Chapter 150 New Emperor
Even though the Queen Mother always favored Prince Duan and usually protected Concubine Hui, she became furious when she heard this.
She slammed the armrest of the chair and ordered the imperial physician, "No matter what, you must do your best to cure the emperor! If the emperor makes any mistakes, I will not forgive you!"
The imperial physician quickly agreed and turned back to the inner hall to perform acupuncture.
Not long after, the palace servant suddenly shouted in surprise: "The emperor has woken up! The emperor has opened his eyes!"
The Queen Mother took the lead and quickly walked to the dragon bed, saying anxiously, "Emperor, how are you feeling? Are you still feeling unwell?"
The emperor's face was as pale as paper, his breath was weak, and he spoke with difficulty, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Pass... pass on my order!"
The hall instantly became quiet, and everyone held their breath.
"Noble Consort Hui... attempted to murder me. Her crime is heinous!" The emperor's voice was soft, yet it carried undeniable authority. "Immediately strip her of her title of Noble Consort, demote her to the rank of commoner, banish her to the cold palace, and execute her at a later date!"
He paused, remembering how Concubine Hui had been so eager to poison him since returning from Prince Duan's residence. A glint of deep disappointment flashed in his eyes. "Prince Duan... has behaved inappropriately, and I'm sure he's also complicit! I'll demote him to a commoner and confine him to the palace for life. Without my permission, you're not allowed to take a single step out!"
He originally still had some father-son affection for Prince Duan, but now it seems that this son is not only useless, but also disobedient and unfilial. For the throne, he even dares to plot against his own father!
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his throat again and suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of blood, which splashed on the brocade mattress of the dragon bed, which was shocking.
His already pale face instantly turned gray, and his breath weakened.
Upon seeing this, the imperial doctors immediately came forward to give acupuncture and medicine, and the hall was in a state of chaos again.
The queen stood aside, clutching the handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white.
The emperor is in such a state that I’m afraid he won’t be able to hold on for much longer.
Fortunately, Prince An had been disabled in both legs since childhood and had never thought about competing for the throne. He only wanted to be a rich and idle person.
No matter which prince ascends the throne in the end, for the sake of reputation, he will never make things difficult for his elder brother Prince An. Otherwise, if the news gets out, he will inevitably be branded as "not even able to tolerate his brothers."
As the Empress of the Central Palace, no matter who the new emperor is, she is the rightful empress dowager and there is no need for her to get involved in the muddy waters of the dispute over the throne.
Thinking of this, the queen slowly lowered her eyes and stood beside the empress dowager.
She put on just the right look of worry, and looked at the emperor with eyes full of concern, but she remained silent about the matters of choosing a crown prince and state affairs, and did not get involved at all.
After the emperor finally caught his breath, he rolled his eyes with difficulty and looked at Xie Yan who was standing not far away. He said in a weak and intermittent voice, "Prince Xuan and Prince Rui, please stay... I... have something to say."
The Queen Mother glanced at Xie Yan, who had remained calm throughout, and a complex expression flashed in her eyes.
She has never liked this imperial grandson of unknown origin, but now the princes are either disabled or weak, and there is no other choice.
Fortunately, no matter who ascends the throne, she is the rightful Empress Dowager, so there is no need to worry too much.
Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Queen spoke. Although the other concubines had doubts and some of them turned to Concubine Hui, Concubine Hui and Prince Duan had already been demoted to commoners. Naturally, no one would be foolish enough to stand up for them at this time.
After the concubines and royal family members left the bedroom one after another, only the emperor, Xie Yan, Prince Rui and Eunuch Yang were left in the hall.
Prince Rui spoke first, his tone filled with worry: "Your Majesty, please take care of your health first. If there is anything, why not wait until you feel better before discussing it?"
The emperor shook his head weakly, his breath fading. "My body... I know it well. I'm afraid I'll need to rest for a long time."
His gaze fell on Xie Yan, and he finally got to the point: "Xie Yan, today I will issue an edict to appoint you as Crown Prince. While I recuperate, you will handle state affairs on my behalf."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly changed the subject, with a hint of unwillingness to refuse: "Also, you are not young anymore, it's time to appoint a Crown Princess. I have already chosen a candidate for you - the granddaughter of the Minister of the Chancellery. She is dignified and virtuous, with both talent and beauty, and is a perfect match for you."
The meaning of this statement is obvious: if Xie Yan wants to be the crown prince, he must accept this arranged marriage and use the power of the Shangshu Ling to consolidate his position as the crown prince.
Xie Yan lowered his eyes and smiled, his tone as flat as if he was talking about something insignificant: "Father, your son's talent is mediocre and his temperament is lazy. I am truly unfit to bear the position of Crown Prince, let alone take charge of the government."
"So, Father, please choose someone else for the position of Crown Prince."
"You—!" The emperor's chest heaved with rage as he shouted, "Think carefully! Only with the Shangshu Ling's support can you secure your position as crown prince! Would I harm you?"
Although there was solid evidence that Concubine Hui poisoned the emperor to force him to abdicate, the emperor still had some doubts in his heart.
Concubine Hui's plan was riddled with holes, but he no longer had the energy to investigate. Prince Duan had been demoted to a commoner, and Prince An was unable to walk, leaving Xie Yan as the only suitable candidate.
But who could have thought that Xie Yan would be so stubborn and wouldn't do what he wanted at all!
The emperor was so angry that he couldn't breathe. He vomited blood again and fainted completely.
After this, the emperor never woke up again...
The imperial doctors were at a loss as to what to do. They all said that the poison in the emperor was extremely strange. Although it would not take the emperor's life for the time being, the emperor would never wake up again.
Things would be much simpler if the emperor didn't wake up.
Before the emperor fell into a coma, only Xie Yan, Prince Rui and Eunuch Yang were by his side.
Everyone knew that the emperor would definitely make Prince Xuan the crown prince, so they were not surprised that Xie Yan became the heir.
However, surprisingly, the emperor's oral instructions before he fell into a coma also included an order to grant a marriage between Xie Yan and Princess Mingyi Ruan Yunsheng.
Although many people had doubts in their hearts, no one dared to raise any questions.
The country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Since the imperial doctors have concluded that the emperor will never wake up again, Xie Yan, as the crown prince, needs to ascend the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the government.
However, the wedding of the emperor and empress cannot be rushed and needs to be carefully prepared. The wedding date is finally set on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
A new emperor appoints his own ministers. After the new emperor ascends the throne, the court structure is reshuffled in an instant.
Prince Duan, Concubine Hui, Bai Ruowei and others successively "committed suicide out of fear of punishment".
Because Shangshu Bai was implicated by his daughter Bai Ruowei, he was the first to be dismissed from his official position and thrown into the sky prison to await trial. The once glorious Shangshu Mansion became deserted overnight.
All the court officials who had secretly attached themselves to Prince Duan and intended to help him win the throne were purged, and some were dismissed and exiled, while others were demoted and banished, and even their followers were implicated.
In just a few days, a storm broke out in the officialdom of Shengjing.
Those figures who used to curry favor with the powerful have disappeared, and the streets and alleys are filled with a cautious silence. Amidst the panic, everyone is secretly on guard and dares not touch the new emperor's reverse scale again.
The entire Marquis Zhenguo's Mansion was busy preparing for Ruan Yunsheng's wedding.
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