Chapter 774 Emperor Xiaozhao is Dying
"Why?"
Zhong Hao's smile faded, and he looked at Emperor Xiaozhao with deep, unfathomable eyes. "Hasn't Your Majesty already guessed why I did this?"
"Are you Min Ji?" Emperor Xiaozhao also suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice, "Are you here to avenge the Min family?"
Zhong Hao nodded, then shook his head. "This old minister is indeed Min Ji, but the purpose of all this is not to avenge the Min family."
Zhong Hao pointed to the imperial study, "Your Majesty, did you hear that? Princess Huaiyang and Princess Liyang are fighting for your throne."
"One commanded the Imperial Palace Guards, while the other had won over the city's guards."
"Who do you think will win?"
"And which of them will you choose to succeed you?"
Emperor Xiaozhao stared intently at Zhong Hao, and instead of answering, asked, "From the moment the Crown Prince was deposed for treason, you have been plotting against Huaiyang, yet now you are supporting Liyang."
"So, who do you support? Who do you really want to succeed you?"
Zhong Hao smiled and shook his head, saying with an infinitely mocking tone, "What answer does His Majesty hope for?"
"If I say I support Princess Huaiyang, will His Majesty then appoint Princess Liyang as Crown Princess?"
"vice versa."
"No matter what I say, His Majesty won't believe me. Isn't that right?"
"So, His Majesty never intended to choose an heir from among these sisters from the very beginning?"
Emperor Xiaozhao's expression changed slightly, and his eyes became dangerous.
Seeing this, Zhong Hao quickly raised his hand to comfort him, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't worry, let me finish what I have to say."
"Not only did I guess that His Majesty wouldn't choose an heir from the two princesses, but I also guessed that this whole charade was probably orchestrated by His Majesty to force me out!"
"Now, I stand before His Majesty. What does His Majesty wish to do?"
"Kill me?"
"Then what?"
Zhong Hao, seemingly indifferent to life and death, smiled and reminded him, "Your Majesty, you won't live for many more hours. You should hurry up and appoint a successor for the Great Yan."
"Once you have chosen your successor, this old minister will accompany you on your journey."
Emperor Xiaozhao clenched his fist, "The poison in my body..."
Zhong Hao nodded: "This old minister instructed Princess Huaiyang to do it."
"Your Majesty could have held on for another three months. However, just now in the Imperial Study, this old minister added fuel to the fire."
"So Your Majesty, your time is truly running out. It is time to make arrangements for your passing."
"Father!!!"
The King of Chu, who had been standing to the side, was so frightened by these words that he almost lost his mind.
His cry instantly woke everyone in the imperial study.
Led by Li Sanqi, the group rushed in quickly.
"Lord Zhong, what are you doing here?" Li Sanqi quickly walked to the bedside and stood guard in front of Emperor Xiaozhao.
Li Jingyue followed closely behind, standing between Zhong Hao and Emperor Xiaozhao.
Zhong Hao smiled at the two princesses and asked with a kind expression, "Aren't the two princesses going to act?"
Li Jingyue turned to look at Li Sanqi, and their eyes met.
The two glared angrily at Zhong Hao: "You figured it out a long time ago?"
Zhong Hao smiled and said, "Your meager tricks are not enough to impress me."
The two frowned, and just then, Emperor Xiaozhao behind them called out weakly, "Huaiyang, Liyang."
The two quickly turned around and squatted down beside the bed.
"Father." "Father."
Emperor Xiaozhao did not look at Zhong Hao again, and coldly ordered, "Take Zhong Hao away and keep him under strict guard."
Wen Jue commanded the Imperial Guards to come in and take the man away.
Zhong Hao waved his hand, "No need for you to do anything, I will go with you."
Then he looked at Emperor Xiaozhao and said, "Your Majesty, don't forget to have someone inform this old minister of your decision."
After saying that, he strode towards the door.
As he passed by Qiao Qinghe, Zhong Hao nodded to her and said, "Qiao Qinghe, I'll be waiting for you."
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback, not knowing what Zhong Hao meant by those words.
Before she could even ask, Zhong Hao had already left with the Imperial Guards.
Just then, the imperial physician arrived.
Li Sanqi had indeed sent someone to summon the imperial physicians, and he even summoned all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital.
The imperial physicians stepped forward to take Emperor Xiaozhao's pulse.
After the first imperial physician took the pulse, the man was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
The second person did the same, and the third, the fourth...
It wasn't until more than a dozen imperial physicians had finished taking pulses and were all lying on the ground that everyone realized the seriousness of the problem.
Li Sanqi hurriedly asked, "How is Father's health? Speak up!"
Li Jingyue rarely lost her temper: "Answer me! What's the meaning of not saying anything?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
None of the imperial physicians dared to utter the words.
The King of Chu, who was already terrified, stammered, "Lord Zhong said that Father Emperor only has a few hours left to live."
Li Sanqi turned to the imperial physician in disbelief: "Tell me, is what the King of Chu said true?"
The imperial physicians dared not conceal the truth any longer and nodded in agreement: "That is indeed the case."
Li Sanqi was momentarily distracted and almost lost his balance, but fortunately Li Jingyue helped him catch up.
"Father!"
Li Sanqi knelt down on the edge of the bed and sincerely repented, "Your subject was wrong!"
"It's all my fault! I was bewitched and greedy, which led me to be misled by treacherous people and commit all sorts of unforgivable crimes."
"Father, kill me! My crimes are unforgivable, I deserve to die!"
Li Jingyue glanced at Li Sanqi and calmly said, "Seventh Sister, now is not the time to talk about these things."
As she spoke, she looked at Emperor Xiaozhao, "Father, is there any way to save you?"
"If Zhong Hao could poison you, there must be an antidote."
"I'll send men to search his house right away!"
He then ordered the Imperial Guards, "Send a few men to the prison to interrogate Lord Zhong. Also, send a team to the Zhong family to search for the antidote."
Wen Jue accepted the order and went out to make the arrangements.
Li Jingyue looked at Emperor Xiaozhao again, "Father, just in case, you should establish a crown prince as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Li Sanqi stiffened for a moment, but quickly masked his reaction.
She raised her head, wiped away her tears, and nodded in agreement, saying, "Father, Sixth Sister is right. Father should make a decision as soon as possible."
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Third Brother and Fifth Brother are not to your liking. There are several younger brothers below. Surely one of them will satisfy you. Sixth Sister and I will send someone to call them over."
As she spoke, she looked at Li Jingyue: "Sixth Sister, what do you think?"
Li Jingyue looked at Emperor Xiaozhao: "Father?"
Emperor Xiaozhao nodded in agreement: "Alright."
Li Sanqi immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to summon someone.
Just then, a young eunuch rushed in in a panic.
"Something terrible has happened!"
The young eunuch rushed in and, seeing so many people present, was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Princess Huaiyang! Greetings..."
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