Chapter 773 Zhong Hao's Showdown
Zhong Hao stepped forward, bowed, and urged, "Your Majesty, it's time to make a decision."
Li Sanqi also stared intently at Emperor Xiaozhao, "Father!"
Just then, a faint scent wafted into Emperor Xiaozhao's nostrils. He felt a surge of blood in his chest, and a mouthful of blood gushed out.
Before long, Emperor Xiaozhao, who had appeared healthy and vigorous, collapsed on the dragon throne and lost consciousness.
Qiao Qinghe stared in astonishment at the scene, completely bewildered.
Was all of this really just a scheme set up by Emperor Xiaozhao?
Did we go too far?
The moment Emperor Xiaozhao fell, Li Sanqi rushed to his side.
Li Jingyue was a step too slow. By the time she tried to get closer, Wen Jue had already raised his broadsword again, keeping her and everyone else three zhang away from Emperor Xiaozhao.
Soon, Li Sanqi directed several eunuchs to carry Emperor Xiaozhao to a side hall.
When she came out again, she had become the master of the imperial study.
"My father has suddenly fallen ill, and I have already sent someone to fetch the imperial physician."
Li Sanqi scanned everyone present and said, "Please follow Commander Wen to rest."
"We'll discuss everything once Father wakes up."
Does this mean they're going to put everyone under house arrest?
Once they leave, it's uncertain whether Emperor Xiaozhao will be able to wake up again.
But everyone could guess that once they left, Emperor Xiaozhao would have a sudden burst of energy and would leave behind a will.
As for whether it's true or false... well, that's a matter of opinion.
"Li Sanqi! What do you want to do?"
Li Sanqi's actions are undoubtedly a matter of ulterior motives!
Li Jingyue, who had always been as gentle and unassuming as a chrysanthemum, finally couldn't help but glare angrily at Li Sanqi.
"Li Jingyue, Li Jingyue, I really underestimated you!"
Li Sanqi's cold gaze swept over Li Jingyue, then swept over Yongning Marquis, Zhong Hao and others standing behind Li Jingyue.
"You've managed to gather so much power without making a sound!"
"Unfortunately, might makes right!"
Li Jingyue's face darkened, her eyes equally cold as she looked at Li Sanqi: "Are you so sure you've got this in the bag?"
Li Sanqi spread his arms, spun around, and said with a confident expression, "See? There are thirty Imperial Guards in the Imperial Study."
"There are still thirty people outside the Imperial Study!"
"From the Imperial Study, there are sentries every three steps and squads every five steps. The entire palace can be under the control of the Imperial Guards!"
"With just one order from me, none of you will be able to leave the Imperial Study."
Li Jingyue ignored Li Sanqi, whose expression had become somewhat manic, and instead turned to look at Wen Jue beside her.
"Commander Wen, you are the person Father Emperor trusts most! Father Emperor entrusted the Imperial Guards to you, which means he entrusted his life and fortune to you!"
How could you betray him like this?
Wen Jue said expressionlessly, "Your Highness is mistaken. This humble subject has not betrayed His Majesty."
"As a subject, I also have the duty to offer advice and remonstrance."
"Besides, His Majesty's life is not in danger right now, is it?"
Li Jingyue was utterly shocked by Wen Jue's shamelessness.
She suppressed her anger and looked coldly at Li Sanqi: "Do you think you've won just because you've taken control of the palace?"
Li Sanqi scoffed dismissively, "Otherwise what? If I can't win, do you think you can?"
"Heh, believe it or not, you won't even be able to leave the palace."
Li Jingyue retorted sarcastically, "Yes, I can't leave the palace, but do you think you can sit firmly on the throne?"
"Did you know that before entering the palace, Marquis Yongning had already deployed the city guards?"
“If we haven’t left the palace by nightfall, the deputy commander of the city guards will lead his troops to storm the palace.”
"Do you think that the Imperial Guards, with only a few thousand men, can withstand the city guards' tens of thousands of troops?"
Li Sanqi, who had always been full of confidence, finally felt a little flustered.
Just then, Madam Zheng walked up behind Li Jingyue, glared at Li Sanqi with hatred in her eyes, and said, "What Princess Liyang said is true!"
"When Lady Qinghe and I entered the palace, we did see some unusual activity from the city guards."
Li Sanqi frowned and looked at Qiao Qinghe, who nodded solemnly.
A flicker of panic crossed Li Sanqi's eyes, but he maintained his composure on the surface.
Even so, so what?
"Even if I die, I will drag all of you down with me!"
The two sisters were still arguing, but Qiao Qinghe kept her eyes on Zhong Hao, who had somehow retreated to the back of the crowd.
While everyone was focused on the argument between the Li sisters, Zhong Hao quietly entered the side hall where Emperor Xiaozhao was resting through a side door.
The King of Chu, who was guarding Emperor Xiaozhao's sickbed, was startled when Zhong Hao suddenly entered.
"How...how did you get in?"
Chu Wang looked towards the doorway but didn't see any imperial guards. Instead, he could hear faint sounds of arguing coming from the imperial study next door.
The King of Chu stood guard by Emperor Xiaozhao's bedside, glaring warily at Zhong Hao as he slowly approached: "What are you doing here?"
Zhong Hao smiled and said gently, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. I am here to treat His Majesty's illness."
"Treat illnesses??" King Chu looked at Zhong Hao in shock: "You're not a royal physician, what illnesses can you treat?"
Zhong Hao smiled and took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. "This old minister is not a royal physician, but this old minister has a miraculous medicine that even royal physicians cannot make."
As he spoke, to the astonishment of the King of Chu, he uncorked the bottle and held the small porcelain bottle up to Emperor Xiaozhao's nose, shaking it gently.
Before long, Emperor Xiaozhao, who had been unconscious, actually woke up slowly.
The King of Chu was so shocked that he was speechless for a moment.
Zhong Hao smiled and said, "Please trouble Your Majesty to wait a moment before informing the people outside. This old minister has some things he would like to say to Your Majesty first."
The King of Chu was so shocked that he subconsciously nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Emperor Xiaozhao slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was the King of Chu, his eyes brimming with tears, standing guard by his bedside, and Zhong Hao, who looked down at him with disdain.
"Zhong, Hao!"
Emperor Xiaozhao narrowed his eyes. "It was you who poisoned me!"
This is an affirmative statement.
Zhong Hao laughed, "No, it was Princess Huaiyang who poisoned the Emperor."
Emperor Xiaozhao glared at Zhong Hao through gritted teeth: "You poisoned me, poisoned the Empress Dowager, poisoned the Crown Prince... weren't you the one pulling the strings behind all of this?"
Zhong Hao's smile deepened: "Your Majesty has underestimated the matter. The deposed crown prince's rebellion was also the work of this old minister."
"Oh, by the way, it was also this old minister who dragged the deposed crown prince into that quagmire in Jiangnan."
"It was this old minister who led Consort Zhao to misguide the Crown Prince and gradually plunge him into the abyss."
Zhong Hao became more and more excited as he spoke, and his old face, which was already wrinkled like tree bark, now smiled like a chrysanthemum.
"Your heir, whom you nurtured with the utmost care and effort, has been so easily destroyed by me!"
"Is Your Majesty pleasantly surprised?"
"Zhong Hao!" Emperor Xiaozhao glared at Zhong Hao with bloodshot eyes, wishing he could tear him to pieces.
"Why? Why did you do this?"
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