"Who dares to assassinate His Majesty? Find out for me immediately!"

With everyone's attention focused on Emperor Xiaoxuan, no one cared about Shen Zhiyi. She simply stood to one side with the other royal ladies, silently waiting for news.

As night deepened, the emperor suddenly developed a high fever that wouldn't subside, and vomited several mouthfuls of black blood, a truly horrifying situation.

"Your Majesty, how are you? Don't frighten me."

The Empress was always by his side, attending to him.

He looked anxious, and seeing this scene, he was so distressed that he burst into tears.

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself," the crowd advised.

Fortunately, the physician at the Regent's Palace was knowledgeable in toxicology and prescribed medicine. After taking the medicine, the patient's condition stabilized considerably.

He prescribed another medicine, which was decocted and taken daily, and the remaining toxins would be eliminated in just over a month.

With the emperor assassinated, he was naturally unable to attend court. The crown prince, who now held the power of regent, began to act on behalf of the emperor. In order to catch the assassin, the entire capital was once again in a state of panic.

Zhou Xuanze simply kept claiming to be ill;

The Duke's mansion had no power, and since His Majesty said his leg ailment had flared up, he remained indoors.

They were both high-ranking officials with significant military power, and should have been the focus of investigation, yet they escaped unscathed.

——

Regent's Palace

"His Majesty has been assassinated. Aren't you going to go and see him?" Shen Zhiyi asked Zhou Xuance.

Someone is currently sitting leisurely in a recliner eating dessert.

Carving ice into mountains indoors is certainly a refreshing experience.

He seems to have a huge sweet tooth.

One plate of pastries wasn't nearly enough for him.

He just pretends well in public, and almost no one knows that he has a sweet tooth.

"My brother has so many people serving him. If I, who am terminally ill, were to visit him, I would be afraid of infecting him with my illness."

Shen Zhiyi looked at him earnestly, feeling helpless, and said, "Zhou Xuance, tell me the truth..."

"You didn't orchestrate His Majesty's assassination attempt, did you?"