Chapter 544: It Is Too Late, I Can ‘t Do Anything
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Emperor had been unconscious for days. All the imperial physicians were stationed around him.
Xie Yan took pity on the Emperor, who was tormented by poison and had aged rapidly in a short amount of time.
Unfortunately, the poison used by the Great Prince was deadly. It corroded the Emperor’s internal organs. All the imperial physicians came to the same conclusion after their diagnosis. Even with an antidote, the Emperor would not be able to recover.
Xie Yan knew that the Great Prince would revolt, but he did not expect the Great Prince to collude with a servant whom the Emperor trusted to poison the latter.
If the Emperor did not send Zhao Chuchu and Xie Heng to the war, she might be able to save him.
Unfortunately, the Emperor made the wrong choice.
Now, even if Zhao Chuchu rushed back to Imperial City, she would most likely be of no help.
“Third Brother, will Father wake up again?” asked Xie Jun with red eyes. “Can Sis save him?”
Xie Yan gently patted Xie Jun’s head and said nothing in response.
Everyone was well aware that the Emperor would soon pass away.
At this moment, someone reported, “Third Prince, Official Xie, and Mrs. Xie are here.”
“Quickly invite them in,” urged Xie Yan.
Zhao Chuchu and Xie Heng soon entered the imperial chamber.
Zhao Chuchu could tell from a glance that the Emperor could not be saved.
Her healing power was useless against poison.
Even though she could keep the Emperor alive for some time, she did not intend to.
The Emperor intended to kill her and Xie Heng.
If he regained consciousness, he might decree their deaths immediately. “It’s too late. I can’t do anything,” said Zhao Chuchu as she shook her head and sighed.
“Sis, can’t you do anything?” asked Xie Jun as he looked at Zhao Chuchu with puppy eyes. Actually, he was not really that upset. After all, his father-son bond with the Emperor did not run very deep. He was merely putting up an act because Third Brother had told him that in the palace, he could not express himself however he liked like before.
The Emperor had never raised him. However, the former wanted to execute his Bro and Sis, who had raised and saved him. He favored his Bro and Sis over the Emperor both emotionally and rationally.
“No,” said Zhao Chuchu as she shook her head. “The poison has already spread. I am powerless to do anything.”
When the imperial physicians heard this, they could not help but breathe sighs of relief.
If Zhao Chuchu could neutralize the Emperor’s poison, the latter would most likely chop off their heads once he recovered.
Xie Yan looked at Zhao Chuchu and said, “Does Father…”
Zhao Chuc.hu lowered her head and said, “Your Highness, please ask everyone to come inside.”
Everyone around understood what she meant by that.
Zhao Chuchu took out her silver needles and prepared to administer acupuncture to the Emperor. The latter had to make arrangements for matters ahead.
After she performed the acupuncture, the Emperor gradually awakened. She then stepped aside.
The ministers of the imperial court and the concubines of the imperial harem had already come to see the Emperor for the last time.
When the Emperor saw everyone gather around his bed, he knew that he was on the verge of death. He did not stir up any trouble and told them his will immediately. “After I die, Xie Jun will take the throne. Xie Yan will be the regent until Xie Jun is old enough to rule the country independently.”
In the Emperor’s mind, the best candidate for the throne had always been Xie Yan. Unfortunately, Xie Yan would also not live a long life. Even if the Emperor passed down the throne to Xie Yan, the latter would not be able to reign for long. When he passed away, the Wei Dynasty would be in turmoil again.
The Emperor had been unable to eliminate Xie Heng. Now, killing him was also unrealistic. The latter had made a name for himself on the battlefield.
Aside from Xie Yan, Xie Jun was the only suitable candidate for the throne. With Xie Heng assisting Xie Jun, the other princes were no match for him.
In the future, Xie Heng would have greater power in his hands. Therefore, the Emperor might as well give the throne to Xie Jun now. With Xie Yan as the regent, he could keep Xie Heng in check. By the time Xie Yan passed away, Xie Jun would be older. The Emperor believed that by then, Xie Jun would have much experience dealing with different court members and would trust Xie Heng less.
The Emperor only appointed Xie Yan as the regent. He did not appoint anyone to be the grand secretary.
