Similar to his elder brother, the crown prince never vying for the position either. In fact, the crown prince was happy to hand over the position to his future nephew. He was even more excited waiting for the upcoming birth of Concubine Rong's child even though he had to relinquish his position to the child if his brother happen to have a son. Now, they all could dispel the baseless rumors about his brother being impotent.
The crown prince would occasionally accompany Dr Zhan to visit the emperor whenever they had extensive discussions about medicine. Yes. Medicine. The emperor had never show any inclination toward learning medicine when they were younger. However, this had changed when he came back from a battle in the border three years ago . The emperor had industriously inviting medical practitioner from all over the country to visit the palace, so that he could have discussion about a particular medical topic that was- till this day- still a mystery for the people in the palace.
Dr Zhan was the emperor's best friend who was also a highly sought-after doctor. Just like his ancestors before him, Dr Zhan earned the title - The Number One Doctor in The Capital- for quite number of years already. His vast knowledge regarding medicine was acknowledge by medical practitioner from variety of sects and people from different branches of medicines all over the country. This acknowledgement was also extended beyond the empire's borders. Rumors had that even nobles from neighboring countries including closest nemesis - the Yan Kingdom - seek for his magical touch. In spite of the high demand for his service, Dr Zhan was also a choosy healer. He was infamously known to be highly particular in choosing patient to be treated.
He would only feel motivated to treat patients who was stricken by newly discovered or unusual diseases. No amount of money would cox him into accepting patients who he initially decline to treat. Hence, he also gained bad reputation among the people in the capital especially among the upper class nobles.
A critical doctor when it comes about the art of medicine, Dr. Zhan appointed himself as the emperor's medical adviser when his interest toward medicine first emerged three years ago.
"Medicine is a dangerous gray area." He explained. "A man's medicine could be another man's poison."
Dr Zhan then insisted to be included in every single discussion that the emperor held with other mdical practitioner in order to supervise the progress of the discussion. Most of the time, he would expose the charlatans, debunked those who preached inaccurate information and rebuked the head strong ones. Regardless of how rude and offensive Dr Zhan was toward his guest, the emperor had never get mad at him .
But today, the emperor did not seem like his usual self.
The emperor kept on retorted every single thing that Dr. Zhan had uttered. At one point, the emperor pushed his paper works down to the floor that the crown prince was force to crawl on the floor to retrieve them. It was a distressing scene for the Chief Eunuch and Eunuch Wang. Dr.Zhan, however, remained undisturbed.
Seeing that his brother was out of control, the crown prince instructed Eunuch Wang to get them some chamomile tea to calm the emperor's erratic nerve.
When he came back from the kitchen, the emperor had already regained his composure and was sitting calmly on his chair. Eunuch Wang carefully placed three cups of chamomile tea on the table.
Before Eunuch Wang wanting to retreat back to his original position, the emperor instructed him to stay close to the table. After the three of them took their time enjoying the tea, Dr. Zhan decided to continued where the left the discussion a while ago.
"Give it up! You would never find the cure" He was looking straight at the emperor without any sign of fear. Out of all people, only Dr Zhan was the only person capable to voice out his opinion blatantly in front of the ruler of the empire!
Sensing that this was another provocation that would spread into another heated argument, the crown prince tried change the topic.
"That is enough about the topic for this day. Let's talk about something else shall we?"
"Nope. I'm not interested to engage in meaningless conversation about other people's daily life. I only talk about medicine. Logical things with evidence based subject" The doctor snorted. He was not fond of small talks or pleasantries . Most importantly, he had an important mission to knock some sense into the country's figure head.
"Tell me about my nephew" The emperor suddenly turned toward his younger brother, dismissing the doctor's remark. Sometimes, Eunuch Wang suspected that the emperor loved to taunted his best friend just like how he usually treated Concubine Rong.
"Ahh….ah… ahahahha my son is reaching three years old. Of course he is healthy and adorable boy. I tried my best to spend some times with him but my wife would not allow me to do so. She was displease that I spent more time with him than her" the crown prince admitted.
It was not a secret that the crown prince's wife was an overbearing and demanding woman. Having a concubine birthing the first son for the crown prince left her feeling overwrought about her own inability to produce a child. It was a well known gossip among the nobles that the charismatic daughter of the finance minister had reproductive problem that hindered the couple from having a child.
"You are the crown prince. How can a woman obstructing you from spending time with your son. It is ridiculous! She was controlling you too much!" the emperor reprimand him.
