Chapter 99 The Emperor Fell in the Temple
The whispers in the crowd could no longer be suppressed, spreading like a tide: "Did you see that? His Majesty needs help climbing the stairs. It's obvious that he really can't see clearly..."
"I heard he goes berserk every night. Doesn't that seem to be groundless?"
"The newly appointed Consort Yun is said to look very similar to your Majesty's biological mother, the late Concubine Zhao..."
"Your Majesty is keeping his illness a secret and is refusing medical attention. No one in the Imperial Hospital dares to speak out. I'm afraid the condition... is more serious than we imagined..."
Yun Zhao stood silently among the crowd, listening to every word of the discussions.
Her gaze passed through the crowd and fell on the bright yellow figure tightly surrounded by eunuchs. The focus in his eyes seemed to be somewhat lost...
At this moment, she heard Xiao Jin's voice, clearly calling her name: "Yun Zhao."
Yun Zhao immediately collected himself and stepped out to salute: "Your Highness is here."
Xiao Jin's gaze seemed to be trying hard to focus on her, and his tone was deliberately calm. "Your father has returned triumphantly today. I grant you permission to leave the palace and return home to reunite with your family. Just remember to return before the palace gates are locked."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your grace!" Yun Zhao suppressed the complex emotions surging in his heart and expressed his gratitude respectfully.
As soon as the ceremony was over, she lifted her skirt and trotted towards the Yun family's relatives, temporarily leaving all the rumors and calculations behind.
Xiao Jin placed his hand firmly on Zhang Fuan's arm as he watched her retreat. After a moment, he turned to the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the various inner court departments, and his voice regained its imperial dignity: "The celebration banquet will be held in three days. All matters will be handed over to the Ministry of Rites and the six bureaus to begin preparations as soon as possible. There must be no mistakes!"
"We obey your order!" everyone responded in unison.
Yun Zhao immediately rushed through the crowd and rushed towards the dusty but still upright figure. He threw himself into his father's broad and strong arms, his voice choked with sobs, "Dad! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Is everything going well?"
Duke Yun Chongshan of Yun had fought on the battlefield for many years and had developed a heart of stone. However, at this moment, his eyes were reddened by his daughter's call, which showed her complete dependence on him.
He patted his daughter's back with his big hand, his voice deep and soothing, "Silly girl, look at what you said. If things hadn't been going well, how could Daddy be standing in front of you so soon? Leading troops in battle is Daddy's forte. Don't worry, everything is fine."
Zhao Yuanying, the mother, watching the father and daughter embrace, couldn't help but wipe away tears. "Alright, alright, we're finally reunited. This isn't the place to talk. Let's go home and talk later."
Yunfeng had already ordered the carriage to arrive. The family boarded the carriage, shutting out the clamor and inquiring gazes at the palace gates. The carriage was filled with the warmth and joy of a long-awaited reunion.
After returning to the mansion and resting for a while, the topic naturally turned to Yunfeng's marriage. Yun Chongshan stroked his short beard, his expression quite satisfied. "Although Cheng Shanbo didn't quite make it in the court, the Chen family has been a family of integrity for generations, with a strict and honest family tradition, and is well-known in the capital. I heard that his eldest daughter had been recuperating at the farm due to illness. Is she feeling better now?"
Yunfeng faced his father with a calm expression. He explained in a low voice, "Father, she wasn't seriously ill. Initially... she was trying to avoid unnecessary trouble and wait for her son's return, so she used the excuse of resting at the manor. Now that her son has returned, he wants to... take her north with him."
Upon hearing this, Yun Chongshan's eyes flashed with understanding and approval, and he nodded: "So that's how it is. She's a good child with ideas and is willing to work hard. But this is really unfair to her. Has the betrothal gift been delivered according to etiquette?"
"All the gifts have been prepared and sent. It's just that the wedding was so hasty, I'm afraid..." Yunfeng's tone was filled with a hint of apology.
Yun Chongshan waved his hand and said decisively, "That's all right. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I'll remember this gesture of friendship. Tomorrow I'll personally visit Earl Chengshan's residence and express my gratitude in person. I won't let anyone look down on our future daughter-in-law."
After recounting family matters, the conversation inevitably turned to the rumors circulating in the palace recently. Yun Zhao sighed softly, a look of worry etched across his brow. "That palace maid... was indeed canonized as a talented person, and her appearance does bear a resemblance to the late emperor's Consort Zhao."
Mother Zhao Yuanying was most concerned about her daughter's safety. She grabbed Yun Zhao's hand and asked anxiously, "I don't care about those things. I just want to ask you, His Majesty...did he really go crazy and kill people in the middle of the night? Were you frightened in the palace?"
Yun Zhao held his mother's hand and soothed her, "Don't worry, mother. Those are all lies. Your Majesty... He was imprisoned in the cold palace in his early years and suffered many hardships. It left a shadow in his heart. He occasionally suffers from nightmares and panic attacks at night, but they have never caused any real harm to anyone, let alone my daughter."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanying heaved a long sigh of relief and patted her chest, saying, "That's good, that's good... I was really scared to death."
At this moment, Yunfeng interrupted with a serious expression, "What about His Majesty's eyes... Rumor has it that he has blurred vision and even slipped and fell while offering sacrifices to his ancestors at the Taimiao. Is this true?"
Yun Zhao's expression grew serious upon hearing this, her worry evident. "This matter... I dare not say for sure. Your Majesty did suffer a sudden eye disease, but he claimed to have found a miracle doctor. Now the rumors are intensifying. If Your Majesty is truly ill but is keeping it a secret, it could be exploited by those with ulterior motives, destabilizing the nation and causing disaster."
Yun Chongshan, seated at the head of the table, listened quietly to his children's conversation. Seeing his daughter calmly analyzing the situation, a look of both relief and complexity crossed his eyes. He smiled and sighed, "In just six months, my Ah Zhao has truly grown up. Her thoughts and concerns are those of a high-ranking imperial concubine, and her heart is devoted to the country."
Zhao Yuanying, however, felt more distressed than proud, and couldn't help but scold, "What do you mean by growing up? Ah Zhao has been forced to grow up! The emperor is heartless, and the royal family is unkind. If you and your son didn't hold military power, why would he insist on keeping Ah Zhao confined to that harem full of gossip?"
Yun Zhao took this opportunity to look at her father, her eyes earnest and firm. "Father, this is precisely why I want to ask you for a favor. At the celebration banquet in three days, His Majesty will undoubtedly show his favor and bestow great rewards upon you. At that time, I beg you, Father, to ask His Majesty to allow me to leave the palace and return home. The situation is delicate right now, with the Yun family holding military power. I'm afraid my daughter's marriage...is no longer within our control. Leaving the palace is the only way to improve things."
Yun Chongshan gazed into his daughter's clear and determined eyes, pondered for a moment, and slowly nodded, his voice steady and reassuring: "Well, I understand. When the time comes, I will act according to the circumstances and will definitely fight for you. Don't worry."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
