The prince is more stable

Chapter 717 Turning the Tide
Zhao Xu vomited blood and fell into a coma, causing an uproar in the palace.

The matter could no longer be concealed. Before this, Zhao Xu had been unwell, but he pretended to be fine, acting as if nothing was wrong in front of the officials, while also strictly ordering the imperial physicians to keep quiet and not to reveal the emperor's condition to the outside world.

So, despite Zhao Xu's deteriorating health over the past few months, surprisingly few people knew this fact.

Today, after Zhao Xu took the sorcerer's elixir, he suddenly vomited blood and fell into a coma. Soon, the imperial physicians, carrying their medicine boxes, scrambled into the palace. In broad daylight, the palace servants, being intelligent, naturally knew that something serious had happened.

Less than an hour after Zhao Xu fell into a coma, the news spread like wildfire from the palace.

First, the bigwigs in the Council of State Affairs knew about it, followed by the Privy Council, the Censorate, and the Six Ministries of the court.

Zhang Dun and An Tao had only been out of the palace for a short time, and before they had even returned to their official residence, they heard the news.

Zhang Dun and An Tao were shocked and immediately got up to enter the palace again.

At the same time, the ministers and envoys of the State Council and the Privy Council also rushed to the palace gates upon hearing the news.

The once peaceful city of Bianjing was thrown into chaos by Zhao Xu's unconsciousness.

In the Duan Prince's mansion, Zhao Ji sat by the pond in the backyard with a depressed expression, staring blankly at the carp scrambling for food, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) had something on his mind, something very heavy.

Although the nursery rhymes in Suining City, Sichuan Province, were forcibly suppressed by the imperial court using the power of the government, their influence has not been eliminated.

This short twelve-character nursery rhyme nearly cost Emperor Huizong his life.

From the moment Zhao Xu decided to promote Zhao Ji's title from Prince of Suining to Prince of Duan, Zhao Ji knew that the matter of the nursery rhyme would not be left unresolved. It was like a sharp thorn, deeply embedded in Zhao Xu's heart, and would never heal.

This is utterly devastating! It's incredibly cruel!

Emperor Huizong couldn't help but admire the King of Chu and his son; their move was truly brilliant. They pinned him to the ground, rendering him unable to move, and successfully aroused the emperor's suspicion.

Now that Zhao Ji has been promoted from a county prince to a prince of the first rank, he should be happy. However, in reality, Zhao Ji doesn't even dare to leave his palace. He is suspicious every day, always suspecting that his palace is full of Zhao Xu's spies, watching his every move.

Despite being enemies, Zhao Ji couldn't help but admire the King of Chu, while his hatred for the King and his son deepened.

Emperor Huizong dared not do anything now. Although he had bribed and won over court officials and secretly had a hidden force, he had almost cut off all contact with these people and forces, fearing that Zhao Xu or the Imperial City Guard would discover his secrets.

After all, because of the nursery rhyme incident, the eyes of the court officials were all on him, and Zhao Ji could no longer act without leaving a trace. Even going out to meet someone could lead to him being watched.

A simple nursery rhyme, just a dozen or so words, caused such severe consequences for Emperor Huizong that he had to lie low, like a prey desperately trying to escape a predator, and had to pay a heavy price to survive.

The former Suining Prince's Mansion was renamed Duan Prince's Mansion after a new plaque was added. Apart from that, Zhao Xu did not bestow any further favors upon him, which shows that Zhao Xu's suspicions about him have not been dispelled.

What Zhao Ji was even more uncertain about was that within this very palace of his own, countless spies and informants of the officials were planted, watching him day and night.

So recently, besides reading and writing, Zhao Ji has been indulging in his niche hobbies, such as appreciating unusual stones.

Emperor Huizong of Tang, who had been sitting by the pond in the Prince's mansion for a long time, sighed softly.

Now he is in a passive position everywhere. Not only has Zhao Xu become suspicious, but the King of Chu may also have something on him. In the case of the young prince's murder, several people who knew about it disappeared mysteriously before he could silence them. This matter has always been a worry for Zhao Ji.

