The man’s wary expression eased somewhat: “What matter?”

Lin Hao sat down, picked up the teapot to pour a cup of tea and placed it before the man, then said straightforwardly: “I have a nephew who was born different from ordinary people. He’s been hidden away by his family, not daring to let others see him. It happened that a family servant went south on business and heard of your deeds, sir. That’s why we invited you here—to ask whether my young nephew could be as fortunate as the child you saved.”

The man’s eyes flashed with displeasure: “That doesn’t mean you should bring me here like a bandit would.”

Lin Hao bowed again: “It’s truly because the child’s affliction cannot be spoken of to outsiders. Even inviting you here, sir, requires strict secrecy. I hope you can understand.”

After hearing Lin Hao’s explanation, the man’s face remained stern as he fell silent for a while, then asked: “What is unusual about the child?”

Lin Hao hesitated, then said in a low voice: “He has a tail growing from his buttocks.”

The man’s eyebrows rose slightly. His expression seemed surprised, yet not quite so surprised.

Lin Hao’s heart leaped with joy: “Can you help remove it, sir?”

The man shook his head: “It depends on the situation.”

Before Lin Hao could ask further, he explained: “It depends on whether there are bones within the tail. If it’s only flesh and blood, it can be removed. But if there are bones in the tail connected to the spine, then it cannot be done. Attempting removal would risk paralysis.”

This was a situation Lin Hao hadn’t considered.

After thinking for a moment, she said: “Then please stay here peacefully for two days, sir. Whether or not my nephew will need your treatment, after I discuss it with his parents, I will definitely give you an answer.”

The man’s face showed dissatisfaction: “You’re going to confine me here?”

Lin Hao opened the wooden box on the table, revealing a box full of silver ingots, and said earnestly: “You are a person with a benevolent heart, sir. Please be patient for two days. Whether it succeeds or not, these are my apology. If you can cure my nephew’s affliction, there will be another generous reward.”

The man’s expression changed repeatedly before he finally nodded.

Of course he wouldn’t completely trust this woman who hadn’t even shown her face, but in this situation, if he didn’t agree and they used force, he would have no recourse anyway.

“Thank you, sir.” Lin Hao thanked him solemnly and quietly returned to the palace.

Regarding their plans for after potentially curing the Little Prince, the couple had long reached an agreement. After Qi Shuo learned the situation, he went to see Emperor Tai’an.

“Does Shuo’er have something to say?” Facing Qi Shuo, Emperor Tai’an wore a smile, completely different from his seriousness before his ministers.

“There’s something I want to tell Father Emperor…”

Emperor Tai’an gestured for everyone else to withdraw, leaving only Liu Chuan by his side.

“Some time ago, A’Hao’s people went south on business. While passing through a certain place, they heard of a peculiar tale. After returning, they mentioned it to A’Hao, and A’Hao thought of An’an…”

The Wuxiang Flower Dew Shop had opened branches in quite a few places and showed every sign of continuing to expand. Lin Hao’s subordinates traveled north and south for business. Explaining it this way, even if Emperor Tai’an sent people to investigate afterward, they wouldn’t find any flaws.

But at this moment, Emperor Tai’an couldn’t be bothered with anything else. His face iron-dark, he asked: “So you’re saying the Crown Princess has already met that person?”

Facing the emperor’s imposing presence, Qi Shuo remained composed: “A’Hao didn’t show her true face, nor did she reveal An’an’s identity. Whether it succeeds or not, that person will never know who sought him out.”

Emperor Tai’an said nothing. Though the weather had grown hot, the atmosphere was like ice. After a long while, he asked in a heavy voice: “Why did the Crown Princess do this?”

Qi Shuo lowered his eyes, his tone calm: “A’Hao learned of An’an’s situation by coincidence, and also happened to hear of this peculiar tale. She thought perhaps Heaven couldn’t bear to see An’an suffer his whole life and gave him this chance…”

Emperor Tai’an was silent for a moment, then asked again: “That person says whether he can treat it requires seeing the patient first to determine?”

“Yes.”

Another long silence followed. After a long while, Emperor Tai’an said coolly: “I understand. You may go first.”

“Your son takes his leave.”

The room was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Emperor Tai’an turned his head to glance at Liu Chuan, then suddenly said: “What do you think the Crown Prince is thinking?”

His question about why the Crown Princess did this was really asking whether the two of them didn’t understand this was a thankless task.

Liu Chuan was frightened by the question and dared not speak carelessly: “The Crown Prince has a benevolent heart and loves his brothers—”

Before he could finish, Emperor Tai’an stood and walked out.

The summer sun blazed. Yungui Palace always seemed cooler than other places. As soon as His Majesty arrived, the palace attendants knelt all over the ground, every one of them terrified.

Emperor Tai’an saw the Little Prince, who could now speak and run.

When the Little Prince was just born, he hadn’t noticed, but seeing him today, Emperor Tai’an realized this child actually looked very much like him.

This made his feelings even more complicated.

“Let me see.”

Though Emperor Tai’an didn’t say it explicitly, the Little Prince’s wet nurse instantly understood what His Majesty wanted to see.

Her face immediately went white, and she instinctively looked toward the chief nanny of Yungui Palace.

Liu Chuan shouted: “Are you deaf?”

The wet nurse’s face paled. With trembling hands, she undid the Little Prince’s waistband.

