Night falls.
The atmosphere in the palace became increasingly depressing and heavy.
Everyone stared towards the bedroom.
Some people hope that the emperor will wake up, while naturally there are people who hope that the emperor will sleep forever.
As darkness enveloped the earth and the candlelight flickered in the side hall, many people seemed to have the answer in their hearts.
"Make a decision!"
"Recall all the princes and kings who are away from home as soon as possible."
"Generals at the border are not allowed to move without authorization."
"In my opinion, we must find a way to restrain the Duke of Lu to prevent him from harboring evil ambitions."
"We should be careful of Marquis Lu."
"The Beijing Camp must also send reliable people to keep an eye on it, just in case."
"Minister Li, please speak up. Everyone has expressed their opinions, and you are the only one who remains silent. Do you still want to insist on your own opinion?"
Minister Li glanced calmly in the direction of the bedroom. "What's the rush? The palace gates are already locked. If we make a decision now, we have to wait until tomorrow morning to issue the decree."
"Make the decision now. As soon as the palace gates open tomorrow, the decree can be issued. Minister Li, please do not delay any longer."
"Minister Li, what are you thinking? Did His Majesty give you any instructions before he passed out?"
"Impossible! Minister Li was not present when His Majesty was unconscious."
Several adults glared at Minister Li.
It was as if Minister Li was not on their side, that he was everyone's enemy. Naturally, there would be no courtesy towards the enemy.
Minister Li sneered, "Forget it! I will just go along with the crowd..."
"Ridiculous! We are all thinking about the country and the people."
"Minister Li, please be careful with your words. You have always opposed recalling the princes. Could it be that you want to support the young prince?"
"Minister Li, you clearly have evil intentions."
In the side hall, everyone whipped Minister Li in unison, and they would not be satisfied until they had pinned all kinds of crimes on him.
What a good opportunity! If I don’t take advantage of it to defeat Minister Li, I would be letting down all my years in officialdom.
Just as the commotion was getting out of hand, Attendant Shen hurried to the side hall and said, "My Lords, His Majesty has awakened!"
"What?"
"What did you just say?"
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has just woken up. Please hurry over."
"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly wake up? Didn't you say that you might not wake up?"
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and God will protect you." Changshi Shen looked at the old man who was speaking in a hurry with a smile.
Everyone looked solemn as they stood up and headed towards the bedroom.
Everyone has different thoughts, but they all show a bit of caution.
Your Majesty, have you woken up? Is the storm over?
Everyone came to the bedroom and bowed to pay homage to the emperor.
The emperor lay on the bed, his face stiff, his eyes wide open, blazing with rage.
"Your Majesty, all the gentlemen have arrived." Chen Dachang bowed and waited in front of the bed.
"Jing, the capital is under martial law. Guards are rotated. No one else is allowed to stay in the palace."
The emperor opened his mouth hard to speak.
The words were vague and not very clear.
My Lords, if you observe carefully, you will find that the Emperor cannot move his right cheek at all. Is this a stroke?
The Minister of the Central Secretariat stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has just woken up. Please take care of yourself."
"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself." Everyone said in unison.
"My Lords, please hurry up and do what His Majesty has ordered." Chen Dachang reminded everyone in a gentle tone.
The Minister of the Chancellery stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is ill. Should we recall the princes who are away from home to the capital?"
Tianzi's left cheek twitched slightly, and he was furious. "Get out! Get out!"
The Minister of the Chancellery was about to ask for orders, but was stopped by Chen Dachang. "My Lords, please return. If there is anything urgent, we can discuss it in a couple of days when Your Majesty is feeling better."
The Shangshu Ling's eyes were like knives, stabbing at Chen Dachang, the traitor.
Chen Dachang's face remained calm, but he sneered inwardly, making it clear that he would not budge.
The Minister swallowed his anger and bowed to leave.
Except for the two adults who stayed behind to guard, the other seven people all left Xingqing Palace with a mysterious look on their faces.
The gates of Xingqing Palace, which had been closed for several hours, were finally opened from the inside.