If these vanished people were to suddenly reappear before the Emperor, Zhao Ji dared not imagine what fate awaited him. To have conspired to kill the Emperor's only son—that crime…

After Zhao Xiaoqian was sent to guard the border, Zhao Ji eventually became a bit arrogant in Bianjing, and his actions still left traces.

Just as he was pondering this, a servant from the Prince's mansion rushed over.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

Zhao Ji's gaze sharpened: "What is it?"

"News has come from the palace that the Emperor vomited blood and fell into a coma more than an hour ago, and the imperial physicians are currently trying to save him."

Emperor Huizong of Song was startled and stood up abruptly.

"Why did Your Majesty vomit blood and faint?" the cautious Emperor Huizong pressed.

The man hesitated and said, "I heard that this morning, His Majesty had a dispute with the Grand Councilor An, which was very unpleasant. Later, His Majesty took a pill made by a sorcerer and then vomited blood and fainted."

Emperor Huizong's eyes flickered as he gazed at the few carp fighting for food in the pond with a complicated expression. After a long while, he suddenly said, "Prepare the carriage immediately and go to Yanfu Palace!"

…………

Meanwhile, inside the Chu Prince's Mansion in Bianjing.

A scream from a maid in the backyard startled Zhao Hao, causing him to instantly lose his composure. He struggled out of the embrace of a concubine in the Prince's mansion, his clothes disheveled and disheveled, with several lipstick marks still imprinted on his chubby face.

As soon as Zhao Hao stepped out the door, he felt a pair of unsatisfied, delicate hands pull him back forcefully.

“This is a critical moment, how can Your Highness avoid battle? I will not allow it…”

Zhao Hao stumbled and was pulled back into the house. After a rustling sound, Zhao Hao's fat hand suddenly reached out from inside the house and grabbed the door frame forcefully.

"Let me go! Stop harassing me! Do you think I'm afraid of fighting? Didn't you hear I have important business to attend to? You little slut, wash yourself clean, and I'll launch a counterattack..." After struggling for a while, Zhao Hao finally broke free from his concubine's entanglement. His clothes were disheveled, and he staggered out.

The maid outside the door, disregarding her embarrassment, said urgently, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! An hour ago, His Majesty vomited blood and fell into a coma, and the imperial physician is currently trying to save him."

Zhao Hao was taken aback, then exclaimed in shock: "What's going on?"

"This servant does not know the details."

Zhao Hao was obese and looked honest and simple, but in reality he was more cunning than a monkey.

With a few blinks of his tiny green eyes, the first thought that popped into Zhao Hao's mind was that Bianjing was about to change!

There were already spies in the palace, and Zhao Hao was well aware of Zhao Xu's physical condition. Today's vomiting of blood was not the first time, but the fact that he had also fainted today indicated that Zhao Xu's condition had become critical.

Then a second thought flashed through his mind: a familiar young face, the owner of which was Zhao Ji.

Zhao Xu is unconscious. Zhao Ji is the first in line to the throne. What will he do at this moment?
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Hao immediately shouted, "Men, prepare the carriage and horses! I am going to the palace!"

Soon, the carriage from the Chu Prince's residence hurriedly set off towards Yanfu Palace.

Outside the palace gates, a large number of court officials had gathered. Their expressions were solemn, and they huddled together in small groups, whispering among themselves.

As the carriage of the Prince of Chu arrived, the officials quickly made way for him. Zhao Hao alighted from the carriage with difficulty, and without exchanging pleasantries with the officials, he headed straight for the palace gate.

Despite being guarded by imperial guards at the palace gates, Zhao Hao entered the palace without any resistance.

After Zhao Xiaoqian repeatedly defeated the Liao army, Zhao Xu specially granted the King of Chu and his son special privileges, allowing them to enter the palace at any time—a privilege unique to the father and son.

Amidst the envious and jealous gazes of his ministers, Zhao Hao hurriedly entered the palace gates. He casually pulled over a eunuch and asked him a few questions. Upon learning that the Emperor was in a coma and that only Zheng Chunhe and the imperial physicians were allowed to enter and exit the Funing Palace, and that no outsiders would be seen, Zhao Hao hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind.

