Chapter 193 |
The day after the courtiers began urging for a draft selection.
The Emperor fell ill.
The illness struck fiercely. Imperial Physician Yang was urgently summoned to the palace and did not emerge for two days.
The courtiers' hearts immediately leaped into their throats. They hastily sent representatives to the Zichen Palace to pay their respects, intercepting Imperial Physician Yang to inquire about the Emperor's condition.
Imperial Physician Yang, pulling out his hair and beard in stress, scolded them, Excessive worry and overexertion! How long has it been since His Majesty survived the poisoning in the Northern Frontier? For you all to pressure His Majesty to be so diligent in state affairs is truly improper! His Majesty has had a weak constitution since childhood; how can he withstand such torment?
The reprimanded ministerial representatives were momentarily stunned.
?
Diligent in state affairs??
Well... not exactly.
Is he truly ill from exhaustion?
Imperial Physician Yang replied, My lords, if you do not believe me, go and see for yourselves. Have you forgotten how many times the Imperial Academy of Medicine thought he wouldn't make it when His Majesty was still the Seventh Prince?
He was someone with poor health to begin with.
A frequent patient of the Imperial Academy of Medicine during his childhood.
Just because he had been better for a couple of years after growing up didn't mean he would stay well forever.
The ministers went in to take a look, treating it as a courtesy visit.
Of course, they didn't crowd around the dragon bed to look; they weren't that socially inept.
They only saw a pale wrist resting on a pulse pillow protruding from the hanging curtains of the dragon bed, positioned conveniently for the imperial physician to check his pulse at any time. Faint, fine blue veins were visible beneath the skin.
The hall was steeped in the bitter scent of medicine, accompanied occasionally by soft coughing.
The officials in the capital panicked a little.
Those who had stayed in the capital for a long time all knew about His Majesty's childhood condition of suffering a minor illness every month and a major illness every three months. Good heavens, their Great Zhou had finally stabilized; surely they wouldn't have to change emperors again?
As a result, they cared even more about their Emperor leaving behind an heir. Once Qu Dubian recovered, they resumed urging him to marry and produce offspring, growing more frantic with each attempt.
However, a bizarre phenomenon occurred.
Every time they urged him to marry, the Emperor would fall ill.
The illness truly wasn't faked; the sickly pallor on his face was evident at a glance, and it grew more severe each time.
Later, Xu Jin and Wu Siwan would occasionally visit the Zichen Palace to check on him. It was said that even Dowager Consort Xuan had received the news and was rushing from Yangzhou to the capital.
...It was over.
This atmosphere and aura gave them the feeling that the Emperor might ascend to the heavens at any moment.
-
Heavy winter snow.
Zichen Palace.
With his continuous illnesses, Qu Dubian's lifespan value visibly increased, but at the same time, he also visibly lost weight.
The black sleepwear embroidered with wandering dragons looked a bit loose on him.
Qu Dubian finished reviewing the memorials on the heated brick bed and glanced out the window. The snow glare was blurry, making it hard to see clearly.
He wrapped a prepared black cloak around himself. The two palace servants at the door stopped him, whispering, Your Majesty, Eunuch Ye said it is best if you do not go out into the wind.
Qu Dubian replied, Just for a little while. I haven't been out for days. Watching the drifting snow might make me feel better.
Smiling, he slipped sideways through the gap between the two servants. His pale fingers pushed open the door, and as the cold wind blew in, he instantly felt refreshed.
It wasn't that he intentionally wanted to make things difficult for the servants; he just figured it was about time. After tonight, there probably wouldn't be any more courtiers urging him to produce an heir.
When Xia Fuyang hurried over with an umbrella, he saw this scene just as he stepped onto the stairs.
The young Emperor's hair wasn't even tied up; his ink-black hair hung down his back, reaching just about his lower waist.
He didn't come out to stand in the snow, but was bent over outside, gathering snow on the railing with his hands to play. He had molded little snowmen, standing them side by side on the railing.
He couldn't entirely be called a young boy anymore; he vaguely had the appearance of a young man. His facial features neutralized the best traits of Consort Yun and the late Emperor, making him handsome and tall.
No wonder a palace maid had bribed a eunuch a while ago for that incident in the Eastern Warm Pavilion; his appearance truly attracted girls.
Seeing his fingertips red from the cold, Xia Fuyang crossed over in a few strides. He instinctively wanted to grab his wrist, but remembering that he was the Emperor and it might not look good to outsiders, he abruptly stopped.
Your Majesty, stop making snowmen.
Qu Dubian said, Just one last one!
He was just one short of making a whole row, which was so cute.
