Fan Ming strode into the Eastern Palace with large steps.
Walking into the flower pavilion, he bowed with cupped hands: “Greetings to the Crown Princess. My late-night intrusion, I hope it hasn’t disturbed the Crown Princess’s rest.”
Yun Chu’s brows carried a trace of worry: “For Lord Fan to come so late at night, there must surely be an urgent matter. Please speak quickly.”
“His Majesty has fallen into unconsciousness and cannot be awakened no matter what we do.” Fan Ming raised his head. “I think what the Crown Princess said might be true—among the imperial physicians, there are traitors, but… Noble Consort Shu, who personally attends to His Majesty, also has issues.”
Yun Chu paused for a moment, then spoke: “Noble Consort Shu gave birth to the Seventh Prince. Currently, the Seventh Prince has a title but no fief. If something happens to His Majesty at this time, it would be extremely disadvantageous for both Noble Consort Shu and the Seventh Prince. Lord Fan has thought incorrectly.”
Her words awakened him from his confused state. Fan Ming immediately nodded—yes, the Seventh Prince was still so young. If His Majesty passed away, the Seventh Prince would have no one to rely on and would be at the mercy of the new emperor, wouldn’t he?
Thinking from this angle, the Crown Princess shouldn’t be plotting against His Majesty either.
Because the Crown Prince was on a distant campaign, if something happened to His Majesty at this time with no one to ascend the throne, both the imperial court and the inner palace would surely fall into chaos…
Thinking of this, Fan Ming became even more resolute and asked: “Then in the Crown Princess’s opinion, who bribed the imperial physicians to harm His Majesty?”
Yun Chu lowered her eyes.
Recently, Chu Rui and Su Ziyue had been maneuvering everywhere, currying favor with the matriarchs of major families. She wasn’t certain whether the Fan family had switched sides.
Even Eunuch Gao could betray—what else was impossible?
Therefore, she wouldn’t truly trust Fan Ming.
“I’ll leave this matter to Lord Fan to investigate.” Yun Chu spoke. “Please arrange for civilian physicians to come quickly to treat His Majesty. Also, if news of His Majesty’s unconsciousness spreads, the court and the realm will surely be shaken. Lord Fan, what do you think should be done about this?”
“I’ve already sealed off the Hall of Mental Cultivation.” Fan Ming said. “But every morning during the chen hour, all the ministers come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to report important matters. There are also many memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation that need reviewing. These matters must be handled, but it can’t be concealed for long.”
Yun Chu had already thought through these matters: “Lord Fan can rest assured. I’ll handle these things. Let’s first go see His Majesty now. Also, send someone to notify Consort Yun.”
Fan Ming was about to refuse.
But considering that the inner palace was currently managed by Consort Yun, and moreover, Consort Yun was the Crown Princess’s biological aunt.
Looking at it this way, there were now three forces in the Hall of Mental Cultivation: first was the Imperial Guards he led—he was absolutely loyal to His Majesty; second was the Eastern Palace faction led by the Crown Princess and Consort Yun; third was the camp centered on Noble Consort Shu and the Seventh Prince… Military texts said that a tripod stands on three legs—three forces were always the most stable. With the three of them jointly guarding the Hall of Mental Cultivation, nothing should happen for the time being.
When Yun Chu and Fan Ming arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Consort Yun had also just arrived.
Noble Consort Shu was pulling at Consort Yun and crying: “Elder sister, what should we do? Will His Majesty…”
“Impossible.” Consort Yun pressed her lips together. “His Majesty trusts Sister Noble Consort Shu, so Sister Noble Consort Shu should remain in the hall to properly attend to His Majesty. Although His Majesty is unconscious, the medicine that should be taken must still be fed to him.”
Fan Ming spoke to stop her: “The medicine prescribed by the Imperial Medical Bureau should not be taken for now. Before dawn, I’ll bring several physicians into the palace to examine His Majesty’s pulse. I’ll leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation to you noble consorts.”
He cupped his hands in a bow, walked outside, and once again instructed the Imperial Guards to properly guard the Hall of Mental Cultivation before leaving the palace through the night.
