Chapter 441 - 441 Tolerance
441 Tolerance
He didn’t know if she was sympathetic or—if she liked him.
Su Xiaolu’s tolerance actually made him vaguely feel that the unfair balance was leaning towards him.
This was not the first time he had such thoughts. Zhou Zhi thought absent-mindedly.
He was sixteen years old. He could not help but ask himself why he had approached Su Xiaolu so many times.
Did he want to snatch everything that belonged to Zhou Heng? Or was it something else?
Zhou Zhi did not dare to think too much about it. So what if he really liked her? Su Xiaolu was healthy and lively. How could she like a disabled person like him?
Zhou Zhi pinched his nose and his mood visibly decreased. His eyes were gloomy.
After a long time, he smiled coldly and whispered, “I’m already so dirty. So what if I’m a little nasty?”
As long as she didn’t know for the rest of her life.
—-
In the blink of an eye, it was March 14th. Tomorrow was the day of the palace examination.
Wei Ling had yet to see the emperor. Every time she requested, Zhou Zhao had all kinds of reasons to reject her. He even ordered the imperial physician to take a look at her body.
If Wei Ling could not see him, she would not be able to tell him about finding the Eldest Prince. She would not be able to say that Zhou Heng was already dead and that a fake Zhou Heng would replace Zhou Heng.
Wei Ling had no choice but to spread the news to Wei Guangrong and ask him to think of a way.
Zhou Zhi didn’t listen to her anymore. She called him over but he didn’t come. She actually couldn’t do anything to Zhou Zhi, who had started to disobey her.
She could only rely her hopes on her father to reveal the truth so that the Emperor would not be deceived.
When Wei Guangrong received the news, his expression darkened.
“Father, why doesn’t His Majesty want to see my sister?”
Wei Xiaotian couldn’t understand this. The emperor didn’t have deep feelings for the empress, but he had always given her enough respect. It was really strange that he didn’t see her after so many requests.
“I don’t understand this matter either. Recently, that person has also begun to disobey your sister. He refuses to enter the palace and refuses to stay for dinner. No matter how I look at it, this matter feels strange. Could it be that the emperor intends to support him as the heir?”
Wei Guangrong frowned as he made a guess. The guess in his heart made him tremble in fear.
Wei Xiaotian immediately disagreed. He said firmly, “That’s impossible. Father, since ancient times, there has never been a precedent of a disabled prince as the heir. If the emperor chooses him, the officials won’t agree. Even Taizong won’t agree.”
Zhou Zhi’s crippled body meant that it was impossible for him to take the throne. At most, he would control the power and make the emperor his puppet. No one in the world would agree to him becoming the emperor himself.
Wei Guangrong frowned. “Father also knows that it’s impossible, but these two things are strange. In the emperor’s heart, he has always been very favored, and the power given to him is also great.”
“If it were any other prince, he would have died long ago under such circumstances. However, not only is he alive, but he has also become powerful. It’s impossible for him not to have the Emperor’s love and protection.”
Wei Guangrong sighed, feeling anxious. At the moment, he did not dare to do anything.
“Father, the palace examination is tomorrow. That’s his best chance to face the officials and the emperor.”
Wei Xiaotian said solemnly. That day, he did not succeed. Zhou Heng was chosen to participate in the palace examination. It was a good opportunity for him to face the officials and the emperor.
“Tomorrow. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Wei Guangrong was extremely frustrated. Things were far beyond his control, but he could not believe that Zhou Heng was real.
However, the outcome of this matter was not something he could predict or control.
“Father, if Zhou Heng recovers his identity as the eldest prince, it will be very disadvantageous to us.”
The two princes had become enemies with them. If Zhou Heng became the emperor in the end, the Wei family would be in trouble.
“I know. If I can’t stop it, I can only let your sister raise another prince as soon as possible. Even if he regains his identity, it won’t be easy for him to become the Crown Prince.”
Wei Guangrong’s eyes darkened. How could he not know that if Zhou Zhi or Zhou Heng succeeded to the throne, the Wei family would be in trouble? Therefore, the Wei family could not support them. Instead, they had to choose another prince.
In the next ten years, they would support a prince with the potential to fight for the throne.
“Father is right.”
Wei Xiaotian lowered his eyes and agreed. It was fine as long as his father had his own plans.
The father and son had a lot on their minds, but they couldn’t think of a better way to resolve their worries.
—-
In the Grand General’s residence.
The meal tonight was sumptuous. General Qi raised his wine glass and said, “Tomorrow, I wish the two of you a successful victory.”
“Okay.”
Su Hua smiled.
The few of them smiled similarly and finished the wine in their glasses.
Madam Zhao’s gaze was gentle. Her wish had never changed. She did not value money and power. She only wanted the children to be safe and sound.
After dinner, they rested.
Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng gathered in a room.
“I won’t be able to enter the palace tomorrow. You can only rely on yourselves.”
Su Chong said helplessly. His knowledge stopped here. He was already prepared to transfer to the martial arts examination in the second half of the year.
His literacy was enough for him to be a wise person. In fact, what he loved more was martial arts.
After getting to know Qi Xingfeng, he already had a direction for the future. He wanted to practice martial arts and go to the battlefield to protect his country like Qi Xingfeng.
“Brother, don’t worry. It’s safe in the palace.”
Su Hua smiled and said that there were imperial guards in the palace, so it was impossible for assassins to appear.
He looked at Zhou Heng. Zhou Heng’s eyes were firm as he smiled at him. He was fearless. He was already prepared.
Su Hua was relieved. As long as Zhou Heng could withstand it, it was fine. Clearly, he was prepared.
“Sigh, time really flies. In the blink of an eye, we’ve all grown up. Brother Hua, Brother Heng, I wish you all good results and get what you want.”
This time, he could not move forward with them.
But this was a path that they would take sooner or later.
It would be the palace examination this time, and it would be something else in the future. No one could be together forever.
“Thank you, Big Brother.”
Su Hua smiled gently. They had grown up and become sensible, but there were some things that could be understood without saying them out loud. He believed that this tacit understanding would never change in his life.
“Thank you, Chong, Hua. Thanks to you guys by my side.”
Zhou Heng also smiled. Su Chong and Su Hua made him firmly believe that there was true kinship in this world. He believed that no matter how many years had passed, they would not lose these sincere feelings, and neither would he.
“Brother Heng, rest well. Although we grew up together, I still won’t give in. I’ll still do my best to be the top scorer.”
Su Hua looked at Zhou Heng and smiled.
Zhou Heng also smiled. He cupped his hands like a scholar and said, “Likewise.”
Zhou Heng was also very happy that they were magnanimous. They had studied hard for many years and tried their best to not waste their years of learning. That was the greatest respect for the other party. They were competitors and true brothers who valued each other more than anything.