In the blink of an eye, it was already February after the new year. The weather was getting better day by day, but the Emperor fell ill.

Originally, he only had a fever and a cough, but for some reason it wouldn't get better. By mid-February, it became more and more serious, to the point he could barely get out of bed. He took medicine every day but showed no signs of improvement at all.

As the eldest legitimate son, Chu Shaoling naturally had to attend to the Emperor during his illness. Of course, he didn't really have to do anything, just pass over the medicine decocted by the imperial physicians and watch the Emperor drink it down mouthful by mouthful. The Emperor downed bowl after bowl of medicine, to no effect.

The Empress Dowager was so anxious that she got irritated, constantly blaming the imperial physicians for being useless. She had no patience with the people around her either, scolding the concubines for not serving well.

Consort Shu and Consort Xian had to manage the affairs of the six palaces, so it was understandable if they couldn't take care of things for a while after being busy with the new year. Among the consorts, only Consort Li was idle and failed to serve properly. The Empress Dowager was worried sick and took the opportunity to lash out at Consort Li several times, completely deflating the momentum Consort Li had regained after her confinement was lifted.

The officials could still handle the court affairs, which was the least of the concerns. However, March was approaching, the time for spring plowing. In previous years, following the old calendar, the Emperor would go to the outskirts of the city to personally plow the fields, thereby emphasizing agriculture and encouraging farming in hopes of a bountiful harvest. Now with the Emperor in this condition, he clearly couldn't go.

Thinking of the spring plowing ritual, the Empress Dowager brought it up to the Emperor when there were fewer people around in the evening. She said slowly, "With Your Majesty's health like this, of course it's not suitable for you to go out. Why not send one of the princes in Your Majesty's stead, so as not to delay this important matter."

The Emperor had just drunk a bowl of snow pear and tremella soup, and his cough was a bit better. Hearing this, he fell silent.

The Emperor was only thirty-nine years old this year, and had already started to pay attention to the matter of the crown prince.

The court officials would bring it up from time to time, the concubines would hint at it intentionally or unintentionally, and the princes would openly or secretly fight over it. All of this annoyed the Emperor. No emperor would like others to constantly mention the issue of the crown prince. A man's obsession with power is absolute, and the ailing Emperor was even more sensitive about it.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were mother and son, their hearts connected. She naturally knew what was on the Emperor's mind. Seeing that the Emperor didn't respond, she continued, "Why not let Ling'er go in Your Majesty's place? Since the crown prince hasn't been established yet, we can only let the eldest son go."

This time, the Empress Dowager didn't mention "legitimate son". The Emperor's brows relaxed slightly. He neither agreed nor disagreed, only said lightly, "Imperial Mother has considered it thoroughly."

"I only hope that Your Majesty will recover soon." The Empress Dowager's eyes reddened slightly. "Every day, Imperial Mother prays and chants scriptures for you. How could you still fall ill? Do you want to take my life?"

An emperor's heart is the softest when he is sick. The Emperor hastily said, "Causing Imperial Mother to worry, it's all my fault."

The Empress Dowager took the tea cup presented by a palace maid and handed it to the Emperor. She said softly, "If you know it's your fault, then hurry up and get well. The grandchildren already cause me enough worry every day, and now you're adding to the trouble and making me fret."

The Emperor smiled and took a sip of tea from the Empress Dowager's hand. After a moment of silence, he said, "As for the spring plowing, let Ling'er go in my stead."

The Empress Dowager nodded and chuckled lightly, "Ling'er will surely handle the matter well."

When Chu Shaoling received the imperial decree, he was also stunned for a moment. With the Emperor unable to rise from bed due to illness, Chu Shaoling had also considered that the task of spring plowing would be assigned to him, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

For a prince to represent the Emperor and go out of the city to hold the grand spring plowing ceremony, many of the rites naturally couldn't be the same as before. The officials from the Ministry of Rites explained the spring plowing procedures to Chu Shaoling for half a day. Finally, they said, "The Emperor is still in the palace, so the Imperial Guards naturally can't be mobilized. This official thinks..."

"That is only natural." Chu Shaoling smiled. "Dispatch the Cavalry Battalion to escort, no need to trouble the Imperial Guards."

The Ministry of Rites official also knew that Wei Zhan, the new commander of the Cavalry Battalion, was promoted by Chu Shaoling. He readily agreed, "Yes, I heard that although Commander Wei of the Cavalry Battalion is young, he is most steady and reliable. With the Cavalry Battalion escorting, there will surely be no mistakes in protecting the Prince."

Chu Shaoling smiled and glanced at Wei Ji behind him. After discussing some more details of the spring plowing with the Minister of Rites, he returned to Bitao Palace.

When they entered the bedchamber and only the two of them were left, Wei Ji smiled and said softly, "This subordinate thanks Your Highness on behalf of my elder brother for the promotion."

Hearing this, Chu Shaoling couldn't help but tease, "No need to thank me for Wei Zhan, but everything I do is for you. Just a 'thank you'?"

Wei Ji blushed, not knowing how to respond. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Tomorrow is this subordinate's day off, and it happens to be my elder brother's day off too."

