"Did you have a nightmare?" Zhao Guihua asked again, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Xingxing dared not tell the truth and vaguely replied, "No, I'm just too worried about Father, so I can't sleep well."
Speaking of the emperor's illness, Zhao Guihua was also very worried. The palace was like a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. Now that the empress was also bedridden, all the concubines in the palace were eyeing her covetously. How could Xingxing fight against so many people all by herself?
So when Xingxing arranged a room for Zhao Guihua, she refused it and only let her two daughters-in-law stay there. She insisted on staying with Xingxing. The palace servants said that this was against the rules and that the princess could not sleep with her, so Zhao Guihua occupied the bed in the side room.
She was afraid that someone might harm the stars in the middle of the night, and she felt uneasy if she didn't keep watch over them herself.
"Then go to sleep, Mom will watch you sleep." Zhao Guihua gestured for her to lie down quickly.
Xingxing didn't want to worry her, but was also afraid that she would ask more questions, so she lay down and continued to sleep as she wished. Soon, Zhao Guihua heard even breathing.
Hearing the soft sound of someone tiptoeing away, Xingxing silently exhaled. With something on her mind, how could she possibly fall asleep?
I wonder how my aunt and cousin's family are doing. I only dreamt half of that dream, and I don't know if the two families escaped danger in the end.
That bastard Yokoyama Ichiro, after escaping, actually went straight to Nanyang Prefecture to kill people. It must have been Yokoyama Chiyo who ordered him. How dare he harm her family! Very well, tomorrow she will send someone to the Ming Prince's Mansion to kill the Yokoyama family.
The next day, Xingxing, with dark circles under her eyes, went to the Empress's place for breakfast. There was nothing she could do; the Empress was seriously ill, and Xingxing was worried about her, so she could only take care of her first. She had Chun Chun and Ruru accompany Zhao Guihua, as she couldn't take care of both at the same time.
After finishing her breakfast and feeding the Empress her medicine, Xingxing went to Kunning Palace to see the Emperor. When she arrived, Zhu Lin was feeding the Emperor porridge from a bowl.
The emperor could eat no more than half a bowl of porridge. He waved his hand to indicate that Zhu Lin did not need to feed him anymore. "Bring the medicine over. I will go to sleep after taking the medicine."
His strength has been declining day by day, and he is waking up less and less. Fortunately, the princess's wedding is just around the corner, and he can hold on until that day.
"Father, let me feed you your medicine." Xingxing took the bowl from the head eunuch and sat on the stool by the bed to patiently feed the emperor his medicine.
After drinking the medicine, the emperor did not go to sleep immediately. He asked in a low voice, "Long'er, how is your mother's health?"
"It's still the same. The imperial physician said that Mother is overthinking things. Father needs to get better soon so that Mother can recover as well," Xingxing said sadly.
"It is I who have dragged the Empress down," the Emperor sighed helplessly.
"Father, please don't say that. Mother doesn't want to hear you say such self-blaming words either. Mother has you in her heart, only you." The Empress is devoted to the Emperor and gives him all her love. Even she, the princess, has to step aside.
"I am fortunate to have a wife like the Empress, but unfortunately I cannot repay her with the same affection." The Emperor's mind was mostly on politics, and he did not have much energy to love anyone. He had many concubines in the harem, and he had more than one Empress, so he was destined to have to let her down a lot.
"Your mother doesn't blame you." These were the Empress's own words. She had never blamed the Emperor. Compared to all the previous emperors, Emperor Taikang was the most affectionate and righteous one. The Empress had not given birth to a prince for the Emperor, yet he had never blamed her. She was very grateful.
Before long, the emperor fell asleep again. Xingxing and Zhu Lin left the palace and began talking about the affairs of Nanyang Prefecture.
"Are you really alright? But I dreamt last night that something happened to my aunt and the others. Is the prefect of Nanyang reliable?" Xingxing asked in a low voice, holding Zhu Lin's hand.