After he left, Noble Consort Shu continued attending to His Majesty.
The palace maids and eunuchs of the Hall of Mental Cultivation didn’t know what had happened and were all anxious and uneasy.
Consort Yun went out and gathered everyone together, speaking in a calm voice: “All of your family members have been taken by this palace to a manor for leisure. When His Majesty awakens, your family members will return home. During this period, this palace hopes you will all guard your mouths well.”
Upon hearing this, these palace servants became even more alarmed.
“You only need to do your assigned duties well—not say a single word you shouldn’t say, not do a single thing you shouldn’t do, and this palace can guarantee your family members will be safe.” After Consort Yun said this sternly, she then showed a smile. “You’ve all worked hard attending to His Majesty. Someone come, bestow rewards.”
Consort Yun wasn’t stingy, giving each palace servant present a bonus of an entire year’s stipend.
Giving a slap followed by a sweet date—these palace servants finally weren’t so anxious and uneasy. At this point, they could only keep their mouths sealed and hope that after this matter passed, their families could return home safely…
At dawn, during the darkest time before daybreak, Fan Ming brought three physicians, avoiding palace servants, and entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The three civilian physicians were found overnight by the Fan family. The three entered the great hall anxiously and uneasily, kneeling beside the dragon bed to examine the Emperor’s pulse.
After one person finished examining, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows tightly, yielding his position to let another come forward.
After all three had finished examining the pulse, Fan Ming couldn’t help but say: “How is the dragon body? Is there serious trouble? Speak quickly!”
“Reporting to Lord Fan, His Majesty’s symptoms are indeed an ordinary cold. As for why he coughed blood and fainted, we believe it should be because he took the wrong medicine, damaging his five internal organs. We’ll prescribe a new formula for him to try…”
Hearing these words, Fan Ming’s expression darkened.
As expected, an imperial physician had tampered with the prescription.
He spoke: “Quickly write the prescription. I’ll have someone leave the palace to obtain the medicine.”
The three physicians consulted with each other to write the prescription. They didn’t understand why a simple cold had made His Majesty critically ill… Either the imperial physicians were too incompetent, or someone was trying to harm His Majesty…
Yun Chu spoke: “Before His Majesty awakens, you three will temporarily reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. When the dragon body recovers, His Majesty will surely reward you three generously.”
The three knew that by entering the palace at such a time, they were embarking on a path of no return. Many things were beyond their choice. They lowered their heads: “Yes.”
The physicians wrote the prescription, and Fan Ming arranged for someone to leave the palace to obtain the medicine.
By this time, the sky was gradually brightening.
Consort Yun and Noble Consort Shu were attending inside the hall.
Yun Chu saw Noble Consort Shu feed His Majesty an antidote pill, which Consort Yun calmly blocked.
She spoke softly: “Lord Fan, before the various ministers come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, please first invite the Grand Tutor here.”
Fan Ming straightened his spine: “Grand Tutor Xu?”
Yun Chu nodded: “Grand Tutor Xu is a veteran of three reigns, loyal to His Majesty and loyal to the court. At such a time, having Grand Tutor Xu come to take charge of the overall situation would be best.”
“But…” Fan Ming paused. “Grand Tutor Xu’s eldest legitimate granddaughter was the Crown Princess of former Crown Prince Ren Wang. Isn’t the Crown Princess worried that Grand Tutor Xu will take the opportunity to cause trouble with Ren Wang?”
“If I invited the Yun family to take charge of the overall situation, it would be Lord Fan’s turn to worry that I have ulterior motives.” Yun Chu said calmly. “Father Emperor’s dragon body is in critical condition, with no one supervising the state. At such a time, I’ve long set aside personal interests. As long as it can maintain the stability of our Great Jin Kingdom, even if I must cease being this Crown Princess, so be it. I think Lord Fan should be the same as me, isn’t that right?”
In the gaze Fan Ming directed at Yun Chu, there was now more admiration. He turned and immediately went to handle it.
Yun Chu pressed her lips together.
She was also taking a gamble.
She was gambling that Grand Tutor Xu valued the long-term peace and stability of the Great Jin Dynasty more, based on her understanding of the Xu family from her previous life.