Chapter 1260: Chapter 1190: The State Preceptor Really Is Quite Mad (Part 2)

"State Preceptor, is the Dragon Body in any discomfort?" Shun swallowed nervously and asked. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Qin Liuxi replied, "Imagine being your age and getting hit squarely by a solid wooden beam, especially on the waist."

Shun’s pupils dilated. You didn’t say that earlier, you said to turn misfortune into good fortune.

Qin Liuxi saw that Emperor Kangwu’s eyelids were twitching incessantly, as if he were about to awaken, and said, "The Saint has recently taken other elixirs. Who concocted them? Not only that, he also inhaled osmanthus fragrance, causing an imbalance of yin and yang, depleting the kidney yang. Now, being struck on the waist and spine, he has sustained nerve damage and likely needs to lie in bed for recuperation."

Emperor Kangwu’s chest heaved breathlessly, and he abruptly opened his eyes, spewing a mouthful of dark red blood as he coughed continuously.

"Your Majesty." Shun’s shrill voice echoed outside the Imperial Chariot, startling those guarding the carriage, their hearts collectively shivering, their faces paling by a degree.

Could it be that the Saint is about to pass away?

Emperor Kangwu looked at Qin Liuxi, his old eyes still sharp, hoarsely asking, "Is what the State Preceptor said true? Am I confined to bed?"

Qin Liuxi responded, "Do you have any sensation in your lower body?"

Sweat seeped from Shun’s forehead. The State Preceptor is truly fearless, speaking candidly like so.

Emperor Kangwu couldn’t help but move slightly. No, he really had no sensation. Was he paralyzed?

His pupils contracted sharply, his hands clutching the hem of his robe with such force that veins popped out, his throat rasping with heavy breaths.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty’s fortune and longevity are boundless; you will surely recover slowly." Shun hurriedly reassured, pleadingly looking at Qin Liuxi and saying, "State Preceptor, isn’t that right? You said the same thing earlier."

"If it weren’t for this fall and the impact, careful nurturing would naturally lead to recovery." Qin Liuxi truthfully reported to the Saint, "However, considering your age and the recent usage of those inappropriate elixirs and fragrances that depleted your energy, just replenishing that would consume a lot of time and medicine. Not to mention, your current injuries are on the spine, with bone cracks and displacements, critically severe. As the saying goes, it’s a hundred days for muscle or bone injuries, let alone injuring the spine? If Prince Zhao’s push had been gentler, impacting the chest, injuring the lungs, it’s estimated... if he used more force and only injured your legs, it might be better, but alas, it’s on the lumbar spine."

Shun’s heart sank. Prince Zhao must have offended the State Preceptor, right?

It’s as if he couldn’t die fast enough!

The saying ’strike while they are down’ fits perfectly, since Prince Zhao provided such a handle, naturally, she had to seal his fate to clear the way for Qi Qian’s ascension to the throne.

Qin Liuxi felt no guilt whatsoever; she was never a good person anyway.

Noticing Shun’s gaze, she even curled her lip at him, that smile as eerie as it could be!

Shun lowered his head, pretending not to see it.

As a mere eunuch, he couldn’t afford to offend the State Preceptor.

And Qin Liuxi’s words surely struck a chord, triggering Emperor Kangwu’s memories of when that rebellious son, though claiming to save him, pushed him mercilessly during the quake.

Was he truly trying to save him, or was he attempting to kill him?

Being inherently suspicious, Emperor Kangwu, at his age, was exceedingly distrustful, his mind whirling rapidly. If he were to die now amidst this earthquake, who could ascend to this throne?

The second and third sons were in their prime, with the second being increasingly restless recently, and he even had the support of the Yu Family son.

The Yu Family son discerningly assisted the capable, and the second son had great ambitions, with compelling reasons to commit regicide!

Realizing this, Emperor Kangwu immediately ordered that Prince Zhao be confined to the Prince Zhao Mansion for failing to protect him, without permission not allowed to leave. Furthermore, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Minister of the Ministry of Ceremonies were to be investigated for dereliction of duty, temporarily detained for thorough investigation by the Ministry of Justice.

Qin Liuxi glanced at the corner of the carriage, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. Emperor Kangwu, on the other hand, considered his image, unwilling to let the royal scandal of a son attempting regicide spread, thus imprisoning Prince Zhao in the mansion rather than the prison.

However, the fact that Prince Zhao pushed his father causing the injury was evident to all. The commoners might truly believe that he failed to protect him adequately, but the courtiers were acutely clear in their hearts; Prince Zhao was unlikely to have a chance at the throne.

When the edict was issued, Prince Zhao was kneeling in front of Yangxin Palace, his face smeared with dirt, appearing more disgraceful by the moment, not caring a bit about his image, instead miserably accompanied by Lady Shu, stripped of her jewelry and hairpins, also kneeling alongside him.

Lady Shu was shocked and terrified upon hearing the news—how did the earthquake not leave the Saint there?