Shuhan

Queen Guo Zhao stood in the spacious bedroom, wearing a gorgeous phoenix robe. The phoenix embroidered with gold thread was lifelike on the collar of the robe. Her hair was tied up in a high bun, adorned with pearls and jade, making her look extraordinarily noble.

However, there was a barely perceptible worry in her deep eyes.

Cao Pi, lying on the sickbed, looked haggard and pale as paper, with fatigue and reluctance flashing in his eyes.

He was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, and even though he was ill, his imperial aura remained undiminished.

Guo Zhao walked gently to his side and gently held his hand. His hand was cold and weak, as if foreshadowing something.

"Your Majesty, it's time." Guo Zhao's voice was soft, but it was firm and unquestionable.

She turned around and said to the eunuch standing beside her, with a trace of determination in her eyes, "Go to the East Palace quickly and tell the Crown Prince that His Majesty is seriously ill. I hope the Crown Prince will come to the palace immediately to fulfill his filial duty."

Upon hearing this, the eunuch bowed his head and accepted the order, then hurriedly left the bedroom.

Guo Zhao turned to Cao Pi again, and the two looked into each other's eyes. There was no need for words, as they understood each other's ideas.

This moment of silence seemed to contain thousands of words. Guo Zhao thought to herself: Crown Prince Cao Rui has a calm personality and is extremely intelligent, but what is his attitude towards me? Will he still respect me as before after the emperor passes away? All this will soon be revealed.

The wind outside the window seemed to be more urgent, and the candlelight in the hall flickered, reflecting Guo Zhao's complex expression. She sighed softly, and held Cao Pi's hand again, her eyes full of tenderness and reluctance: "Your Majesty, no matter what the future holds, I will stay here until the last moment."

Cao Pi smiled slightly, and that smile contained too much helplessness and trust. He gently patted the back of Guo Zhao's hand, as if giving her the final comfort and strength.

At this moment, power struggles seemed to become far away, leaving only the deep emotional bond between the emperor and empress.

……

Inside the Prince's Palace, candlelight flickered and the air was filled with a charming atmosphere.

Cao Rui, wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, was making love with two beautiful concubines on the bed, enjoying the pleasure of love.

These two beauties, one has skin as white as cream and eyebrows as bright as distant mountains, the other has a graceful figure and charming eyes. Both of them are the most beautiful in the Prince's Mansion and are trying their best to please the Prince.

However, before this matter was completed, there was a sudden, rapid and forceful knock on the door, like a thunderclap, which instantly interrupted Cao Rui's good deeds.

He frowned, feeling unhappy. Any man would not be in a good mood if his good time was disturbed at this time.

But then, Cao Rui realized that the knock on the door was obviously unusual and must be an urgent matter.

"Why are you so panicked?" Cao Rui asked in a deep voice, suppressing his dissatisfaction.

The servant's voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, the eunuch has an urgent military report, saying that His Majesty is seriously ill. I hope Your Highness will come to the palace immediately!"

When Cao Rui heard this, he was shocked and quickly straightened his clothes, his expression becoming serious.

He looked at the two beauties beside him, a trace of apology and helplessness flashed in his eyes, and he said softly: "This matter is urgent, I must go to the palace immediately. You wait here first, I will be back later."

After saying this, he strode towards the door, pushed it open, and saw the eunuch waiting outside with an anxious look on his face.

Cao Rui didn't say much, just nodded, and hurried away with the eunuch, leaving the two beauties looking at each other, secretly speculating about this sudden change in their hearts.

Cao Rui followed the footsteps of the eunuchs and passed through the palace gates. He felt an inexplicable premonition in his heart. When he stepped into the door of the emperor's bedroom, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere hit him, causing him to slow down his pace involuntarily.

In a corner of the bedroom, Empress Guo Zhao, wearing a luxurious phoenix robe, waited solemnly. Her eyes revealed a bit of anxiety and helplessness, and it was obvious that she had mixed feelings about the emperor's illness.

Cao Rui walked quickly to Guo Zhao and asked anxiously, "How is father's health? Why did he suddenly become like this?"

Guo Zhao sighed softly, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty vomited blood and fell into a coma, and has not woken up yet. The imperial doctors have tried their best, but they said that Your Majesty may not have much time left."

