"Becoming ill"
The next morning, Yuexuan followed Chengyu's orders and went in to help Ling Jianghan tie up his hair, put on a crown and change into court clothes.
After Yuexuan put the crown on him, she placed her court robes on the couch and bent down to retreat. After taking only two steps, she heard Ling Jianghan behind her suddenly start coughing violently, each cough becoming more and more heart-wrenching.
"Sir!"
Yuexuan ran over in a panic and tried to steady the man, but Jiang Han had lost his strength due to severe coughing, and before she could reach out his hand, he collapsed to the ground.
After she helped the man onto the couch and was about to call for the imperial physician, she suddenly heard the door behind her being pushed open, followed closely by a palace maid's voice: "Master Ling! General Qi and his men have won!"
Before Yuexuan could feel happy after hearing this, Ling Jianghan beside her suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
The little palace maid who pushed the door open was so frightened by this scene that her legs went limp. She was stunned for a moment before forcing herself to calm down: "I, I'll go get someone to summon the imperial physician!"
Her voice was trembling, and when you listened carefully, you could hear a tear in her voice. When she turned around, she held onto the door in time to avoid falling.
…
After Jiang Han fell like this, Cheng Yu didn't even attend the morning court.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but that he didn't dare. The news that Jiang Han had vomited blood and fainted had spread throughout the palace. If Cheng Yuruo still went to court at this moment, who knew how those ministers would scold him in a roundabout way.
So Cheng Yu missed three days of court attendance for various reasons, and the memorials on the table piled up higher and higher.
In the first two days, Cheng Yu was still able to force himself to review the memorials. However, on the night of the third day, the frustration that had been accumulating in Cheng Yu's heart for a long time finally erupted, and he raised his hand and overturned all the memorials on the table to the ground.
"He doesn't even belong to me, and yet I indulge him in every way for the sake of this country!"
"Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down!" Le He immediately knelt on the ground and said gently, "It's just a piece of jade that has been cherished for many years. If Your Majesty doesn't like it, just throw it to the ground and smash it to pieces. Why is it worth your anger?"
"Is that so?" Ling Jianghan, who was sitting on the couch, coughed a few times, then asked calmly, "How does Eunuch Le plan to destroy me?"
Upon hearing this, Le He froze up instantly and knelt down obediently, not daring to move.
"What are you standing there for?" Cheng Yu was silent for a moment, then stood up and kicked Le He. He suppressed his anger and said, "Why don't you get out of here and accept your punishment?"
“Yes, yes…”
Le He was about to crawl out, but when he reached the door, Ling Jianghan stopped him, "Wait."
He subconsciously stopped at the sound.
Then Ling Jianghan added, "Go after you've collected the memorials."
Le He: “…”
Even though he was extremely reluctant, Le He had no choice but to go back and pick up the memorials on the ground one by one.
Cheng Yu looked up at Ling Jianghan, who had sat up from the couch at some point, and said with dissatisfaction, "Prime Minister Ling's illness is really timely."
Ling Jianghan coughed a few times before smiling faintly and said, "Didn't Your Majesty say that I would become sick with lovesickness, and this day would come sooner or later?"
Cheng Yu couldn't help but sneer: "I'm afraid Qi Wuchen will walk away after taking off your veil."
Ling Jianghan ignored him and sat on the couch without saying a word, waiting for Le He to put the memorial away.
Le He put down the last memorial and was about to bend over to leave. Unexpectedly, just as he bent down, he heard Cheng Yu, who was sitting at the table, say, "Le He, read the memorial to Prime Minister Ling."
Le He: “…”
After Cheng Yu finished reviewing the last memorial, Ling Jianghan, who was sitting on the couch, said to Le He, "Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Le. Please pour yourself a cup of tea and take a rest."
Le He bent down and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Prime Minister..."
"Drink your tea and then kneel outside the door to be punished."
"...compassionate." Le Heji choked briefly before finishing the last two words.
Cheng Yu wanted to say something to help him out, but his head started to ache for no apparent reason again. He stood up and waved his hand impatiently: "Come back after you've been punished."
After that night, Le He did not serve Cheng Yu for seven days. During this period, it was his apprentice who served Cheng Yu.
That day, Le He had just returned to serve Cheng Yu when news came from Nanling - Qi Wuchen had died.
Ling Jianghan's pen fluttered in the air for a long time. The guard who had reported the incident knelt anxiously before the table for a long while before Cheng Yu's laughter echoed in the hall. "The late emperor is dead, the Ling family is destroyed, and Qi Wuchen's coffin will arrive in the capital soon. Prime Minister Ling, shattered jade or intact tiles, will you choose one?"
Ling Jianghan didn't react much after hearing this. He just lowered his head and wrote steadily, saying calmly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, for getting rid of a thorn in your side."
Cheng Yu frowned and stared at him suspiciously: "Your sweetheart is dead, aren't you sad?"
"I have served in the court for many years. How could I abandon my future for love?" Ling Jianghan paused, raised his head, and smiled in the direction where Cheng Yu was sitting. "Your Majesty, you don't think that the Prime Minister appointed by the late Emperor is a devoted lover, do you?"
After hearing this, Cheng Yu was stunned for a long time before he gradually understood.
Jiang Han's unwavering loyalty is just waiting to see who will win or lose.
If Qi Wuchen returns to Beijing safely, Jiang Han can escape danger without any effort; if Qi Wuchen "sacrifices his life for the country", Jiang Han will turn around and obey his orders, and he can save himself.
