Chapter 1223: Chapter 190: Incurable (2)
Chapter 1223: Chapter 190: Incurable (2)
“How is His Majesty?”
A few witch doctors looked at Zhao Yao, then at Emperor Yong’an, but still dared not speak.
Zhao Yao became anxious and with a stern face demanded, “Tell me, how is His Majesty’s health?”
The witch doctors trembled, stuttering as they spoke, “Your Highness, we…”
Emperor Yong’an spoke gently, “Tenth Brother, don’t trouble them.” With that, he waved his hand, signaling the witch doctors to withdraw.
The witch doctors dared not hesitate and stumbled as they left.
Zhao Yao understood in his heart, but he didn’t want to believe it.
“Eighth Brother, you…”
Emperor Yong’an said serenely, “I don’t have much time left.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao felt as if struck by lightning on a clear day, his mind went blank, and he stared dazedly at Emperor Yong’an. He wanted to say something but couldn’t utter a single word.
Seeing Zhao Yao unable to speak, but with his face full of tears, Emperor Yong’an’s heart ached, yet his expression remained calm.
“Tenth Brother, I know my own body, otherwise I wouldn’t have written to call you back.”
Zhao Yao finally regained his senses, shaking his head repeatedly, “No, it’s impossible, if the witch doctors can’t do it, I’ll call other doctors.”
“Tenth Brother, no matter if the gods or Buddha were here, they couldn’t save me.”
“No, Eighth Brother, you’re still young, how could…” Zhao Yao refused to believe Emperor Yong’an’s words.
“Tenth Brother…”
Zhao Yao interrupted Emperor Yong’an, “Eighth Brother, I don’t believe…”
“Though I have little time left, it doesn’t mean I’m about to die…”
Emperor Yong’an hadn’t finished speaking when Zhao Yao covered his mouth.
“Eighth Brother, don’t utter that word.”
“Alright, I won’t say it,” Emperor Yong’an grasped Zhao Yao’s hand, his eyes pleading, “Tenth Brother, listen to me first.”
Zhao Yao’s mind was in chaos and his heart equally troubled. He knew what Emperor Yong’an was about to say was not what he wanted to hear, but the pleading in Yong’an’s eyes prevented him from refusing.
“My body is growing weaker, I no longer have the energy to handle state affairs. Now that you’re back, help me oversee and manage the government…” Emperor Yong’an hadn’t finished his sentence when Zhao Yao opened his mouth to protest and was quickly stopped, “I’m gravely ill, truly unable to manage affairs of state. You’re the person I trust most; entrusting the court affairs to you eases my heart. If you refuse me, do you wish for me to spend my last days in unease?”
Zhao Yao nodded while crying, “I promise you…”
“Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu will assist you, so don’t be afraid.” Emperor Yong’an held Zhao Yao’s hand, conveying many instructions. His body was too frail, and after entrusting some matters to Zhao Yao, he fell asleep.
Zhao Yao kept watch beside the Dragon Bed for a while and then hurried out to find the witch doctors, asking them with a stern face about Emperor Yong’an’s health.
The witch doctors dared not stammer again and truthfully reported on Emperor Yong’an’s condition, but they concealed the fact of him being poisoned.
From the witch doctors’ mouths, Zhao Yao learned that Emperor Yong’an was truly terminally ill and beyond medical aid, causing Zhao Yao’s body to stagger violently, nearly falling to the ground.
“Is there really no way?” Zhao Yao asked again, “If you can’t find a solution, can other doctors?”
One witch doctor asked, “Your Highness, has His Majesty been physically weak since childhood?”
The second witch doctor asked again, “Your Highness, was His Majesty poisoned while in the womb?”
The third witch doctor asked again, “Your Highness, did you previously give His Majesty our witch doctors’ tonic?”
Zhao Yao frowned and replied, “Yes, you’re correct in all you said.”
“Your Highness, if it weren’t for the tonic you previously gave His Majesty, he’d have long since…” These words were indeed true. Years ago, the ‘Great Replenishing Pill’ Zhao Yao gave Emperor Yong’an alleviated the poison within him, extending his life by several years, otherwise, he would have succumbed to the poison years prior.
Recalling this, Zhao Yao’s eyes lit up with hope, asking, “Since the tonic you previously gave was effective for Eighth Brother, can he not take it again…”
The witch doctors all shook their heads in unison, “It’s useless now.”
“Your Highness, have you continued giving supplements to His Majesty thereafter?”
Zhao Yao nodded, “I send Eighth Brother a bottle of tonic every year.” As he spoke, his face fell into despair, “Really, there’s no solution?”
“Your Highness, we dare not hide nor deceive you, not even gods or Bodhisattvas could save…”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao’s body shuddered violently, then collapsed onto the ground.
“Your Highness…”
Zhao Yao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He asked with a trembling voice, “How much longer does Eighth Brother have?”
An aged witch doctor replied, “A month at most.”
A month…
A month… There’s still time, other Divine Doctors can be sought to save Eighth Brother. If the witch doctors in Lingnan cannot, then we’ll invite the Western Regions Divine Doctor.
Zhao Yao dismissed the witch doctors, then summoned Tong Xi and ordered him to call the Hidden Guard to seek the Western Regions Divine Doctor. Once found, bring him to the capital without delay.
Tong Xi received the order and went to carry it out.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager arrived. Mother and son met and kept vigil beside Emperor Yong’an’s bed.
“Mother, have you already learned of Eighth Brother’s condition?”
The Empress Dowager wiped away tears as she replied, “His Majesty didn’t conceal it from me.”
“I’ve dispatched someone to seek Divine Doctors in the Western Regions, over there are many forbidden medicines and techniques, perhaps they might save Eighth Brother.” Zhao Yao’s heart refused to accept that Emperor Yong’an’s days were numbered.
Though the Empress Dowager understood Emperor Yong’an’s illness couldn’t be cured, she couldn’t bear to reveal the truth to Zhao Yao.
“Then let the Divine Doctors from the Western Regions try.”
Zhao Yao asked, “Mother, how is Father?”
“Your father is much better, he can move his upper body and even say a few simple words.”
“That’s good.” Zhao Yao presently didn’t have the heart to visit the Supreme Emperor. “Mother, please go care for Father, I’ll stay with Eighth Brother.”
“Have you had dinner?” The Empress Dowager, seeing Zhao Yao’s weary face, felt pained, “Come with me to Cining Palace, take a bath, change into clean clothes, and eat a little.”
“Mother, I can’t eat.” With Eighth Brother gravely ill, he had no mind for bathing or dining.
“You must eat even if you can’t, otherwise how will you care for His Majesty or assist in managing state affairs on his behalf.” The Empress Dowager reminded Zhao Yao, “Since you’re back, preside over tomorrow’s court session, manage state affairs well, so His Majesty won’t worry about court matters during his illness.”
The news of Emperor Yong’an’s grave condition left Zhao Yao at a loss, yet hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, he could only comply.
He went to Cining Palace, bathed first, then ate a little, and finally checked in on the Supreme Emperor. The Supreme Emperor had already retired, so Zhao Yao didn’t wake him.
Having seen the Empress Dowager, Zhao Yao returned to Emperor Yong’an, keeping vigil beside him.