Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!

Chapter 240: The Emperor’s Critical Illness

A group of people hurried back to the camp, the fire had already been put out. Xie Xun was leading people to clean up the aftermath. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished in time, only burning two granaries.

Seeing Su Juan not even wearing armor and covered in blood, Xie Xun frowned slightly, "Are you injured?"

Su Juan then glanced down at herself. She had received a few cuts, but most of the blood was not hers, "It’s just a superficial wound, a little medicine will do."

Shi Yuan returned hurriedly, Yuan Li apologized to him. No one had expected that the Southern Army, having just been defeated, would be able to launch a raid and even rescue those prisoners, failing to protect Princess Jinyang, who sustained some injuries.

In the tent, the military doctor had bandaged Su Juan’s wounds. Only then did Xie Xun come in, "Didn’t we agree to lower the guard on the prisoner camp to let them rescue that Chu? Why did you chase after them?"

Su Juan said sternly, "If we didn’t chase them, wouldn’t it seem too easy for them to rescue him?"

"Moreover, it was Zhai Mu who came to rescue; this person would definitely harm Chu Yang on the road, so he must die."

Xie Xun’s lips pressed into a thin line, dissatisfied with Su Juan’s risky pursuit last night, yet couldn’t deny that he also wanted Zhai Mu dead.

Recalling that Qi You was killed by him...

Xie Xun gritted his teeth; if there was an opportunity, he would definitely kill that man with his own hands.

Seeing his expression, Su Juan stood up, "Zhai Mu was hit by my arrow, he won’t survive."

Xie Xun was slightly stunned, "You are that confident?"

Su Juan raised her eyebrows at him, "I’ve always been confident in my archery skills."

Besides, even if Chu Yang returned to the Southern Army camp, and Zhai Mu survived the arrow, Chu Yang would have to act himself.

He should know that if Zhai Mu doesn’t die, it will eventually be his turn.

As long as Zhai Mu is dead, as agreed, the Southern Army will be at a disadvantage, and Chu Yang will retreat to the Southern Country. Even if he doesn’t know how to proceed, Shen Ruhui will guide him.

For now, all that remains is to wait patiently.

...

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. The young general sent to scout the front hurriedly returned with the good news of the Southern Army’s retreat, though the guard at the border still couldn’t be relaxed, as the Southern Army could strike back at any time.

At the same time, news came from the Capital. Cai Yi personally brought the decree, ordering Su Juan to return immediately. The Emperor was ill; he had been taking medicine when Su Juan left earlier, and he had fainted a few days ago, awakened to drink some medicine, and then fell unconscious again.

When Cai Yi left the capital, the Emperor hadn’t attended the court for two days, stirring much speculation in the court.

Fearing that the Emperor may not survive, the Empress ordered Cai Yi to rush to the border, urgently summoning the Crown Princess back to the capital.

The news was kept secret, not daring to spread, fearing that it would invite the coveting attention of other countries during this time.

Unable to wait for dawn, Su Juan packed her belongings and prepared to leave, with Xie Xun coming to see her off.

Su Juan sighed, "Indeed, there’s no banquet that goes on forever in this world."

She came with another person but left alone, feeling strange without Shen Ruhui by her side.

Xie Xun patted her shoulder, "When I first got to know you, I thought you were just as unreliable as me, but now you seem different from me."

Su Juan smiled, "Not much different."

But Xie Xun couldn’t bring himself to smile, "Be careful on the way back."

"Alright."

...

Hurrying back to the Capital, Su Juan hardly dared to rest, fearing that if she was too late, the home she painstakingly built over the past years would be gone.

On her way back to the Capital, the Emperor woke up, but the news of his severe illness could no longer be concealed and had spread, with the Imperial Physician staying in the palace, not daring to relax.

Upon returning to the Capital, Su Juan barely had time to clean up before rushing into the palace, first seeing the Empress, "Grand Empress Dowager, what did the Imperial Physician say?"

With no one else around, the Empress shook her head, "The Imperial Physician said that he had been unwell for the past two years, enduring without letting anyone know, and recently overworked with state affairs, which led to the sudden illness... He doesn’t have much time left."

The Old Emperor was reclining on the couch, coughing while still reading the memorials accumulated during this period.

Seeing this, Su Juan frowned deeply and walked over with large strides, snatching the memorials from his hands, "You’re sick, stop tormenting yourself."

With that said, she threw the memorials to the Eunuch beside him, ordering them all to be taken away.

The Old Emperor stared at her for a long while, silent for a moment, coughed a couple more times, "Just a short trip to the border, and back with such a temper."

Su Juan didn’t speak; she thought she had always been mild-tempered, how did she appear temperamental?

[I was at the border for such a short time, and you’re already acting up.]

The Old Emperor asked irritably, "How’s the border?"

Su Juan replied irritably, "Zhai Mu is dead, the Southern Army has retreated. Once Chu Yang returns, he’ll probably face off against Chu Guang, leading to chaos in the Southern Country."

She thought, with Shen Ruhui around, this day wouldn’t be far off.

The Old Emperor finally smiled, "That’s good news."

At this moment, the Imperial Physician brought the medicine, handing it to the Eunuch. The Old Emperor knitted his brows, waving his hand again and again, "I won’t drink it... take it away."

The Eunuch was in a dilemma.

Su Juan stood up and received the medicine bowl, sitting beside the Old Emperor and handing it to him, "Drink it."

But the Old Emperor tightened his lips.

Su Juan made a gesture as if to force him to drink it.

The Old Emperor urgently said, "I know my own body, whether I drink the medicine or not, it’s the same..."

Having reached such an old age, he could pass at any moment. Why drink the medicine only to suffer more before dying?

Su Juan: "..."

Old people being stubborn is really challenging.

The Eunuch advised, "Your Majesty, the Princess rushed back day and night to see you, without even taking a rest..."

The implication was to persuade the Old Emperor to drink the medicine, not to make things difficult for the Princess.

Su Juan had already brought the medicine to his mouth, but the Old Emperor, as soon as he smelled it, adamantly refused, "I said I don’t want it, take it away!"

Su Juan’s temple throbbed, [Truly spoiled, it’s such a hassle just to have you drink the medicine.]

[If I can’t deal with you, surely there’s someone who can.]

She placed the medicine aside and got up to leave.

The Old Emperor remained unfazed, thinking, I’m the ruler of a country, and only you dare to act like this in front of me, who else would dare be so presumptuous? This medicine is simply not going to be consumed.

Watching Su Juan walk out, he was about to order the medicine to be taken away when he caught sight of the Empress, who had earlier said she’d rest for a while, coming in.

The next moment, the Old Emperor, who had just been stubborn, quickly picked up the medicine bowl beside him and gulped it down.

Trailing behind the Empress, Su Juan witnessed this scene, her lips twitching.

The Old Emperor glared at Su Juan, thinking, young girl, went to the border and, instead of learning good, learned ’unclean’ tricks.

That night, he issued a decree personally, appointing the Crown Princess to exercise imperial power on his behalf, with Duke Ping and the Crown Prince’s Tutor, Cai Yi, to assist.

...

With the Emperor seriously ill, Su Juan overseeing the government, on her first day in court, a minister came forth with a proposal, suggesting that Su Juan was of marriageable age and should take a husband as it concerns the royal lineage and is a national matter of importance.

Su Juan smiled, "Minister Yu’s words ring true; this matter will be given due consideration."

The officials were surprised; Princess Jinyang, who usually had all sorts of refusals, accepted just like that today?