Chapter 374: The First Parasite
Yun Chu's expression was complex.
Although Eastern Tomb Kingdom was small in size, its strength was not weak. It had annexed all the surrounding island nations and possessed a military force of at least two to three hundred thousand soldiers.
Yet the Emperor had only dispatched eighty thousand troops to conquer Eastern Tomb.
Even with Chu Yi's brilliant military strategies, it would be difficult to gain any advantage against Eastern Tomb Kingdom.
There were only three days left.
Yun Chu immediately wrote a letter to Consort Yun.
The next morning, Consort Yun hastily arranged a flower appreciation banquet.
It was early summer, with various flowers blooming in competition and butterflies dancing throughout the imperial garden, creating a lively atmosphere.
"His Majesty has been ill recently, casting gloom over both the court and the inner palace. I'm hosting this flower appreciation banquet to help everyone relax," Consort Yun said with a smile. "The imperial physician says His Majesty merely caught a chill—nothing serious. With proper rest, he'll recover soon. There's no need for anyone to worry."
The Grand Princess spoke up: "We must thank Ziyue for attending to His Majesty, which helped him recover so quickly."
The Grand Princess, being the full-blooded sister of the current Emperor, naturally felt affection for the Su family members. She pulled Su Ziyue to sit beside her and chat.
Su Ziyue pressed her lips together modestly and said, "I only did what I should."
"Princess Consort Zhuang is too humble," Yun Chu said with a smile. "I have a younger sister about your age. Seeing you reminds me of her."
Su Ziyue grew even more bashful: "Then I'll boldly address the Crown Princess as elder sister."
"These are osmanthus cakes I made myself. Although I used dried osmanthus from last year, they still taste quite good." Yun Chu picked up an osmanthus cake from the plate and offered it. "Would you like to try one, Ziyue younger sister?""
Yin Fei nodded: "These osmanthus cakes are truly delicious. Later, Chu'er should share the recipe with Granny Guo so I can make some too."
Su Ziyue hesitated.
Her husband had warned her not to accept any food or drink offered outside, fearing it might kill the little parasite inside her.
However, with so many people watching, the Crown Princess probably wouldn't dare to poison the osmanthus cake.
If she were to collapse in public, the Crown Princess would surely face severe consequences.
Considering this, Su Ziyue accepted the osmanthus cake and took a small bite. "Thank you, Crown Princess sister."
The moment she swallowed the bite,
she suddenly felt a violent churning in her chest, her heart spasming, her hands and feet going numb.
But it lasted only an instant.
In the blink of an eye, she recovered, as if the discomfort had merely been her imagination.
"Did you enjoy it, Ziyue sister?""
Yun Chu asked with a smile.
Wu Yun had said that when a parasite died, the host would sense it. It seemed the first parasite had been eliminated.
Su Ziyue looked at Yun Chu's smiling face and thought she must have imagined it earlier.
She smiled in reply: "This is the most delicious osmanthus cake I've ever tasted."
For some reason, she felt uneasy.
She stood up and said, "It's time for His Highness to take his medicine. I must go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I take my leave now, honorable consorts."
"Princess Consort Zhuang, I'll go with you! I haven't seen Grandfather in so long!" Chu Hongyu bounced over from the children's table. "I've written a new essay, perfect for Grandfather to review."
He took Yun Chu's hand and said, "Mother, you were just discussing Grandfather's condition with Father this morning. Come on, let's all go together."
The other consorts also wished to go.But these past few days, every time they went over, they were angrily scolded away by the Emperor. Having their warm faces meet cold derrieres day after day, they no longer felt like making the effort.
Yun Chu looked at Su Ziyue: "Ziyue younger sister, if I take Yu Ge'er over now, will it disturb Father Emperor's rest?"
With her question, the gazes of everyone present instantly fell upon Su Ziyue's face.
Everyone felt a sense of dissonance.
That Yun Chu, as the daughter-in-law, needed permission from Su Ziyue, a mere niece, to visit the Emperor.
Strange, truly bizarre.
They also suddenly realized that over these past few days, aside from attendants and some ministers, only Su Ziyue could closely approach the Emperor.
Su Ziyue was, after all, the Princess Consort Zhuang, and Prince Zhuang's status was anything but simple—he was the Empress Dowager's own flesh and blood, the biological son of the former Crown Prince!
In an instant, everyone's expressions changed.
Under these collective stares, Su Ziyue replied somewhat awkwardly: "His Majesty mentioned Yu Ge'er this morning. He would surely be very happy to see him."
"Then let's go quickly." Chu Hongyu, holding an essay, rushed ahead, swiftly making his way toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"The rest of us should not go," Consort Yun said with a smile. "His Majesty is gravely ill and cannot tolerate the scent of cosmetics. Going would only incur his displeasure. Let us continue enjoying the flowers."
Yun Chu took Yu Ge'er and proceeded to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as they entered, they saw many senior ministers kneeling at the entrance of the hall.
"Your Majesty is seriously ill; the Crown Prince must oversee the state affairs. If the Crown Prince goes to the front lines, who will govern this vast nation?"
"By reason and sentiment, the Crown Prince should not lead troops to the front. Moreover, with only eighty thousand soldiers assigned to His Highness, how can he conquer the Eastern Tomb Kingdom?"
"We implore Your Majesty to rescind this decree!"
The Emperor sat by the Dragon Bed, vigorously rubbing his temples.
His mind felt heavy and muddled. He vaguely recalled that a few afternoons ago, he had inexplicably written an edict ordering Yi'er to lead troops to the front to subdue the Eastern Tomb Kingdom.
Thinking back now, the decision seemed far too rash.
The heir to the throne should not go to the battlefield; even if he must, it should only be when necessary.
And he had assigned only eighty thousand troops.
What was he thinking when he wrote that edict?
"Eighty thousand men are too few," the Emperor said gravely, but before he could finish his sentence,
a petite figure entered from the hall's entrance: "Uncle, your health has not yet recovered. How can you rise without your outer robe? If this continues, your cough will truly be difficult to cure."
The kneeling senior ministers were long accustomed to this.
These past few days, whenever they came to see the Emperor, this Princess Consort Zhuang was always by his side, attending to him and enjoying his great favor.
"Forgive my foolishness, but eighty thousand is not few," Su Ziyue interjected with an air of innocence. "The common folk of Anding City don't even number eighty thousand in total."
She had occasionally interrupted the Emperor's discussions with ministers before.
Her husband had told her that because a small worm resided within her body, every word she spoke could influence the Emperor's decisions.
Her husband's status was special and drew envy, so she had to strive for more benefits on his behalf.
However, this time, the Emperor did not follow her words and change his decision as he had always done before.Those aged eyes, weathered by illness, fell upon Su Ziyue as he said coldly: "When I am discussing state affairs with my ministers, what right do you have to speak? And you, Gao Gonggong! When I am handling court matters, anyone who enters must be announced. If this happens again, you need not return."
Gao Gonggong immediately shuddered: "Princess Consort Zhuang, please!"
Su Ziyue stood there in a daze as she was escorted outside the hall.
She couldn't understand why the Emperor had suddenly changed.
Before this, when she asked the Emperor to bestow some fine treasures upon her husband, he had granted them.
When she said the imperial consorts harbored ill intentions, the Emperor had forbidden any consort from entering to serve.
When she requested the Emperor issue an edict sending the Crown Prince to the front lines, he had written the decree without hesitation.
Why now...
Wait!
Su Ziyue's eyes suddenly widened as she looked toward Yun Chu standing outside the hall.
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