novelhk Chapter 265 A Hasty End
Chapter 265 A Hasty End
Zheng Luoqi smiled slightly, her gaze shifting from the medicine bowl to Chen Xianlin, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
"Your Majesty, please don't be offended. I was only concerned about His Majesty's condition. If I could know the medicine His Majesty was using, I could find some better remedies for him."
Chen Xianlin snorted coldly, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Lord Zheng is quite thoughtful. However, this prescription was carefully prepared by the imperial physician, so it's best if others don't interfere."
"Your Majesty, I meant well. Now that the imperial physician has already examined the Emperor, may I ask him to come and explain the details of His Majesty's condition?"
Chen Xianlin's gaze shifted back and forth between Zheng Yuxiang and Zheng Luoqi, a shadowy glint flashing deep in her eyes.
She pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "In that case, I will summon the imperial physician to answer your questions."
Chen Xianlin waved her hand, and a palace maid beside her immediately obeyed and withdrew.
Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of an imperial physician hurried over, holding a medical record in his hands, his expression respectful.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" The imperial physician bowed deeply.
Chen Xianlin nodded slightly, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.
"Imperial Physician, how is the Emperor's condition?" Zheng Yuxiang asked from the side.
The imperial physician unfolded the medical record in his hand, quickly scanning it before looking up and saying, "Your Majesty, His Majesty's recent high fever caused by a cold has subsided somewhat, but he remains weak and requires rest and recuperation."
"Your Majesty, I have prepared a mild and nourishing medicine. If you take it on time every day, you will surely recover soon."
Zheng Luoqi narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the medical table in the imperial physician's hands. His voice carried a hint of probing: "Is there a copy of this prescription? May we take a look?"
The imperial physician paused slightly, glancing at Chen Xianlin out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her expressionless face, he coughed lightly and said, "Lord Zheng, I don't have this prescription with me, so please wait a moment."
Zheng Luoqi frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on the imperial physician for a moment before finally looking away. "Then I'll have to trouble you."
"Please wait a moment, Your Excellency." With that, the imperial physician bowed and left, quickly disappearing from the bedroom.
After the imperial physician left, Chen Xianlin looked at Zheng Yuxiang and questioned him, "Now that we have seen that His Majesty is unharmed, Prime Minister, you should give me an explanation for why you led the ministers to force your way into the inner palace today, shouldn't you?"
Zheng Yuxiang slowly raised his head and looked straight at Chen Xianlin.
His voice carried an unquestionable tone: "Your Majesty, although our actions were somewhat abrupt, they were indeed for the Emperor's safety. The Emperor is the foundation of the nation; if anything were to happen to him, we would be guilty beyond redemption, even unto death."
Chen Xianlin sneered, her eyes growing even colder: "Prime Minister, the Emperor is already here, why do you need to say anything more? Do you suspect that I would do something to harm the Emperor?"
Zheng Yuxiang smiled slightly, his smile carrying a hint of unfathomable meaning: "Your Majesty is overthinking it. I only hope that everything can be clear and transparent, so as to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings in the future."
Chen Xianlin's nails dug deeply into her palms, her knuckles turning white. Her breathing was slightly rapid, clearly indicating that she was trying her best to suppress the turbulent emotions within her.
Just then, the imperial physician hurriedly returned, holding a yellowed piece of paper in his hands, and handed it to him with both hands: "Your Excellency, this is the Emperor's prescription. Please take a look."
Zheng Yuxiang took the prescription, his eyes scanning it over each item. His expression remained largely unchanged, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. He handed the prescription to Zheng Luoqi, who was standing beside him, and whispered, "Take a look at this too."
Zheng Luoqi took the prescription, glanced at it carefully, and then hid it in his sleeve. After a moment, he looked up at Zheng Yuxiang, nodded slightly, and his eyes revealed a deep meaning.
Chen Xianlin noticed Zheng Luoqi's actions and a hint of wariness flashed in her eyes, but she did not react on the spot. She simply watched everything coldly.
Zheng Luoqi felt Chen Xianlin's gaze, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
He turned to the imperial physician and asked in a calm tone, "I will take this prescription back and study it. You won't mind, will you?"
The imperial physician was taken aback for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh and asked, "Lord Zheng also knows medicine?"
Zheng Luoqi nodded and said modestly, "I know a little bit!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xianlin's expression changed slightly, and she questioned, "Lord Zheng, do you perhaps have some other doubts?"
Zheng Luoqi smiled slightly, looked directly at Chen Xianlin, and said with a hint of provocation in her tone: "Your Majesty is mistaken. We only wanted to see how His Majesty's health has been these days, and we had no other intentions."
"Since Your Majesty has nothing else to say, then we shall take our leave!" Zheng Luoqi said, bowed to Xue Huaiyu, and then turned and walked towards the door.
Zheng Luoqi had just taken a step when she suddenly heard an angry shout from behind her.
"Wait!"
Zheng Luoqi stopped and turned around upon hearing the sound. He saw Chen Xianlin standing there with an angry expression, glaring at him and the other officials.
"Does the inner court not belong to you who can come and go as they please?" Chen Xianlin rebuked angrily. "The Emperor hasn't even given the order yet, and you dare to be so insolent. Do you even have any respect for the Emperor or for the law?"
At this moment, everyone's attention once again focused on Xue Huaiyu, who had been silent all along.
Xue Huaiyu felt everyone's gaze. He glanced at Chen Xianlin's face out of the corner of his eye, then cleared his throat and let out a hoarse cough.
After his cough subsided, Xue Huaiyu slowly said, "Although the Prime Minister came here today for the sake of my health, his actions are indeed somewhat inappropriate."
He paused, then continued, "In that case, let's punish the Prime Minister by confining him to his quarters for a month, and let Imperial Censor Chen temporarily manage the affairs of the court."
"Your subject obeys the decree," Zheng Yuxiang replied expressionlessly, then bowed slightly in a salute.
Just as Zheng Yuxiang lowered his head, a barely perceptible gloom flashed in his eyes. He did not refute, but simply stood there in silence.
Chen Xianlin took in Zheng Yuxiang's reaction. When she saw that Zheng Yuxiang did not raise any objections, she smiled slightly and a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes.
This matter seems to have come to an end.
"Your Majesty, we shall take our leave now." Zheng Yuxiang bowed again, then turned and slowly left the palace with the other officials.
As Zheng Yuxiang and the others walked away into the distance, Zheng Luoqi stepped forward, walked to Zheng Yuxiang's side, and asked in a low voice, "Father, why did you just now..."
His words came to an abrupt halt, as if he hesitated, unsure how to continue.
Zheng Yuxiang frowned slightly, his expression remaining largely unchanged. He glanced at Zheng Luoqi and said calmly, "We'll talk about it when we get back!"
That's enough for today's show. It's confirmed that Xue Huaiyu is indeed not awake, and the 'Xue Huaiyu' in front of us is just an imposter.
The fact that the Chen family dared to send someone to impersonate the emperor is enough to bring them to their doom. What they need now is just the right opportunity, a chance to uproot the Chen family completely.