Zhou Shan immediately tensed up, struggling to maintain composure on his face: “His Majesty needs quiet rest. Your Highness should refrain from disturbing him for now.”

At this moment, he was already thinking about how to respond if Prince Kaiyang insisted on seeing the Emperor.

Verbal threats wouldn’t work—Prince Kaiyang had just killed the National Preceptor with one blade stroke. Mobilizing the Imperial Guards wouldn’t work either—the Imperial Guards currently available in the palace compared to Prince Kaiyang’s Zhaoyang Army would barely be enough to pick one’s teeth.

Thinking this way, Zhou Shan panicked and prepared for the worst: Fine, if Prince Kaiyang committed high treason, he would stake this old life of his and count it as loyalty to His Majesty.

Wei Han furrowed his brows with a troubled expression: “If I cannot seek instructions from my Imperial Brother, should the tens of thousands of Zhaoyang Army troops remain encamped in the capital’s outskirts indefinitely, allowing the various rebel forces to run rampant?”

Zhou Shan, upon hearing this, was stunned.

This seemed different from what he’d been thinking. Did Prince Kaiyang mean he wanted to lead troops to attack those rebel forces?

This was acceptable!

Tao Shuo and the others, upon hearing this, were overjoyed beyond expectation.

They’d been thinking Prince Kaiyang intended to rebel, never expecting he wanted to suppress the rebellion—this was truly an unexpected delight.

Fearing Zhou Shan might be confused, Tao Shuo coughed heavily: “Eunuch Zhou, didn’t His Majesty awaken—”

Zhou Shan’s expression grew serious: “His Majesty was excessively frightened and truly has no energy to see anyone. How about this—this servant will go inside to seek instructions and then give Your Highness an answer.”

As he walked inside, Zhou Shan sighed inwardly.

If His Majesty were well, he wouldn’t want to obstruct either!

But now with various princes in rebellion far away and the Zhaoyang Army watching like tigers nearby, if people saw His Majesty unable to move his hands or speak, it would definitely cause hearts to waver and the realm to fall into great chaos.

Zhou Shan entered the bedchamber and came to Emperor Yong’an’s side.

Emperor Yong’an was indeed conscious, but unable to move, his anxiety twisting his features.

The several Imperial Physicians standing guard continuously tried to soothe him: “Your Majesty, you must not be anxious. The more anxious you are, the less you can recover…”

Emperor Yong’an, upon hearing this, became even more anxious and angry.

Everything was clear in his mind, yet he couldn’t speak—this feeling was like imprisoning a perfectly healthy person in an airtight cage, enough to drive one mad.

Emperor Yong’an had never imagined there would be such a day when he’d completely lose his imperial dignity.

Seeing Emperor Yong’an’s eyes grow wider and his trembling lips begin to twist, the Imperial Physicians anxiously broke into heavy sweat. One of them hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, illness strikes like a mountain collapsing but recedes like drawing silk. If you carefully recuperate, you will certainly recover. If you let anger attack your heart, it will only worsen things…”

Can recover?

Emperor Yong’an, hearing these words, blinked and slowly calmed down.

The Imperial Physicians secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If His Majesty couldn’t control his emotions any further, he might expire right then, and none of them would keep their lives.

Only then did Zhou Shan dare approach to speak: “Your Majesty, Prince Kaiyang wishes to lead troops to punish the rebel traitors and has sent this servant to seek your instructions.”

Emperor Yong’an stared fixedly at Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan quickly said: “If you agree, blink your left eye once. If you don’t agree, blink your right eye once.”

Emperor Yong’an was so angry his five organs and six bowels churned. Thinking of the Imperial Physician’s words, he forced himself to calm down and blinked his left eye once at Zhou Shan.

“Then this servant will go tell Prince Kaiyang.”

Zhou Shan returned to the hall and conveyed Emperor Yong’an’s meaning.

“In that case, I shall lead the troops and depart immediately.”

Seeing Wei Han efficiently take his leave, Minister Zhao and the others followed and withdrew as well.

Zhou Shan returned to Emperor Yong’an’s side and found an opportunity to quietly ask that Imperial Physician: “His Majesty… approximately how long until he can recover?”

