Chapter 548 Disappointment
When Prince Yu arrived at the palace gate, he dismounted and happened to see the imperial guards at the palace gate.
Before he could walk over, the imperial guards came towards him.
The imperial guard saluted Prince Yu and said meaningfully, "Your Highness, I heard that your chamberlain just came and the Emperor refused his request for an audience. Now you're here again to ask for an audience, but I'm afraid not only will you not be able to see the Emperor, but you'll also anger him."
Prince Yu said bluntly, "Please, Lord Jin, please inform my father of the situation. My mother is seriously ill and dying. I hope he will allow me to enter the palace to deliver medicine to her."
When the imperial guards saw that Prince Yu insisted on meeting Emperor Jing'an, they turned around and went to Taiji Hall to pass on the message for Prince Yu.
A quarter of an hour later, the imperial guards arrived at the Taiji Hall and stood outside the hall to report to Emperor Jing'an: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is seriously ill and dying. Prince Yu is at the palace gates requesting an audience. I beg you to allow him to enter the palace to deliver medicine to the Imperial Concubine."
Emperor Jing'an was currently discussing government affairs with the Third Prince in Taiji Hall, debating how the Great Zhou should be governed after years of war.
The Third Prince replied, "Father, I believe we should adhere to the principle of governing by inaction and winning without contention. By inaction we can ensure the stability of the people, and by non-contention we can establish the foundation of the state."
"After the war, what is most needed is rest and recuperation, reducing taxes and corvée labor, and promoting population and economic recovery. Once the Great Zhou has recovered its national strength and become prosperous and strong, we can then govern the country with the principles of Confucianism on the outside and Legalism on the inside, winning the hearts of the people with benevolent governance and moral rule, and maintaining order in the country through strong laws."
When Emperor Jing'an heard the third prince's answer, he couldn't help but be slightly distracted, remembering that when Zhao Yi competed for the title of Duke's Mansion, he used the method of "doing nothing and yet doing, competing without competing".
Just as he was about to ask more, he heard the imperial guard's message. His brow furrowed, and displeasure flashed in his eyes. He was increasingly annoyed by the mother and son's relentless pursuit of their goals.
When Concubine Ling fell ill, he was in Yanxiang Palace. The imperial physician had already examined her and confirmed that Concubine Ling was not seriously ill. How could she be seriously ill and dying?
Emperor Jing'an's first thought was that Concubine Ling's plan had failed, so he asked Prince Yu to enter the palace to make another plan with her.
"Understood. I will send the imperial physician to treat Concubine Ling later. Please let Prince Yu return home and focus on making arrangements for tomorrow's wedding." Emperor Jing'an instructed the eunuchs who were waiting beside him, "Go and ask the imperial physician to treat Concubine Ling."
"Father, my brother has always been prudent and has never been the subject of gossip. He said the Empress was seriously ill, so I'm sure she really is." The Third Prince put down the memorial in his hand and advised, "Please allow me to see the Empress so that I can get married tomorrow with peace of mind. If something happens to the Empress, I'm afraid that my brother and you..."
Having said this, the Third Prince realized that something was wrong and stopped talking.
How could Emperor Jing'an not know what the third prince had not said?
But Prince Yu had already alienated him, and a rift had arisen between father and son.
If we were of the same mind as him, how could this have happened?
"Aside from Gu Changsheng, there's no other doctor in the entire capital whose medical skills can rival the imperial physician. If even the imperial physician can't cure her, then the medicine Prince Yu sent will be of no use." Emperor Jing'an said this, but out of consideration for a last shred of affection, he said to the eunuch, "If Imperial Concubine Ling's condition is serious, please ask Prince Yu to go to Yanxiang Palace."
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's eyelashes drooped slightly, hiding the expression in his eyes.
"I obey your orders." The eunuch hurried away and returned a few minutes later to report, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is doing well and is not seriously ill."
Emperor Jing'an's eyes were filled with disappointment as he addressed the palace attendants, "As long as matters not related to the inner sanctum or matters of life and death do not need to be reported to me."
The palace maids all knelt down in unison: "As you command."
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Prince Yu stood motionless at the palace gate, waiting for the imperial guard to come and answer him. He waited for nearly three quarters of an hour before the imperial guard finally arrived.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered you to return home to prepare for the wedding. As for the Imperial Concubine, he will send a royal physician to treat her." Before leaving, the imperial guard explained the reason why Emperor Jing'an had refused Prince Yu entry to the palace. "The Emperor went to Yanxiang Palace today and sent for the royal physician to examine the Imperial Concubine. The physician said she suffered a food poisoning and is not seriously injured."
"Since you are concerned about the Imperial Concubine's safety, you may continue to wait here. Before I came to reply to you, the Emperor's eunuchs had already asked the imperial physician to examine the Imperial Concubine. If the Imperial Concubine's condition is serious, the eunuchs will come and ask you to go to Yanxiang Palace."
Prince Yu seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He clenched the small porcelain bottle in his hand, as if he had something to say to the imperial guards.
The imperial guard glanced at Prince Yu's clenched fist and spoke first, "The Third Prince has moved into Taiji Palace, an honor never before enjoyed by any other prince. You should be aware of the fickle nature of the world, and many palace servants have surrendered to the Third Prince."
The guards who could serve in front of the emperor were all from noble families, so he was not afraid of Prince Yu and the Third Prince, but he also did not want to be dragged into the quagmire of the fight for the throne and implicate his own family.
"My duty is over, I will take my leave first." The imperial guard withdrew.
How could Prince Yu not know this?
After Emperor Jing'an removed Tan Rui from his post, he cleaned up the palace staff, making everyone in the palace feel insecure.
No one, whether in the court or among the palace ladies, dared to have anything to do with the mother and son openly.
In addition, he did not dare to entrust the antidote to the palace servants at will.
These palace servants had no official authority, and they were afraid that they would be detained by the Third Prince's men while delivering medicine to his mother.
By then, his mother would really not be able to survive.
Prince Yu continued to wait in front of the palace gate. There was still one hour before Concubine Ling's medicine would take effect.
Time passed by little by little, and the sky gradually darkened.
Prince Yu became increasingly anxious. The darkness above him loomed large over him. The uneasiness he felt quickly fermented, becoming increasingly intense, even causing his heart to beat wildly.
At this moment, there is only half an hour left.
We can't wait any longer.
At that moment, the palace gates opened, and an eunuch emerged. "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine is fine. Please return home." After a pause, he added, "Your request to see the Emperor has caused him to dislike you and the Imperial Concubine. The Emperor has also issued an order that from now on, no further matters concerning the Imperial Concubine need be brought before the Emperor."
Prince Yu suddenly grabbed the eunuch's neck and led his men towards the palace gate.
The eunuch struggled and squeezed out a sentence from his throat with difficulty: "Prince Yu broke into the forbidden palace privately, intending to rebel——"
The guards guarding the palace gate drew their swords and quickly surrounded Prince Yu.
The air condensed instantly and was about to explode.
At this moment, with a "Puchi" sound, Prince Yu pushed the eunuch forward and pierced the eunuch's chest with the long sword.
This seemed to be a signal. Half of the guards guarding the palace gate swiftly stabbed their comrades in the chest with their long swords. In the eyes of their comrades who looked incredulous, they escorted Prince Yu all the way to Yanxiang Palace.
Prince Yu, covered in blood, stepped into Yanxiang Palace and walked straight to the inner hall. Just as he reached the inner hall door, his footsteps suddenly stopped.
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