"Get this old man out of here!"
With a crash, all the furniture on the table was swept to the ground. Shan Chao gasped for a while before he stood up and said slowly, "… Get the doctor out of here.
Get the carriage ready to enter the palace. "
Xie Yun's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Her pulse was weak and her Sea of Qi was empty. What made Shan Chao even more afraid was that the internal Qi that was circulating in her body had disappeared.
What exactly happened?
Was she poisoned?
Was she seriously ill?
How could she become like this in just a few days?!
Shan Chao was appointed to assist the government. Like the other assistant ministers, he had the right to enter the palace at any time. As soon as the carriage and horses entered the Xuanwu Gate, they went straight to the Ling Luan Palace. When they arrived at the palace gates, they asked to see Ming Chong Shi, but Ming Chong Yan refused to see them.
"Mister is meditating inside and says that unless His Majesty summons him, he will not …"
The young disciple's voice was trembling. He felt that the General's gaze was so powerful that he could not speak.
"If … if the General has something important to say, I will write it down first. When Mister comes out …"
"Crash!"
The young disciple's knees went soft and he felt a strong wind blow past him. Shan Chao walked past him without looking back and went up the palace stairs to the closed door.
What is he doing?
The young disciple's face turned pale. Before he could scream, "General, please show mercy!", he heard Dan Chao draw his sword and let out a thunderous roar that shook people's hearts.
"Ming — Chong — Yan!"
"Boom!"
The thick palace door was torn apart by the Long Yuan, splashing wood and dust everywhere.
In the main hall, Ming Chongyan opened his eyes and looked into the eyes of the gods and Buddhas who were looking down at the mortals in the smoke. There was a slight sadness in his eyes.
Ten feet behind him, Dan Chao stood in the ruins at the entrance of the palace against the light. He exhaled a scorching breath from his chest, and his veins bulged as he sheathed the Longyuan Sword inch by inch.
"Xie Yun is sick," Shan Chao said in a low voice. "Please save her one more time. I will definitely repay you generously."
Ming Chongyan asked in return, "When we first met General at Puyang Palace, what did I say? Does General still remember?"
There was a heart-palpitating silence. The disciples stood at the bottom of the palace steps in the distance, looking at them in fear.
After an unknown amount of time, Shan Chao repeated each word in a hoarse voice, "… Xie Yun is sick, please save her one more time …"
Ming Chongyan finally stood up helplessly and sighed. "This is the will of the heavens. Let's just take a look."
However, when Shan Chao "invited" Ming Chongyan back to the mansion, he found that Xie Yun had driven all the servants out of the room. The decorative door of the bedroom was tightly shut, and a faint green light could be seen faintly coming out from the door.
The housekeeper and his manservant were standing in the garden, trembling with fear. Shan Chao felt that something was wrong and went forward to knock on the door. "Xie Yun?"
There was no sound of people inside.
"… Xie Yun?
Open the door! "Shan Chao shouted angrily, but his voice was mixed with unconcealable fear." Quickly open the door! "
With a loud bang, Shan Chao kicked the door open and rushed in!
The curtains of the bed hung down layer by layer, and a hoarse gasp could be heard from the gap, as if it was a weak struggle in pain.
Shan Chao went forward to lift the curtains, but was stopped by Ming Chongyan who followed in. He gently raised the corner of the bed and sighed. "Commander Xie."
Shan Chao froze in place, and his breathing stopped.
There was a Small Dragon on the bed!
The Small Dragon's body emitted a gentle green light. Its head was buried in its body, and its breathing was undulating. Its golden claws were tightly gripping the silk quilt, and it was slightly convulsing in extreme pain.
"… Xie Yun …" After a while, Shan Chao shook his head slightly and said in despair, "What's going on?!"
Ming Chongyan reached out his hand, as if he wanted to touch the Green Dragon, but it sensitively avoided him. Fangshi immediately cautiously stopped.
At this moment, Shan Chao rushed forward, trembling as he stroked the scales and dragon horns on its head. The Green Dragon finally whimpered and raised its head to look at Shan Chao.
Its original dark green color had faded to a light green color, and its scales were so fragile that they cracked with the slightest movement.
Even so, it still struggled to stretch out its body and reluctantly rubbed Shan Chao's hand.
Following this movement, Shan Chao and Ming Chongyan's expressions changed at the same time. They both saw a part of its body that it had been hiding.
On the dragon's neck, a piece of scale had been torn off, revealing a piece of flesh the size of a palm.
"Reverse scale!" Ming Chongyan cried out.
Dragons had a reverse scale that was indestructible, and if one touched it, they would die. It was the most fatal part of the Green Dragon's body.
And now, this precious reverse scale had disappeared.
Who did it?
What's going on?!
Shan Chao let out a confused and hoarse gasp. The recent events flashed through his mind, and a terrible thought emerged from the depths of his heart.
He held the Small Dragon in his arms, his lips slightly moving. Just as he was about to grab Ming Chongyan and ask him something, he suddenly heard the voice of the butler from outside the bed, "General, General!