The Imperial Physician looked deeply at Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan’s heart jumped at that look: “What?”

The Imperial Physician thought for a moment and lowered his voice: “Hard to say. You should prepare yourself mentally.”

“But you just said—”

The Imperial Physician smiled bitterly: “What else could I do?”

If they didn’t deceive His Majesty that he could recover in a few days, should they let His Majesty die of anxiety on the spot?

Delay one day at a time—perhaps His Majesty would gradually adapt.

Zhou Shan’s vision went dark upon hearing this, his heart suddenly sinking.

If His Majesty couldn’t recover—he didn’t dare imagine what the situation would be.

When Wei Han walked out of the palace gates, not a single civil or military official had left. They wanted to inquire about His Majesty’s condition, but facing that cold, handsome face, they didn’t dare approach and could only watch longingly.

Wei Han strode up to that Jinlin Guard and said concisely: “The blade.”

The Jinlin Guard hurriedly handed over the long blade.

“Thank you.” Wei Han nodded slightly, took the blade, and walked outside.

The officials looked at each other.

Prince Kaiyang just left like that?

What about His Majesty?

Just as they were feeling uneasy and conflicted, they finally saw Minister Zhao and the others emerge.

The officials swarmed forward, all asking: “How is His Majesty?”

Tao Shuo only felt his ears buzzing. With a grave expression, he said: “His Majesty was somewhat frightened and needs quiet rest for a period. Everyone, please disperse.”

Hearing this, the officials felt even more uncertain.

How long was “a period of quiet rest”? The Grand Secretary’s words were far too vague. Although the rebel forces outside the city had been dealt with, everywhere else was still in chaos. While His Majesty was quietly resting, how should court affairs be handled?

And there was Prince Kaiyang—Prince Kaiyang had brought tens of thousands of Zhaoyang Army troops stationed outside the city. If he took the opportunity to rebel, what should they do?

They should firmly support His Majesty, but now they couldn’t even see His Majesty’s face, and there was no Crown Prince either.

Thinking of all this, they actually felt they had little spirit left to resist Prince Kaiyang.

Prince Kaiyang also bore the surname Wei…

“My lord, what about Prince Kaiyang—”

Tao Shuo said flatly: “His Highness has gone to lead troops to suppress the rebellion on His Majesty’s orders.”

The officials were stunned.

So Prince Kaiyang was this righteous?

Thinking of their earlier speculations about Prince Kaiyang, the officials couldn’t help but feel ashamed: they’d wrongly accused an honest man.

Wei Han left the city and immediately deployed his troops, departing that very day.

“Shi Huo, Shi Yan—you two remain behind to manage these ten thousand soldiers well. Don’t let them disturb the people or cause trouble.”

The two brothers clasped their fists in unison: “We obey!”

Wei Han glanced in the direction of the city gates and spurred his horse southward.

Behind him, the massive dark army surged forward like a tide, banners bearing the character “Yang” fluttering in the wind.

Hearing that Prince Kaiyang, who had just defeated Prince Jingbei’s rebel forces, had left again with his troops, the capital’s common people panicked.

Prince Kaiyang had left—what if rebel forces attacked the city again? Just a few days ago, to defend the city, the court had required every household to send someone.

Although they weren’t the main defensive force, after several battles there were always unlucky ones who lost their lives, and for those families it meant the sky falling and earth crumbling.

When the common people ran out of the city to look, they immediately felt relieved: Good, good—quite a few soldiers were still left behind. Now they needn’t fear if rebels came.

The common people were at ease, but the civil and military officials’ hearts rose up.

These ten thousand soldiers… were quite a lot.

Although no one spoke it aloud, the officials knew in their hearts that at least for this period, the capital was under Prince Kaiyang’s control.

Banners fluttered, hooves thundered as the great army pressed toward Heyang.

Someone from Grand Commander Luo’s side came racing to report: “Great General, Prince Kaiyang is bringing troops to attack Heyang City!”

The current Grand Commander Luo was now being called Great General.

Upon hearing this, Grand Commander Luo instinctively looked at Luo Sheng: “Sheng’er, did you hear that? Prince Kaiyang is coming to attack us.”