The next day was the fifteenth.

Yun Chu entered the palace to pay her respects as usual.

Walking to the entrance of Yangxin Hall, she saw a consort carrying nourishing soup with a disappointed expression on her face as she emerged.

Inside the great hall, apart from the attendants, she also saw Yulin Guard Commander Fan Ming standing guard at the entrance to the inner palace.

She had heard Chu Yi mention that Fan Ming’s father had grown up with the Emperor since childhood and had died protecting the Emperor. Thus, the Emperor personally promoted Fan Ming to become the head of the Yulin Guards, commanding all of Great Jin’s Imperial Guards under the Emperor’s direct authority.

Under the current circumstances, having the Emperor station Fan Ming at Yangxin Hall clearly demonstrated the Emperor’s trust in this person.

“Greetings, Crown Princess.” Eunuch Gao came forward and bowed. “His Majesty coughed for a long time this morning and feels unwell. He’s not receiving visitors. Please, Crown Princess, come back another day.”

Yun Chu took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it over. “The remaining antidote is all here. I’ll trouble Eunuch Gao to administer it to Imperial Father. Once Imperial Father’s illness is cured, he’ll be able to resume court.”

Eunuch Gao immediately took the porcelain bottle and repeatedly assured her.

Yun Chu continued, “I heard the Crown Prince say that His Majesty most enjoys eating a certain folk pastry, so I specially had some purchased to send over. I’ll trouble Eunuch Gao to deliver them to His Majesty.”

Eunuch Gao replied, “His Majesty hasn’t had much appetite lately, so he may not eat them. However, this is the Crown Princess’s kind gesture, so this old servant will try.”

He carried the tray to the entrance of the great hall and was about to speak.

Yulin Guard Commander Fan Ming said coldly, “Any food entering Yangxin Hall must be tested for poison. Eunuch Gao, please proceed.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Eunuch Gao didn’t suspect at all that Yun Chu would tamper with the food. He ate it directly, then with his complexion unchanged, walked into the great hall.

After a while, he emerged carrying the pastries. “This old servant spent quite some time persuading him, but His Majesty still has no appetite…”

Yun Chu scrutinized Eunuch Gao’s features, her heart understanding.

She smiled slightly. “Then I’ll return another day.”

She turned around, her smile instantly vanishing, replaced by an expression of icy frost.

After taking the parasite-killing medicine, the host would experience a momentary chest pain. Su Ziyue had this reaction, but Eunuch Gao had none at all.

Eunuch Gao wasn’t infected with parasites.

Rather, he had betrayed the Emperor.

Without taking the subsidiary parasite, without parasitic worms confusing his mind, Eunuch Gao still chose betrayal.

No wonder emperors developed such severe paranoia. The woman deeply loved for thirty years was false, the lawful wife and Empress plotted murder and rebellion, the servant who had attended him for over fifty years betrayed him without hesitation, and so many children all harbored their own schemes…

It’s lonely at the top—truly so.

Leaving the palace, Yun Chu returned to the Yun Family residence.

After staying at the Yun residence for two hours, she returned to the prince’s manor and just happened to receive Chu Yi’s first letter.

In the letter, he asked about her and the children’s situation and briefly mentioned his own circumstances. The journey was smooth, and in a few more days he would reach the coastal city…

Yun Chu tenderly wrote a reply to Chu Yi and had someone deliver it by swift horse.

She sat on the couch holding little Jue, various thoughts flying through her mind.

She was thinking—besides Eunuch Gao, who else did the Emperor currently trust?

Yulin Guard Commander Fan Ming was indeed highly trusted by His Majesty, but she had no way to trust this person.

Who should she choose to be the one to administer the antidote to the Emperor?

Thinking it over, an answer formed in Yun Chu’s mind. She had someone send word to Consort Yun in the palace.

The next morning, the palace consorts arrived at Consort Yun’s palace at the appointed time to pay respects.

