Chapter 80 The Final Move
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy practically stumbled out of the Da'an Palace's sleeping quarters, his face deathly pale and his forehead covered in cold sweat. Several of the Imperial Medical Bureau's top physicians huddled in the outer room, exchanging their opinions in hushed tones, each face etched with heaviness and helplessness.
Emperor Emeritus Li Yuan has fallen once again.
Unlike the previous unexplained coma, this time the cause was so clear it was despairing. Years of pent-up resentment, nearly a year of unrestrained feasting and revelry, and reckless overexertion of a body already weakened by prolonged bed rest… all these factors combined, like a dam riddled with holes, finally collapsing completely one morning. Signs of internal organ failure were already visible; medicine and treatments were ineffective, and there was no hope of recovery.
When the news reached the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin was simulating the northwest war with Li Jing. Upon hearing the eunuch's trembling report, the small red flag representing the main force of the Tang army in his hand fell to the edge of the sand table with a "thud".
He didn't move immediately, but stood there silently for a long time. The expression on his face was complex and hard to decipher: anger, grief, a kind of weariness that seemed to have settled, and a very faint trace of relief that even he himself was unwilling to admit?
The day has finally come.
"Pharmacist, regarding the affairs in the Northwest, according to the established strategy, you are in full command. I... need to go to Da'an Palace." Li Shimin's voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Your Majesty, I understand. Please accept my condolences." Li Jing bowed and said in a deep voice. He knew all too well the entanglements and grudges between this father and son of the imperial family, and any words of comfort would seem inadequate at this moment.
A tense and chaotic atmosphere pervaded the Da'an Palace. Palace servants hurried along with their heads down, not daring to make a sound. The sleeping quarters were filled with the heavy smell of medicine and a decaying stench of life drawing to a close.
Li Yuan lay on the large dragon bed, his face an ominous sallow, his eyes sunken, his breathing weak and rapid. But his eyes, once sharp, later filled with hatred, and now murky, shone unusually brightly, like two will-o'-the-wisps about to burn out, staring intently at Li Shimin as he entered.
"You...have come." Li Yuan's voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable, yet it carried a strange calmness, even a cruel clarity. "Seeing me...in this state, are you...satisfied?"
Li Shimin walked to the bedside, looking at his father who had given him life and fought him relentlessly for half his life, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He did not answer the question, but only said, "Father, please take good care of yourself. The imperial physicians are doing their best."
"Trying their best?" Li Yuan let out a strange, hoarse laugh, causing his withered chest to heave violently. "They... they're just trying their best to keep me going for a few more days. I... know that in my heart."
He took a few labored breaths, turned his gaze to the palace servants standing in the hall, especially several trusted eunuchs and imperial physicians, and hissed, "All... get out. I... have something to say to the emperor alone."
No one dared to disobey, so they quickly bowed and withdrew, gently closing the heavy palace door behind them. The bedchamber was now left with only the father and son, and the ever-growing aura of death.
"Shimin," Li Yuan no longer addressed him as "Emperor," but called him by his name, his voice weak yet carrying a strange penetrating power, "I... am about to die."
Li Shimin's hand clenched slightly in his sleeve, but he remained silent.
"I hate you." Li Yuan said bluntly, his cloudy eyes still filled with hatred. "I hate that you stole my throne and forced me to live like a prisoner... I hate that you made me lie on the dragon bed for so many years, neither human nor ghost... I hate even more that you... have her by your side!"
The meaning of "she" is self-evident.
Li Shimin's jawline tightened.
“But,” Li Yuan’s tone shifted, a complex light flashing in his eyes—a mixture of mockery, sorrow, and a weariness bordering on resignation—“I too… heard it. Back then… I couldn’t wake up, but I could hear… what you said.”
Li Shimin suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Back when Li Yuan was in a coma, he had indeed spoken many things at his bedside, some about state affairs, and others... the complex emotions he occasionally couldn't suppress.
"You said... 'Father, this empire is too heavy a burden, your son will also be weary'... You said... 'If you could wake up, it would be good to scold me'..." Li Yuan repeated intermittently, his breath growing weaker with each sentence, "At that time... I did feel... a little... regret. I felt... perhaps, I was also wrong..."
His eyes became somewhat unfocused, as if he had returned to those dark years, though not entirely devoid of feeling. "But... it's been too long... Shimin... it's been too long..." His voice lowered, filled with endless desolation, "Those words... those feelings... have been worn away by the darkness... and hatred... day after day. This time when I woke up... only one last thought remained in my heart."
He struggled, seemingly trying to sit up, but lacked the strength. Li Shimin subconsciously took half a step forward, but then stopped.
Li Yuan stared at him, his two ghostly gazes locked onto Li Shimin's eyes, and with his last breath, he said clearly, word by word, "I want you... to taste... what it feels like to lose the most important person!"
These words, like a poisoned icicle, pierced Li Shimin's heart. His pupils constricted, and a chill ran from his feet to the top of his head! Not directed at himself, but at… "the most important person"?
"Who... do you intend to target?" Li Shimin's voice was as cold as ice, filled with undisguised killing intent. Wang Yi flashed through his mind instantly, but his intuition told him that Li Yuan's ultimate target might not be her.
Li Yuan grinned, revealing an extremely ugly and malicious smile. He didn't answer directly, but instead said in a low voice, "Guess? Is it that woman... whom you can't even bear to delve into the rumors about? Or... that good empress who has always helped you stabilize the harem and keep an eye on the court, so you have no worries about the future?"
