Chapter 364: The Emperor's Critical Illness
Chu Rui and Su Ziyue entered the main hall.
Inside, the heavy scent of medicine mixed with ambergris created a rather unpleasant odor. A palace maid was feeding medicine to the Emperor, but perhaps because it was too bitter, his expression changed and he overturned the medicine bowl. The maid knelt trembling on the floor.
Chu Rui gave Su Ziyue a meaningful look.
Su Ziyue's hands trembled slightly. Though she shared blood ties with the Emperor, their relationship was distant, and this was her first formal meeting with him.
"Y-Your Majesty," Su Ziyue forced herself to step forward, "please allow Ziyue to serve you the medicine."
The Emperor looked at her, somewhat dazed.
He was indeed reminded of the late Consort Su, his biological mother who had passed away when he was just a few years old. He couldn't clearly recall Consort Su's exact appearance, but it might have resembled that of the young woman before him.
"By relation, you should address me as your uncle," the Emperor said slowly. "You may also call me Imperial Uncle, like Rui'er does."
"Yes, Imperial Uncle." Su Ziyue took a newly prepared bowl of medicine from the matron. "Imperial Uncle, allow Ziyue to feed you the medicine."
The Emperor no longer resisted and slowly drank the entire bowl of medicine.
Gao Gonggong wept with joy: "Since His Majesty fell ill, taking medicine has always been a major difficulty. Princess Consort Zhuang has been of great help!"
Su Ziyue glanced at Chu Rui and immediately said: "When Ziyue came to the capital, Grandfather instructed me to do everything in my power to repay Imperial Uncle for his kindness to the Su family. Without Imperial Uncle's promotion, how could the Su family have become imperial merchants... As a mere woman with limited abilities, Ziyue wishes to remain by Imperial Uncle's side to attend to his illness. I humbly beg Imperial Uncle to grant this request!"
"Since you show such filial devotion, you may stay," the Emperor coughed. "Gao Gonggong, prepare a side chamber in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for Ziyue to reside in."
Gao Gonggong bowed and immediately went to make arrangements.
Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Yun Chu arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation with two children. He hurried to pay respects: "Greetings to Princess Consort of the Pacifying West, and to the Young Son and Little Commandery Princess."
Yun Chu's face showed concern: "I heard Father Emperor's condition has worsened. The children were worried too, so we came specially to pay our respects."
In her previous life, when she died, the Emperor's health had shown no problems. How could he have suddenly become so gravely ill?
Before Gao Gonggong could announce them, Chu Hongyu dashed into the main hall: "Imperial Grandfather, is your health better? Changsheng and I have been so worried."
Having taken the medicine, the Emperor's spirits had improved somewhat, and he had sat up in bed.
Seeing the children enter, a faint smile appeared on the Emperor's face: "The Imperial Academy should be in session at this hour. Don't let your studies suffer on my account."
Chu Changsheng's voice was soft and sweet: "Classes aren't as important as visiting Imperial Grandfather. Imperial Grandfather, you must take your medicine properly and get better soon!"
While the children were speaking with the Emperor, Yun Chu noticed two other people in the main hall - Prince Zhuang and his Princess Consort, who had just married yesterday.
"Your Majesty!" A matron entered to report: "Miss Li has taken her medicine and regained consciousness. She's looking everywhere for Your Majesty!"
The real Li Jingshu, though older, was still addressed as Miss Li in the palace since she had never married.
Li Jingshu suffered from madness. Due to objections from various palace personnel, she hadn't been housed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation but rather in the nearby Moonlight Palace.The Emperor immediately rose to his feet with the support of the matron, disregarding his persistent cough, and swiftly strode out of the hall.
The palace attendants followed him out, leaving the hall abruptly empty.
Yun Chu looked at the two children and said, "Hurry to the Imperial College for your lessons, don't be late."
Chu Hongyu and Chu Changsheng obediently replied, "Then, Mother, we'll take our leave now. Uncle Rui, Auntie, goodbye."
"Princess Consort of the Pacifying West."
Su Ziyue approached with a smile to greet her.
Although both held the title of Princess Consort, Prince Pingxi was the Emperor's own son, giving him higher status than Prince Zhuang.
Yun Chu also wore a smile. "Princess Consort Zhuang, I was just about to leave the palace. Shall we go together?"
Su Ziyue shook her head. "I must stay to attend to His Majesty's illness and will reside in the palace for now."
Yun Chu's fingers paused briefly, though her expression remained unchanged. "With His Majesty unwell, it should be my duty as his daughter-in-law to attend to him. Yet we trouble Princess Consort Zhuang..."
"His Majesty has many attendants around him; Ziyue need not truly do much," Chu Rui's voice was elegant. "His Majesty misses the Su family. Ziyue staying in the palace is merely to share stories of the Su family with him. Princess Consort of the Pacifying West need not feel uneasy."
Yun Chu nodded. "Indeed, Princess Consort Zhuang is from the Su family. Having her accompany His Majesty is most fitting. Then I shall take my leave."
After departing from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yun Chu paid respects to Consort Yun and Yin Fei before returning to the prince's residence.
Chu Yi had just returned from the Court of Judicial Review and was reviewing case files.
Once he finished his work, Yun Chu entered his study and said, "That Su Ziyue will likely become Prince Zhuang's pawn."
An innocent young girl was like a blank sheet of paper—whatever Chu Rui painted on it would determine its colors.
Chu Yi responded, "I've been investigating His Majesty's illness these past few days. His health was always robust, but after the assassination attempt during the longevity banquet, he suddenly fell gravely ill. The entire Imperial Medical Academy examined him and diagnosed a common cold. If it were merely a cold, why hasn't he recovered after several months, instead growing worse?"
Yun Chu's expression turned solemn. "Are you suggesting someone poisoned His Majesty?"
"His Majesty fell ill before Su Ziyue arrived in the capital," Chu Yi said slowly. "I suspect the poisoner was Li Jinghua, but she's already dead. I'm investigating those around her, but I was too late—all her attendants have also died."
A chill ran down Yun Chu's spine. "Someone used Li Jinghua to poison His Majesty. With Li Jinghua executed by caning, there's no evidence... I'll write to Wu Yun immediately, asking him to come to the capital to examine His Majesty and determine if it's truly poisoning."
Chu Yi nodded. "If His Majesty were to die from poison now, I would be the primary beneficiary. But besides me, who else would gain?"
"For some reason, I suspect Chu Rui..." Yun Chu frowned. "But there are several other princes. Even if His Majesty passed away, it wouldn't be Chu Rui's turn to ascend the throne. Could I be mistaken? Regardless, Su Ziyue cannot be overlooked. Her staying by His Majesty's side to attend his illness poses a significant risk."
Chu Yi reached out and smoothed the furrow in Yun Chu's brow. "Jue Ge'er is mischievous enough to give you headaches. Don't trouble yourself with these matters."
The mastermind behind this was too well-hidden. Since that was the case, he would take drastic measures to force them to make another move.Over the next few days, the Emperor's health gradually improved.
This made Yun Chu briefly wonder if she had misunderstood Su Ziyue.
Once the Emperor had mostly recovered, he was able to resume court sessions.
Since there was no Crown Prince, no one had been overseeing state affairs during the Emperor's severe illness, and the court officials had also taken several days off.
The first matter brought up in court was a petition requesting the Emperor to appoint a new Crown Prince.
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