Chapter 310: Shattered
Assistant Minister Han and Director Ma are both dead.
Chancellor Pang went to Liaoxi safely and steadily, and returned safely. It must be Pei Qinghe who received the imperial decree! She is willing to enter the palace to be his imperial consort!
Looking at the Son of Heaven’s face flashing with light right in front of him, Chancellor Pang felt a fishbone in his throat, gritted his teeth and knelt down again, his voice trembling: “This old official is incompetent!”
“This old official arrived one step too late. By the time I reached Liaoxi City, General Pei had already married.”
“Please punish me, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Jian’an froze.
He remained still for a long time.
Chancellor Pang knelt in a humble posture and did not move either.
Time seemed to be frozen, fixed at this moment.
Gao Yong, standing to the side, could not bear to see the Son of Heaven’s shattered expression and knelt down as well: “General Pei took Shi Yan as his son-in-law. The matter is done, irreversible. It is not Chancellor Pang’s fault. Please quell your anger, Your Majesty, and do not take it out on Chancellor Pang.”
Eunuch Shen could not stand any longer and knelt down too, not daring to say a word.
He had served his master for over a decade and seen all his joys and sorrows, but he had never seen his master like this. It was as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had split, with darkness ahead and no light left.
Gao Yong had the most courage, or perhaps as someone who had practiced martial arts for years, his nerves were not that delicate and sensitive. As soon as he opened his mouth, every sentence stabbed at the Son of Heaven’s heart: “Your Majesty has the Empress to accompany him, and two consorts as flowers that understand language. General Pei is the eagle of the sky, the tiger of the battlefield, the god of war who can defeat the Xiongnu barbarians. For the peace of the Northern Lands alone, General Pei should guard Youzhou.”
“Your Majesty should dismiss this idea. General Pei is still a loyal official and good general, with unwavering loyalty. Otherwise, if he completely turns against us, would it not gladden our enemies and pain our kin…”
Eunuch Shen wished he could block Gao Yong’s mouth.
Only you can speak, only you know how to speak.
Can’t you see that His Majesty is about to shatter?
Shut your mouth!
Chancellor Pang let out a long sigh and picked up Gao Yong’s words: “Your Majesty, all the thousands of mistakes are this old official’s fault. This old official is not strong enough, the journey took time, delaying a few days. Thus, the imperial decree arrived late, causing Your Majesty and General Pei to miss each other.”
“This old official is willing to accept punishment and begs Your Majesty to preserve the Dragon Body for the sake of the empire and state.”
Emperor Jian’an was like a wooden carving, showing no reaction.
Eunuch Shen inwardly cried out that something was wrong, got up and rushed over, supporting Emperor Jian’an: “Quick, quick, summon the imperial physician!”
The Son of Heaven just fell straight back with his eyes open.
Chancellor Pang and Gao Yong’s faces changed too. Chancellor Pang was just a bag of old bones, far less nimble than Gao Yong. Gao Yong dashed forward in one stride and firmly grabbed the Son of Heaven’s arm.
A scene of war and chaos.
The imperial physician looked grave, took out the shiny golden needle, and kept inserting one needle after another into the Son of Heaven’s Dragon Body.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
Empress Zhang ran in crying and threw herself down beside Emperor Jian’an, weeping bitterly in grief: “Cousin, wake up. You must not have anything happen to you, don’t abandon me…”
“From now on, I won’t stop you anymore. Whomever you like, take into the palace. I won’t make trouble or get angry with you anymore…”
Chancellor Pang’s eardrums hurt from the piercing cries, and he quietly moved a bit farther away without a word.
Eunuch Shen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and humbly comforted her: “Empress, His Majesty has only qi and blood attacking the heart for the moment, nothing serious. Please don’t cry, Your Ladyship.”
Her heart-wrenching cries made listeners involuntarily feel the subtle illusion that the Son of Heaven was about to pass away.
Gao Yong did not have Eunuch Shen’s good temper, and his voice was somewhat stiff: “The imperial physician needs quiet to perform acupuncture rescue on His Majesty. Please do not make a sound, Empress, so as not to disturb the imperial physician.”
