Everything unfolded smoothly, just as Zhang Fang had anticipated. At this point, the second prince felt an immense pressure.
Because a real coup was about to take place!
Just when everyone thought tonight’s drama had come to an end, the deposed crown prince returned to the Eastern Palace, summoning all his subordinates overnight and charged once more into the emperor’s chambers. This time, he said nothing; the subordinates of the Eastern Palace directly engaged in combat with the emperor’s guards.
“This unfilial son! He’s trying to drive me to my death!”
Enraged, the emperor climbed off his bed, grabbed a sword, and rushed out without changing his clothes, intending to personally teach the deposed crown prince a harsh lesson!
The third prince was contemplating feigning illness to delay his departure from the capital, awaiting an opportunity to poison the emperor. Unexpectedly, the deposed crown prince acted hastily!
The third prince quickly led his men back to the palace, hoping that the deposed crown prince could succeed in assassinating the emperor, allowing him to rush in under the pretense of saving the emperor and seize the throne!
However, before he could enter the palace, he was blocked by the deposed crown prince’s men. Those from the Eastern Palace ambushed the third prince and his company in the long corridor after entering the palace.
The second prince absentmindedly returned to his residence, just about to enjoy a cup of hot tea when the guards hurriedly rushed in to inform him that the deposed crown prince had rebelled!
Everything happened too quickly, leaving no time for the second prince to catch his breath or adjust his mood. Concerned for Zhang Fang’s safety, the second prince hurriedly led the guards into the palace to rescue the emperor.
The emperor faced off against the deposed crown prince with swords drawn, and Zhang Fang stood quietly behind the crowd, calmly observing them.
The deposed crown prince pretended to kneel before the emperor, begging for mercy and forgiveness. Just as the emperor emerged from behind the two generals of the imperial guards, ready to personally punish the deposed crown prince, the latter suddenly raised his hand, and two cold arrows shot out from his sleeve, striking the emperor.
“Unfilial son!” The emperor hadn’t intended to kill the deposed crown prince, but in a fit of rage, he thrust his sword into the deposed crown prince’s heart.
“Your Majesty!”
Zhang Fang rushed out from behind the crowd, shouting, “Where are the imperial physicians? They should hurry to save the emperor!”
As the second prince and the imperial guards entered the palace, they saw bodies strewn everywhere, and the third prince lay on the ground, blood already coagulated and his body cold and stiff.
Dismounting from his horse, the second prince crouched in front of the third prince, extending his hand with trembling fingers, wanting to touch him, but he couldn’t reach. His hand simply hovered in the air.
Closing his eyes, the second prince withdrew his hand into a fist. He exhaled a long breath, which instantly dissipated in the cold wind. He ordered his men to retrieve the third prince’s body and continued to head toward the emperor’s chambers.
The deposed crown prince launched the coup with the intent to kill the emperor; although those two arrows were small, they were dipped in deadly poison.
The imperial physicians were flustered and at a loss; they had no idea how to treat the emperor.
Zhang Fang calmly instructed them, “Scrape away the flesh around the wound. It may save the emperor’s life.”
“How can we do that! It would harm the emperor’s noble body!” The physicians were too afraid to act. If they couldn’t save the emperor, they might face state execution, and a new emperor would still need their services to avoid their deaths. But harming the emperor, even if it might save him, would undoubtedly lead to their doom! Better not to attempt a rescue!
Zhang Fang had promised to exonerate the Liu family. Keeping the emperor’s life was useful; he couldn’t let him die now.
Since the physicians hesitated, he took matters into his own hands. He extracted the poisoned arrows and removed the necrotic flesh from the emperor’s body.
The physicians looked on in fear and admiration. Even if Zhang Fang managed to save the emperor, he might still face retaliation. Truly, Zhang Fang was the greatest gentleman in the world, disregarding his own life for the greater good.
By the time the second prince arrived at the emperor’s chambers, the coup had already ended. The deposed crown prince knelt on the ground, a long sword piercing his heart, such a tragic scene, yet a closer look revealed a smirk at the corners of his mouth!
The second prince felt cold all over and raised his head to look toward the chamber’s door. The imperial chamber seemed like a ferocious beast opening its enormous mouth, eager to consume hearts.
Taking a deep breath, the second prince stepped heavily inside.
After Zhang Fang had removed a considerable amount of necrotic tissue from the emperor, the physicians applied medicine and administered medicine; the emperor lay in a coma, with only a faint breath, at risk of passing away at any moment.
The second prince knelt beside the dragon bed; he should have been weeping uncontrollably, but not a single tear fell.
Zhang Fang calmly stabilized the situation, calling the court ministers into the palace to witness the aftermath of the coup, and after the historians recorded what happened tonight, Zhang Fang finally allowed them to leave the palace. He ordered the imperial guards to seal the palace to prevent further disturbances.
It wasn’t until dawn that Zhang Fang ceased his busy work and had a chance to sit down for a cup of hot tea.
The second prince handed him the hot tea, remaining silent.
After finishing the cup of hot tea, Zhang Fang felt warm all over and softly said, “Once the emperor awakens, I can petition to exonerate the Liu family.”
The second prince opened his mouth but only released hot air; no words came out.
Should he be grateful to Zhang Fang? He ought to be grateful. Without Zhang Fang’s assistance, how could he have come this far?
Yet, the coup had left a profound impact on the second prince. Even knowing it was the deposed crown prince and the third prince’s obsession and ambition for the throne that brought about this tragic conflict, the second prince still felt discomfort.
Looking at the young man before him who was casually sipping tea, radiating brilliance, the second prince felt an innate fear of him. This was only because Zhang Fang was too clever, calculating the hearts of men with such clarity. As long as Zhang Fang wished for it, he could sit on that throne.
Zhang Fang seemed oblivious to the second prince’s distance and awe, calmly instructing him to manage the imperial guards well to prevent other princes from causing chaos in the capital.
What Zhang Fang said fell on deaf ears for the second prince, who nodded absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere.
Seeing him like this, Zhang Fang paid no mind.
The emperor remained in a coma for five days before awakening; his life had been preserved. However, the small amount of toxin had invaded his bloodstream, leaving lingering poison within him. Combined with the significant loss of flesh Zhang Fang had removed, he could hardly move.
Zhang Fang addressed every detail, reporting the circumstances of the past few days to the emperor.
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