Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 585: Shocking Changes in the Palace
In late autumn in Yecheng, the chill grows.

The leaves of the sycamore trees inside the palace walls fell one by one, floating in the wind and falling on the bluestone slabs, making a slight rustling sound.

The atmosphere in the palace was more silent than usual, as if even the air was stagnant.

In Cao Pi's bedroom, the flickering candlelight illuminated his pale face.

He leaned on the dragon couch, covered with a thick brocade quilt, but still felt the cold penetrate his bones.

The imperial doctors knelt in front of the couch, discussing the prescription in low voices, their brows full of worry.

Cao Pi closed his eyes slightly, breathing a little rapidly, and a fine layer of cold sweat seeped out of his forehead.

He held a roll of unfinished memorials in his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly, as if he wanted to clench it tightly, but in the end he was powerless.

The eunuch beside him carefully took the memorial and gently advised: "Your Majesty, the emperor's health is more important, so let's put these trivial matters aside for now."

Cao Pi slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was a little dazed, but still carried a hint of imperial majesty.

He whispered, "State affairs... cannot be abandoned."

The voice was hoarse and weak, as if squeezed out from deep in the throat.

After he said this, he started coughing violently, and his whole body was shaking.

The eunuch quickly handed over a silk handkerchief. Cao Pi took it and covered his mouth and nose with it. After a moment, the handkerchief was stained with a glaring red.

Outside the palace, the wind was getting stronger and the low sounds of bells and drums could be heard faintly in the distance.

Cao Pi's condition became increasingly serious, and the news spread like wildfire. The ministers in the court began to speculate secretly and felt uneasy.

The sky over Yecheng was gloomy, as if covered by a thick layer of dark clouds, foreshadowing an approaching storm.

...

The news of the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Guandu did not cause much commotion.

The news that Cao Pi vomited blood was like a thunderclap, instantly shaking the entire Cao Wei court.

The atmosphere in the palace of Yecheng was so solemn that it was almost suffocating.

All the ministers gathered in the hall, but no one dared to speak loudly. Only low whispers echoed in the hall, like waves of suppressed undercurrents.

Wu Zhi stood in front of the hall, his brows furrowed, holding a roll of war reports in his hand, his fingertips slightly white.

His eyes were calm, but he could not hide his inner worry.

After a moment, he turned around and whispered to Zhong Yao beside him: "Your Majesty...it seems that you can't come out today."

Zhong Yao nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "Grand Sima...it's time to make a decision."

Wu Zhi nodded slightly and finally didn't want to refute anymore.

there…

Chen Qun stood in the corner of the hall, looking indifferent, as if nothing had to do with him.

Only the occasional glance towards Yecheng indicated the uneasiness in his heart.

also…

Jia Xu, who had not been seen for a long time, unexpectedly showed up today.

This old guy is quite something. He had been claiming to be sick for the past few days, but today, when the emperor was seriously ill, he finally got better.

At this moment, he was standing straight in the hall, as if he was completely well again.

Just like these people, the ministers in the hall now have their own thoughts. Some are worried, some are angry, and some are watching coldly.

However, no matter what they thought in their hearts, they all understood at this moment that Cao Wei had reached a critical moment of life and death.

The sky outside the temple was gloomy and covered with dark clouds, as if foreshadowing that a bigger storm was about to come.

...

"Your Majesty has not appeared yet?"

After waiting for more than half an hour, Zhong Yao gradually felt that something was not right.

It's not that Cao Pi's absence is wrong, but today's court meeting was summoned by Cao Pi. If he had any health problems, he wouldn't have appeared today. So it's strange that His Majesty didn't show up after the summons was issued.

Wu Zhi replied: "Don't be anxious, Lord Yuan Chang. Something strange happened today. No one else said anything. Look, Jia Wenhe is here."

"I'm afraid...if you don't come, something will go wrong."

Zhong Yao's heart paused, and he suddenly realized that almost all the officials of Yecheng, big and small, appeared in this hall.

Even Gao Tanglong and Wei Feng, who were “our own people”, were among them.

They just sit in their respective positions according to the size of their official positions.

They just didn't get together to avoid suspicion.

but…

What's going on that requires so many people to be here?
Zhong Yao felt something was wrong, so he asked Wu Zhi again, "Did the Grand Marshal hear any rumors?"

Wu Zhi shook his head and said, "This is the weird thing. There is no news at all. No one knows what the court meeting is about today!"

He paused, as if he had made up his mind, and asked, "Your Majesty... where are the troops and horses?"

This "Your Majesty" was obviously not a way to address Cao Pi.

Zhong Yao's mind moved, and he immediately said: "If we win at Guandu, we will have no obstacles all the way to here."

"I think... we'll be able to reach Yecheng in just a few days."

"It's just that we are taking it slow right now because we are taking it slow."

Wu Zhi nodded slightly, glanced at the hall again, and saw that many people were about to leave.

Zhong Yao also saw this scene, but said: "Grand Marshal, the situation is not right today, do you want to leave first?"

Wu Zhi looked ahead and saw his colleagues going out one after another, but no one stopped them.

He looked at the steady old man Jia again, and his heart moved slightly. He pulled Zhong Yao who was about to leave and said, "For now, we should just wait and see what happens, and don't move."

So, Zhong Yao also stayed in the palace quietly.

As time passed, there was still no sign of Cao Pi. The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly solemn, as if an invisible pressure was spreading in the air.

Whispers gradually began to sound in the hall. At first, they were just slight whispers between Zhong Yao and Wu Zhi, but then they became louder and louder, as if the emotions that had been suppressed for so long had finally found an outlet.

"Why has Your Majesty taken so long to arrive? Is there something wrong?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

But the voice came from the crowd, and when I turned around, I couldn't see who said it.

The field became quiet again.

It seemed like they were waiting for someone to take the lead.

Finally, Si Tu Wang Lang could not help but step forward, cupped his hands and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty has not arrived yet, and I am worried. I beg the eunuch to report it quickly to avoid delaying the important affairs of the court!"

His voice was loud and steady, but it could not hide his anxiety.

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a chorus of agreement in the hall.

All the ministers stepped forward and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, please come to the court as soon as possible! Your Majesty, please come to the court as soon as possible!"

The sound surged like a tide, echoing in the hall and causing the palace lanterns to shake slightly.

However, there was still no response from inside the hall.

The voices of the ministers gradually became more urgent, even with a hint of panic. Cao Pi's delay was like an invisible shadow hanging over everyone's heart.

What's going on?
Just when everyone was hesitating, they suddenly heard the sound of a trumpet.

This trumpet sound is clearly only heard on the battlefield, but unexpectedly... it appeared in this temple.

As soon as you listen to it, you can feel a wave of murderous aura coming towards you.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat, and then they saw Cao Pi's figure slowly appear, pausing for a step, and walked into the hall...

(End of this chapter)