News of Yan Han coughing blood and falling ill spread throughout the entire capital in just moments.
With the Prince of Rui leading his army to the city gates, everyone in the capital, whether noble families or common people, watched the palace’s movements intently. When they saw the Imperial Physician-in-Chief being urgently summoned into the palace, they knew something had happened within.
It wasn’t until the second quarter of the Hai hour at night that Yan Han finally regained consciousness.
Upon waking, he saw Yuan Qing’s anxious face, and looking up further, saw Yan Ze standing not far from the dragon couch.
Seeing Yan Han awake, Yuan Qing was overjoyed, “Your Majesty! You’ve finally awakened.”
Yan Han coughed lightly twice. Hearing the sound, Yan Ze quickly walked over, “Your Majesty?”
Yan Han felt his throat was very dry, with a sweet metallic taste, so he called out “water.” Yuan Qing hurriedly fed him a few sips of warm water. After moistening his throat, Yan Han asked, “What time is it?”
Yuan Qing replied, “It’s the second quarter of the Hai hour, Your Majesty. You’ve been unconscious for over two hours.”
Hearing this, Yan Han’s expression froze for a moment, “The city… how is the city?”
“Don’t worry, Young Master Yue Jia and Duke of Weiguo are guarding outside, Commander Zhao is watching the palace interior. There’s no chaos, please rest assured.”
Hearing this, Yan Han’s expression relaxed slightly, but remembering Yan Ze’s words from the afternoon, he suddenly jolted awake. He stared at the dragon-patterned canopy above for a moment, then said, “Help me change clothes. I want to go to Shoukang Palace.”
Yuan Qing anxiously said, “Your Majesty, your health is paramount, now…”
Yan Han cast him a look, and Yuan Qing immediately fell silent, quickly calling the young eunuchs from outside to help Yan Han change.
While coughing, Yan Han changed his clothes. When he stood up, Yan Ze noticed the white hair at his temples. In just one afternoon, Yan Han seemed to have aged ten years, his steps toward the outside were unsteady and floating, his silhouette hunched.
As Yan Han set out for Shoukang Palace, Yan Ze followed. Seeing Yan Ze now gave Yan Han a sense of security. While riding in the imperial palanquin, he asked, “Do you know how he obtained over a hundred thousand troops?”
Hearing this, Yan Ze said, “The Empress… no, the former Empress was severely injured and remains unconscious. The old general is also gravely ill and unable to command the Northern Prefecture Army. So the old general let the Northern Prefecture Army join the Prince of Rui, resulting in today’s large army.”
Hearing this, a faint light flashed in Yan Han’s eyes.
Though Yan Chi had rebelled, he didn’t know that Yan Chi had long known the secrets of the past. Now hearing of the Empress’s misfortune, Yan Han guessed that perhaps the Empress had told Yan Chi. Thinking of Yan Chi’s threatening words, Yan Han felt his vision darkening again.
Soon they arrived at Shoukang Palace. Yan Han hadn’t been there for several months, and his sudden appearance caused chaos throughout the palace. Yan Han hurried into the main hall, and just as he reached the door, he saw Yan Sui rushing out in panic. Upon seeing Yan Han, he quickly bowed.
Yan Han said nothing and hurried to the inner hall to see the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was already lying down, muttering something to herself. Hearing movement, she looked over woodenly. Seeing Yan Han arrive, her face showed no expression. Yan Han walked to the bedside and called softly, “Mother Empress—”
This call caused a slight movement in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Looking at Yan Han, she said, “You’ve come. Why isn’t your brother with you?”
Yan Han’s expression changed several times before he said softly, “Mother Empress, have you truly lost your memory? Yan Chi has rebelled and led a hundred thousand troops to the city gates. He wants to seize your son’s throne. Mother Empress, what should your son do?”
The Empress Dowager looked at Yan Han, “The throne? The throne is your brother’s, no one can take it away.”
Yan Han was already anxious and fearful, and hearing these words, he felt the metallic taste rising in his throat again.
“Mother Empress! What if someone wants to seize brother’s throne?”
The Empress Dowager frowned in confusion, “That… that would violate Heaven’s Way and invite divine punishment.”
Yan Han’s heart skipped a beat, and he collapsed dejectedly onto the edge of the bed. Looking at the Empress Dowager’s bewildered expression, Yan Han smiled bitterly. At this point, he thought of coming to see the Empress Dowager. Let alone that she was terminally ill and unaware, even if she were clear-minded, what use would it be?
Seeing Yan Han no longer speaking, the Empress Dowager began muttering again. Yan Han listened carefully and heard her saying “The position of Crown Prince is the foundation of the state, it cannot be shaken” and “Spare them, your younger brother has just temporarily strayed from the right path”…
Hearing this, Yan Han’s mind and spirit were both shaken, and he froze by the Empress Dowager’s bedside.
Twenty years ago, after he was rescued from Fenglei Ridge and the late Emperor passed away, he inherited the throne while injured.