The royal family, ministers, and imperial grandchildren who were waiting at the palace gate all turned their eyes to the seven adults in an instant.
"Lord Li, what is His Majesty's current situation?"
"You come out now, is His Majesty okay?"
"Did His Majesty say anything?"
The Minister of the Central Secretariat stood at the front and coughed twice, interrupting everyone's questions.
His eyes swept across everyone's face, focusing on the emperor's grandchildren.
However, everyone was an expert at managing facial expressions, and coupled with the dim light, he really couldn't see anything useful at all.
He cleared his throat and spoke loudly, "Your Majesty has successfully regained consciousness. By His Majesty's order, no one is allowed to remain in the palace except for those of us on duty. Everyone is to leave the palace immediately and return home. From today on, martial law is imposed in the capital, and the Jinwu Guards will strictly investigate anyone who violates this order."
As soon as he finished speaking, a buzzing noise started.
Everyone started asking for more information.
"Has your Majesty recovered?"
"Why is Your Majesty unconscious?"
"We want to see His Majesty."
"Yes, we want to see His Majesty."
For a moment, it seemed as if everyone was clamoring to see His Majesty.
"Hmph! His Majesty has just woken up and is recovering. How can we disturb him at will? Everyone, step back." The Shangshu Ling was full of official authority and was really scary.
"We dare not disturb His Majesty. We just need to take a look from a distance to make sure His Majesty is awake."
This request is not excessive.
However, without the permission of His Majesty, no one except the guards may enter Xingqing Palace.
"If you want to meet the emperor, please wait for two more days." This was the answer given by the Minister of the Central Secretariat to everyone.
This answer obviously could not satisfy the people present.
Everyone was getting noisy and a conflict was about to happen when Chen Dachang, the emperor's most trusted confidant, ran out in a hurry.
"Your Majesty is aware of your concerns and care. Your Majesty has asked everyone to return. If Your Majesty feels better tomorrow, you will naturally receive them."
"Eunuch Chen, has His Majesty really woken up?"
"It is absolutely true. Your Majesty has woken up safely."
"That's good, that's good."
Chen Dachang then urged: "Everyone should withdraw."
Everyone may suspect that the seven adults are lying, but no one will suspect Chen Dachang.
Chen Dachang is the emperor's most trusted confidant and doesn't give face to anyone.
I guess these adults don't have the ability to let Chen Dachang play along with them and fabricate the news that the emperor has woken up.
So everyone retreated quickly.
I plan to go to the palace to meet the emperor early tomorrow morning.
Believing in Chen Dachang does not mean being truly at ease.
I have to see the emperor wake up with my own eyes before I can feel at ease.
After sending everyone away, Chen Dachang instructed the guards to keep a close eye on the door before returning to the bedroom to serve.
The emperor sat up with the help of the eunuch and tried to move his stiff right hand.
However, no matter how hard he tried, the emperor's right hand did not move.
To be precise, the upper right side of the emperor's body was as stiff as a rock and he was completely unable to move.
Fortunately, it did not affect the throat or brain, and I can still speak smoothly.
"I am, what's wrong?"
The emperor tried to speak, but his words were intermittent. The rage in his eyes grew stronger and stronger, as if he was going to burn everyone to death.
The imperial physician was startled and said boldly, "Your Majesty, please be patient! Your Majesty has finally woken up, so be careful not to get too excited or too angry. If you fall unconscious again, I'm afraid we won't be able to help you."
The emperor was breathing rapidly, and every breath seemed like he was trying with all his strength.
The heavy breathing could be heard clearly from several steps away.
"Why am I unconscious? What disease do I have?"
The head of the Imperial Hospital said with a stiff upper lip, "Your Majesty is old and busy with government affairs, so he hasn't been able to rest and recuperate..."
"Speak human language!" the emperor shouted sternly.
The director of the Imperial Hospital broke out in a cold sweat and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty has had a stroke."
"Stroke?"
The emperor uttered the word "stroke" clearly.
He stretched out his left hand, which was flexible, and looked at his right hand, which was as stiff as stone. He felt something was unreal.