Dai Xiang and Premier Zhang have come to invite you, saying that something important has happened in the palace … "
Shan Chao didn't even think, "What is it?
I don't want to see them! "
"It's very urgent," the butler's tone changed, "Dai Xiang said that if I don't see you today, the country will be mourned!"
Shan Chao's anger rose to the top of his head, "Then let the little emperor go to hell!"
Just as he was about to roar, Ming Chongyan held him back and whispered, "There must be something important in the palace, we can't refuse to see them. If the two prime ministers become suspicious and force their way in …" As he said this, he signaled to the little Green Dragon on the bed with his eyes.
The Green Dragon slowly retracted its body and curled up in a corner of the silk quilt, painfully hugging its neck that had lost its reverse scale.
"I'll take care of things here, General, please go quickly," Ming Chongyan said solemnly, "Once the situation changes, I'll immediately send a message, don't worry."
The butler also said, "Dai Xiang and Premier Zhang are waiting in the front hall, constantly urging you …"
Shan Chao had no choice but to bend over and use his warm and dry hands to stroke the Green Dragon's scales, then hurried to the front hall.
Dai Zhide and Zhang Wenguan were waiting there. As soon as they saw him, they immediately strode forward to greet him, the two old faces that had been in the officialdom for a long time were unexpectedly filled with unconcealable panic.
Shan Chao glanced behind them, the table was empty, the two didn't even order the servants to serve tea.
"It's my fault for making the two of you wait for so long.
It's just that my family member suddenly fell ill today, I really couldn't leave … "
Shan Chao's preemptive show of strength didn't have any effect, Dai Zhide stunned him with one sentence, "The palace sent word that His Majesty wishes to abdicate the throne …"
Shan Chao was completely stunned.
"… Wei Xuanzhen." Zhang Wenguan slowly finished the second half of the sentence, then closed his eyes heavily.
Two days ago, the little Emperor made a big fuss because of the battle at An Dong. First he blamed Shan Chao, then he blamed Dai Zhide, scolded all the assistant Prime Ministers, and then he rewarded Wei Xuanzhen heavily, vowing to oppose the court officials to the end.
But the little Emperor's foundation in the court was too weak, so weak that even though he had shown such great determination, no one was willing to follow suit.
In the morning court in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there were even civil and military officials who spoke out against the Emperor, and brought up the matter of Wei Xuanzhen seizing the land and other things to impeach him.
The isolated and helpless little Emperor didn't give in to the officials, he used the tough method his father used to make the Wu family empress – to oppose all opposition to the end.
Thus, the little Emperor decided to make Wei Xuanzhen an Attendant, the second Prime Minister of the Secretariat.
"Is he crazy?" Shan Chao frowned, "How can Wei Xuanzhen be promoted to an Attendant?
Where is Dai, Zhang, Premier Lai? "
After the meeting in the front hall, Dai Zhide immediately forced Shan Chao to enter the palace to see the Emperor.
Shan Chao was worried about the little Green Dragon in the back courtyard, and almost fell out with the two white-bearded old Prime Ministers, but Ming Chongyan sent someone to report that Xie Yun had returned to her human form, and her condition was stable, so he reluctantly agreed to enter the palace.
The three of them shared a carriage, Zhang Wenguan sighed and said, "That's right!
Thus, I tried to persuade His Majesty to change his mind, but my words were too harsh, so His Majesty was very angry, and immediately wanted to summon the General's imperial sword … "
Shan Chao was thinking about Xie Yun at home, and after a while, he reacted, "Imperial sword?
What for? "
Zhang Wenguan's tears rolled down his face, "I think he wants to kill me!"
"…" Shan Chao felt that it was ridiculous, and he couldn't say anything.
"Not only that."
Dai Zhide seemed to see through his thoughts, and said, "The news that His Majesty wants to promote Wei Xuanzhen to an Attendant has spread, and the Imperial Study Room has been flooded with opposing memorials, which made it even more difficult for His Majesty to tolerate.
I have a close eunuch who works in the Imperial Study Room, and this morning he secretly came out of the palace and told me that His Majesty was angry in the palace, and said: 'I want to give the world to Wei Xuanzhen, so what?!
Why be stingy with a mere Attendant?!
If the officials have any more objections, I will follow Yao Shun's example and take Wei Xuanzhen as my Attendant. Let's see what else they have to say! "
Shan Chao, "…"
The carriage drove into the inner palace, and the three of them got off and hurried into the Imperial Study Room. From afar, they could hear the sound of porcelain being overturned, followed by the little Emperor's roar.
"You all don't respect me!
Every one of you wants to ride on my neck —! "
Dai Xiang and Premier Zhang didn't find it strange, as if they were used to this kind of scene.
Shan Chao walked to the door of the Imperial Study Room, but was stopped by a trembling palace servant. He said gently, "Go and report to His Majesty that King Ping is here to see him."
The palace servant didn't dare to stroke the Emperor's beard when he was angry, but he also didn't dare to disobey Shan Chao's orders, so he could only enter while trembling.