So Zhao Hao turned around and headed straight for the Qingshou Hall.

Qingshou Palace is the residence of Empress Dowager Xiang. In the past year or two, Zhao Hao has frequently sent gifts to Empress Dowager Xiang to win her favor, and he is already very familiar with the route to Qingshou Palace.

Since no one could see the Emperor at this point, Empress Dowager Xiang must have returned to her palace.

Upon arriving at the Qingshou Hall, Zhao Hao paid his respects and greeted the Empress Dowager, who was indeed inside.

When the aunt and uncle met, Empress Dowager Xiang was flustered. Upon seeing Zhao Hao, she felt as if she had seen a relative, and tears streamed down her face before she could even speak.

"What should we do? What should we do! How could His Majesty suddenly fall into a coma!" Empress Dowager Xiang said, tears streaming down her face, completely at a loss.

At this moment, Zhao Hao also adopted the demeanor of a member of the imperial family and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This matter cannot be rushed. The Emperor is still unconscious. As the head of this palace, Your Majesty should now display your authority, restrain the officials, and find a way to revive the Emperor."

Her words were reasonable and persuasive. Empress Dowager Xiang was no ordinary woman; upon hearing them, she immediately calmed down and wiped away her tears.

"The King of Chu is right. I lost my composure just now."

He then revealed his anger to the Empress Dowager and said through gritted teeth, "It's all the fault of those sorcerers who concocted the elixirs. His Majesty fell into a coma after taking the elixirs. I will definitely investigate this matter!"

"Guards! Immediately summon the Prefect of Kaifeng! Seize those sorcerers and throw them in jail for a thorough interrogation!"

After Empress Dowager Xiang finished speaking, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Zhao Hao. She was usually quite indifferent to this younger brother-in-law, but today, with such a major incident and no one to share the burden with her, Empress Dowager Xiang had unconsciously come to regard Zhao Hao as her pillar of support.

Zhao Hao's plump face was filled with righteous indignation as he said with an air of selflessness, "There is one more matter that I must speak frankly about."

"King of Chu, please speak quickly."

"His Majesty is unconscious, and this is a critical moment for the court. The Empress Dowager must stop the thoughts of the imperial family members of our Great Song Dynasty, especially His Majesty's brothers, and forbid them from entering the palace..."

Empress Dowager Xiang, a seasoned veteran of the brutal power struggles within the palace, instantly understood the meaning behind Zhao Hao's words. Upon hearing this, she immediately said, "That's right. With the Emperor still in power, other members of the imperial clan certainly cannot enter the palace at this time. Who knows what they might do..."

Zhao Hao said no more, immediately stood up and bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager, saying, "The idea came from me, and I am also a member of the imperial clan. I should avoid suspicion. I will leave the palace and return to my residence now. Without an imperial edict from the Emperor or the Empress Dowager, I will not leave my residence."

"Your Majesty, I take my leave."

Without waiting for the Empress Dowager to stop him, Zhao Hao turned around with a righteous expression, strode out of the Qingshou Hall, and headed straight for the palace gate.

Inside the Hall of Longevity, Empress Dowager Xiang stared blankly at Zhao Hao's obese back, and for a moment she was moved to tears.

True character is revealed in times of adversity; loyalty and treachery are only known when faced with adversity.

My brother-in-law is usually glib and doesn't speak seriously, but who knew he would be so reliable and selfless at a crucial moment, even taking the initiative to avoid suspicion.

This is a true loyal minister!
His son was the same; father and son were practically a family of unwavering loyalty...

Having known Zhao Hao for decades, Empress Dowager Xiang completely changed her impression of him today and redefined him.

Wiping away the tears from her eyes, Xiang Taihou composed herself and said in a deep voice, "Someone, convey my imperial decree: today, apart from the imperial physicians, no one is allowed to enter the palace to see the Emperor, especially the Emperor's brothers and all members of the Zhao clan. If anyone has already entered the palace, they must be asked to leave immediately!"

(End of this chapter)