Emperor Tai’an only glanced once before darkening his face and looking away, suppressing his discomfort as he waved his hand: “Take him inside.”

He confirmed once again that he could never accept a son with a tail.

News of Emperor Tai’an’s visit to Yungui Palace reached Noble Consort Zhuang’s ears, leaving her frightened and anxious. She wanted to ask but feared making His Majesty even more annoyed, so she could only keep it bottled up inside.

After Emperor Tai’an returned to the palace, two images alternated in his mind—sometimes the adorable baby whose features resembled him greatly, sometimes that disgusting, ugly tail.

“Liu Chuan!”

“This servant is here.”

Emperor Tai’an’s complexion was somewhat poor, his lips also lacking much color: “Go tell the Crown Prince not to let the Little Prince’s identity be leaked.”

It was the same inconspicuous residence. Lin Hao appeared before the man holding the Little Prince, who was dressed no differently from an ordinary wealthy family’s child.

“Please examine him, sir.”

The Little Prince was sleeping, which made it convenient for the man to inspect him.

He carefully examined him thoroughly, and his tense expression softened somewhat: “It can be removed.”

Lin Hao’s face broke into a smile: “That’s wonderful!”

The man’s tone shifted: “But it will inevitably injure flesh and blood. Even if it can be removed, there’s still risk if the wound becomes infected or festers.”

“We understand this. Compared to the suffering this child would endure his whole life, his family is willing to take this risk.”

“In that case, it can be done.” The man listed several items and had Lin Hao prepare them.

The treatment process was agonizing for those waiting. In the palace, Emperor Tai’an paced back and forth, unable to sit still.

Noble Consort Zhuang beside him was even more nervous, at times secretly resenting Emperor Tai’an for disregarding the Little Prince’s life and death, at times holding hidden hope, but mostly feeling worry.

Liu Chuan walked in and reported in a low voice: “Your Majesty, the Little Prince has returned. Because anesthetic powder was used, he’s still unconscious.”

Emperor Tai’an’s eyes lit up: “Summon the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!”

Soon Qi Shuo and Lin Hao entered.

“How did it go?” Emperor Tai’an stared intently at Lin Hao.

The corners of Lin Hao’s mouth curved in a smile: “By Father Emperor’s blessing, that gentleman successfully removed the excess appendage. As long as the wound is carefully tended and prevented from festering or becoming infected, there should be no major problems.”

Regarding wound care, the imperial physicians who knew of the Little Prince’s condition could completely take over.

“Good, good, good!” Emperor Tai’an said “good” three times in succession, unable to hide the joy on his face. “You two have been thoughtful.”

Noble Consort Zhuang also beamed with smiles.

“For now, don’t let that gentleman leave. We’ll discuss it again after An’an has recovered.” Emperor Tai’an instructed after calming down.

“Father Emperor, rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will arrange everything properly.”

After Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left, Emperor Tai’an personally went to see the Little Prince.

The Little Prince lay unconscious, his buttocks covered with white cloth so the wound couldn’t be seen, but one could tell it was flat.

Only at this moment did Emperor Tai’an truly breathe a sigh of relief. Noble Consort Zhuang couldn’t help but shed tears.

Subsequently, Qi Shuo handled government affairs as usual, and Emperor Tai’an still only concerned himself with major matters. In the eyes of all the officials and nobles, everything remained normal.

Only Qi Shuo and Lin Hao knew that changes would come soon.

When they heard the Little Prince could run about on the ground, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao went together to see Emperor Tai’an.

Seeing them, Emperor Tai’an smiled slightly: “I was just preparing to summon you, and here you are.”

“Does Father Emperor have something for us?” Qi Shuo asked with a smile.

“Liu Chuan—”

Hearing Emperor Tai’an’s call, Liu Chuan came over holding a scroll with both hands and unrolled it before Qi Shuo.

After one glance, Qi Shuo immediately knelt down.

This was actually an abdication edict!

Lin Hao knelt beside Qi Shuo, also stunned.

They had long discussed that if the Little Prince could be cured, they would take the initiative to propose yielding the heir position and leave the capital to live freely thereafter, avoiding mutual awkwardness in the end.

They never imagined that before they could propose it, His Majesty would present an abdication edict first.

“Father Emperor, you’re still young. Your son dares not accept this edict. Today A’Hao and I came because we actually wanted to—”

Emperor Tai’an interrupted Qi Shuo: “I know.”

Qi Shuo paused.

The emperor with graying temples looked at the young couple kneeling on the ground, his eyes rarely soft as water: “Shuo’er, how you’ve performed this past year serving as regent—I’ve seen it all. You’re very good, A’Hao is also very good. Entrusting our Qi family’s realm to you, I can rest assured.”

He was old, and the Little Prince was still too young. Even if he was no different from ordinary people, there were still so many years until adulthood—who could guarantee he would be reliable?

Even if reliable, would the children he bore also have that thing?

Ten years younger, Emperor Tai’an would have been unwilling, but the current him didn’t dare gamble and didn’t want to gamble anymore. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s actions regarding the Little Prince had also given him the courage to let go.

“Accompany me to see An’an. An’an is still young. As his elder brother and sister-in-law, you must take good care of him in the future.”

Emperor Tai’an stood up and, hands clasped behind his back, led the way toward Yungui Palace.