eurekapd Chapter 451 The Last Moment
Chapter 451 The Last Moment
Consort Zhou cried out, her voice trembling, as if she had truly suffered a great injustice.
Empress Su looked at her coldly, "I knew you wouldn't admit it."
"I don't need your acknowledgment." Empress Su's expression grew even colder. "Your ability to enjoy such a glorious life in the harem all these years is entirely due to His Majesty, but His Majesty won't live much longer."
"Your Highness, do you think that Prince Qi was deposed for treason, and His Majesty will soon... how many more days of carefree pleasure do you want?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhou's face drained of color instantly, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a sound.
Empress Su's words were like knives, piercing her heart.
Yes, the emperor is about to die.
The only man she could rely on was no longer reliable.
"The Prince of Qi has committed treason, and you, as his mother, how do you think the new emperor will deal with you?" Empress Su leaned down and whispered in Consort Zhou's ear, "Even if the new emperor takes pity on you, how could those concubines who are jealous of your favored status let go of this opportunity to kick you when you're down?"
Consort Zhou collapsed to the ground, her eyes vacant, her mind filled with images of being scorned and isolated by everyone.
Empress Su was right; once she lost the emperor's protection, she would have nowhere to go in the palace.
"No, it can't be..." Consort Zhou murmured to herself. Suddenly, as if grasping at the last straw, she looked up sharply at Empress Su. "Your Majesty, please save me! I have truly been wronged. If you are willing to help me, I... I am willing to do anything!"
Empress Su straightened up and looked at her coldly, "I can't help you."
"Now that the matter is settled, I have no interest in investigating whether you wanted to harm His Majesty or were instructed by someone else."
"Consort Zhou, take care of yourself."
Seeing Empress Su's resolute attitude, Consort Zhou burst into tears, blurring her vision.
She recalled the favor Emperor Wenjing had shown her over the years.
Despite the large number of concubines in the harem, Consort Zhou could sense that Emperor Wenjing treated her with genuine affection.
However, now all of this has vanished. She destroyed it all with her own hands, and she harmed the man who once loved her deeply.
She ruined him.
As Empress Su's figure gradually receded into the distance, just as she was about to step out of Chaohua Palace, Consort Zhou felt as if her throat was blocked, and she choked out a sob:
"It's Li Chongyi."
Her voice was hoarse and trembling, seemingly tinged with regret.
"Seven years ago, Li Chongyi asked me to deliver lotus flowers to His Majesty's palace. Each time, the imperial physicians examined them for poison and found nothing wrong. I really didn't know. I'm the one who harmed His Majesty."
Empress Su paused, then left Chaohua Palace without looking back.
……
Empress Su did not make public the fact that Consort Zhou had poisoned Emperor Wenjing.
In her view, while Consort Zhou was indeed the executioner in Emperor Wenjing's poisoning, Li Chongyi was the real culprit behind it all.
Now that Li Chongyi is in prison, further investigation into this matter will only cause more trouble.
In just a few days, Empress Su was exhausted and looked much more haggard.
Emperor Wenjing did not attend court for a long time, which inevitably aroused suspicion among the court officials, and dissatisfaction surged like an undercurrent in the court.
Rumors spread rampantly, causing widespread anxiety.
Empress Su rubbed her aching temples, smelling the strong medicinal scent permeating the Hall of Longevity. Her head throbbed with pain, and her frustration intensified.
She looked at the old man Feng who was packing his medicine chest and asked softly, "Divine Doctor, when will His Majesty wake up?"
Old Man Feng had just finished giving Emperor Wenjing acupuncture when he looked up and replied, "He may wake up tomorrow."
"Tomorrow..." Empress Su murmured, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
The poison in Emperor Wenjing's body cannot be cured, and even if he wakes up tomorrow, it is unknown how long he will remain sober.
However, many things are urgent and need to be arranged in advance.
After leaving the palace, Old Man Feng told Yun Shang that Emperor Wenjing would most likely wake up the next day.
Upon learning of this, Yun Shang went to Prince Chen's residence and had a long talk with Prince Chen throughout the night.
The next morning, when Yu Wan did not see Yun Shang return, she gave up the idea of leaving the mansion.
Shen and Yunxi originally planned to go to offer incense today, but Yu Wan stopped them.
“I’m worried that something might happen in the palace today. It’s probably not safe outside. Let’s go offer incense another day.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen's expression changed slightly.
"Is Shang-ge in danger?"
Yu Wan smiled and shook her head, "No."
The male protagonist and Prince Chen's scheme is already fully in place, and they are only one step away from success. Given their cunning, it is unlikely that they will make a mistake at the crucial moment.
Meanwhile, the Royal Palace.
Old Feng said that Emperor Wenjing would most likely wake up today, so Empress Su, along with the concubines and princes, waited outside the Hall of Longevity.
Emperor Wenjing's poison was incurable, and this may have been his last moment of lucidity.
Empress Su told everyone else to stay outside the palace, while she and the Empress Dowager went inside and sat quietly by the bed to wait.
The hall was quiet and still, with only the occasional faint breathing of Emperor Wenjing.
Morning light streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the floor and adding a touch of the unreal to the somewhat gloomy hall.
Empress Su clutched the silk handkerchief tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white. The Empress Dowager looked solemn, glancing occasionally at the unconscious Emperor Wenjing on the bed.
Just after 9 a.m., Emperor Wenjing's finger twitched slightly.
The Empress Dowager immediately became anxious and cried out in sobs, "Divine Physician, please take a look at the Emperor!"
Old Feng stepped forward as instructed, placed his fingers on Emperor Wenjing's pulse, and after a moment of concentration, said, "Your Majesty's pulse has improved. It seems that these few doses of medicine and acupuncture have worked. Your Majesty will soon wake up."
Not long after he finished speaking, Emperor Wenjing's eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Perhaps because he had been unconscious for too long, his eyes were full of confusion and his gaze was unfocused. It took a while for his eyes to gradually focus and regain their clarity.
Upon seeing the people in front of him, Emperor Wenjing's lips moved, but no sound came out. His throat felt blocked, dry and uncomfortable.
Empress Su quickly brought over a cup of warm water and carefully fed it to the emperor.
After Emperor Wenjing had regained some strength, he asked in a hoarse voice, "What... happened to me?"
Emperor Wenjing felt extremely weak, with aches and pains all over his body, and no part of him felt comfortable.
Upon hearing this, both the Empress Dowager and Empress Su fell silent for a moment.
Emperor Wenjing sensed something was wrong and asked again, his tone now more urgent, "What's wrong with me?"
Empress Su took a deep breath, barely suppressing the tears in her eyes, and softly recounted the events of the past few days.
Emperor Wenjing, upon hearing this, initially thought he had misheard.
"The Shadow of the Dove? You're saying I'm afflicted by the Shadow of the Dove?"
Empress Su choked back tears, her throat felt blocked, and she managed to utter a single word with difficulty, "...Yes."
Emperor Wenjing was stunned.
His expression went blank for a moment, followed by shock and anger.
"Who, who poisoned me?!" His chest heaved violently, his eyes flashing with ferocity.
The Empress Dowager was heartbroken and hurriedly tried to comfort him, "Emperor, please calm down. The divine physician said you must not get agitated, otherwise... otherwise..."
Otherwise, sudden death is highly likely.