In the winter of the forty-seventh year of the Apocalypse, the ambergris from the Zichen Palace mixed with the smell of medicine floated throughout the imperial city. The old emperor Zhao Qi was paralyzed on the dragon bed, his eye sockets were as deep as dry wells, and his throat was roaring. Three months ago, he could use a cane to curse corrupt officials, but now he couldn't even raise his finger to recognize the person in front of the bed.
Standing in front of the bed was the second prince Zhao Yan, followed by his princess Liu Shi, and Liu Shi's brother Liu Chengye, the commander of the imperial army. Mrs. Liu was feeding the old emperor ginseng soup with a silver spoon, and the jade finger on her fingertips glowed coldly under the candlelight. Outside the palace, the children of the Liu family controlled all the palace gates. Even the personal guards of the eldest prince Zhao Heng were blocked three miles outside the Yangxin Palace.
"Father, it's time to take the medicine." Mrs. Liu's voice was as soft as water, but no one saw the silver needle hidden in her sleeve - she would use the silver needle to test the poison every time before giving the medicine, but tonight's silver needle was secretly replaced by a fake that had been tempered with "Yangshen Powder". The medicine would not be fatal, but would only make the old emperor's mind more and more drowsy.
The eldest prince Zhao Heng knelt outside the palace for three days and three nights, with snowflakes falling all over his black gauze hat. He is the crown prince recognized by all officials. He just returned from an inspection tour in Yanyun three months ago and brought back a secret letter from King Zhenbei (the old emperor's brother and Zhao Heng's uncle). The letter said that "the Liu family's relatives have exclusive power, which may harm the country." But he couldn't even enter the palace gate, and could only listen to the faint whispers of Liu and Liu Chengye coming from inside the palace.
On New Year's Eve, the old emperor died.
When the news came out, Zhao Heng was gathering his confidants at the mansion to discuss how to break into the palace after dawn. A glass of "consolation wine" from "Princess Liu" was delivered. . . . . .
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