At that time, the Empress Dowager had begged him like this, asking him to spare Prince Gong’s family members and the Fu family’s young children.
He had spared Prince Gong’s wife and Yan Li, but for the others, he hadn’t shown any mercy.
He dared not let anyone see even a hint of hesitation. If he was going to do it, he had to do it completely. Only then could he truly wear Yan Huai’s mask.
Thinking of this, Yan Han suddenly shuddered and came to his senses, immediately standing up.
Twenty years. He had suffered in this position for twenty years. Twenty years of achievements were all Yan Huai’s, and now, he was to be driven from the throne like this?
Yan Han shook his head. How could that be possible?!
He had worn the mask for twenty years, worn it until he couldn’t take it off, but he had his bloodline.
The Zhou Dynasty’s throne should fall to his bloodline. Only then would his twenty years of hard work not be in vain.
And on that self-reproaching edict, only Yan Huai’s name would remain.
Yan Han suddenly smiled. Why hadn’t he thought of this point? What did a self-reproaching edict matter?
With this thought, Yan Han suddenly didn’t need to say anything more to the Empress Dowager. He walked out with unsteady steps, and as soon as he left the hall, he saw Yuan Qing and Yan Ze outside. Meeting their worried gazes, Yan Han said with relief, “I agree to Yan Chi’s conditions!”
Yan Ze was somewhat surprised. Yan Han coughed twice and said, “For the peace of the Great Zhou, I agree!”
Speaking thus, Yan Han turned to look at Yan Sui.
Being looked at by him, Yan Sui inexplicably shrank his shoulders.
However, Yan Han tugged at the corner of his mouth, and crouched down, his face showing rare warmth, “Sui’er, are you afraid?”
Yan Sui showed confusion, “Your son… what should your son fear?”
“Yan Chi has led his army to the city gates, are you afraid?”
Yan Sui wanted to shake his head, but seeing Yan Sui’s gaze, he nodded, “A… a little…”
Hearing this, Yan Han tugged at his lips and smiled, “Don’t be afraid. You are Heaven’s favored child, my bloodline, and Yan Chi is merely a prince of the imperial family. Father Emperor will let you sit in the highest position, and then from behind you, teach you how to become a true Son of Heaven.”
These words frightened everyone present, their expressions changing slightly. Yan Sui especially shrank his shoulders and froze.
However, Yan Han gave a loud laugh and stood up, ready to return to the palace in his palanquin.
Yuan Qing hurriedly arranged for departure, and the group headed toward Shoukang Palace’s gates. Yan Ze followed behind, his eyes completely cold.
Returning to Chongzheng Hall, Yan Han hurried behind the desk in the inner study, wanting to write. But as soon as he picked up the brush, his hand shook uncontrollably, making writing impossible. Yan Han then said, “Yan Ze, you come here. I’ll dictate, you write—”
Yan Ze stepped forward, and Yuan Qing couldn’t help saying, “Your Majesty, you should rest first, take your medicine first.”
But Yan Han seemed not to hear and said, “I’ll dictate, you write, quickly write, just write that I indeed did wrong things, those rumors in the streets…”
As Yan Han spoke, he began rubbing his ears, “What’s happening, why…”
Yuan Qing hurriedly supported Yan Han, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”
Yan Han not only rubbed his ears but also started hitting his head, “I feel a loud ringing in my ears, and my head is starting to hurt… This… I can’t… help me lie down… where’s the medicine… quickly bring the medicine…”
Yuan Qing had no idea what was wrong with Yan Han. Earlier he had coughed blood, and the doctor only said it was due to anger affecting his heart, but hadn’t mentioned any other illness.
In the urgency, Yuan Qing called for medicine again. The eunuch who brought it was unfamiliar, but Yuan Qing had no time to worry about that. He took a sip himself as a poison test, then fed it to Yan Han. After drinking the medicine, Yan Han still complained of unbearable headaches, “I feel very unwell, I can’t write now. Yan Ze, write according to my intentions. I need to rest, and when I’m better, I’ll review it…”
Yan Ze acknowledged, and only then did Yan Han close his eyes with a sigh of relief, soon falling into slumber.
Yuan Qing stood up and looked at Yan Ze, “Young Master, what should we do? His Majesty says to write a self-reproaching edict, is it really to be written?”
Yan Ze said gently, “Since His Majesty has ordered it, I can only comply.”
Yuan Qing sighed and said nothing more, “Very well, where will Your Highness write?”
Yan Ze said, “I’ll write here. I won’t return to the prince’s mansion today but will wait here so His Majesty can review it whenever he wakes. This matter is of great importance.”
Yuan Qing quickly nodded, “That would be best, though it troubles you.”
Yan Ze smiled and said “It’s no matter,” then truly sat behind the desk and began writing. Meanwhile, Yan Han lay on the couch, occasionally muttering something. In the latter half of the night, he even cried out about headaches in his sleep. Yuan Qing had no solution, but Yan Ze remained calm in comforting him.
