"Yes, this is the duty of a minister. Once you forget your duty, you will think of yourself as the master and think that you have a share in the Zhou Dynasty. This is a big mistake." Zhong Zhiheng said calmly, tapping the dragon case with his fingers. "Zhao Changrong is a high-ranking official. It is not appropriate to rely on the Ministry of Justice to try the case alone, and Zou Shijie has just taken office. Such a big case still needs someone to keep an eye on it, so that I can feel at ease. I wonder if the left prime minister can share my worries?"
"I am willing to serve you, Your Majesty." Fang Zhonglian stood up and bowed deeply to Zhong Zhiheng.
"In that case, I can rest assured." Zhong Zhiheng nodded.
He handed Zhao Changrong over to Zou Shijie for trial. He wanted to wipe out the Zhao family. Prince Rong and Prince Hui had been fighting overtly and covertly for so many years. The Zhao family and the Zou family disliked each other, but Fang Zhonglian was watching them. He was also afraid that Zou Shijie would make trouble for Prince Rong and the fourth prince Zhong Mingrong. He wanted to destroy the Zhao family. But his princes could not be touched by anyone.
"Your Highness...Your Highness!" Zhao Ruhai hurriedly came in, holding up the curtain, and walked in front of Zhong Zhiheng, bowing and saying, "Your Highness, the Queen Mother is not feeling well, please go and take a look."
The Queen Mother has been in a coma ever since she vomited blood and fainted on New Year's Eve. She occasionally wakes up but doesn't say a word. She can't eat anything and falls asleep again after a while. Qin Lu has not left the palace since New Year's Eve and has been staying in the Cining Palace.
"What?" Zhong Zhiheng suddenly sat up from his chair, his hands supporting the dragon table, his face full of shock, "The Queen Mother...what happened to her?"
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is talking nonsense. Dean Qin is helpless. She said..." Zhao Ruhai didn't dare to say anything more. He knelt down on the ground with a plop. "Your Majesty, you should go to the Cining Palace to take a look."
Fang Zhonglian also looked nervous. He bowed and said to Zhong Zhiheng, "Your Majesty, please come in."
At that moment, Zhong Zhiheng did not delay any longer. He walked out from behind the dragon desk and strode out of the imperial study. Zhao Ruhai hurriedly got up from the ground, took his cloak and followed him out.
…
Cining Palace.
When Zhong Zhiheng arrived, Qin Lu was already sweating profusely. He was exhausted as he watched the maid feed the empress dowager medicine, but the empress dowager couldn't drink it.
"No... I don't want to drink it anymore. I don't want to drink it." The Queen Mother shook her head and pushed away the medicine bowl that was handed to her. She squinted her dim eyes and looked at the red-painted beams. She said vaguely, "It's time... It's time..."
"Queen Dowager, don't think too much. Drink the medicine quickly. You are in good health!" Qin Lu took the medicine bowl from the maid anxiously and told her to go outside to check the medicine. He knelt in front of the Queen Dowager's bed and scooped a spoonful of medicine to her. "Queen Dowager, you will live a long life."
"It's useless..." The Queen Mother waved her hands and looked at Qin Lu's wrinkled face. She took a deep breath and exhaled deeply, "Qin Lu, these years... you are the only one who is loyal to me... It's hard for you..."
"This is what I should do," Qin Lu took a deep breath, put the medicine bowl on the bedside table, and then took a handkerchief to wipe the saliva from the corner of the Queen Mother's mouth. He leaned over and whispered, "I am indeed loyal to the Queen Mother, but I am also loyal to Your Majesty."
"You...what do you mean?" The dim eyes suddenly opened wide, staring at Qin Lu intently, and the queen mother's lips trembled violently, "You...what do you want to say to me?"
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