Since Murong Min suddenly quit taking the golden pills, he began to recuperate his body according to the imperial physicians' methods. The medicine was rather strong.
However, he had been taking those golden pills continuously for some time. During this period, he had been seeking dual cultivation with those women, and his body was already severely depleted.
At that time, there was a swirling snowstorm. He had to go to the morning court every day against the cold wind. His body was like a hollowed - out tree trunk, seemingly on the verge of breaking with just a gust of wind.
But he still refused to hand over the throne to Huo Wei. The previous words about making Huo Wei the regent were clearly just empty talk.
Intermittent coughing sounds came from the dragon bed. It took a while before Murong Min fell asleep.
At this moment, Wei Enxian and Zhao Chuyan appeared together in the Zichen Palace. A tense atmosphere filled the air.
Zhao Chuyan curled her lips into a sneer. "Sister has recognized a great son. Now, the worthy concubine has become the worthy imperial concubine.
Since you're already an imperial concubine and the phoenix seal is in your hands, with power and influence overwhelming, why bother competing with me for the credit of attending to His Majesty's illness?"
Wei Enxian had received a notice from Huo Wei and came to the Zichen Palace early in the morning. Knowing that Zhao Chuyan was full of tricks, she had to be here to watch.
Recently, Huo Wei would report to her the progress of Murong Jue's case. Besides, he would also dine with her and chat about daily life.
Wei Enxian knew that Huo Wei was, out of consideration for Murong Jue, fulfilling the duty of filial piety on behalf of her son.
Moreover, seeing Huo Wei often, she would sometimes feel as if her son had returned.
And now that Huo Wei had become the crown prince of the Eastern Palace and would be the emperor of the Northern Yan in the future, with the Wei family as his backer.
At this moment, they were already bound together. If one suffered, the other would too; if one prospered, the other would follow.
Wei Enxian stood in front of the dragon bed, reached out her hand to straighten Zhao Chuyan's clothes coldly, and said with a cold look in her eyes,
"Concubine Zhao, it's true that the phoenix seal is in my hand. And isn't the crown prince of the Northern Yan also by my side?
What are you so proud of? You've been in favor for many years, but your belly is still empty. When my son ascends the throne in the future, what will you be?"
Zhao Chuyan slapped her hand away. "You're just looking forward to His Majesty's death, aren't you?"
Wei Enxian didn't continue arguing with her. She gave some instructions to the maids and eunuchs in the Zichen Palace and was about to leave. But as she walked, something fell out of her sleeve.
Zhao Chuyan's expression froze. She quietly lifted her foot and stepped on the note. Then she looked back at Wei Enxian. After making sure she had left completely, she picked up the thing and read it.
After seeing the message passed between Wei Enxian and Huo Wei, she immediately found her elder brother, Zhao Chuhe, to discuss.
Zhao Chuhe showed a ferocious smile. "Good! The crown prince can't wait. He's going to rebel! This is solid evidence. We should immediately hand it over to His Majesty. The Wei family and the crown prince will be completely destroyed within three days."
Zhao Chuyan stood under the corridor of the palace, raising the corners of her eyes.
"That stupid woman, Wei Enxian. This is really a great opportunity for our Zhao family.
Previously, I sent people to secretly find the jade hairpin to bring down the queen. Unexpectedly, now I've found out Wei Enxian's fault.
Before long, our Zhao family will be the master of the Northern Yan."
Zhao Chuhe pressed the hilt of his sword, glanced around, and whispered,
"Marshal Wei has been deploying troops outside the Dijing City in recent days. Even the crown prince left the Eastern Palace at night. It seems that they want to force the palace while His Majesty is ill."
Zhao Chuyan said, "The crown prince is so impatient. I guess there's something wrong with the prince's bloodline."
Huo Wei was already the crown prince. As long as he waited for Murong Min to die, he would be the emperor. But why was he so impatient? It could only mean that he was guilty.
