Thanks to the efforts of the imperial physicians, the emperor survived the ordeal.
He had just woken up when he heard muffled sobbing outside, as if they were mourning his death in advance.
He felt another mouthful of blood about to spurt from his throat, so he closed his eyes and forced it back down.
"Are you all mourning for me ahead of time? Get out of here!"
The emperor spoke weakly, and the concubines, who were too far away to hear him clearly.
The most favored concubine, emboldened, let out two more howls, putting on a show for the emperor to see how deeply she loved him!
"Waaaaah~ Your Majesty~ You're finally awake! I was so worried about you, I couldn't sleep for days!"
The Imperial Concubine knew that the Emperor loved it when she spoke to him in such a sweet and delicate voice, and she immediately felt that she had him under her thumb.
"You bitch! Get out! All of you get out!"
The emperor mustered all his strength and shouted, then coughed a dozen times, looking like he was about to die.
The imperial physicians had already knelt down in a group, and the royal physicians rushed forward to perform acupuncture on the emperor to protect his heart.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your health is not good enough to withstand anger!"
Out of professional ethics, the imperial physician still mustered up the courage to dissuade him.
The emperor was aware of his physical condition and knew he could no longer afford to lose his temper, so he could only use his eyes to intimidate the concubines into leaving.
The Imperial Concubine, kneeling at the very front, was under the greatest pressure and was completely bewildered.
Where has the emperor, who usually cherishes her so much, gone?
The imperial concubine shed large tears, but seeing that she had not aroused the man's pity, she could only wipe her tears with a handkerchief and leave feeling aggrieved.
As soon as she stepped outside, the Imperial Concubine felt that those lowly hussies were secretly laughing at her. She took a step forward and slapped the lowest-ranking and worst-born concubine among those present.
"Don't think that just because I was reprimanded by the Emperor, you can step on my face!"
The imperial concubine uttered harsh words and hurriedly left in her embroidered shoes.
She'd been serving the Emperor all day, and her legs were almost numb from kneeling. She needed to go back and apply some medicine; she couldn't let her knees be scarred.
The concubines watched the Imperial Concubine's departing figure, each with their own thoughts. "So arrogant! Before long, we'll all be nothing more than wronged souls!"
Some of the concubines, who were concerned about family ties, had already secretly used their connections to spread the news of the emperor's poor health so that their families could make preparations.
The harem appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, everyone was starting to plan for themselves.
Emperor Yuan Xujing was unaware that his harem was already on fire.
After drinking the medicine, he did not choose to rest, but instead forced himself to go to the Sizheng Hall.
The Sizheng Hall was mainly the palace where emperors of past dynasties summoned their ministers. At this moment, Yuan Xujing looked at the officials kneeling on the ground with a gloomy expression.
"What? You guys also want to retire and go back to your hometown?"
The thought that he had once praised the old man, the chief minister, as a loyal subject made him feel as if he had swallowed a fly, and his resentment surged up again.
Not only that old bastard, the Chancellor, but all those good-for-nothings at the Imperial Academy are also despicable people.
He had always supported them for free and treated them with great respect, but he never expected that the first person to stab him would be someone he trusted!
The senior officials below looked apprehensive; they had naturally heard about the matter concerning the Chancellor and the Imperial Academy.
Actually, they also wanted to see the Minhui Academy, but the old man, the Chancellor, beat them to it and led a group of people from the Imperial Academy to escape as well.
Now they can't go, and can only helplessly accept Yuan Xujing's roar.
Yuan Xujing looked at the minister who used to love picking fights with him, but now he didn't dare to utter a sound.
What? Could it be that they think he, the emperor, is about to be dethroned by the rebel king, so they are showing their loyalty to him in advance, hoping to anger him and gain merit?
"Why have they all become mute? They were usually quite talkative!"
Yuan Xujing's sharp eyes darted towards the Imperial Academy Director of Studies, who had buried his head in the ground.
Now, whenever he sees people from the Imperial Academy, he thinks of that old man, the Chancellor.
Yuan Xujing rebuked, "Director of Studies, are you perhaps planning to take your leave of me today?"
The Director of Studies trembled, lowered his head even further, and said shakily, "Your subject dares not!"
You wouldn't dare!
Yuan Xujing suddenly curled his lips into a slight smile, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He easily coaxed, "Fine! I can't control people's hearts. Since you all like going to Anqing Prefecture so much, then I'll grant your wish!"
"Director of Studies, you've been working at the Imperial Academy for over ten years now!"
The scholar had a bad feeling, but when the king asked him a question, he dared not refuse: "Yes!"
Yuan Xujing rested his right hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, propped his chin on his hand, and said calmly, "Very good, my dear minister. I am now giving you a task. You have worked with the Grand Master for many years, and he is not on guard against you. Go and kill him for someone else!"
Upon hearing this, the instructor was horrified, and his face turned deathly pale.
His body was trembling uncontrollably; he was a scholar who didn't even dare to kill a chicken.
Has the emperor gone mad? How dare he do that!
"Your Majesty, I dare not! I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"
The emperor remained unmoved, staring at him with a sinister smile, a laugh that was both grating and dangerous.
"I said you dare, so you dare! You may all leave now. Director of Studies, Anqing Prefecture is a long way away, no need... to rush..."
Yuan Xujing emphasized the last two words, and when he saw Siye's pale and ugly face, he laughed heartily with satisfaction.
Sadly, today is the last time he will see Siye. May he rest in peace…
After returning home, the Director of the Imperial Academy was absent-minded and his mind was in turmoil. He couldn't figure out what the emperor meant.
Did this person genuinely want him to assassinate the chief priest, or was he testing his loyalty?
Before he could think it over, the imperial edict arrived, ordering him to set off immediately with his family.
This meant there was no time to pack. He didn't have time to think, so he hurriedly asked his wife to prepare some changes of clothes, and the family set off.
Siye had a bad feeling. He gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and made his elderly mother drink the medicine. She fell ill, and his wife naturally stayed to take care of her.
As for his and his wife's two children, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bring them along. He ordered the two children to wear heavy soft armor inside, with blood bags tied to their chests.
Although the two children didn't understand, they did as instructed.
Before leaving, Siye pulled his wife back into the house and talked for a long time. When they came out, his wife's eyes were red, and she looked at her children with guilt, fear, and reluctance.
What is she, a mere woman, supposed to do?
Thus, the Director of Education boarded the carriage with his two children, several illegitimate sons and daughters, and his concubines.
The carriage left the city gate, heading south.
Inside the palace, Yuan Xujing heard about what happened in the Siye family and just sneered. They were just two helpless women; let them live if they wanted!
"Men! Go after the Siye family. Leave no one alive. After killing them, don't come back. Go straight to Anqing Prefecture and find an opportunity to kill Princess Jing and those two children."
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