Guo Tianyang continued writing with a pained expression.

At this point, having been forced onto this path of treachery, he had no choice but to follow the Crown Prince’s lead. There was no turning back!

He wrote over twenty pages before Li Yuanzhao finally told him to stop.

The handwriting on the papers grew increasingly messy with each page.

Seeing this, Li Yuanzhao nodded with satisfaction, then dismissed Guo Tianyang and sat down in the chair himself.

“Guards! Tie up Eunuch Guo and gag him!”

After issuing the order, he lowered his head and began writing on the papers Guo Tianyang had prepared.

The nearby guards, no longer concerned with propriety, unhesitatingly gagged Guo Tianyang first.

Then they tied him up like a dumpling and placed him on the bed.

Guo Tianyang made a few muffled sounds, but seeing that no one paid him any attention, he could only stare at the ceiling, devoid of hope.

Li Yuanzhao wrote for half an hour before finally stopping. After carefully comparing the writings for a while, he felt quite satisfied.

Given the limited number of characters, the effect could be described as flawless.

He thought that Imperial Father probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. After all, he had been fighting wars since he was young, so his cultural literacy probably wasn’t that great!

Surely my calligraphy must be better than his!

Li Yuanzhao chuckled to himself.

He stood up and addressed Guo Tianyang, “Don’t worry, I’ll release you after the edict messengers have gone far enough. Two days should be about right. I’ve even prepared some ginseng soup for you!”

Two days?! Guo Tianyang felt as if struck by lightning!

He would be tied up like this for two days? How would he relieve himself? The Crown Prince definitely couldn’t let him go.

Surely they wouldn’t have someone watch him do his business?

“Eh? Why are you crying again?”

Seeing Guo Tianyang’s pitiful state, Li Yuanzhao was no longer in the mood for jokes.

He turned to Liu Jin and the other two, saying, “Liu Jin, go to the laundry and get two sets of clothes for them to change into. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out of the palace. Once outside, immediately rush to the three prefectures to deliver the edicts!”

“You must be quick. The three of you will go together, delivering to one prefecture at a time. Don’t give those prefects any chance to write memorials. Time the delivery of the edicts carefully!”

“If you succeed, it will be a great achievement! I’ll reward you handsomely! Your future prospects are bright!”

“But if you fail or let anyone else know, well… you know the consequences!”

The three men’s hearts tightened in unison: “We obey!”

After giving the important instructions, Li Yuanzhao turned back to Guo Tianyang.

“For these two days, you’ll eat, drink, and relieve yourself right here. I’ll cover for you with Imperial Father, and I’ll have someone take care of you. Going without food for two days shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re thirsty, just bang your head on the bed to call someone. As for relieving yourself… well, just do it on the bed.”

“I won’t be needing this bed anymore!”

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!” Guo Tianyang squirmed desperately, looking very much like a maggot that had spotted fresh food.

Eating, drinking, and relieving himself all on the bed for two days? You might as well kill me!

I’ve been so cooperative, and you still want to humiliate me like this?!

Tears streamed from Guo Tianyang’s eyes, but his heart was bleeding.

Ever since encountering Fang Zheng, why had there been so many bizarre incidents?

Was it just because he had taken a little money from him?!

Li Yuanzhao glanced at him coldly, “What are you yelling for! Those who accomplish great deeds don’t fuss over trifles!”

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”

That night, Li Yuanzhao once again snuck into the Shangbao Palace to return the imperial seal.

…

The next day at the morning court session, Li Yuanzhao attended as usual.

His expression remained calm, and he would occasionally interject during the ministers’ discussions.

Although some of his comments seemed superficial, Emperor Jing was already quite pleased in his heart!

It seemed the Crown Prince could indeed take advice now.

He had become much more sensible. In the past, he would likely still have been stubbornly argumentative!

Fang Zheng had truly accomplished a great feat!

After the morning court session ended, Li Yuanzhao didn’t linger. He returned to the Eastern Palace and immediately summoned Liu Jin and the other two to depart with their bundles.

He personally escorted them out of the palace before grinning widely.

Then he sauntered back to the Eastern Palace.

In the bedchamber, Guo Tianyang’s face was flushed red, engaged in an intense battle between his bladder and willpower.

As soon as he saw the Crown Prince return, he immediately started making muffled sounds.

Li Yuanzhao casually poured himself a cup of tea.

He said indifferently, “Give it up. There’s no point in struggling anymore. I won’t let you leave no matter what you say!”

“I’ve already sent the edict messengers away. Let them travel for two more days… You’ll be free after that!”

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”

Guo Tianyang’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets!

I need to urinate! Can’t I even make a sound? I’m already this old, and you’re still tormenting me like this!

Let me go, at least let me say something!

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”

Guo Tianyang kept making muffled sounds incessantly, annoying Li Yuanzhao.

So he pursed his lips and started whistling: “Shoo shoo shoo shoo shoo shoo”.

A series of crisp whistles rang out, and Guo Tianyang dared not make a sound… He never expected the Crown Prince to become so vicious!

This whistling was like a trumpet heralding his bladder’s imminent defeat!

If the whistling continued, he would truly lose face. Guo Tianyang frantically cursed Fang Zheng in his mind.

He collapsed on the bed, not making a sound.

…

Two days later, Li Yuanzhao changed into a bright red outfit and appeared at the morning court session, looking particularly flamboyant.

Emperor Jing didn’t ask much, only giving him a curious glance.

It wasn’t a festival, so why dress so festively?

Li Yuanzhao, of course, kept his eyes lowered, and after the court session ended, he dashed back to his bedchamber.

Seeing Guo Tianyang looking lifeless, Li Yuanzhao immediately untied him.

“Alright! You’re free now!”

Guo Tianyang forced a smile and gingerly crawled off the bed, his voice hoarse as he said, “This old servant… thanks Your Highness…”

Then he began crawling on the ground.

Li Yuanzhao watched this scene with exasperation, “What are you crawling on the ground for! Isn’t it cold? You can leave now!”

Guo Tianyang’s face twitched violently.

Leave? Although he hadn’t had food or water for two days, his body hadn’t completely used up its water yet!

If he stood up now, he feared it would all come out!

But he couldn’t leave in this state either. Guo Tianyang held onto the bed frame, veins bulging on his forehead as he slowly stood up.

Just this simple action caused cold sweat to break out on Guo Tianyang’s forehead.

He looked at Li Yuanzhao with determination and said, “Then… this old servant will take his leave. As for His Majesty…”

Li Yuanzhao smiled slightly, “Don’t worry, I’ve told Imperial Father that you’ve fallen seriously ill. Go back and rest for now!”

“I’ll come find you tonight, and we’ll go pay our respects to Imperial Father together!”

Guo Tianyang laughed bitterly in his heart, nodding in agreement before limping away.

Watching Guo Tianyang’s slowly retreating figure, Li Yuanzhao smirked.

Eunuch Guo hadn’t eaten or slept for two days, and he had lost a considerable amount of weight!

Moreover, his eyes were lifeless, his face pale, and his limbs weak.

He looked no different from someone with a terminal illness.

When I bring him before Imperial Father… he’ll surely believe it without a doubt. Then it’ll be time for me to proceed to the next step!

“Guards! Send all my tonics to Eunuch Guo!”