Chapter 197

"Ah?"

Shi Xiao scratched the back of his head.

"General, what do you mean by that?"

Lu Xing withdrew his gaze and gently shook his head.

"Nothing much. Come on, let's go—I'll treat you to a big meal."

Having said that, he took the lead and walked toward the carriage.

Shi Xiao gritted his teeth, gave a foolish grin, and shouted in response.

"Got it!"

"Haha, then I definitely need to eat my fill—thanks, General!"

After their carriage departed.

Not far away, a man dressed in ordinary coarse linen robes, with an unremarkable face and appearing to be around thirty years old, curled the corner of his mouth. After a brief pause, he lifted his foot and continued walking into the distance.

As he walked, he lowered his head to sniff his clothes, wearing a look of disgust.

When I get back, I really need to wash up—this outfit is absolutely filthy!

Yes, he slipped out by hiding inside a dung bucket.

But it also bought him some time, letting the Imperial Guard mistakenly believe he would leave the palace with the officials.

Still, he needs to hurry—otherwise, once those people realize what happened, it'll be trouble.

……

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was extremely tense, especially among the attendants serving in the emperor's sleeping chambers, all of whom looked nervous and on edge.

The Crown Prince wore a grim expression.

He was unhappy.

【21> He was extremely unhappy right now!

He is very unhappy now!

After such a major incident, the Father Emperor said he'd faint and just fainted, then dumped all the mess onto him!

He also really wanted to faint himself!

Seeing the imperial physicians emerge from behind the screen, he hurried forward a few steps and asked anxiously.

"Has the Father Emperor woken up?"

Several imperial physicians looked troubled and shook their heads in unison.

The Crown Prince let out a heavy breath, pointed at the physicians, and commanded.

"I don't care what methods you use—you must make the Father Emperor wake up as soon as possible!"

He couldn't even spare a thought to worry about what illness the Father Emperor had or how his condition truly was.

All he wanted to know was when the Father Emperor would finally wake up, so he could quickly resolve this pile of frustrating matters!

An old imperial physician with white-streaked beard frowned with worry.

"Replying to the Crown Prince, Your Majesty suffers from a heart ailment—it cannot be rushed."

"Boom—"

"Clang—"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince flew into a rage, lifted his leg, and kicked the nearby chair hard over.

"The Cheng Family Army has rebelled—they're almost at the Capital!"

"Everyone is waiting for the Father Emperor to take charge of the situation, and you come tell me—how am I supposed to stay calm?!"

Seeing his anger, everyone in the sleeping chamber dropped to their knees.

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince paced back and forth several times, hands on his hips, took several deep breaths, then returned to face the physicians.

"Write the prescription, gather the herbs, decoct the medicine—go treat the illness."

"Do you understand?"

The physicians nodded hastily.

"We understand, Your Subjects."

Seeing them still kneeling there, the Crown Prince became even more furious.

"Then why are you just standing there? If you understand, go already! Do you still need me to tell you what to do?!"

The physicians quickly rose and rushed out, each going about their own tasks.

"Yes, yes, yes."

The Crown Prince rubbed his temples, suffering from a relentless headache.

"Hao'er!"

At that moment, the Empress arrived.

"I heard intruders broke into Taiji Hall—it scared the Empress Mother to death. Were you hurt?"

Upon seeing her silhouette, the Crown Prince let out a sigh of relief.

"Mother, you've finally come."

The Empress wore a worried expression as she took hold of him and examined him back and forth several times. Seeing he was unharmed, she finally relaxed—and only then remembered the Shunhe Emperor, whom she had nearly forgotten at the back of her mind.

"By the way, how is your Father Emperor? What did the physicians say? Has the Emperor woken up?"

Shen Hao shook his head.

"The Father Emperor hasn't woken yet."

"You need to look after him more closely here—there are still a pile of matters in the former court waiting for me, your subject, to handle."

The Empress nodded slightly, then hurriedly said.

"Fine, I'll leave this to you, Empress Dowager. You go attend to your duties quickly."

The Crown Prince hurried out of the door.

Shi Gui was about to step forward to report the situation of the Shunhe Emperor to the Empress, but after taking just two steps, he heard the Empress urgently instruct Hua Ru.

"Go quickly to the Imperial Kitchen and have them prepare some calming soup to send to the Crown Prince."

"Yes."

Having received the order, Hua Ru turned and hurried out.

Shi Gui, who had also heard this, opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Seeing him, the Empress Dowager then remembered there was still an unconscious person inside; she covered her nose with a handkerchief and walked toward the screen.

"How is the Emperor's condition?"

Several imperial physicians were gathered around the Shunhe Emperor's bed, busy administering acupuncture.

