Dreams weren’t always prophetic, but when one dwelled too much on something during the day, such dreams would likely manifest at night.
Since the incident with Lady An, Emperor Youning had become extremely cautious about incense. Even the ink he currently used had been gradually introduced over nearly a year before receiving imperial approval these past two months.
The incense in the imperial bedchamber was naturally under strict control. Each day, Liu Sanzhi would consult the palace incense master before changing it in His Majesty’s chambers, making substitution extremely difficult.
His Majesty customarily used a blended incense, primarily ambergris-based. Shen Xihe had visited multiple times and could only piece together His Majesty’s incense formula from the lingering scents in the air. Presumably for identification purposes, His Majesty’s blend differed slightly from the standard mixture, containing one particular fragrance that didn’t affect the overall composition.
Shen Xihe created His Majesty’s incense, concealing the dream-inducing element within. The incense stick was already extremely thin and long, making tampering difficult, especially while maintaining an identical external fragrance while hiding different internal components.
After several days of experimentation with Hong Yu, they barely managed to produce one batch. When handing it to Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe warned, “Someone with a keen smell like mine might detect the difference.”
Though His Majesty’s incense master was reportedly sensitive to scents, Xiao Huayong remained unconcerned: “I have my ways…”
Imperial Guards always rotated duty during His Majesty’s rest, another factor making assassination attempts difficult. Even Xiao Huayong could only switch the incense during Zhao Zhenghao’s shift. That night, they left the drugged incense master sleeping on the floor, only moving him back to his bed before dawn, departing without a trace.
The next morning, the incense master mysteriously caught a cold, his nose congested and his head dizzy. He could only verify the general similarity before nodding approval.
That night, His Majesty didn’t have nightmares. However, the following day, a storyteller at a capital teahouse had crafted tales of the Northwestern Prince’s father and son’s achievements, passionately narrating to enthusiastic civilians. Coincidentally, Xiao Changying had just submitted a memorial detailing the Northwestern Prince’s family’s magnificent accomplishments to His Majesty.
Emperor Youning read it with a darkening expression, sweeping all the memorials to the floor with one motion. The hall instantly fell silent as winter.
That night, Emperor Youning dreamed of the Shen father and son leading troops to the capital, with Shen Yueshan slaying him on his dragon throne with one strike. Emperor Youning jolted awake from this nightmare, his eyes filled with gloom.
The hour was still early, so Emperor Youning tried to rest again, only to fall into another nightmare. In this dream, the common people praised the Shen family, some saying without the Shens there would be no nation, others claiming his throne today relied entirely on the Shens. Fragments of voices seemed to mock him as emperor, until someone pushed him down the steps and elevated Shen Yueshan to the platform, shouting “Long live!”
Emperor Youning awakened again as dawn barely broke. Unable to sleep, he rose to review memorials, though his mind wandered.
“Your Majesty,” Liu Sanzhi’s voice brought Emperor Youning back to awareness. “Your Majesty, this servant has something to report.”
Emperor Youning pinched his nose bridge: “Speak.”
“There are rumors from the Eastern Palace that the Crown Princess joked with the Crown Prince about naming the imperial grandson Junshi.” Liu Sanzhi finished speaking and lowered his head, shrinking his neck.
He wasn’t born a eunuch but had been His Majesty’s study companion, born to a poor family in the Northwest. If not for His Majesty’s misfortune, he wouldn’t have had the chance to serve someone so noble.
After following His Majesty, he had studied diligently to read and write. Though not highly educated, he understood the significance of the character “Junshi.”
Emperor Youning suddenly raised his head upon hearing this, fixing Liu Sanzhi with a deathlike stare, aged and heavy.
Crack! The brush in his hand snapped in two.
His chest heaved twice, and Emperor Youning seemed to choke on his breath, suddenly coughing violently. Liu Sanzhi hurriedly approached with a handkerchief, but unexpectedly, His Majesty coughed blood!
“Your Majesty!” Liu Sanzhi was terrified.
“Summon the Imperial Physician,” Emperor Youning said in a low voice.
Half an hour later, Deputy Imperial Physician Zhuo wore a worried expression. His Majesty didn’t look at him, but His Majesty’s aura was very low. After mentally rehearsing several times, he said: “Your Majesty’s excessive worry has caused the residual poison to resurface, damaging the internal organs, resulting in blood in the cough.”
After speaking, Deputy Imperial Physician Zhuo trembled, awaiting Emperor Youning’s wrath.
However, Emperor Youning remained silent for a long while. Just as Zhuo was sweating profusely, Emperor Youning asked without emotion: “Are Our days numbered?”
Deputy Imperial Physician Zhuo fell to his knees with a thud: “The residual poison in Your Majesty’s body isn’t overwhelming. With proper care and gradual detoxification, there’s still a chance for recovery.”
Emperor Youning finally turned his head, his gaze falling on the Deputy Imperial Physician. How could he not understand these physicians’ manner of speaking?
Treatment might truly offer a chance of cure, but his condition was far from optimistic.
His childhood hardships had left him with chronic ailments, his youth spent campaigning north and south had left internal injuries, and his prime years spent managing the court had left no time for recovery. Only in middle age did he find time to rest and cultivate his health, but it was too little too late, unable to withstand a single blow.
This poisoning had triggered all his accumulated damage, becoming fierce and unstoppable.
“You may withdraw,” he said. He didn’t consider himself a tyrant – life, aging, sickness, and death were inevitable. Even divine physicians couldn’t cure everything, so why punish them for it?
After the Deputy Imperial Physician withdrew, he breathed a long sigh of relief. Having served His Majesty for so many years, he understood His Majesty’s temperament well enough to dare reveal some truth.
The bedchamber remained quiet for a long while, no one knowing the emperor’s thoughts.
From noon until sunset, Emperor Youning finally spoke: “Liu Sanzhi, prepare brush and ink.”
An imperial edict praising Shen Yueshan was carried by mounted troops toward the Northwest.
The next day, everyone learned that His Majesty was greatly pleased with the Northwestern Prince’s achievements. Besides rich rewards, His Majesty also summoned the Northwestern Prince’s father and son to the capital, especially permitting them to reunite with the Crown Princess and attend County Princess Huaiyang’s wedding to Prince Xun.
“His Majesty finally couldn’t restrain himself,” Xiao Huayong said in a drawn-out tone, seeming unsurprised yet somehow relieved, as if dust had settled.
“Beichen, what exactly are you planning?” Shen Xihe couldn’t help but ask again.
Everything was obvious – Xiao Huayong had forced His Majesty to become intolerant of her father and brother. This summons to the capital, nominally a reward, was a trap. If she wasn’t mistaken, His Majesty planned to strike during Shen Yingruo and Xiao Changfeng’s wedding.
So what outcome did Xiao Huayong desire?
“His Majesty cannot die yet.” Xiao Huayong turned to Shen Xihe with a gentle smile.
If His Majesty passed away now, it would disadvantage Shen Xihe. He didn’t have time to handle the aftermath for her. His Majesty could only pass after his child was born.
Otherwise, with princes still alive, how could they allow an unborn child to ascend the throne?