Chapter 8: The Reward! Why, Baby, Why?

“Hahaha...”
Inside the grand hall, Old Zhu’s laughter echoed through the air.
Just a moment ago, he had personally entered and confirmed with Empress Ma that her body no longer suffered such discomfort, finally allowing him to rest easy.
Then, Dai Sigong laid out a prescription—these were remedies for the later stages of recuperation, enough to help Empress Ma restore her health swiftly.
Old Zhu was now very pleased, and his fondness for Dai Sigong grew with each passing moment.
“Yuanli (Dai Sigong’s courtesy name), I have long heard of your great reputation, which is why you were summoned to serve as a physician in the palace.”
“When I first met you, I thought you were quite young, but I never imagined your medical skills would be unparalleled in the entire realm!”
Old Zhu dared to say this, yet Dai Sigong did not dare to accept such praise!
He immediately knelt down, trembling with reverence, and replied, “Your Majesty flatters me. If this spreads, I fear I will only invite ridicule!”
Beside them, Zhu Gaochi chuckled lazily and said, “Grandfather Emperor, don’t open your golden mouth so recklessly. Old Dai has been marginalized in the Imperial Medical Bureau; if this word gets out, he’ll only be envied and resented to death!”
“Well, isn’t that old fellow still here?”
After all, as comrades who had “fought side by side,” Zhu Gaochi did not forget to give Dai Sigong credit and ask for a reward.
The Imperial Physician Song was stunned, sinking weakly to the ground in disbelief.
“How is this possible?”
“Can horse-riding abscesses be treated like this?”
“Impossible! This can’t be true...”
Zhu Gaochi looked at the old man with pity.
“Tell me why? Why, baby, why?”
“Isn’t it better to be alive? Speak!”
The Imperial Physician shuddered, panicked, and prostrated himself with his head to the ground.
“Your Majesty, your old servant admits his guilt, his guilt!”
Upon hearing this, Old Zhu’s expression darkened immediately.
“Chi’er has reminded me—these quack doctors are truly hateful!”
“Even with the Empress pleading for you, a death sentence is inevitable, and a living punishment unavoidable. Issue an edict to exile all these incompetent physicians to the frontier and recruit new doctors from among the people!”
“Furthermore, Dai Sigong has merit in saving the Empress. Effective immediately, he is promoted to Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, acting in charge of its affairs, with gold and silver rewards to follow!”
“Your Majesty... have mercy!” the Imperial Physician begged frantically, tears and snot streaming as he kowtowed, but it was all to no avail.
Dai Sigong, however, seemed to be frozen in place. Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi laughed and stepped forward to remind him, “Old Dai, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and accept the decree!”
Was this fellow going crazy with joy?
Unexpectedly, Dai Sigong shook his head, prostrated himself, and spoke loudly.
“Your Majesty, I beg that these rewards be used to spare the other physicians from exile.”
At these words, Old Zhu’s face darkened, his gaze turning hostile toward Dai Sigong.
“Your Majesty, please see clearly: the Empress’s illness had its causes. It was not that the doctors were unwilling to treat her, but they were helpless, fearing to harm Her Majesty’s delicate constitution and damage the reputation of the Queen Mother. I was no different.”
“Had it not been for the young prince’s ingenious plan today, I would never have dared to speak up!”

