang Zhe chuckled awkwardly, realizing the old man had actually seen right through him...

"In a few days, I will personally come and summon you! Remember this! Now that you are my nephew-in-law, Wang Yun, if you lose face while out in the world, hmph!"

"What are you going to do?" Jiang Zhe, oblivious to the danger, continued to argue with Wang Yun.

"I'll punish you by making you sleep in the study all night! Don't believe me? I'll personally tell Xiu'er as her uncle, and see if she obeys!"

"..." Jiang Zhe swallowed hard. That was ruthless.

Wang Yun! Feudal patriarch! Stubborn old man! Old scoundrel! Assessment complete!

"So...who should we visit first?"

"Hmph!" Wang Yun snorted, narrowing his eyes and remaining silent.

"Uncle," Zheqie asked, "who was the first person you thought of visiting?"

"A promising young man!" Wang Yun nodded and said, "He is my good friend, a great sage in the court, Cai Yong, Cai Bojie... Do you know him?"

"I know, I know!" Jiang Zhe nodded repeatedly. He was the father of Cai Yan, the beauty of the Three Kingdoms! Cai Yan... "Then... then I'll go pay her a visit..." Jiang Zhe stroked his chin.

.