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Ah, Eunuch Wei suddenly realized. He had been searching for a word to describe the Emperor’s behavior, but couldn't think of one. It turned out it was "indifference."
He said, "Not too long ago. Yesterday, in a fit of anger, His Majesty apprehended Grannie Cai for questioning. During the night, Hui’an, who was by the side of the imperial concubine dowager, came to report. Imperial concubine dowager had refrained from eating or drinking the entire day. His Majesty was moved by compassion and decided to visit her. However, His Majesty was exhausted and fell asleep in the midst of having his meal, only to wake up in this state!”
Oh, it seemed someone touched the medicine in the black bottle.
What her godfather told her was right. There were really some clever people who ended up outsmarting themselves.
Eunuch Wei looked at Gu Jiao whose lips were curled up, and somehow his scalp tingled. "Young Miss Gu, what are you laughing at?" contemporary romance
Gu Jiao blinked her eyes. "Nothing, everything is fine. The Emperor is fine, you don't need to worry."
Eunuch Wei was skeptical, "Are you sure there’s nothing to be worried about?"
Gu Jiao waved her hand. "No need to worry, really. The Emperor is doing well. Well then, I still have something to attend to at Grandaunt's place!"
"Ah, let this servant escort Young Miss Gu." Eunuch Wei accompanied her out of Huaqing Palace.
Gu Jiao headed to Renshou Palace. Empress Dowager Zhuang had just finished the morning court and was reading documents in her study.
Her documents were different from those of the Emperor. She read firsthand reports from the six ministries, and only those she approved would be sent to the Emperor by the ministers. So the Emperor actually reviewed secondhand reports every day...
Poor Emperor.
Gu Jiao didn't disturb Grandaunt and went to the side hall to find Eunuch Qin.
Eunuch Qin was sunbathing with his little tortoise on the grass. When he saw Gu Jiao approaching, his first reaction was to protect his little tortoise!
Gu Jiao: "..."
“Ahem, ahem!” Perhaps realizing that his reaction was too extreme, Eunuch Qin awkwardly coughed twice and discreetly put the little tortoise into the pond. He said to Gu Jiao, "Young Miss Gu has come? The sunlight is strong. Shall we sit in the pavilion for a while?"
He would never admit that he was worried that Young Miss Gu would accidentally smash his little tortoise.
Although Young Miss Gu didn't do it on purpose, even the little tortoise was scared. He deeply felt it.
“Okay." Gu Jiao didn't refuse.
The two of them went to the pavilion, and Eunuch Qin brought tea and snacks.
Gu Jiao said, "Eunuch Qin, if I understood it right, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty had strained relations even before the passing of the late Emperor. This discord persisted until the late Emperor's death and His Majesty's ascension to the throne. It was only when Empress Dowager refused to relinquish power that their relationship completely ruptured. Right?”
Eunuch Qin nodded, "That's right, it happened like that."
Then, the medicine must have been administered before the Emperor ascended the throne, but the effects of such medicine weren’t instantaneous. It had a fermentation process. It wasn't until Grandaunt took control of the imperial court and touched the Emperor's final bottom line that they completely reached the point of no return.
If that was the case, the Emperor's current disgust towards Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing would need to deepen through repeated "misunderstandings."
"Hmm, I thought we would be able to make the Emperor take back the Dragon Shadow Guards soon." Gu Jiao murmured.
"What did Young Miss Gu say?" Eunuch Qin didn't hear clearly.
"Oh, it's nothing." No rush. After tormenting Grandaunt for so long, she should at least collect some interest first. Gu Jiao maintained her composure and said, "I was just wondering... Did Grandaunt never suspect that someone drugged the Emperor?" Gu Jiao asked.
Eunuch Qin sighed, "Alas, at the time, the late Emperor was seriously ill, and there was chaos between the Liu Family and the imperial court. Who could have imagined this? Everyone only thought their dispute was due to the late Emperor's illness."
Gu Jiao paused, "What is there to dispute about an illness?"
Eunuch Qin said, "The late Emperor suffered from a head disease at that time and the imperial physicians and ordinary physicians from all over the State of Zhao were at a loss. The imperial court invited a physician from the State of Yan, who said that to treat the condition, they needed to perform a surgery and open the skull."