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui felt as if a huge rock had hit his heart. Shock and grief intertwined together, making him not know how to express his emotions for a moment.

He felt sad about his father's illness, but also felt a subtle sense of joy about the upcoming change of power.

This complex emotion surged in his heart, making him feel a little overwhelmed.

Guo Zhao had been keenly observing the changes in Cao Rui's expression. She noticed that his eyes sometimes revealed sadness, and sometimes flashed a hint of imperceptible joy.

She instantly understood Cao Rui's complex emotions.

At this moment, Cao Rui was worried about his father's illness, but also secretly happy that he could ascend the throne and become emperor. This contradictory emotion was vividly expressed on his face.

Guo Zhao sighed softly and decided to ask Cao Rui directly what he thought: "Now, how should we deal with this sudden change?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui quickly pulled himself out of his complicated emotions. He understood that the current situation did not allow him to think too much.

He immediately said firmly: "The first priority is to cure father's illness. I will immediately summon all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital to come for consultation. I will save father's life at all costs."

At this point, he paused, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes: "At the same time, in order to stabilize the court, I need to summon important officials to the palace to discuss matters and discuss countermeasures together. In addition, in order to prevent the people from being uneasy, a curfew should be imposed immediately throughout Luoyang to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Guo Zhao listened quietly at the side. She understood that Cao Rui's decision was wise and necessary.

However, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. As the queen, she should have played a greater role at this critical moment, but Cao Rui's arrangement confined her to the daily affairs of serving the emperor.

She forced a smile and asked, "What should I do then?"

Cao Rui turned to look at Guo Zhao, a trace of apology and gratitude flashed in his eyes: "Mother, you only need to concentrate on serving father. I will take care of the things outside. Don't worry, I will do my best to handle everything."

Hearing this, Guo Zhao's disappointment became even more intense, but she quickly concealed it.

So, she nodded gently and said, "Okay, I understand. You can go and take care of the things outside. I will take good care of father here."

At this moment, the voice of an eunuch suddenly came from the emperor's bedroom, breaking the silence: "Your Majesty, please invite the prince into the palace."

The sound echoed in the empty bedroom, sounding particularly clear.

Cao Rui's body shook involuntarily when he heard this. Didn't they say that his father was in poor health and unconscious? Why did he suddenly want to see him now? He had mixed feelings in his heart, both doubts and uneasiness, but more of an indescribable sense of urgency.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, and then walked quickly to the depths of the palace. When he stepped into the palace, he saw Cao Pi lying on the sickbed.

Cao Pi's face was as pale as paper, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was weak, as if he could leave this world at any time. His body was thin, his limbs were weak, and he looked like he was about to die, so weak that he seemed like a gust of wind could blow him away.

Seeing this scene, Cao Rui's heart was filled with an indescribable grief. He immediately bowed to Cao Pi with great respect, and said in a choked voice: "Father, I am here."

Cao Pi slowly opened his eyes, his eyes revealed a bit of fatigue and weakness, but more of a deep attachment and reluctance.

He saw Cao Rui kneeling in front of him, and forced a smile. He waved his hand, signaling Cao Rui to stand up: "Rui'er, you're here. Hurry up and let your father take a good look at you."

Hearing this, Cao Rui stood up and walked to the bedside, tightly holding Cao Pi's hand. His hand was cold and weak, as if it had lost all its vitality.

But even so, Cao Rui could still feel the bond and warmth coming from deep in his blood.

Cao Pi's eyes were fixed on Cao Rui's face, and his deep eyes were flashing with complex light.

His voice was weak but firm, as if he was speaking with all his strength: "Now I am dying, and the world is not stable. Han is strong, and our Wei is weak. I am worried that after I am gone, you will not be able to suppress those people and protect the foundation of our Wei."

Cao Pi's face was haggard, and his expression revealed deep worry and helplessness.

Cao Rui felt a surge of sadness when he heard this. He looked at his father's face, which was distorted by illness, and said firmly, "Don't worry, father. With good ministers and generals assisting us, the Wei Kingdom will not be in turmoil. You should not think about these things now, but concentrate on recuperating and getting your health back."

There was a hint of sob in Cao Rui's voice, but more of it was determination. He, Cao Rui, would be the new emperor of the Wei Dynasty who was unyielding and unstoppable.

