The emperor is unwell; a storm is brewing.

The shadow of Liu Mianying's death in childbirth had not yet dissipated over the capital when another heavy bell tolled in the hearts of every citizen of Liang—Emperor Zhao Huan had fallen ill.

This illness came on suddenly and violently.

Perhaps the devastating news of Princess Fenghua's tragic death in a foreign land was too painful, perhaps the unfavorable war in the northern frontier and the depletion of national strength brought too much worry, or perhaps years of diligent governance had exhausted his energy... In any case, on a chilly spring morning court session, as the emperor was listening to military reports from the border, he suddenly coughed violently, vomited a mouthful of blood on the spot, and then his vision went black, and he fainted on the dragon throne!

"His Majesty!"

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

Chaos erupted in the Golden Palace. Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen rushed up the steps to support his father, his usually composed face now showing barely concealed panic. The eunuchs hurriedly carried the emperor back to his bedchamber, and all the imperial physicians on duty were summoned to the palace.

The news was kept strictly under wraps, but the emperor's failure to hold court for several days still alerted the astute officials to something unusual. Suddenly, undercurrents surged in the capital, and various speculations and rumors quietly began to circulate.

Despite the imperial physicians' continuous efforts to save him, the emperor was temporarily out of danger, but his condition remained serious. He was in and out of consciousness and needed to rest quietly, making it impossible for him to handle state affairs.

Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen was appointed regent in a time of crisis. He served his father at his bedside day and night without rest, while also dealing with a mountain of state affairs. He quickly became thin, and his brows were shrouded in deep fatigue and worry.

Several princes who had come of age were also summoned to the palace to attend to the ailing princes.

Prince Yi, Zhao Jingyi, abandoned his usual playful demeanor and entered the palace daily to stand guard outside his father's bedchamber. Looking at his elder brother's haggard figure and the solemn faces of the imperial physicians, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness and panic. His father, whom he remembered as a majestic and seemingly invincible figure, was now lying so vulnerable on his sickbed. This made him truly understand for the first time the unpredictability of divine authority and the impermanence of life.

He didn't even dare to think about what the sky of the Great Liang would become if his father...

Inside the Eastern Palace, the atmosphere was even more somber.

Crown Princess Xu Nianchu displayed extraordinary composure and competence. She not only had to soothe the worried Crown Prince and manage the affairs of the Eastern Palace, but also carefully deal with the visits and inquiries from the concubines and noblewomen of the various palaces. Every word and every action required careful consideration, as if walking on thin ice. She knew all too well that the Eastern Palace was currently in a precarious position.

The mansions of Prince Rui, Prince Huai, and Prince Yi... all remained tightly shut, their masters rarely venturing out, yet their clandestine contacts and observations never ceased. With the emperor gravely ill and the crown prince established, his youth was undeniable, inevitably drawing the attention of various factions within the court. With a powerful enemy eyeing the north and undercurrents of internal power struggles, the Great Liang Dynasty faced one of the most severe tests since its founding.

Inside Prince Yi's residence, Qin Yuti also felt the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm.

She meticulously cared for her two children every day while keeping a close eye on news from the palace. Seeing the heavy look on Zhao Jingyi's face when he returned from the palace, her heart ached. She stopped arguing with him over trivial matters and instead became even more considerate, quietly managing everything in the household so he could have no worries. She understood that at this moment, a peaceful home was the greatest support she could offer him.

Late that night, Zhao Jingyi returned from the palace, looking exhausted. He pulled Qin Yuti into a tight embrace, his voice hoarse: "Yuti... when Father Emperor was awake today, he held my hand and said... he was worried about the Great Liang, worried about us..."

Qin Yuti hugged him back, gently patted his back, and said softly, "His Majesty is blessed with good fortune and will surely recover. Your Highness, please take care of yourself as well. The Crown Prince and the Liang Dynasty still need you brothers to work together."

Zhao Jingyi buried his face in the crook of her neck and murmured an "Mmm." At this moment, he was no longer the carefree and irresponsible prince, but a child worried about his father, a man who felt the weight of responsibility.

The emperor's sickbed was like the center of a whirlpool, affecting the nerves of the entire empire.

Loyalty, ambition, anxiety, scheming... all intertwined and surged under the shadow of imperial power.

The future of Daliang is shrouded in mystery.

And Prince Yi and his wife could only hold each other's hands tightly in the torrent of history, hoping for the day when the dark clouds would disperse and the sun would shine again.