Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 398 The final word

Everyone entered the inner hall.

Li Zisheng took the lead and walked in front. When he saw Zhu Jianshen lying on the bed with a sick face, he couldn't help but feel relieved.

The Chenghua Emperor in front of him had sunken eye sockets, a face as pale as gold paper, a haggard appearance, and disordered breathing. There was no obvious improvement in his condition. Judging from the emperor's previous confused look, perhaps it was true as Zhang Luan said that Zhu Jianshen at this time had no intention or ability to promote a change of crown prince.

Li Zisheng whispered, "Your Majesty has not yet summoned the Crown Prince."

Zhang Luan asked, "Should I remind His Majesty?"

"Need not."

Li Zisheng shook his head and said, "Let's wait and see what happens."

After that, Li Zisheng stepped forward and greeted respectfully: "Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"

Zhu Jianshen looked at Li Zisheng and asked, "Huh? Who are you?"

Just one sentence made Li Zisheng speechless. Just as he was hesitating about what to say, Wei Tai at the side introduced him, "Your Majesty, this is Master Li, the Fang family member you trust the most, a great man who can see through the secrets of heaven."

"Oh."

Zhu Jianshen nodded in relief, like an old fool, and asked expectantly, "Can you cure me?"

Li Zisheng replied, "Your Majesty, you have Zhang Taichang here to treat your illness. He is the prince's father-in-law and the doctor you trust the most. The medical skills of all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital combined are not as good as his. With him treating you, there is no need for me to worry."

This is very offensive.

After all, there were several people from the Imperial Hospital present, and they were all nervous when they heard this. Who are you looking down on?
But no one will come out to fight.

If you say he is great, then he is great. Who would want to steal the credit from him at this moment?
Zhu Jianshen said with a bitter face: "I feel so uncomfortable... Is there any good way to relieve the pain?"

As he was speaking, the emperor's hand rose up involuntarily.

Wei Tai quickly stepped forward and asked softly, "Your Majesty, do you need anything?"

"No……"

Zhu Jianshen seemed to have lost all consciousness and spoke blankly.

Zhu Ji suddenly stepped forward and said, "I am Zhu Ji, the commander of the Jinyiwei, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please tell me whether you should invite the Crown Prince or Prince Xing to come?"

When these words were spoken, everyone present was extremely shocked.

Did Zhu Ji say this to show off his ability and add drama to his own story? Or was he already preparing to join the rebellion?

Zhu Jianshen asked curiously, "Am I not the crown prince? Who is Prince Xing?"

Zhu Ji originally wanted to do something grand and "big", safeguard the emperor's interests at critical moments, and obey the emperor's orders directly. Whether it was supporting the crown prince or supporting King Xing, he would be a great contributor who was supported by the emperor.

But when he heard the emperor's confusing words, he immediately realized that whatever he wanted to do would be in vain.

"The Queen Mother is here!"

Just when everyone was at a loss, a report came from outside, causing everyone to hold their breath.

But Queen Mother Zhou walked in quickly with hurried steps, without even asking for permission from anyone, she just walked straight in, and behind her was Queen Wang.

It is obvious that Queen Mother Zhou was able to maintain her position at critical moments.

Didn’t your emperor summon Concubine Shao to meet alone?

No!

I cannot allow you to do anything rash before your death, so I must step out and take charge of the situation myself. You want to support Concubine Shao as the next empress dowager, but that is impossible. Right now, my daughter-in-law can only be Queen Wang. Although everyone knows that she is in name only, the legal wife in this era has innate legal advantages.

"See the Queen Mother."

Everyone saluted quickly.

Queen Mother Zhou ignored all the ministers present and went straight to the bed. Wei Tai quickly moved a stool over.

Empress Dowager Zhou sat down, took Zhu Jianshen's hand and asked, "My son, how are you?"

"Ancestor."

Concubine Shao, who was standing nearby, greeted timidly.

Empress Dowager Zhou ignored Concubine Shao.

Zhu Jianshen asked in bewilderment, "Mother...Mother? How...why did you suddenly age so much? Oh, by the way, why are you here?"

"You are ill, how can I not come? As a mother, seeing her son sick, how anxious she is, can you understand?" Queen Mother Zhou said sadly, then turned to the courtiers and asked, "What are you all doing here? Come and see, how is His Majesty's condition?"

At this moment, Empress Dowager Zhou did not ask anyone but her "eldest nephew" Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan came forward and reported: "To reply to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty's condition has rapidly deteriorated, or the liver disease has spread to his brain. He can no longer recognize the current situation. Many past events are entangled with today's events, and he may have become... unconscious."

Queen Mother Zhou shouted, "Didn't you hear me? My son is already unconscious. What are you doing here? All of you retreat!"

Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment.

The emperor let us in, but you, the empress dowager, ask us to leave?
Should we stay or leave?

Wei Tai was the person whose say was second only to the emperor among those present.

His words could change a lot of things, but facing the dominance of Empress Dowager Zhou, Wei Tai was actually intimidated for a moment. He quickly waved his hand and directly asked the eunuchs and the people from the Imperial Hospital to leave.

Just as Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng were leaving, Empress Dowager Zhou waved and said, "Laizhan, you stay. Zisheng...you go out first, this is the time to discuss the patient's condition...Everyone else, go out too!"

These words were spoken to Concubine Shao.

