Chapter 89 That night, Wu Qining developed a high fever.

That night, Wu Qining developed a high fever.

The long-term fear, the inflamed wound on my back, the disgust and nausea of ​​seeing blood for the first time...

She lay on the couch with a flushed face, her forehead soaked with sweat. She clutched a corner of the quilt tightly and whispered softly: "Mother Queen..."

Xuan Jian leaned over and touched her forehead, which was frighteningly hot.

The imperial physician came in a hurry, the maidservants went back and forth to change the water, and the Yongning Palace was brightly lit all night.

Since Emperor Wu Gaozu's uprising ended the chaotic world of division and separatism and he ascended the throne as a woman, the dynasty has been passed down for nearly a hundred years.

Emperor Gaozu devoted his life to improving the status of women. After several generations of female emperors, the situation improved greatly. Now the number of female officials in the court has slightly surpassed that of male officials.

Wu Qining was the youngest daughter of the late emperor, more than a decade younger than her two older sisters who were already vying for the throne. Perhaps because she was young, the late emperor had no intention of passing the throne to her, and had spoiled her since she was a child.

Even the fiercely fighting elder sister still loved her younger sister and was willing to pretend to be harmonious in front of her.

Her ambition since childhood was to be a dandy prince and travel all over the country. Therefore, it was common for her to sleep in class and skip classes to play, and her mother didn't say anything.

Such a happy life was shattered when she was ten years old. Her eldest sister plotted to kill her second sister and then raised an army to rebel. She was suppressed by her mother and imprisoned in the clan house. She committed suicide the next morning.

In just a few days, she was the only offspring left to the Queen Mother.

After that, her mother's health deteriorated. After a long illness, she was made a princess at the age of twelve and entered the East Palace. When she was thirteen, her mother passed away and she ascended the throne as emperor.

During that year, the Queen Mother brought her by her side, wanting to cram all her imperial skills into her head. However, after so many years of fun, she was not as good as her elder sister, and she was disappointed in the end.

On the night when her mother passed away, she lay in front of the bed, and her mother stretched out her old hands and gently stroked her hair again and again. She kept telling her what to do after taking the throne, who to trust, and who to kill when they were getting stronger.

As she was reading, she came to Song Shiwei's name. The Queen Mother glanced at her meaningfully and asked her to kneel before her bed and swear an oath.

"I want you to promise me that no matter what rebellious acts she commits in the future, you will spare her life."

"Queen Mother." She looked at the stern Queen Mother in confusion.

She remembered that man, the six top scholars who were personally appointed by her mother three years ago, and now the Minister of War. She remembered that Song Shiwei did not have a good relationship with her mother, and she had been reprimanded and punished by her mother many times for her poor performance.

During the year she stayed with her mother, she was punished several times by being forced to kneel in the snow and freeze to death.

The Queen Mother actually asked her to swear an oath for such a minister whom she disliked, and was very sure that she would disobey her.

Before Wu Qining could say anything, she saw the late emperor's face turn pale and he spit out a mouthful of blood. She rushed over crying but was driven out by the late emperor.

A quarter of an hour later, the funeral bell rang, and the late emperor passed away. Afterwards, she asked the head maid who had been serving the late emperor whether anyone had entered the palace since then. She said no, and the last person the late emperor saw was naturally her.

However, she clearly saw it, and after she came out, Song Shiwei was invited in. The last person the Queen Mother saw before she passed away was Song Shiwei.

It was Song Shiwei who deceived the emperor, had no regard for courtesy and laws, and had evil ambitions.

Even her mother's will mentioned her, appointing her as Taifu and one of the regents. When she was not yet 15 years old, she and other ministers exercised imperial power together.

Wu Qining woke up gasping for breath, and saw Xuan Jian sitting next to her holding a bowl of medicine. She clenched her fists suddenly, hating the life of being controlled by others like this.

