Chapter 694 The Empress Dowager is Seriously Ill
Tang Ning was injured in Shoukang Palace. In addition to the changes in the court, she knew that this was a critical time. Naturally, she would not go back to Jiyun Lane to cause trouble for Xiao Yan, so she stayed in the palace to recuperate.
The injury on her back prevented her from moving around much, so she stayed in the Empress Dowager's palace. Ever since she appeared in the Imperial Palace, the Empress Dowager's health had been declining rapidly, and Lady Qin and Tang Ning had been by her side almost all the time.
"Girl..."
When Hua Wu came in, Tang Ning turned his head and said "hush" as soon as he opened his mouth.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was still asleep and had not been awakened, Tang Ning carefully tucked the quilt for her, then stood up by holding on to the edge of the bed.
"Sister Qin, I'm going out for a while." She said in a very low voice.
Madam Qin nodded and rubbed the silver needle stuck in the Empress Dowager's head with her hand, while Tang Ning slowly walked to the side, and Hua Wu hurried forward to support her.
When the master and servant walked around the pine and crane screen and reached the door, Yue Jian was standing in the dim corridor. Seeing Tang Ning coming out, she quickly leaned over and said, "Girl."
"Is my aunt doing okay?" Tang Ning asked softly.
Yue Jian said, "Everything is fine. Madam has brought the wife of Marquis Wenxin and Miss Zhou back to the Rong residence. Patriarch Gu is guarding them with Mu Feng and the others. His Majesty has also sent people to protect Madam and the others. Although there are some minor disturbances in the capital, no one dares to offend the Rong residence."
Hearing this, Tang Ning whispered, "Is Sister Zhou okay?"
Yue Jian: "She has already drunk the contraceptive soup that Madam Qin sent over, but Madam Zhou is not very emotionally stable and doesn't want to see anyone. Madam Qian has been accompanying her the whole time."
Tang Ning pursed her lips tightly, her eyes filled with gloom.
Zhou Yuchang was the most innocent person in this incident, and what she suffered was something that was unbearable for a woman. She didn't think that Zhou Yuchang shouldn't live well because she had suffered an unexpected disaster, but the ethics and rules she had accepted since childhood were enough to crush her mentally.
Tang Ning felt deeply distressed for Zhou Yuchang. He clutched his palms and whispered, "Imprison all those who witnessed this incident that day. Don't spare a single person who knew about it. Also, clean up all traces of what happened in Shoukang Palace. Don't let any word of Sister Zhou's affair leak out."
"Don't worry, girl. His Majesty has already given instructions." Yuejian replied.
The night outside was dark, and the wind blew in through the window lattice, causing the lantern hanging at the end of the corridor to sway from side to side.
Tang Ning calmed down before asking, "What's the situation outside?"
Yue Jian replied, "There's been no disturbance among the court officials. The royal family members who went to look for Prince Ji, but were evaded by him, have all dispersed and returned to their respective residences. As for the noble families, however, I heard that Grand Tutor Liang had someone enter the palace earlier, and it seems that everything is going well with Lord Feng."
"Where's my brother?"
"Your Majesty is still in the Imperial Study, having stayed with Lord Cao and Lord Qian to discuss matters."
Tang Ning relaxed a little after hearing this.
The biggest obstacle for Xiao Yan to ascend the throne was the royal family and the aristocratic families. After Prince Huan was captured, the royal family took Prince Ji as their leader. Prince Ji was a smart man and had shown goodwill to them early on. Even the Princess Ji and her daughter "died of illness" because of this. Naturally, he would not be the first to oppose the new emperor at this time.
Without Prince Ji, the other clan members might not have the courage to take on the task.
As for the aristocratic families, Liang Guangyi is the biggest trouble. The other families all act according to his instructions. My brother has already arranged for Feng Qiuli to persuade Liang Guangyi. Since the Liang family has sent gifts to the palace, there is no need to worry too much.
Tang Ning said to Yue Jian, "I will stay in the palace for the next few days. Please send a message to Mr. Shi and Mr. Tong, asking them to keep an eye on the academy. Also, tell A'ru to stay inside the academy for the next few days and not go back to Jiyun Lane alone, lest she get hurt."
