Empress Zhangsun had fallen ill!
As the weather turned colder day by day, winter had finally arrived. During the pilgrimage to Mount Tai, Empress Zhangsun had accompanied Li Shimin in the cold wind for an entire night. She had caught a cold and had not recovered. Now, she could no longer hold on.
"Empress's body is weak and can't stand the cold. This concubine specially brought the latest down jacket from outside the palace. It can be said to be warm and light. It is most suitable for Empress." Zheng Chonghua presented the latest down jacket as if she was presenting a treasure.
When Concubine Yin saw the favored Zheng Chonghua present the down jacket, she couldn't help but smile coldly. Everyone knew that the down jacket was created by Wu Meiniang. Wu Meiniang had publicly refuted Empress Zhangsun in the Legislative Hall. Zheng Chonghua's action might have touched Empress Zhangsun's bad luck.
But she didn't expect that Empress Zhangsun would actually have a smile on her face and said softly, "Chonghua is considerate."
Concubine Yin couldn't help but frown. She didn't expect Empress Zhangsun to be so magnanimous. Even if she didn't care about Wu Meiniang's previous offense, did she not care about Wu Meiniang's identity as the Empress Chang's Empress?
Zheng Chonghua saw Concubine Yin's expression and couldn't help but feel proud. This was the suggestion the Little Daoist Master had given her. As the saying goes, times have changed. Now that Empress Zhangsun was weak and afraid of the cold, a light and warm down jacket was the best thing. Compared to a small offense, the Empress's phoenix body was naturally more important.
Moreover, the government had already refuted the rumors that the so-called prophecy was just a trick of the School of Yin-Yang. As the head of the harem, the Empress naturally wouldn't care about Wu Meiniang's identity as the Empress Chang's Empress.
Concubine Yin also thought of this crucial point and couldn't help but secretly regret. Such a good opportunity was actually snatched away by that vixen Zheng Chonghua.
"Empress's body hasn't recovered yet, and Princess Changle can't serve you personally outside the palace. How about letting this concubine serve you personally?" Zheng Chonghua respectfully said.
"This vixen!" Concubine Yin couldn't help but feel anxious in her heart. She didn't expect that Zheng Chonghua would actually lower himself to serve the sick Empress Zhangsun, seizing the opportunity to fight for her favor. However, Zheng Chonghua and Princess Changle were quite different in age, so it wasn't out of place. If she had to serve Empress Zhangsun, who was around the same age, she wouldn't be able to lower her face no matter what.
"You are His Majesty's personal conferred title, it is unreasonable for you to serve me." Empress Zhangsun shook her head and refused. However, looking at Zheng Chonghua, who was similar to her daughter, she was even more satisfied.
Zheng Chonghua was just showing her loyalty. How could she be willing to stay close to a patient? She went with the flow and said, "This concubine has no children. I am alone and have nothing to do. It would be good for me to come and accompany the Empress to relax."
"It's still Younger Sister Chonghua who is leisurely. This concubine was worried sick for You 'er. Fortunately, His Majesty agreed for You' er to go to Qi Province to take up a post, so I have a few days of leisure." Concubine Yin's tone was sarcastic. Although Zheng Chonghua was flushed with success now, it was only because she was young and had a good appearance. In the palace, she still had to rely on her son's status. In the future, when she was old, she could go to her son's Qi Manor to retire, and Zheng Chonghua would be like the imperial concubine of the retired emperor, going to a temple to become a nun. Her ending might be a bit more miserable, and she might even be buried with Li Shimin.
Zheng Chonghua's heart was touched, and her face couldn't help but darken.
Empress Zhangsun naturally also heard about Li Shimin's death. She sighed and said, "Don't blame His Majesty. It's just that there are too many underage princes in the palace. If the number of princes isn't controlled, I'm afraid there won't be enough even after the entire Tang dynasty is enfeoffed."
Empress Zhangsun was telling the truth. At this time, the Tang dynasty was similar to the Western Han Dynasty. It used the county system and the enfeoffment system.
