Yun Qi stood alone in the courtyard, slowly sitting on the ground as he began to cry like a child.
Helpless, yet aggrieved!
He made so much silver, held high positions, had countless beauties, but his heart felt empty.
Xu Xinmo was still happily waiting for good news.
Daidai rushed in from outside, flustered, "Miss, something terrible happened!"
"That man was captured by General Weiyuan as a thief!"
Xu Xinmo was stunned for a moment before finally responding, "Captured?"
"Yes, captured. The master has gone to consult with the second master about a strategy!" As Daidai spoke, she, too, began to feel some panic.
After walking back and forth several times in the room, Xu Xinmo said, "Don’t panic, this was done by my maternal grandmother, it has nothing to do with me, I know nothing about it!"
Daidai stood bewildered for quite a while before she understood Xu Xinmo’s intention.
If she could so easily cast aside her doting maternal grandmother, what about her, a mere maid...
This night was destined to be restless.
The Emperor’s poisoning had taken effect, making him somewhat maddened, and several palace maids had already died at his hands.
The Empress immediately sent someone out of the palace to invite Han Xuzi in.
After Han Xuzi entered the palace, he could only temporarily control the Emperor’s condition.
The Emperor called out weakly.
After a moment of contemplation, Han Xuzi finally said, "Your Majesty, I am temporarily unable to concoct an antidote; I can only temporarily control your condition!"
The Emperor’s heart skipped a beat.
After a long silence, Han Xuzi said, "Your Majesty, perhaps you might allow my granddaughter to enter the palace to take your pulse."
Han Xuzi was out of options.
After all, the Han Family had been wholeheartedly loyal to the Emperor for generations; he couldn’t just watch the Emperor die.
"Yun Family’s Fourth Miss?"
"Then summon the Fourth Miss to the palace to take Our pulse!"
Han Xuzi stood up and bowed to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, I have a request!"
"In my generation, I only have one daughter, and now in my grandchildren’s generation, only one granddaughter and one grandson. Jinnian, she will not enter the palace as a concubine," Han Xuzi said with determination toward the end.
Yun Jinnian could enter the palace to treat the Emperor’s illness, but she would not become a concubine.
The Emperor understood and after a while, replied, "We agree!"
There are many beauties in the world, and someone like Yun Jinnian, if favored for life, that would be enough; but if one day she fell out of favor, she could casually concoct a poison that would take his life.
Regardless of beauty or skill, let someone else have her.
He was unwell, and summoning her to the palace was sufficient, there was no need to chill the heart of this deeply loyal subject.
"Then I will leave the palace early tomorrow morning to fetch her!"
"Let the Empress dispatch someone to do it!"
As dawn broke, a Fengluan Carriage left the palace gate, heading straight for Yun Residence.
De Gonggong, the chief steward of Weiyang Palace, sat by the side of the carriage.
When the carriage stopped in front of the Yun Family’s house, the doorkeeper nearly fainted from fright.
"Quickly summon Yun Daren to come here; convey the benevolent decree of the Empress!" De Gonggong said as he entered the main hall.
Yun Qi and Yun Chen arrived promptly.
"I greet you, Yun Daren," De Gonggong bowed slightly in respect.
Yun Qi’s official rank, that of Second Rank Zuo Du Shilang, was decided by the Yun Family.
Even though the Imperial Decree had not yet arrived, it was no surprise that De Gonggong was aware, given his extensive network of information within the palace.
"What brings Gonggong here?" Yun Chen asked.
He felt somewhat apprehensive, especially after De Gonggong called them senior officials; Yun Chen knew that Yun Qi’s position had been secured.
"Conveying the benevolent decree of the Empress, summoning the Fourth Miss of Yun Residence to bring her medicine chest to see the Emperor!"