"In reply to Empress Dowager, once these needles are removed, if His Majesty still does not wake, we can only wait until tomorrow to try again."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager furrowed her brows tightly.

"You are all the foremost physicians of the Imperial Medical Institute—do you truly have no other recourse?"

The several physicians lowered their heads in shame.

"We are ashamed, we are incapable."

After all the silver needles were withdrawn, the Shunhe Emperor still showed no sign of awakening, and the few people in the room truly began to panic.

The Empress Dowager's eyes turned cold, her sharp gaze sweeping over each person one by one.

"No one is permitted to leak the Emperor's true condition; otherwise, do not blame this palace for being ruthless!"

The several people hastily agreed.

"We respectfully obey the Empress Dowager's instruction."

Seeing these people's fearful expressions, the Empress Dowager felt satisfied and nodded silently.

"Very well, you may leave first. This palace will remain to speak with the Emperor—perhaps if he hears, he may awaken sooner."

Eager to escape this oppressive place, the several people, as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly rushed out.

Only Shi Gui remained, his face showing hesitation, unmoving.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager's expression turned displeased.

"What, do you not trust this palace? Do you think this palace would harm the Emperor?"

Shi Gui quickly lowered his head.

"This servant dares not."

The Empress Dowager's tone grew increasingly impatient.

"Then hurry up and leave!"

"Yes."

Shi Gui, unwilling and reluctant, walked slowly outward, finally stopping at the door, fully focused, his face tense as he attentively listened for any movement inside.

Inside the sleeping chamber, gazing at the Shunhe Emperor with his eyes tightly shut, the Empress Dowager's gaze deepened; she slowly extended her hand, painted with exquisite rouge, and gradually reached out.

Her fingertip moved from the neck downward, finally adjusting the blanket, and she murmured softly.

"Your Majesty, you must surely awaken soon—for the great Da Yin still cannot do without you."

Having spoken, her eyes turned cold, devoid of any affection, as she thought to herself:

Hurry up and wake up to clean up this mess!

Then hand over a peaceful and prosperous Da Yin to Hao'er.

Upon hearing this, Shi Gui outside let out a relieved breath.

It seems the Empress Dowager still cares deeply for the Emperor.

But the unconscious Shunhe Emperor heard none of her words, nor did he know what she truly thought.

At this moment, in his dream, he saw the person he least wished to see.

In the dream, the Shunhe Emperor sat high upon the Dragon Throne.

Listening to the memorials presented by the imperial officials below.

"Your Majesty, the Cheng family rebels have already been suppressed."

"Hahaha, excellent!"

The Shunhe Emperor laughed heartily three times.

Indeed, what had just occurred was merely a dream; this is the true reality.

Suddenly, the face of the official speaking below transformed into that of Cheng He, who kept asking him.

"Why?"

"Why do you wish to harm me, why do you wish to exterminate the entire Pingnan Marquis Manor?"

He shuddered and shrank back upon the Dragon Throne.

"Stay back, do not come near!"

Before him, the two Cheng brothers' faces were smeared with blood, advancing step by step.

The Shunhe Emperor's heart hardened; he drew the sword at his side.

"Why?!"

"Because the very existence of your Cheng family constantly reminds me of my inadequacy; every time I see a member of your family, I think, I was not chosen by the Late Emperor, but by your Cheng family!"

"I am the Emperor of this great Da Yin, I am the Son of Heaven, I may do as I please!"

"I wish for whom to die, and they shall not live!"

The Cheng brothers gazed at him with calm expressions, as if his fury at this moment were nothing but a joke.

"Where is A Zhu? She treated you sincerely—why did you harm her and her child?!"

Hearing that name, the Shunhe Emperor faltered for a moment.

"Who made her a daughter of the Cheng Family? Who made her your sister, Cheng He?!"

The Shunhe Emperor's tone grew increasingly agitated.

"On what grounds?!"

"While you lived, I had to dwell in your shadow; now that you are dead, you still deny me peace?!"

As he spoke, he swung the sword in his hand heavily, chopping at the two Cheng brothers before him.

The two figures immediately dissipated.

The Shunhe Emperor raised his sword, laughing with a face of madness.

"Hahaha!"

"When you were alive, I did not fear you; now that you are dead, I fear you even less!"

"I will make your souls scatter and your spirits disperse!"

The next moment, Cheng He's figure suddenly reappeared—this time he sat upon the Dragon Throne, gazing at him with a calm expression, neither sorrow nor joy on his face.

"Get down from my throne—this is my Dragon Throne, mine!!!"

The Shunhe Emperor raised his Long Sword, furious, and charged at Cheng He seated on the Dragon Throne.

The next moment, a piercing wail rang in his ears.

"Ah——"