"I don't think he can accept it," she said. His own mother was confined in that abandoned palace without any freedom, and he couldn't even fulfill his filial duty. How could that Highness possibly accept that?
Zhao Hao put himself in his father's shoes and felt he couldn't accept it. His father, the King, had only one consort and couldn't understand the Emperor's mindset of having three palaces and six courtyards, nor the ruthlessness of imprisoning his own women and exploiting them completely.
"So he will definitely join in. Even if not for that supreme throne, he must want to question that high and mighty ruler." It was just unknown how many contingency plans that Consort Mei had left for her son.
However, the Emperor's previous performance had earned Prince Yan quite a few points. After all, he had been the Emperor's most favored prince and had married the daughter of a powerful court official.
Such a prince, as long as he showed any intention of vying for the throne, would surely gather many followers.
What he lacked compared to other princes was merely those three years of praying in the mountains.
When the first snow fell on the capital, the Emperor fell ill. Zhao Hao, who had not yet had his usual winter sickness, heard the news of the Emperor's illness in the palace.
Since he was also a princess, he needed to visit the palace. However, everyone knew that his health had always been poor, so there was no strict requirement for him to attend to the Emperor during his illness.
He entered the palace with Lin Yan the day after he heard the news. His height now was only slightly less than Lin Yan's. Among women, he was considered tall, so he could only try his best. When going out, he hunched his back to appear shorter.
Among all those who came to visit, they were the most inconspicuous. Due to Princess Fu An's illness, they had lived a secluded life. Even Lin Yan, who served in the Ministry of Personnel, did not often go out to socialize.
Lin Yan immediately noticed the dark aura on the Emperor's face. If no one intervened, the Emperor's life would not last long.
Lin Yan was also curious. How could the Emperor, who possessed the dragon qi and the destiny of the entire nation, be so easily manipulated?
Even if the perpetrator was a blood relative, they shouldn't have been so easily taken advantage of.
Since no one noticed this corner, Lin Yan boldly scrutinized the Emperor lying on the bed. However, her physiognomy skills were not yet proficient. All she could discern was that the Emperor was already gravely ill. As for anything else, she could not see.
If she could take the Emperor's pulse now, she should be able to find out other things.
She really wanted to confirm the Emperor's true condition. Only by confirming it could she know the exact day of his death.
It seemed the plan had to be moved up. The Emperor's body would not last much longer.
Zhao Hao and Lin Yan did not stay long in the palace. They did not even spend much time in the Emperor's sleeping quarters. After a brief glance at the Emperor lying on the bed, they were summoned by the Empress to another palace to rest.
During this time of the Emperor's serious illness, she did not see much worry in the eyes of the princes. Instead, she saw more ambition.
The Emperor had fainted midway through the morning court and only woke up the next day. According to the imperial physicians, his condition was not optimistic. The Emperor also felt his strength waning after waking up.
Both the court officials and his own princes, and even his Empress, were urging him to choose someone to oversee the state affairs. Some old officials even subtly advised him to quickly establish an heir.
What about the nation cannot be without a ruler for a day? He had merely fallen ill, so why did it seem as if he was about to die?
Although the imperial physicians spoke gravely, Consort Mei's family had once divined his fate, and even Consort Mei had sacrificed her own lifespan to extend his by ten years. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
He still had fourteen years left until his appointed time, so how could he die so soon?
The Emperor was helped to sit up and looked at his sons, who had different intentions, with a cold smile.
"Your Majesty, you still need to rest well. What those old officials said has some reason..." the Empress also advised.
"The Empress is right," the Emperor said, glancing at the Empress. He found that she kept her eyes lowered, and her expression was unreadable.
He didn't know who had gained the Empress's favor, or if she had chosen a side.
With no heir from the Empress, whoever ascended to the throne would have to honor her as Empress Dowager. The Emperor really couldn't figure out what conditions could sway the Empress.
"Let the eldest prince oversee the state affairs, with the fourth and fifth princes assisting. I am tired. You have been guarding for quite some time. You may all leave now," the Emperor said with a wave of his hand, somewhat listlessly.
"Yes." They all withdrew as ordered. The Empress remained by the bed.
"Empress, you should go and rest too."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, only the attending palace maids and the head eunuch by the Emperor's side remained in the sleeping quarters.
"Your Majesty, do you have any commands?" The head eunuch quickly stepped forward to inquire as the Emperor raised his hand again.
"Go and summon the leader of the dark guards."
"Yes."
Lin Yan did not get to see the Emperor after he woke up. Her official rank was not high enough for such a privilege.
"An'an, feign illness," Zhao Hao said. Many people had seen his condition when he entered the palace, so feigning illness now would not raise suspicion.
"Yan Ge?"
"The capital is about to descend into chaos. A mountain will collapse, and it will surely cause considerable upheaval," she said, referring to him as Yan Ge.
"Can Yan Ge confirm this?" Zhao Hao immediately became serious.
"Have you forgotten that I am a physician?"
"I naturally trust Yan Ge's medical skills."
"After you feign illness, I will also request leave. A substitute will stay in the manor, and we will leave the capital as soon as possible."
"Are we finally leaving?" Zhao Hao's voice held a hint of melancholy.
"What, are you reluctant?"
"Not really."
"We will be back soon," Lin Yan comforted him.
On the eve of the Little New Year, the Third Prince entered the palace with a sharp weapon to see the Emperor. Afterward, the Emperor's condition worsened further, and an oral decree was issued ordering the Third Prince to oversee state affairs, while the First Prince was to attend to him.
The First Prince found it very strange, but since it was the Emperor's oral decree, despite his confusion, he went.
As soon as he entered the palace, he was taken hostage and quickly bound.
"You are committing rebellion!" The First Prince finally realized he had fallen into a trap.
"What are you talking about, Eldest Brother? It is you who intended to harm Father Emperor, which is why they subdued you." The Third Prince emerged from the inner chamber.
"It's you, Third Brother!" The First Prince's eyes widened with rage. He hadn't expected that Third Brother, who had already been disfavored by the Emperor, would do something like this.
"It is I. Eldest Brother seems to be too agitated. But Father Emperor has merely changed the person overseeing state affairs. How could Eldest Brother attack Father Emperor?"