Chapter 222: The Emperor's Condition Isn't Looking Good?

"Knock knock knock!"

"Seventh Princess, it's getting late. It's time to go before Taiji Hall to bid farewell to the Xiyue Emperor and the Empress."

Hearing the sound, Shen Yuxi, who had already changed clothes and just picked up the red bridal veil in her hands, was startled.

She hurriedly covered herself properly with the red bridal veil.

Fortunately, she and the Seventh Princess were not much different in height, so she simply took off the heavy phoenix coronet and switched it for a hairpin!

Just as she had finished covering herself with the red bridal veil, several palace maids had already walked in.

"Seventh Princess, why is the Sixth Princess not in sight?"

Shen Yuxi pointed toward the screen, deliberately holding her breath and speaking in a suppressed voice, making it sound hoarse and nasal.

"Sixth Elder Sister said she was feeling a bit weary and wanted to sleep for a while. Keep your movements quiet and don't disturb her."

These past days the Seventh Princess had done plenty of crying and fussing, and her voice had long since gone hoarse. Hearing this sound, none of the palace maids suspected a thing.

Four palace maids stepped forward — two flanking Shen Yuxi on the left and right to support her as she walked out, and two behind helping to carry the long train of the wedding gown.

Just as they reached the palace gate, they heard a young Eunuch arrive to deliver an Imperial Decree.

"Greetings, Seventh Princess. Your Majesty says there are still matters of state requiring his attention, so he will not see you off. You may board the sedan chair directly; there is no need to go to Taiji Hall."

Hearing this, the palace attendants exchanged glances and began whispering among themselves in low murmurs.

"How could this be?"

"Even though His Majesty doesn't usually pay much attention to the Seventh Princess, today she is at least marrying off for the good of the nation. How could His Majesty…"

"Exactly. If word gets out, Dongxun will surely think the Seventh Princess is held in low regard, and they'll look down on our Princess too."

"……"

Shen Yuxi, on the other hand, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Delay breeds trouble — the escort party should leave the palace at once!

She lowered her voice and gave the palace attendants a brief scolding.

"Enough! Say no more!"

"Father Emperor is wise and mighty; he surely has his own considerations. Quickly help this Princess into the sedan chair!"

Just as she wished, the escort party soon left the palace.

One hour later, the grand procession departed the Capital in great force.

……

Inside the imperial palace, upon hearing the news that the Emperor had fainted again, the Empress and the Crown Prince were celebrating by raising tea in place of wine.

The Empress smiled very smugly as she turned to look at the Crown Prince.

"Within ten days at most, Hao'er can begin preparing for the ceremony to Ascend the Throne."

Shen Hao laughed, rose, and bowed to her.

"I must thank Mother Empress for all her careful scheming on my behalf."

The Empress walked over and helped him up.

"Enough. Between mother and son, there's no need for such talk."

"It's just Xi'er…"

Speaking of this, a few traces of worry appeared on her face.

"Xi'er must have overheard our conversation by accident last night. You shouldn't have taken that tone with her."

"She is your own sister."

Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt a touch of impatience in his heart.

"I only meant to frighten her a little. That rash temperament of hers is long overdue for a lesson."

"And you didn't stop me last night either — wasn't that also because you wanted him to learn a lesson?"

The Empress shook her head and gave a soft sigh.

"I only hope Xi'er can understand my well-intentioned efforts, and not bear a grudge against us."

The mother and son had pleasant thoughts, but unfortunately, Shen Yuxi would never have the chance to learn of them.

Perhaps even if she did, she wouldn't care.

Inside the Seventh Princess's sleeping chambers.

The palace maids standing guard outside looked at the chamber door in puzzlement.

Three hours had passed — had the Sixth Princess really slept this long?

Please don't let anything have happened!

Two palace maids knocked on the chamber door.

"Sixth Princess? Sixth Princess!"

"It's already noon. Would you like some lunch?"

A trembling voice came from within.

"N-no, it's not necessary!"

Hearing this, the palace maids at the door exchanged glances.

Something's wrong!

The few of them threw propriety to the wind, pushed the door open, and rushed inside.

"Princess, are you all right?"

