Some people say that the relationships between people are predetermined. Zhao Shu didn't believe it at first, but now she does.
Emperor Mingde had just reformed the imperial examination system, and in less than half a month, the political climate in the court underwent a complete 180-degree shift.
Two-thirds of the court officials have turned against the reform of the imperial examination system! Some have even petitioned to abolish it altogether!
Emperor Mingde could hardly believe his ears. He looked coldly at Lin Chaoying, Prince Hui, and the others he had personally promoted.
"Speak up, you lot!" he roared.
Lin Chaoying, Prince Hui, and Guan Heng exchanged a glance, and the three of them led two-thirds of the officials in the court to kneel down, "Your Majesty, we request that you abolish the imperial examination system!"
"Your Majesty, I request that you abolish the imperial examination system!"
"Your Majesty, I request that you abolish the imperial examination system!"
The incessant noise filled the Taihe Hall. "You..." Emperor Mingde's heart pounded, and before he could recover, he fainted.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Liang Yunsi shouted anxiously, holding Emperor Mingde in his arms, his face pale with fright. "Imperial Physician Peng, Imperial Physician Peng!" He carried Emperor Mingde out of the Taihe Hall.
Prince Hui and his companions exchanged another glance and followed him out of the Taihe Hall. The entire court of civil and military officials marched in a grand procession along the palace road. As if by prior arrangement, the concubines in the palace led their people to intercept them.
"What's wrong with the Emperor? Quick, Lu Fushou, lend a hand!" The Empress was the first to rush to take Emperor Mingde to Fengqi Palace.
However, Consort De and Consort Yi would not allow her to have her way. Both of them stepped forward, with Consort Yi saying, "Weiyang Palace is closer, so let's send it there. What do you gentlemen think?"
"Your Majesty, we will obey." Even those who have not yet received imperial favor cannot interfere in the affairs of the inner palace, and no one dares to express their opinions casually.
The Empress snorted coldly and blocked Yi De to the side. "With the Emperor under my care, you need not worry, sister. The palace is not peaceful right now. You should stay in Weiyang Palace and pray for the Emperor. It's better not to come out."
She was the Empress, and no matter how unwilling the ministers were, they could not openly smear the Empress's face before Emperor Mingde had passed away. Therefore, they all lowered their heads.
Yi De did not argue further; she simply turned coldly and returned to Weiyang Palace.
The Empress successfully brought Emperor Mingde into Fengqi Palace. Since it was the ministers who had angered Emperor Mingde to the point of fainting, none of them dared to leave and knelt in front of Fengqi Palace all night.
After examining Emperor Mingde and administering medicine, Physician Peng slept through the night and only woke up the next day.
The first thing he said upon waking was, "Let the princes in."
The Empress did not want anyone to come in and disturb her and Emperor Mingde at this time. As long as Emperor Mingde was in her hands, everything was in her hands.
"Yes." Her eyes flickered, and she agreed, but she hesitated to call anyone. Instead, she had Zhiliu prepare the decoction for Emperor Mingde, and she fed it to him herself.
However, after Emperor Mingde took the medicine prepared by the vine, he immediately fainted. The empress was shocked and dropped the bowl on the ground.
Seeing this, Lu Fushou checked Emperor Mingde's breathing and breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Majesty, the Emperor has just fainted again. He's alright," he said reassuringly.
The Empress's heart calmed down a little, but her eyes were unfocused, as if she were struggling intensely.
Before she could make a decision, Yi De barged in with a group of people. When she saw that Emperor Mingde was unconscious, she was furious and said, "Empress, what have you done to the Emperor? I just heard the Emperor say that he wanted to invite all the princes over. How come he has fainted again after only a short while!"
The Empress was furious, her face filled with murderous intent. She looked at Yi De and said coldly, "Imperial Noble Consort, what do you mean! Just now, only the Emperor and I were here. How did you hear anything?"
"Of course, a loyal and virtuous person informed me. Now, I suspect you of plotting against the Emperor. Guards, check that medicine." Yi De was extremely assertive. Behind her, Prince Hui, Guan Heng, and others all showed dissatisfaction with the Empress and seemed to be following Yi De's lead.
The imperial physician who examined the medicine was a newcomer this year. After examining the medicine, he turned deathly pale and collapsed to the ground, looking at the Empress in terror, stammering, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
He hesitated for a long time but couldn't come up with a convincing explanation. Yi De coldly ordered again, "Inspect again!"
This time, she brought half of the Imperial Hospital with her, but unfortunately, Physician Peng was not there.
After examining the medicine, the imperial physicians all knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, this medicine appears to be non-toxic, but when mixed with the peonies in the courtyard, it will produce a deadly poison. People will not die from it, but they will become mentally impaired."
Upon hearing this, Zhiliu knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, this servant did not poison you! Your Majesty, this servant did not poison you! Please investigate, Your Majesty..." Tears streamed down her face, and she looked utterly miserable.
The Empress walked up to her and slapped her across the face. "You vile woman, how dare you do such a treasonous thing behind my back! Guards, lock Zhiliu up! I want to interrogate her myself!"
"Your Majesty, you are wise! The medicine must have been tampered with, Your Majesty..." Zhi Liu was terrified; she saw the resignation in the Empress's eyes!
The empress must sacrifice the pawn to save the king.
At this moment, Guan Heng stepped forward, as if he were the most just and honest person in the world, and said: "Plotting against the Emperor is a serious crime and should be thoroughly investigated by the Ministry of Justice. Guards, take this palace maid and all other related palace servants into the Ministry of Justice's prison."
Logically speaking, as an official in charge of remonstrance, he was not qualified to issue orders at this time, but he was the most suitable person to do so. If Lin Chaoying were to issue orders, it would be an overreach of authority. With Yi De and Consort De vying for power, neither of them could interfere in politics. As a prince, Prince Hui had to avoid suspicion.
After all, the war to reduce the power of the feudal lords is currently in full swing.
"Yes!" The person standing at the back stepped forward. When the Empress saw the Imperial Guard uniform the newcomer was wearing, her heart sank.
The other party came prepared, and she had no way to defend herself.
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