Empress Zhang had no choice but to wipe her tears and said with red eyes: “This palace will send someone to fetch Father and Brother right away.”
General Zhang and his son entering the palace was like returning home. Gao Yong could not very well stop them.
In less than half a shichen, the Zhang father and son hurried in.
Emperor Jian’an had not yet woken and could not be moved casually, so they only shifted a wooden plank. The unconscious Emperor Jian’an had a face as white as gold paper, lying quietly on the wooden plank.
Empress Zhang’s eyes were swollen from crying.
Chancellor Pang and the others had grave expressions.
With General Zhang’s arrival, everyone felt a slight relief. No matter what, General Zhang was truly the mainstay of the Imperial Court in the Northern Lands. With General Zhang there, even if the sky fell, someone would hold it up first.
Chancellor Pang took the initiative to stand and greet him: “General, upon hearing the good news of General Pei’s marriage, His Majesty fainted. He still has not woken.”
General Zhang hummed, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Emperor Jian’an, then falling on Empress Zhang’s face.
Empress Zhang felt aggrieved and helpless: “Father, His Majesty still hasn’t woken. What should we do now?”
General Zhang said in a deep voice: “No need to panic. His Majesty is the true dragon Son of Heaven, protected by dragon qi. He will certainly be fine.”
Zhang Yun comforted her in a low voice: “Your Ladyship, don’t worry. Father is here for everything.”
With her father and brother backing her, Empress Zhang’s panicked and helpless heart gradually calmed.
They waited a long time, but still the Son of Heaven did not wake.
General Zhang instructed: “Lying here is no way. Carry His Majesty to the bed.”
Chancellor Pang did not object. Gao Yong frowned wanting to speak, but Eunuch Shen quickly shot him a look. Gao Yong shut his mouth resentfully.
Emperor Jian’an was carried to the bed.
General Zhang told Chancellor Pang to return to the residence and rest, and ordered Gao Yong to withdraw and rest: “This general will guard by His Majesty’s side. Once His Majesty wakes and recovers, you can come back!”
Gao Yong withdrew expressionlessly.
Eunuch Shen quietly followed him out and tugged at Gao Yong’s sleeve: “What exactly happened? How could it be delayed by a few days?”
Gao Yong rolled his eyes irritably: “If it had been a few days earlier, Chancellor Pang and I would both have been done for in Youzhou. No need to call him General Pei anymore; you could call him King Pei directly.”
Eunuch Shen was left speechless.
Gao Yong was full of pent-up anger and muttered bitterly: “This matter is absurd from start to finish. His Majesty has taken this heavy blow and should wake up now.”
Eunuch Shen was stunned for a moment, then let out a long sigh and released his hand: “Forget it, what’s done is done; there’s no point saying anything. You go rest. I will stay and guard His Majesty.”
Emperor Jian’an slept unconscious for a day and a night.
With General Zhang in charge in the palace, though everyone’s hearts were uneasy, no chaos ensued.
On the second day, Emperor Jian’an finally woke.
Upon waking, his eyes were blank and lifeless. He opened his mouth for herbal medicine brought to his lips and drank the porridge too. But he just kept silent.
Empress Zhang cried another round.
General Zhang remained calm, inquired with the imperial physician to confirm the Son of Heaven’s Dragon Body had no major issues, then said to the Son of Heaven: “Your Majesty, take good care to recuperate the Dragon Body. This minister will handle state affairs on Your Majesty’s behalf for a few days.”
Emperor Jian’an slowly nodded.
General Zhang showed the demeanor of a senior minister unmoved by favor or disgrace, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
The civil and military officials felt no discomfort. This Son of Heaven Jian’an had always listened to General Zhang on everything. General Zhang’s word decided court affairs.
Now with His Majesty lying down, General Zhang stepping forward was the same!
Meng Liulang missed his brother in his heart and did not jump out to make trouble or complain. Instead, he quietly went to the Pei Residence.