Three days later, Murong Min claimed to be ill and didn't attend the morning court. The commander of the imperial guards, holding 50,000 troops and the emperor's imperial edict, blocked the palace city, claiming that the crown prince was rebelling and trying to force the palace.
Zhao Chuhe's people searched everywhere for Huo Wei. They even ransacked the Eastern Palace but couldn't find him.
Since the third day, all the court officials were not allowed to enter the palace gate. And after another four or five days, the palace gate was still blocked.
The court officials were talking in whispers. The Zhao family said that the crown prince was rebelling, but now the crown prince couldn't be seen, and no one had raised an army.
Huo Wei walked out of the Yuzhang Prince's Mansion leisurely, followed by several court officials. His face was solemn as he said,
"Dear officials, don't worry. I had something important to do a few days ago. I went out to look for medicine for my father. I didn't know what had happened in the palace.
Now I'll go back to the palace to see what the Zhao family is up to."
Meng Tan spread the news and informed the court officials to wait in front of the palace gate.
When Huo Wei arrived at the palace gate, nine - tenths of the civil and military officials had already gathered.
Huo Wei looked up in the direction of the palace gate. "Dear officials, I've received the news that my father has been held hostage by the Zhao family. They're forcing my father to write an abdication edict in the palace."
An official said, "What should we do now, Your Highness the Crown Prince? You have to come up with a plan!"
A military general said, "Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You should mobilize troops quickly! The Zhao family has ambitious and evil intentions. They've blocked the palace city for several days. Your Majesty, Your Majesty may already..."
Huo Wei looked worried. "I dare not attack by force. I'm worried about my father's safety."
The officials repeatedly advised Huo Wei to lead the troops to attack the palace city. They would never allow the Zhao family to do whatever they wanted.
Marshal Wei received Huo Wei's message and immediately mobilized a large army, ready to go.
Huo Wei put on a snow - silver armor and a black cloak. A killing aura spread in the swirling snowstorm.
Zhao Chuyan reported to Murong Min that Huo Wei was about to rebel and obtained the other half of the imperial guards' military tally from the emperor. Then she blocked the imperial palace.
The emperor didn't miss the morning court for several days just because he was ill. The people in the palace wanted to spread the news about Huo Wei's planned uprising, but the Zhao siblings didn't expect that
Among the imperial guards, many were old subordinates of Huo Wei. The news had already been intercepted by Huo Wei.
The news that was successfully spread was brought out by Huo Wei's people, saying that His Majesty couldn't attend the morning court, the imperial palace was controlled by the Zhao family, and the crown prince had been missing for several days.
Then Huo Wei appeared in front of the court officials and, on the pretext of suppressing the rebels, broke into the imperial palace.
Huo Wei galloped on his horse outside the Taiji Hall. The troops behind him fought with the imperial guards.
Among the 50,000 imperial guards, 20,000 were Huo Wei's people and had defected on the spot.
Behind him were also Marshal Wei's troops. Huo Wei was as sharp as a blade in the fight, and for a moment, the imperial city was bathed in blood.
Huo Wei sat on his tall horse, holding a red - tasseled spear, looking majestic. "Meng Tan, those two stupid thieves of the Zhao family didn't expect to fall into the trap so easily after being provoked."
Meng Tan held a long knife in his hand, and blood was still dripping from the tip of the knife. "Your Highness the Crown Prince has a brilliant plan. Whether the Zhao family blocked the palace city or not, they would end up in defeat."
The note about the rebellion in Zhao Chuyan's hand was deliberately dropped by Wei Enxian. If the Zhao family wanted to control Murong Min, block the palace city, and claim the throne for themselves, this would be the current situation;
If the Zhao family wasn't so greedy and only reported Huo Wei, the handwriting on the note was different from Huo Wei's. As long as they compared it with Huo Wei's letters, Huo Wei could immediately turn the tables on the Zhao family.
Huo Wei lifted his chin slightly, a blood - thirsty smile on his lips. "Pass the order. It's time to close the net."