Chapter 1502: 1497: The Emperor's Funeral Affairs
Chapter 1502: Chapter 1497: The Emperor’s Funeral Affairs
Su Yingxue initially had a joking heart, “I have lived through two lifetimes and have never heard of a three-year-old sitting on the dragon throne. Heng’er is truly fortunate!”
Chu Yihan fell ill, and at such a young age, he already took the position of the ruler of the world, arguably the first in ancient and modern times.
Chu Yihan stroked her hair and laughed together with her.
But before Su Yingxue’s laughter could spread, she immediately sensed something wrong and tightly grabbed Chu Yihan’s chest cloth, “Did you do it on purpose? Are you… letting Heng’er get used to the throne early so he can ascend earlier in the future?”
Heng’er is only three years old!
With Chu Jinling by his side for literature and Su Hao for martial arts, and in the court, there are two loyal officials, Zhuo Junli and Lu Mian, it seems like a very safe environment.
But the safer the environment provided for Heng’er, the more she could feel Chu Yihan’s depletion on himself.
He even joked with her about letting the three concubines in the harem go, granting them their freedom, but originally he intended…
“You can’t think like that! Heng’er is still young, and you… how long have you been the Emperor? Who is as lazy as you!”
Su Yingxue’s eyes reddened, and her voice began to waver.
Thinking about all of Chu Yihan’s arrangements made her heart ache.
“I have waged wars for the Great Cheng Dynasty for many years; now I have to be lazy if necessary. You are injured, and how long could the royal court care for Heng’er?”
Chu Yihan lowered his head and kissed her eyebrows and eyes, his voice extremely gentle, “But rest assured, as long as I can hold on, I definitely will, never being lazy by your side.”
“You won’t have any problems!” Su Yingxue choked up.
It seemed like there were solutions, but from his attitude, she felt as if he was embracing the intent to die, arranging his affairs like final preparations!
“I heard your conversation with Rong Sheng.”
Chu Yihan sighed softly, “The craniotomy probably involves opening up one’s brain and then removing the Gu worm from my brain. Such an idea is whimsical, and even if I believe you can do it, Rong Sheng mentioned that the survival rate of this surgery is very low, it’s likely that even after the surgery, survival would be difficult.”
Although he harbored the determination to grow old with Su Yingxue and never gave up lightly, he had to face reality.
If the Gu worm cannot be removed, it would harm others and harm himself, his body might continue to waste away and might not last a few more years. If the Gu worm is removed and he survives the surgery, he still might not live.
Ultimately, he is a person in life-threatening danger, necessary preparations must be made, otherwise, if he suddenly collapses, who would take the burden of the aftermath?
His wife?
Chu Yihan held her, eyes filled with deep apologies, “I never thought the day I would leave you would come so soon.”
He was twelve years older than her, and even if they were to eventually die of old age, there were still decades in between, enough time for them to live well together.
But he didn’t expect this day to come so soon.
It came too quickly, so quickly that he had not yet had the chance to properly travel and enjoy leisure time with her, too quickly that he hadn’t had the time to let her bear him another daughter.
He had always wanted a daughter, to make all the subjects of the world admire him.
Su Yingxue bit her lip, stopping herself from crying out loud. She leaned on Chu Yihan’s chest and whispered, “It’ll be okay, trust me.”
Being with Chu Yihan, it had always been him protecting and pampering her.
But this time, she must save him!
The headache Chu Yihan suffered from persisted and grew increasingly frequent in harming others, and palace servants in the palace were frightened, discussing as they walked:
“Did you see the Emperor’s condition? He doesn’t recognize anyone! He attacks anyone he sees!”
“The empress has been injured! They say even the young Crown Prince was hurt by the emperor!”
“I even saw a long scar on Her Majesty the empress’s arm! Tsk, such a tragedy…”
Without Su Yingxue’s strict control, this matter spread throughout the palace, and even beyond to the court and into the common folk. In no time, people began wildly speculating about Chu Yihan’s health, and some even claimed that Heaven envied Chu Yihan’s talents and God intended to take his life to prevent him from remaining on the throne.
Recently, the three-year-old Crown Prince has been overseeing the state, with Prince Jinling assisting in governance, while the Prime Minister and the minister have full control over court affairs. The situation in the court is now clear.
“It seems the emperor’s health may not hold up, he’s likely to pass away soon!”
“How unfortunate, the emperor was so heroic, truly a wise ruler seen only once in a century!”
“The emperor expanded our borders, achievements so remarkable that even Heaven is envious! Alas…”
When these rumors reached the palace, it coincided with Chu Yihan issuing a new imperial edict.
This was the only handwritten imperial edict since he had the Crown Prince oversee the nation.
“By imperial command, Prince Jinling is appointed as Regent Prince, Great General Su Hao as Duke of Su, both assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing the nation. After the Crown Prince’s coronation, he may ascend to the throne, decreed hereby—”
“Whoa—”
Right after Sun Wu finished proclaiming the decree in the Hall of Diligent Government, the civil and military officials in the hall erupted, “What… what kind of imperial edict is this? What exactly is the state of the emperor’s health?”
“What illness has the emperor contracted?”
“The emperor is in the prime of his life! This old servant begs to see the emperor!”
“This humble official requests to see the emperor!”
In the hall, all civil and military officials knelt down, requesting to see Chu Yihan.
Clearly, accustomed to the wise and valiant Chu Yihan, they were panicked now seeing Chu Heng sitting on the dragon throne.
“A three-year-old child, how can he firmly hold the imperial seat!”
A civil official sighed while shaking his head.
“How can I not sit on the imperial throne properly?” Chu Heng’s milky, soft voice came from above.
This civil official was momentarily stunned, hastily said he misspoke, and immediately bowed his head.
But he had voiced the thoughts of many; Chu Heng was just a kid!
He might look good and have a soft voice,
but how could he possibly govern the Great Cheng Dynasty like his father?
Su Hao and Chu Jinling, tasked with the heaviest responsibilities, accepted the decree and served by Chu Heng’s side, one on his left and one on his right. Su Hao with a booming voice, said, “The emperor commands, the Crown Prince oversees the nation, and all officials should work together, safeguard our royal court from the trivial, and avoid exploitation!”
“The Crown Prince is young but intelligent and astute, with his leadership and your collective effort, our Great Cheng Dynasty will certainly grow stronger!”
Chu Jinling also declared loudly.
Zhuo Junli and Lu Mian immediately echoed, “The Crown Prince is wise and will surely bless our Great Cheng Dynasty!”
“Long live the Crown Prince, long live, live forever!”
“Crown Prince, may you elevate our nation’s prestige!”
Chu Heng, sitting on the dragon throne, furrowed his delicate little eyebrows, “These people aren’t sincere at all in what they say.”
Clearly, they were looking down on him!