Chu Shaoling raised an eyebrow and smiled. Ever since Wei Ji returned with injuries after going home before the new year, Chu Shaoling hadn't let him go back much. This time, Wei Ji hadn't been home for a month again. It seemed he was homesick. Chu Shaoling granted him a day off.

Fearing that Wei Ji felt wronged, Chu Shaoling coaxed, "I'm just afraid you'll get beaten again if you go back. Wait until your father takes up his post, then he definitely won't stop you from going home."

This time when Wei Ji went home on his day off, Chu Shaoling had him bring two letters. One was for Wei Ming, praising Wei Ji and Wei Zhan a bit, with vague wording hinting that their engagement shouldn't be decided hastily. Wei Ming was quite smart and should understand his meaning. The other letter was for Wei Zhan. Chu Shaoling told Wei Ji to give it to Wei Zhan when no one was around. Wei Ji didn't know what was written in the letter.

Soon it was the twenty-eighth of the second month, an auspicious date selected by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. On this day, Chu Shaoling rose early and first went to Chengqian Palace to pay respects to the Emperor. Then he made a trip to Ci'an Palace. Finally, with Chu Shaoruan, Chu Shaoyang and others sending him off, he left the palace.

After leaving the palace, there was still half a day's journey ahead. Chu Shaoling was no longer restrained. He got off his horse and boarded the accompanying carriage, conveniently bringing Wei Ji along.

Today, Chu Shaoling wore a purple ceremonial robe. The exquisite purple brocade was embroidered with dragon totems in gold thread, extraordinarily refined. As soon as Chu Shaoling got in the carriage, he pulled Wei Ji to sit beside him. Wei Ji was afraid of wrinkling Chu Shaoling's robe and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, don't mess around. They can hear us outside."

Chu Shaoling smiled and said softly, "Who's messing with you? There's still two hours of travel, aren't you tired from riding?"

"Just two hours, I won't get tired." Wei Ji was originally from the Imperial Guards, so naturally he didn't take this bit of hardship to heart. "Is Your Highness tired?"

"No." Chu Shaoling shook his head and smiled. He picked up a plate of snacks from the carriage and handed it to Wei Ji. "Pea cake, your favorite."

Wei Ji hadn't eaten well in the morning and was indeed hungry now. He nodded, "This subordinate thanks Your Highness for the reward." With that, he took the plate and started eating. Seeing his serious appearance, Chu Shaoling wanted to laugh. He poured Wei Ji a cup of tea.

Chu Shaoling lifted the curtain to gaze outside, lost in thought. Wei Ji ate meticulously, even picking up the broken pieces from the plate and finishing them. After eating, he took the teacup and drank it in one gulp. Looking around, he said in a low voice, "Your Highness, this subordinate should go out and guard."

Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoling clicked his tongue, closed the curtain, and chuckled, "You want to leave right after eating? Stay put obediently. Your elder brother is outside, they don't lack you." Chu Shaoling took Wei Ji's hand, squeezed it, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wei Ji had no choice but to rest with him. Last night was eventful, and he went to bed late with Chu Shaoling. Now, after eating and resting in the carriage, he soon became drowsy, his head nodding off. Chu Shaoling opened his eyes, saw his appearance, and couldn't help but laugh. He gently held Wei Ji, letting him rest on his lap. Wei Ji was extremely sleepy and dozed off, hugging Chu Shaoling's leg.

After another hour, the group had traveled several dozen miles out of the city. Chu Shaoling lifted the curtain slightly. Ahead was a maple forest, the undergrowth dense, looking gloomy from a distance. Wei Zhan rode his horse slowly towards Chu Shaoling's carriage, his eyes full of vigilance.

As the carriage approached the maple forest, hundreds of assassins suddenly rushed out from the woods. In the blink of an eye, the group drew their weapons and charged towards Chu Shaoling's carriage. Wei Zhan was the first to react, shouting, "Protect His Highness!"

Wei Ji's eyes snapped open. With just a glance outside, he grabbed the broadsword beside him and leaped out! By the time Chu Shaoling realized, Wei Ji had already rushed to face the assassins!

"Wei Ji!" Chu Shaoling had called him into the carriage for fear of him getting hurt, but unexpectedly, he failed to stop him. Anxious, Chu Shaoling also jumped off the carriage and urged, "Wei Ji! Come back here!"

Wei Ji was single-handedly engaging two assassins. He had learned only escort techniques in the Imperial Guard, putting his life on the line to protect. With each move drawing blood, Wei Ji slashed an assassin's left chest. Hearing the voice, he turned to look at Chu Shaoling. In that moment of hesitation, another assassin pounced on Wei Ji from behind. Just as he was about to strike, several guards killed him. These men had received Chu Shaoling's orders and quickly escorted Wei Ji back to his side.

Wei Ji's arm was cut by the assassin earlier, still dripping blood. Chu Shaoling was both anxious and angry, his eyes almost blazing with fury. After repeatedly suppressing his emotions, he still raised his hand and slapped Wei Ji.