Ministers echoed in succession, "Your Ladyship the Noble Consort is right, the Regent's Consort is, after all, young!"
"Indeed, one wonders what His Majesty was thinking when selecting such a consort for the Regent..."
While flattering Consort Ye, they did not forget to belittle Lu Qing Wan.
Before long, the ministers' disdain for Lu Qing Wan was openly displayed on their faces.
"Alright, at this hour, what is the point of saying such things?"
After a group of people had voiced their contempt for Lu Qing Wan, Consort Ye chided them indifferently.
"Director Chen, quickly examine His Majesty!"
As she spoke, she approached Emperor Jing You's bedside, looking at him with concern, "Your Majesty, are you alright?
These past few days have truly frightened this concubine..."
Emperor Jing You's eyes held a hint of anger, but since he was feigning weakness, he did not vocalize his reprimand, merely glaring at her intently.
Consort Ye, as if oblivious to Emperor Jing You's angry gaze, continued to inquire of Director Chen, "How is His Majesty's condition?"
Director Chen, his finger still on Emperor Jing You's wrist, quickly withdrew a few steps upon hearing her and knelt on the ground.
"Your Ladyship the Noble Consort, please forgive this old servant's incompetence. His Majesty's pulse is weak and faint, his heartbeat slow and shallow, a symptom of impending death!"
"What?"
The ministers, who had been patiently listening from the outer chamber, immediately grew anxious.
Prince Jing was the first to rush in, "Director Chen, could you have misdiagnosed? Father is usually strong and healthy, and not old. How can he be nearing his end so suddenly?"
"Yes, Director Chen, could you have misdiagnosed?"
Prince Ning also entered.
Feng Qing Heng followed Prince Ning, remaining silent, but his eyes repeatedly scanned Emperor Jing You.
Seeing Emperor Jing You's gaze fixed on them, he deliberately pretended not to notice.
"Director Chen, Father has always been robust and healthy, and has never suffered from illness or disaster. Could it be that the poison he ingested earlier was not properly neutralized, leading to this condition?"
Feng Qing Heng's words seemed to awaken everyone present. Consort Ye said coldly, "Director Chen, is this the case?"
Director Chen, kneeling on the ground, nervously wiped away the cold sweat.
"Replying to Your Ladyship the Noble Consort, this humble servant does not know what poison His Majesty was afflicted with, and therefore cannot make a definitive judgment.
However, His Majesty's symptoms are indeed indicative of his meridians and internal organs being injured by a potent poison..."
Before Director Chen could finish speaking, Duke Xu impatiently interjected, "It's the Regent's Consort!
It was you, with so many imperial physicians available, who insisted on inviting that so-called folk doctor to detoxify His Majesty.
Now, if anything untoward happens to His Majesty, the Regent's Consort will not escape responsibility!"
As soon as Duke Xu finished speaking, an innocent voice chimed in.
"But, the Regent's Consort did not have the authority to prevent the imperial physicians from detoxifying Father, did she?"
After a moment's hesitation, the voice of Duke Pei echoed, "Or perhaps, the Regent never intended to detoxify His Majesty?"
"How dare you speak such nonsense!"
Consort Ye cried out, "The Regent and His Majesty are brothers. His Majesty regards the Regent as his own son. How could the Regent possibly commit such a treasonous act?
Cease your talk. Director Chen, no matter what, you must save His Majesty, otherwise, I shall have your head!"
Emperor Jing You's pulse was such that he was beyond saving. Upon hearing Consort Ye's words, Director Chen seemed to age several years.
The ministers' thoughts, however, began to stir.
No one expected that the first to propose the decree of abdication would be Prime Minister Wen, who was highly respected by all factions in the court.
He first asked earnestly, "Director Chen, Your Majesty, is there truly no hope?"
Director Chen shook his head with shame, "This humble servant is incompetent, please forgive me, Lord Prime Minister."
"It is the will of heaven; it is not your fault."
Prime Minister Wen shook his head, walked gracefully to Emperor Jing You's bedside, knelt down, and with a respectful posture, uttered words that sent shivers down everyone's spines in the hall.
He said, "Your Majesty, can you still hear your old minister's words?"
Emperor Jing You looked at him, blinked, and with extreme economy of effort, uttered a single word, "Yes."
Prime Minister Wen's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He kowtowed three times to Emperor Jing You, "Please forgive this old servant's disrespect.
But Your Majesty, the country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. I implore Your Majesty to establish an heir soon, so that the empire may have a successor!"
The ministers' eyeballs nearly bulged out of their sockets. Who could have imagined that the elder statesman, who usually preached about order and principle, would so directly implore Emperor Jing You to establish an heir?
What surprised them even more was that Emperor Jing You did not get angry, but merely looked at Prime Minister Wen calmly, and weakly uttered a single word, "Who?"
This was asking who should be made the Crown Prince.
The ministers held their breath in tension.
Prime Minister Wen was a paragon of loyalty, serving only the emperor's decree since the late emperor's reign, never taking sides, nor forming factions. No one knew whom he would recommend as heir.
Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Wen, without bias, directly stated, "This old servant obeys Your Majesty's will. Whomever Your Majesty chooses as heir, this old servant will assist."
This caused great anxiety among the ministers. His words were as good as saying nothing!
They had hoped that since Emperor Jing You trusted Prime Minister Wen so much, if Prime Minister Wen recommended a prince they supported, they would have a greater advantage.
To have the old Prime Minister play such a card nearly stopped their hearts.
Emperor Jing You blinked, but before he could speak, Duke Xu impatiently reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Ning is the Emperor's eldest son. He is self-disciplined and courteous, diligent and caring for the people.
These past few years in his fiefdom in the northern border, he has repelled the formidable enemy of Northern Wei and effectively governed the people. This humble servant believes Prince Ning is capable of great responsibility and is fit to be the Crown Prince."
As Duke Xu recommended Prince Ning, Duke Pei could not sit still, "Your Majesty, although Prince Jing is young, he has always regarded you as a role model. He is diligent and thrifty, benevolent and compassionate, and intelligent and astute. He is the best candidate for Crown Prince!"
The two factions fiercely argued for Prince Ning and Prince Jing. Prince Chen was not even mentioned.
Just as the supporters of Prince Ning and Prince Jing were arguing so intensely that they wished they could grab Emperor Jing You's hand and write the decree of abdication for him,
An attendant from outside announced, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the young madam of Duke Xu's manor requests an audience, stating she has secrets regarding the establishment of an heir to report to Your Majesty in person."
Lu Qing Wan, who had been shrinking away, intimidated by the verbal battle, her eyes flickered slightly. The young madam of Duke Xu's manor, she had a feeling this elder sister was about to stir up trouble!
Emperor Jing You had already raised his hand, "Announce her."
Duke Xu and Prince Ning exchanged glances. It seemed even Duke Xu was unaware of why his daughter-in-law had come to the palace.
The ministers were even more bewildered.
Before long, the young madam of Duke Xu's manor entered. Her husband did not hold an official post in the court, hence, although her attire was proper, it was not luxurious.
However, the young madam of Duke Xu's manor was not intimidated. Standing tall, she entered the hall. Upon seeing Duke Xu, she snorted, walked past him directly to Emperor Jing You's bedside, knelt down on both knees, and bowed deeply.
"This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live His Majesty!"