Above the source of Tao

After a long while, Chu Jiangruan asked the important ministers around him, "After me, who can take on this important task?"

After hearing this, no one around dared to respond.

At this time, Chu Handong, who was kneeling beside the sickbed, said with sobs, "Father, you are a true dragon among men. You will live as long as a dragon. You must not say such discouraging words."

"Handong, no one can live long. Not you, not me, not even your grandfather."

So, Chu Jiangruan asked the Minister of State Cai Qiheng again.

Seeing that the king called his name, he could no longer pretend to be dead, so he had to take a step forward.

The people around also breathed a sigh of relief. With the national assistant in front, they just had to cater to the side. Since ancient times, the royal family's struggle for power had nothing to do with them. But if they were not careful and did not stand in the right line, after the new king ascended the throne, the first people to be liquidated would be those who were singing the opposite tune.

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, the Chu Dynasty has always established the eldest son as the supreme ruler. This rule was established during the time of King Chu Zhao. The rules set by our ancestors cannot be crossed."

The Minister of State was an old sly man. He brought up this rule, naturally wanting the eldest prince to sit on the throne, but he did not say it too clearly. If other princes were allowed to sit on the throne, he would not use this matter to embarrass himself.

The other ministers around him also sighed in their hearts that the old man Cai Qiheng was very cunning. When he said this, he neither offended the other princes nor answered the king's question.

"What do the other ministers mean?"

All I heard was people echoing Cai Qiheng's words, "Master Guofu's words make sense."

Cai Qiheng also heard what the ministers behind him said, and he was filled with anger. "What a bunch of bastards, they didn't dare to answer the question just now, and let me take the blame."

Chu Jiangruan looked at the ministers in front of him, then looked at his two sons, pointed at them and said, "You two go out first, I want to talk to them."

"This...I obey your command."

Afterwards, Chu Handong and Chu Liming half bent over and retreated. Perhaps because they had been kneeling on the ground for so long, their legs were numb, and they walked out of Jingheng Hall tremblingly.

"I know that I will not live long. Besides you, my little daughter is here with you. After this conversation, I will send her out of the Chu Dynasty. Don't be so reserved. Answer my questions honestly."

"If I don't appoint the eldest son or the most capable one, who should I appoint?"

Seeing that all the princes were invited out, Guo Fu then told the truth, "Emperor the eldest prince."

Chu Jiangruan looked at Cai Qiheng in front of him with an angry face, and frightened all the ministers to kneel on the ground immediately.

"I will ask you again, if I cannot appoint the eldest son or the most capable, who should I appoint?"

Cai Qiheng said calmly, "Appoint the eldest prince Chu Kangyuan."

Chu Jiangruan asked sharply, "Why?"

"If we can get his son, the Chu Dynasty will prosper for thousands of generations."

Then, Chu Jiangruan laughed loudly towards the sky, and all the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. They did not expect that this old fellow Cai Qiheng was so principled that he dared to speak to the king in this way.

However, what he said was not wrong, and all the ministers expressed their agreement.

The eldest prince's son, named Chu Zhuochuan, was only sixteen years old but already a capable figure in the army. He followed his father Chu Kangyuan to fight on the battlefield, made numerous military achievements, and guarded eleven cities in the north for the Chu Dynasty. The border ruffians were all terrified when they heard his name. Chu Zhuochuan was also kind and humble to people, neither arrogant nor impatient. All the people in the army praised him as a virtuous man.

Like his father, he is only sixteen years old, but looks very old. He is the most beloved grandson among Chu Jiangruan's grandchildren.

He also had a good relationship with the ministers in the court and was very talented. He was another emperor after King Zhao of Chu.

After a long while, Chu Jiangruan came back to his senses from his laughter and said to Cai Qiheng, "Draft an edict!"

After a stick of incense, the edict was drafted and handed over to Cai Qiheng for safekeeping.

He also told them not to disclose the information before the right time, otherwise their entire clan would be implicated.

After saying that, he asked them to leave, leaving only Chu Hanlan and Chu Xiaoxiao who was standing not far away.

When there was no one around, Chu Hanlan burst into tears and asked Chu Jiangruan sobbingly, "What did father mean by what he said just now? Why was I sent out of Chuwang City? Don't you want me anymore?"

Chu Jiangruan didn't answer, but just stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

After a long time, he spoke carefully in a hoarse voice. The voice sounded as if there was a piece of phlegm stuck in his throat, making it a little hoarse.

"Have you resented me all these years?"

Chu Hanlan didn't know what his father meant or why he said such a thing.

After waiting for a long time without hearing any answer, he turned to look at Chu Xiaoxiao.

At this moment, Chu Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke up. "I have never resented you, I just feel sorry for my mother!"

Chu Hanlan looked at Chu Xiaoxiao in disbelief, and was even more shocked. What was going on? Did Miss Xiaoxiao know her father?

"I have sent people to countless places to look for you over the years, but I still haven't found any trace of you. Where have you been all these years?"

Chu Jiangruan's face was full of apologies, and tears couldn't stop flowing down. He instantly looked a few years older.

He wanted to sit up from the bed, but his hands had no strength left to support his body. He tried several times but failed and couldn't help but sigh.

"I am really old and dying."

So Chu Xiaoxiao stepped forward and grabbed Chu Jiangruan's wrist, transferring a little bit of vitality to him.

Seeing the changes in his body, Chu Jiangruan's eyes suddenly brightened and he understood everything.

"You've suffered over the years."

Before he could say a few words, he heard Chu Xiaoxiao speak sternly. "Don't talk!"

At this time, Chu Xiaoxiao held his wrist, frowned, and stared at his body without saying a word.

As soon as I entered King Jing's Palace, I felt something strange when I saw him. He seemed to be in good health, but his breath was so weak, as if he was about to die.

After using Yuan Qi to check his body, it was discovered that there was a lot of poisonous gas in Chu Jiangruan's body attached to his five internal organs, which led to his current weak body. This was not normal aging, but rather he was poisoned.

After an incense stick of time, Chu Xiaoxiao looked at him with a worried look on her face. "You've been poisoned."

The two people in the room looked at Chu Xiaoxiao in shock, unable to believe that they had been poisoned.

"Are you telling the truth? Was my father poisoned?"

"Yes, it is a chronic poison, like the Miscanthus Dusan, a poison made from the Miscanthus in the Red Tang Forest."

"That's impossible. It's extremely difficult to make poison from this Miscanthus."

Looking at Chu Xiaoxiao, she was filled with shock. Although she said it was impossible, she was wondering in her heart who was poisoning her.

"Sister Xiaoxiao, can my father's poison be cured?"

"It's not difficult, but I have to go back and find my junior brother."

Just then, a red dove flew in from the window and landed on Chu Hanlan's shoulder, chirping loudly, as if conveying some message.