King Xia Jie's health had long been failing. After being enraged by Xia Yanhe this time, he had been bedridden for several days. At times, he would cough up blood. The imperial physicians were at their wits' end but couldn't find a solution.
After all, King Xia Jie was old. While the ailments of his youth could be treated, the frailties of old age were incurable. After much discussion among the senior physicians in the imperial hospital, they could only prescribe some life - sustaining medicine for the king. Propped up by this medicine, King Xia Jie was carried up to the city wall of Bian Palace. Then, he managed to take a few steps on his own, showed his face to the people of Lige City, commended Lu Yan in public, and bestowed upon him a hundred bolts of cloth and a hundred taels of silver, to prove to the outside world that he was still alive.
Throughout the entire ceremony, King Xia Jie forced himself to say a few words and showed his face briefly. Then, he staggered down the steps. As soon as he stepped off the steps, he was supported by Chen Qi and several junior eunuchs and was escorted back to his bedroom.
Outside the city wall of Bian Palace, the people of Lige were celebrating Lu Yan's victory. Everyone was singing and dancing. They all said that Lu Yan was the God of War and would surely put an end to the war. Inside Bian Palace, however, King Xia Jie was lying on his dragon bed, feeling his life slipping away bit by bit.
He stared blankly at the ceiling with his weak eyes. In the past, he had turned a blind eye to the strife between his sons and different factions. But now, he finally began to seriously consider the issue of succession.
Xia Chuli was the son of Princess Liuli, and Xia Yanhe was in prison. Now, the most suitable candidate to inherit the throne was Xia Yonglin.
Qi Shuhuan was also waiting for this opportunity. He knew that Xia Yanhe's situation was hopeless, but he had never placed much hope on him in the first place. It didn't matter if he was in prison. If necessary, he could be released after Xia Yonglin ascended the throne. His greatest hope still lay with Xia Yonglin. Now that King Xia Jie's health was deteriorating, Qi Shuhuan thought it was time.
However, he didn't know that Shen Qingfeng and Xia Chuli were also waiting for this opportunity.
That night, Qi Shuhuan received an oral edict from King Xia Jie summoning him to the palace. He quickly changed his clothes and rushed there on horseback.
Even before entering the bedroom, he could smell the strong odor of medicine. When he opened the door, the smell hit him full - force, almost making him suffocate.
King Xia Jie's condition was indeed worsening. Qi Shuhuan thought to himself as he slowly walked behind the screen. There, he saw King Xia Jie lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper, as if his life had been drained from his body. Chen Qi was standing beside him with his head down, giving him a wink. Only then did he notice that Prince Xia Yonglin was kneeling in the shadow beside the bed.
"Your humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Prince Cheng," Qi Shuhuan bowed.
Xia Yonglin quickly got up and supported him, saying, "Grand Preceptor has come. Please come here quickly. Father has been waiting for you for a long time."
On the bed, King Xia Jie's pale face twitched slightly. He slowly turned his head to look at the two of them. Even such a slight movement now seemed to take a great deal of effort for him.
"Qi Shuhuan..." King Xia Jie's voice was extremely hoarse.
"Your Majesty!" Qi Shuhuan wiped away a tear and rushed to the bedside, kneeling and crying, "Your subject is here. Your Majesty, do you have any words for your humble subject?"
King Xia Jie's lips moved a few times, and he said tremulously, "I summoned you... to discuss an important matter with you."
Qi Shuhuan looked tearfully at the golden memorial in Chen Qi's hands. Although his face showed grief, he was overjoyed inside.
Why did King Xia Jie summon him? And why did he summon Xia Yonglin?
Because they were one step away from success.
As long as he got that memorial, Xia Yonglin's succession to the throne would be a foregone conclusion. After that, Xia Chuli wouldn't be able to snatch it away. No matter how powerful Shen Shiqiu, Shen Qingfeng, or Lu Yan were, and no matter how much military or royal power they had, Xia Yonglin would be the legitimate successor, and he would be the legitimate Duke Protector of the Nation.