Cao Pi listened to Cao Rui's words, and a trace of relief appeared on his face. His eyes flashed with approval and recognition, as if he was proud of Cao Rui's maturity and stability.

However, this sense of relief soon faded, and was replaced by a deep sense of helplessness and sadness.

He sighed and said, "I know my health very well. I'm afraid I don't have much time left."

Cao Rui looked at his father's face, which was becoming thinner and thinner due to illness, and an indescribable sorrow surged in his heart. He held Cao Pi's hand tightly, as if he was using his own strength to convey a kind of silent comfort and support.

Cao Pi's eyes were deep, as if penetrating the mist of time. He stared at Cao Rui closely, and his eyes contained both worry about the future and memories of the past.

He spoke slowly, his voice weak but full of unquestionable majesty: "I probably can't control what happens next. But there is one thing I want you to remember, be kind to your mother. If it weren't for your mother, you wouldn't be able to sit firmly on the throne of the crown prince."

Cao Rui was filled with mixed emotions when he heard this. He knew that his father, Emperor Cao Pi, had always been prejudiced against him because of his biological mother.

But at this moment, facing his father's last words, he felt only gratitude and respect.

He immediately said: "I already treat the Queen Mother as my own biological mother. How could I not treat my biological mother well?"

Cao Rui's voice was firm and sincere, and every word seemed to burst out from the depths of his heart.

There was an indescribable light in his eyes, which was a firm commitment to Cao Pi.

What does it matter to him to have one more person to eat?
Cao Pi looked at Cao Rui with a hint of relief in his eyes. He knew that although he had a prejudice against Cao Rui, Queen Guo Zhao had always treated him as her own son and taught him with care. Now it seemed that Cao Rui had indeed lived up to their expectations.

He sighed softly, as if he was regretting the prejudices and misunderstandings of the past, but more importantly, he was proud and gratified for Cao Rui's growth and maturity.

After talking so much with Cao Rui, Cao Pi also felt a little tired.

Some tests cannot be seen in words, but need to be proven by actual actions.

He lay quietly on the sickbed, gazing at Cao Rui with deep eyes, with complex emotions surging in his heart.

Cao Rui had done well enough now. He could not say anything more and could only silently give him the final encouragement and support.

He waved at Cao Rui, signaling him to leave.

Cao Rui was a little reluctant to see his father, but he also understood that his father needed to rest. He slowly stepped back and walked out of the bedroom.

As soon as he left the palace, Cao Rui saw Empress Guo Zhao. He immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Mother, how is my father's health..."

There was a hint of sob and worry in Cao Rui's voice, and it was obvious that he was very concerned about his father's condition.

Queen Guo Zhao sighed softly, her eyes revealing a bit of helplessness and sadness. She looked at Cao Rui and said slowly: "Your Highness, it's time for you to take responsibility from now on."

Although the words are not finished, everything is implied.
When Cao Rui heard this, he felt a strong sense of responsibility and mission in his heart.

In the near future, he will shoulder even heavier responsibilities and work hard for the country and people of Wei.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, then nodded firmly to show that he was ready.

The foundation of the Great Wei cannot be defeated in my hands!

At this moment, in the Prince's Palace, it was late at night and there was silence all around.

Princess Sun Luban was sitting at the desk, embroidering the Weaver Girl's Embroidery in the dim candlelight.

Her brows were furrowed, and she seemed to find the situation at hand a little difficult.

Obviously, these are not her strengths.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night.

A maid hurried into the hall, holding a letter in her hand, and walked up to Sun Luban with a nervous look, and whispered: "Crown Princess, this is the letter I just received."

Sun Luban was shocked when she heard this. She took the letter and read it carefully.

There was a special mark on the seal of the envelope, which was obviously carefully disguised. She carefully opened the letter and saw that in addition to the letter from the military commander of the Han Kingdom, there were also two pieces of silk.

She was stunned at first, then quickly unfolded the silk to check. One of the letters was written by her younger sister Sun Luyu, and the words revealed her longing for her family and her worries about the current situation.

The other letter was written by Bu Lianshi, who expressed sincere words and great concern for Sun Luban's current situation.

Ha ha.

Did the news of my discord with the Crown Prince get known to the people of the Secret Military Department so quickly?

This military commander actually wants to incite me to rebel?
(End of this chapter)