A joyous occasion to ward off ill fortune?
The Emperor's heart skipped a beat. That would never do; he certainly didn't want the Retired Emperor to live.
What if such an occasion truly brought him back to life?
The Emperor immediately chastised, "Nonsense! You, the eldest legitimate daughter of a dignified Prime Minister, what kind of joy are you warding off?"
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but glance at him.
Seriously, what was the Emperor getting so worked up about?
"Get out of my sight!"
Prince Jin suppressed his simmering anger. With the Retired Emperor on his deathbed, these people were still chattering here!
"A-Yue, she, she," the Retired Emperor stretched out a trembling hand, pointing with difficulty at Shen Xiangjun, "has good fortune…"
That half-sentence filled Shen Xiangjun with wild joy; the Retired Emperor wanted Prince Jin to marry her!
"The Retired Emperor will surely live a long life."
Shen Xiangjun knew that at this moment, she needed to remain calm. Prince Jin was extremely filial to the Retired Emperor; he would surely listen to the Retired Emperor's words.
She devoutly placed her hand on the edge of the bed, bowing her head onto the back of her hand.
At this moment, she desperately wished for the Retired Emperor to live!
The Retired Emperor pulled his hand towards Shen Xiangjun. Although his movements were difficult, everyone present understood his meaning.
He wanted Prince Jin to hold Shen Xiangjun's hand; this clearly meant he wished for them to become a couple.
Prince Jin clutched his hand tightly, "Imperial Father, conserve your energy. Your son will go bring someone into the palace!"
From the Retired Emperor's increasingly cold hand and fading eyes, he saw the rapid draining of his vitality.
Imperial Physicians knelt throughout the hall, none daring to utter a sound, indicating they were truly helpless against the Retired Emperor's illness.
"Your Majesty," the Retired Emperor clutched his hand tightly, as if in a final burst of lucidity, and looked at the Emperor, "You promised me you would never harm A-Yue."
The Emperor's heart skipped another beat.
Everyone in the hall was listening. Even if no one were present, he wouldn't dare say no at a time like this.
"Imperial Father, I am your elder brother. I wouldn't even have time to protect my younger brother, how could I possibly harm A-Yue?"
The Retired Emperor's eyelids drooped again. "If you dare lay a hand on him, I will not forgive you…"
His voice gradually faded, and his complexion noticeably paled a few shades. Anyone could see it.
"Qingfeng!"
Prince Jin suddenly called out, "Go bring Lu Er!"
"Yes!"
Even with his strange and mysterious illness, Lu Zhaoling said she could cure it. Perhaps she could cure the Retired Emperor?
In that instant, Prince Jin didn't know why he had such a thought, but if there was even a sliver of possibility, he had to try.
"Imperial Father?" The Emperor didn't immediately concern himself with who Lu Er was. As the Son of Heaven, he too instantly saw the Retired Emperor's face had fallen.
"Imperial Physicians! Quickly, quickly save Imperial Father!"
In that instant, the Emperor also panicked, a ceaseless terror gripping him.
Although he had always hoped his Imperial Father would die quickly so he could ascend the throne and become a true emperor,
rather than having to listen to the Retired Emperor's opinions before making any decisions and being scolded for any mistakes, when this moment truly arrived, he felt a fear of no longer having a backer.
Although the Retired Emperor would scold him and always keep him in check, if there was truly something he couldn't handle, the Retired Emperor would still scold him but then teach and help him.
To the outside world, he could then still be a good emperor with considerable talent for governance.
The Imperial Physicians swarmed forward.
Prince Jin was filled with coldness, and at this moment could only step aside, clenching his fists as he watched the Imperial Physicians try to save the Retired Emperor.
Having received his order, Qingfeng had already rushed out of the palace towards the Lu Residence.
Lu Zhaoling had been sleeping.
Having just been reborn and having helped Physician Fu remove the death qi, her spiritual energy was severely depleted.
Qingling and Qingyin, after being sent over, hadn't yet met her, so the two maidservants guarded the courtyard, preventing others from the Lu Residence from disturbing Lu Zhaoling's sleep.
They had already known that Miss Lu was severely injured, and Physician Fu had examined and treated her, also instructing her to rest well and not disturb her unless she developed a fever.
Lu Zhaoling was abruptly awakened.
She opened her eyes, propped herself up and got out of bed, walking barefoot to the window. She pushed it open, gazed at the dark sky outside, and murmured.
"The Purple Star's energy has waned."
At this moment, faint winds and clouds surged, qi fortunes clashed, and chaos began to manifest.
Lu Zhaoling frowned, a hint of worry in her eyes.
She had managed to live another life, but now she found that the Great Zhou Dynasty's qi fortune was unstable.
She absolutely detested war and turmoil.
"Miss Lu!"
Due to the urgency, Qingfeng had bypassed the Lu Residence guards and quietly snuck into Tingnuan Tower.
As he leaped into the courtyard, Qingling and Qingyin immediately stopped him. Seeing that it was Qingfeng, they were momentarily stunned.
Qingfeng looked up and saw Lu Zhaoling standing by the window. He urgently said, "His Royal Highness has ordered Qingfeng to invite Miss Lu to the palace."
In truth, Qingfeng didn't understand why. The Retired Emperor was gravely ill, and so many Imperial Physicians were helpless, so what could Miss Lu do? She herself was severely injured.
Qingling and Qingyin also looked up. They hadn't even noticed Miss Lu was awake and standing by the open window, nor did they know how long she had been there.
"Please, Miss Lu, quickly change and come to the palace with Qingfeng," Qingfeng urged again.
Although he didn't understand why, His Royal Highness surely had his reasons, and all he could do was follow orders.
Lu Zhaoling asked, "Is someone in the palace dying?"
Qingfeng was startled. How did she know?
Wasn't she just a young country girl who had recently returned to the capital?
"It's the Retired Emperor…"
Qingfeng unconsciously blurted it out, then suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth. How could he have said such a thing?
"I'll go with you," she said. After all, she didn't want the world, in which she was given a second chance at life, to descend into chaos, as that would prevent her from living peacefully.
Lu Zhaoling walked out wearing embroidered shoes.
Qingling and Qingyin immediately stepped forward to support her. "This servant Qingling, and Qingyin, were sent by Prince Jin to serve Young Miss."
"Did the Lu family not send anyone?" Lu Zhaoling glanced at them both.
"Replying to Young Miss, no."
The Lu Residence was truly something else.
"Miss Lu, can you climb over the wall?" If they went through the main gate, who knew how much time they would waste.
Lu Zhaoling extended her hand to Qingfeng, "Yes, I can't climb by myself right now, so you carry me."
Although he had suggested it, her quick adaptation and natural acceptance felt a bit odd, didn't it?
Qingfeng said, "Pardon my presumption," and then, carrying Lu Zhaoling with light footwork, he leaped out and directly onto a carriage, speeding towards the Imperial Palace.
The carriage sped rapidly, carrying the wind, and arrived at the Imperial Palace with the utmost haste.
"Miss Lu, we've arrived."
Qingfeng lifted the carriage curtain, reaching out to help her dismount.
Lu Zhaoling stepped down from the carriage, gazed at the majestic Imperial Palace, and pursed her lips.
"Miss Lu, please wait—"
"No need."
Lu Zhaoling looked up at the palace, watching the faint wisps of purple qi dissipating in the air.
"The Emperor has fallen."
"What?" Qingfeng didn't catch those two words clearly.
Lu Zhaoling paused, then said, "We're too late. The Retired Emperor has ascended to Heaven."
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