He is the emperor, the number one person in heaven and on earth, how could he have a stroke?
Are you kidding me?
The emperor's face was full of disbelief.
Time passes by little by little.
No matter how hard the emperor tried or how anxious he was, the anger in his heart had already burned his internal organs, and he could not move the right side of his body.
The only thing to be thankful for is that I can’t move the right side of my body, but I can still move my right leg.
"I had a stroke?"
The head doctor of the Imperial Hospital, led by the top doctors of the Imperial Hospital, knelt on the ground and said, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty has indeed suffered a stroke."
"When will I be able to recover?"
"Your Majesty, please follow the doctor's instructions. Avoid being impatient and anxious, and avoid excessive sadness or joy. Take good care of yourself, and your symptoms will gradually subside. However, there is no way to completely recover."
The emperor's only movable left hand tightly grasped the fur quilt, "What's the point of raising you, my Lord?"
"This humble official deserves death."
There is nothing to say at this time, I can only apologize.
The emperor chuckled coldly, his laughter was so creepy that even Chen Dachang could hardly bear it, let alone others.
"I want you to use the medicine boldly. Relieve my symptoms as soon as possible. Otherwise..."
Otherwise, if I am unhappy, you will all die.
The imperial physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau obviously understood the emperor's implication.
They all suffer a lot, and alleviating the symptoms also requires the cooperation of the patients.
The most uncooperative patient in the world is none other than the emperor.
Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he would not be able to cure an uncooperative patient.
bitter!
So bitter!
The imperial doctors could only swallow their bitterness and suffer in silence.
What can I do now?
I can only bite the bullet and go ahead.
The night is getting darker.
The sky and the earth were pitch black, and you couldn't see your hand in front of you.
Candles were still lit in Xingqing Palace.
In the huge bedroom, all the imperial doctors left to think of a solution.
Chen Dachang brought two eunuchs to serve the emperor.
The emperor finally succumbed to his hemiplegic body and had to lie down.
"Keep an eye on the capital for me. Anyone who dares to do anything in private must tell me the truth."
The emperor tried hard to show his majesty.
However, the emperor's immobile right cheek and the way he spoke word by word greatly reduced his authority.
But the Son of Heaven is the Son of Heaven.
Even though he suffers from hemiplegia, his words are still golden.
Chen Dachang bowed and accepted the order, "I obey your command!"
The emperor was worried and warned: "Don't hide it."
"I dare not hide anything from Your Majesty."
After a pause, Chen Dachang continued, "Your Majesty should also take care of your health. The imperial physician said that your Majesty's coma this time is probably due to being too hard-working recently and not having enough rest and recuperation."
"Doctor, what else did you say?" the emperor asked with his left cheek.
Chen Dachang hesitated for a moment before saying, "The imperial physician said that Your Majesty must abstain from women and elixirs."
The emperor sneered, "A bunch of quacks."
…
The next morning, almost all those who were qualified to see the emperor came to the gate of Xingqing Palace and stood guard.
Even Lord Gu mingled with the crowd to make up the numbers.
Lord Gu looked through the crowd and saw Liu Zhao standing in front of him.
He really wanted to go up, say hello to his son-in-law, and ask for inside information.
But I hesitated again.
It doesn’t matter that he was there, but in public, how should he face Liu Zhao?
Speaking of public affairs, Liu Zhao is the emperor's grandson and has a noble status.
Privately speaking, they are father-in-law and son-in-law.
Don't try to grasp the scale here.
Lord Gu hesitated for a long time, and time passed quickly.
By the time he made up his mind, others had already started talking to Liu Zhao, so it was no longer appropriate for him to go over there.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lord Gu finally gave up the idea of talking to Liu Zhao.
It’s good that we are all far apart.
The palace gate opened.
Chen Dachang stood at the palace gate, facing the fiery gazes of the crowd, and remained extremely calm and composed.
"In compliance with His Majesty's order, I hereby announce..."
Chen Dachang called out the names of the Shaofu Household Order and the Dali Temple Minister.
The two adults stepped out of the crowd and followed Chen Dachang into Xingqing Palace.
