by Ning er
These words were extremely humiliating, as if the reason Han Che had strived hard in his studies was for the sake of only seeking pleasures in life. Yun Yi Jie had apparently forgotten that he himself was doing the same thing by trying to marry Wu Qin Qin not so long ago.
Seeing Yun Yi Jie being so arrogant, Han Che merely smiled a little, those uniquely clear and bright eyes were both flickering with his utmostly sincere expression, but behind that expression, it had concealed up his disdainful gaze towards Yun Yi Jie, then he slowly replied, “Yun gongzi, you are truly fascinating, even if I make great efforts to study harder for my future high position and great wealth, at least I have my own recognition from all of the superiors like you, but Yun gongzi you were born to be prominent, why don’t you show us some of your achievements?”
At this time, those exam candidates who have already saw the notice approached one by one, seeing Yun Yi Jie and his brother had indeed obstructed the new top-scorer’s way out, suddenly they all rushed in as they advanced to the area curiously.
Although all the people did not have a favorable impression towards this unexpected winner like Han Che who suddenly broke out of the siege, yet they felt more hateful towards the Yun brothers who had their wishes fulfilled by relying on the influential powers of other people.
Particularly during this time when they saw Yun Yi Jie’s disrespectful servant boy who had obstructed Han Che. However, those exam candidates under the low-income class immediately expressing their support towards Han Che, “Top-scorer Han, congratulations to you!”
Seeing all the people congratulating him, Han Che replied in af aint smile “Many thanks!”
Afterwhich he glanced back at Yun Yi Jie, then indifferently said, “Since I had already known my rank, then I need not proceed inside to see the list. I shall leave now, I’ll see you all again next year during the spring exam.”
Finished speaking, Han Che cupped his hand while facing the crowds, then no longer paying attention to Yun Yi Jie, he turned around and walked in the direction of the guest house where he had been temporarily staying.
“Oh, brother Luo, you also have your list announced today?” This time, among the few exam candidates who approached from the martial competition arena, someone called out to one exam candidate of the literary exam in this area.
The person whose name had been mentioned saw that person was actually someone he knew very well, hence he immediately went ahead and asked, “Yes, today’s the announcement. Who is the top-scorer for the current martial competition?”
“Sigh, the current top-scorer, is actually a son of Han family of the late Duan Wangfei…… Han Shao Mian! His martial skills, even made Chen wang exclaim in admiration during that time!” That exam candidate who was being asked slightly sighed, in his heart he had accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.
After all, the martial arts competition is a place for exhibition of real blades and spears, it cannot allow any least bit of mistakes, or else even if one was to die in the arena, no one would ever feel any sympathy for that person.
That Han Shao Mian’s sword skills had reached perfection, indeed he had stunned all the exam candidates and examiners during that time. Everyone knew that he would certainly become this year’s top-scorer, but today, seeing Han Shao Mian’s name on the top of the list, in their hearts they were somehow frustrated, and was blaming their own skills to be unproficient and inferior as compared to others.
That exam candidate Luo seeing his own friend being like this, he knew immediately that he must have failed the exam similar to himself, his mood was lightened up, suddenly he approached a bit closer to the exam candidate Luo, then two of them encouraging each other as they left Gong Yuan together.
“Yi Jie, let’s go!” This time, Yun Yi Heng suddenly spoke, afterwhich he hopped on to the horseback, rushing quickly towards the direction of the courtyard where their parents were currently staying.
As for Yun Yi Heng, Han Che was his greatest competitor right now. That Han Shao Mian who excelled in the martial skills exam, was not someone he for him to be worrying about.
Seeing Han Che had already left for a quite some time, Yun Yi Jie eyes slightly exposed an insidious look. Afterwhich he returned by the side of his own saddle horse, stepping on the back of the servant boy as he hopped onto the horseback, then the servant boy leading the horse along as they slowly headed towards the direction of the courtyard.
With nothing more worth seeing, all the others said their goodbyes to one another, then returned back to prepare for their spring exam next year.
