Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 568 The Prince Returns

The prince, who had returned from Liuyun City overseas after a long journey, knocked on the heavy gate of the imperial city in the evening. A guard showed the prince's token to the soldiers guarding the city gate.

The prince traveled all the way day and night without slacking off, and finally arrived at the center of the Dasheng Imperial City - which was also his own home.

The heavy city gate creaked open with a sound, and the prince led a team of his trusted men on horseback into the city.

"drive!"

The prince was eager to return home, so he rode away on his horse first, and his ministers followed him on horseback. Dust was flying, horses were neighing, and in an instant they were galloping away like lightning.

The prince walked unimpeded through the palace and entered the deep palace. Feeling uneasy, he went straight to the Qianzheng Hall.

The prince who came down from the battlefield at sea had a slightly darker complexion, but his temperament was as cold as ice. The dark gold four-clawed golden dragon python robe made the prince look even more stern, like a handsome god of death.

When the prince arrived at the door of Qianzheng Hall, he instantly restrained all his aura and became dignified and polite. Just as he was about to raise his foot, he saw Li Xiang, who was supposed to be serving Emperor Shenwu in the hall, kneeling on the ground tremblingly and not daring to move. It was obvious that he was extremely frightened. If the prince had not recognized Li Xiang's slightly fatter figure, he would have definitely passed him by and walked in.

"Eunuch Li, what are you doing here?"

Li Xiang paused for a moment, then suddenly raised his head, his face showing relief as if he had survived a disaster, "Your Highness! Your Highness, you're back! You..."

The prince narrowed his eyes and asked, "What happened? Why aren't you serving father?"

Only then did he realize that not only Li Xiang, but probably all the palace servants and eunuchs in Qianzheng Hall were kneeling here. They knelt in a scattered manner, looking helpless and dazed, not daring to look up. Some even chose to kneel behind the pillars, deliberately hiding their figures.

The prince couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

Li Xiang trembled again and said, "I dare not go in!" He kept silent about the rest.

Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of him, the prince turned around and strode in.

The Qianzheng Hall was in shambles, leaving the Crown Prince with barely any room to maneuver. He stared in shock at the seemingly ruined Qianzheng Hall, then looked up to see memorials scattered across the floor and the imperial desk forcibly split in two.

The prince took a few more steps and finally found the Shenwu Emperor lying on the ground half unconscious. The prince was really terrified. He ran over and helped the Shenwu Emperor half up, "Father...Father!"

At this time, Emperor Shenwu was in a very sorry state, his brows were furrowed, his clothes were disheveled, and blood was flowing from his right hand, staining his black robe with blood.

"Someone! Someone!"

Li Xiang ran in upon hearing the noise. He ignored the debris on the ground and ran straight towards the Shenwu Emperor with skill: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Emperor Shenwu opened his eyes and saw the prince's worried face.

"Huang'er, you're back!"

The pain in his heart caused Emperor Shenwu to groan again, and the Crown Prince immediately said, "Eunuch Li, quickly summon Imperial Physician Zhao!"

Imperial Physician Zhao Wubing has always been the exclusive imperial physician of Emperor Shenwu.

Li Xiang was stunned for a moment, not daring to look up, and lied: "Doctor Zhao has returned to his hometown..."

The prince said anxiously, "Then summon Imperial Physician Li. He is, after all, the deputy director of the Imperial Hospital..."

"Doctor Li... has also returned to his hometown!"

The Crown Prince was almost laughing out of anger. Some suspicions formed in his mind. He scolded, "Both of them have returned home. Is there no other imperial physician in the Imperial Hospital? Are you letting your father endure this?"

Li Xiang didn't dare to reply, and quickly backed away, saying, "I'll go and invite you right away!"

Emperor Shenwu reached out to stop him, but the Crown Prince disagreed, "Father, your health is most important! Is there anything more important than your dragon body?"

The Emperor stopped talking. The Crown Prince personally helped the Emperor into his bedroom. Worried, he watched over the Emperor, bandaging his right hand while waiting for the imperial physician to arrive. The Emperor, on the other hand, closed his eyes and endured the sharp pain that came from his heart.

