Chapter 382: The Crowd Seeks an Audience with the Emperor
At three quarters past the hour of mao.
Fan Ming brought Grand Tutor Xu into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Yun Chu stood at the entrance to the inner hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Seeing Grand Tutor Xu enter, she descended the steps and curtsied, saying, "Grand Tutor Xu."
"You honor this old servant too much, Crown Princess," Grand Tutor Xu quickly returned the courtesy. "His Majesty has summoned me, so I must take my leave first."
He lifted his official robe, ascended the steps, and entered the main hall.
The curtains around the Dragon Bed obscured the person lying on it, with Consort Yun and Yin Fei standing on either side of the bed.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Grand Tutor Xu turned and saw Yun Chu and Fan Ming also entering. The hall doors were quickly closed.
His expression changed involuntarily: "This is..."
"Grand Tutor Xu..." Shu Fei was the first to speak, tears streaming down her face as she lifted the curtain with her delicate hand. "His Majesty has fallen unconscious and cannot be awakened no matter what we try."
"Your Majesty!" Grand Tutor Xu rushed forward, kneeling beside the Dragon Bed and calling out loudly, "Your Majesty, wake up, Your Majesty...!"
Thinking the Emperor had passed away, he broke into loud sobs, the grief in his voice moving all who heard it.
"Grand Tutor Xu, His Majesty was harmed by a villain and is temporarily unconscious. I believe His Majesty will surely recover," Consort Yun hurried forward to help him up. "Now that the Crown Prince is on campaign, there is no one to oversee state affairs. If word of His Majesty's collapse spreads, it may cause chaos in the court and instability among the people... We invited you here to request that you assist in governing the country."
Grand Tutor Xu wiped his tears and stepped forward to examine the Emperor carefully. Seeing the Emperor's chest still rising and falling, he finally felt relieved.
He looked at the people before him: the birth mothers of the Seventh and Eighth Princes, the Crown Princess, and Lord Fan. Those present likely all wished no harm upon the Emperor.
Then who exactly was the villain who harmed His Majesty?
The former Crown Prince? No, the former Crown Prince was his grandson-in-law, and he knew very well that the former Crown Prince had willingly requested to be deposed.
The Second Prince? Probably not—he had personally investigated and confirmed the Second Prince had truly gone mad, with his power base completely dissolved.
The current Crown Prince? Also unlikely. If something happened to the Emperor, the Crown Prince was far away in the Eastern Tomb Kingdom, unable to ascend the throne, which would certainly throw the court into chaos.
The remaining princes? No, no—they were too young. These princes and their mothers should be hoping the Emperor lives as long as possible.
Then who could it be?
Grand Tutor Xu paced back and forth, then suddenly stopped, his face filled with disbelief: "Prince Zhuang!"
Yun Chu breathed an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
She had gambled correctly.
The Grand Tutor was not Chu Rui's man!
Moreover, the Grand Tutor possessed a shrewd mind capable of discerning the situation.
"Prince Zhuang?" Fan Ming also looked astonished. "A few days ago, Princess Consort Zhuang invited my wife for tea and gave her an extremely valuable potted plant. My wife insisted I must find time to meet with Prince Zhuang."
Grand Tutor Xu's eyes darkened: "Lord Fan, arrange for a thorough investigation into Prince Zhuang's background. If evidence can be found, directly arrange for the Court of Judicial Review to arrest him."
Just as Fan Ming was about to speak, a eunuch waiting outside reported at the door: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the various ministers have come for an audience."
The expressions of everyone in the hall tightened simultaneously.
Grand Tutor Xu straightened his official hat and said, "I will handle this."
He walked out and stood on the steps, speaking calmly: "His Majesty was awake all last night and will not hold court today. Please return, everyone."
Knowing the Emperor was seriously ill, the crowd didn't suspect anything. They submitted their memorials and prepared to leave.In the crowd, Chu Rui raised his head and spoke: "Yesterday, His Majesty said he wanted me to bring some geographical records from Anding. I'll leave after handing these books to His Majesty."
"Prince Zhuang is most thoughtful." Grand Tutor Xu directly took the books. "I happen to have important matters to discuss with His Majesty, so I'll deliver these. Prince Zhuang may take your leave."
After speaking, he turned and entered the main hall, where palace maids closed the heavy doors behind him.
Chu Rui's expression instantly darkened.
