Li Shimin felt a strange unease.
After the funeral of the Former Emperor, the court was suspended for a month.
However, as soon as the morning court resumed, people began to fall ill, one after another.
The crucial point was that the intelligence gathered by the Hundred Guard Division indicated that their ailments were all the same: exhaustion!
It wasn't just Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.
Now, Chai Shao had joined them.
What was going on? In just one month, had they all become so weak?
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were understandable, as they had wives. But you, Chai Shao, a Duke, had spent two days in a brothel!
Did you really think I didn't exist?
You are a驸马 (son-in-law of the princess)!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he went directly to the Chai residence with his men.
Seeing Li Shimin, Chai Zhewei felt a bit awkward: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin waved his hand with an displeased expression: "Where is Duke Chai?"
Chai Zhewei had no choice but to lead him to Chai Shao's room.
"Father, Your Majesty is here."
Through the door, Chai Zhewei called out to Chai Shao inside.
Chai Shao, who was reminiscing on the bed, jolted. He quickly put on his shoes, threw on his clothes, and opened the door.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty."
Li Shimin glanced at him sideways: "Zhewei, you may go first. I have something to say to your father."
His tone was very cold.
After Chai Zhewei left, Li Shimin kicked Chai Shao into the room.
"Very good you! You even dare to consort with women in a brothel?"
"If you truly wished to remarry after the Princess was gone, you could have submitted a memorial to me, and I might not have refused.
But you went to a brothel! What would people say? My sister, Her Royal Highness the Princess, sharing a husband with a prostitute?
Speak!"
Li Shimin's voice was loud, and even Chai Zhewei, hiding to the side, could hear him.
Startled, he hurried to the front courtyard and told the servants to close the doors and leave.
This was too embarrassing to be spread!
"Your Majesty! It was not that your servant went willingly! It was Old Zhang, that fellow told me that An Zhi's shop sold a divine medicine!"
"Your servant did not believe it, so I went to ask for a box. Who knew that after taking just a few pills, I couldn't control myself!"
Chai Shao also had a pained expression.
Damn it, who knew that small pill would have such a strong effect? He took one pill and felt nothing, so he took several more consecutively.
But who would have thought that this thing would have such a potent aftermath? It's been two days, and his legs are still cramping.
He felt unhappy and wanted to trouble Fang Er, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
What could he say? 'Your son-in-law, you're not being honest; the medicine you sold has tricked your father-in-law?'
Did he still have any face?
So, after much thought, he could only think of one way to vent his anger: calling Chai Yue back.
Li Shimin's beard trembled with anger: "Fabricate! Continue fabricating!"
"Duke Zhang was at the morning court today, why is he fine?"
Chai Shao: ..........
That old rascal is cunning. In front of me, he ate them like beans, but when I finished, he spat the medicine out of his mouth!
What should I do, please help, this brother-in-law is not to be trifled with.
"Your Majesty, your servant confesses his guilt. Punish me as you see fit."
At this point, he could only grit his teeth and admit his mistake.
Li Shimin pointed at Chai Shao with his finger, unable to speak for a long time.
Kill him? He didn't deserve death.
Punish him? A light punishment would be ineffective, a heavy one inappropriate. His sister's children had not yet married, and he felt reluctant.
"Bring me that medicine to see!"
After a while, Li Shimin spoke.
Chai Shao walked back to the bed, took out a pill from under the mattress, and handed it to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, it is this thing. I heard that Old Fang and Old Du also ate this. An Zhi mixed the medicine with beans and gave it to Old Fang. They accidentally ate the medicine, and then, you should know what happened next."
"You mean, the good news at Duke Du's household is because of this?"
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, somewhat disbelieving.
"Such a small pill can have such a great effect?"
Chai Shao nodded repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, everything your servant says is true. Old Fang told me later himself."
"You've seen his two ounces of flesh when you bathed together during military campaigns, haven't you?"
Sensing that Li Shimin seemed interested in the medicine, Chai Shao quickly explained.
Indeed, in the next moment, Li Shimin took the pill and put it in his embrace: "Is there any more? Bring it all to me!"
Chai Shao said sheepishly: "Your Majesty, there's truly none left. However, that kid An Zhi just opened a shop outside called 'Yan Jiu Tang,' and they sell it there."
"Nonsense! Can a dignified Emperor send someone to buy that at a shop?"
Li Shimin didn't believe his lie about having no more medicine. He rushed to the bedside where Chai Shao had just retrieved the medicine, lifted the mattress, and found a small pile of pills hidden beneath.
There were at least twenty pills.
He gave Chai Shao a displeased look and directly collected all the pills, stuffing them into his embrace.
"If I ever find out you go to a brothel again, I'll take your head!"
After leaving a stern warning, Li Shimin departed from the Chai residence.
Chai Shao let out a long sigh. Damn it, Zhang Gongjin, you've killed me!
Seeing Li Shimin leave, Chai Zhewei cautiously came over and asked: "Father, what did Uncle say?"
Chai Shao rolled his eyes at him: "Scram! Go to that kid's shop, get two boxes of medicine, and put them in Zhang Gongjin's water缸!"
"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!~~~"
Zhang Gongjin, who was secretly gloating at home, sneezed several times inexplicably at this moment.
He rubbed his nose: "Damn it, who is talking about me behind my back?"
Saying that, he picked up a cup of water from the table and drank it, trying to ward off bad luck.
After drinking the water, he looked at his son, Zhang Daxin, who was standing in front of him.
"Boy, is there any of that medicine left hidden?"
Zhang Daxin shivered: "No, Father, truly no more. Your son only got one box from Big Brother's shop, and I gave it all to you."
"If you dare to drug me again, I'll break your legs! Scram!"
Zhang Gongjin picked up a stick from the table and hit Zhang Daxin's backside, uttering threatening words.
ps: Fourth update