She didn't know what she wanted, her clenched fists loosened weakly, and she opened her mouth to accept this man's service.

She had already paid a heavy price for her carelessness, and there was no second chance to squander. She had to be cautious.

After taking the medicine, her fever subsided a little. Wu Qining glanced at Xuan Jian who was serving her attentively and asked casually, "Master, are you free today?"

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor is ill and has missed the morning court for a few days."

Why didn't that sickly guy die of illness, so that he wouldn't have to compete with her for the throne? Wu Qining cursed viciously.

She suspected that Song Shiwei was the daughter left by her mother among the common people. She was 20 years old and Song Shiwei was 30 years old. She had checked her mother's daily life and found that her mother had stayed among the common people during that period.

Although she didn't know why her mother didn't take her into the palace to teach her, she couldn't think of any other reasonable reason other than this.

Thinking of this reason, Wu Qining did not feel any closeness to Song Shiwei, but instead felt more and more disgusted with him.

Between them, it has always been a life-and-death struggle.

The vermilion official robe openly covered the dragon throne, and he stood below Wu Qining.

As the mascot, Wu Qining sat bored on the dragon throne, watching the officials below arguing endlessly. She secretly looked at Song Shiwei.

Perhaps the guesses in her heart when she had a fever came up again, and her eyes swept over Song Shiwei's face inch by inch.

The willow-like eyebrows slanted into the temples, and the brow peaks were sharp, like two swords drawn from their sheaths, revealing unquestionable majesty. The eyes were narrow and deep, and the pupils were dark and deep.

Even though her face was as pale as fresh snow and she coughed from time to time, no one dared to be rude in front of her.

She looks sickly and doesn't look like the queen mother at all. She doesn't have any royal characteristics at all. No wonder the queen mother didn't take her back. Maybe the royal family didn't recognize her.

After picking and choosing for a while, Wu Qining finally felt better.

Song Shiwei naturally felt Wu Qining's gaze, but she didn't care.

After the assassination that day, the prime minister, on behalf of the noble family, immediately gave up the interests that satisfied her, and the people who were placed beside the little emperor were naturally replaced by her people with their tacit consent. This was part of the exchange.

"I have something to report." An elder among the huge group of ministers said loudly.

Song Shiwei glanced at him and saw that Wang Yuqing was a fourth-rank official and the then Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He was one of the few royalist officials who had not been eliminated.

She had seen her memorial before. It was well written, but the timing was wrong, so she suppressed it. She thought the old minister would not make trouble again, but who knew...

Brainless idiot.

Song Shiwei was about to wave his hand to signal the end of the court session when he saw Wang Yuqing kneeling down before the emperor and saying loudly:

"I am a servant of Prime Minister Cui Yanchen, who relies on the power of his master to run rampant in the countryside and wantonly seize people's land. His methods are despicable and his numbers are huge, causing many people to be displaced. I hope your majesty will make a wise judgment."

The prime minister standing in the front smiled and shook his head, saying loudly: "Lord Wang, please don't slander me. Do you have any evidence? I, Wang Yuqing, the fourth-rank official of the Ministry of Personnel, framed an important official without reason. I hope the Grand Tutor will make a decision."

"I, the fourth-rank official, am here to discuss with Wang Yuqing, the Minister of Personnel, who has been corrupting the government and enriching himself. I hope the Grand Tutor will make a decision."

"Your Highness..."

…

As soon as the prime minister finished speaking, officials from aristocratic families came to report Wang Yuqing one after another. The old minister was immediately attacked by the crowd and looked somewhat pitiful.

Song Shiwei coughed to signal silence, and the chaotic court gradually quieted down.

Wang Yuqing, who was drowned in saliva, had no other expression. She looked through Song Shiwei, looked at Wu Qining, who was clenching her fists but was powerless, and smiled at her.

