Chapter 306 The Mountain Collapses

Chapter 306: The Mountain Topples

The hall fell into a deathly silence, everyone waiting for the physicians' verdict.

Under immense pressure, sweat beaded on the physicians' foreheads, soaking the backs of their robes.

"His Majesty—" The physician's voice trembled, breaking apart. "His Majesty... has passed away..."

All present knelt, and wails filled the air.

Qiu Heng knelt among them, her heart finally at ease.

At least it wasn't a coma—he was dead, cleanly and quickly.

Several consorts wept beside Emperor Jingping's body.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you cannot leave us like this..."

"Palace Commander, I have ordered the Imperial Guard to surround the main hall." It was Yang Zhen, Deputy Commander of the Palace Command.

Palace Commander Zhu Qiang nodded, looking toward those who could take charge.

Those qualified to attend the feast were the court's top ministers: Grand Chancellor Zhu Youwei, Privy Council Director Tao Ranfang, Censor-in-Chief Lü Yan, and Prince Fu—the four entrusted with state affairs after Emperor Jingping revoked the Crown Prince's regency.

"His Majesty coughed blood; the cause must be found," said Grand Chancellor Zhu, tears in his eyes.

Censor-in-Chief Lü countered, "I believe the priority is to inform the Crown Prince. A nation cannot be without a ruler for a day."

Grand Chancellor Zhu objected immediately: "His Majesty has ascended to heaven, and we are all present. Should we spread the news without any investigation? Once the crowd disperses, everyone here becomes a suspect—how can we clarify that?"

Censor-in-Chief Lü frowned: "What does Grand Chancellor propose?"

"I suggest we first have the physicians examine His Majesty to determine if it was a sudden illness or something else. If His Majesty was harmed by traitors, we must root them out to repay his grace."

Many officials agreed: "Grand Chancellor speaks wisely."

His Majesty's death was suspicious. If they didn't investigate now, they might later be accused of regicide—who could bear that?

"And if the cause cannot be found quickly?" Censor-in-Chief Lü asked coldly.

"If there is no clarity by nightfall, we should toll the bells and announce it."

Censor-in-Chief Lü fell silent, no longer opposing.

Xue Quan choked out, "Let us move His Majesty to the rear hall first."

Following Emperor Jingping's body to the rear hall were the two physicians and several consorts.

After a suffocating wait, the two physicians staggered back into the hall, their faces deathly pale.

Countless eyes fell on them, like mountains pressing down, making it hard to breathe.

The monarch had died suddenly—any misstep could bring disaster.

"Physicians, what is the situation?" Grand Chancellor Zhu asked.

The two physicians exchanged a glance; the senior one hesitated: "His Majesty... seems to have ingested something violent, causing his vital energy to surge and drain, damaging all organs..."

"The elixir—it must be that elixir!" someone among the officials blurted out.

No one cared who spoke; all eyes turned to Master Miaoqing.

Master Miaoqing appeared calm, but his tense posture betrayed his anxiety.

Prince Fu suddenly spoke: "Everyone here consumed the elixir His Majesty bestowed, and we are all fine—"

Censor-in-Chief Lü cut in coldly: "Prince Fu is mistaken. That we are unharmed does not mean the elixir is safe. We only took one pill today, while His Majesty has likely consumed dozens or hundreds over this period."

The officials exchanged glances and nodded.

Censor-in-Chief Lü's reasoning made sense: they were fine because they took little; the emperor took much!

Compared to suspecting poisoned wine or food, the elixir was far more suspicious.

At imperial banquets, food and drink went through layers of checks—it was no easy task to poison the emperor. But the elixirs Master Miaoqing refined had never been inspected before entering the emperor's mouth.

"Since that is the case, let the physicians examine the elixir now," Prince Fu said with a mournful expression. "The one who harmed His Majesty must be found."

Hearing Prince Fu, Qiu Heng glanced at Xue Han.

Master Miaoqing was backed by Prince Fu, yet Prince Fu himself proposed examining the elixir—had he prepared a harmless pill, or did he have another agenda?

Qiu Heng leaned toward the latter.

Emperor Jingping's sudden death at the Immortal Gathering Banquet was clearly unexpected for Master Miaoqing's faction. It was a surprising accident—would they have prepared a safe pill in advance?

And if the elixir was bound to be found problematic, what was the point of this proposal?

Qiu Heng exchanged a look with Xue Han, her mind racing.

Xue Han was pondering the same question.

A flash of insight struck them both almost simultaneously: stalling for time!

Qiu Heng's pupils constricted—she instantly thought of the purpose of delay: the Crown Prince!

Unless the target was the Crown Prince, stalling for such a short time was pointless.

Xue Han had clearly reached the same conclusion. He gave Qiu Heng a subtle nod and quietly moved toward the hall's entrance.

At that moment, everyone's attention was on the emperor's death—tense and fearful, no one noticed him.

Xue Han was stopped by the Palace Command guards.

"Official Xue, no one may leave the hall for now," said Deputy Commander Yang Zhen, blocking his way.

"By whose order?"

"Naturally, by order of our Commander."

"Is that so? I have been in the hall all along and did not hear Commander Zhu give such an order. Instead, it was Deputy Commander Yang who arranged for the guards to surround the hall before reporting to Commander Zhu."

Yang Zhen hadn't expected Xue Han to notice such details amidst the chaos. He paused, then said, "As a subordinate, it is my duty to anticipate my superior's needs. Does Official Xue think our Commander would not have done the same?"

"I only know that the Imperial City Bureau answers directly to the Son of Heaven and is not under the control of the Palace Command," Xue Han replied coldly. "Or does the Palace Command intend to take over the Imperial City Bureau now that His Majesty has ascended?"

Yang Zhen's face changed: "Official Xue, mind your words!"

Xue Han curled his lips, his gaze turning even icier. "Furthermore, investigation and interrogation of court officials and the palace fall under the Imperial City Bureau's jurisdiction. Deputy Commander Yang's insistence on preventing me from summoning my men—could it be that you have ulterior motives?"

Faced with Official Xue's well-reasoned and firm stance, Yang Zhen's momentum softened: "You're overthinking it, Official Xue."

Xue Han's cold gaze fell on Yang Zhen's face with a warning: "With such a shocking incident at the banquet, the Palace Command and the Imperial City Bureau should cooperate with each other and each fulfill their duties, rather than one side acting alone and giving people something to talk about later. Deputy Commander Yang, don't you think?"

Yang Zhen's expression shifted several times, and he eventually stepped aside.

Xue Han strode out.

Since the Crown Prince had been confined, the Eastern Palace had become desolate and eerily quiet.

The Crown Prince sat in his study, quietly reading a scroll.

A voice came from the doorway: "Your Highness, an Imperial Messenger has arrived, asking you to come receive the imperial decree."

A flicker of change appeared in the Crown Prince's calm eyes.

Was the time of confinement coming to an end? Or was it about to get worse?

How would His Majesty treat his own son?

The Crown Prince put down the scroll and walked out calmly.