On top of that, he ordered all his concubines, who had powerful family backgrounds and had given birth to princes, to be buried alive with him after he died. He did this to make up for his lost time with Xie Jun and to make Xie
Jun’s reign easier.
After the Emperor delivered his will, he passed away.
The bell rang, informing everyone to go into a period of national mourning. Wailing could be heard in the imperial chamber. The concubines who were ordered to be buried alive cried loudly.
Zhao Chuchu was unperturbed by the sad atmosphere. She lowered her head and said nothing.
As soon as the Emperor died, Xie Jun was crowned the next Emperor. Xie Yan and the Ministry of Rites were in charge of handling the funeral.
Xie Heng’s position in the court was low, so he did not need to stay in the palace for the Emperor’s wake. He went home with Zhao Chuchu.
“How’s the Third Prince?” asked Xie Heng. Just now, he noticed that Xie Yan’s health seemed to have worsened.
“Not good,” replied Zhao Chuchu. “He needs quiet time to recuperate. After the Emperor was poisoned, the Third Prince most likely stayed beside him without rest. Sigh. He doesn’t take care of himself properly. I’m not sure whether he can last three years.”
Xie Heng comforted Zhao Chuchu by saying, “This is his fate. You have done what you can for him.”
However, Xie Heng’s facial expression turned serious when he thought of Xie Jun becoming the next Emperor.
He analyzed, “Burying the concubines alive along with the late Emperor does
not benefit Junjun. The families of the concubines might rebel. This is a trap that the late Emperor has left for me. Ultimately, he was still worried that I would seize the throne.”
Zhao Chuchu frowned and commented, “He was suspicious of everything. Now that things have come to this, we can only figure out our next move one step at a time. In your opinion, will the families of the concubines force Junjun to alter the late Emperor’s will?”
“Of course they will!”
“Does it mean Junjun will be in danger?
“With the Third Prince around, he will protect Junjun. The Great Prince and the families backing him have been arrested. The Sikou clan has long been eradicated. There are only a few families left that will stir up trouble. Junjun does not have a personal relationship with any of them.”
“Do you think the Third Prince will blame me?” Zhao Chuchu asked out of the blue.
Xie Heng understood what she meant by that.
“All is in the past now. You can’t do anything if he really wants to blame you.”
If Zhao Chuchu had saved the Emperor because she pitied Xie Yan, then she would have put herself in danger. She and Xie Heng could run away from Imperial City, but it did not sound wise.
“We’ll face everything together,” promised Xie Heng as he held Zhao Chuchu’s hand. “Regardless of what happens, I’ll always be with you.”
Zhao Chuc.hu smiled as she leaned into Xie Heng’s embrace. “Hmm. We’ll face everything together.”
After Xie Jun was coronated, he adopted the era name of Yongping.
The rebellion that Zhao Chuchu and Xie Heng were worried about did not happen.
The funeral of the late Emperor proceeded smoothly. All the concubines who had to be buried alive accepted their fate without putting up a fight.
After the late Emperor was buried in the imperial mausoleum, Xie Yan asked Xie Jun to issue a decree: all the other princes had to go to their enfeoffment immediately, and they could not come to Imperial City without the Emperor’s orders. However, their sons could not leave with them and had to stay in Imperial City.
The court members looked down on Xie Jun because he was young. Some even probed Xie Yan to see whether he was interested in being the Emperor. In the end, these court members were all demoted or fired by Xie Yan.
The court members’ intention to overrule Xie Jun was nipped in the bud after they witnessed Xie Yan’s harsh punishment towards those who disobeyed Xie Jun.
However, all the court members were eager to see how Xie Yan would treat Xie
Heng.
After all, Xie Heng’s identity was intricate.
He raised Xie Jun, but he was not royalty. The late Emperor was suspicious of him. The court members reckoned that Xie Jun would likely not trust him either.
To their surprise, after Xie Yan dealt with the court members who disobeyed Xie Jun, he promoted Xie Heng and made him the teacher of the Emperor. He was now the grand mentor.
In all seriousness, Xie Yan told Xie Heng, “Zizhao, I don’t have long to live. I can’t teach Junjun much. The court is at peace now because of me. I will entrust you to teach Junjun how to manage a country. I trust no one in the court but you because you’ll never revolt against Junjun. After I pass away, you’ll have to take on the huge responsibility of maintaining the stability of the court..”
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