After hearing these words, Old Zhu’s expression softened somewhat.
“You are indeed a man of virtue!”
“Very well, very well. I am not petty-minded, so your wish shall be granted!”
“However, you must still serve as Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau and purge those idle officials within. I do not want to see such matters happen again!”
The Imperial Physician Song was clearly not among the exempted; he would pay for his arrogance.
Dai Sigong was overjoyed and immediately accepted the imperial favor.
After he withdrew, Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao turned to Zhu Gaochi.
“Chi’er, tell me, what reward do you desire?”
Zhu Gaochi quickly waved his hands, assuming the demeanor of a child.
“Grandfather Emperor, I only want to save my great-grandmother. I don’t need any reward.”
“Besides, now that I’m in the palace, even if you grant me gold or silver, I have nowhere to spend it! And I’m still small—if you gave me beauties, I’d only be able to watch...”
At these words, Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter simultaneously.
Laughing, Old Zhu gave Zhu Gaochi a playful thump on the forehead.
“You little brat! So young and already thinking of beauties before you’ve even grown your first hairs?”
Zhu Gaochi was dumbfounded. Was this what they called “walking with the emperor is like walking with a tiger”?
Old Zhu was joking around, but this old fellow really hit him!
“Father, rewards must still be given!”
“Otherwise, Mother might come to trouble you too!”
Crown Prince Biao smiled kindly, easing the atmosphere.
Old Zhu smiled as well, pinching Zhu Gaochi’s chubby cheek.
“Good child, tell me, what do you want?”
Though he said this, Old Zhu narrowed his eyes.
From his observations of Zhu Gaochi recently, he understood that this old fellow was testing him again.
When the Emperor asks what you want, how do you answer?
You certainly can’t say you want the throne!
Zhu Gaochi pondered for a moment, then suddenly his eyes lit up.
“Grandfather Emperor, I want a gold brick!”
Old Zhu: “???”
Crown Prince Biao: “???”
What?
A gold brick?
You’re quite greedy, aren’t you!
“Ahem, Chi’er, why do you want a gold brick? Didn’t you just say...” Old Zhu asked curiously.

“Grandfather Emperor, you misunderstand!” Zhu Gaochi said seriously, smiling, “I want a twenty-pound gold ingot brick. That way, I can exercise by lifting it every day, and it will dazzle others with its golden shine—how mighty that would look...”
Hearing this, Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao could only smile wryly.
After all, he was still a child at heart!
But it made him all the more adorable and approachable!
“Alright, alright. I’ll issue the order right away for the craftsmen to forge one for you!”
Old Zhu ruffled his hair and laughed heartily.
Crown Prince Biao said nothing more; even if it was nonsense, he would let the boy have his fun this once.
Zhu Gaochi, suppressing his embarrassment, rushed into Old Zhu’s arms and planted a fierce kiss on the old man.
Perhaps long deprived of such familial joy, the great emperor himself felt a momentary fluster.
For a fleeting instant, he seemed to see the young Crown Prince Biao and Prince Qin Zhuang playing around him as children.
“Good child, my good grandson!” Old Zhu’s eyes reddened.
Looking at the obedient and sensible boy in his arms, his once-quiet heart stirred again.
Old Zhu lifted Zhu Gaochi up and laughed, “Come, we have a surprise prepared for you. Haven’t you been clamoring to learn martial arts?”
“Send in Guo Er. Let’s see the good disciple we’ve chosen for him!”
Crown Prince Biao smiled and went to issue the order. He still had state affairs to handle and did not return.
The next moment, a “wall of flesh” slowly entered the hall, appearing before Zhu Gaochi.
This was none other than Guo Ying, Commander of the Imperial Guards and one of the Twenty-Four Generals of Western Huai, Old Zhu’s absolute confidant.
Guo Ying was tall and burly, like a towering mountain, standing firm before Zhu Gaochi. His chiseled face was now breaking into a grin.
“Your Majesty, this little chubby fellow wants to learn martial arts?”
Guo Ying made no effort to hide his opinion. He had followed Old Zhu in battles since he was eighteen, and his own sister had married Old Zhu as a concubine; their bond was deeper than most.
“So what if he’s chubby?” Zhu Gaochi retorted, displeased. “Did I eat your rice or what?”
Guo Ying laughed heartily. A little chubby brat daring to talk back like that must have never been beaten hard!
“Alright, Guo Er,” Old Zhu said, “I like this child very much. He’s in your hands now. Don’t hurt him!”
Upon hearing this, Guo Ying’s expression shifted slightly. Apart from the legitimate eldest grandson Zhu Xiongying, this was the first time he had seen Old Zhu so fond of a dragon descendant.
This little chubby fellow was no ordinary child!
Guo Ying wasted no words, extending his large hand like a folding fan, grabbing Zhu Gaochi and walking off with him.
“What are you doing, you big pillar? Put me down...”
Zhu Gaochi struggled, but it was useless; instead, he got a solid slap and promptly quieted down.
Old Zhu watched with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Guo Ying was known for his strict discipline. To be his disciple, one must endure some hardship.
Chi’er, oh Chi’er, I hope you can endure and not disappoint my efforts!