270 You made me suffer, I must do the same
Peng Yuxian looked at the Prime Minister, who was requesting him not to tell anyone about his condition.
âWhy does the Prime Minister lie to everyone? If His Majesty finds out about it, then he will punish us both to the death,â Peng Yuxian said.
âPhysician Peng, I have always helped you. This is the first time I have asked for a favor from you,â Kang Xi said, joining his hands. âI beg you not to tell His Majesty that nothing has happened to me,â he requested.
Peng Yuxian could not ignore his request. Kang Xi had helped him on numerous occasions. Also, he was the one who helped him in his appointment as the Royal Physician of the palace.
âI will help the Prime Minister this time,â Peng Yuxian said. Kang Xi was delighted to hear him and told him that this was the first and last time he asked for such a favor from him.
âI will inform Eunuch Gao Bing and your son that you fainted because of exhaustion,â Peng Yuxian told Kang Xi. He agreed with the physician and laid down on the bed while closing his eyes.
Peng Yuxian delivered the said message to both Gao Bing and Kang Huijuan. Gao Bing left for the Kingâs manor to inform Qiu Zedong, while Kang Huijuan went in with Peng Yuxian to see his father.
Peng Yuxian shut the door so that no one would hear or see them. Kang Xi opened his eyes and looked at his son. Peng Yuxian walked up to them and asked them to talk in a low voice.
âCould you please give us some privacy, Peng Yuxian?â Kang Xi requested him.
.....
âSure. I will be nearby so that no one comes in,â he said and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
âFather, did you act like you were getting sick?â Kang Huijuan asked.
âThen, what do you expect me to do?â Kang Xiâs anger outburst at him and he lowered his voice while looking towards the door. âYou may get punished for the wrong you did. Who told you to make such an obscene mistake?â Kang Xi reprimanded his son.
âI didnât know that she would get pregnant,â Kang Huijuan said. He didnât repent for the wrong he did and wasnât ready to take responsibility for that woman. âI will kill her if I find her,â he muttered and clenched his fist.
A strong slap fell on his left cheek, which shocked him completely. Kang Huijuan looked into his fatherâs eyes and asked him to lower his eyes. âYour one mistake can put an end to the entire Kang Family. Do you even have an idea how much I struggled to reach this level? If a Prime Ministerâs son commits such a crime, then what do you expect the ministers would do? Would they let us survive?â Kang Xi posed many questions in front of his son.
Kang Huijuan kept his head down. âWhy did Lóng Wei talk about this now?â He asked his father.
âHis wife did. Is that even important? Today I saved your life, but not for long. Find a way to clear the evidence. No records must be left about that woman. The entire Kang family will be destroyed if Lóng Wei brings the woman who used to be a servant to our house,â Kang Xi stated while knitting his brows.
Kang Huijuan recalled how Lóng Wei threatened him after he returned from the cold palace that he would expose his truth. Everything seemed clear to him, like the water. But why did his wife tell the king this? âI wonât spare you, Li Hua,â he thought in his mind and clenched his fists.
âGo to the residence and remove the evidence about her. I will come in a while. I need to convince Lóng Wei not to say anything in court tomorrow,â Kang Xi suggested to his son.
âNo, Father. You will not convince that arrogant Prince. He will make you beg,â Kang Huijuan said, and stopped his father from meeting Lóng Wei.
âThen, do you want me to see you hanging to death tomorrow? Even if I have to touch my nose to his shoe, I have to do it. Lóng Wei had already done something which was unexpected-â before he could complete his words, the door opened with a bang.
Kang Xi immediately laid down and closed his eyes. Was it the King? Cold beads of perspiration formed at his temples. Kang Huijuan stood up and saw Lóng Wei in front of his eyes.
âYour Highness, you cannot go inside,â Peng Yuxian said as he stopped Lóng Wei, whose gaze was drawn to Kang Xi.
âPeng Yuxian, you should leave before I bring your truth out,â Lóng Wei told him and looked at him. The menacing expression on his face intimidated Peng Yuxian, and he stepped out of the room. âKeep your eyes open. Donât let anyone in until I come out,â he ordered Peng Yuxian before slamming the door in his face.