This time the audience was not in the bedroom, but in the main hall.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne with great majesty, and at first glance, everything looked fine.
The two adults bowed.
"No need to be polite!"
The emperor spoke slowly, emphasizing the two words he spoke.
Whether it is the Shaofu Household Director or the Dali Temple Minister, they are all shrewd people.
Judging from the emperor's tone and voice, it can be guessed that he is most likely not well yet.
"We were deeply concerned when we heard that Your Majesty had suddenly fallen into a coma. Congratulations, Your Majesty has successfully regained consciousness. Please take good care of yourself from now on."
After the Shaofu Household Officer finished speaking, he began to wipe away his tears, expressing his true feelings.
The emperor's expression looked a little better, but the right side of his face was expressionless and so stiff that he dared not look directly at it.
The two adults saw the problem and their hearts began to beat wildly.
Did Your Majesty suffer a stroke? Hemiplegia?
Oh my god!
What should I do?
Anyone who suffers hemiplegia due to a stroke will not live long.
Your Majesty, isn't it...
What’s even worse is that none of the adult princes are in the capital, and His Majesty has not issued an order to recall the princes to the capital.
What if something unexpected happens?
The Chief Justice of the Dali Temple wanted to speak several times, but he suppressed himself several times.
Don’t be in a hurry, let’s see what His Majesty’s attitude is first.
The emperor said slowly, "After you leave, comfort all the civil and military officials. My illness must not be spread to outsiders. Keep an eye on the capital for me. Anyone who acts unruly will be imprisoned."
"Your humble servant obeys your order!"
"Back off."
"Your Majesty?" The Minister of the Dali Temple obviously wanted to persuade the emperor to quickly issue an order to recall the princes who were away from home.
However, the Shaofu Household Manager kept winking at him to stop him from speaking any further.
The Chief Justice of the Dali Temple was filled with rage.
The Minister of the Imperial Household stopped him, saying that this was irresponsible to the country and the people of the Great Zhou.
The emperor glared, "I am tired! Everyone, retreat!"
It was obvious that the emperor didn't want to listen to anyone's nagging.
What’s the overall situation? Doesn’t the emperor know?
The emperor knows better than anyone else.
The reason he was putting it off was, firstly, that he still couldn't accept the fact that he had hemiplegia, and secondly, he wanted to see what was going on.
Only the emperor himself knows what to look at specifically.
As soon as they left the main hall, the Dali Temple's Minister began to question the Shaofu's Household Officer, "Why did you stop me?"
"Your Majesty's condition is serious."
"Is the country unimportant? Do you want to sit back and watch the world fall into chaos?"
"It won't get chaotic."
"Hehe... I don't know where the Lord of the Household gets his confidence from."
The Shaofu household steward snorted, saying that he didn't know what was good for him.
"Your Majesty will take care of the country."
"Traitor!"
The minister of Dali Temple scolded him directly.
The Shaofu Household Manager was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, "If this old man hadn't stopped you, you would have been beaten with a stick in the court right now."
"Being beaten in court is better than trying to smooth things over and making a mockery of the country."
The Chief Justice of the Dali Temple turned around and left. He wanted to find someone to collude with him and ask for permission from the emperor.
Even though the Shaofu's steward had a good temper, he was still a little angry.
Do you really think that you are the only ones who care about the country and the people, and I don’t care?
Ugh!
Don’t you see what His Majesty’s attitude is now?
Rushing forward at this time would not only fail to recall the princes, but would instead cause a stir in the court.
What a bunch of impulsive idiots.
The Shaofu household official was extremely angry.
It's a pity that they have been in officialdom for decades, but they are not even as good as a woman.
The Shaofu Household Manager thought of Gu Jiu.
Compared with these court officials, Gu Jiu is clearly the least troublesome person.
…
Inside the main hall.
"Help me up."
Chen Dachang hurried forward and supported the emperor's right arm.
The emperor struggled to stand up, and his weak and trembling right leg said it all.
He could move his right leg, but he couldn't exert much strength.
The emperor who was once full of vigor and decisiveness finally became an old man.
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