Li Xiang summoned two imperial physicians. After examining his pulse, they declared, "Your Majesty is agitated, and this has affected your heart meridians. As long as you remain calm and don't harbor your anger, and release it, everything will be fine! We will immediately prescribe a medicine for your Majesty to help relieve your pent-up anger and soothe your pain!"

In short, the Shenwu Emperor was pissed! He swallowed this humiliation and anger forcefully, forcing himself to endure it. He couldn't touch the servants of Fengqi Palace, couldn't touch Lan Qingwu's clan, couldn't touch that bastard, and couldn't even touch Wang Shuren!

A dignified emperor was actually forced to such a point. This was the first time in the history of the world for the Shenwu Emperor, who had always been smooth sailing, used to controlling everything, and was strong and proud!

The prince had just returned and had to face his father's current situation. Naturally, he was not in a good mood. He ordered the imperial physician to quickly boil medicine, called Li Xiang over, and gave him instructions one by one. Li Xiang quickly recovered and then restored order in the Qianzheng Hall.

The prince personally fed the medicine to Emperor Shenwu and stayed with him all night.

But the Crown Prince couldn't help but wonder, who could have made his father suppress his rage and force the emperor to swallow his anger and only hurt himself? Thinking of the rumors that died out in March, the Crown Prince's heart tightened. Could it be because of his mother?

The next morning, both the court and the harem knew about several major events. First, the prince had returned from Liuyun City, and then the emperor was ill. All the concubines, princes, princesses, etc. went to the side hall of Qianzheng Palace to wait and pay their respects to Emperor Shenwu. It would be great if they could be summoned by the emperor, serve by his side, take the opportunity to curry favor with him, gain his favor, and get the latest news.

Another major event was that the Empress's old illness had relapsed, and it was said to be very serious. Last night, His Majesty secretly sent her to the Hot Springs Royal Manor to recuperate! He also refused to allow anyone to disturb her.

The stagnant atmosphere within the palace in recent days had already made several high-ranking concubines uneasy. Fengqi Palace was sealed off once again, and this time the guards and eunuchs were completely unfamiliar and merciless. Even a fly passing through Fengqi Palace would be swatted away! Concubine Jiang, Concubine Liang, Concubine Wan, Concubine Han, and others hadn't seen Lan Qingwu in days. Before they could even reach the gates of Fengqi Palace, they were unceremoniously expelled by unfamiliar eunuchs.

Even the twice-a-monthly visits of imperial concubines to pay their respects were forcibly canceled, reportedly because Emperor Shenwu was afraid of disturbing Lan Qingwu. When Imperial Concubine Jiang and several others requested an audience with him, saying they wanted to attend to the Empress' illness, he rebuked them.

The Crown Prince had only just learned the news that morning. He had guarded the Emperor Shenwu all night, and since he was young and energetic, he was thinking of heading to Fengqi Palace in the morning when the Emperor Shenwu woke up. The Crown Prince had just finished helping his father drink his medicine when he heard the Emperor Shenwu say, "My son, there's no need to go to Fengqi Palace. Your mother has gone to the Hot Springs Royal Manor to recuperate and won't be back anytime soon!"

Something's wrong, this isn't right. When has my father ever let my mother go alone to recuperate? No matter where or when, the two of them have always been inseparable, like shadows. Besides, my mother must have been unwell to leave the palace for the hot springs, so my father is even more worried! What on earth is going on?

"You just rushed back and took care of me all night. Go back to your palace, wash up, and have a good rest for the day!"

The prince saw that Emperor Shenwu's face was not looking good, but he still said, "Yes! Son, I understand!"

After leaving Qianzheng Hall, the Crown Prince turned and walked towards Fengqi Palace. When he saw the gate of Fengqi Palace, he stopped at a distance because he was surrounded by guards. Some of them were even Phantom Guards who were supposed to be in the dark. A eunuch had already hurried up to the Crown Prince and saluted with an expressionless face: "Your Highness, please return!"

"Are you a subordinate of Deputy Chief Li Zhong?"

The eunuch nodded slightly and bowed again, but his attitude was extremely firm and he did not give in even a step.

The prince was thinking about this and turned back to Dongde Palace.