Jingnan Hou and Xiao Yue looked back and saw Empress Xiao walking in slowly, her hands tucked into her sleeves…
Little Xi Tian had guessed early on that Jingnan Hou would only be at ease after personally seeing the Emperor in a state of near death.
So, while Minister Gu was meeting Jingnan Hou and Xiao Yue, Little Xi Tian personally applied makeup to Emperor Cheng…
And had him lie in bed, feigning a near-death state.
Once everything was ready, Emperor Cheng sent Empress Xiao to invite Jingnan Hou…
You want to see? Fine, look all you want; you can’t *not* look.
“Empress?” Jingnan Hou paused for a moment, cupping his hands in a salute. “Why have you come?”
Xiao Yue also nodded, acknowledging Empress Xiao…
After all, he had lived a life of luxury in his fiefdom for years and no longer paid much attention to the Empress, the Empress Dowager, or his father, the Emperor.
Wouldn’t this Great Liang empire be his sooner or later?
Empress Xiao didn’t dwell on the Fourth Prince’s disrespect, instead narrowing her eyes at Jingnan Hou. “What, am I not allowed to come to the Hall of Diligent Governance?”
Look at how arrogant you are. Just wait; within these few days, Heng’er and the Emperor will eliminate all of you pests…
“No, no!” Jingnan Hou gave a dry laugh and quickly explained, “Your Highness has misunderstood. I rarely return to the palace and didn’t know the Emperor was so gravely ill. I merely wished to visit him…”
Hmph, once I kill the Emperor, I’ll deal with this crazy Empress.
In any case, none of those surrounding the Emperor will escape.
“I said, Jingnan Hou is welcome to visit the Emperor. Come, I will lead the way…”
Empress Xiao rolled her eyes, then turned and walked out of the hall.
Jingnan Hou and Xiao Yue exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as Jingnan Hou entered, he was hit by an indescribable odor, as if something had rotted, almost making him vomit his lunch…
Xiao Yue also covered his mouth, his brow furrowed, a look of disgust on his face.
At the bedside of the sleeping quarters, two young palace maids stood, attending to Emperor Cheng as he took his medicine.
“Your Majesty, Yue’er and Marquis have come to see you…” Empress Xiao approached and said softly.
“Mmm? Cough, cough!~”
Emperor Cheng coughed violently twice, the medicine spilling from his mouth, wetting the pillow and bedding.
His face was pale, his breathing weak, his white hair piled on his head like a bird’s nest, his lips cracked and peeling, and his face covered in red rashes…
Even a child could see that such a patient would not live long.
“Father, how are you?” Xiao Yue feigned pulling Emperor Cheng’s hand, trying to cry but unable to, forcing tears from his eyes.
Emperor Cheng was inwardly furious…
As his sons, why was there such a disparity?
Heng’er was devoted to saving him and salvaging the court’s unfavorable situation, while Yue’er wanted to kill him and coveted his throne…
“I, I’m afraid… afraid I’m going to die, cough, cough, cough, cough!~”
Before Emperor Cheng could finish speaking, a string of coughs erupted, followed by a ‘plop’ as he spat out a mouthful of ‘blood’ in front of Jingnan Hou and Xiao Yue.
With this appearance, he might not even survive the night.
Seeing this, Jingnan Hou quickly stepped forward. “Oh, Your Majesty, please don’t speak. Your health is paramount…”
Heh, whether you die early or late, you have to die. Why suffer so much?
Emperor Cheng roared inwardly. He truly wanted to rush forward, draw his sword, and personally slay these two traitors.
But Heng’er and Xi Tian had told him not to act rashly, nor to be swayed by emotion…
Just let them frolic for another day or two, and the matter would be settled.
“His Majesty needs rest. You two should leave now!~” Empress Xiao said expressionlessly.
You’ve seen what you wanted to see, the blood has been spat. Now you should be at ease, right?
Jingnan Hou nodded repeatedly. “Alright, alright. Then your humble servant and Yue’er will not disturb His Majesty’s rest…”
With that, the group slowly walked out of the sleeping quarters and into the hall for tea and snacks.
Xiao Yue took a sip of tea, glanced around, and stammered, “Wh-why don’t I see my Imperial Brother? He… where did he go?”
Empress Xiao had expected this question long ago and replied calmly, “Heng’er has been deposed as Crown Prince and demoted to commoner. He has already moved out of the Eastern Palace. This matter has greatly affected him. Heng’er is young and cannot accept it for a while. I heard he has already left the capital to travel the world…”
Xiao Yue almost burst out laughing upon hearing this.
Heaven truly favors me.
Now that the Emperor was dying, the Crown Prince deposed, and the chief civil official, Prime Minister Yang, exiled to the frontier, the imperial power was vacant, urgently awaiting his leadership…
Jingnan Hou sighed. “Alas, how did things come to this? A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. But… but now even the heir apparent has been deposed. What should be done next?”
Empress Xiao: “……”
Why do I find you so disgusting?
Truly birds of a feather flock together, and those of the same ilk are bound by the same fate.
“There’s nothing we can do. We can only take it one step at a time…” Empress Xiao suppressed her inner anger and said faintly.
Seeing this, Jingnan Hou curled his lips and suddenly changed the subject. “By the way, how has Yu Yan been at Fahua Nunnery all these years? I’ve been busy with matters in the south and haven’t had a chance to visit her!~”
Xing Yu Yan was Consort Hui’s name, and it had been many years since anyone had called her that…
Empress Xiao replied indifferently, “Consort Hui is your daughter and the birth mother of the Fourth Prince. You should ask yourselves how she has been all these years, not inquire with me!~”
How ridiculous. What does it have to do with me how your daughter has been?
It would be good if she died…
“Alright, if that’s the case, your humble servant will take Yue’er to Fahua Nunnery to see Yu Yan!~” Jingnan Hou put down his teacup and stood up.
Empress Xiao also stood up. “Good, then I will arrange a carriage to send you there!”
“No need to trouble Your Highness. We have our own carriage…” Jingnan Hou smiled and refused.
After the grandfather and grandson left, Emperor Cheng sat up from the bed with a jolt and waved his hand. “Someone, go make me a bowl of Gada soup, with less salt and more chopped scallions!~”
Acting was also very physically demanding.
Eunuch Zhao beamed and repeatedly agreed. “Yes, yes, this servant will arrange it now…”
It was good that the Emperor could eat and drink.
He was afraid that if he became too ill to get up, those rebels would exploit the situation.
As Eunuch Zhao left, Kong Xing Zhuo rushed into the sleeping quarters afterward, his face full of anxiety.
“Your Majesty, something is wrong! According to my informants, an army is advancing towards the capital. It is estimated that they will reach the city walls by tomorrow morning…”
Emperor Cheng: “???”