While Bai Wei of the Duke's Mansion was racking her brains over the matter of having an heir, Zhao Yi in the Imperial Study was also furious about the Cangchun Tower incident.
"Flowers, birds, fish, and insects?! Beautiful mountains and rivers?! Do they think I'm a fool?!" Zhao Yi waved his hand, and with a crisp sound, the teacup that Li An had just brought fell to the ground.
The scalding tea splashed onto the palm of Zhao Yuan, the Minister of Justice, who was kneeling on the ground. He endured the pain and remained silent.
“But these paintings, with just an identity token, can sell for tens of thousands of gold coins. Is it really that easy to make money in our Great Xuan?! Interrogate! Interrogate him properly for me!” He leaned over the table, veins bulging on his arms.
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health!" Li An reminded him anxiously from the side.
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Yi coughed up a mouthful of blood and his body lurched backward.
"Your Majesty—" Zhao Yuan quickly got up from the ground.
"Someone come here! Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Li An's soft, high-pitched voice suddenly rang out in the imperial study.
Half an hour later, a group of imperial physicians came to the bedchamber and then left.
The flickering candlelight illuminated the complex expressions on everyone's faces.
Qin Sheng sat upright on the dragon bed, his face calm, but his eyes could not hide his worry.
She gently stroked Zhao Yi's cold hand, but her ears were listening to Song Jin and Li An's conversation.
"Imperial Physician Song, have you made a diagnosis yet? What's wrong with His Majesty?" Li An asked, pulling Song Jin aside.
A hint of panic flashed in Song Jin's eyes. He glanced at Empress Qin Sheng sitting on the dragon bed out of the corner of his eye, and then composed himself and said, "Eunuch Li, I can only diagnose that His Majesty fainted due to anger."
Upon hearing this, Li An frowned deeply, his heart filled with anxiety. He knew that beneath the surface of "anger attacking the heart," there might be a deeper underlying cause of illness; otherwise, Zhao Yi would not have remained unconscious for so long.
"Imperial Physician Song, His Majesty's health is a matter of national importance. Please investigate thoroughly and find the root cause of his illness." His words carried an undeniable firmness.
Song Jin bowed respectfully, his tone tinged with helplessness and self-reproach: "What Eunuch Li said is absolutely right. Your Majesty will certainly do your utmost. However, His Majesty has been very busy with state affairs recently, and there may be some unresolved issues in his heart, which has caused his blood and qi to flow in reverse. He needs to rest and recuperate, supplemented with medicine, in order to gradually recover."
After speaking, Song Jin turned to the accompanying physician and instructed, "Quickly prepare a calming and soothing tonic, and tell the imperial kitchen to prepare a light and easily digestible meal. Remember, there must be no mistakes."
Upon hearing this, the physicians quickly responded and withdrew to attend to their duties.
“A knot in his heart…” Li An murmured, “Expanding the territory of the Great Xuan was a lifelong knot in the Emperor’s heart.”
Qin Sheng, standing to the side, parted her lips slightly and instructed, "Eunuch Li, go and arrange for manpower to strengthen the palace's guards and patrols to ensure that His Majesty is not disturbed during his convalescence. At the same time, you should also send someone to inform the important ministers of the court that His Majesty is temporarily unwell and that state affairs will be discussed and handled by me and several regents."
Li An felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood the Empress's intention: to stabilize the court while also giving the Emperor more time to recuperate.
"As you command, this old servant will go and do it immediately." With that, he hurriedly left the bedchamber, his steps carrying a sense of determination and resolve.
With Li An gone, the bedchamber returned to tranquility once more.
Empress Qin Sheng sat alone beside the dragon bed, gazing tenderly at the unconscious Zhao Yi, silently praying in her heart.
"Your Majesty," Song Jin called softly, "please take good care of yourself."
Qin Sheng looked at him with a complicated expression.
Song Jin gestured for her to move to the side hall.
Qin Sheng glanced at Zhao Yi on the bed and, seeing that he showed no signs of waking up, instructed the palace maids to take good care of him before heading to the side hall.
"Sheng'er, you've suffered so much."
Upon arriving at the side hall, Song Jin immediately stepped forward and embraced Qin Sheng tightly.
"Imperial Physician Song, please have some self-respect." Qin Sheng pushed Song Jin away forcefully.
“Sheng’er!” Song Jin said with tears in her eyes, “If your father hadn’t insisted on sending you to the palace, we would be surrounded by our children and enjoying the happiness of family life.”
"Those are all things of the past, Physician Song, please don't dwell on them," Qin Sheng replied calmly as she straightened her wrinkled dress.
"Sheng'er, what about that night between us? What happened between us?"
Song Jin's eyes reddened, and she grabbed Qin Sheng's hand, placing it on her pulse.
Qin Sheng tried hard to pull her hand back, but it was in vain.
"Sheng'er, you are carrying my child. Do you still want to sever ties with me?"
Song Jin pressed closer and closer, while Qin Sheng retreated step by step until her back hit a pillar.
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