The name "Changsun" exploded in Li Shimin's ears like a thunderclap! He trembled violently, his eyes wide with rage, and he grabbed Li Yuan's withered wrist with such force that he almost crushed it: "You dare touch Guanyinbi?! Li Yuan! If you dare harm her in the slightest, I—"
"What about me?" Li Yuan met his furious gaze without fear, even with a hint of glee. "I'm about to die... What can you do to me? Whip my corpse? Mutilate my bones? Hahaha..." He laughed maniacally, coughing up phlegm mixed with blood. "Shimin... can you defend against open attacks... can you defend against... hidden arrows? Can you defend against... the hearts of men? You'll never know... where... I'll place my final... move..."
His voice grew softer and softer, his breath weaker and weaker, but the malice in his eyes and that eerie smugness remained crystal clear. "Just wait... my good son... you'll know... you'll regret it... just like I did back then... regret it..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yuan's head lolled to the side, and he fell into a coma again. But this time, his coma was different from before; his life force was visibly draining away from him.
"Imperial Physician! Summon the Imperial Physician!" Li Shimin suddenly released his grip and roared, his voice trembling slightly, though he himself was unaware of it.
The imperial physicians rushed in, and after a frantic attempt to save him, the head physician knelt down, his face ashen: "Your Majesty... the Emperor Emeritus... his life force is exhausted, he's at his last gasp, I'm afraid... I'm afraid he'll only live for the next few days..."
Li Shimin stood there, looking at the withered old man on the bed, barely clinging to life, and as if through him he saw a vast, impending shadow looming over Empress Zhangsun. Li Yuan's last words, like the most vicious curse, clung to his heart.
He did not linger at the Da'an Palace, nor did he even deal with the subsequent tedious requests regarding the preparations for the "national mourning." He rushed back to the Liangyi Hall like a gust of wind and immediately issued an oral decree:
"Order the Hundred Cavalry Division to triple its manpower to secretly protect the Empress. Without my decree, no one is allowed to approach the Ganlu Hall! Closely monitor all those entering and leaving the palace, especially those related to the Da'an Palace, the Eastern Palace, and the Prince of Wei's residence! Order the General of the Left Thousand Ox Guard to strengthen the security of the palace and the imperial city from this day forward. Without the joint seals of the Empress and myself, no one is allowed to mobilize a single soldier to approach the inner palace area!"
A series of urgent and stern orders were issued, instantly escalating the tension in the entire palace. The emperor's sudden, almost excessive, tension instilled a sense of impending doom in everyone who received the orders.
Li Shimin knew that Li Yuan's final words were no empty threats. In his final moments, the old man had meticulously planned a final scheme, aimed directly at Empress Zhangsun! He didn't know the specifics of the methods or when they would be used, but he would not allow anyone to harm his Guanyinbi!
He hurried back to Ganlu Palace. Empress Zhangsun seemed to have just woken up from her afternoon nap and was having her hair combed by a female official. When she saw him enter with a livid face and brisk steps, she was taken aback and waved for the female official to leave.
"Your Majesty, what has caused such a panic?" She rose to greet her and asked with concern. She had been feeling somewhat weak and unwell recently, but she did not show it much.
Li Shimin held her hand tightly; it was slightly cool to the touch. He gazed at his wife's face, which was still gentle and beautiful, yet showed signs of weariness. A pang of pain shot through his heart, and an overwhelming sense of protectiveness and lingering fear surged within him.
“Guanyinbi,” his voice was hoarse with tension, “from now on, you are not to go anywhere but to stay in Ganlu Palace. All food and medicine must be inspected by the most trusted specialists. Except for me and Chengqian, everyone… including the other princes and princesses, is temporarily exempt from paying their respects. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately. The imperial physician must be at your beck and call, but it must be Physician Liu or Physician Zhang, understand?”
Empress Zhangsun was taken aback by his unprecedented tension and a series of orders. She was an intelligent woman and immediately connected the news that the Emperor Emeritus was critically ill with the recent news, as well as the undercurrents she had vaguely sensed targeting the Crown Prince and Wang Zhenren.
"Your Majesty, is it...the Emperor Emeritus?" she asked softly, grasping Li Shimin's cold hand in return. "Or...is someone plotting against me?"
Li Shimin did not hide anything from her, and briefly recounted Li Yuan's final, malicious warning, omitting the part about Wang Yi and only emphasizing Li Yuan's intention to harm her.
Empress Zhangsun's face paled slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly regained her composure. She gently leaned into Li Shimin's embrace and said softly, "Your Majesty, please do not worry too much. I will be careful. The inner palace is not without its defenses. However..." She raised her head, her eyes filled with deep concern, "...the Emperor Emeritus is nearing his end, why would he take such an extreme step? What good will his hatred for me do?"
"He wants me to suffer, to regret," Li Shimin said through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing coldly. "He knows his days are numbered and he can't bear to see me lose my empire, so he wants me to lose the most important person in my life! There's no need to delve into the thoughts of a madman. I will never let him succeed!"
He embraced his wife tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very bones and protect her. The emperor's weakness was laid bare at this moment. He could face thousands of troops, handle court disputes, and endure his father's hatred, but he could not bear the thought of losing Changsun Linglong.
Meanwhile, deep within the deathly aura of the Da'an Palace, in a corner unnoticed by anyone, the last "chess piece" that Li Yuan had planted might have already begun to move silently. Its target was none other than the gentle, dignified, and deeply beloved Empress of the Tang Dynasty.
The eye of the storm seems to have quietly shifted from the Eastern Palace and from Wang Yi to the Ganlu Hall.
Li Yuan's life candle flickered in the wind, about to be extinguished. But the poisonous flame he ignited with his last remaining life force had only just begun to burn. This ultimate struggle between father and son, crossing the boundary of life and death, entered its most cruel and unpredictable finale.
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