Chapter 1768: Bad News Piles Up, Empress Critical

Emperor Liu did not linger at Qionglin Garden; he returned to the palace, and the moment the news arrived, Chancellor Zhao Kuangyi hurried over.

"Greetings, Chancellor Zhao!" Yan Tuo was in front of the hall reprimanding those dull-witted palace eunuchs, but upon seeing Zhao Kuangyi, he immediately broke into a smile and bowed with clasped hands.

Zhao Kuangyi returned the greeting briefly, glanced furtively into Chongzheng Hall like a thief, his expression somewhat grave, and asked in a low voice: "May I ask, Chief Eunuch Yan, how is His Majesty's mood?"

Yan Tuo was somewhat taken aback by Zhao Kuangyi's demeanor and whispered back: "What has happened?"

Matters of state — how could one speak of them with a eunuch? But after hesitating a moment, Zhao Kuangyi felt he could not afford to offend this grand eunuch. His face betrayed nothing, not the slightest hint of disdain, as he sighed: "I have just received a report from Hunan — Administration Commissioner Governor Shi has died of illness at his post!"

Upon learning this, Yan Tuo's expression also turned solemn. As one of Emperor Liu's close attendants, Yan Tuo knew quite a bit about the court's internal personnel matters, and he was acquainted with virtually all the great regional officials. The Governor Shi that Zhao Kuangyi spoke of — he knew — was Shi Xizai.

He too instinctively glanced toward the hall, then reminded him: "His Majesty is not in a good mood; Chancellor, you must be careful!"

Zhao Kuangyi's heart tightened, and he grew even more cautious, nodding in gratitude: "Please announce me!"

"Chancellor, wait a moment!"

Yan Tuo turned and went inside; soon, he reappeared in the corridor — the Emperor had summoned him.

Somewhat unexpectedly, upon learning that Shi Xizai had died at his post, Emperor Liu only seemed dazed for a moment, then asked to confirm, then inquired about the cause of death. Upon learning it was a sudden acute illness that struck him dead, he showed a trace of sorrow.

"Shi Ningji, he too has left me!" Emperor Liu murmured softly: "He was not yet sixty — how impermanent are the affairs of this world! I intended to give him great use, but heaven is jealous."

Shi Xizai was a jinshi of the fifth year of Qianyou. He had lived through two great eras of the empire's development, and only in the Kaibao years did he truly rise swiftly, climbing steadily until he became a great regional official, a pillar of the state.

Because he had served as Chief Academician of the Chongzheng Hall at Emperor Liu's side, in the eyes of outsiders he belonged to the "Academician faction," and with the growth of his age and prestige, he became one of its leading figures.

As for his virtue and talent, there was nothing to say — he was an upright minister, and Emperor Liu's regard for him was well known throughout the court. Privately, the Emperor had said more than once that with Shi Xizai's ability and seniority, he should long ago have entered the Hall of State Affairs as chancellor; sooner or later, he would be used.

But now, the news of his death had arrived — before receiving the supreme honor, the man had already departed. It was somewhat lamentable. Zhao Kuangyi, standing below and hearing Emperor Liu's sighs, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. In his view, the Hall of State Affairs was already crowded enough; if Shi Xizai were transferred back to the capital, no matter whom he replaced, it would not be good for Zhao Kuangyi himself. One Song Qi and one Wang Zhu already made things difficult enough for him to handle; if another Lord Shi, whose seniority could surpass his own, were added, when would he, Zhao Kuangyi, ever reach the summit?

Noticing that Emperor Liu was murmuring in grief rather than flying into a rage as he had imagined, Zhao Kuangyi suppressed his private thoughts, clasped his hands, and offered consolation: "Your Majesty, Lord Shi was diligent in serving the state, exhausting himself utterly; even in illness he did not neglect official duties. Hunan had just achieved good governance and harmony, with all industries flourishing. His passing is a tremendous loss to the state, truly regrettable. But the departed are gone — I beg Your Majesty to restrain your grief!"

"You take it lightly enough!" Emperor Liu responded flatly at these words, then after a moment's deliberation, instructed: "For his funeral arrangements, we must give him full honor and glory — everything according to court ritual, funded by the state treasury. Additionally, issue an edict: after I pass away, Shi Xizai shall be enshrined in the imperial temple!"

Zhao Kuangyi was inwardly surprised and could not help but feel moved — such treatment was enjoyed by few. Shi Xizai's standing in Emperor Liu's heart was evidently this high; this was somewhat unexpected, for he had never even truly ascended to the Hall of State Affairs.

"Yes!"

"Where is the Crown Prince?" Emperor Liu thought of Liu Yang and could not help asking. Generally speaking, for matters like this, the Crown Prince should come to report — at the very least, he should be present.

Zhao Kuangyi replied: "The scholar-officials and commoners affected by the Yanqing Ward fire are rebuilding their homes; today the project was completed, and upon hearing the news, His Highness went to inspect and offer comfort!"

"Mm! That is as it should be!" Emperor Liu nodded at this.

