All the mansions began to strictly manage their gates, and the Fourth Prince's mansion was no exception. Except for those who were purchasing goods and emptying chamber pots, no one was allowed to enter or leave.
If anyone comes to visit, they are only allowed to leave a note; the door will not be opened under any circumstances.
On the twelfth day, Yinzhen still hadn't returned.
Feng Sheng'e and Hong Hui had been studying in the front yard, but they hadn't seen their father for a long time, and their minds were in turmoil. When the teacher found out, each of them was punished with ten large characters.
Hutuli and Feiyanga were both at Qingzhiyuan, and the young children also felt a little nervous.
Hutu tugged at Changning's sleeve and asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Mother, why hasn't Father come back yet?"
Changning had just received her elder brother's letter and was still lost in thought.
Fucha Changhua wrote that the Emperor had suspended court assemblies these days and had sent many people from the palace to secretly seek out famous doctors among the common people.
A renowned doctor?
Is the Emperor seriously ill?
Changning's first reaction was this; almost subconsciously, she thought of the fact that Emperor Kangxi had once suffered from malaria.
In the Qianqing Palace
"Is Father still burning?"
Prince Zhi hurriedly entered from outside. These days, he and several concubines had been arranging manpower and searching for doctors among the common people.
The third prince answered, and he too looked worried.
"She was burning up and kept shivering and complaining of being cold."
The Fourteenth Prince, unable to contain his temper, exclaimed, "What are those quacks at the Imperial Hospital doing? It's been almost half a month, and Father's condition hasn't improved at all. If you ask me, they should be given fifty lashes!"
Yinzhen frowned upon hearing this. What kind of time was this? The fourteenth prince was always causing trouble! Therefore, he didn't give him a kind look.
"Fourteenth Prince, sit down for a while! After the Crown Prince finishes taking care of Father Emperor, we'll have to take turns."
Upon hearing this, Fourteen wanted to curl his lip. The Crown Prince was just trying to gain fame and reputation. Was he the only filial son? Were the rest of them just good-for-nothings?
However, he didn't have the guts to disrespect the Crown Prince in the Qianqing Palace, so he just muttered a few words to himself.
Seeing this, the Eighth Prince quickly tried to smooth things over: "The Fourteenth Prince is just worried about Father Emperor; concern can cloud judgment."
Old Nine sat to one side, twirling the ring on his hand, exuding a fierce aura that made him look like someone not to be trifled with.
"In my opinion, the Imperial Medical Academy is no longer effective. How long can this news be kept secret? We should just spread the word and post notices throughout the country, offering ten thousand taels of gold to anyone who can cure this fever and chills syndrome!"
Upon hearing this, none of the brothers responded.
The order to block the news was issued when the emperor was lucid; who would have thought he would be burning up with fever now?
Who would dare disobey the Emperor's decree?
No one dared, not even the crown prince.
Old Ninth had thought these words through his mind several times. Seeing that his brothers remained silent, he looked directly at Prince Zhi.
"Brother, the Crown Prince is inside now, and you're the only one in charge. What do you think we should do? You've searched all the doctors in the capital, haven't you? Are there any who are capable? Father's illness is getting worse every day. If we delay any longer, who can afford to take the blame?"
The tenth prince, who was always very close to the ninth prince, chimed in, "Yes, elder brother! Father Emperor can't even attend court. The ministers are constantly sending him memorials. The Nine Gates Commander has killed so many people that the blood could fill a vegetable market. With everyone in such a state of panic, the capital will never be at peace!"
Prince Zhi's gaze was deep, but he remained silent.
Yinzhen also felt a tightness in his chest.
When they were young, the emperor was like a mountain. It seemed that nothing could contain or restrain him, whether it was the Three Feudatories, Oboi, or the Dzungars.
But now, this once majestic and towering mountain is beginning to show signs of fatigue.
He was initially excited about his ambition, but for the sake of father-son ties and the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, he absolutely did not want anything to happen to his father, the Emperor.
The Imperial Medical Academy had been treating the Emperor for nearly a month, but they were at a loss. Before losing consciousness, the Emperor summoned his sons to the palace to stabilize the situation and prevent internal strife.
But now, who can step up and take over this huge mess?
Prince Zhi? Can he handle it?
The brothers were all waiting for their eldest brother to speak. Yinti knew in his heart that what he wanted to say was to spread the word, post notices throughout the country, and grant a promotion and title to whoever could save their father!
But the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he couldn't bring himself to speak.
Once the news of the emperor's critical illness spreads, many disloyal individuals throughout the court and the country will be tempted to act.
Can he handle the old clique of Zhu San Taizi, the followers of the White Lotus Sect, and the ever-watchful Dzungar Khanate?
Even with Mingzhu by his side to assist him, Yinti still lacked confidence.
He was the Great Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the Baturu of the Qing Dynasty, and a born brave warrior, but in the political arena, he felt he was no match for him.
Now thirty years old, he was no longer a greenhorn, nor an ignorant child who thought he could solve all problems simply by leading troops into battle.
He knew how deep and murky the water was.
Even his brothers...
Yinti looked at them one by one. His brothers were now looking at him expectantly, hoping that he would make the decision.
But how many people secretly hope he'll get ahead this time? How many people hope he'll put in the effort but get nothing in return?
How many people are hoping he will rise to great heights and then fall hard?
Yinti suddenly felt a chill.
He never said it out loud.
But the next second, everyone heard a sentence.
"I have come to issue an imperial decree."
The brothers, who had been bowing their heads, all raised them, and a handsome, slender figure emerged from the inner room.
The prince was only wearing a blue robe. Although the fabric was of the highest quality, it was just a blue robe. There was no complicated embroidery or trim, let alone any python embroidery symbolizing the prince's status.
But when he stood there, his posture upright, like bamboo or pine, his face like jade, he exuded an inexplicable aura of power that commanded respect.
Yinzhen was the first to react and quickly bowed, saying, "I will obey the Crown Prince's decree."
Yinreng nodded with a smile, then turned solemn and said to the crowd, "Father has contracted a fever and chills, his lips are turning purple, his eyes are sunken, and his high fever is not going down. Now, spread the word and seek out talented people. Whoever can cure this disease, I, in the name of the Crown Prince of the Great Qing, guarantee a generous reward to his entire family!"
The pent-up anger in Yinzhen's chest seemed to be released with the Crown Prince's words, and a surge of heroic spirit also welled up within him.
The same applies to the other brothers.
When the emperor is critically ill, it is only natural and just to have the power of the entire nation to save him.
If any petty scoundrels dare to offend us, we shall kill them when we encounter them.
Yinreng was not entirely unprepared.
"Rest assured, everyone. Whether it's someone within the court or a former dynasty force outside, once anyone is found to have disloyal intentions, it's better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I trust you brothers; you must guard the gates of the Qing Dynasty closely!"
"yes!"
This time, the brothers answered in unison.
The ninth and tenth brothers exchanged a glance, while the fourteenth brother showed a hint of admiration on his face.
Prince Zhi's expression was complicated.
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