The playboy county magistrate

"Furthermore, Father Emperor personally promised Minister Li to assist in governing the country. Father Emperor trusts him, and the nation relies on him. Minister Li's assistance to me in governing the country is perfectly legitimate and beyond reproach."

"My father is merely ill today, yet you all are already scheming for your own purposes. This is disloyalty and dishonesty!"

All the civil and military officials in the hall were deeply moved, and the restless hearts that had been stirring within them were instantly and completely subdued.

Those former officials who had secretly echoed the sentiments and harbored rebellious intentions all concealed their ambitions, stood with their heads bowed, and dared not make any further moves.

Yes.

His Majesty is only in a coma, not dead.

They're already causing trouble now. What if His Majesty wakes up and finds out what they did in court, and then, in a fit of anger, eliminates them all?

At this moment, everyone was filled with lingering fear, after all, the emperor had been acting swiftly and decisively and was quite autocratic in recent years.

The Minister of Rites, his face turning pale and then flushed, was speechless with embarrassment. He could only bow dejectedly, retreat from the ranks, and dare not utter another word.

A faint hint of approval flashed across Li Xuanzhi's eyes as he looked at the Crown Prince.

The child who once needed his guidance step by step is now capable of standing on his own. He can defend the wicked in court and stabilize the government.

The prince met his gaze, the childishness fading from his eyes, silently signaling his teacher to continue in charge.

Li Xuanzhi withdrew his gaze, looked directly at the assembled officials, and spoke in a cold and powerful voice.

"From this day forward, martial law will be imposed throughout the city. The Imperial Guards will strictly guard the four corners of the Imperial City to prevent the spread of rumors and to guard against any unusual activity."

"All departments of the six ministries shall immediately resume their duties and review and resolve all backlogged memorials on the same day. No delay or slackness shall be allowed in the new policies for the people's livelihood."

"Memorials from all prefectures and counties should be submitted directly to the Cabinet for unified dispatch. Any local changes, disasters, or public sentiment must be reported immediately. Those who conceal or delay reporting will be severely punished for dereliction of duty!"

A series of clear and strict government orders completely sealed off any loopholes for rebellion and speculation.

"We obey your command!"

All the officials bowed in unison, their voices resounding throughout the palace, solemnly obeying.

The court session had just ended, leaving only Li Xuanzhi and the Crown Prince in the hall.

Another eunuch rushed into the hall, looking flustered, and knelt down to report urgently:

"Your Highness, Lord Li, the Imperial Medical Academy has completed its consultation. His Majesty... His Majesty remains unconscious, and his pulse is weak and irregular. We cannot determine the root cause of the problem at this time!"

The emperor was in a coma, and not only was the cause of his illness unknown, but it was also unclear whether he had been poisoned or if any residual poison had been cleared.

This means that the emperor is unable to hold court and intimidate the officials, and the stalemate in which the crown prince oversees the country and forcibly suppresses the restless officials is uncertain when it will be broken.

Li Xuanzhi frowned deeply and said in a deep voice:

"All members of the Imperial Medical Academy will remain in the Imperial Study, taking turns day and night to examine the pulse and exhaust all medical skills to diagnose and treat the patient. If there is even the slightest improvement, they will immediately report it to His Highness the Crown Prince."

The crown prince also stepped forward at this moment, his little face tense.

"Furthermore, I have secretly ordered the Dragon Guard to thoroughly investigate the Emperor's recent activities, including his daily routine, medications, and diet. His Majesty's sudden fainting was no accident; we must find the root cause and nip any hidden dangers in the bud!"

"Yes!" The eunuch accepted the order and quickly withdrew.

The Crown Prince gazed in the direction of the Imperial Study, a deep worry hidden in his eyes, and spoke softly:

"Teacher, Father's health was clearly improving day by day. Why did he suddenly fall seriously ill and into a coma, and even the imperial physicians couldn't find the cause?"

Li Xuanzhi's gaze was deep as he looked into the depths of the palace, his tone solemn.

"It's not an improvement, it's an illusion."

"Your Majesty's old poison has been dormant and hidden in your meridians. Recently, your mind has been at ease and your blood and qi have been flowing smoothly, so you seem to have recovered. In reality, the toxins have been lying dormant and accumulating strength. Once they erupt, it will be a sudden resurgence of your chronic illness, which is extremely dangerous."

