Seeing the emperor coughing non - stop, Eunuch Gao quickly stepped forward to help him catch his breath. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the emperor's mouth. It took quite a while for the coughing to stop, and the handkerchief was already stained with dark red blood.
This sight made Wei Dongling and Murong Yuchen's hearts clench.
The emperor gasped for a long time. Then, word by word, he said, "The imperial edict of succession is a matter of national importance. How can it be left to others? When I'm in better health, I will surely draft it myself. You may leave!"
Murong Yunqian's face changed. With a gloomy look in his eyes, he said coldly, "Father, do you have any objections to passing the throne to your son?"
The emperor's gaze swept across the faces of everyone present. It lingered on Wei Dongling and Murong Yuchen's faces for a moment. Then, with a hoarse voice, the emperor waved his hand and said, "I know what I'm doing. You may leave!"
Murong Yunqian's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He roared angrily, "For over a month, Father, you've been in a daze, sleeping one moment and waking the next! Now that you're finally a bit more conscious, if you don't settle this matter today, when will you? Are you waiting until you're on your deathbed to watch your sons kill each other?"
As soon as Murong Yunqian said this rebellious remark, everyone present was so frightened that they knelt on the ground, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Murong Yuchen clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could rush up and beat that unfilial son.
Seeing that the emperor remained unmoved, Murong Yunqian continued to roar, "Today, you have no choice! You'll sign this edict whether you like it or not!"
Murong Yuchen was extremely heart - broken. He was so angry that he almost jumped up. Fortunately, Ruan Niang grabbed his sleeve tightly.
At present, all the imperial guards were following the orders of the tenth prince. They were outnumbered. If they fought, could they win? They might even be wiped out!
The emperor closed his eyes and said nothing.
A furious shout came from outside the door, "How dare you!" Then, the heavy wooden door of the bedroom was pushed open. The Empress Dowager, supported by Concubine Shu, barged in directly. She rushed up and slapped Murong Yunqian beside the sickbed hard. Roaring, she said, "Your father is not dead yet! How dare you talk to him like this! You unfaithful, unrighteous, inhumane, and unfilial wretch!"
Wei Dongling and Concubine Shu exchanged a look and nodded knowingly. After receiving the note, Concubine Shu had come to help without hesitation. Wei Dongling was extremely grateful, but this was not the time to show it.
Murong Yuchen glared at Murong Yunqian, who had been slapped by the Empress Dowager. He still felt that it wasn't enough to relieve his anger.
However, the Empress Dowager was old, and her strength was far less than that of someone who had practiced martial arts for years. The slap on the tenth prince's face was like a tickle. When she wanted to slap him again, Murong Yunqian grabbed her hand. Raising his eyebrows, he said with a light smile, "Grandmother, have you forgotten the rules in your old age? I've reminded you not to enter Father's bedroom, in case you catch the illness! Why are you here so coincidentally today? Could it be that someone tipped you off?" Murong Yunqian glanced at Concubine Shu beside the Empress Dowager and sneered sinisterly.
The Empress Dowager yanked her wrist back forcefully and cursed, "If I hadn't come, I might not have seen you, this unfilial son, treating your father like this! You heartless white - eyed wolf!"
Wei Dongling couldn't help but feel anxious. She had invited the Empress Dowager over, thinking that she would intimidate Murong Yunqian to some extent and at least protect the emperor. But she never expected that all the imperial guards in the palace were following the tenth prince's orders. The Empress Dowager had no power to fight against him. If they confronted each other like this, it might only anger the crazy dog - like tenth prince!
Murong Yunqian gave the Empress Dowager a cold look and said coldly, "Grandmother, it's better for you not to meddle in other people's business! Someone, escort the Empress Dowager back to her palace! Issue an order that no one is allowed to approach the Qianqing Palace without permission!"
"Yes!" Some guards rushed forward and surrounded the Empress Dowager and Concubine Shu.
The Empress Dowager was furious and shouted, "How dare you! Who dares to touch me! The emperor is not dead yet! Are you all rebelling?"
The imperial guards hesitated for a moment and looked at Murong Yunqian. Seeing the tenth prince waving his hand with a dark face, indicating them to take the people away quickly, the imperial guards swarmed forward and dragged the Empress Dowager towards the door.
Concubine Shu stepped forward and pushed away the two imperial guards who were holding the Empress Dowager tightly. She roared, "Who dares to be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager!"
The imperial guards were stunned and looked at the tenth prince in unison. Concubine Shu was quite skilled in martial arts. Moreover, they couldn't fight a woman, especially one who was the emperor's favorite concubine.
Murong Yunqian's face darkened. All the imperial guards were under his control. Those who didn't listen had already been dismissed. He glanced at Concubine Shu and sneered, "Women in the harem are not allowed to interfere in politics. You should go back quickly!"
The Empress Dowager said angrily, "The emperor has treated you well. How can you treat your own father like this?"
Murong Yunqian snorted and said, "Grandmother, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Father is terminally ill and has been delaying the imperial edict. It really makes it difficult for your grandson!"
Concubine Shu retorted, "So you're rebelling and forcing the emperor?"
Murong Yunqian laughed loudly and said, "Concubine Shu, you're wrong. The throne should rightfully be mine! Do you want to give it to someone with a different surname?"
Give it to someone with a different surname? Everyone's faces stiffened. Indeed, the emperor had taken the throne from someone else!
The situation reached a deadlock. At this time, the emperor lying on the sickbed spoke, "Stop arguing. Bring paper and pen. I'll write the edict myself!"
Everyone immediately fell silent. Murong Yunqian was secretly delighted and quickly ordered Eunuch Cao, "What are you all standing there for! Hurry up and prepare the writing tools!"
Eunuch Cao quickly nodded and scurried away.
Wei Dongling's face darkened. If the emperor really wrote the imperial edict of succession at this moment, she would really have to lead the Tianchao soldiers and the Xiliang Iron Cavalry back to the palace in the capital!
In fact, she didn't want to see civil strife in Tianchao and people killing each other. She had originally returned to the palace to look for the antidote and see if she could persuade the emperor to change his mind. But the current situation was so chaotic that she seemed to have no way to restrain Murong Yunqian.
The emperor leaned against the head of the bed, picked up the pen, and wrote the edict word by word. Eunuch Cao served him respectfully beside him. After the emperor finished writing, he gently picked up the edict and blew on the ink to dry it. He was about to hand it to the tenth prince. At this time, Eunuch Cao looked down at the edict twice and suddenly exclaimed in shock, "Ah? This..."
Murong Yunqian had been waiting anxiously. Seeing Eunuch Cao's sudden change of expression, he knew something was wrong. He quickly jumped up to look at the edict.
Just one glance, and his face changed instantly.
It was clearly written on the edict that the one to inherit the throne was actually the ninth prince, Murong Yuchen.