Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1143: Chapter 153: The Emperor Poisoned (Part 2)

"You’ve worked hard." Zhao Yao lifted his hand and patted Sun Kui’s shoulder gently, "It’s rare for Father to take a break today, let him have a good sleep-in. I’ll go perform the ancestral rites."

Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s words, Sun Kui’s eyes slightly moistened. He didn’t dare let Zhao Yao notice his unusual demeanor, and lowered his head to say, "As you say, Your Highness. Walk slowly."

Zhao Yao said nothing more and turned to leave, heading towards Chonghua Palace.

By the time he arrived at Chonghua Palace, Prince Chu and Prince Wei were already there.

Prince Chu and Prince Wei told him not to be nervous and followed with encouraging remarks.

Soon enough, the ancestral rites formally commenced.

Though Zhao Yao was standing in for the Emperor, he was still dressed in prince attire. He did not make a single mistake in the rites and etiquette of the ancestral ceremony.

The princes below and the civil and military officials of the court were displeased that Zhao Yao was substituting for the Emperor in the rites, yet they could find no faults.

Before the ceremony started, it was snowing. Once Zhao Yao completed the rites, the sky cleared, and sunlight poured through the thick clouds, spreading across the earth.

After the ceremony, Zhao Yao let out a long sigh of relief inside, one of the burdens on his shoulders was lifted, making him instantly feel much lighter.

These past few days he had been learning the rules and etiquette of the rites, and he had already committed them to memory. But when it came time to actually perform the rites, he was still nervous, afraid of making a mistake and angering the ancestors. Fortunately, he made no mistakes, and everything was completed smoothly.

Now, there was nothing left for him to do, he could eat and drink leisurely.

Even though Zhao Yao stood in for the Emperor, the ministers did not flatter him, nor did they change their minds to come and support him. Of course, this was good for him.

Regarding Prince Han substituting for the Emperor in the rites, it was indeed dissatisfactory, but it was better than other princes stepping in.

Because Prince Han performed the rites, the ministers had no disputes over it. This New Year, everyone could celebrate it peacefully.

With the Emperor sick and unable to appear, the tasks of hosting ministers were handed to Prince Dai and Prince Chu.

Zhao Yao had lunch in the palace and left early. He had risen before dawn, needing to catch up on sleep. Moreover, there was a banquet in the evening, without rest, he wouldn’t have the energy to manage the evening banquet.

The Emperor slept until noon before waking. The first thing he asked upon awakening was how Zhao Yao had conducted the ancestral rites. Upon learning that Zhao Yao brought them to completion smoothly, the Emperor felt at ease.

"Your Majesty, the Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong said if you awaken, they would accompany you for lunch."

"I don’t want to see them, I’ll have my lunch alone."

"Your Majesty, today is New Year’s Day, wouldn’t it be quite lonely to dine alone?" Sun Kui proposed, "Why not have Lady Liang come over to accompany you?"

The Emperor waved his hand and said, "At this time for Xiao Xiao to come here, the Empress and others would be even more jealous of her, best let Xiao Xiao have a peaceful New Year." After sleeping, the Emperor felt much better, his complexion improved as well, "I too want to have a quiet New Year, set the meal."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the Emperor finished his lunch, Prince Dai and Prince Chu came to see him.

Seeing that the Emperor looked unwell, Prince Dai and the others expressed their concern. After giving them a few instructions, the Emperor let them leave.

Once Prince Dai and the others left, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu appeared in the Emperor’s bedchamber.

Seeing Prime Minister He and the others constantly looking at him, the Emperor laughed and said, "I’m fine."

Prime Minister He frowned and said, "Your Majesty, is your old wound acting up?"

The Emperor denied, "No."

"Your Majesty, you cannot deceive us." Prime Minister He spoke with great certainty, "Your old wound has indeed acted up."

Grandmaster Liu added, "Your complexion doesn’t lie."

The Emperor glanced at Prime Minister He and the others, wearing an expression full of helplessness, and said, "Having two people always by your side is really troublesome, any slight difference can’t escape them."

Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were well aware of the Emperor’s old injuries. Over the years, even though the Emperor kept concealing his recurring old wound, he couldn’t hide it from them.

"It’s just the old ailment, it’ll hurt for a few days and be done."

Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu also had old injuries that occasionally flared up. They knew well the pain of recurrent old wounds, though theirs were not as severe as the Emperor’s. When the Emperor’s old wound flared up, the pain was much more intense.

"Your Majesty, take this time to rest well." Prime Minister He said, "We will handle the affairs of the court."

Grandmaster Liu said, "As for Prince Han’s matter, we’ll keep an eye on it, no need for you to worry."

The Emperor was not polite, "Then I’ll leave it to you."

Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu didn’t linger long, briefed the Emperor on some matters, then left.

Once Prime Minister He and the others left, the Emperor took another nap, waking up in the evening and started coughing again.

Seeing the Emperor cough up blood again, Sun Kui hurriedly brought a handkerchief to wipe it away.

"Your Majesty..." These days, the Emperor had been coughing blood every day. Continuing like this, even a strong body wouldn’t hold up, let alone the Emperor’s ailing health. "You must not cough blood anymore, I’ll summon the Imperial Physician."

"On New Year’s Day, what need is there for an Imperial Physician?" the Emperor said lightly, "Just coughing a bit of blood, it’s nothing serious."

Sun Kui brought a cup of tea to help the Emperor rinse his mouth.

Neither the Emperor nor Sun Kui noticed Zhao Yao standing outside the door.

Zhao Yao, after waking from his nap, went to the palace to see the Emperor, unexpectedly hearing this conversation at the entrance. He did not enter but turned and left.

"Sun Doudou."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s worried expression, Sun Doudou’s heart tightened. He rushed forward, respectfully saying, "I’m here."

"I was not here just now, understood?"

Sun Doudou, frightened by Zhao Yao’s stern demeanor, nodded quickly and said, "Your Highness, you weren’t here."

"Don’t tell your master."

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I won’t tell my master."

Zhao Yao nodded at him and swiftly departed.

Guarding the gate, Tong Xi saw Zhao Yao coming out so quickly and hastily asked, "Your Highness, why did you leave so soon? How is His Majesty?"

Zhao Yao didn’t answer Tong Xi’s question but instead asked, "Where’s Xiao Jin?"

"Xiao Jin?" Tong Xi paused and then thought for a moment, "Seems it’s not in the mansion, I haven’t seen it these days."

"Back to the mansion." As soon as Zhao Yao returned to the Prince Mansion, he asked the sparrows in the mansion to find Xiao Jin.

An hour later, Xiao Jin flew back from outside.

"Xiao Jin, go to the palace and call Lingyun back, tell him I have something for him."

[I’ll go now.] Xiao Jin flapped its wings and flew towards the Imperial Palace. Shortly after, it appeared before Zhao Yao with Lingyun.

"Lingyun, I have something to ask you, did something happen to my father?"

Lingyun nodded its little head and said, [The master has been poisoned.]