Although Consort Yun wasn’t the Empress, she now managed the six palaces and held the Empress’s authority. Therefore, all the rear palace consorts regarded Consort Yun as their leader.

Of course, some were dissatisfied—namely Consort Yin. But with Chu Yi’s repeated admonishments, Consort Yin wouldn’t deliberately target Consort Yun, though her expression wasn’t particularly pleasant.

Now that the Emperor was gravely ill, the consorts were all gloomy and distressed.

Consort Yun sighed and said, “Previously, His Majesty had Princess Consort Zhuang attending to his illness, so it wasn’t our turn. Now, for some reason, His Majesty has grown weary of Princess Consort Zhuang. We should fulfill our duties as consorts. If any of you sisters have time, go visit His Majesty at Yangxin Hall. If you can stay to attend to his illness, it would count as a great merit.”

The Emperor had been ill for several months now—several months without summoning anyone to his bedchamber. Instead, he frequently visited that Miss Li.

Although Miss Li had gone mad, who could guarantee she’d remain mad forever?

If her madness were cured and Miss Li entered the palace, all these consorts would certainly become mere decorations.

These consorts had long wanted to try their luck at Yangxin Hall but were mainly afraid of being the first to stand out and be rebuked, so they had never taken action.

With Consort Yun’s words, how could this group of consorts hold back any longer? After leaving Consort Yun’s palace, they immediately prepared medicinal soups, supplements, and the like, heading toward Yangxin Hall.

That afternoon, all the rear palace consorts made a trip to Yangxin Hall.

Eunuch Gao was vexed beyond measure.

He found an excuse to leave Yangxin Hall, went to the Ministry of Works, and met privately with Chu Rui beside an artificial mountain.

“Your Highness, this won’t do.” Eunuch Gao said in a low voice. “His Majesty is gravely ill. It’s only proper for consorts to attend to his illness. Continuously keeping the consorts outside the door really doesn’t conform to reason. This old servant fears it will arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives.”

Chu Rui’s lips curved into a smile.

He had received news that yesterday Yun Chu had returned to the Yun Family residence.

This was deliberately creating chaos in the rear palace, wanting Consort Yun to attend to the Emperor’s illness at Yangxin Hall, making it convenient to administer the antidote to the Emperor.

He spoke slowly, “Shortly, I’ll go to Yangxin Hall to report some important matters to His Majesty. At that time, act according to the situation.”

Eunuch Gao nodded and returned to Yangxin Hall.

Just then, a consort stood at the entrance holding soup, pleading bitterly, “This consort is concerned about His Majesty’s health and has specially come to attend to his illness. Please give this consort a chance. It’s been so long since this consort has seen His Majesty…”

Fan Ming stood at the entrance of the great hall, his face cold. “Talented Lady Li, please return!”

Talented Lady Li stamped her foot in frustration. “Commander Fan hasn’t even gone in to announce me yet and already tells me to leave. How unreasonable!”

Eunuch Gao hurried inside. “This old servant will go announce her.”

He pushed the door open and saw the Emperor lying on the dragon couch, his face extremely pale, with traces of coughed-up blood still on his lips.

Guilt arose in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but avert his gaze.

He really couldn’t be blamed… He had served the Emperor for so many years, valuing the Emperor’s wellbeing more than his own life. But recently, when he requested that the Emperor arrange a substantive position for his adopted son, the Emperor refused him without any consideration.

The Emperor had so many sons to provide for his old age and funeral, but he only had this one adopted son.

Such a small request, and the Emperor wouldn’t agree.

It made him feel that all these years of loyal devotion had become a joke.

Before Eunuch Gao could announce Talented Lady Li’s matter, Fan Ming’s voice rang out, “Your Majesty, Prince Zhuang has arrived, saying he has important matters to report.”

The Emperor opened his eyes. Eunuch Gao quickly stepped forward to help the Emperor sit up on the couch.

Shortly after, Chu Rui entered with his head lowered, bowed in respect, then reported on the southern flood disaster…