jdhmnovel Chapter 452 Determined to Establish an Heir Apparent
Chapter 452 Determined to Establish an Heir Apparent
The Empress Dowager simply couldn't bring herself to say that last sentence.
But how could Emperor Wenjing possibly calm down?
Anyone who wakes up from a coma and learns they are about to die can remain calm, let alone Emperor Wenjing, who was the ruler of a country and a self-assured emperor who believed he was destined by Heaven.
Seeing Emperor Wenjing's agitated state, his face flushed red and veins bulging at his temples, Old Man Feng, without a word, swiftly drew out a silver needle and precisely inserted it.
"Your Majesty, if you become too agitated, it will only accelerate the poison's erosion."
Emperor Wenjing froze, as if he had been frozen in place.
Whether it was the miraculous effect of Old Man Feng's needle or the warning that calmed him down a bit.
His previously out-of-control emotions gradually calmed down, and his complexion returned to normal somewhat.
Emperor Wenjing slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes had regained some composure.
He looked directly at the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the others, and asked, word by word, "Why was I poisoned?"
"Where did this poison come from? My daily life and diet are strictly controlled by special personnel, and I undergo multiple screenings. How could I have been poisoned so easily?"
Empress Su's eyes reddened slightly. "Your Majesty, you have been poisoned for a long time. The poison of 'Dove Shadow' is extremely insidious. It has been lurking in your body for years, silently and without any effect. It was only recently, when you came into contact with the medicinal ingredient, that the poison was triggered."
"A medicinal ingredient?" Emperor Wenjing's voice grew even hoarse, almost forcing out the two words through clenched teeth: "What is it?"
"Calming incense." Empress Su glanced sideways at the spot where the incense burner had once been, now empty. "The incense itself is not poisonous, but His Majesty already has 'Dove Shadow' in his body. When the two meet, they become a deadly poison..."
"Calming incense." Empress Su glanced sideways at the spot where the incense burner used to be, but it was now empty.
"The incense itself is not poisonous, but His Majesty has the poison of 'Dove Shadow' in his body, so it becomes poisonous..."
After listening to Empress Su finish speaking with difficulty, Emperor Wenjing remained silent for a long time, his hand resting on the quilt unconsciously tightening.
He asked, "Who poisoned me?"
Empress Su hesitated for a moment, exchanged a glance with the Empress Dowager, and then uttered with difficulty, "...It is the Imperial Concubine."
Emperor Wenjing was not surprised to receive this answer.
When he woke up, he didn't see Consort Zhou. In addition, the Empress mentioned the poisoning. At that moment, a terrible guess quietly took root in his heart.
...It really was her.
"How much time do I have left?"
When he asked this question, Emperor Wenjing remained strangely calm.
Old Feng interjected, "At most a month... and most of the time, His Majesty will fall into a coma."
Even though she had already learned of this from Old Man Feng, the Empress Dowager still couldn't help but feel grief and burst into tears when she heard these words again.
She harbored extreme resentment towards Consort Zhou and cursed, "Your Majesty, you treat Consort Zhou with such affection, yet she treats you... I will absolutely not let her off easily!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenjing became instantly agitated and coughed violently, "Cough cough—Mother!"
He propped himself up on his arms, trying to get up, but his body was as weak as a candle in the wind, and he swayed precariously as soon as he moved.
The Empress reacted quickly and stepped forward to support him.
This ordeal caused Emperor Wenjing's breathing to become disordered. He gasped for breath and after a while, he said in a hoarse voice, "Mother, I want to resolve this matter myself."
This shows they didn't want them to deal with Consort Zhou.
The Empress Dowager frowned, her face full of displeasure and resentment, but seeing Emperor Wenjing's pale face, she swallowed back the rebuttal that was on the tip of her tongue.
We must not provoke him further.
The Empress's eyes flickered slightly, and she replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I only instructed the palace servants to guard Chaohua Palace and not to allow the Noble Consort to come and go as she pleases."
She had long known that the Emperor had some genuine affection for Lady Zhou, so after learning that it was Consort Zhou who had poisoned her, she did nothing but confine her to her quarters.
Sure enough, Emperor Wenjing looked up at Empress Su, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes.
Seeing this hint of gratitude, Empress Su felt a sense of irony.
She was clearly the Empress, but she had no affection for Emperor Wenjing whatsoever.
Empress Su suppressed these thoughts and said softly, "Your Majesty, the princes and princesses are waiting outside. Would Your Majesty like to see them?"
Emperor Wenjing's body was already as fragile as a candle in the wind; after speaking for only a short while, he showed signs of falling into a deep sleep again.
"No..." He struggled to open his eyes and looked at Old Man Feng, "Does the divine physician have a way to restore some of my strength?"
Old Feng nodded, "This old man can administer acupuncture to His Majesty."
"Very well." Emperor Wenjing said in a very soft voice, "Empress, immediately summon Xie Shifu, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and other important officials to the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right away."
Empress Su accepted the order and hurriedly arranged for eunuchs to summon the ministers, and also instructed the palace maids to take good care of Emperor Wenjing.
Prince Chen and the others were waiting outside the Hall of Longevity. When they saw the Empress come out, they all crowded around her.
Prince Jin spoke first, his face full of concern: "Mother, how is Father's health? May we go in and see him?"
Empress Su looked up at him, shook her head gently, and sighed: "His Majesty has woken up, but the situation is not optimistic... His Majesty will not see you at the moment. He has summoned Prime Minister Xie and the ministers of the Six Ministries and other officials to the palace."
"You should all go back first. Don't stay here any longer. His Majesty needs quiet time to recuperate."
The princes and princesses were all stunned.
Why summon Xie Shifu and others to the palace at this time? Was it to discuss the matter of establishing an heir apparent?
The thought flashed through everyone's minds, and their expressions changed.
The Prince of Jin wanted to speak again, "Empress Dowager..."
However, before he could speak, the Empress interrupted him, saying, "You don't need to ask anything. You can go back now."
The Prince of Jin could only shut his mouth and whisper, "Yes."
Several princes and princesses left one after another.
Before leaving, Prince Chen exchanged a glance with Yun Shang, who was standing beside him, and then slowly walked away.
Empress Su turned to look at Yun Shang, "Lord Yun, please come inside with me first."
Yun Shang is now the Minister of Revenue and is highly regarded by Emperor Wenjing. Empress Su treats him very kindly.
Yun Shang lowered his head and replied, "Yes."
Inside the Hall of Longevity, Old Man Feng skillfully inserted silver needles into acupoints with swift and precise movements. Emperor Wenjing's originally pale face gradually regained some color, and his breathing became more stable.
After the acupuncture was completed, Old Man Feng instructed, "Your Majesty, this acupuncture technique can only temporarily raise your Qi and cannot maintain it for long. Please keep this brief."
Emperor Wenjing nodded weakly.
Before long, Xie Shifu and a dozen or so important officials arrived. When they saw the emperor looking sickly and haggard, they all looked solemn.
Wasn't it said that the emperor was just overworked? Why does he look so pale?
Xie Shifu, who was walking at the very front, changed his expression drastically, "Your Majesty, you..."
Emperor Wenjing leaned back against the soft pillows, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone, and said in a deep voice, "I had always felt that there was no need to rush into establishing an heir, but the matter of the Prince of Qi's rebellion has made me change my mind."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, waiting for the emperor's next words.
Emperor Wenjing said, "I wish to establish an heir apparent. In the opinion of my beloved ministers, which of the princes is most suitable to inherit the throne?"