CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 93: PURITY OF MIND AND ABSTINENCE

The Imperial Physician Li pondered how to speak without making Zhao Ting feel awkward.

His mind turned over a thousand times before he had an idea.

"Your Majesty, General Zhao may need to maintain a state of tranquility and abstinence for a long time in the future. This will be beneficial to General Zhao’s health," Imperial Physician Li said earnestly.

Emperor Jing almost couldn’t hold back his laughter. What a way to describe impotence as tranquility and abstinence! Imperial Physician Li was indeed talented in putting it so elegantly.

"Dear Li, as the Dean of the Imperial Hospital, tell me honestly, do you have any methods to help General Zhao’s discomfort?" Emperor Jing inquired.

Imperial Physician Li shook his head with difficulty, "At present, I lack a solution. If I diligently research, perhaps one day, a method might be found."

Saying such words could easily make Emperor Jing doubt his medical skills, but given the current situation, he had no choice but to speak this way.

Emperor Jing glanced at Zhao Ting with a hint of pity in his eyes, "Our Zhou Country is vast and abundant, surely there are many hidden masters. Dear Zhao, don’t lose heart. I believe your health will surely improve."

After offering some comfort and granting some rewards, Emperor Jing approved Zhao Ting’s request to visit famous doctors and gave Zhao Ting a jade pendant recognized by officials everywhere.

"I’m too busy with state affairs to travel incognito. Seeing this as an opportunity, take a thorough look around for Me. If you encounter any injustice, be sure to rectify it," Emperor Jing instructed.

Zhao Ting solemnly accepted the emperor’s jade pendant, assuring that he would live up to the great favor.

Afterward, he bowed and took his leave, exiting the Imperial Study Room.

Before he could leave the palace gates, Imperial Physician Li caught up with Zhao Ting.

Imperial Physician Li, with a face of unspeakable expression, finally patted Zhao Ting’s shoulder, "Don’t lose hope. Perhaps there really are hidden masters who can cure you. Rest assured, this matter will stay buried within me. If things don’t work out, you might adopt a few orphans, raise them well, and they’ll take care of you in your old age. Or, you could adopt my children as your godchildren?"

Zhao Ting glared at Imperial Physician Li, silent in response. When he was a prince, he did indeed have no children.

But now as Zhao Ting, he had a full family of children.

"Thank you for your kindness, Imperial Physician Li, but that won’t be necessary. I still need to return to the mansion to pack for the journey, so I won’t be chatting idly with you," Zhao Ting responded indifferently.

Imperial Physician Li realized he had touched a sore spot, sensibly clasping his hands to bid Zhao Ting farewell.

As for packing, he only needed to gather a few things. The most crucial part of traveling is to bring enough silver.

However, Zhao Ting discovered that his private assets were pitifully meager.

The rewards from Emperor Jing were mostly items that couldn’t be easily sold.

Therefore, he only had a mere two hundred and eighty taels of silver.

Fortunately, before heading out, the Zhao Matriarch had the accountant send him three hundred taels of silver.

With five hundred and eighty taels of silver, Zhao Ting carried them all with him.

Originally planning not to bring many clothes, Zhao Ting obediently packed a few more sets.

Without much silver, he had to be frugal, right?

Although being a prince was tiring, at least he never lacked silver. Zhao Ting suddenly felt a bit nostalgic.

After all, five hundred and eighty taels weren’t even enough to listen to a tune.

Zhao Ting kept the silver notes close to him, bid farewell to the Zhao Matriarch, and rode out of the Capital City.

Princess Mansion.

The Grand Princess listened nonchalantly as her subordinates reported Zhao Ting’s movements, commenting, "Just follow him."

In these two years, she could let Zhao Ting move freely, but she needed to know what he was up to.

Having lived under constant surveillance herself, Zhao Ting noticed he was being followed shortly after leaving the city.

Unhurried, he rode his horse until nightfall, then found an inn to stay at.

He gave the innkeeper a silver coin, and the innkeeper thumped his chest, assuring that Zhao Ting’s horse would be well fed.

Early the next morning, a man with a full face of stubble brazenly walked out of the inn right under the trackers’ noses.

The innkeeper ceremoniously handed the reins to the stubbly man, who nodded in satisfaction, tossed a silver coin to the innkeeper, and mounted the horse. Soon, both man and horse vanished without a trace.

By the time the two trackers realized something was amiss, they had completely lost Zhao Ting’s trail.

They could only return to the Capital City, dejected and report.

What they did not expect was that when they lost track of him, Her Highness was not angry; instead, she laughed.

The Grand Princess softly murmured, "As expected of the man I have set my sights on."

The two she sent were experts in tracking, yet encountering them, Zhao Ting could still escape with ease. This showed just how remarkable he was.

On the second day of the second month, Meng Yao and his group boarded a carriage.

Meng Yao, Zhao Dahe, Qin Zheng, Li Chang’an, and Ren Zi’an.

Zhao Dajiang and Song Xiu’er stayed at home, taking care of Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Xiaoshu.

Even though Zhao Xiaohua also wanted to go, in the end, she obediently stayed at home.

The party first went to Fengyang Town, where Zhao Dahe listened to Master Wang’s teachings, Meng Yao chatted with Mrs. Qian for a while, and then they bid farewell to Master Wang and his wife before heading to the county city.

Throughout the journey, Ren Zi’an was not very happy.

He preferred living with his mother, and the family, with his brothers, sisters-in-law, and sisters, all treated him very well, making him very happy.

His mother was also very gentle.

Much gentler than Little Bao’s mother.

Meng Yao, having no other option, promised that after Zhao Dahe finished the exam, she would take him back home together.

During the exam period, he would temporarily stay at the government office.

Ren Zi’an’s sullen face finally eased, and he even made a pinky promise with Meng Yao.

By evening, the group arrived at the county government.

They first took Ren Zi’an to the county government.

After knocking on the back door, Apuru peeked out, and upon seeing that it was Meng Yao holding Ren Zi’an, excitedly let them in.

The County Magistrate soon got word and hurriedly came from the back office.

Not having seen each other for a while, Ren Zi’an lunged into the County Magistrate’s arms, rubbing against him several times, calling him "dad."

The County Magistrate was also delighted to see Ren Zi’an, carefully examining him. Despite not seeing each other for several days, this boy had grown taller and gained more weight. It seemed that Ms. Meng had taken very good care of him.

"Why didn’t you send word earlier? I would have sent someone to fetch you. It’s truly troublesome for you, Mrs. Zhao, to make this trip." The County Magistrate said.

"It wasn’t a deliberate visit." Meng Yao replied.

"Oh? Do you have matters in the county city? Do you need any help?" the County Magistrate inquired.

Meng Yao openly shared their purpose for this visit, surprising the County Magistrate, as he had been busy with matters related to the imperial examinations recently. He hadn’t expected that Ms. Meng’s son was also planning to take the exams.

"Are the recommendation letters all prepared?" the County Magistrate asked.

"All these arrangements were made by Dahe’s mentor," Meng Yao responded.

The County Magistrate asked a few more questions, to which Meng Yao answered accordingly. They had thoroughly prepared in advance.

"And the accommodations?" the County Magistrate asked.

"We’ve rented an inn, and the children have already gone ahead," Meng Yao answered.

He wanted to help, but they had everything so well-organized that he had no opportunity to assist.

"Have you had your meal yet, Mrs. Zhao? Shall I have the cook prepare something so you can stay for dinner?" the County Magistrate thought for a moment and said, "Rest assured, I still have official duties to attend to up front."

This indicated he wouldn’t dine with Meng Yao, setting her at ease.