Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 1192: Up to Chapter 1192: Into the Role

Outside the hall, as time passed, the hearts of the assembled ministers grew increasingly anxious, and some had begun to converse in hushed tones.

Zhou Shuren pricked his ears and could hear Scholar Ding speaking. Scholar Ding was puzzled, ”The Emperor has fainted and the Crown Prince hasn’t arrived. Instead, it’s Prince Qi who is standing watch by the bed.”

At these words, all the officials frowned, deeply worried that if something were to happen to the Emperor, the Crown Prince wasn’t by his side but Prince Qi was. If something unforeseen were to occur, the silence settled in again.

Zhou Shuren sighed to himself. The doors of the great hall had opened only twice. His mindset was that of a spectator to a play, so he had been paying attention to the inside of the hall the whole time and, unexpectedly, Mr. Ding had also taken the chance to glimpse the situation inside during those few seconds the doors were open.

Prince Chu and Prince Liang were standing inside the hall, but Prince Qi was nowhere to be seen.

Zhou Shuren felt someone tugging at his sleeve and turned around with an impassive face. It wasn’t that he wanted to complain, but Li Zhao had a particular penchant for being hands-on, ”Mr. Li.”

Li Zhao, as the trusted confidant of the Emperor and the Minister of War, began to realize something. He was aware of the recent movements of troops and horses; otherwise, he would have no need to hold the position of Minister of War.

He had also made an attempt to write a Zhezi. The Emperor had replied but with only one word: ”noted.” Afterwards, he didn’t inquire further and even helped to cover up the traces.

Li Zhao always had the feeling that a significant event was about to unfold. Today with the Emperor’s swoon, he needed support and after looking around, he saw Zhou Shuren, the crafty old fellow, standing there with his unexpressive face.

Li Zhao said, ”Mr. Zhou, there is more space over here, I’ll come and keep you company for a while.”

Zhou Shuren, ”...Hm?”

Since when had he been giving off the impression that he needed company?

Li Zhao’s heart, which had been fluctuating, settled. His fingertips played with the sleeve of his official robe, ”I’m shielding you from the wind now, and later when the sun comes up, I can block the sunlight for you.”

Zhou Shuren’s face darkened. He felt completely slighted—no, not just felt, he was slighted!

Xiao Qing had been anxiously watching the closed doors of the hall and now turned to Li Zhao. Hm, indeed, Li Zhao could pretty much provide enough shade for one and a half of Zhou Shuren. He patted Zhou Shuren on the shoulder.

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

This silent attack was truly cutting!

Inside the hall, the Imperial Physicians were huddled together in small groups, alternating between panic and a desperate sense of resolve. Yet after much discussion, they were still unable to compose a prescription.

Without the Crown Prince there, no one was in charge of the situation. Prince Qi should have taken charge, but unfortunately it seemed like his feet were glued to the bedside, motionless, let alone speaking.

If Prince Chu hadn’t known that his father the Emperor was just putting on an act and that Prince Qi was also aware, he would have suspected Prince Qi of deliberately delaying matters. His gaze turned to Eunuch Liu.

Eunuch Liu kept his head bowed, oblivious to Prince Chu’s silent cues.

Prince Liang was lost in thought, feeling utterly bewildered. He felt that he had never truly understood his father or his brothers. He believed he was the most straightforward-minded among his siblings, preferring action to words, and was not one to shy away from force. But compared to his brothers, pah, they all had black hearts.

Prince Liang glared at Prince Chu. Prince Qi and Prince Chu thought they knew everything while he knew nothing. The third brother also tried to draw some balance from him, but actually, he knew more than both of them—thanks to the Crown Prince!

The mere thought of the Crown Prince made Prince Liang’s blood boil. Why was he in such a wretched state? It was all because of the Crown Prince. He had been targeted for assassination several times, and oh how coincidental it was that every time, the Crown Prince was there to witness. After so many instances, he really had lost his temper.

Every time he thought of how, at his most miserable moments, the Crown Prince would surely appear before him with a smile, saying, ”Fourth brother, are you convinced yet?”

Prince Liang couldn’t afford to think any more, or he’d continue to have nightmares.