There are good things that come in pairs, and there are also bad tidings that come one after another. If Shi Xizai's death notice had only made Emperor Liu feel somewhat regretful — after the ceremonial grief passed, his mood quickly recovered —

then news from Kunming Hall made him unable to sit still any longer. Below the imperial steps, a female attendant from Kunming Hall knelt, sobbing, barely able to speak clearly.

"What are you crying about? Speak clearly — what exactly is wrong with the Empress?" Emperor Liu's heart trembled, and he snapped coldly.

At this outburst, the female attendant grew even more panicked, trembling with fear, tears flowing uncontrollably, as if she had lost her tongue and did not know how to speak.

This made Emperor Liu even angrier. He slammed the imperial desk suddenly and cursed: "If you don't speak clearly, I'll kill you!"

The threat of death is always effective. Seeing Emperor Liu's furious glare, the female attendant finally regained her senses and stammered in reply: "Her Ladyship missed His Highness Prince Wei. Recently she took up the needle herself, embroidering a campaign robe, preparing to send it to His Highness Prince Wei. Everything was fine, but just now, she suddenly coughed blood and fainted—"

As she spoke, the female attendant began crying again. Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu's face unconsciously paled several shades, his whole body trembling, completely unable to steady himself, and he asked urgently: "How is the Empress now?"

"The imperial physician has already been summoned."

"I asked you — how is the Empress now?" Emperor Liu repeated, his expression already somewhat terrifying.

The attendant stammered, clearly not knowing. Seeing this, Emperor Liu had no heart to press further. He abruptly rose and walked toward the door, so urgent that he stumbled a few steps.

"Prepare the carriage for Kunming Hall!" Yan Tuo followed, announcing according to ritual.

Emperor Liu stopped, cast a sidelong glance at Yan Tuo — a look that made Yan Tuo shiver and immediately shut his mouth. With a grim face, Emperor Liu strode quickly toward Kunming Hall, his old cold-ridden legs seeming to have grown much nimbler.

Yan Tuo followed with his head lowered, also alarmed. Who was Shi Xizai compared to this? If anything happened to the Empress — the moment his thoughts turned in that direction, Yan Tuo felt a premonition of great calamity approaching.

Kunming Hall — Emperor Liu had indeed not visited it much in recent years, but that did not mean his relationship with the Empress had grown cold. On ordinary days, whoever dared to defy or offend Empress Fu would find no favor with Emperor Liu first.

The sky had darkened. Emperor Liu stopped outside Kunming Hall. He was naturally very familiar with this hall, yet at this moment, he actually hesitated to enter, felt some fear. Palace lanterns had already been lit in the corridor, and their dim yellow light fell upon his face, revealing half gloom, half terror.

After a brief mental preparation, Emperor Liu forced a faint smile to make himself look more at ease. Inside the bedchamber, the atmosphere was stifling. Palace maids and eunuchs hung their heads low. Empress Fu lay on the couch, eyes tightly shut, face devoid of color. Old Imperial Physician Sun, sweating profusely, was applying acupuncture.

Emperor Liu approached slowly, his shadow gradually falling over Imperial Physician Sun, making his hands tremble several times. After a while, Sun put away his needles and stood there frozen, almost able to feel Emperor Liu's breath behind him, but he was too nervous to turn around.

"How is the Empress?" Emperor Liu tried to keep his voice as calm as possible.

At the sound, Imperial Physician Sun could no longer hold himself together. He turned and bowed in salute, reporting: "Your Majesty, Her Ladyship suffers from a severe lung ailment—"

"I asked you — how is the Empress?"

Imperial Physician Sun grew even more flustered and replied: "Her Ladyship has been infected by external pathogens; the evil qi has entered her body, and her righteous qi is insufficient to sustain her! I have already applied needles; she still needs medication and careful nursing!"

"With needles and medicine, can she be cured?" Upon hearing it was a lung ailment, Emperor Liu's heart sank further, but he pressed on with the question.

"We still need to see how the treatment responds."

Hearing Imperial Physician Sun's words lacking in confidence, Emperor Liu stopped pretending. His brows furrowed and his eyes blazed: "You dodge the important and dwell on the trivial — do you think I am easy to deceive?"

"Your Majesty, I would never dare!" Facing Emperor Liu's almost devouring gaze, Imperial Physician Sun trembled with fear and kowtowed.

"Why is only one physician here? Where are the others? Does the Imperial Medical Academy not have all those famous doctors claiming to be 'masters of gynecology'? Where are they? Go — summon them all for me. If you cannot cure the Empress, I will have all your heads!" Emperor Liu bared his fangs, showing no leniency even though Imperial Physician Sun had served him for many years.

Sweeping his gaze across and noticing the Kunming Hall attendants with their heads hung low, Emperor Liu roared again: "How have you been attending the Empress? If anything happens to the Empress, every single one of you — not one will be spared!"

At these words, the bedchamber was instantly filled with people kneeling — no one remained standing except Emperor Liu himself. Every face was pale, trembling uncontrollably. Old Imperial Physician Sun wore a mournful expression, a hint of despair faintly visible in his eyes. A master physician like him naturally had his own assessment of the Empress's condition — the Empress was in danger, and so were all of them.

"Erlang..." Just as the atmosphere grew so oppressive it was almost suffocating, Empress Fu finally woke faintly and called out weakly.