This matter reached the Emperor's ears, and he was quite speechless, wondering how such a child could be born into his royal family, truly a disgrace to the extreme.
In the few tussles between the two recently, Wu Caiwei had already checked his pulse for him. The moment her hand touched his pulse, even as composed as she was, her eyes involuntarily widened, and she froze on the spot.
The Heir Apparent of Prince Qin comforted her with a smile. When he first accepted this body, he couldn't believe it himself, but after so many years, he had become accustomed to it.
The world believed that the Emperor banished him from the palace due to his dissolute nature. In reality, the Emperor knew he posed no threat to him and simply couldn't be bothered. After all, who would consider a dying man a threat to their life?
Yes, this was the true reason his parents and the Emperor abandoned him. He had been sickly since birth, with doctors predicting he wouldn't live past twenty. Although the Princess Consort couldn't accept sending her son to the capital as a hostage, upon thinking that after raising him for a decade or two, she would eventually part with him, and the sadness would come later, she resolved to have more sons with the Prince and pretend he had never been born.
And just a few days after the Emperor received the child, he heard from his wet nurse that something was amiss with him. He quickly summoned imperial physicians to treat him. This was the legitimate eldest son of Prince Qin, but the result shocked him; he hadn't expected the child to be so weak.
At this point, he knew this child was destined to be abandoned. Over the years, no matter how many expensive medicines or skilled doctors were sought, it only served to prolong his life.
Even with his arrival, he could only extend his lifespan by another decade or two. Forget about practicing martial arts; even studying was impossible, as it was too taxing on the mind and his body couldn't endure it.
There was an instance when the Emperor forcefully confined him to the princes' study to learn alongside them. He fainted after only half an hour and didn't wake until the next day. From then on, the Emperor no longer forced him.
Knowing there was no hope from him, the Emperor still didn't relax his vigilance. Better safe than sorry.
In their back-and-forth exchanges, they had passed many notes. The Heir Apparent of Prince Qin had already learned her current address and situation, intending to propose formally, but not yet.
Based on the intelligence he had gathered over the years, his parents' current endeavor would not only be in vain but would also cost the lives of their entire family. The Emperor was a wise ruler, and no matter how unwilling they were, they couldn't go against him.
Since his parents revolted, he sought an audience with the Emperor every day, professing his loyalty.
Initially, the Emperor would probe him with questions. The other party was his parents; how could he not side with them? Huangfu Yunkun's answers left the Emperor speechless.
He said he had grown up in the palace and had feelings for it. As for his apparent parents, though he knew of their existence, he had never lived with them. Moreover, he had many siblings, and his parents' attention was focused on them, leaving no time for their sickly son.
Although the Emperor gave him no promises, only telling him to go back and recuperate and not overthink things, he knew the Emperor held little hostility towards him. Later, when he sought an audience with the Emperor, he would reveal some insignificant information he had gathered daily to the Emperor.
The Emperor had no need for this information, but he still appreciated his loyalty and secretly decided that as long as he didn't betray him, once the Emperor apprehended Prince Qin, he could allow him to live as an ordinary citizen.
Huangfu Yunkun, adept at discerning people's thoughts, was well aware of the shift in the Emperor's mindset and pressed his advantage.
Indeed, not long after, the Emperor was delighted to hear news of Prince Qin's successive defeats.
At this moment, the steward, who usually rarely spoke to him, suddenly approached him, looking at him with a profound gaze. "The Heir Apparent has been frequenting the palace recently. It seems your relationship with the Emperor is quite good. The Prince's estate has nurtured you for so many years; it's time you served the Prince and Princess Consort."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Yunkun quickly waved his hands, somewhat fearful. "What can I do? You know my physical condition. I'm just a cripple. Isn't that why you've deliberately kept your distance from me all these years?"
"Do you think you'll have a good life if Prince Qin's estate falls? To tell you the truth, even if the Emperor spares your life, Prince Qin's estate's secret guards are not to be trifled with. Don't think that just because the Prince is losing ground now, you can seek a better position elsewhere. It's difficult for us to attack the court, but it's simple to kill someone." Usually, the steward acted as if he didn't see him, but he was always monitoring his every move. He knew he had been going to the palace frequently, wholeheartedly pledging allegiance to the Emperor, and he also knew that despite being the Heir Apparent of Prince Qin, he had no affection for Prince Qin's estate.
"Oh, tell me then, what can I possibly do for you in my current state?" He still maintained a nonchalant demeanor, casually sitting on a stool. The steward looked at his improper posture and recalled the second and third young masters he had seen at Prince Qin's estate. No wonder the Prince had given up on him; he was too much of a disgrace to Prince Qin's estate. They were all born to the Princess Consort, yet the difference was so vast.
"This is a packet of powder. While you're interacting with the Emperor, find a way to add it to his tea, pastries, the floor, or books. Anywhere it can be placed in his daily living space," the steward instructed him in a commanding tone, not consulting him at all.
Huangfu Yunkun took it and immediately recognized what it was. He suspected he would be asked to deliver it again. As a superior, looking around the study where he was alone, he knew there were many secret guards watching him. He understood he couldn't escape unscathed, and the other party likely knew this, only not caring about his life or death.
"You overestimate me too much. Every time the Emperor sees me, he's surrounded by people. Do you think I can complete the task you've assigned? Even if I did, I'd likely be thrown into prison. In any case, it's death, so it's better to die by your hand." After speaking, Huangfu Yunkun closed his eyes and stretched his neck forward. After waiting for a long time and not feeling the expected pain, he secretly opened one eye to peek.
Seeing the other party staring at him with bloodshot eyes but making no move, he looked at him speechlessly. "Stop acting like a tiger borrowing its might. It's probably just wishful thinking on your part. They don't expect anything from me at all. They know I'm useless, so don't set your sights on me. I am truly powerless. When they revolted, I already foresaw this day. In fact, it would be better to break into prison than to seek me out for a plan here."