Yue Jian nodded: "I understand."
Tang Ning glanced at the sky and said, "The kitchen prepared some food and stewed some soup earlier. I sent some over to my brother and Cao Gong and the others. I told my brother that Sister Qin and I are here to look after the Empress Dowager. Don't worry and just focus on handling the affairs of the court."
Yuejian: "Yes."
…
When Tang Ning returned to the room, Madam Qin just came out after putting away her needles.
Seeing her holding the strap of the needle bag in her hand, with a look of fatigue on her face, Tang Ning asked in a low voice: "Sister Qin, how is Grandma?"
Madam Qin shook her head.
Tang Ning tightened his grip and couldn't help but look behind the screen.
Lady Qin said wearily, "The Empress Dowager was poisoned by the late Emperor, and she was bedridden afterwards without proper care. Her body has been weakened over the years, and her hysterical attacks have also caused her considerable damage. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's strong obsession, I'm afraid she wouldn't have been able to bring Your Majesty back to the capital."
"For the past few years, I have been treating the Grand Empress Dowager, relying on the medicines that Your Majesty painstakingly searched for to keep her here. However, her body is already a husk. This time, she suddenly regained consciousness and forced herself to take medicine to return to the palace to prove her identity to Your Majesty, which is even worse. I have exhausted all my medical skills, but I am powerless to help her."
Tang Ning's face was a little pale, and his eyes were sore when he pinched his palms, as if he could see the old man inside through the screen.
I have endured for so many years.
Mingming has seen the light and reunited with his loved ones.
But……
Madam Qin felt sad when she saw her red eyes. The most helpless things in this world are birth, old age, sickness and death. She has been practicing medicine for so many years and is used to seeing life and death, but every time she encounters such a thing, she still feels blocked in her heart.
Tang Ning's throat choked slightly: "How long will it take, Grandma?"
Madam Qin: "Two months at most."
Tang Ning lowered her eyes and said, "Sister Qin, please do your best to treat me."
Madam Qin: "Okay." After putting the needle bag away, she looked back at her center and said: "After the acupuncture, the Empress Dowager should be able to sleep for a while. I will go and boil the medicine for her. Ayane is out of the palace on errands, and I'm worried that others will not be able to get the dosage right."
Tang Ning nodded: "Sister Qin, go ahead. I'll stay here."
After Madam Qin left, Tang Ning stood there and stared at the candlelight on the table, lost in thought for a while.
Hua Wu couldn't help but whispered, "Girl, are you okay?"
Tang Ning retracted his gaze: "I'm fine, go add some charcoal to the charcoal stove, it's a bit cold in the room."
…
The succession of the throne in the court was much smoother than outsiders imagined. All the people in the capital were just in shock at the "change of emperor". Before they had time to panic and fear, they found that everything around them was as usual.
The shops were still open as usual, the streets and the market were still bustling, even the officials in the court were on duty, and the officials in the government office were doing their jobs. Apart from a few more teams of patrolling guards in the streets, there was not even a trace of unnecessary disturbance.
The royal family surrendered much earlier than Xiao Yan had expected. They deposed the emperor, opened an ancestral temple, and restored the royal status of the late crown prince's lineage. Even the old prince Ying took the initiative to ask when they would go to the Taimiao to worship their ancestors and celebrate the new emperor's ascension to the throne. He also asked whether they should bring back the tablets of the late crown prince and his wife to the Taimiao.
Although the ministers in the court felt that the royal family members were too spineless, they did not find it strange. After all, the new emperor was of the Xie family's bloodline. After all, after he ascended the throne, the Xie family would still be the royal family. It was normal for those princes to understand this, but the actions of the aristocratic families that followed shocked everyone.
Not only did the aristocratic families not make it difficult for the new emperor to compete with them, but they helped the new emperor to stabilize the court.
Liang Guangyi proposed the reform of the civil service at the morning court session, begging the new emperor to dismiss redundant officials who were occupying their positions in vain, abolish the recommendation system, and use imperial examinations to select truly capable people to enrich the court and fill the Wei Dynasty with fresh blood.
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