Then, she pointed at Song Shiwei's nose and cursed: "Song Shiwei, you traitor, you were promoted by the late emperor, but you colluded with this group of rebels. Are you worthy of the late emperor's kindness to you? You disloyal and rebellious little thief, I will be waiting for you in the underworld." After that, she turned around and ran towards the huge vermilion lacquered pillar in the hall.

Even though she was scolded so harshly, Song Shiwei's expression remained unchanged. Until she saw Wang Yuqing's actions, she narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice: "Stop her."

Song Lin reacted quickly and grabbed her sleeve, but with a soft "bang", he still failed to stop her. Her forehead hit the pillar, and blood splattered everywhere.

She slowly fell to the ground, Song Lin held Wang Yuqing's neck, shook his head at Song Shiwei, and Song Shi sat back up, motioning to carry her away.

Wu Qining tensed up as she stared at the old minister whose life or death was unknown. Her pale lips were bitten and a bloody mark appeared. She trembled all over and suppressed the bloodshot in her eyes.

The blood splashed on the floor tiles of the Golden Palace. Some of the frightened ministers reacted immediately and reported to the emperor.

"She committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and she deserves death."

"If these treacherous officials are not severely punished, what will happen to the prestige of our dynasty?"

Catching sight of the Prime Minister's gloomy eyes, Song Shiwei slammed the chair heavily.

"Alright, put Wang Yuqing in the Heavenly Prison and retry him later. Court is adjourned."

The ministers were somewhat unwilling, but looking at Song Shiwei's stern face, they withdrew.

"How is it?" Song Shiwei asked softly while sitting in the sedan chair.

"The injury is not serious. I have sent a royal physician to treat him." Song Lin reported softly.

"Let her stay in the Sky Prison, she's safe." Song Shiwei rubbed his eyebrows, thinking about how to deal with this matter.

The wobbly sedan chair suddenly stopped, and the rapid shaking caused Song Shiwei to bump into it.

She frowned, her narrow eyes were cold, and her slender fingers lifted the curtain. Wu Qining, wearing a dragon robe, was standing alone in front of the sedan chair. In front of Song Shiwei, who was guarded by many people, she looked particularly weak.

"Your Majesty, are you going to intercept the sedan?" Song Shiwei raised his cold voice and glanced at her warningly. He lowered the curtain and signaled the sedan to pass by.

"Master." No matter which direction the sedan chair turned, Wu Qining would stand in front of it. On his slightly pale face, there were stubborn eyes. Under the cold winter wind, the sour and unbearable eyes overflowed with a layer of mist.

"Master." She called again in a hoarse voice.

"I am having some difficulty with my studies, and would like to ask the Grand Master for advice."

What a hassle. Song Shiwei was annoyed by the bother and lifted the curtain to signal her to come up.

After drinking a cup of hot tea, Wu Qining's shivering body finally warmed up.

Before he could open his mouth, Song Shiwei said in a cold voice: "If it is about Wang Yuqing, Your Majesty should not discuss it."

His nails dug deep into his palm, leaving a little blood stain. Wu Qining raised his pale face and said timidly:

"I...I just feel sorry for Lord Wang. He is so old, lying in a pool of blood, and his life or death is unknown."

"Taifu, could you please send a royal physician to treat him?" Holding back her nausea, she reached out and tugged at Song Shiwei's sleeve, stretching out her tone and pretending to be weak and naive.

Song Shiwei glanced at her movements and gently pulled back her sleeves. His dark eyes seemed to see through her disguise.

"Your Majesty, do you really think that I can make the decision on this matter?"

Perhaps it was because the original body had made friends with the aristocratic family very early on, and there was no time to teach the little emperor. Without anyone to teach him, he was deliberately left to roam free, so he became so naive?

If it were that child, he would definitely not behave like this at this moment.

If you are still young and vaguely reveal your intentions to your political enemies, you will die.

If she hadn't been protecting him secretly, Wang Yuqing would have been torn to pieces by them just now.