Because Ding Yun and the others moved quickly, and running in the imperial palace was not allowed, by the time they reached the Yutian Hall, the person who had been sent to notify the Regent Crown Prince Zhang Yutao had only just arrived.
And reported the situation to Crown Prince Zhang Yutao.
At this moment, he stood at the entrance of the Yutian Hall with a very grim expression, glaring at Ding Yun and gritting his teeth, saying:
"My father, the Emperor, is gravely ill and should not be seen.
Princess Regent, you should return. If anything happens to my father because of your visit, who can bear the responsibility? I hope you will not misjudge the situation."
The first part of his speech was directed at Ding Yun, while the latter part, "do not misjudge the situation," was for the other princes and officials.
Now, as soon as his father, the Emperor, passed away, he could logically ascend to the throne. Therefore, he absolutely did not wish to see anything get out of his control.
"According to you, if we don't visit, my father's illness will get better? Can you make a vow now? If we leave immediately, and my father recovers after some time, and if he doesn't recover, your entire family will be buried with my father.
I will turn around and leave immediately.
I won't delay for a single minute."
Good heavens, he was threatening her now. Ding Yun didn't bother to argue with him. She directly used his own strategy against him. He said that if they went in to see Emperor Pingzhao and something happened, they couldn't bear the responsibility.
So, if they didn't go in to visit, would everything be fine and his illness would be cured?
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Yutao's expression darkened even further. The princes and imperial clansmen standing beside Ding Yun also looked distressed. What a mess! This Princess Regent was completely falling out with the Crown Prince, even mentioning being buried with the Emperor. Wouldn't the Crown Prince suspect they were allied with the Princess Regent and hold a grudge against them? Oh dear, they really shouldn't have come. If they had known, they wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
"Fine, very fine. Then you may all enter.
My father indulges you, but that doesn't mean I will. I hope you remember what should be said and what shouldn't be said. If your words affect my father's condition, it is a capital offense!"
Ding Yun's words left Zhang Yutao momentarily speechless. Although he could twist her words, after thinking about it, he didn't want to argue with a grasshopper in autumn.
The situation was already set. He didn't believe they had the power to save Emperor Pingzhao.
Even if he let them in, he could provoke his elder sister further, making her say something unpleasant, preferably stirring up his father's emotions and causing him to die on the spot. Then he would have even more reason to seek revenge.
So, after a moment of hesitation, he uttered a few harsh words and allowed Ding Yun and the others to enter the Yutian Hall. This was precisely Ding Yun's objective, so she naturally did not hesitate and stepped inside. On the contrary, those who had followed her and stood behind her hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to continue.
Finally, some retreated, while others thought that since they had already offended so deeply, they might as well follow and see what methods the Princess Regent had.
It couldn't be just to see him one last time, could it?
A few minutes later, Ding Yun and her party arrived at the back hall of the Yutian Hall and saw Emperor Pingzhao lying on the dragon couch, his face ashen, clearly near death. By the dragon couch knelt many imperial physicians, eunuchs, and palace maids. As the Emperor looked like he was about to breathe his last, Zhang Yutao had no intention of hastening the succession by regicide.
He even kept so many people by his side.
This was to easily prove to the outside world that his father had died of illness and had nothing to do with him.
He was indeed a filial son.
He personally administered medicine every day.
As for why he didn't let others in, it was because there was only one filial son and grandson needed. If everyone was filial and served by the sickbed, how would his filial piety be highlighted? What if another prince outdid him by tasting the medicine or even cutting his flesh to save his father?
Would he follow suit?
Rather than dealing with such complications, it was better to simply not let them in. After Emperor Pingzhao passed away, he would allow them to enter to mourn and keep vigil, which would also alleviate some of his burden.
After all, mourning was a matter of course.
He believed they wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
As soon as Ding Yun saw Emperor Pingzhao's condition, she knew he likely wouldn't survive the night, and she also understood how to treat him. Therefore, she quickly stepped forward to take his pulse.
Then, before Zhang Yutao could scold or stop her, she, with lightning speed, pretended to take several pills from her sleeve, but in reality, from her spiritual space, and forced them into Emperor Pingzhao's mouth.
At the same time, with her other hand, she injected him with a treatment agent.
She used her long sleeves to conceal the injection.
After Ding Yun finished her actions, the others nearby only then reacted. Zhang Yutao, as if he had found a handle, immediately pointed at Ding Yun and shouted:
"Bold! What did you give my father?
Guards, imperial physicians, quickly retrieve those things from my father's mouth! Princess Regent, you deserve death for attempting to harm my father! Guards outside the hall, where are you!"
Although Zhang Yutao appeared very agitated, he actually only issued commands and did not move at all. He felt that this was an incredibly pleasant surprise, and his elder sister was making his wishes come true.
He had initially been worried about not having any leverage to deal with his elder sister, or even to kill her.
But now, leverage had been delivered right to his doorstep.
As long as his father didn't survive, he would have plenty of ways to blame his father's death on his elder sister. With the crime of regicide, who was afraid he couldn't kill her?
At the same time, the imperial physicians and the guards outside the hall sprang into action. The First Prince and the Fourth Prince, along with two imperial clan lords who had come with Ding Yun, were so frightened their legs felt weak. It was over. They shouldn't have trusted that the Princess Regent had a good plan to deal with this.
This wasn't a plan.
This was madness!
If something happened, they would definitely be considered accomplices.
They would be stripped raw even if they weren't killed.
Fortunately, Ding Yun had chosen drugs with very rapid effects to help her father recover visibly. Therefore, just as the imperial physicians reached the dragon couch and prepared to retrieve the medicine, Emperor Pingzhao's complexion visibly shifted from ashen to ruddy.
Then, he quickly opened his eyes and, with an awkward effort, propped himself up with his hands on the bed and let out a hearty roar.
"Hahahaha..."
"Comfortable, so comfortable! Good!"
"I feel as though my chronic illness has been completely cleared. Luan'er, what miracle medicine did you give me? It's truly comfortable!"