...
Xia Fuyang grabbed his wrist and pulled him directly into the hall.
Qu Dubian protested, I haven't finished making them!
I'll go out and make them for you later, Xia Fuyang forced a smile. It's best if Your Majesty rests inside the hall.
He pressed Qu Dubian toward the stove inside the hall to warm his hands. Qu Dubian obediently crouched down, muttering a complaint, You're really no fun. Do you know why Ye Banban isn't here? He wanted to let me get some fresh air, but you just had to drag me inside.
Xia Fuyang replied, Oh, alright. When Eunuch Ye comes, I'll ask him.
Qu Dubian: ...
Xia Fuyang snorted. Who would believe his nonsense?
He was clearly sneaking out for some fresh air while Ye Xiaoyuan was away.
Qu Dubian changed the subject: I summoned Xi Zixing, didn't I? Why are you here?
He was busy, so he asked me to deliver this.
Xia Fuyang handed several lists to Qu Dubian. These are the selected officials suitable for inspecting Lingbei. If we are to connect Lingbei with the inland, the presence of the Ministry of Works is essential. However, even within the Ministry of Works, those who can accurately draw maps are few.
Qu Dubian almost instantly thought of Zhang Chansi and the Astrological Bureau.
Stargazing required proficiency in mathematics, and they could also survey feng shui to avoid unstable terrain prone to collapsing.
Speaking of which, Zhang Chansi didn't seem to have returned yet.
He thought for a moment. Send an order to the Zhang family's ancestral land in Yangzhou. Tell Zhang Chansi to return as soon as possible. Hmm... and have her bring along the youths in their clan who excel in astrology. I have matters for them to attend to.
Xia Fuyang glanced at his sickly face.
A few seconds later, he said, Alright. Before you recover, worry less.
Qu Dubian said, Fine. But tell me honestly, what exactly did Xi Zixing go off to do?
Xia Fuyang: ...
He averted his gaze.
Can't people have a few secrets?
He just lost at rock-paper-scissors, which was why he didn't go.
-
Suburbs of the capital.
Jing'an Temple.
A young man in a green shirt bowed his head with every step, kneeling his way up three hundred and thirty-three steps.
Snow filled the sky, and the tips of his hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes were all tinged with frost.
The seven days before the New Year were the days for seeking the Buddha at Jing'an Temple.
Those seeking the Buddha needed to kneel with every step, enter the temple to worship and offer incense, so that the Buddha could hear the voices of mortals.
Due to the heavy snow today, very few people came.
When Xi Zixing arrived inside the Buddha hall and knelt before the futon, he was the only one around. The abbot personally came to receive him.
The abbot sighed, The benefactor is sincere. What do you seek?
Xi Zixing replied, I seek this only for one person.
The abbot did not ask further. He had someone light incense and bring it forward. Handing it to Xi Zixing, Xi Zixing placed the incense into the censer and continued to kneel on the futon.
He originally did not believe in gods, Buddhas, ghosts, or monsters.
Including sacrifices and burning paper money, he felt those were merely forms of spiritual sustenance for the living.
But...
Xi Zixing looked at the kind-faced Buddha with lowered eyes.
If they truly existed.
He wished for him to be free of illness and worries year after year, and to enjoy a long life.
The minor official in green robes closed his eyes in prayer.
The abbot chanted a Buddhist gatha.
Ding-ling—
The wind chimes at the eaves rang in the wind.
The temple amidst the falling snow was quiet and solemn.
-
The very night Xi Zixing went to the temple to pray.
Qu Dubian spent two hundred and fifty days of his lifespan to purchase a prank dream-weaving item.
After editing it, he selected over thirty influential or high-ranking officials in the court, as well as the governors of key provinces and commanderies outside the capital.
He clicked, sending it in bulk.
Sigh, the content of this dream was a bit like putting gold on his own face; it was rather embarrassing.
-
That night.
All the important officials in the court had the exact same dream.
In the dream.
His Majesty, just as they wished, held a draft and took in consorts.
However, less than three days later, His Majesty fell critically ill and passed away. The Great Zhou once again sounded the death knell for an emperor.
And because no crown prince had been established before his death, the Great Zhou fell into turmoil. The ghost of the Second Prince even emerged; the Third Prince, waving his single arm, fought for the throne with the one-eyed Prince Ming.
The First Prince's child suddenly grew up, raised the banner of rebellion, and also joined the fight.
The Sixth Prince returned from Zhennan Pass carrying a hoe, and the Fifth Prince, imprisoned in the Eastern Depot, gloomily broke out of his cell. The late emperor, unable to rest in peace, grabbed their ears and roared furiously: You should not have forced Emperor Yonghe to marry!!!
