Seeing that Su Xuening looked unwell, Zong Jiu said with some concern, "Your Highness, please rest in the side hall and wait for the Dowager Consort."

"Okay." Su Xuening didn't know when Bai Shi would come out, and she couldn't just stand outside waiting forever.

Zong Jiu took Su Xuening to the side hall to rest.

In the main hall, Xuanyuan Peng kept coughing.

Bai sat by the bed, gently stroking Xuan Yuanpeng's chest, and asked with concern, "How are you? Should we let Hang Yuqing in?"

"Never mind." Xuanyuan Peng shook his head weakly, panting heavily.

Seeing Xuanyuan Peng so weak and uncomfortable, Bai felt truly sorry for him.

A perfectly healthy person, and after only two days apart, has become like this.

"Ya'er..." Xuanyuan Peng gasped for breath and grabbed Bai's hand.

"Go ahead and say it." Knowing he had something to say to her, Bai sat down next to his head so he could rest his head on her lap.

"What exactly is wrong with me?" Xuanyuan Peng could feel the changes in his body, as if he was terminally ill.

Now that things had come to this, even if Madam Bai was reluctant, she dared not hide it from him any longer: "You have tuberculosis!"

“Tuberculosis? Cough cough cough cough…” Xuanyuan Peng seemed to be frightened and coughed violently again.

"Xuanyuan Peng!" Bai immediately patted his back with heartache.

"How could I... how could I..." Xuanyuan Peng gasped for breath, unable to even finish a sentence!

Madam Bai was heartbroken. Before he could finish asking, she replied, "Eunuch Jiu and Head of the Imperial Academy suspect that Xuan Yuan Yu did something to you that caused you to get tuberculosis. Otherwise, tuberculosis wouldn't develop overnight; it's a gradual process. You were in good health before, and it was only in the last two days that you started to have symptoms of lung disease. Eunuch Jiu said that your health deteriorated after you saw Xuan Yuan Yu that day."

Bai's reminder instantly brought back memories of that day for Xuanyuan Yu.

It seems that this is indeed the case. After Yu'er scratched him, he started to have a headache. For the next two days, he felt weak and fatigued, and even coughed and had headaches all night long. This morning, he actually fainted in the court.

Could it be that Xuanyuan Yu really did something to him?

Xuanyuan Peng stared intently at his palm, as if he had just thought of something.

What exactly did he do?

The answer seemed obvious, but he just couldn't figure it out!

Bai gently stroked his chest and said, "Hang Yuqing hasn't found the specific cause of your illness yet, and there's no evidence to prove that it was Xuan Yuan Yu who did it."

"Ya'er," Xuanyuan Peng said anxiously, grabbing Bai Shi's hand, "When will Zhan'er return?"

One sentence made Bai feel even worse: "He's only been gone for two days, and it'll probably be a long time before he comes back."

“He’s only been gone for two days,” Xuanyuan Peng murmured, repeating, “but it feels like he’s been gone for a very, very long time.”

How he wished Zhan'er could be by his side now! Was sending him to the North a mistake?

Seeing Xuanyuan Peng like this, Bai felt very bad and comforted him, saying, "If you want to see Zhan'er, I can send a message to ask him to come back right away."

"No." Xuanyuan Peng refused without thinking, "The affairs of the North are very important, and Zhan'er also needs this achievement."

Although physically weak, Xuanyuan Peng's mind was perfectly clear.

Even if something happens in the capital, Zhan'er still can't come back.

He must finish what needs to be done in the north before he can return to the capital. As for the capital, Xuan Yuan Yu is nothing; he can't cause any trouble!

Xuanyuan Peng's mind raced. He looked at Bai Shi again and said, "Ya'er, even if my health is compromised, I will find a way to protect you and Zhan'er. I will also pass my throne to Zhan'er."

Seeing that he was still thinking about these things, Bai was moved and her eyes reddened: "Let's not talk about these things for now. The most important thing now is how to cure your illness."

Speaking of this, Xuanyuan Peng became worried.

He has some idea about his own body.

He already had a feeling that his body was probably not going to get better.

Therefore, these things are even more important. He absolutely cannot allow the Eastern Chu kingdom to fall into the hands of a wicked son who even dares to plot against his own father.

"Ya'er, go and call Zong Jiu and Hang Yuqing in."

"Alright." Bai immediately opened the palace door and let Zong Jiu and Hang Yuqing enter.

"Your Majesty." The two knelt before the bed as soon as they entered the hall.

Xuanyuan Peng looked at Hang Yuqing and asked, "Do I have tuberculosis?"

Hang Yuqing immediately lowered his head in shame: "Judging from the pulse, it is tuberculosis, but His Majesty's health has always been very good before. This tuberculosis is very strange!"

"Was it Xuanyuan Yu who did this?" Xuanyuan Peng's tone was completely calm, without any anger.

Hang Yuqing and Zong Jiu exchanged a glance, and Hang Yuqing said with self-reproach, "I have not yet ascertained the specifics of the situation. I am incompetent!"

Zong Jiu also lowered his eyes and said, "Ever since the day the Holy King left the capital, and after the Third Prince came to see the Emperor, the Emperor's health began to deteriorate. This old servant thinks it is very likely related to the Third Prince, but this old servant has no evidence yet and dares not make a hasty judgment."

Xuanyuan Peng instantly recalled that when he stared into Xuanyuan Yu's eyes in the court this morning, his head felt like it was about to explode, and there seemed to be a voice in his mind constantly instructing him on what to do and what to say.

However, he was in so much pain that he couldn't hear what was being said in his head.

Looking back now, it does seem a bit strange.

Xuanyuan Peng looked at Zong Jiu: "Summon them. I want to see Jin Lu, the commander of the Imperial Guards; Shan Jing, the commander of the Imperial Guards; Liao Fan, the deputy commander of the City Guards; Cao Qi, the general of the Huangli Army Camp; and my uncle, Prince Ming, Xuanyuan Hai. Have him bring the Xuanyuan royal family's genealogy."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Zong Jiu knew that Xuan Yuanpeng had something important to do, so he didn't dare to delay and immediately went to do it.

Before long, Zong Jiu led the people that Xuan Yuanpeng wanted to see into the palace.

The commotion at Chengqian Palace quickly attracted the attention of Xuanyuan Yu and Xuanyuan Zhi.

The two of them once again entered the harem.

As soon as Xuanyuan Yu entered the hall, he said urgently, "Mother, the Prince of Ming has entered the palace, along with Jin Lu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Shan Jing, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Liao Fan, the deputy commander of the City Guards, and Cao Qi, the general of the Huangli Army Camp. What do you think Father Emperor wants to see them for?"

Su Huiyan immediately understood what Xuanyuan Peng was trying to do: "Oh no, your father must be planning to issue a will. Go to Chengqian Palace quickly."

Su Huiyan immediately rushed out.

Seeing this, Xuanyuan Yu immediately followed him out.

Consort Liang and Xuan Yuanzhi had similar thoughts; they both realized that Xuan Yuanpeng was probably going to make a will.

The two of them rushed to Chengqian Palace.

Xuanyuan Duo also rushed over astutely. Although the throne was probably not going to him, he couldn't be absent from such an important moment!