novelaction Chapter 394 Night Journey
Chapter 394 Night Journey
Chapter 394
Doctor Fang tightened his grip on the medicine box, his knuckles turned white, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down with difficulty: "With my ability... I'm afraid Your Majesty... can't hold on for much longer." As soon as the words fell, the air in the hall froze instantly, and only the heavy breathing of Emperor Yuanzhen echoed in the dead silent palace.
After a long pause, the palace's silence was broken by Emperor Yuanzhen. He lifted his eyes slightly, peering through the bed curtains toward the palace ceiling. His withered pupils seemed to pierce through the palace walls, resting on the distant, unreachable sky. After a long pause, a hoarse voice emanated from his throat: "Never mind. I've lived to this age, and I've had enough."
He paused, his gaze suddenly sharp as a knife, as if his earlier appearance of old age had been an illusion. "Go now, and do not spread this matter. If it stirs up unrest among the ministers, the empire will be in chaos..." He dragged out the last syllable, carrying the final pressure of an emperor. "I will not show mercy."
"Yes, I obey your command." Doctor Fang bowed deeply and then walked out with heavy steps, picking up the medicine box.
Several imperial physicians were waiting anxiously outside the hall. Though they were imperial physicians, they rarely encountered such violent encounters. Today's sudden turn of events left them bewildered and terrified. Seeing Imperial Physician Fang emerge, the crowd seemed to have found a rallying point, instinctively gathering around him.
Doctor Fang waved his hand slightly, indicating that they should follow him, and then walked out of the hall.
The group remained silent until they returned to the imperial physician's office. Finally, one of the imperial physicians could no longer contain his excitement and stepped forward, asking in a low voice, "Your Majesty's health..." Although the rest of the words were not spoken out loud, the meaning was already very clear. The other imperial physicians also subconsciously looked at Imperial Physician Fang.
Doctor Fang didn't even raise his head, as if he was busy packing the medicine box. He said, "Your Majesty is fine, he's just worried too much. Now he has spit out a mouthful of blood, which is actually good for his health. You don't have to worry." His face did not change, and his tone was steady, as if it really was like that.
The imperial physicians exchanged glances, their eyes conveying their own doubts, yet none could detect the slightest sign of abnormality on Doctor Fang's face. Doctor Fang was a skilled physician, highly respected within the Imperial Hospital. His judgment was always trusted, and he assumed he would be right this time. Furthermore, this matter concerned the safety of His Majesty, a matter of grave importance. If anyone learned that they had secretly inquired about His Majesty's condition, they would be held accountable.
Thinking of this, the imperial doctors shut up, packed up their things, and went to the side hall to rest.
By this time, it was almost dawn, and the sky was shimmering. After a night of such horror, they had no desire to return home, so they decided to stay the night in the Imperial Hospital.
.........
Meanwhile, Luo Shuiyao was filled with doubts, unable to sleep. Osmanthus Alley was far from the palace, and she hadn't left the house since the city's curfew, leaving her oblivious to the chaos outside. Yet, a vague sense of unease lingered, following her everywhere.
A breeze blew by, and a dark shadow seemed to flash past the window.
Luo Shuiyao hurriedly supported herself on the bed and sat up, staring out the window. After waiting for a long time, no one came in. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and slowly walked towards the window. The night was dark, and the moonlight was shining, but it was still difficult to see the surroundings. She turned her eyes slightly and found something vaguely like an envelope under her feet. She bent down to pick it up and opened the envelope. It was written on it: "There is unrest in the capital. Do not leave the city in the near future." The handwriting was neat, but she was familiar with Ye Yunzhou's handwriting, and this was obviously not written by Ye Yunzhou.
Luo Shuiyao's grip on the envelope tightened slightly, her mind growing even more confused. While the handwriting wasn't Ye Yunzhou's, it was clear he knew she'd come to see him today. What could be so urgent that Ye Yunzhou couldn't even write a few words? The letter only mentioned unrest in the capital. Was it because Emperor Yuanzhen was unwell? What exactly had happened in the capital? Countless thoughts raced through her mind.
But she had no idea what had happened today, and she couldn't figure it out. After thinking for a while, she put the envelope away, closed the window, and lay back on the couch. She had opened the window to wait for Ye Yunzhou to come, but now that he hadn't come, there was no point in opening the window again.
.........
Ye Yunzhou personally led his troops, taking advantage of the night to apprehend General Wuwei and his three clans, along with the other generals' families implicated in the incident. Those living next door could faintly hear cries of begging for mercy, mixed with shouting and the crashing of objects after the gate had been broken open. Though filled with curiosity, no one dared to open the door to investigate. Instead, they repeatedly instructed the servants to keep the doors and windows closed, fearing any inadvertent mishap would bring disaster upon themselves.
…………
Inside the Mansion of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery
The Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery listened to the faint commotion outside, closed his eyes, and sighed inwardly. He had sensed something was amiss long ago, but it was all secretly orchestrated by His Majesty. Even with his suspicions, he dared not hastily warn them. Furthermore, they were acting to gain the credit of following the emperor. If they had succeeded, they would have naturally risen to prominence and fame. But now that their plan had been exposed, they should have anticipated this outcome and shouldered the consequences.
The noise outside continued to rise and fall, and the Marquis's wife tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Seeing that the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery had been wandering around the courtyard for a long time without returning to his room, she put on an outer garment and walked out into the night, her brow full of doubt.
Marquis Zhongyong heard the footsteps and turned around. Seeing that she was only wearing a single layer of clothing, his brows furrowed instantly. "You are already weak, why are you running around in the middle of the night?"
The Marquis's wife rolled her eyes at him, uttered a soft grumble, then stood on tiptoe, straining to peer outside. But the night was dark, and there was nothing to see except pitch black. She withdrew her gaze, a trace of worry on her face, and asked softly, "Yuan Zheng hasn't come back yet. Do you think... he's okay?"
The Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery glanced at her with a mixture of anger and amusement. "Why do you always think the worst? If something really happened to Yuan Zheng, would you and I still be standing here? Go back to your room and get some rest."
The Marquis's eyes were filled with worry, and she said anxiously, "Even though I say that, as a mother, I'm always nervous and terrified. How about we sneak out and take a look?"
"Alright, alright, stop imagining things and go back." Seeing that her thoughts were becoming more and more unrealistic, Marquis Zhongyong reached out and grabbed her arm, then took her into the house.
The Marquis's wife twisted a few times, trying to break free but to no avail. She could only be dragged back to the house by him angrily, muttering dissatisfaction under her breath.
At the same time, similar scenes unfolded in nearby residences, such as the Right Prime Minister's Residence and the Vice Minister's Residence. Listening to the faint clamor coming from outside, hearts filled with unease and speculation. In some homes, couples whispered, speculating about what had transpired in the capital; in others, elders warned their juniors to be cautious and refrain from rash actions. A tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the entire capital.