âGo out. My Father is resting,â Kang Huijuan said. However, Lóng Wei didnât stop advancing towards the bed. He stopped when Kang Huijuan put his hand on his shoulder. âEnough, Lóng Wei,â Kang Huijuan said as he looked him in the eyes.
âDo you want me to break your hand and mouth both?â Lóng Wei tilted his head slightly. âYou are at the edge of the cliff, Kang Huijuan. If I push you, you will die miserably,â he said.
Kang Huijuan lowered his hand when Lóng Wei pushed him away. He gulped the anger inside and chuckled.
âAre you going to act the entire day?â Lóng Wei asked Kang Xi.
âMy father isnât acting,â Kang Huijuan said, and turned to face him.
âTell your one and only son to shut his mouth, else I will drag you both to the Kingâs manor for lying,â Lóng Wei told Kang Xi. He immediately opened his eyes and looked at Lóng Wei.
Kang Xi sat up, which bewildered Kang Huijuan. Why did he do that? Kang Xi stood up while Lóng Wei sat on the mattress.
âApologize to the Prince,â Kang Xi told his son.
âFather?â Kang Huijuan could not believe what his father demanded of him.
âI donât need his apology now, but in court. Tell your son to get on his knees in front of everyone in the court and sincerely apologize to me. I wanted to make him lick my shoe, but I will be kind,â Lóng Wei said with a smirk and glanced at Kang Huijuan. âDonât make such faces. You made me suffer in the cold palace, so I must do the same,â he stated.
âYou have no evidence,â Kang Xi challenged him.
âI will bring,â Lóng Wei said, and he returned his gaze to Kang Xi. âTell your dear son how I got the evidence against Lianying. He also thought the same, but in the end, he had given the death sentence,â he affirmed.
âKang Huijuan will do what His Highness wants,â Kang Xi said, and got on his knees. Kang Huijuan could not believe his fatherâs words.
Kang Huijuan removed his hat, which was the most precious thing for a minister. He put it near Lóng Weiâs feet and said, âAs His Highness knows, for a minister, this is the most respectful thing. I am guilty of the actions of my son and apologize to you on his behalf. I beg His Highness to forgive Kang Huijuan,â Kang Xi said as he bowed and his forehead touched the floor beneath him.
Kang Huijuan and Lóng Wei looked into each otherâs eyes. He didnât like his father being humiliated in this way by the Prince. He wanted to kill Lóng Wei at that moment, but he could not. He scrunched his nose in fury and turned to leave when Lóng Wei stopped him.
âDid I ask you to leave?â Lóng Wei asked him. âYour father is begging for your life and you are turning a blind eye to it. Such an unfaithful son!â He remarked.
âKang Xi, get up,â Lóng Wei said. âThe Prime Minister has indeed humiliated me on numerous occasions, but I donât hold any grudge against him,â he proclaimed. Kang Xi was surprised to hear Lóng Wei and lifted his head.
âYour Highness, please donât let the King punish Kang Huijuan tomorrow. Only the Prince can save my son,â Kang Xi pleaded with Lóng Wei.
âAhh, you are asking too much, Kang Xi. Your son has no remorse and has even forgotten his manners,â Lóng Wei affirmed. âSee the anger in his eyes. It seems he wants to kill me,â he added.
âKang Huijuan, get on your knees and apologize to Prince Lóng Wei,â Kang Xi told his son. He acted on his fatherâs command and got down on his knees.
âForgive me, Your Highness,â Kang Huijuan said. âI should not have behaved wrongly with you,â he stated while lowering his head.
âUmm... I will tell you tomorrow if I have forgotten you or not,â Lóng Wei stated. Kang Xi looked at him and asked him why he could not forgive his son now.
âThatâs up to me, Kang Xi. I need to contemplate. Your son will not die this early. This I can assure you,â Lóng Wei proclaimed. âGo home and take a good rest,â he said, and stood up to leave.
âKang Xi, you have to remember my favor,â Lóng Wei affirmed and left the room.
~~~~~
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