Gu Jiao stroked her chin, "Did Grandaunt advocate for the surgery, but the Emperor disagreed?"
Given Grandaunt's personality, she should be bold enough to try it, while the Emperor was more conservative.
But Eunuch Qin shook his head, "No, Young Miss Gu guessed wrong. It was the Emperor who advocated for the surgery while the Empress Dowager disagreed."
"Did such a thing really happen?" Gu Jiao was surprised.
Eunuch Qin nodded again, "Yes, that's right. Actually, before that, the two of them already had several disputes, only it's not known to outsiders. This servant can't remember the reason for the first dispute, and Empress Dowager doesn't remember either. It's been too many years. In any case, in the eyes of outsiders, their estrangement was all due to their disagreement about whether or not to perform the surgery on the late Emperor."
"Did they eventually go ahead with it?" Gu Jiao was quite curious about this.
Eunuch Qin shook his head. "No, before they could reach a resolution in their dispute, the late Emperor passed away."
Gu Jiao asked again, "Then... When did Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing break apart?"
Eunuch Qin replied, "It was during the last few days before the late Emperor's death. Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had an argument, and Empress Dowager even slapped Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing. This servant was waiting outside at the time and didn't hear what they were arguing about. All this servant knows is that since then, Empress Dowager no longer interacted with Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing."
Given Grandaunt's personality, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, she would be willing to take any risk. She was a woman more decisive and brave than men. If both of them disagreed, it would be understandable, but even the Emperor agreed. How could Grandaunt be more conservative than the Emperor?
Could there be something wrong with that physician from the State of Yan?
Or, taking a bolder guess, could that physician be someone Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing brought in to plot the death of the late Emperor?
It was just that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's conspiracy was discovered by Grandaunt, so Grandaunt opposed the surgery. And because the Emperor was drugged, he obediently followed Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's will and rebelled against Grandaunt. That was why he advocated the surgery.
So, did the late Emperor really die from illness?
What did the imperial decree he left behind before his death actually say?
Empress Dowager Zhuang came over after reading the documents. Gu Jiao saw her dressed properly, as if she was about to go out, and couldn't help but ask, "Oh? Is Grandaunt going out?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes, "Isn't it for the sake of acting with that stupid Emperor?"
"No need." Gu Jiao smirked, "Grandaunt has worked hard during this period. From now on, Grandaunt doesn't have to force herself to act with the Emperor anymore."
If it were someone else, they would ask why. But Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't ask that. She said, "Then, will you still give me the extra candied fruits?"
Gu Jiao shrugged, "Since you’re not acting anymore, of course I will no longer give them to you."
Empress Dowager Zhuang's face turned dark.
Let’s continue acting then!
She wanted to continue acting!
All for the sake of five candied fruits!
Empress Dowager Zhuang lifted her phoenix robe and briskly headed to Huaqing Palace!
Did this girl think she wasn’t acting well enough?
Humph, she could just put in a little more effort!
Today's documents were quite numerous.
Last night, when Empress Dowager Zhuang invited the Emperor for a discussion, it was indeed for a real matter. The news of the Crown Princess solving the Kun puzzle had reached the other five countries. Among them, the State of Liang, the State of Qing, and the State of Chen had all replied, expressing their admiration for the Crown Princess and congratulations to the State of Zhao. Furthermore, all three countries had extended invitations to the Crown Princess of the State of Zhao.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's original intention was for the two of them to have a good communication first as to avoid another dispute in the imperial court.
But he didn't go.
As a result, the imperial audience hall was in a state of chaos during today's morning court session.
Some suggested going to the State of Liang, as the State of Liang was a superior country, and being on good terms with them would be advantageous to the State of Zhao without any harm.
Some suggested going to the State of Qing, after all, Old Master Meng's hometown, Pucheng, is in the State of Qing, which was known as the city of chess.
There were also proposals to go to the State of Chen because the ruler of the State of Chen was about to confer a new Empress, and the Crown Princess and the envoys could attend the coronation ceremony, killing two birds with one stone.
Just as the Emperor was currently troubled, a palace maid reported that Empress Dowager Zhuang had arrived.
The Emperor didn't think much of it, assuming it was about discussing this matter. He picked up a teacup and took a sip, but then he heard a forceful call from the entrance, "Hong'er——"
The Emperor's body shook, and the teacup in his hand flew out directly!
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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