Outside, the sun climbed higher and Zhou Shuren had already moved to stand behind Mr. Li. The temperature was rising, and the air was getting stuffy. They had been standing for so long that they could hardly bear it, and the last thing Zhou Shuren wanted was to suffer heatstroke.

Li Zhao twitched the corners of his mouth, ”I thought you wouldn’t hide.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I’m not stupid.”

Only a fool makes things difficult for themselves.

The ministers were all of advanced age, the oldest among them made a thudding sound as he collapsed from heatstroke.

Just as someone fainted, the Imperial Physician was treating the Emperor, and what was more fatal was no news at all while surrounded by guards wielding knives.

The arrival of the Empress energized the ministers, who promptly paid their respects.

The Empress frowned, ”Honorable ministers, be at ease, I will go in to check now.”

At this moment, the palace doors also opened, and Eunuch Liu announced, ”His Majesty has decreed, all ministers may return home.”

Mr. Zhao hurriedly asked, ”Eunuch, is the Emperor well?”

Eunuch Liu’s face was filled with joy, ”Good, good, His Majesty has awakened, the Imperial Physician said he’ll recover after some days of rest.”

The anxiety gripping the ministers eased somewhat, but today’s fainting incident still gave them an ominous premonition, and they prepared to leave.

The Empress reached the doorway but was stopped by Eunuch Liu, ”Your Highness, the Emperor said he will not see anyone.”

The Empress’s eyes sharpened, ”I am the Empress, I want to see the Emperor.”

Eunuch Liu bowed low, ”The Emperor said he will not see anyone.”

The Empress became furious, motioning for the Female Officer to detain Eunuch Liu, ”Step aside, the Emperor faints and you do not inform me, I think you all wish to commit regicide.”

The ministers were dumbfounded, then quickly knelt down—the overload of information was too much, the Empress had not been informed earlier, and indeed, if she had been, she wouldn’t have arrived late, which meant that even the Crown Prince had not been told!

At this speculation, everyone looked at each other, their newly settled hearts once again in disarray.

Prince Qi finally appeared at this time, bowing his head, ”Mother, Father’s decree asks that you return to the palace to transcribe the scriptures and pray for his well-being.”

The Empress coldly regarded Prince Qi, ”I want to hear it from the Emperor himself.”

Zhou Shuren bowed his head, thinking that a woman who could accompany the Emperor through battles and rise to this day commanded a truly formidable presence.

Then there was a sound, the Emperor, assisted by Prince Chu, slowly came out, ”Return to the palace to transcribe scriptures and pray for well-being.”

Despite knowing it was an act, the Empress still felt a wrenching pain in her heart, as if everything happening wasn’t just a play. Her face instantly turned pale, her lips trembling, ”You don’t trust me, you don’t trust me, you guard against me, haha, I’ve fought battles with you, walked this path to today, and now you don’t trust me, well, well.”

Her voice grew louder, starting from a murmur and rising with each word.

The Emperor was startled, and had it not been for the tight grasp on Prince Chu’s arm, he would have reached out to steady her. His lips moved; he felt the Empress had gotten too into character, unable to distinguish reality from the act, and he realized he had deeply hurt her, which was why she was so convincingly immersed in her role.

Prince Chu’s arm was in pain; initially when the Emperor shakily rose, he thought his father might really be unwell. Now, he didn’t think so anymore; with his father’s strength, he felt he could live vigorously for over a decade more!

The Empress’s eyes dimmed, and her frame staggered; she had snapped back to reality, recognizing she had gotten too into character, mistaking the false for the real. Perhaps out of fear of such a scenario in her heart, confronting it today, even as an act, was too much for her to control. She pushed away the Female Officer supporting her, straightened her clothes, turned around, and walked away with her spine erect, one step at a time.

The Emperor watched silently, while Prince Chu’s arm hurt so much his face nearly twisted, but he still had to endure.

Zhou Shuren still marveled, impressed by the Empress’s acting prowess which far exceeded that of the Emperor. The despair he could feel in her earlier confrontation was boundless, filled with overwhelming emotion!