Chapter 107

Li Tianyi fell ill immediately after the coronation ceremony.

He was already at his limit, but he was just holding on, wanting to give Rong Rong the most prestigious status.

Rong Rong stayed by the bedside, while Li Tianyi lay weakly on the dragon bed. Nan Shi followed behind Rong Rong, leaving only four eunuchs in the palace.

The crown prince, the officials, and the imperial physicians were all driven out of the palace by Li Tianyi.

"Rongrong, I'm content to see you again at the end and to have spent these past two weeks with you," Li Tianyi said with a smile.

To be honest, if he didn't want to see Rong Rong more, he really wouldn't want her to see his ugly state before his death.

It's just that he and Rongrong were destined to be apart and could not stay together forever.

But perhaps only he himself wanted to stay with her forever? In fact, Rong Rong was not willing.

Thinking of this, Li Tianyi's smile turned bitter. He longed to hear from Rong Rong that she also couldn't bear to part with him.

"Thank you." Rong Rong didn't say anything else, only expressing her gratitude to Li Tianyi for protecting her during this time.

Not hearing what he wanted to hear, Li Tianyi felt a little disappointed and sad, but the smile on his face never faded. He was content, and he didn't want Rong Rong to hate him.

"Go, do what you want to do." Li Tianyi patted Rong Rong's hand.

Rong Rong hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

What she wants to do? Well, the first thing is to leave the palace, to leave this place.

Li Tianyi patted Rong Rong's hand, his smile deepened, and he nodded gently to Rong Rong.

It was as if they knew everything.

The atmosphere inside the hall was warm and cozy, a gentle farewell.

The atmosphere outside the hall became extremely tense.

Led by the Crown Prince, everyone stood below the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, awaiting the final news and the birth of the next emperor.

The prince lowered his head, and in a corner where no one could see him, a secret excitement shone on his face.

He was so excited he was trembling. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, ever since he met Rong Rong.

He thought he could finally take the world's greatest treasure into his own hands.

Behind him, the crowd had different thoughts. Marquis Jiangyang was strangely silent and calm, his face indifferent, as if he had truly let go of Rong Rong and was not happy that Rong Rong was about to become a widow.

Although such thoughts were considered extremely rebellious, many people at the scene tried their best to hide their joy, while many more were worried about Rong Rong's future.

How will the young and beautiful Empress Dowager, who lacks a powerful maternal family and is also the new emperor's stepmother, survive in the deep palace?

Countless people, if they put themselves in the position of the new emperor, would understand what the new emperor would do.

Lou Boshan frowned, his probing, cold gaze occasionally sweeping towards the Crown Prince in front of him.

For several days, his son had been pestering him to protect and help the new empress. Chief Minister Yu remained calm and collected, seemingly lost in thought.

The thought of his foolish son still clamoring that he had unilaterally recognized the new empress as his sister and wanted to record her in the family genealogy made Chief Minister Yu want to laugh.

However, for the sake of his foolish son, he wouldn't mind protecting him if necessary.

Moreover, such a goddess should not suffer in the first place.

Finally, a heavy cry of "The Emperor has passed away!" echoed from inside the hall, and all the officials knelt down and kowtowed.

Immediately afterwards, a palace attendant carrying the imperial edict walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

There was no suspense; Emperor Chengyuan abdicated in favor of the crown prince.

The Crown Prince thanked the Emperor and looked up, his eyes bright and seemingly bursting with dazzling light. He was so excited that he only cared about stepping forward to receive the imperial decree and did not notice that the one announcing the decree was not the Southern Attendant, but an ordinary eunuch who was usually the most inconspicuous in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When he received the imperial edict and rushed into the hall, he only saw Li Tianyi lying lifeless on the dragon bed, and three eunuchs kneeling beside the bed.

As for Rong Rong and Nan Shi, they had long since disappeared.

How could this be? The Crown Prince quickened his pace, anxiously scanning the hall. Finding no one else present, he stiffened, his expression turning cold as he looked at the eunuchs before the bed. "Where is the Empress Dowager?"

"Your Highness, the Empress and Chief Eunuch Nan have already left," the eunuch replied tremblingly. Those left behind had long been prepared to lose their lives.

"Leave?" The Crown Prince sneered, a flame seemingly burning in his eyes. He carefully examined the room again, unaware that there was a secret passage in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Where is the secret passage?" the crown prince asked the kneeling eunuchs. However, all four of them remained silent, their heads pressed against the floor, not uttering a sound.

"Where is the secret passage?" the prince asked again, each word sharp and menacing, but the only response he received was deathly silence.

The crown prince finally lost his patience. He waved his hand to summon his guards, "Get them to talk, at any cost!"

The four eunuchs were about to bite their tongues and commit suicide, but the secret guards acted even faster and struck their pressure points.

They looked at each other in alarm, and at the same time made a kind of determination. They were as insignificant as ants, the lowest and most lowly people, but they wanted to do their best to hold up the bright moon, even if it was insignificant and no one cared.

They had nothing but their worthless lives, yet they were willing to die so that the Empress would have more time to leave.

At this moment, their eyes were no longer filled with panic; they were ready to die for their country, and even a little excited, excited that they could dedicate their lives to the Empress.

The crown prince saw through the eunuchs' thoughts and was instantly enraged. These lowly people deserved to die!

He drew the sword from the bodyguard's body, intending to kill the eunuchs on the spot, but suddenly the sounds of clashing weapons and shouts of battle came from outside the door.

The Crown Prince was surprised and quickly turned around. The gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was suddenly pushed open, and Xie Tianrui stepped steadily into the hall. Behind him, Qingfeng led a group of soldiers and rushed over, surrounding the Crown Prince and his guards.

"You want to rebel?" The crown prince's eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with rage, his grip on the sword tightening as if he wanted to pierce Xie Tianrui's chest with it, but his remaining rationality forced him to stand still.

Xie Tianrui laughed heartily, full of vigor and high spirits. He had been lying low for many days and had finally waited for this day.

"You have taken your subject's wife, you are incompetent and licentious, and you are unworthy to be a ruler!" Xie Tianrui's eyes were filled with hatred as he looked past the Crown Prince and stared intently at Emperor Chengyuan on the dragon bed.

"All I ask for is to take my wife with me. If the only way to keep her is to sit in that position, I don't mind rebelling!"

"Insolence!" the crown prince roared. "Guards! Guards!"

At this moment, the Crown Prince could only place his hopes on the Imperial Guards. These men were stationed in the inner palace and would come to the rescue in time should there be any disturbance in the palace. However, Xie Tianrui's next words shattered his hopes.

"Your Highness, there's no need to shout. My men are everywhere outside; no one will deliver a message to you."

Xie Tianrui strolled closer, enjoying the Crown Prince's impotent rage.

"Besides, the Imperial Guards have long been under my control. Even if they come, they won't help you!"