Now in the Tang dynasty, in addition to the sons of Li Shimin, there were also many heirs left by the retired emperor, Li Shimin. Since Li Shimin abdicated, he had turned on the stud mode and gave birth to 18 brothers for Li Shimin. In addition to Li Shimin's 14 sons, there were nearly 30 princes and uncles in the Tang dynasty who needed to be enfeoffed. What a huge number it would be. If something went wrong, it might repeat the Rebellion of the Seven Kings of the Western Han Dynasty.
Li Shimin couldn't control his father, so he could only let himself take the family planning.
Zheng Chonghua forced a smile and said, "Chenqie understands His Majesty's difficulties and naturally won't blame His Majesty."
Empress Zhangsun nodded in satisfaction. The reason why she selected Zheng Chonghua into the palace and trained her to be the successor of the Empress was because Zheng Chonghua couldn't give birth. Otherwise, once she passed away, if Concubine Yin or Concubine Yang became the Empress, Li Chengqian's position as the Crown Prince could not be guaranteed, then she would die with regrets.
"Reporting to the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Jin have already invited Doctor Mo Wu." A palace maid hurriedly reported.
Just as she finished speaking, Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Prince Jin Li Zhi came together. Behind them was the similarly young Mo Wu. Mo Wu might be young, but now that Sun Simiao had retired, Mo Wu was already the leader of Chang 'an's medical school. He was the best in the field of surgery.
"Crown Prince and Prince Jin!" Zheng Chonghua hurriedly stood up to avoid them. Before she left, she couldn't help but look back at the two. If there were no accidents, the Emperor of the Tang dynasty would be born from the two of them. Because they were Empress Zhangsun's sons, they would be her support in the future.
However, the two's attention was not on Zheng Chonghua, but directly went to Empress Zhangsun's side and asked about her well-being.
Zheng Chonghua gritted her teeth and turned to leave. In the future, as long as she served Empress Zhangsun, she might have a chance to come into contact with the two. It could also be considered as paving the way for her future.
"Empress Zhangsun's body is weak because of a prolonged cold. The Minister has already given the Empress an injection of Azure Dragon True Medicine. The Empress needs to rest to prevent her illness from worsening." Mo Wu frowned as he spoke the truth.
"Mister Mo Wu is known as the King of Hell, do you have the confidence to cure Imperial Mother?" Prince Jin Li Zhi asked anxiously.
Mo Wu shook his head and said: "The Minister is an expert in surgery. Empress Zhangsun's illness is not something that can be cured by surgery. Moreover, it is a hereditary illness, so there is currently no way to cure it."
"Even the School of Medicine has no way?" Li Chengqian frowned.
Mo Wu answered honestly: "Currently, the best method is to use Azure Dragon True Medicine to cure the cold. The Empress needs to slowly nurse her illness back to health."
Li Chengqian still wanted to say more, but Empress Zhangsun weakly stopped him: "Even Divine Doctor Sun is helpless with this empress's illness. Don't make things difficult for Doctor Mo. You can leave first, this empress has something to ask Doctor Mo."
"Yes! Imperial Mother! "Li Zhi and Li Chengqian looked at each other and could only leave first.
After the two left, Empress Zhangsun sternly said to Mo Wu: "I heard that the School of Medicine has a rule that one cannot hide their illness from their patients. Doctor Mo Wu, this empress wants to know how long this empress's illness can last."
Mo Wu couldn't help but frown. In the end, he answered honestly: "The shortest is half a year, the longest is one year."
"One year?" Hearing this, Empress Zhangsun calmly said: "This empress was unable to hold on five years ago. Fortunately, you created the Azure Dragon True Medicine, allowing me to live for another five years. Logically speaking, this empress should be satisfied. However, this empress cannot die now. This empress orders you to do your best to prolong this empress's life. This empress is willing to endure even more pain."
Mo Wu followed Empress Zhangsun's gaze and stopped at Li Chengqian and Li Zhi. He couldn't help but understand that Empress Zhangsun's actions were for the sake of the crown prince's position. As long as she was alive, Li Chengqian's position as crown prince would be as stable as Mount Tai. Even if she passed away in the future, Li Zhi would have already grown up and the crown prince's position would not fall into another family's hands.
"Minister understands." Mo Wu said with heartfelt admiration. This great mother, even on her deathbed, she was still holding up the sky for her child. This was a true woman who could hold up half the sky.
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