When Prince Wu Zhang, Li Ying, learned that the Emperor was gravely ill and his life hung by a thread, he immediately threw on a cloak and left.
He paid personal visits to the Left and Right Ministers, as well as the Grandmaster, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, and Grand Commandant, to inform them of the Emperor’s critical condition.
Burning with anxiety, they all hurriedly changed into their court attire and braved the wind and snow to enter the Imperial Palace with Prince Wu Zhang.
Additionally, Li Ying had someone notify the military generals in charge of Shangjing’s defense, telling them to come to the palace as soon as possible.
As the General of the Brave Cavalry, Bian Ziming naturally received the notice as well.
When he learned the Emperor was so ill he might not last long, his first thought was to go to the Imperial Palace at once. Even if he couldn’t help, he should at least take the opportunity to show his loyalty.
But he soon recalled Princess Consort Zhao’s warning.
He hesitated for a long while before finally deciding to follow her advice: stay out of the palace for now and wait to see how things unfolded.
「Inside the bedchamber.」
Lady Shu and Hua Qingqing had each chosen a bamboo slip.
Both were so nervous that their knuckles turned white as they clutched the slips.
The others in the hall were just as tense.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Lady Shu and Princess Consort Zhen.
Lady Shu gritted her teeth and was the first to reveal the bamboo slip in her hand.
A glance showed that the end of the slip was blank.
She instantly let out a long sigh of relief, then turned to look at Princess Consort Zhen.
At that moment, everyone else’s gaze also fell upon Princess Consort Zhen.
There were only two bamboo slips in total.
Since Lady Shu’s slip was blank, the one in Princess Consort Zhen’s hand must have writing on it.
Hua Qingqing’s heart hammered in her chest. A wave of nervousness and dread washed over her, making her feel as if she might collapse.
’A fifty-fifty chance, and it had to be me?’
’How could my luck be this bad?!’
The Emperor spoke in a hoarse voice. "Princess Consort Zhen, did you draw it?"
Even though she didn’t want to face it, Hua Qingqing had no choice but to loosen her slightly sweaty fingers, revealing the two words written on the end of the slip: "Crown Prince."
Lady Shu was the first to react, speaking quickly.
"Congratulations, sister!"
The others all followed suit with their congratulations.
But Hua Qingqing felt no joy at all.
She even felt a little like crying.
’The Seventh Prince is still so young, yet he’s about to be dragged into the whirlpool of the fight for the throne.’
’If anything happens to him in the future, I’ll hate myself forever.’
The Emperor had long ago ordered the edict for appointing the Crown Prince to be written. All that was needed now was to fill in the Seventh Prince’s name and stamp it with the Jade Seal.
He ordered someone to bring the edict. Forcing himself to sit up, he took a brush in his weak, unsteady right hand and tremblingly wrote the name Li Qiong on the edict.
Zuo Ji respectfully presented the Jade Seal to the Emperor.
The Emperor picked up the Jade Seal, dipped it in the seal paste, and was just about to press it down when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
His movement paused.
Immediately after, Wu Wang’s voice came through the door.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Wu Zhang and the Left and Right Ministers have arrived."
’They’ve come at just the right time,’ the Emperor thought. ’Appointing a Crown Prince requires ministers of the court to be present as witnesses. This will prevent unnecessary misunderstandings and speculation.’
He set down the Jade Seal and leaned back against the soft pillows, gasping out a single word.
"Enter."
Prince Wu Zhang, Li Ying, was the first to enter. The Left and Right Ministers followed close behind, along with the Grandmaster, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, and Grand Commandant.
The entire leadership of the court’s civil servants had assembled.
In addition, there were two military generals in charge of Shangjing’s patrol and defense.
All were important figures who wielded real power.
Seeing the Emperor’s frail state, his breath as faint as a thread, they grew extremely worried and stepped forward to express their concern.
The Emperor was in a very poor state and had no energy to waste on pleasantries.
He spoke at once.
"You’ve arrived at the perfect time. I have an announcement to make, and I need you to act as witnesses."
Everyone present was astute. The moment they heard this, they knew that the Emperor’s announcement was, nine times out of ten, related to the throne.
And sure enough.
The Emperor said he intended to name the Seventh Prince, Li Qiong, as the Crown Prince.
If anything should happen to him in the future, the throne would be inherited by Li Qiong.
The court ministers were greatly shocked.
The Right Minister cried out in astonishment, "I recall the Seventh Prince is not yet one year old."
Li Ying lowered his eyes, suppressing the deep gloom within them.
’Father would rather hand the throne to a baby who hasn’t even been weaned than give it to me.’
’It’s clear just how much he despises me.’
The Emperor said in a raspy voice, "The Seventh Prince is a bit young, which is why I need all of you, my dear ministers, to put in more effort to guide him. With Prince Wu Zhang and Prince Zhao assisting from the side, I trust the court’s situation can be stabilized."
The Grand Protector couldn’t help but ask.
"Your Majesty, why not consider appointing His Highness Prince Wu Zhang as the Crown Prince? Compared to the Seventh Prince, who is still in swaddling clothes, His Highness Prince Wu Zhang is clearly a more suitable choice."
Although the other ministers said nothing, their expressions showed they shared the Grand Protector’s thoughts.
’Making an infant in swaddling clothes the emperor... this is simply too farcical!’
If the Seventh Prince were the Emperor’s only son, with no other choice, it would be one thing.
But isn’t Prince Wu Zhang right here?
Aside from his birth mother’s low status, there’s nothing wrong with him at all!
The Emperor followed their line of thought and looked at Li Ying, remaining silent for a long time before speaking hoarsely.
"Do you want to be the Crown Prince?"
Li Ying kept his head lowered, appearing exceptionally deferential.
"I do not care who becomes Crown Prince. I only hope that Father’s illness will improve soon."
The Emperor slowly uttered a single word.
"Lies."
’I’ve been on the throne for so many years. How could I not see Li Ying’s true intentions?’
’If he truly had no designs on the throne, why would he rush to the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night with so many court officials in tow?’
Li Ying fell to his knees. "Please forgive me, Father."
The Emperor said, "You are skilled in both civil and military arts, brave and resourceful. You are indeed a good candidate for Crown Prince. It is just a pity..."
He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone present knew exactly what he was going to say.
...It was a pity that Li Ying’s birth mother was of such a low and vulgar status, unfit for public presentation.
Li Ying remained silent, the fingers hidden in his sleeves slowly curling into a fist.
’He had heard such words too many times.’
’Everyone looked down on his birth. It was as if, from the moment he was born, filthy blood flowed through his veins, making him an inherently inferior being.’
’Those people beat him, cursed him, did everything they could to humiliate him, grinding him down into the mud.’
’He hated them.’
’But the one he hated most was the high-and-mighty Emperor before him.’
’This man, who called himself his father, had never cared if he lived or died. He allowed him to suffer endless bullying and even watched idly as his birth mother was tormented to death by illness.’
Li Ying fought desperately for power and status, because only with these two things could he crush the man before him, the man he was forced to call Father.
’He would make every single person who had ever humiliated him, who had caused his mother’s death, pay their debt in blood!’
Just then, Wu Wang walked in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup and said respectfully,
"Your Majesty, it is time for your medicine."