"And as for the son, if you’re already taking action, why not be more thorough and just kill the person? Now look, the person isn’t dead, and yet you end up leaving evidence of guilt in front of everyone.

This is truly deadly.

When the Holy Person’s decree arrived at Prince Zhao’s place, all the color drained from his face, and his whole body went limp.

Lady Shu felt her future turn pitch black, and when the imperial carriage returned to the palace, she rushed forward as Emperor Kangwu was carried out.

Prince Zhao was also struggling in the palace guards’ hands, shouting: "Father, this is all a misunderstanding, your son didn’t do it on purpose. It was because the earthquake was so strong that your son couldn’t stand firmly and was thrown your way, leading to this unintentional grave mistake. Father, your son had absolutely no intention to harm you, please see this clearly!"

Lady Shu also said: "Emperor, Taite has only ever had filial piety towards you, he would never dare harbor any disloyalty. You know his temperament; moreover, with everyone watching, even if he had the courage of a hundred leopards, he wouldn’t dare harm you."

Empress Mu had already arrived with several high-ranking concubines, and she hurriedly approached, saying: "Lady Shu, now is not the time to discuss guilt. The Emperor is severely injured. The most urgent task is to let the Imperial Physician treat him. If you delay the Emperor’s treatment by staying here, what good will come of it?"

Emperor Kangwu lay on the stretcher, unable to move, his breathing rapid. He only slightly opened his eyes, looking coldly at the mother and son.

Lady Shu’s whole body stiffened as she looked towards him, sorrowfully crying out: "Emperor..."

"Lady Shu deceives the Emperor and is confined to Chang Chun Palace, not allowed to leave without orders." Although Emperor Kangwu was numb from the pain, he still took the first step against Lady Shu and her son: "The Empress will attend the illness, everyone else leave."

Empress Mu immediately instructed the following concubines to step back. Seeing Lady Shu still wanting to argue, she continued: "Lady Shu, if indeed you delay a crucial moment for treatment, neither you nor Prince Zhao, nor the entire Dingxi Marquis Mansion can bear this responsibility." Having said this, she looked toward the guards before the throne: "Take them away."

Lady Shu and Prince Zhao cried out their innocence as they were taken away, their cries fading into the distance.

...

Inside Yangxin Palace, the entire Imperial Hospital was on high alert. After taking Emperor Kangwu’s pulse, everyone could hardly hide their fear.

The injury affected the waist and spine, with no feeling in the lower limbs; it’s a sign of impending paralysis.

But who would dare say it?

Being an Imperial Physician, it seems impressive, but in truth, they are less free than civilian doctors; many words they can only speak with much reservation, not daring to say anything straightforward.

For saying something straightforward might result in a command to drag them out for execution.

The Chief Imperial Doctor thought to himself, fearing that his head would not remain on his shoulders.

"Speak, what is the condition of my injury?" Emperor Kangwu’s other external injuries had been treated, and now he forced himself to stay alert, staring at the Chief Imperial Doctor, waiting for a concrete answer.

The Chief Imperial Doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, knelt down, and said nervously: "Your Majesty, your injury is at the waist and spine, the waist bone is fractured, nerves are damaged, requiring realignment and acupuncture, along with bed rest."

"I have no feeling in my lower limbs, am I paralyzed?"

The Chief Imperial Doctor’s face turned ashen, this was a deadly question, how could he answer?

"You all answer me." Emperor Kangwu’s gaze swept over the rest of the Imperial Physicians, his eyes like daggers.

Even though he lay immobile on the dragon bed, his supreme imperial might suffocated everyone, covering them in cold sweat as they tasted the bitterness of fear.

No one dared speak, and Emperor Kangwu’s heart sank as he said: "If none of you can speak, then you are all useless, drag them out and execute them."

"Spare us, Your Majesty, spare us."

The Chief Imperial Doctor crawled forward on his knees, saying: "Your Majesty, the injury is at the spine, loss of feeling in the lower limbs is unavoidable. This humble servant believes that after realignment, with daily acupuncture stimulation of the points, you should be able to gradually recover."

"Can you guarantee I will stand again?" Emperor Kangwu absolutely could not tolerate becoming paralyzed.

The Chief Imperial Doctor hesitated slightly: "This...this humble servant will do everything possible."

"Useless."

Qin Liuxi watched Emperor Kangwu’s face redden, his eyes bloodshot, and said indifferently: "If Your Majesty does not control your temper, you might suffer a stroke immediately, at that point, not only your lower limbs but your entire body could become immobile, and you may lose the ability to speak."

The eunuch Shun was so scared he knelt down, the State Preceptor was indeed crazy, no symbols were left; was he not cursing the Holy Person?

Everyone was equally shocked, the State Preceptor truly dared to speak!

Emperor Kangwu indeed became furious: "State Preceptor, how dare you curse me, you are so bold!"

Qin Liuxi said: "This poor Daoist is just stating the truth, Your Majesty might as well feel it out; isn’t your heart pounding extremely fast, as if it’s about to leap out of your chest, and your head buzzing as if it’s about to explode? That’s because the blood is rushing upwards, and if you continue to rage, the blood vessels in your brain could suddenly burst, causing a stroke."

Emperor Kangwu’s breathing grew rapid, his fingers trembled, and the look he gave Qin Liuxi was as if he wanted to cut her down.

On the other hand, Empress Mu glanced at the State Preceptor, feeling somewhat odd; the State Preceptor’s demeanor seemed to resemble someone else taking over.