After a while, the little Emperor shouted at the top of his lungs, "I'm not seeing him!" Then, there was a loud bang.
"…" The palace servant came out with a forehead full of blood, "Reporting … Reporting to King Ping, His … His Majesty is not seeing him …"
Shan Chao took a deep breath and pushed the palace servant away with a solemn expression.
"— — King Ping, please wait!
Hey, hey!
Trespassing is … "
Shan Chao didn't even turn his head as he strode into the Imperial Study Room amidst the palace servant's panicked shouts.
The little Emperor stood among a pile of broken porcelain, panting. The table and the floor were scattered all over the memorial.
Shan Chao picked up one of them, and the first line that caught his eye was "Although the Wei family produced an Empress …" Then, his eyes were filled with the blood and tears of the imperial censor.
Shan Chao shook his head and sighed, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty."
The little Emperor suddenly turned around and shouted, "Who let you in?!
You all really treat my words as farts, don't you?! "
"I don't dare," Shan Chao said, "I heard that Your Majesty is going to hand over the world to Assistant Minister Wei?"
The little Emperor turned around and looked at Shan Chao from head to toe. After a while, he crossed his arms provocatively and raised his head to ask, "Are you also here to stop me from promoting Wei Xuanzhen to the position of Attendant?"
"— I don't dare."
Shan Chao clasped his hands and said tactfully, "Although I was wrongly favored by the late Emperor and was given the posthumous edict to assist in the government, I know that my talent and knowledge are very shallow and far inferior to the Imperial Secretariat.
If Your Majesty wants to promote Assistant Minister Wei, I don't dare to say anything. As long as Dai Xiang, Premier Zhang, Premier Lai, and Premier Hao all agree, I naturally have no objections. "
— — In other words, I won't agree even if I'm beaten to death.
The little Emperor widened his eyes in disbelief and then shouted angrily, "This world is mine!
Whoever I want to promote, whoever I want to kill, whoever I want to kill, I will kill!
Even if I abdicate to Darling Wei, you have no right to speak, do you understand?! "
Shan Chao shook his head and said, "No, Your Majesty … you are wrong."
"In the thirteenth year of the Great Undertaking at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu used the name of protecting the Emperor and raised an army from Jinyang. He attacked all the way to Daxing city and changed his name to Chang An.
In the ninth year of Wude, the Second Emperor since the founding of a country started the Xuanwu rebellion and killed the deposed Crown Prince Jian Cheng and Prince Yuanji of Qi. He pacified Cao Jue, attacked Gao Juli, established the Four Towns of Anxi, and started the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan rule.
In the twenty-third year of Zhenguan, The Late Emperor ascended the throne to Chang An. He stopped the Battle of Liaodong, stopped the civil war, pacified Tu Jue in Xi, attacked Gao Juli, and established sixty-one vassals … "
"This country was created by our ancestors through war. This country was created by generations of loyal vassals."
Shan Chao was gentle and did not allow any resistance. With a trace of pity, he said, "Even if it is you, you cannot give it away so easily. Your Majesty, this is not your personal thing."
The little Emperor's face was pale and his lips trembled. After a while, he squeezed out a voice filled with hatred, "You think … you think that because you are my brother, you can teach me a lesson, is that right?"
Shan Chao calmly said, "It is not that I think so, I am."
Dai Zhide and Zhang Wenguan supported each other and walked to the door. They were both stunned there.
"Get … get out!"
The little Emperor picked up a few memorials and threw them at them, "None of you are loyal to me, you are all rebellious vassals!
Get out! "
Shan Chao stared at him. After a while, he bowed. His movement seemed to have a certain coldness to it. He then turned and walked out.
"Don't be complacent too early!"
The little Emperor's angry roar came from behind him, "The late Emperor also disobeyed the vassals. If the late Emperor can do it, then I can too!"
The main door of the Shan Manor opened with a loud bang. Horse hooves rushed in like raindrops and then stopped in the front yard with a long neigh.
Shan Chao jumped off his horse and strode to the back yard, "Where is Commander Xie?"
The housekeeper carefully said, "Mr. Ming has been accompanying her in the inner room …"
Shan Chao nodded.
The frivolity of youth that could not hide his joy and anger had completely faded from his body and was replaced by a shocking calmness and composure. It was as if the storm in the palace had not affected him in the slightest, nor did it bring any uneasiness or danger from the outside world to Xie Yun.
It was as if he was a man who was protecting his family.
He quickly walked through the corridor and saw Ming Chongyan standing in the distance outside the inner room. Ming Chongyan watched him approach and then silently lowered his head.
Shan Chao stood in front of the closed door and asked in a low voice, "Xie Yun, he …"
"I have already used the medicine, but it can only save her for a while.
A dragon losing its reverse scale is a matter of life and death. If there is no way to reverse the situation … "
Ming Chongyan paused and motioned for him to go in, "Commander Xie is awake. I am afraid she would be more willing to talk to you."