Seeing no alternative, Yuan Qing left the inner hall to have someone transmit an imperial edict, wanting to summon the Imperial Physician-in-Chief back to the palace. However, upon leaving the hall, he saw none of the young eunuchs who usually followed him. He found this quite strange, but given the circumstances, he couldn’t worry about such details and could only send a nearby Imperial Guard to transmit the edict.
That Imperial Guard never returned, and by daybreak, no physician had entered the palace.
Yuan Qing anxiously said, “What’s going on? The Emperor is ill, have all the palace people gone mad?!”
Though the trusted servants were missing, medicine still arrived on time. Yan Ze, who hadn’t slept all night, maintained his dignified bearing and said soothingly, “Let’s have His Majesty take his medicine first.”
Outside, daylight had fully broken. After this night, the entire palace seemed much quieter than the previous day. Even after the morning court time had passed, Yan Han still hadn’t awakened. Moreover, those sent to summon the physician couldn’t be found.
Yuan Qing walked out angrily, seeing only Imperial Guards as far as the eye could reach. Even the young eunuchs present were all unfamiliar to him.
Yuan Qing frowned deeply and called over a young eunuch to ask about his people’s whereabouts, but the eunuch just shook his head silently. Yuan Qing looked around, suddenly feeling that the place he had lived in for over thirty years had become so unfamiliar. The sun had already climbed halfway into the sky—it was broad daylight, but Yuan Qing felt a chill down his spine. He hurriedly said, “You may not know about those people, but you should know where Commander Zhao is…”
The young eunuch still shook his head. Yuan Qing had to call over a nearby Imperial Guard to ask, “Where is your Commander Zhao?”
The Imperial Guard said, “Commander Zhao is guarding at the palace gates.”
Yuan Qing hurriedly said, “Quickly go summon Commander Zhao.”
The Imperial Guard accepted the order and left, and only then did Yuan Qing breathe a sigh of relief.
Upon entering the inner hall, he saw Yan Ze organizing the memorial he had written last night. The memorial was extremely long, and Yan Ze’s literary talent and calligraphy showed the style of a calligraphy sage, having written who knows how much. Seeing Yuan Qing enter, Yan Ze said, “Please trouble the Public Servant to bring the imperial seal, stamp it with the seal, and it can be sent out.”
Yuan Qing was startled, “Young Master isn’t going to show it to His Majesty?”
Hearing this, Yan Ze smiled bitterly, “I was too hasty. Of course, it needs to be reviewed. Let’s wait for His Majesty to wake up, and after he reviews it, we can send it out at dusk.”
Yuan Qing felt something strange about Yan Ze at this moment, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. Outside Chongzheng Hall, it remained silent, but this silence was different from the usual strict quietness.
Yuan Qing’s heart began to beat anxiously, and he turned to walk outside. After just a few steps, Yan Ze spoke, “Where is the Public Servant going?”
Yuan Qing suddenly stopped, “I… I’m going to find my few disciples. His Majesty is ill, yet they’ve disappeared playing around. It’s truly improper.”
Yan Ze sighed, “Public Servant had better not wander about. What if His Majesty wakes up…”
Just as these words fell, coughing came from the dragon couch. Yuan Qing didn’t need Yan Ze to say more and hurried back to the couch, “Your Majesty?”
Yan Han hadn’t awakened. Half-dreaming and confused, he made some movement. Hearing people calling, he opened his eyes but mumbled, “It’s not yet daylight.”
After saying this, he closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
Yuan Qing froze, and after a while said, “Is His Majesty having a nightmare?”
Yan Ze stood leisurely at a distance, “Public Servant need not worry. Before dark, His Majesty will surely wake.”
As they spoke, young eunuchs had already brought food and medicine. This would normally be nothing unusual, but today Yuan Qing found it strange. He hadn’t given orders, and his people had mysteriously disappeared, yet the kitchen still knew to serve Chongzheng Hall. This was truly bizarre!
Looking at Yan Ze again, he was eating and drinking tea as if nothing was wrong, his composure and calmness chilling to the bone.
The sun reached its zenith, yet Yan Han still hadn’t awakened. Those sent to call the physician hadn’t reappeared, nor had those sent for Zhao Yu. Yuan Qing grew increasingly frightened, but besides staying by Yan Han’s side, he had no other options. Watching the sunset and time growing late, Yuan Qing finally panicked, “Young Master… how did you arrange with the Prince of Rui? What exactly is… Young Master, do you know what’s happening?”
Yan Ze suddenly raised a finger, “Shh, His Majesty is about to wake.”
Yuan Qing abruptly fell silent, and at the same time, he heard Yan Han’s sudden gasping. The gasping grew increasingly urgent as if some great pain had suddenly fallen upon Yan Han. As Yuan Qing wondered, he heard Yan Han suddenly cry out in pain and struggle to rise—
He also called out, “Someone… someone lights the lamps…”