At this moment, inside the Palace where Emperor Yu Qian usually took his rest was full of people. The Empress Dowager was sitting in front of Emperor Yu Qian’s bed, her face was anxiously watching the imperial physician checking the pulse, from time to time she would ask; “What’s going on? What happened to the Emperor?”
The Empress and Rong Guifei were keeping watch beside the bed, gravely staring at Emperor Yu Qian who was lying on his bed with his face flushing red, frowning while suffering from pain, their eyes appeared to be deeply worried.
Chapter 115: Part 2 The Emperor is Seriously Ill, Spring Exam is Held Ahead of Time | Chu Wang Fei
“Reporting Empress Dowager, the emperor’s illness seemed to have a constant high fever, but without feeling the chill, based on humble servant’s opinion, the emperor seemed to be poisoned. Only poisoning contained such condition.” That imperial physician took back his hands, gently and cautiously tucked Emperor Yu Qian’s hands inside the imperial quilt, afterwhich he knelt down before the Empress Dowager and responded in a lowered voice.
When the Empress Dowager, Empress and Rong Guifei heard of this, all their faces looked distracted, afterwhich their faces turned deathly pale, the Empress Dowager took a glimpse at those busy palace servants, anger spread across her face, as she sternly said “Move out, all of you!”
Seeing such kind of expression on the Empress Dowager’s face, those palace servants immediately trembled, allowing no explanation they all retreated out of the room.
“Rong Guifei, you go ahead and take your rest.” But the Empress Dowager still wasn’t at ease, as she even sent Rong GuiFei out.
Rong Guifei looked at Emperor Yu Qian lying on the bed, also seeing the Empress Dowager having the murderous spirit in her eyes, she softly saluted, then quietly retreated out of the imperial hall.
“Do tell, what’s really going on? Why would someone want poison the emperor? His daily food, pastries and teas, weren’t they all being tasted by the palace eunuch?” Seeing the room was only left with the three of them --- herself, the Empress and the imperial physician, the Empress Dowager immediately asked, but the wrinkles in her brows indicated her being deeply worried right now, wishing she could immediately capture the suspect and legally punish him.
The Empress’ eyes were already filled with tears, her both hands were kneading on the handkerchief, before the imperial physician could answer the Empress Dowager, then she also anxiously asked “Is this poison fatal? Is the emperor’s life in danger? What kind of poison is that? Why weren’t the palace servants be able to detect it?”
That imperial physician slightly pondered for a short period of time, then he said in a low voice “Reporting Empress Dowager and Empress, humble servant currently can only confirm that the emperor was poisoned. But there are many kinds of poisons, perhaps there were also many similar kinds of poison, making people hard to differentiate them, I can only return back and carefully research about it, we need to be certain about it. And based on the emperor’s current symptoms and pulses, for the time being the emperor’s life is out of danger, yet he will still remain unconscious, only seemed to be in a deep sleep. Humble servant was worried, the emperor had been lying on his own bed for a long time, this will also bring damage to his body.”
“Since that’s the case, why don’t you tell me the methods to resolve it? I naturally know that lying on bed all day would bring harm to the body, but you are the imperia
l physician, you take responsibilities for the emperor’s illness, how can you watch without lifting a finger? Besides, there are too many things to attend to during the past few days, how can the emperor just be lying on the bed? If it gives rise to any upheaval, how can you take responsibility for that?” Finally, the Empress Dowager was angered, as she pointed at the imperial physician and cursed.
The imperial physician was so frightened that he immediately creeped down on the floor, his forehead tightly pressed onto to the carpet before him, daring not to speak further.
“Mother, even if you would blame the imperial physician it will still be useless. We have no other choice but to let him find the antidote as much as possible, to be able to cure the emperor.” Although the Empress was extremely anxious, but seeing the Empress Dowager getting angry, she could only console the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was about to speak, when the personal eunuch of Emperor Yu Qian walked inside, afterwhich he stooped beside the Empress Dowager then he said lowering his voice “Empress Dowager, Yun Xiang, Chen wang and his men requested to see the emperor.”