"Ah…" the crown prince was visibly sweating now. He was too kind and have a submissive personality. It was a stark contrast with his alpha brother's and aggressive wife's demeanor. Most of people in the capital would speak behind his back about how spineless the crown prince are to his brother and wife. That was the reason why both them kept a submissive man around. As a tool to be fool around! However, little did these people knew that the crown prince was actually a man with principle and loyal to boot. The trait that was highly appreciated by the emperor and the crown princess.
"She was just looking out for me, royal brother. I… am forever grateful to have her as my wife. Do you remember how her family had help us a lot before and I …."
"I told you nobody help us!" the emperor interrupted the crown prince. He slapped the table before leaning into the crown prince's face.
"How many times should I tell you, we work for things that we have achieved today. No one, absolutely no one had helped to put me where I am standing right now, except for us. Is that clear for you?" he tilted his head seeking for a response from his brother.
'Ahhh…. seems like the emperor is still bother by his humble origin…'
"Y…yes! You are right royal brother. I was wrong to mentioned about Zheng Er' family."
"Good" The emperor began to lean back on his chair. The crown prince swept his wet forehead. They remained in state of silence before the crown prince decided to turn his attention to Dr. Zhan.
"Err…Dr Zhan. It is might be quite daring for me to ask you about this. I know that you are choosy in selecting your patient. But this time, for the sake of our friendship, could you please help my wife?"
The doctor stopped playing around with his tea cup. He put the small cup on the table before turning to the crown prince.
" What would I get if I agreed to take a look into your wife's condition?"
"I can offer you money…"
"Not interested"
" A huge sum"
"Nope. I have a lot of money for myself already. What would I do with these extra money you promise to give me anyway ?"
The crown prince sigh in defeat. He knew it was not easy to convince the doctor to accept his wife as a patient…except for….
He sheepishly looked at his older brother. Royal older brother is a good friend of Dr.Zhan. Only he, can convinced the doctor to do something that he refuse to involve with. The crown prince was basically pleading to the emperor by using his eyes.
'help me this time royal brother'
The emperor let out a heavy sigh . He turned his attention toward the doctor and said
"Dr. Zhan, I have instructed the imperial doctor to take a look at the crown princess' condition. He determined that she would never be able to have a child in this lifetime. Not even on God's will. What do you think?" he subtly laid the bait.
"Heh…there is nothing that can't be cured in this world" the doctor smirked.
" Well, you said that the things that I was asking for is certainly impossible…." the emperor further provoke.
"...For the time being!" the doctor snapped. " You give me some more time and I will find the cure for the drug. I will do it. Not the charlatans you brought to this place! Meanwhile, infertility can be reversed if given the right treatment!" the doctor barked at the emperor.
"Proved it to me then"
"Fine!" the doctor whipped his face toward the crown prince. "Tomorrow. Early in the morning. Sent a carriage to my house. I will go and meet your wife at your manor"
The doctor left the study room hastily. He kept on nagging about the emperor to the eunuch that escorted him out. He was truly one of a kind. No one would dare said a single bad thing about the emperor except for Dr Zhan.
Both the emperor and the crown prince seeing him off with a big grin on their faces. The emperor for his another his successful provocation and the crown prince for the deal he was about to seal with the doctor on the next day. Wasting no time, the crown prince also left the study in short while after the doctor. He was excited to inform the good news to his wife.
Now, there was only the emperor and Eunuch Wang in the study room.
"Eunuch Wang, you can go out now" the emperor instructed. He sauntered back into the study room after seeing off his younger brother at the front door.
"Er…Your Majesty, forgive this lowly servant for being bold, but may I ask for a day off tomorrow?" Upon listening to the request, the emperor halted from walking and turned around to face the eunuch.
"isn't this something you have to discuss with the Elder eunuch?"
"This is a last minute request, the elder eunuch would not approve my request, hence why….."
"Where are you planning to do?"
" This lowly servant is planning to visit my mother. It is…..This servant has family problem that needs to taken care of" Eunuch Wang bowed his head. He was not sure whether this is the right decision or not, but he had to take day off from the palace before deciding what to do with the packet that he received from Concubine Rong.
" Go on"
"Ah…" he unconsciously lifted his head. Eunuch Wang would never expect that it would be this easy.
"I said go on. I'll speak to the Elder Eunuch. Now, close the door when you leave this place. The emperor proceed to walk to his table before plopping off on the chair. He continued to revise the paper works on his table ignoring the eunuch who was still standing by the door.