To activate the gu worm, he needed to be in close proximity to the Emperor, preferably with eye contact. But now, he couldn't even enter the main hall.
With Gao Gonggong gone, he had truly lost an important ally.
Over the following days, Chu Rui found no way to enter the main hall.
After repeated rejections from Grand Tutor Xu, he finally spoke up before the other ministers departed: "It has been six days since we last saw His Majesty's countenance. We are deeply concerned about the Emperor's Dragon Body. Grand Tutor Xu repeatedly prevents us from entering to see His Majesty - are you hiding something from us?"
"Indeed, Grand Tutor Xu." Marquis Pingjin joined in. "At least allow us to pay our respects to His Majesty."
The Grand Tutor sensed something amiss and declared loudly: "Your Majesty, we request an audience!"
Boyuan Hou followed suit: "We've heard His Majesty hasn't summoned imperial physicians these days. We are truly worried about the Dragon Body. Please grant us an audience!"
Chu Rui was the first to kneel.
Other ministers followed suit, kneeling one after another.
Standing on the steps, Grand Tutor Xu clenched his fists.
What a clever move by Prince Zhuang - using the ministers to pressure him.
Inside the hall, Consort Shu was panicking: "What should we do? If those ministers enter, we won't be able to conceal that His Majesty has been unconscious for days!"
"Calm yourself!" Consort Yun said coldly. "Sister Consort Shu should focus on properly attending to His Majesty!"
She took a deep breath and walked step by step to the palace entrance, signaling the maids to open the doors.
The heavy doors creaked open.
The ministers quickly looked up, expecting to see the Emperor, but instead saw Consort Yun emerging with an icy demeanor.
"His Majesty is resting. Who dares make such noise here!" Consort Yun's voice was frigid. "His Majesty has said he will not see you. Do not come again. When His Majesty recovers, he will summon you naturally!"
Chu Rui was a patient man.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained in hiding for so many years.
Having come this far, he didn't want everything ruined now.
Moreover, he had already torn all pretense with the Crown Prince's faction.
He raised his head and spoke slowly: "And if I insist on entering to see His Majesty, what will Consort Yun do about it?"
Consort Yun enunciated each word clearly: "Those who dare force their way into the Hall of Mental Cultivation shall be executed without mercy!"
"Swish!"
Fan Ming beside her drew his sword from its scabbard.
Chu Rui remained unperturbed: "Throughout history, the Imperial Guards have only taken orders from the Emperor. Since when can a mere consort command the leader of the Imperial Guards?"
At his words, everyone's expressions changed.
Their gazes shifted back and forth between Consort Yun and Fan Ming.
Consort Yun was so angry her head throbbed.
"Prince Zhuang's words are truly ridiculous."
A cool voice came from outside the gate.
They saw Yun Chu leading several children into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Her lips curled with a mocking smile. "Consort Yun holds the Phoenix Seal, which grants her the authority of the Empress. Although the Imperial Guards obey His Majesty's commands, they must also submit to the Phoenix Seal! Moreover, since Consort Yun can enter and leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation and command the Imperial Guards, it proves she has His Majesty's permission. Besides Consort Yun, Consort Shu is also inside the hall, and His Majesty often summons Yu Ge'er and the others to converse..."
The accompanying children included Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, Meng Shen, as well as the Seventh Prince, Ninth Prince, and Tenth Prince—meaning all three remaining princes in the capital had arrived.
The twelve-year-old Seventh Prince stood tall like a green bamboo and said calmly, "His Majesty has grown older and increasingly cherishes family joy. He often invites us to the hall for casual gatherings and shows little interest in discussing state affairs. It would be best if you did not disturb him."
The crowd exchanged glances.
With the Emperor's consorts, princes, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, the Imperial Guards commander, and Grand Tutor Xu all blocking their entry as outsiders, forcing their way in would likely provoke the Emperor's wrath.
Most began to reconsider.
Yet, a faint smile appeared on Chu Rui's face.
Yun Chu, ah, Yun Chu—she truly hadn't disappointed him. Just as clever and sharp-witted as his elder sister, leaving him at a loss.
The Emperor must have been drugged and would not wake; otherwise, why would the child gu worm inside him remain completely unresponsive...
It was already the sixth day. In three more days, once the mature gu worm in the Emperor's body died, he would have nothing left to rely on.
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