Having heard what was said, the Empress Dowager’s worried look in her eyes were replaced by her strict gaze, then she coldly instructed the imperial physician “Within these few days, you will stay here to properly attend to the emperor, I will give you two days time, if you can’t find the antidote, I will take your entire family’s lives!”
“I will do my very best to cure the emperor!” That imperial physician was already a head full of cold sweat, if he will not state clearly his true motives, perhaps under the raging temper of Empress Dowager, the old and the young in his entire family will lose their lives this time.
The Empress Dowager left the Empress behind to look after Emperor Yu Qian, Yu gonggong followed behind her as they stepped outside of the palace hall, sure enough they saw Yun Xuan Zhi, Chen wang, Su Yuan, Guan daren and the others waiting outside the main hall.
When all the people saw the Empress Dowager came out, they immediately saluted “Empress Dowager!”
“Why are you all here? the emperor is not feeling well, in that case I have came to take a look!” Hearing what the Empress Dowager had said, all the people was a bit uncertain whether Emperor Yu Qian refused to see them or not.
But seeing Emperor Yu Qian’s personal eunuch standing beside the Empress Dowager, the doubts in their hearts was somehow loosened up a bit, Su Yuan smiled as he handed over the accounts book in his hands to the Empress Dowager, then he spoke “Reporting to you, Empress Dowager, this the list of names of the exam candidates who had passed this year’s autumn exam for both literary and martial skills categories, the Ministry of Rites had already published the roll-call of successful candidates, we had came specifically for the emperor to look over it.
The Empress Dowager looked at the two account books in Su Yuan’s hands, after which she took a glimpse at Yu gonggong, Yu gonggong immediately went ahead understanding the gesture intuitively, he carefully took the report, clasping them in his hands.
“Only for this matter? If there were no other concerns, you may all return now!” Evidently the Empress Dowager didn’t want to stay here much longer, as she spoke directly.
“Empress Dowager, if there wasn’t any problem with the emperor’s health, humble servants would like to personally see the emperor, then report the matters concerning the spring exam for next year to the emperor.” At this time, Chen wang suddenly spoke, intensively standing face to face with the Empress Dowager, yet this brilliant younger generation like Chen wang wasn’t in the slightest degree of being inferior.
The Empress Dowager coldly looked at Chen wang, then indifferently replied “the emperor had already drank his medicine and taken the rest, for any other matters let’s just talk about them after a few more days. Besides, the spring exam is next year’s matter, there’s no need to be anxious.”
After speaking, the Empress Dowager led Yu gonggong along as they walked back to the palace hall.
“Wangye, it isn’t right! If the emperor is not feeling well, why would the Empress Dowager not allow any of us to meet him? Could it be that the emperor is basically not having a minor illness?” Su Yuan looked at the closed gate that was painted with vermillion, exposing his doubtful eyes as he spoke.
Yet his words, had attracted Yun Xuan Zhi and Guan daren’s attention, seeing the two of them looked at the main hall with the puzzled looks on their faces, thinking that the Empress Dowager’s actions were quite hard to understand.
“Let’s just observe it for a few more days, to see if the Empress Dowager will use any other excuses. What do you think, Yun Xiang and Guan daren?” Chen wang’s cold gaze swept through the palace hall before his eyes, following which he asked Yun Xuan Zhi and the others standing in front of him.
Everyone knew that this matter seemed quite strange, then one by one nodded their heads, afterwhich they returned to their own official residences.
But, the matter concerning Emperor Yu Qian not attending the royal court for three days in a row suddenly led to the court ministers’ heated debate, this was the first time that Emperor Yu Qian didn’t attend to the royal court consecutively ever since he ascended to the throne, particularly during the time when the country was suffering from its internal trouble and outside aggression, moreover having everyone to worry about the health of Emperor Yu Qian.
