This medicine originally had a cardiotonic effect. Combined with the purple incense Yan Xiaohan just lit, it could easily induce symptoms similar to heart disease. The imperial physicians, unable to detect poisoning, continued to prescribe heart medication, which only worsened his condition. Over time, the illness became increasingly severe, and now it was beyond recovery.
Yan Xiaohan had originally planned to proceed slowly, waiting for the Crown Prince to grow up before letting the Emperor die of heart disease. But he had underestimated the ambitions of Xue Sheng and the Emperor, and hadn’t expected Fu Ya to intervene, pushing the situation to an irreversible point.
“The night is long. I’ll stay and watch. Your Highness should rest. There’s much to do tomorrow,” Yan Xiaohan turned to the silent eunuch by the door, “Yuan Zhen, escort the Empress to the side palace.”
Fu Ling was forcibly “invited” into the side hall.
She lay on the couch fully dressed, her countless thoughts tangling into an unsolvable mess in her mind, until she finally fell into a dazed sleep near dawn.
In a hazy state, a distant bell seemed to sound, and she stepped into emptiness in her dream, her heart skipping a beat as she suddenly awoke.
The surroundings were completely silent, and it was still dark outside. Fu Ling sat up from the couch, her breathing chaotic, feeling her heart still uncontrollably racing. At this moment, someone gently knocked on the door, and Yuan Zhen’s voice came through the door panel: “Has Your Highness awakened? Lord Yan has sent this servant to ask if you still wish to see His Majesty one last time?”
Fu Ling was struck as if by lightning, with tears suddenly rolling down her cheeks.
Her throat was sore, and she suppressed her choked voice: “Please wait a moment, I’m coming right away.”
When Fu Ling was ready and arrived at the main hall, the Emperor of Longzhi had fallen into a coma. Many people surrounded the imperial couch – eunuchs, imperial historians, and imperial physicians. Only Yan Xiaohan stood far away, his expression bland, seeming distracted like an outsider.
After everyone paid their respects, they made way. Fu Ling knelt beside the imperial couch, tearfully calling out: “Your Majesty…”
The Emperor of Longzhi’s eyelids slightly twitched, seemingly responding to her voice, but he never opened his eyes.
