This is the ninth urgent report from the southern border.
Emperor Kangping was already a man of volatile temper, and his emotions became even more unstable during his serious illness. He refused to see any ministers or allow any maids or servants to approach him. Yang Yaozu was the only trusted eunuch who could get close to Emperor Kangping, and all urgent reports had to be sent to him first before he would pass them on to the emperor.
Following Consort Li's instructions, Yang Yaozu had already intercepted the first eight orders. Emperor Kangping was completely unaware that the Southern Chu army was attacking the southern border.
Since Emperor Kangping would never see this urgent report, there was no harm in opening it. He removed the sealing wax, opened the report, and examined it by candlelight.
This urgent report differs from the previous eight. The first eight all stated that Southern Chu had mobilized its entire army to attack the border, which was in imminent danger, and requested Emperor Kangping to send troops to provide immediate support. This report, however, stated that the border had fallen, and the Southern Chu army had invaded the territory of Great Jin and disappeared without a trace.
The urgent report was signed by the deputy general.
According to the military law of the Great Jin Dynasty, urgent reports must be issued by the commander-in-chief. Now that it has been issued by the deputy commander, it is clear that the commander-in-chief has been killed in battle.
He burned the urgent report to ashes, picked up the gold medal bestowed by Emperor Kangping from the table, hung it around his neck, and left the room.
The gold medal was given to him by Emperor Kangping. He only had one, and he would not be hindered from entering or leaving any place.
The maid waiting outside said, "Eunuch Yang, Consort Li tells you that the Goddess has arrived. She will treat His Majesty shortly."
The goddess had been there for over ten days, but it wasn't Su Wan who had arrived; instead, it was a mysterious woman named Qiu Jie. Consort Li had forbidden him from telling Emperor Kangping, instructing him to conceal the arrival of the Southern Chu army. He complied.
He secretly approved of Consort Li's alliance with the Southern Chu army to attack Xiping Pass. Although he didn't hate Wei Jingzhuo, he hated Wei Jingzhuo's wife, Su Wan. If Wei Jingzhuo defeated the Fifth Prince, Emperor Kangping would be forced to appoint Wei Jingzhuo as Crown Prince, and Su Wan would become the Crown Princess.
How could he possibly allow someone who had castrated himself to become the Crown Princess?
He nodded to indicate that he understood, passed through several courtyards and several gates guarded by guards, and arrived at the door of Emperor Kangping's bedroom.
Emperor Kangping's palace was guarded by thousands of imperial guards, so heavily fortified that not even a bird could fly in. The entrance to his room was manned around the clock by the palace's most elite guards, and no minister was allowed to enter. Only Yang Yaozu was permitted free passage with his imperial gold token.
Several imperial physicians stood guard at the door, carrying steaming pots of medicine and talking in hushed tones. The eldest of them, seeing Yang Yaozu arrive, bowed and said, "Eunuch Yang, we have prepared the medicine for His Majesty. Please be sure to persuade His Majesty to take it."
Yang Yaozu took the medicine pot and asked, "How long do you think it will take for His Majesty to recover?"
The imperial physicians all frowned upon hearing this. One of them said, "Eunuch Yang, His Majesty's condition had been improving, and after another half month of medication, he should be able to sit up. But now His Majesty refuses to take the medicine and is only waiting for the goddess to treat him. If this continues, I'm afraid..."
Yang Yaozu nodded and said, "Understood, I will try to persuade His Majesty to take the medicine. If His Majesty insists on not drinking it, there's nothing I can do. You may all leave now."
One of the imperial physicians sighed, "If His Majesty continues like this, and something unexpected happens, we will all be held responsible."
After the imperial physicians left, Yang Yaozu entered the room and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this servant has brought the medicine for Your Majesty to take."
The room was stuffy and hot, the dim candlelight illuminating the golden dragon-patterned curtains. From behind the curtains, Emperor Kangping's weak voice drifted out: "I won't drink, I won't drink... Has the goddess arrived yet?"
Yang Yaozu said, "Your Majesty, the goddess has arrived and is preparing to treat you."
"Then what are we waiting for? Quickly, let her come and treat me," Emperor Kangping said breathlessly, his tone urgent. "She is Zhuo'er's wife, isn't she? Tell her that as long as she can cure me, I will immediately issue an edict to restore Zhuo'er to the position of Crown Prince... immediately."
“Your Majesty, have you not considered the Fifth Prince when you do this?” Yang Yaozu advised. “It was Your Majesty who ordered him to attack Xiping Pass, and now it is Your Majesty who is ordering him to withdraw his troops. If Your Majesty were to appoint Wei Jingzhuo as Crown Prince again… I fear that the Fifth Prince might have some reservations.”
Emperor Kangping coughed violently and said in a hoarse voice, "I only want to live... I don't want to die. As long as she heals me, I will forgive and forget... I can let Zhuo'er ascend the throne, and I am willing to abdicate."
Having been bedridden for so long, Emperor Kangping had long since come to terms with it. All the things people strive for are fleeting in the face of life. No matter how immense wealth and power one possesses, it's all for naught if one isn't alive to enjoy them.
Although Wei Shao was his biological son, he did not possess Su Wan's medical skills.
Yang Yaozu said, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician's medicine is here. This servant will serve it to Your Majesty."
He was holding the medicine bowl and was about to lift the curtain when Emperor Kangping stretched out his hand, which was as thin as a chicken claw, from inside the curtain and smashed the medicine bowl away. He roared with all his might, "I won't drink it! Summon the Goddess! Summon the Goddess!"
Yang Yaozu's hand was scalded red by the hot medicine spilled from the medicine pot. He grimaced but dared not cry out. Enduring the pain, he squatted down to pick up the broken porcelain shards and walked out of the bedroom, saying, "His Majesty has decreed that the Goddess be summoned."
The eunuchs guarding outside relayed the message one by one.
A moment later, a woman dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask walked along the corridor carrying a medicine box.
This wasn't the first time Yang Yaozu had seen Qiu Jie's clown mask, but seeing it again still sent a chill down his spine. The clown was clearly laughing, but on Qiu Jie's face, it evoked no joy whatsoever.
Qiu Jie was personally brought to the capital by a family of renowned healers. If the family of renowned healers says she is a goddess, then there must be no mistake.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
