The emperor's nagging brought Eunuch Li back to the 25th year of Kaiyuan, when the emperor was already over 60 years old.
The establishment of a crown prince is imminent.
It was a day in September. The emperor summoned all the civil and military officials to the palace to discuss matters, the main topic of which was the appointment of a crown prince.
The emperor said, "It is unfortunate for the country that the crown prince died young. Ancient times said that a country with a long-lived ruler can bring prosperity to the people. I wish to establish Prince Ning as the heir. What do you think?"
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, there was a burst of noise in the hall.
All the civil and military officials had different expressions, whispering to each other and discussing.
For a moment, the court was like boiling water, gurgling and very lively.
After about an incense stick of time, the discussions in the hall gradually died down.
At this time, Hanlin scholar Liu Zhiwu was the first to step forward and say, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Emperor's grandson is young and wealthy, and is also a legitimate son. It is a common etiquette throughout history for a grandson to inherit the legitimate throne. Your Majesty, please do not overstep your bounds!"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the ministers expressed their agreement with the Hanlin scholar's words, "Your Majesty should strictly abide by the rites and laws. The son inherits the father's throne, and there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children!"
Although the emperor had argued for Prince Ning, he was just one mouth away from winning over the clamor of the people in the court.
Seeing that all the ministers disagreed with making Prince Ning the crown prince, the emperor burst into tears on the spot.
At that moment, he truly regretted that he should not have acted on his own and turned Prince Ning into an "lonely king"!
......
"Your Majesty, there is no point in worrying too much. It is more important to take care of your health." Eunuch Li wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and handed a cup of tea to the emperor.
"Rongde, prepare your writing brush and ink." The emperor suddenly opened his eyes. "I...I need to draft two imperial edicts."
He turned his back and quietly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve. Slowly, the softness in his eyes disappeared, and was replaced by a forbearing and ruthless look.
The emperor sat up straight and took the pen from Eunuch Li. "Brighten the candlestick a little more."
While fiddling with the candle wicks, Eunuch Li signaled the palace maids to light a few more palace lanterns, and the entire Fengxian Hall became bright.
......
Bang!
Early in the morning, the teacup in Shen Yuyao's hand inexplicably cracked and shattered to the ground.
It's already quite chilly in Yanjing in September.
I don’t know if it was because of the pain or because of the sudden gust of wind outside the window.
Shen Yuyao couldn't help but shudder.
She looked down at her little finger, which was oozing a few drops of blood, and suddenly felt as if someone was holding her heart tightly.
It was beating very fast, and there was a dull pain.
"Yuyao, why are you so careless?"
Xia Yu, who was sitting on the couch reading a book, turned around and looked at her. He couldn't help but scold her, "You are already a mother of nine children, and you are still so clumsy."
Although he said this, his body still stood up quickly and honestly, then quickly hugged Shen Yuyao and took up her scratched hand to take a closer look.
Xia Yu shouted outside the door: "Zi Su, quickly get some gauze! The princess is injured."
"It's nothing serious. It's just a small scratch on my little finger. There's no need for gauze. I'm not that delicate!" Shen Yuyao glanced at Xia Yu, "Your Highness, have you forgotten that I've been practicing martial arts since I was young?"
"People who practice martial arts can bleed at will?"
Xia Yu looked at the wound carefully and found it was indeed very small. He couldn't help but chuckle.
He shook his head and whispered, "It seems that I am also getting old."
Shen Yuyao asked curiously, "I only scratched my little finger. Besides, Your Highness is only in his thirties. How could it cause you to be so emotional?"
"Yuyao, haven't you noticed that my heart is starting to soften?" Xia Yu smiled faintly, "Isn't that just because I'm getting old?"
“…”
Zi Su, who hurried into the house with gauze in her hand, happened to hear the sweet words of the two.
Zi Su couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
These two children are almost becoming someone else's parents, but they can still be so sweet.
Zi Su smiled secretly as she cut the gauze in her hand into very small and thin strips and wrapped them around Shen Yuyao twice.
Facing Xia Yu's doting eyes, Shen Yuyao had no choice but to let Zi Su bandage her little finger.
"Your Highness, I just felt uneasy for some reason."
Shen Yuyao wiped her eyes gently with her sleeve and said, "Look, my right eyelid has been twitching violently. Could something big happen in our house?"
"My left eye twitches, my right eye twitches..." Xia Yu regretted it as soon as he said it.
"What else could be the big deal? Princess, you have managed Prince Ning's Mansion in perfect order. Even my concubines have been arranged clearly by you..." He turned his head and looked at Shen Yuyao with a bitter face.
Zi Su was secretly laughing beside him.
Ever since Shen Yuyao returned to Prince Ning's Mansion, she always arranged for the concubines given by the palace to take turns to serve Xia Yu in bed.
The person next to him kept changing, which always made him unable to sleep well.
In desperation, Xia Yu could only get himself a "Yangxin Palace" and stay there every day. Gradually, the concubines accepted their fate and stopped bothering him.
But he looks forward to the first and fifteenth day of every month.
During those two days, he could stay with her in her bedroom.
During those two days, he always slept very soundly!
"Your Highness! There's an urgent secret report from Kyoto!"
He was lost in thought when Danggui's hurried voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Xia Yu and Shen Yuyao were both startled and said in unison, "Come in quickly!"
Zi Su knew that the two of them had to deal with urgent matters, so she quickly lifted the curtain and left.
“Bang!”
Xia Yu took out the secret letter and stood there with his hands hanging down in a daze after reading it.
The grief on his face was beyond words, and the small bamboo tube in his hand fell to the ground.
"Your Highness..."
As soon as Shen Yuyao saw Xia Yu's expression, she knew that something big must have happened in Kyoto. Just as she was about to ask, she saw tears rolling down Xia Yu's eyes.
This scared Shen Yuyao a lot.
She had never seen him so depressed, nor had she ever seen Xia Yu shed a tear.
"Your Majesty, what big event happened in Kyoto?"
After hesitating for a while, Shen Yuyao asked softly.
"Eunuch Li, who is beside the emperor, sent a secret letter." Xia Yu said in a deep voice: "The emperor drank a bowl of chicken soup a few days ago, and then he began to feel unwell, vomiting and having diarrhea."
"Now...now he is extremely ill and won't live long!"
"Eunuch Li's secret report was sent by carrier pigeon a day ago. Now..." Xia Yu's face turned pale.
"I'm afraid he's already passed away..." Shen Yuyao controlled her intense emotions and took several deep breaths before finally asking him, "Eunuch Li is from my East Depot. Did he ever tell me who made this bowl of chicken soup for my father?"
Xia Yu nodded.
"It's in the secret report."
"Who is it?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com