Lan Qing stood before Chu Jiangnan.
Chu Jiangnan appeared anxious. Before Lan Qing could even bow, he hurriedly said, "I truly wish to find the little princess!"
"Your Majesty's health seems to have taken a turn for the worse again?" the National Preceptor could only think of this as the reason.
He seemed too anxious now.
Chu Jiangnan wanted to speak, but accidentally coughed.
Previously, in front of Feng Yexuan and Chu Qianli, he had only used his internal energy to suppress the chaotic surge of energy.
Now, with only him and the National Preceptor in the Lingjiu Hall, the surge of blood energy in his chest was difficult to suppress.
He couldn't catch his breath and nearly vomited blood.
Lan Qing quickly supported him, helping him sit on a chair to rest.
Although he detested this life, he was loyal to Nanming and faithful to the Emperor.
This was an innate sense of duty.
Therefore, while he might dislike touching anyone else, he did not resist the Emperor.
Seeing the Emperor's complexion, Lan Qing's eyes deepened. "Your Majesty, with your current condition, you are at risk of… losing your life at any moment."
Chu Jiangnan knew that as soon as he arrived, the National Preceptor would surely find out.
He could only nod. "Yes, the poison I took today is in a symbiotic and antagonistic relationship with the previous poison. I fear it can no longer be resolved."
Lan Qing's usually calm heart tightened. "Symbiotic and antagonistic. If either poison intensifies or weakens even slightly, Your Majesty will be in immediate danger of dying from poisoning."
"That is why I am so anxious to find the little princess."
"But with the current situation, even if we find the little princess, what then? She is merely a princess and cannot help Your Majesty..."
"Who says she cannot help?" Chu Jiangnan coughed a couple more times.
A flicker of shock crossed the National Preceptor's eyes. "Your Majesty, you mean you want… the little princess to govern the country for you?"
How could this be possible? A princess is just a princess!
"What is impossible about it? Our Nanming history has had empresses before."
"Your Majesty!" The usually unflustered National Preceptor was truly shocked this time.
He truly hadn't expected the Emperor to have such an idea.
To have the little princess return to govern the country, this...
"Prince Yu colluded with the Nanling tribe to seize the throne, even daring to harm the common people. He would never be a good emperor."
Chu Jiangnan sighed lightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"Prince Ling lacks ambition and listens to your sister in everything..."
"Your Majesty!"
Lan Qing, since he had been old enough to understand, had never been as panicked and flustered as he was today.
He knew! He actually knew!
After a moment of stunned disbelief, Lan Qing suddenly bent his knees and knelt. "Your Majesty, please spare my sister!"
"Rise," Chu Jiangnan frowned, displeased. "As the National Preceptor, you are the faith of all the people of Nanming. You should only kneel to heaven, how can you kneel to a mere mortal like me?"
Throughout history, the only emperor who could call himself a mere mortal was likely the one before him.
However, the Emperor was not wrong. The National Preceptor should only kneel to heaven and never had to bow to royalty.
Lan Qing was simply too uneasy.
"The Lan clan is said to sever all worldly affections, dedicating themselves solely to the nation and its people. It seems your sister did not fulfill this, and neither have you."
But there was no blame in Chu Jiangnan's words.
He stood up and personally helped Lan Qing to his feet. "After all, you are still a child. At such a young age, to have you inherit such a position so early, it has been difficult for you."