He had already vaguely sensed the hidden danger, but he never expected it to erupt so suddenly.

The prince's fingers tightened slightly, and his expression grew even calmer.

"So, there are still remnants of the regime remaining in the palace?"

"Yes," Li Xuanzhi replied calmly, his tone cold.

A hint of anxiety and worry, difficult to conceal, lurked deep in the crown prince's eyes.

"The court is now stable, Your Highness need not be so anxious," Li Xuanzhi said in a gentle tone. "Even if the officials have dissenting thoughts, no one dares to openly rebel now. The most important thing right now is to find out the root cause of His Majesty's coma."

"I will go to the Imperial Study to check immediately. Your Highness may return to the side hall to rest and await further orders," Li Xuanzhi instructed softly.

The crown prince gently shook his head, his posture becoming even more upright.

"My father is ill, and I dare not rest. My teacher has gone to investigate the case, and I wish to go with him to learn. Only by experiencing danger firsthand can one discern the wickedness of the human heart."

A hint of warmth and approval flashed in Li Xuanzhi's eyes, and he nodded slightly.

"Very well. You will come with me, observe quietly and think carefully, and investigate the hidden aspects."

The two walked side by side down the Golden Palace, through layers of palace corridors, and headed straight for the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy continued to take turns examining the pulses of the patients. Each of them wore a solemn expression, their brows furrowed.

The seasoned doctors who were once skilled at pulse diagnosis and treatment were now completely helpless.

Upon seeing the two arrive, the imperial physicians immediately bowed and paid their respects.

"How is Your Majesty's pulse?" Li Xuanzhi asked in a deep voice.

The abbot stepped forward, his face full of sorrow, and bowed in return.

"Your Highness, and Lord Li, His Majesty's pulse is extremely strange, resembling both deficiency and cold poisoning, yet without the usual symptoms of poisoning."

"There is no redness or swelling on the body surface, and no internal organ pain or stagnation. However, the patient is weak and limp all over, and unconscious. We have exhausted all our medical skills, but we still cannot find the source of the poison and have no way to treat it."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince felt even more burdened.

"Could this asymptomatic virus have accumulated over many years?"

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy had a cold and deep gaze, and reached out to stroke his beard.

"Ordinary poisons always leave traces, but the Spirit-Stagnating Powder, a secret technique passed down through generations of aristocratic families, is hidden within the meridians and blood. It lies dormant for a long time, silent and imperceptible, until the opportune moment arrives, when it suddenly erupts. It locks the mind and spirit, leaving one in a deep, unconscious state."

"This poison causes no severe pain or acute symptoms, and is most easily misdiagnosed as physical weakness and exhaustion. It was used by powerful families when they rebelled."

As soon as he said that, everyone was suddenly startled.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the corridor.

The leader of the Dragon Shadow Guard, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit and covered in a layer of dust from the recent journey, strode in. He knelt on one knee and reported in a deep voice:

"Your Highness, your subordinate has thoroughly investigated the daily life, medicines, and diet of the Imperial Study over the past ten days, and has also investigated all the close eunuchs and palace maids on duty. We have found some clues."

The crown prince's eyes narrowed. "Speak."

"Xiao Lu, a third-class eunuch in the Imperial Study, was transferred to serve before the Emperor six years ago, specializing in managing His Majesty's tea and incense."

"This man comes from a collateral branch of an old aristocratic family, whose family had relied on a long-established noble family in its early years. After Consort Shu fell from power, his family members were implicated and demoted. He remained hidden in the palace without showing any unusual behavior, and thus survived."

"Our subordinates searched his residence and found very faint traces of the 'Stagnation Elixir' medicine in the incense residue."

Small amounts of poison are administered daily, accumulating over time.

When the toxins entered the body, they suddenly erupted just as the emperor's blood and qi were at their calmest, resulting in what appears to be a long-term illness and exhaustion, but is in fact a coma caused by deliberate poisoning.

"Where is he?" Li Xuanzhi asked in a cold voice.

"They have been apprehended on the spot and are currently being held outside the hall, awaiting interrogation."

"Bring it in!"