Cang Xuan, the chief minister of the cabinet, had always held power over the court. Now that the emperor was in a coma, he naturally had the final say. Xiao Zisheng and others were dissatisfied, but they could do nothing about it.
Just then, the imperial physicians rushed over from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Upon learning that the emperor had coughed up blood and fallen into a coma, not only the deputy director of the bureau but also several highly skilled physicians had come. However, all of them were blocked outside the hall by Cang Xuan.
"His Majesty has decreed that only Princess Fubao is allowed to treat him. The rest of you wait outside the hall," Cang Xuan said coldly.
The physicians looked at each other in dismay, extremely anxious. "This... this may not be appropriate! Princess Fubao is just a teenage girl. What does she know about medicine? Lord Cang, please allow us to go in and diagnose His Majesty!"
Cang Xuan looked down at the speaking deputy director and said, "Do you want to defy the imperial decree?"
The deputy director shivered and subconsciously lowered his head. "I dare not, Your Majesty."
Silence. Intimidated by Cang Xuan's power and toughness, the area outside the hall fell into complete silence. Everyone felt scared and uneasy.
Inside the hall, it was also extremely quiet. Su Yuanyuan was treating the emperor, and no sound came out.
Cang Xuan stood guard at the door, looking at the various faces in front of him. His heart was as cold as the wintry weather. He couldn't help but wonder what the emperor was going to say to Su Yuanyuan. What words couldn't be said to him, his own son?
Was that man really going to die?
If he died, what would his mother do?
His mother still cared about that man. If she knew he was going to die, she would surely be very sad.
Maybe it would be better if he died. Then there would be no more troubles.
Once, he had wanted to kill that stupid and indecisive emperor countless times. But somehow, he had slowly changed his mind.
When did it start? Probably when he took the emperor out of the palace and went to the villa in Yandang Mountain.
He had claimed to be surnamed Shu, a wealthy merchant from Shuzhou, which showed that he had never forgotten his origin as Shu Moyun, nor the once-poor but outstanding Shu family. That night, he had pretended to be Shu Moyun during the so - called soul - summoning and said such malicious words to the emperor. Although the emperor knew he was doing it on purpose, he didn't blame him at all.
Also that night, Yan Huan had led the rebel army to eliminate the Su family. When the emperor learned that Yan Huan had no evidence of Wang Chongling inciting the trouble, his expression and tone were full of disappointment. Apparently, he had been waiting for an opportunity to control the Wang family.
But it was not until now that he realized that he and his father actually had the same goal.
Mother was right. Hatred could blind one's eyes and make one see only what one wanted to see.
A cold feeling came over his face. Cang Xuan looked up at the sky. Snowflakes were floating down, landing on people's hair and shoulders.
The weather was changing, he thought.
Suddenly, there came a sound of footsteps behind him, approaching the door of the hall.
Cang Xuan, who was guarding outside, was startled. He immediately turned around and looked at the tightly closed door behind him. After a moment, the footsteps stopped behind the door. The door was opened, revealing Su Yuanyuan's face.
Cang Xuan locked his eyes on the girl's, his gaze full of questions.
The girl raised her head, met Cang Xuan's gaze, and nodded imperceptibly. Cang Xuan secretly let out a sigh of relief and moved aside.
Su Yuanyuan walked past him and out of the hall.
At the sight of her, Eunuch Bao immediately shouted, "The princess is out! The princess is out!"
For a moment, eunuchs, physicians, and other ministers rushed forward. The imperial guards almost couldn't hold them back.
"Princess, how is His Majesty?" Eunuch Bao asked with concern.
"Yes, how is His Majesty? You should give us an answer to put our minds at ease!"
Su Yuanyuan raised her head, her gaze falling on the Prince of Qi. Then she swept over the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Huai, and the Prince of Xuan, and said, "His Majesty has accidentally contracted a strange disease. On the surface, it seems nothing is wrong, but it is secretly eroding His Majesty's body. To cure His Majesty, a close relative must cut their wrist and let His Majesty drink the blood. Only then can His Majesty recover."
Suddenly, everyone present changed their expressions. Even Cang Xuan looked thoughtfully at Su Yuanyuan's back.
A strange disease? And it requires a close relative to let out blood?
Just now, the little girl clearly said that the emperor was poisoned. What was she up to now?
The Prince of Qi said with an ugly expression, "You're just a young girl who has just come of age. What do you know about medicine? There's no such terrifying strange disease in the world! And it requires a close relative to cut their wrist and let out blood. Who knows if what you're saying is true or false?!"
Su Yuanyuan said to the physicians outside the door, "My lords, you can go into the hall to feel His Majesty's pulse, and you'll know that what I said is true."
The physicians hesitated. Then the deputy director offered, "I'll go in and take a look."
The deputy director carried his medicine chest and went into the hall. It was a while before he came out. Many pairs of eyes on the scene immediately focused on his face. The Prince of Huai couldn't wait to ask, "How is it?"
The deputy director said, "What Princess Fubao said is true. His Majesty has indeed contracted a strange disease and needs to drink the fresh blood of a close relative."
People might not believe Su Yuanyuan's diagnosis, but they couldn't not believe the deputy director of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Cang Xuan looked up at the Prince of Qi, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, and said, "Someone, go and prepare a dagger and a porcelain bowl. Please ask the Prince of Qi to cut his wrist and let out blood."
The Prince of Qi's face changed drastically. He subconsciously took two steps back and said, "Cang Xuan, I'm a prince, of noble status. How dare you hurt me?"
Cang Xuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Now His Majesty is in critical condition and urgently needs good medicine, but the Prince of Qi keeps shirking. Do you not want to cure His Majesty?"
How could the Prince of Qi say no? Filial piety was of utmost importance. If he refused, he would be labeled as an unfilial son. Then which courtier would support him?
When the eunuch came over with the dagger and the porcelain bowl, the Prince of Qi gritted his teeth, took the dagger, closed his eyes, and made a cut on his wrist.
After the porcelain bowl was filled with blood, the physician quickly stepped forward to treat his wound.
Su Yuanyuan took the tray from the eunuch and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. His Majesty will surely be touched by your filial piety when he knows." After saying that, she turned around and entered the hall with the tray.
Eunuch Bao and the deputy director also wanted to follow in, but were blocked by Cang Xuan again.
"His Majesty has not summoned anyone. Except for Princess Fubao, no one is allowed to enter the hall."
Waiting was always the longest. After the Prince of Qi cut his wrist and let out blood, his face became much paler. He sat on the chair, holding his injured wrist, looking at Cang Xuan blocking the door, and inexplicably felt nervous and anxious.
I don't know how long it had passed. Su Yuanyuan walked out of the hall again. Seeing this, the Prince of Qi couldn't help but stand up and nervously clenched his fists.
"Princess, is His Majesty better after taking the blood?" Eunuch Bao asked.
Su Yuanyuan frowned, looking solemn. She looked at the Prince of Qi but hesitated to speak.
Cang Xuan said in a timely manner, "Just say what you want."
Su Yuanyuan bit her lower lip, looking extremely embarrassed, which made people anxious. It was the Prince of Qi who said angrily, "How is Father? Just say something!"
Su Yuanyuan seemed to finally make up her mind and looked up. "The Prince of Qi's blood is useless to His Majesty. Instead, it has made His Majesty's condition a bit worse. Your Highness, it seems that you may not be His Majesty's biological son."