Yun Xuan Zhi and the others who knew a bit of the inside story were frowning without speaking, the few of them waited for the morning assembly to be over, then they all took the same action walking towards the direction of the emperor’s chamber, to request to meet him once again.
And for today the Empress Dowager still obstructed them, the reason was still the same as what she had said few days ago.
“Why would Empress Dowager impede us from meeting the emperor? Could it be that there’s something wrong with the emperor’s health?” During the moment when the Empress Dowager was about to turn around and leave, Su Yuan immediately asked full of doubtful thoughts in his mind.
“What do you intend to say, Su daren? I have regarded the emperor like my own son, don’t tell me that you are still doubting or suspicious about something? Don’t you know that your words and actions right now, was already considered an offense to one’s superior, would you like me to ask the imperial guards to drag you out and behead you immediately?” Empress Dowager had been living in the palace for so many years, she had already gone through a lot of life and death situations, how could she be simply threatened by a few words from Su Yuan?
But on the contrary, when the Empress Dowager mentioned these words ‘offense to one’s superior’, made Su Yuan immediately shut his mouth, then positioned himself once again behind Chen wang and calmed down.
“Then we would like the Empress Dowager to state explicitly, why wasn’t the emperor attending the morning assembly these few days? It will also enable us to explain it to the hundred officials! Or else all of us will absolutely refuse to take a single step out of this palace hall!” Seeing the Empress Dowager full of vim, Chen wang wasn’t someone who would shrink back because of some frightening words, his manner of speaking contained the perseverance, with the vainly high meaningful glance, causing the Empress Dowager to slightly wrinkle her brows without a trace.
“The mother and child affection between the Empress Dowager and the emperor, it was known to the people of all levels of society! But, the emperor’s absence from the morning assembly for the past three days, too many of the account books requiring the emperor’s evaluation had already piled up, if it continues to be like that, humble servant wouldn’t be able to keep all the hundred officials’ suspicions under control! Yet right at this moment the crown prince of Northern Qi and his men was still residing in our relay station, they will get to know about the things inside our imperial court, remaining that way for a longer time, I’m afraid Northern Qi would seize the opportunity to mount a sneak attack, Empress Dowager, please give importance to the presen
t conditions, and allow humble servant to see the emperor at once!” Thinking about the state of mind of the hundred officials within the past few days, Yun Xuan Zhi wrinkled his brows then spoke these words with great difficulties, hoping that the Empress Dowager would empathize them, and not to blindly block the outside area of the chamber hall.
Yun Xuan Zhi spoke these words up to this extent, the Empress Dowager thought about the conversation between the imperial physician and herself last night, then she slightly sighed, then slowly spoke “I also knew about your difficulties. But, the emperor’s illness will not recover fast for the time being, the imperial physician had urged the emperor to undergo recuperation, naturally I wouldn’t dare to treat the emperor’s life as some child’s play. As for the matters concerning the royal court, with the few of you here, the emperor will feel reassured.”
After everyone have heard the words, they looked at each other in dismay, Emperor Yu Qian’s health was always being healthy, why would he suddenly fall ill, and unable to recover for a period of time. If it continued to go on, wouldn’t it mean that Emperor Yu Qian will not attend the morning assembly for a longer period of time?
For Chen wang and his men, this was definitely a good news!
But inside Yun Xuan Zhi and Guan daren’s minds, it seemed to be a bad news, particularly during this time when Chu wang and Chu xiang both went out of the capital, Chen wang inside the royal court remained independent, now that Emperor Yu Qian was stricken with an illness, which is absolutely not a good timing.
“Since you are all here, then I will tell you what the emperor had urged me to tell you this morning!” The Empress Dowager seeing all of them with different expressions, knew that Emperor Yu Qian’s condition had already gave rise to different opinions in all the people’s mind, but, since it cannot be concealed anymore, it would be better to tell the truth, to calm all different emotions was the best thing to do in this situation.