Thinking of this, Qi Shuhuan, with tears streaming down his face, looked up and exchanged a knowing glance with Chen Qi.
Only King Xia Jie was left, gritting his teeth and struggling to raise his hand, pointing at the memorial in Chen Qi's arms.
That was his empire.
It was something he had held in his hands for a lifetime.
Power - that intoxicating thing that people would fight tooth and nail to obtain.
- That thing he had possessed for decades, enjoyed for a lifetime, but now could disappear with a flick of his finger.
He had once sat on the most noble seat in the country, coldly watching his three sons tear each other apart for power, and watching the factions in the court engage in open and covert battles.
King Xia Jie's eyes moved, and his gaze fell on the tear - streaks on Qi Shuhuan and Xia Yonglin's faces. He knew these were all fake, but the passage of life had never felt so tangible as it did now.
Now, he no longer had a healthy body.
His sons were all waiting for his death.
His ministers had already started to curry favor with the future emperor they believed in.
His beloved wife had pleaded for the son who wanted him dead.
At this moment, King Xia Jie clearly felt the sorrow of being an emperor.
Qi Shuhuan watched King Xia Jie's trembling hand pointing at the imperial edict. Although he tried his best to control himself, his eager eyes still betrayed his desire.
King Xia Jie's body suddenly slumped. Pointing at the memorial in Chen Qi's hands, he seemed to give up everything: "There... is my imperial edict..."
"Your Majesty..." Qi Shuhuan couldn't contain his excitement and cried even more loudly.
"My dear minister, take it. If I..."
The three people kneeling in front of the bed all brightened up. Xia Yonglin was especially happy. Tears were still on his face, but the corners of his mouth had already started to curl into a smile.
"Your Majesty... What are you saying! It's inauspicious!" Qi Shuhuan grabbed King Xia Jie's hand and said tremulously, "Your Majesty will live as long as the heavens. You won't die like this, Your Majesty..."
Before he could finish his words, there was a sudden loud bang at the door.
The three of them were startled and quickly turned their heads. There, standing against the light at the door were two people. Behind them were the chasing eunuchs, shouting as they ran, "Prince, His Majesty has said that you're not allowed to enter the bedroom!"
"I'm here to save Father's life! Why can't I come!"
Xia Chuli shouted. The faces of the three people in the room all changed. The stone in Qi Shuhuan's heart, which was about to settle, was suddenly lifted up again. He was so angry that he almost fainted. He stood up and pointed at Xia Chuli, scolding, "Prince, you broke into His Majesty's bedroom without prior notice. Is there no law in this land?!"
Shen Qingfeng, standing beside Xia Chuli, snorted and said with a smile, "Listen, Grand Preceptor's tone is so harsh. The Prince has said that he's here to save His Majesty. Delaying even a moment in such a matter is treason. Judging from your tone, could it be that our attempt to save His Majesty's life has disrupted your good plan?"
"You—" Qi Shuhuan scolded, "Shen Qingfeng, don't make unfounded accusations!"
Shen Qingfeng stepped forward and said, "What are you still blocking for? Get out of the way!"
Shen Qingfeng reached out to push Qi Shuhuan, but Xia Yonglin stepped forward and blocked in front of Shen Qingfeng, gritting his teeth and saying, "Shen Qingfeng! What do you want to do to my father?"
"What do we want to do?" Shen Qingfeng pointed at Xia Chuli behind him and said, "The Prince is here to save His Majesty's life, while you are here to hasten his death!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Nonsense? Then what do you mean by blocking the Prince's way now? Get out of the way!" Shen Qingfeng shouted.
Xia Yonglin gritted his teeth and glared at the two of them angrily. Then, he slowly stepped aside a little.
Shen Qingfeng suddenly charged forward and bumped Xia Yonglin away, making room for Xia Chuli.
Xia Chuli stepped forward, looking down at King Xia Jie, whose face was pale but whose eyes were clearly starting to regain some vitality. He reached into his bosom and took out a white porcelain bottle, saying, "Father, please forgive your son for coming late."