They saw only a large, trembling bulge beneath the blankets on the bed.

One palace maid exerted some effort and pulled the blankets off.

Revealing the Seventh Princess, dressed in the Sixth Princess's clothes.

"Seventh Princess? How could you be here?!"

"Then who was it that got on the bridal sedan?!"

The Seventh Princess hugged herself tightly, cowering in the corner in a panic, trembling all over.

"I don't know, it has nothing to do with me."

"It was Sixth Elder Sister who drugged me unconscious, I don't know anything!"

The palace maids' hearts sank, and in an instant all the color drained from their faces.

It's over!

……

"The one who went to the marriage alliance is Xi'er?!"

"How could this happen?"

Hearing this news, the Empress, who had been leisurely sipping tea, accidentally knocked over her cup and sprang to her feet, her earlier composure gone entirely.

The Crown Prince beside her frowned, lost in thought.

"It must be that little wretch Shen Qianyu who tricked my Xi'er!"

"She wants Xi'er to take her place in the marriage alliance? She can dream on!"

"Someone come!"

She called out toward the door.

"Mother Empress, wait!"

The Empress looked at him in confusion.

"Why?"

"The escort party left the city only half a day ago. If we send someone to catch up now, we can definitely bring Xi'er back."

The Crown Prince whispered in her ear.

"There are still envoys from Dongxun in the party. If word of this gets out, won't we become a laughingstock?"

"For now, we can only let things stand as they are."

The Empress was still unwilling to let it go.

"Are we just going to let that little wretch scheme against Xi'er?"

The Crown Prince helped her to a chair, a strange smile on his face.

"Of course not."

"She may dodge the first, but does she really think she can dodge the fifteenth?"

Shen Hao's voice was full of cold intent.

"Soon she'll realize that what she dodged this time, what she didn't want, was already the best destination for her life."

"Bad news, bad news!"

"Imperial Consort (Gongzhu), Imperial Prince, terrible news!"

Little Chengzi came running over in a hurry.

"Reporting to Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, the imperial physicians say His Majesty's condition is not looking good!"

Hearing this, mother and son exchanged a glance.

When they turned to face Little Chengzi, both wore expressions of alarm.

"What happened to Your Majesty?"

"What has happened to Father Emperor?"

As the group walked outside, Little Chengzi spoke at a rapid pace beside the two of them.

"Your Majesty fell into a deep sleep this morning for no apparent reason. Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) assumed it was just exhaustion lately and didn't think much of it, but who would have thought that by the time it reached the Hour of the Snake, Your Majesty still hadn't woken, and his complexion was growing paler and paler."

"Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) sensed something was wrong, so he summoned the imperial physicians. The physicians say Your Majesty very likely…"

Mother and son secretly exchanged a look.

Excellent!

When the Empress and Crown Prince arrived, they happened to see the imperial physicians shaking their heads and sighing as they walked out of the sleeping chambers.

"Your servants pay respects to Empress Dowager, and to Crown Prince."

The Empress's face was full of sorrow and worry.

"No need for such ceremony. Imperial physicians, how is Xiyue Emperor really?"

The imperial physicians wore troubled expressions.

"Your servants are incompetent, your servants are ashamed."

The Empress staggered back two steps as if she could barely stand, looking utterly lost.

"How could this happen?"

The Crown Prince cooperated by quickly supporting her.

"Mother Empress, be careful."

"Your Majesty!"

The Empress pushed him aside, calling out as she ran inside.

Inside the sleeping chambers, after seeing with their own eyes that the Shunhe Emperor was unconscious, his face pale, his breathing faint, mother and son were at last completely reassured.

The Empress threw herself beside the bed, weeping bitterly.

"Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot be in any danger!"

"Otherwise, what would your concubine do?"

"Empress Dowager, Crown Prince, this Servant knows you two are grieved, but right now the court and the inner palace still need someone to take charge. If you two were to harm your health, Your Majesty would not be at ease either."

The Empress dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

"You're right. Her Highness must pull herself together."

After Shi Gui's persuasion, the Empress and the Crown Prince left the Emperor's bedchamber, casting lingering glances back at every step, utterly reluctant to part.

After they had gone, the Shunhe Emperor, who had been unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes.