klisemfg Chapter 450 The Emperor Awakens
Chapter 450 The Emperor Awakens
As luck would have it, the emperor woke up that very night.
The bedchamber was dimly lit and silent.
The emperor struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and his vision was blurred for a long time before he could barely focus.
He felt a burning pain in his throat, making each swallow extremely difficult.
"water……"
His voice was hoarse and weak as he uttered a single word.
The eunuch on night watch jumped in surprise and immediately realized, "The Emperor is awake!"
He exclaimed softly and immediately went to pour a glass of warm water.
The Crown Prince, who had been resting fully clothed on the soft couch nearby, opened his eyes almost as soon as the Emperor spoke. He quickly got up and went to the Emperor's side.
"Father, you're awake?"
The crown prince bent down and carefully helped the emperor's upper body up.
He took the cup from the eunuch's hand and gently placed the rim of the cup to the emperor's lips.
The Emperor frowned slightly, but still drank it from the Crown Prince's hand.
The warm liquid slid down my parched throat, bringing a sense of relief.
The emperor's consciousness gradually returned, and fragments of his chaotic memories reawakened.
Listening to the Rain Pavilion, Consort Liu, Murong Jun...
And then there was the mouthful of blood that gushed out from within.
The emperor closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear, and his gaze toward the crown prince carried an imperceptible wariness and distance.
"What time is it?"
"Why is the Crown Prince in my bedchamber?"
“Father,” the Crown Prince lowered his eyes, his voice low and clear, “you have been unconscious for two days and two nights, and it is now midnight on the second night.”
"Father has not yet woken up, and I am worried about him, so I have been staying here."
Two days and two nights?!
The emperor's heart sank, and a tremendous sense of panic instantly spread from the depths of his heart.
He thought he had only been unconscious for a few hours, or even less.
As a result, he was unconscious for two days and two nights!
The emperor subconsciously tried to move his body, but he only felt extremely weak and had no strength at all.
An unprecedented sense of powerlessness left him panicked and disoriented.
"What's wrong with me?"
"What did the doctor say?"
His voice carried a panic he himself was unaware of: "Someone, summon the imperial physician for me."
He immediately shouted, but his voice was weak and only the Crown Prince and the eunuch in front of him heard what he said.
The Crown Prince helped him lie down again. "The imperial physicians are all next door. I will have them all come over right away."
Soon, the Imperial Medical Academy staff filed in, and although the Emperor was furious, his voice had no power.
"Tell me, what's wrong with me?"
With no way to avoid it, Chief Physician Liu once again stepped forward and answered, "His Majesty's anger and shock caused his blood to rush to his head, which damaged his heart meridian, leading to vomiting blood and fainting."
The emperor clenched his fists, wanting to punch the edge of the bed to vent his anger.
"presumptuous!"
Even when he shouted those two short words, he seemed powerless.
"you……"
"You have deceived the emperor!"
"I was perfectly healthy before... cough cough..."
"How could it have damaged the very foundation so quickly..."
"Emperor calm down!"
Everyone knelt down, and a violent impulse surged in the Emperor's heart.
Calm down?!
How can he calm down in this situation!
He just wanted to drag all these quack doctors out and behead them!
The Crown Prince solemnly declared, "Father, please take care of yourself. Don't let your anger ruin your health for the sake of Fifth Brother."
"evil creature!"
Anger reignited in his ailing body, causing him to cough violently.
The crown prince tried to help him up and pat him on the back, but the emperor waved him away.
The eunuchs standing nearby dared not delay and quickly went to help the emperor.
They brought him warm water and served it to him, which calmed him down.
"Tell me, how were things handled afterward?"
The Crown Prince remained indifferent, but his face remained respectful: "The incident was sudden and had a terrible impact. After discussions among the Imperial Uncles and the Cabinet Ministers, in order to prevent further trouble, we have decided to temporarily detain my fifth brother, pending further instructions from Father."
"Ah."
The emperor responded with a sullen sound, seemingly having no objection to the decision.
His gaze swept across the hall, a hint of irritation in his eyes: "Where is Lady Zhaohua? Tell her to come see me."
The Crown Prince replied helplessly, "During Father Emperor's coma, when Grandmother learned of Fifth Brother's affair, she was heartbroken and furious, and rebuked Consort Zhaohua for failing to educate her son properly, and was to blame."
"Today, the Empress Dowager punished Consort Zhaohua by making her kneel all day. I heard that in the afternoon, Consort Zhaohua fainted due to exhaustion. I don't know if she has woken up yet."
The emperor felt a surge of anger rising in his chest, making him feel suffocated and uncomfortable!
Everything is going wrong!
After such an incident, it would be impossible for the Emperor not to feel any resentment towards Consort Zhaohua and the Fifth Prince.
But after all, she's been the one he's spoiled for so many years, and he's gotten used to her being around.
Besides, how could the Crown Prince not know about his recent suppression of him?
The Crown Prince must hold a grudge against him.
Even in his weakened state, what he least wanted to see was a healthy, young, and promising crown prince.
The Emperor waved his hand at the Crown Prince: "Alright, I understand. You may return to the Eastern Palace."
"Now that I am awake, I will take care of these matters."
Upon hearing this, the crown prince paused almost imperceptibly.
That's so cold-hearted.
He had genuinely served his father for two days and two nights, yet his father showed him absolutely no pity.
The father-son relationship was just wishful thinking on his part!
He remained silent for a moment, then bowed and replied, "Your subject takes his leave. I humbly request that Your Majesty take good care of your health. I will come to pay my respects to Your Majesty again early tomorrow morning."
He slowly withdrew from the bedchamber.
The heavy palace doors closed silently behind us, shutting out the light and sound inside.
As he was leaving, he heard the emperor sternly order the imperial physicians to do everything they could to cure his illness.
The Crown Prince looked up at the endless night sky. "Father, I'm waiting to see what you'll do."
If you remain obstinate, then I, your son, will have no choice but to be unfilial.
-
As soon as the emperor awoke, he ordered the release of Murong Jun.
Murong Jun knelt before the dragon bed, tears streaming down his face, his cries filled with anguish, insisting that he had been framed and that he could never have done such a rebellious thing.
Lady Zhaohua was also filled with sorrow, her eyes brimming with tears.
The mother and son wept together, their pitiful and heartbreaking state drawing attention from onlookers.
The Emperor was so disturbed by the mournful cries that his head was throbbing. He did not indicate how he would deal with Murong Jun, but instead gave vague instructions, ordering him to attend to the sick Emperor and make amends for his mistakes, and also instructing him to restrain his behavior.
At the same time, he ordered a thorough investigation into the events of that day, but nothing was found.
The news spread like wildfire, and people inside and outside the palace began to speculate: What exactly is the emperor planning to do?
Murong Jun has utterly disgraced the Mohe people, yet the Emperor still dares to protect and condone him?
However, the emperor's mind was made up, and no one could change his decision.
Even when the Empress Dowager expressed her opposition, the Emperor rejected it all.