Zhao Yao slept until the hour of Si and only then woke up, seeing Liang Zhaoyi sitting by the bed watching him.
"Awake now, do you feel unwell anywhere?" Liang Zhaoyi reached out to touch Zhao Yao’s forehead and little face. Seeing the temperature was normal, she was completely at ease.
Zhao Yao lay on the bed, spreading out his arms and legs, stretching in a big lazy manner.
"Mother, I feel very good now, nothing feels uncomfortable."
"That’s good." Liang Zhaoyi asked warmly, "Do you want to get up?"
"I’m hungry, I want to get up to eat." Zhao Yao kicked off the quilt with one foot and stood up.
Afraid he might catch a cold, Liang Zhaoyi quickly dressed him.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"
"No more." There were no more dreams last night, and he slept very soundly. "Mother, yesterday afternoon I dreamt of many things."
"What did you dream of?"
"In the dream, that world had many wonderful things that we don’t have. I wonder if they can be made." Actually, the dreams he had during this illness were similar to those he had during a previous illness. However, after recovering last time, he couldn’t remember much of them. This time’s dream reminded him of the previous one. Yet, there were still many parts he couldn’t recall.
"Things from that world are too wondrous for Great Zhou, don’t create them for now." While dressing Zhao Yao, Liang Zhaoyi instructed, "Do it later."
"Even if I wanted to make some things, there’s no..." Zhao Yao thought for a moment and said, "There’s no technology."
"Alright, let’s not talk about your dreams anymore." Liang Zhaoyi finished dressing Zhao Yao, led him to sit in front of the dressing table, and helped comb his hair. "After lunch, have Doctor Lu check your pulse again."
At the mention of "Doctor Lu," Zhao Yao’s heart trembled, and he involuntarily showed a look of fear.
"Mother, I’m no longer having a fever, which means I’m better, so there’s no need for Doctor Lu to check my pulse, right?" Even if he’s better, Doctor Lu would still prescribe him a few more doses of medicine.
Liang Zhaoyi saw through what her son was thinking at a glance and tapped Zhao Yao’s forehead with her finger.
"Whether you’re better or not is up to Doctor Lu."
Zhao Yao pouted and said unhappily, "Doctor Lu loves prescribing medicine, and it’s always the most bitter." He was most afraid of seeing Doctor Lu.
"The medicine Doctor Lu prescribes for you is the one that can cure your illness." Liang Zhaoyi said warmly, "If you weren’t sick, Doctor Lu wouldn’t prescribe medicine."
"Even if I’m not sick, Doctor Lu would still prescribe medicine." Zhao Yao said with a pout, "Doctor Lu loves to exaggerate."
Liang Zhaoyi raised her hand and tapped Zhao Yao’s little head, stating sternly, "Nonsense. Doctor Lu is not that kind of person. You mustn’t speak of Doctor Lu like that again."
Intimidated by Liang Zhaoyi’s serious demeanor, Zhao Yao immediately showed an obedient look, "Mother, I was just joking." He knew Doctor Lu’s medical skills were excellent. He had been ill for so long last time, thanks to Doctor Lu for saving him. "I won’t say it again."
Zhao Yao went next door to the side hall to wash up with Tong Xi, while Liang Zhaoyi went to the dining hall.
As Tong Xi attended to Zhao Yao’s grooming, he reported to Zhao Yao, "During the morning court, the Emperor harshly rebuked Prince Dai in front of all the civil and military officials."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao curiously asked, "What did Prince Dai do?"
"It’s said that General Yingyang stayed overnight at the brothel and only left this morning." Tong Xi said, "This General Yingyang is one of Prince Dai’s generals..."
Tong Xi recounted what he had heard to Zhao Yao in detail.
"General Yingyang was demoted to a commoner, and Prince Dai was scolded by the Emperor."
After washing his face, Zhao Yao remarked, "It must be something Crown Prince’s people did."
"You mean Crown Prince’s people have been watching General Yingyang and his men?"
"Most likely." Zhao Yao speculated, "Crown Prince’s people probably have been monitoring Prince Dai’s generals for a long time, just waiting for them to make mistakes."
"I see." Tong Xi added, "I also heard that this General Yingyang has a fondness for wine and women. Every time he returns to the capital, he visits the brothel and stays for days and nights without coming out."
"Crown Prince’s people probably have long known about General Yingyang’s habits, so they kept an eye on him."
"Then why didn’t Crown Prince’s people expose General Yingyang earlier?" Tong Xi asked in confusion, "Isn’t there a court regulation prohibiting officials from visiting brothels?"
"There is such a regulation, but the punishment isn’t very severe, at most a demotion in rank." Zhao Yao said, "A demotion in rank isn’t a big deal for General Yingyang and Prince Dai. The Crown Prince, in dealing with Prince Dai, would certainly want a decisive blow."