Concubine Shao originally wanted to take this opportunity to make a final effort for her son, but when she saw Empress Dowager Zhou coming, she knew that she was no longer able to change anything.

Finally, only four people were left in the inner hall.

In addition to Queen Dowager Zhou and her son, there were Zhang Luan and Wei Tai.

…………

"My son, you have experienced many ups and downs in your life, and you have always cared about the people. Since you ascended the throne, you have reduced taxes, provided disaster relief, and appointed virtuous people to ensure peace and prosperity for the people of Ming... How did you end up like this?"

Queen Mother Zhou couldn't hold back her tears at this moment.

Wei Tai advised: "Grandfather, please don't be sad."

Queen Mother Zhou said sadly: "Seeing the emperor suffering from illness, how can a mother not be heartbroken? My son, why don't you let the prince in?"

Zhu Jianshen sighed and said, "Mother, I remember the prince. He is still too weak to withstand the storm!"

"No matter how weak he is, he is still your son, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty... If you have any troubles, he should come out to manage state affairs. Isn't it the prince's job to share the emperor's worries?"

Queen Mother Zhou asked loudly.

Zhu Jianshen frowned and thought carefully, but his mind seemed a little confused and he could not think of any reason to refute.

"Tell me the truth whether you agree or not."

Queen Mother Zhou seemed a little angry and shouted.

"it is good!"

Zhu Jianshen responded, his expression changing constantly, and no one knew what he was thinking.

But at least Queen Dowager Zhou got the answer she wanted.

"Wei Tai, draft an imperial edict immediately to appoint the crown prince as regent and preside over the affairs of the court." Queen Mother Zhou ordered decisively.

"This……"

Wei Tai seemed very embarrassed.

Your Majesty, you are too unreasonable!
The emperor seemed to have just said "OK", and you said you would draft an imperial edict to let the prince take charge of state affairs?
The emperor is still alive and well, how dare I write this edict?

"What? Is it difficult for you?"

Queen Mother Zhou asked angrily, "Wei Tai, if I can't call on you at the critical moment, then why do I keep you servants at ordinary times? Come and write it!"

Zhang Luan couldn't help but shook his head and smiled bitterly when he heard this.

Even the eunuch Wei Tai, who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department, dares not to do this, but you, aunt, are just trying to trick me, your nephew?

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty has summoned the Prime Minister Wan Ge Lao and the Minister of Personnel Li Shangshu to the Qianqing Palace. Should we wait for them to arrive and draft the edict in their presence?"

Zhang Luan asked tentatively.

Queen Mother Zhou thought for a moment, frowned and said, "Laizhan, Wan'an has ulterior motives. Who knows what he is thinking? Are you... sure he will stand on the side of the crown prince?"

Now Wei Tai was even more speechless.

Your Majesty, you really don't mind speaking so much.

The emperor is lying next to you now. He hasn't fainted and his eyes are wide open. But you, as the empress dowager, seem to be planning to decide all the important matters in front of the emperor?
Is there any need to be so anxious?
Zhang Luan said: "At this time, everything should be based on the rule of law."

"Correct."

Queen Mother Zhou nodded and said, "I think you are right... Sigh, maybe I am too hasty. Send someone to bring Wan'an here immediately."

……

……

Zhu Jianshen seemed to feel much more at ease with his mother by his side, but after a while, he became dazed again.

Seeing this, Queen Mother Zhou shook her head, stood up, called Zhang Luan aside, and whispered, "Laizhan, you too, the matter here is so urgent, why didn't you inform me quickly?"

Zhang Luan explained: "Aunt, it's not that your nephew doesn't want to, it's really..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Wei Tai, who was checking on the emperor's condition beside the couch.

"Humph!"

Queen Mother Zhou shook her head and said, "Just send someone to inform me, how could you not spare any time? In this regard, you are not as good as your daughter... It was she who sent someone to Qingning Palace to pass the message, and I only then knew that the emperor was critically ill. In fact, it doesn't matter who notified me, at least I know now, so I won't let those villains take advantage of the opportunity."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he felt relieved.

This aunt must be on the side of the prince.

Who made Empress Dowager Zhou always dislike Concubine Shao?
It is said that there are conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and this will benefit the motherless prince.

If the Crown Prince does not have an old mother to stand in the way and has conflicts with the Queen Mother, wouldn't the Queen Mother think that her grandson is lonely and helpless and that she must protect him?
"Then Wan'an, are you sure... you won't do anything reckless?"

Queen Mother Zhou asked again in a low voice.

Zhang Luan looked around and whispered, "To be honest, before I entered the palace... I went to see him."

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "If I had known you were prepared, I wouldn't have been so worried."

Zhang Luan was surprised when he saw this scene.

Your son is seriously ill, and you can still laugh?

As they were talking, a voice came from outside: "Lord Wan and Minister Li want to see you."

"Call Wan'an in!"

Queen Mother Zhou did not call everyone in immediately. It was obvious that she wanted to test Wan'an's attitude first. She had to wait until Wan'an's opinions matched hers before calling others in and announcing the news together.

Then Wan'an happily entered the inner hall.

When he saw the layout inside, he was shocked.

Apart from the emperor, there were only the queen mother, Wei Tai and Zhang Luan. He instantly realized that the current situation was absolutely supportive of the crown prince's succession to the throne. Except for the emperor himself, no one could change the situation.

(End of this chapter)