The Prince of Jin was overjoyed, repeatedly saying, “This prince will definitely repay Chief Gu in the future!”
“No need to mind,” Gu Lianzhuang said casually, walking past him and catching up with Ruan Ning.
The Prince of Jin felt the Emperor seemed unlikely to survive. This was a critical moment; if heaven granted his wish, either Ruan Ning or the woman hidden by Gu Lianzhuang would become his playthings.
“Let’s go to the Qingqing Palace!” He took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and followed Ruan Ning.
Those imperial physicians had surrounded the emperor, examining him and taking his pulse while checking the vomited blood. Their expressions grew increasingly grave.
Prince Jin stood anxiously by the hall’s entrance, fisting his sleeve. Consort De and the eunuch Liu Yi had yet to arrive. He glanced at Gu Lianchang and noticed an unexpected tenderness in his gaze directed toward Ruan Ning.
Suddenly, Prince Jin realized that the woman Gu Lianchang had secretly kept was the Ruan Ning he had long been thinking about. This eunuch had beaten him to it!
Prince Jin stood momentarily at a loss when he heard Qin Zhi coldly ask, “Prince Jin, what did you mean earlier about the Emperor’s dying wish?”
Snapping to attention, Prince Jin stammered, “The Emperor’s dying wish was that he loved me the most and wanted to establish me as the Crown Prince!”
The Clan Affairs Minister and other royal family members who had just entered the hall drew a sharp breath. Wei Shu’s face tightened, and he coldly asked, “Has Prince Jin gone mad, daring to speak such treasonous words?”
“The Emperor’s intentions were exactly this.”
Going against his wishes would be true treason,” Prince Jin said boldly. “Seventeen days ago, on Bingchen day, I went to the Imperial Study to speak with the Emperor. He said the Crown Prince was narrow-minded, short-sighted, and unable to bear the great responsibility of the state. The Emperor wanted to depose Wei Shu and establish me as the Crown Prince.”
The hall fell silent, with only the Emperor’s heavy breathing audible.
Wei Shu was the first to speak, maintaining his gentle demeanor: “Second Brother, the Emperor is gravely ill, yet you speak such nonsense. What are your intentions?”