The Great Zhou was battered by storms and severe internal strife. Capable ministers were killed one by one in the infighting, and Nanning took advantage of the vulnerability to invade.
The flames of national subjugation burned fiercely.
The Great Zhou perished.
The remaining courtiers became officials of a fallen nation with nowhere to go. Some fiercely committed suicide, while others shamelessly flattered Nanning, living on their knees.
The dreaming officials cried so hard in the dream that their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
The scene shifted again.
It was His Majesty standing alone atop the imperial city walls.
The Great Zhou was prosperous and peaceful, a scene of a golden age.
The dreaming officials, whose hearts and organs ached agonizingly from the destruction of the Great Zhou, found a sliver of comfort.
An ethereal voice echoed from the dream:
"He is not a person of this world. It is already a rare feat for his sickly body to remain in the mortal realm. Forcing him to forge karmic ties will only drastically shorten his lifespan."
"The warning ends here; decide for yourselves."
The dream abruptly ended.
The officials who had the dream snapped their eyes open almost at the exact same time, covered in cold sweat, their hands trembling, their eyes filled with shock and uncertainty.
It took a long time before they dared to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads.
What one thinks about during the day, one dreams of at night. It's fake, it must be fake.
As a result, on the way to the morning court the next day.
Seeing that many colleagues were listless and yawning constantly, upon asking, they replied, "Don't mention it, I had a nightmare last night. His Majesty, sigh..."
"To tell you the truth, I also had a nightmare."
"I had one too..."
More and more voices chimed in agreement, and the crowd suddenly fell silent.
...No way??
Fang Hechuan and Lin Zongping exchanged a glance and pulled aside all the officials who claimed to have had the dream. "Could it be that the dream you had was about the destruction and the prosperity of the Great Zhou?"
"!!!"
"Yes!"
"That's exactly it."
And someone spoke in the dream, saying His Majesty cannot form karmic ties.
The Minister of War asked tremblingly, "Grand Tutor Fang, Minister Lin, did you two have it as well?"
Fang Hechuan and Lin Zongping nodded.
The scene was silent for a moment.
If only one person had it, it would just be a nightmare, but if a whole group of people had it, it could no longer be called a nightmare. Perhaps a prophetic dream would be a more fitting name?
The heavens had sent down a warning.
Xi Shiqiu hesitantly said, "The boy in my family went to Jing'an Temple yesterday to pray to Buddha for His Majesty's health. Could it be..."
How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
He had just returned from praying to Buddha yesterday, and the next day, the important officials of the court all started having the same dream.
Given how hard they were pushing for a draft, His Majesty would probably agree once his illness improved slightly. In that case, wouldn't the contents of the dream come true very soon?
A cold wind blew past.
Many felt a chill in their hearts.
Could it be that His Majesty is truly an immortal from heaven undergoing a tribulation?
-
Qianji Palace.
Morning Court.
As soon as Qu Dubian arrived, he noticed the atmosphere in the hall was off.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, sat down properly, and first went through the morning court as usual, then pressed a fist to his lips and coughed lightly a few times.
"Regarding the draft that my beloved subjects proposed some time ago, I have considered it and feel..."
"Your Majesty—!!"
Lin Zongping practically jumped out, "This old subject believes this matter is not urgent, not urgent at all."
Qu Dubian said melancholically, "My health is poor, and I actually do not wish to delay any young ladies. Then, shall we wait a bit longer?"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"That is an excellent idea!"
"Yes, yes, yes, waiting is good, waiting is good."
Some people's gazes were already fixed on Prince Ming.
They saw that Prince Ming was also in his prime and could produce a few more children.
Prince Ming felt a chill down his spine.
If they wanted children, wasn't it easy to choose?!
Although the Second Prince was bestowed poisoned wine, he left behind a child. Since His Majesty's health is weak and he will be childless in the future, they could observe that child. Oh right, the First Prince, also known as Commandery Prince Dan, also has a child who could be brought to the capital for a visit.
There is also the princess, Eldest Princess Zhiyi. They remembered she was about to marry the young master of the Xie family, right? Since he is a prince consort, any children born in the future could just take the princess's surname.
The Fifth Prince is lonely in prison, but the late emperor never said he couldn't marry and have children, did he?
Forced to choose between the destruction of the nation and selecting a child from a collateral branch, they chose the latter without hesitation.
They weren't fools!
There were plenty of examples in history of emperors passing the throne to their brothers, and adopting heirs from collateral branches was also common.
If His Majesty cannot have children, there are plenty of others who can!