Zhu Lin replied in the same low voice, "Don't worry, nothing will happen. The prefect of Nanyang Prefecture is trustworthy and capable. He will definitely be able to protect Aunt and the others."
Actually, he wasn't sure either, but he had to remain calm and give Xingxing a positive answer. Wouldn't Xingxing understand the principle of being unable to reach her from afar?
She knew better than anyone else, but because distant water couldn't quench an immediate fire, she was anxious and kept asking questions to reassure herself.
"Hengshan actually dared to lay a hand on my family. We can't let this go. Brother Lin, you take a group of secret guards and search every inch of Mingwang Mansion. Find Hengshan and her two daughters and kill them so they won't harm innocent people again," Xingxing said through gritted teeth.
"Don't worry, we can't leave the palace right now. Your father and mother are more important. We need to focus our energy on protecting them. Hengshan and her daughter won't escape. I'll kill them sooner or later. There's no rush," Zhu Lin patiently comforted Xingxing.
In Nanyang Prefecture, Zhao Guizhi's head started to ache again as she listened to the cries of Li Congzhi, Li Yu'er, and Li Ji'er, the three siblings. They had ultimately arrived too late last night.
When they arrived, Li Quan and Zhong Daya were both seriously injured, but the masked thieves were still there. Tangguo, Xiaoxiaojingjing, two guards, and Yokoyama Ichiro and others went through another fierce battle.
Later, Xiaoxiao and Jingjing were injured one after another, and the two guards fell to the ground, their fates unknown. Only Tangguo, the bull, still had the strength to fight.
Yokoyama Ichiro is a Japanese samurai with extremely high martial arts skills. Candy has little chance of winning against him, but she is very strong and, relying on her superhuman strength, managed to entangle with Yokoyama Ichiro for a long time.
Fortunately, Candy was reckless enough to hold out until the soldiers arrived, which saved everyone's lives. Unfortunately, Yokoyama Ichiro escaped again.
The entire city is now plastered with notices announcing the arrest of Yokoyama Ichiro, and the Li residence has been surrounded by government troops, with impenetrable security.
However, Li Quan and his wife were seriously injured, and it was uncertain whether they could be saved. Li Yu'er and Li Ji'er's husbands were also seriously injured, which was truly distressing.
...
March 28th arrived in the blink of an eye. Today was the day of the eldest princess's wedding. Two days ago, notices were posted at the palace gates, and the people of the capital knew the news. The whole capital was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
The palace seemed to be filled with harmony. The emperor and empress had suddenly become more energetic these past two days, especially the empress, who was even able to get out of bed and walk.
Although the emperor was unable to walk, he was still in high spirits even while sitting in his wheelchair, showing no signs of illness.
But Xingxing was even more worried. She secretly pulled Zhu Chumo aside and asked, "Fourth Senior Brother, tell me honestly, what's wrong with Father and Mother? Could it be a final burst of energy before death?"
Back in Yegou Village, Xingxing had heard that some elderly people would suddenly become very energetic two days before they died. This was not a good sign; it was a sign of impending death.
Zhu Chumo knew what the princess was worried about, so he immediately straightened his expression and said seriously, "Princess, please don't overthink it. The Emperor and Empress didn't have a final burst of energy before death; it was Junior Brother who gave them a spiritual elixir. However, that elixir shouldn't be taken in excess."
Eating it occasionally is fine, but eating too much will harm your health. The Emperor and Empress have taken the elixir, so their physical strength will remain good for the next couple of days, but it won't harm them.
"You really aren't lying to me?" Xingxing asked, still somewhat doubtful.
Zhu Chumo raised his hand, "I swear, I am not lying."
“No need to swear, I believe you,” Xingxing said, then added, “but I still need to ask Brother Lin.”
Zhu Chumo: "?" What happened to the trust we promised? This change of heart is too fast!
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