Chapter 166 I'm not dead yet!

As Yinzhen lay there listening, he felt increasingly uneasy.

“What’s going on? Hongzhao has never said these words to me before. Even when someone mentions the Fourth Prince Hongli, he doesn’t show any particular sign of distress. But I’ve heard this child swallow his grievances alone more than once or twice so as not to worry me. There must be something I don’t know about this.”

Where no one was watching, the emperor, who had been lying motionless in bed for many days, had his hand trembling slightly beside him.

Hongli pondered for a long time but couldn't find any way that Hongzhao had caught him red-handed. His confidence gradually returned. "What are you saying, Fifth Brother? I have little contact with you. If you are still holding a grudge about the previous Nine Provinces Peace and Prosperity Incident, then I apologize to you."

“It was indeed my fault as the elder brother that day. I was only thinking about how Father was angry and concerned about his mood, and I didn’t think about you, my younger brother. Father punished me for this, and I am still holding a grudge. Does that mean I have no bearing as the crown prince?”

Hongzhao's eyebrows shot up and he quickly interrupted him, retorting, "Whether it's just that one thing or not, Fourth Brother knows it in his heart. There's no need to pretend to be stupid. Father Emperor has already taught him how to be the Crown Prince. It's not your place to interfere!"

Hongzhao's bluntness completely ignited the resentment in his heart. This palace did indeed give him too much "security." There was no one around, and no one would come in at will. His father on the bed was oblivious and knew nothing. There was only his "mortal enemy" chattering incessantly across from him.

Every night before bed, he would mentally drag Hongzhao out and curse him several times. Today, seeing him in person, he couldn't control his emotions, and even his face became ferocious. "I really can't say anything. Father Emperor has never taught me anything. He held you and played with you in the garden, teaching you carefully, but he only told me to stay away and not to enter the palace!"

"The longest thing Father Emperor said to me was the day he punished me. He looked down on me, but even so, I'm still no worse than you! You enjoy the best treatment in the palace, but you're just mediocre. The people who should like you don't like you. Without Father Emperor's favor, you're nothing!"

He poured out all the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind for years without taking a breath, panting heavily as he looked triumphantly at Hongzhao's calm and collected face, which he hated the most.

“Say what you just said to me again.”

A majestic yet low voice sounded from behind Hongzhao. The bright yellow figure, who hadn't moved for days on the bed, slowly sat up, propping himself up on his elbows.

Listening to Hongli's outrageous behavior in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, pointing fingers at Hongzhao and spouting nonsense, Yinzhen could only lie there oblivious and let it all go! Overwhelmed with frustration, he suddenly felt a surge of anger erupt from his chest.

"Father!"

"Your Majesty...Father..."

The two voices spoke the same words, but their meanings were completely different. Hongzhao turned around in surprise and rushed to Yinzhen's side to examine his face closely. His joy burst forth instantly. He couldn't hide it anymore, and disregarding what the Fourth Prince had just said, he quickly shouted towards the door, "Su Peisheng! Quickly summon the imperial physician! Father Emperor has awakened!"

Hongli, however, was completely different. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his father's angry and stern eyes. He clutched his robe helplessly with both hands and stumbled back two steps.

The fact that Father Emperor asked this question means he must have heard something and wanted to support Hongzhao.

Hongli gritted his teeth and sighed inwardly. Why did his father wake up at this crucial moment? Why didn't he wake up earlier or later? Why didn't he wake up when he went to pay his respects or when Hongzhao stopped him? Was he really just unlucky?

He quickly took half a step back, deftly lifted his robe, and knelt down—"Father, you're awake! That's wonderful! Your son and fifth brother were very worried about you."

Could he really have the guts to repeat what he just said? I wonder where Father Emperor heard it from; if he says too much at once, it will be even worse.

Hearing the shouts from inside, Su Peisheng hurriedly led the imperial physicians who were guarding outside the hall into the room. Upon entering, he glanced around the room with keen insight and then lowered his head as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Yinzhen extended his wrist for the imperial physician to take his pulse, his gaze fixed heavily and imposingly on Hongli—"You were so arrogant in front of the Crown Prince just now, why are you so silent in front of me?"

Just as Zhou Qi reached out to feel the Emperor's pulse, before he could even discern the Emperor's identity, the Emperor abruptly pulled his hand back and slammed it twice on the bed. The dull "bang bang" sounds could be heard even through the thick mattress, startling Zhou Qi.

"I'm just lying here, I'm not dead yet!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was no room left for anyone to stand. Even Hongzhao knelt down on the spot beside his father's legs. He pursed his lips and stretched out his hand to help his father catch his breath, his eyes full of worry.

Su Peisheng secretly glanced at the Fourth Prince. Look at him... He managed to wake up the Emperor, who had been in a coma for days due to illness. This guy is really something. Every time he sees the Emperor, the Emperor gets angry. I wonder what kind of punishment he will receive this time.

Who would dare disobey the Emperor's orders? Hongli pursed his lips, hesitatingly stammering, "Your subject... Your subject was just... Just now, it was your fifth brother... who is... who is the Crown Prince."

After receiving a noticeably more annoyed look, Hongli decisively changed his tune.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you are unwell. I finally had the opportunity to be by your side and show my filial piety, but the Crown Prince obstructed me in every way and provoked me with his words. That's why I... spoke without thinking. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

"Your Highness's words are provocative?" Yinzhen's physical exhaustion from the past few days had not subsided. He leaned on his knees, his posture slightly hunched, yet even so, it was hard not to feel awe and fear. It was as if no one would provoke a temporarily wounded king of the grasslands.

He pointed directly at Hongli—"I see that the Crown Prince is yielding step by step! But you! You show no regard for rank, and your words are not only disrespectful to the Crown Prince, but also full of resentment towards me. I'm sure you've been harboring hatred in your heart for a long time!"

"Your Majesty, I dare not! Your Majesty, please understand! Your Majesty, I dare not!" Such a crime was too great, and Hongli would rather die than admit it. He kowtowed to the Emperor desperately, pleading incessantly, saying that he was truly wronged.

Yinzhen glanced at Hongzhao beside him, who hadn't said a word and whose eyes were fixed on him, and thought to himself that his son was still too innocent and kind.

Hongli, such an ambitious and resentful prince, is an uncertain figure. Whether he becomes his son or the future emperor's elder brother, his future is uncertain. Keeping such a person by his side would only bring trouble. For now, he can keep him in check and prevent him from acting too recklessly. But in the future... Hongzhao will only find himself in a dilemma.

He couldn't let his son suffer the same fate as him, bearing the stigma of harming his brother and being callous.

"Su Peisheng, convey the imperial decree: Fourth Prince Hongli..."

Su Peisheng was looking down to take notes when Xia Zi's voice came in from outside without any obstruction.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"