I insist

Chapter 496: Loss

The Emperor's recent actions have become increasingly incomprehensible to others. First, he reprimanded the concubine for no reason, and then he reprimanded several princes, making them reflect on their mistakes by facing the wall.

Ming Taicheng was also ostracized, and the emperor appointed a new imperial physician, who was only allowed to come and take pulses every day.

Ming Taicheng found the matter increasingly strange, and he suspected that something must have happened to the Emperor.

Thinking of this, he became even more frightened and went directly to the clinic to find Song Miqiu.

Song Miqiu was treating patients when he saw Ming Taicheng anxiously coming to see him. He said in a nonchalant tone, "You should rest for a while. We'll talk after I finish treating the patients."

After hearing Song Miqiu's words, Ming Taicheng sat down and waited, but he was still very anxious and unsure if it was the right thing for him to come to her.

After Song Miqiu saw the patient off, she turned her attention to Ming Taicheng.

"What brings you here? Is there something you need?" Song Miqiu asked softly as she poured him tea.

Ming Taicheng just stared at her without saying a word. This was in public; if anyone overheard him, he could lose his life.

Song Miqiu noticed his hesitation. She took a sip of tea and said, "Let's go. There's a resting place inside. Let's talk there."

Ming Taicheng quickly stood up and followed behind her.

After arriving at the room, Ming Taicheng sat down on a stool without any ceremony, looked at Song Miqiu who was slowly pouring tea across from him, and asked directly.

"Do you already know about what happened to me?"

Song Miqiu looked up at him: "About the fact that you were ostracized? I'm not surprised that I know about this, after all, who doesn't know about it?"

"So this is why you came to me? And why are you being so mysterious?"

"Of course not. I'm asking you, is there something wrong with the Emperor? Has something happened to him?" Ming Taicheng said anxiously.

Song Miqiu looked at him in confusion: "Ming Taicheng, Physician Ming, shouldn't you be asking yourself this question? Why are you asking me here?"

I haven't been to the palace during this time, and I can't get in anyway. What's going on with you?

"Is this really none of your business?" Ming Taicheng asked.

Song Miqiu did not answer his question directly, but instead said indifferently, "You are just a royal physician. Just do your job well."

As for the rest, don't ask anything, and don't meddle in other people's business.

"So that means the Emperor's transformation is really related to you, right?" Ming Taicheng stood up excitedly.

Song Miqiu didn't speak, but instead glanced at Ming Taicheng indifferently.

Although this glance was very ordinary, Ming Taicheng sensed a murderous aura in it, which was completely different from the Song Miqiu he knew before.

"You're in the same boat as us now. Don't ask questions you shouldn't know. Just do what you're supposed to do."

After Song Miqiu finished speaking, she put down her teacup, glanced at him indifferently, and then walked outside.

Ming Taicheng felt cold all over and dared not move at all. The image of Song Miqiu looking at him just now kept replaying in his mind.

Then several princes mysteriously encountered misfortune, causing widespread panic.

The prime minister sensed something was wrong and, during court, explained that he wanted the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.

The Emperor frowned slightly after hearing this: "What's the big deal about this that you need the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate? Prime Minister, when did you become so easily alarmed?"

At this moment, the emperor propped his head up with one hand, without even opening his eyes, and spoke in a casual tone.

The Prime Minister stood still and said softly, "Your Majesty, the current state of public anxiety is detrimental to the nation. This is merely a means to appease the people."

As long as the Imperial Guards say it's nothing serious, then everything is fine, and the others don't need to be afraid.

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes: "Afraid? Who's afraid? Are you ministers here? What's there to be afraid of? I'm not dead yet."

As soon as he finished speaking, the other officials knelt on the ground, heads bowed, not uttering a single word.

"Oh, I see. Is it because of the accident that happened to the Emperor? It was just an accident, you're not really afraid of that, are you?"

The emperor's tone was very calm.

The minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if it were just one prince who had an accident, it would naturally be nothing, but in just half a month..."

"Isn't it unusual that several princes have run into trouble one after another?"

Actually, the minister's words were rather tactful. Those princes had not only encountered trouble, but had also lost their eligibility to inherit the throne, so naturally they should be anxious.

The Emperor wasn't stupid; he naturally understood the meaning behind his words. Only then did he sit up straight and say, "I know what you're thinking, those princes..."

They all have their problems to some extent. I can't possibly hand over the throne to them, and they should be grateful that I didn't kill them.

As for the rest, do you all think I'm truly incapable of doing anything else, that the first thing I must do is choose an heir?

"Your Majesty is young and strong, so naturally he cannot be chosen as the crown prince," the ministers said in unison.

The Emperor had no intention of listening to them and said indifferently, "Alright, I know what you mean. To appease you..."

"I have already decided to involve the Seventh Prince in court affairs. I haven't had the chance to say it before, but I'll take this opportunity to do so now. Guards, bring the Seventh Prince in."

When the ministers heard the emperor mention the seventh prince, they were all momentarily stunned, as they had never met him and had basically forgotten about him.

If the Emperor hadn't brought it up, they would have probably forgotten about this prince.

The seventh prince strolled in slowly, and when he looked at the emperor, he said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Greetings, Father Emperor."

"Rise. Xiao Qi is also my prince. I know his abilities very well. From now on, he will attend court with you all. Now, you can all rest assured."

The Emperor slowly leaned back on the dragon throne and said softly.

After hearing the Emperor's words, the Seventh Prince addressed the ministers, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellencies. I am of dull mind and have never attended court. If you have anything to say..."

Please forgive me if I've said anything incorrect.

The ministers were surprised that the prince was so humble and could say such things.

In fact, ever since the Seventh Prince appeared before everyone, people realized that he was very suitable to inherit the throne. Although he was very gentle, he was also quite domineering.

After all, the ministers were all veterans of the court, and they could tell a lot about the Seventh Prince's personality at a glance.

The Prime Minister stood to the side, his eyes narrowed as he sized up the Seventh Prince. He felt that the Seventh Prince was definitely not what they saw; he had only shown them the scene he wanted them to see.

"This seventh prince is no ordinary person. It seems that the matter concerning the other princes was also his doing."