Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1679 Heart damage, delay

The spring breeze in April should be warm and gentle, but today it brings a biting chill.

The funeral procession of the retired emperor stretched for several miles, and the white flags fluttered in the wind, like a winding white dragon crawling on the official road.

Chu Ning's sudden coma was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing thousands of waves.

The originally solemn funeral procession suddenly became chaotic, and the accompanying civil and military officials and royal family members all became agitated.

Zhao Yu, who was also the commander of the Imperial Guards, reacted the fastest. He rushed forward and supported the staggering emperor, while shouting:

"Escort!"

"How could His Majesty suddenly fall into a coma?" The Minister of Rites in the distance turned pale and became nervous.

"Who knows?" The Minister of Works stroked his graying beard, his brow furrowed. "But it's true that the retired emperor was assassinated, and Your Majesty has barely slept a wink these past few days."

"Could it be that he's overworked?" Zhang Cheng, the Minister of Revenue, lowered his voice. "Speaking of which, your Majesty's complexion has indeed been getting worse over the past few days."

"Alas," Zhou Wen, the Minister of Rites, sighed and looked towards the imperial carriage with worry, "I wonder how His Majesty is doing now."

"I have already seen Divine Doctor Sun passing by just now."

Censor Liu Yong pointed forward, and everyone looked in the direction of his finger. Sure enough, they saw the white-haired Sun Simiao hurriedly boarding the imperial carriage.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the imperial carriage was so solemn that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.

Chu Ning's face was as pale as paper, with fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead and his lips an abnormal bluish purple color.

Queen Shen Wanying knelt on one side, her slender fingers tightly grasping the brocade handkerchief, her knuckles turning bluish-white.

The Vice Empress Wu Zhao stood on the other side. Although her expression was normal, she could not hide the worry flashing in her phoenix eyes.

"Doctor Sun, how is His Majesty? He will be fine..." Shen Wanying's voice trembled, and she didn't dare to ask further when the words came to her lips.

Sun Simiao did not answer immediately, but carefully took Chu Ning's pulse.

His brows furrowed tighter and tighter, almost twisting into a knot.

The two children, Chu Tian and Chu Xiuning, stood in the corner, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Yu stood guard at the door of the imperial carriage, his hand always on the hilt of his sword, glancing around vigilantly.

After a moment, Sun Simiao sighed, "Your Majesty has been overworked recently, and his heart meridians have been damaged, which is why he suddenly fell into a coma."

"Heart damage?"

Shen Wanying cried out in surprise, the handkerchief in her hand fluttering to the ground: "Why... why is this happening?"

Sun Simiao stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps it was due to the assassination of the retired emperor. Although His Majesty usually does not show it, his heart meridian is indeed severely damaged."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, Your Majesty was poisoned by a blood spider in his early years. Although the remaining poison has cleared, the heart and meridians in your body cannot withstand the torment. Now that you are trapped internally and externally, the sudden attack has occurred."

Wu Zhao was calmer than Shen Wanying. She went straight to the point: "How should we treat him now?"

"I need to give Your Majesty acupuncture," Sun Simiao looked around, "but I need an absolutely quiet environment."

Wu Zhao made a prompt decision, her eyes glaring. "Commander Zhao, set up camp immediately. Everyone, stay put!"

Although she was a woman, there was an unquestionable majesty in her words, which was the bearing of the empress who once ruled the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"I obey your command!" Zhao Yu responded with a fist salute, turned around and strode away.

Soon, a temporary camp was built beside the official road.

The imperial guards moved quickly and soon erected a large bright yellow tent, which was tightly surrounded by curtains.

All royal family members and civil and military ministers were arranged to wait a hundred steps away, even Shen Wanying and Wu Zhao were no exception.

Liu Shouren, the Minister of Revenue, was the first to step forward. He bowed and asked, "My two ladies, may I know how your Majesty is doing?"

As a cabinet minister, he naturally knew the emperor's current situation, but the imperial guards blocked his way just now and he couldn't get through at all.

Now that Empress Shen Wanying and Empress Wu Zetian had come, he took the opportunity to ask them.

Shen Wanying fought back tears, her voice choking with sobs as she said, "Your Majesty's heart meridian is damaged. Divine Doctor Sun is treating him with acupuncture. We need to wait here."

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers were in an uproar.

"Heart meridians damaged?" Dali Temple Minister Zheng Yuan gasped: "This is a disease of great sorrow and pain!"

"It seems that the death of the retired emperor has dealt a far greater blow to Your Majesty than we imagined." The Minister of Works sighed softly.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, how could this happen..." The Minister of Rites shook his head and sighed, "Life is so unpredictable."

"Don't forget, everyone," Zhou De, the Imperial Hospital's chief judge, reminded him, "The blood spider poison Your Majesty was infected with was extremely dangerous. Perhaps this has something to do with it."

Everyone was talking about it, and their worries were evident in their words.

And where they can't see, a conspiracy is brewing in the dark.

In a dense forest about half a mile away from the camp, dozens of men in black were lurking silently.

They were wrapped in night clothes, with only their cold eyes showing.

The weapon in his hand occasionally flashed a cold light among the shadows of the trees, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue.

"There's news from the Lord!"

A man in black landed silently in front of the leader and bowed. "The Dog Emperor suddenly fainted. It is said that his heart meridian was damaged and he is receiving treatment."

The leading black-clad figure sneered, his voice hoarse as sandpaper. "Heart meridians damaged? Humph, a man who murdered his brother and usurped the throne would be heartbroken by the death of the retired emperor?"

He stroked the dagger at his waist and continued to ask, "What instructions does the lord have?"

"My Lord said we should act after dark and give the signal then."

"very good!"

A fierce look flashed in the leader's eyes: "Then let this 'filial son' live a few more hours."

The sun sets in the west, and the last ray of afterglow paints the white tents with a layer of blood.

Sun Simiao's silver needles flickered faintly under the candlelight, piercing into Chu Ning's acupuncture points one by one.

Outside the tent, the patrolling imperial guards could be heard sounding in unison.

Inside the tent, there was only the faint buzzing sound of the trembling silver needles.

Shen Wanying and Wu Zhao stood side by side, looking at the darkening sky, and both clenched their sleeves at the same time.

What they didn't know was that as night fell, an assassination attempt against Chu Ning was about to begin.

Chu Xiuning, who had changed her surname, noticed her mother's worry and raised her eyebrows. She asked:

"Mother, is Father in very bad condition?"

Wu Zhao frowned and said, "It's hard to say. Damage to the heart meridian is an internal injury, and it's difficult to heal."

"However, Doctor Sun was a famous doctor at the time. Since he was called a miracle doctor, he must have some real skills."

"I believe he can definitely cure your father."

Chu Xiuning nodded, not quite understanding.

Chu Tian, who was standing by, also pulled Shen Wanying's clothes and asked, "Mother, Father will be fine, right?"

Shen Wanying put away the worry in her eyes and said, "Yes, your father is a lucky man, and he will be safe!"