This time, when the Crown Prince collapsed, it was not like previous occasions when he would regain consciousness after a short while.
This time, he fell completely unconscious.
After examining him, Chief Medical Officer Sun felt as though even his own head might not remain attached to his neck. Trembling, he exchanged a glance with Imperial Physician Hu. Neither man wanted to be the first to speak.
In the end, it was Empress Feng who took a deep breath and said coldly: “What exactly is the Crown Prince’s condition? Do not conceal anything! Speak truthfully!”
Emperor Yongchang was still seething with anger, but he forced himself to remain restrained.
If the Crown Prince had not fainted so quickly, he would have slapped him several times himself.
A Crown Prince behaving like this was unheard of! He was the Crown Prince!
By virtue of ritual law and succession customs, as long as he committed no major mistakes, even the Emperor himself would have to risk universal condemnation and oppose the court officials to depose him.
All the Crown Prince had needed to do was walk the proper path with dignity.
Yet he had chosen to make such a mess of things.
Stupid beyond belief!
Closing his eyes briefly, Emperor Yongchang said coldly: “Speak. What exactly has happened?”
Since the Crown Prince had collapsed, the senior cabinet ministers dared not leave.
All of them remained waiting outside Taizhi Hall for news.
Heavens above!
The Crown Prince absolutely could not die at a time like this!
The Crown Prince wasn’t without brothers.
Though they usually lacked influence, if the Crown Prince died, the question of whether the throne should pass to a son or a grandson would become an enormous issue.
Handled poorly, it could plunge both court and country into chaos.
Times of succession were always the most dangerous.
Under all this pressure, Chu Bo suddenly thought of Qi Yuan.
That girl…
The daughter of Yongping Marquis Manor…
His gaze darkened.
Meanwhile, the people carrying all the pressure, Imperial Physician Hu and Chief Medical Officer Sun, had already gone weak in the knees. With miserable expressions, they knelt on the floor. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress… The Crown Prince’s emotions fluctuated too violently, violating a major medical taboo. His mouth is twisted, his speech is impaired, his limbs are trembling. There is no response when the left leg is tested, and his right hand is curled into a claw shape.” He swallowed hard. “These… these are symptoms of a stroke.”
With a thud, Liao Bin dropped to his knees and burst into tears.
He had said it before. The Crown Prince absolutely had to control his temper. His emotions could not be allowed to fluctuate wildly.
But the Crown Prince never listened.
Every time, he insisted he knew what he was doing and merely deceived the physicians.
But how could anyone fool a physician?
The Crown Prince truly…
At that moment, Xiao Jingzhao hurriedly arrived. What greeted him was a room full of kneeling people and expressions of despair.
Upon seeing him, Empress Feng sighed. “Jingzhao, come here. Try calling for your royal father and see whether he responds.”
But no matter how Xiao Jingzhao called out, the Crown Prince showed no reaction.
Drool simply continued flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this state, everyone inwardly sighed.
They knew there was little hope.
Even if he recovered consciousness, the time remaining to him would likely be limited.
Grief surged through Xiao Jingzhao. He felt like crying his heart out.
Fortunately, given the circumstances, crying was hardly inappropriate. With a loud wail, he burst into tears.
Originally, Emperor Yongchang had been more angry than sorrowful. But somehow, hearing his grandson cry so bitterly made his own heart ache as well.
This unfilial son truly was an unfilial son.
Yet he was still his son.
He had already lost one son.
When Xiao Ling died, he still remembered the unbearable pain.
At his age, nothing was harder to accept than a white-haired parent burying a black-haired child.
A sharp pain gripped his chest, and he staggered.
Fortunately, Empress Feng was beside him and immediately supported him.
At that moment, the Empress Dowager hurried in. Emperor Yongchang nodded to Empress Feng before stepping forward. “Royal Mother.”
His voice softened. “Why have you come?”
“How could I not come when such a major event has occurred?” Empress Dowager Tian’s anxious gaze fell upon the Crown Prince. Seeing that he remained completely unresponsive, she frowned deeply. “What happened? How did things become like this?”
Then she demanded: “Chief Medical Officer Sun! What exactly is wrong with the Crown Prince? Speak!”
With a mournful face, Chief Medical Officer Sun could only repeat himself. “The Crown Prince… has suffered a stroke. The situation appears rather serious. We must wait to see when he awakens. Whether he can walk afterward, whether he can speak afterward, none of these things can be guaranteed…”
What?!
Empress Dowager Tian sucked in a sharp breath.
It was actually this serious?! No wonder such a commotion had erupted.
Without drawing attention, she glanced toward Tian Jinglan beside her.
Tian Jinglan quietly surveyed everyone in the room. Her gaze eventually landed on Xiao Jingzhao.
Xiao Jingzhao was gripping the Crown Prince’s hand tightly, his head bowed as he continued sobbing. He looked utterly devastated.
And she believed that grief was genuine.
The Crown Prince was Xiao Jingzhao’s greatest support. If that support collapsed, Xiao Jingzhao would lose all hope.
Under these circumstances, the person in the world who most wanted the Crown Prince to survive was undoubtedly Xiao Jingzhao.
Thus, she lowered her head slightly and silently squeezed Empress Dowager Tian’s hand.
Immediately, the Empress Dowager asked: “Where is Divine Physician Xue?! The Divine Physician who treated the Crown Princess! Isn’t he supposed to be extraordinarily skilled? I heard that Qi Changting from Yongping Marquis Manor had a broken leg that he successfully healed! Hurry! Go find Divine Physician Xue!”
The Crown Prince could not die.
At the very least, he had to stay alive until Xiao Yunting returned.
Until Xiao Yunting’s marriage was arranged, until he officially entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple and was formally invested as Imperial Grandson. Only then could the Crown Prince die.
Both Emperor Yongchang and Empress Feng had been caught completely off guard. It was only after the Empress Dowager’s reminder that they reacted. They immediately ordered people to summon Divine Physician Xue.
Divine Physician Xue had already packed his medicine chest and was preparing to leave. Instead, he unexpectedly ran into the hurriedly returning Qi Yuan.
Upon seeing her, Lai Chenglong, who had come to escort Divine Physician Xue, looked visibly relieved. “You didn’t run into any trouble on this trip, did you?”
Qi Yuan shook her head. “Lord Lai, may I have a few words with Divine Physician Xue?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Lai Chenglong nodded.
Inwardly, Chunsheng couldn’t help groaning.
My lord!
Could you show a little backbone?
It’s good to treat girls kindly, but you can’t be this accommodating!
If you’re this soft-hearted and obedient, girls won’t respect you!
Especially someone as overwhelmingly capable as Miss Qi. A woman like her admires strength even more.
How can you agree to everything she says?!
It’s infuriating!
Lai Chenglong couldn’t be bothered with him. He had thought he would be nervous. He had thought he would have countless things to say. He had thought he would be overwhelmed with emotion. But in truth, the moment he saw Qi Yuan, safe and unharmed before him, he silently let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
When you truly like someone, it turns out that simply seeing them return safely is enough to bring peace to your heart.
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