Chen Yuan Shou trembled as he stood up. Just as he hesitated about who to show it to first, Emperor Jing You said, "Shen Ci, you show it to them."
Chen Yuan Shou felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He shuddered at the thought of examining such an illness for two princes. Having someone else do it was far better.
While he was still conscious, Emperor Jing You spoke again, "Chen Yan Zhang is hereby stripped of his position as head of the Imperial Hospital, and descendants of the Chen family within three generations are forbidden from entering the Imperial Hospital."
"Your Majesty!"
Chen Yuan Shou's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.
Forbidden from entering the Imperial Hospital for three generations was equivalent to cutting off his Chen family's future!
His Chen family had been physicians for generations. Without the ability to practice medicine, how could they live?
Yet, not a single person pleaded for him. Such a person, who prided himself on being smooth and always trying to please, was destined to fail in pleasing everyone.
Just like now, Emperor Jing You's words had cut off him and his entire family's livelihood, and no one spoke a word for him.
Tang Xiao summoned guards, who quickly dragged Chen Yuan Shou away. He still wanted to beg for mercy, but the guards quickly covered his mouth.
Shen Ci stepped forward and looked at Prince Ning and Prince Jing, "Your Royal Highnesses, pardon me, please extend your hands."
Prince Ning and Prince Jing had extremely grim expressions. As men, to be publicly suspected of virility, and then to be publicly examined, was already embarrassing enough.
Moreover, they both knew that what Madam Xu had said was true.
After years of seeking medical advice without a single child, no one understood their own physical condition better than they did.
The two of them stood there, delaying for a long time before allowing Shen Ci to examine them.
Emperor Jing You roared, "Extend your hands!"
The two were startled. Prince Ning hesitated, and just as he was about to extend his hand, clamor erupted from outside.
Duke Xu heard the commotion and suddenly seemed emboldened. He sternly shouted, "Wicked woman, you are indiscreet and have secretly conceived a bastard with another. That's one thing.
I spared your life out of respect for your father, Count Wenchang. I never imagined you would dare to slander the two princes. How can I spare you!"
As he spoke, he suddenly drew a long sword from a nearby guard and lunged at Madam Xu, who had retreated to the side.
At the critical moment, Noble Consort Ye and her attending maid acted simultaneously. Noble Consort Ye swung her soft sword at Emperor Jing You on the dragon couch, while the maid lunged at Feng Qing Heng with a dagger.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
In a flash, Lu Qing Wan's silver needles flew out with lightning speed, piercing Duke Xu's chest. Then, with a thud, Noble Consort Ye's body went limp and she remained motionless.
Emperor Jing You clutched the pistol Lu Qing Wan had given him at the birthday banquet, his face contorted with rage.
Noble Consort Ye stared blankly at the bloody hole in her abdomen and slowly looked up, her eyes filled with unwillingness. "You weren't poisoned?"
At that moment, guards rushed in, "Bad news, Your Majesty!
An unidentified person has broken into the palace, and a large army is advancing through the Donghua Gate. The Imperial Guards have all been held up in the city, and the Shen Ce Camp and the Imperial Guards are barely holding on!"
Emperor Jing You's expression changed drastically. Duke Xu, held down by two guards, let out a triumphant laugh upon hearing this, "Your Majesty, even if you are not poisoned, it is beyond salvation!"
He continued to bluster arrogantly at Emperor Jing You, struggling fiercely, but his chest pain intensified. He then cast a furious glare at Lu Qing Wan.
"Wicked woman, what did you do to me?"
Lu Qing Wan's silver needles were so fast and accurate that Duke Xu only saw Lu Qing Wan wave her hand at him, not the needles themselves.
At this moment, he was merely feeling unwell, so he directly blamed Lu Qing Wan.
"I advise you to be sensible. With that short-lived Feng Xi Wu dead, you, the Regent's wife, are like a phoenix with molted feathers.
Given your medical skills, I can spare your life.
Otherwise, after Prince Ning ascends the throne, the first thing he will do is send you and that pretty boy Lu Zhen Ting to accompany Feng Xi Wu in death!"
Having said that, he knew his physical strength was limited and stopped struggling. He snarled, "Your Highness, what are you hesitating for? Have His Majesty write the abdication edict!
As long as you write the abdication edict, you will be the Emperor of Da Qian!"
"Your Highness, you cannot!"
The aged Prime Minister bowed before Prince Ning, "The matter of abdication can only be advised upon by the officials, not forcibly interfered with. This has always been the rule since ancient times.
His Majesty has only three adult princes. Whomever he abdicates to should be his own decision.
If Your Highness interferes, even if you successfully ascend the throne, you will be illegitimate and without proper standing!
We old officials are watching, Your Highness!"
"Old fool, shut up!"
Duke Xu roared at Prime Minister Wen, and continued to incite Prince Ning, "Your Highness, the throne can be occupied by any descendant of the imperial family. Why can't you?
You have been filial to His Majesty and cared for the people all these years, but what have you gained?
Can you bear to hand over the Da Qian you worked so hard for to a good-for-nothing like Prince Chen?
It doesn't matter if you have no heirs. There are so many imperial descendants. Just adopt one, and they will still only call you Father Emperor!
As for legitimacy, as long as you become Emperor, who will dare to say anything?"
Prince Ning, as the Emperor's eldest son, should have been the primary candidate for Crown Prince. However, with Feng Qing Heng, the legitimate eldest son, there was justification for either of them to be Crown Prince.
Now, with Prince Ning's inability to produce offspring, he had instantly lost his advantage against Feng Qing Heng.
When Duke Xu first incited him to have Emperor Jing You write the abdication edict, he had been hesitant. After hearing Prime Minister Wen's words, his hesitant gaze slowly firmed.
He glanced at Feng Qing Heng, who was trembling while clutching his arm, having been stabbed by Noble Consort Ye's maid.
He looked towards Emperor Jing You on the dragon couch and then slowly spoke, "Father Emperor, please issue the edict."
"Rebellious son!"
Emperor Jing You cursed furiously, "I am not dead yet. Are you trying to rebel?"
"Father Emperor is mistaken. Your son is merely offering a suggestion, how can it be considered rebellion?"
He spoke words of treason and rebellion, yet his face wore a smile. "Father Emperor, if you abdicate to me, I will let everyone in this hall live a few more years.
I believe this is a worthwhile transaction. What do you think, Father Emperor?"
"Rebellious son!"
Even though he was feigning illness, Emperor Jing You was gasping for breath with anger. "Tang Xiao, drag this rebellious son away, imprison him in the Imperial Prison, and never let him out!"
Just as Tang Xiao was about to step forward, the doors of Wei Yang Palace were violently thrown open.
A group of armored soldiers rushed in, led by a man shouting loudly, "Prince Ning Feng Yu Heng intends to rebel. This subordinate is here to aid the Emperor and save His Majesty!"
While claiming to be aiding the Emperor, he swung his sword, killing anyone in sight.
An old minister who had entered the palace with Prime Minister Wen and others hadn't even realized what was happening before he was struck down to the ground by a sword.
"Li Yang, protect the ministers!"
Lu Qing Wan shouted sternly, and personally blocked the path to the dragon couch.