"As expected of someone chosen by the Emperor," Cheng Yu exclaimed in admiration from the bottom of his heart, "He is truly as ruthless and heartless as he is."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words." Ling Jianghan lowered his head and wrote the last line of the poem before putting his pen down. He said nonchalantly, "I am used to living in luxury, so I won't allow myself to suffer even the slightest bit."
Cheng Yu didn't say anything, picked up the tea and gave Le He a look.
Le He nodded slightly in understanding, then stood up and said to Ling Jianghan, "Master Ling, you are so well aware of what's happening outside even though you are here. I admire you."
Since Jiang Han entered the palace, he has been confined to this palace and has only been able to enter and not leave. The profound meaning of Le He's words is self-evident.
"There are many things that Eunuch Le can admire." Ling Jianghan was in a bad mood at the moment. He didn't want to deal with anyone, so he said directly: "Your Majesty, please speak directly. I will answer any questions I have."
"Okay," Cheng Yu put the teacup down on the table with a clang. "Sir, please tell me, how did you know Qi Wuchen would never return?"
"When I first came to Haiqing Palace, I only vaguely suspected this. Later, when I became blind, this suspicion was confirmed."
Cheng Yu snorted coldly when he heard this, and rubbed his temples with his hands: "I didn't want to hurt you at all, but you didn't know how to appreciate it and I lost my eyes in vain."
"I am afraid of death and want to make sure this matter is foolproof." Ling Jianghan said calmly, "If we make a choice too soon, Qi Wuchen will kill us both after he returns safely to the capital."
Cheng Yu was amused by his words. He stopped massaging his solar plexus and looked at him with interest: "I don't even dare to kill you, so how can Qi Wuchen get the courage?"
There are still many old ministers who have followed the late emperor in the court, and Ling Jianghan's position as prime minister was appointed by the late emperor himself. If Cheng Yu wants to secure the throne, he cannot let Ling Jianghan die at this juncture.
Ling Jiang Han raised his left hand, and his long sleeve slid down, revealing the white jade bracelet. "Your Majesty is wise. He knows that the throne cannot be secured by relying solely on Queen Wang's mother's family, so he has kept me here until now, so that he can contain her in the future."
The Wang family had secretly created many obstacles for the Qi and Ling families before. Cheng Yu was not stupid, so why would he allow the Wang family to dominate after the Qi and Ling families lost power?
"There are still many old ministers in the court who once followed my second brother. They have been dissatisfied with me since my second brother's legs became disabled. Your position as Prime Minister was appointed by the late emperor, and my second brother was once your best friend. Regardless, sparing your life will only benefit me in every way."
Cheng Yu's second brother Cheng Jun was named the crown prince as soon as he was born. He was originally capable of both civil and military affairs and was qualified to take on the responsibility, but because he became disabled in his legs and mentally damaged while trying to save Cheng Yu at Luoxia Hunting Ground two years ago, he could no longer inherit the throne.
"Yes." Ling Jianghan retracted his left hand. Sitting up straight, his free right hand silently rubbed the jade bracelet under his sleeve. He smiled and repeated, "A hundred benefits, no harm."
Cheng Yu stood up, walked over to Ling Jianghan's desk, and pulled him up, causing several memorials to fall off the table. "Prime Minister Ling, General Qi will return to the capital tomorrow. Would you like me to take you to see him?"
Ling Jianghan looked at him through the veil and replied softly, "I am your Majesty's servant now, and I will obey your Majesty in everything."
Cheng Yu was so close to Ling Jianghan at this time that he could clearly smell the medicinal scent on the other person.
When he smelled the faint medicinal fragrance, he remembered that Ling Jianghan had never stopped taking medicine since entering the palace. The ink fragrance that he used to be familiar with was probably gone long ago.
The smell of the medicine was not unpleasant now, but it made Cheng Yu feel upset for no reason.
He frowned unconsciously, shook off Ling Jianghan's hand and said, "Now that you've become a sickly person, you're quite obedient."
Ling Jiang Han relied on his medical skills and did not hire an imperial physician, but Cheng Yu felt that this man looked weaker day by day, and even his wrist felt uncomfortable when he held it in his hand.
He stared at the much thinner Ling Jianghan for a long while, and finally bent a finger to gently scratch Ling Jianghan's chin, and said in a not-so-gentle tone: "I will spare you for now because you are not in good health. Prime Minister Ling, don't forget to wait for me on the dragon bed tomorrow."
After he finished speaking, he walked away without waiting for Ling Jianghan to speak. Seeing this, Le He hurriedly followed him, but saw that the emperor walked to the door and stopped again.
Le He leaned forward and looked at him cautiously: "Your Majesty?"
Cheng Yu frowned and pressed his temples, and ordered irritably, "Tell Yuexuan to call the imperial physician and tell him that my headache has come back."
Le He said "Eh", followed Cheng Yu out of the door, but only saw Zhu Wei and not Yue Xuan.
Zhu Wei bowed respectfully towards Cheng Yu and explained in a gentle voice, "Yue Xuan has been unwell recently, so I will be serving you here for the next few days."
Cheng Yu had no time to think about it at the moment. He waved his hand at her and said, "Then you go and call the imperial physician."
After listening to this, Zhu Wei bent down and stepped back, and the door closed as Cheng Yu and the others left.
Ling Jianghan walked to the couch alone and sat down, reaching out to take the pear branch on the cabinet.
Since he couldn't see, he took the pear branch in his hand and stroked it slowly.
After that, the fingers on the pear branch stopped moving, leaving only a single hot tear falling silently, causing one or two petals to sway slightly.
Jiang Han never expected that this longing would one day be sent to the six feet of yellow earth.
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