Chapter 240 Countdown
Hongzhao didn't not want to speak, but he really didn't know how to start or what to say.
He had always prided himself on being a good talker, adept at saying one thing to one person and another to another. But now, he felt a dryness in his throat and couldn't make a sound.
What should I say? Say, "Father, you will be alright." Say, "Long live Father, you will surely overcome this danger and get through this safely."
He had said these self-deceiving words countless times before, to himself and to the Emperor. Seeing his father's health deteriorating day by day, even Yinzhen himself no longer believed these words.
He heard his father sigh again, as if his father had been sighing more and more often these days, mostly to him.
People sigh when they have regrets. What are Ama's regrets? Do they all come from him?
Yinzhen said, "Of all the things I just said, there is only one exception. That is, as long as you are in front of me, none of what I just said counts. Quickly put away that smile that is uglier than crying. If I have a nightmare in the middle of the night, I will punish you when I wake up."
“No, that won’t happen.” Hongzhao retorted softly, “If Father dreams of his son, it’s definitely not a nightmare.”
“Even if we are punished, it doesn’t matter. My son will ask my third brother to copy the scriptures. We can also share our monthly salary, and the two brothers can eat coarse food together.”
"Eating coarse food and wild vegetables?" Yinzhen raised an eyebrow. "When I return, I will summon Hongshi and ask him properly to see if it is really as miserable as you say."
He could tell that Hongzhao had deliberately changed the subject, but the atmosphere had been rather heavy just now, so he was happy to play along and say something amusing.
Over the past few months, Yinzhen had given countless instructions, practically covering the locations of all his trusted ministers and personnel both inside and outside the palace. He wasn't worried that Hongzhao wouldn't remember. After all, the child had an excellent memory from a young age; he could memorize anything he had seen just once in the blink of an eye.
"Go and tidy up that mess of yours. It's making my head spin just looking at it. Take it back and look at it yourself." Yinzhen deliberately pointed to the stack of documents that had been knocked over and were scattered.
When Hongzhao saw his father say this, he looked back and then propped up his aching legs. “Most of the messages inside are about your health, Father. A few are about politics… So wait for your son to come back in a while. If you are tired, rest for a while.”
"Why are you so long-winded at such a young age? Go on." Yinzhen pretended to be impatient, watching Hongzhao bow to him and leave. The relaxed expression on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a more obvious sickly look.
"Su Peisheng, go and fetch paper and pen."
Su Peisheng paused, and seeing that the Emperor was about to get up, he hurriedly came to help him up—"Oh, Your Majesty, you are not feeling well these days. If you want to say something, why don't you let this servant write it down for you? Why do you have to get up yourself?"
As Yinzhen struggled to move his weak body, he shook his head and said, "While I am still able to hold a pen, I must leave something behind. It's best to write it myself. Go and get it."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the Emperor insisted, and he couldn't very well stop him. So he brought over the brush, ink, paper and inkstone one by one. He watched as the Emperor trembled as he held the brush, using his left hand to control his right wrist, trying his best not to show any signs of trembling.
"How can I break my promise to my son when I already promised Hongzhao?"
...
The illness could change in an instant. Yesterday, Yinzhen was able to sit up straight and write, but the next day, even turning over became a difficult task. His mind was still clear, just like the day before, but he was sleeping for longer and longer periods of time, and was awake less and less.
Hongzhao sat on the embroidered stool, quietly watching his father, the Emperor, fall into a deep sleep, his fists clenching unconsciously.
The ministers behind him were all the emperor's confidants and important officials of the Grand Council. At this moment, they all knelt in a row in front of the bed, their faces more solemn than the last.
After receiving glances from the others, one of them gritted his teeth, crawled forward on his knees, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, it's not a good idea for the Emperor to keep getting better like this. Why don't we think of a way to bring him some good fortune? The Emperor is blessed with great fortune, and perhaps he will get better this time."
Hongzhao tilted his head slightly to look at him. Perhaps the Emperor's earnest words yesterday had really had an effect, because his lowered eyelids concealed the emotions in his eyes, making it impossible to tell whether he agreed or disagreed.
"The coffin was prepared by the Imperial Household Department two days ago, and an auspicious date was chosen to bring good luck." After a long while, Hongzhao slowly said this.
"It is my father's will that I have invited you all here today. He has some things to tell you, so please wait a moment. Xiao Dezi, please take you to the side hall to rest. I will send someone to inform him when he wakes up."
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, some of the people below waved their hands and others shook their heads, repeatedly saying things like "I dare not" and "Thank you."
As they waited, it was getting dark.
Not only were the people waiting watching the sky, but Hongzhao was also constantly observing it.
After all, he only knew the day, but not the exact hour. After the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) today, it would be the last day.
"Father, Father?"
He leaned closer and gently called out twice in his ear, but as expected, there was no response. Then, he became bolder and pushed him, shaking him and calling out, "Father, wake up."
The flickering candlelight reflected in his eyes as he watched the time draw ever closer to the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). Hongzhao felt a restless anxiety, as if being scratched by a cat. A jumble of thoughts flooded his mind, and he frowned deeply, his jaw muscles twitching.
"Zhou Qi, come here and administer the acupuncture. I need to wake Father Emperor up."
Zhou Qi naturally followed the Crown Prince's lead, but while he was performing the procedure, he had to remind him again: "Your Highness, I would like to reiterate that the Emperor's condition is so serious that the brief period of lucidity gained through acupuncture will not last long."
Hongzhao remained silent, and Zhou Qi, seeing this, also refrained from speaking further. However, today, the acupuncture seemed to have lost its accuracy. In the past, two needles would have been enough to wake someone who had fainted. But now, it took five needles to produce any effect on the Emperor.
He first twitched his eyelids, then his fingertips and brows furrowed as if he had exerted a great deal of effort to slowly lift his eyelids.
"Father! Would you like some water? The medicinal food has been kept warm. Are you hungry, Father?"
Hongzhao's call seemed to pull his thoughts out of the depths. He moved his stiff neck little by little, and with difficulty raised his eyes to look at Hongzhao beside him, whose clothes were all wrinkled, and then looked at the dim candlelight in the room.
"How many hours...did I sleep?"
Hongzhao leaned forward and whispered, "Mother, it's almost 9 PM. The ministers, Uncle Thirteen, and Uncle Fourteen have all arrived, and Mother Empress is also here. Father, would you like to see them?"
Upon hearing the time of Hai (9-11 PM), Yinzhen's already cloudy eyes involuntarily darkened. The last time he was fully awake was in the early morning. Thinking of this, the knot between his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he took a deep breath to fill his chest.
"Bring them in."
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