Chapter 288 - Imperial Edict

The next day, Yang Xian felt his head hurt. Thinking about the wine that Prince Ji Sheng asked him to drink last night, he felt that he truly overestimated his alcohol tolerance. It was not as good as Prince Ji Sheng. 

'Next time, I'll switch my wine with water.'

Knock! Knock!

"Are you awake?" Wei Liuying's head peeked in.

Yang Xian glanced up. He was about to answer when memory from last night came into his mind. His words immediately stuck in his throat.

"Yang Xian?"

"I'm awake! Can you prepare something to help with my headache?" Yang Xian asked, his tone was forced to stay calm. 

"Alright."

As Wei Liuying left, Yang Xian turned his head and buried it in his palm. He couldn't believe that he made such a blunder last night. Even though he was a bit drunk, he didn't think that he would actually lost his patient and made a move.

However, from Wei Liuying's action, it seemed that she wanted to treat as if nothing happened.

After all, most drinkers forgot what had happened when they were drunk.

'I'll just leave it be for now.'

Wei Liuying returned back with a porridge and tea. She passed the tea first. "By the way, there's a servant from His Highness asking you to return back to work this afternoon."

"…I understand." Yang Xian silently cursed Prince Ji Sheng in his mind. Even on the day after the latter's marriage, he still had to work?

While lamenting his fate, Yang Xian quickly finished the porridge and went to work with Wei Liuying. 

…

Time passed swiftly.

The warm temperature was dropping slowly. It was getting a bit cold and dry after a while. It has been some time since the marriage, but Wei Liuying's activity hadn't changed much as she was still busy establishing the border. Winter was only a few weeks away, so they have already started to make their preparation for the day to come.

At the same time, Wei Liuying was anticipating news from the Capital City. 

"Liu Ying."

Wei Liuying turned her head to the back. She furrowed her brows when she saw Yang Xian walking over to her direction. "Is there anything that I can do to help, Yang Xian?"

"There's news from the capital city."

"What happened?"

"Do you know the hunt?"

"Autumn hunt?" 

"Yes. There's an incident," Yang Xian replied. "His Majesty was wounded by a misfire and currently bedridden."

Misfire.

This word was used by countless people in numerous occasions. Wei Liuying had already used that method to harm Wei Xiao Hua back then as a way of her retaliation. Besides, if they said that they didn't mean to do it, they were trying to wash off the responsibility off their hands.

Wei Liuying narrowed her eyes. "Fatal wound?"

"Some of the Imperial physicians said that he only had a few days to live," Yang Xian responded. His fist was clasped tightly as he looked at the bamboo strip in his hand as if he wished to destroy that piece of wood. 

Even though he didn't say anything, Wei Liuying understood what Yang Xian was feeling. The timing was too precise.

They have just finished the war against Xiong Tribe, which meant that their soldiers were tired. Many of them have just returned back to their home and would only return back to military in a few days' time. If the Emperor were to die at this point of time, they would be dragged to the battle of succession at the most awful time possible.

Not to mention, it was nearly Winter, which meant that the temperature here was colder. It would be harder for them to stay fit in such condition.

"Is he awake?"

"No. However, he had already prepared the Imperial Edict beforehand that pointed Prince Ji Tian as the successor." Yang Xian put the bamboo strips away and pointed to Prince Ji Sheng's Residence. "There's also an edict that required His Highness to send one of his trusted confidant or come by himself to watch the reading of the Imperial Edict for the future successor should the Emperor fail to survive."

Chills ran down Wei Liuying's spine when she thought about what Yang Xian said. It was definitely a very risky move to enter the capital city at this point of time. As for the close confidant that they spoke about….

"You're going?"

"Yes."

Wei Liuying looked at Yang Xian with furrowed eyebrows. "The matter at the north is not finished yet and you're already running around again."

"I can't help it. My position is a bit too high for me to have a lot of private time." Yang Xian laughed faintly.

"Has His Highness agree?"

"No. I need your help to convince him."

Wei Liuying sighed. It was clear that either option was simply too difficult for Prince Ji Sheng to take. It was either him or Yang Xian who depart to the capital city and no matter who it was, they would be exposed to painful and scary schemes that other princes have prepared in the capital city.

"I'm sure he wants to volunteer for himself to go."

"You're correct," Yang Xian said in a low tone. "Who do you think should go to the capital city?"

Raising her head, Wei Liuying locked her gaze with Yang Xian. He was more than a head taller than her, so she rarely looked at his face directly unless when they were sitting down. Slowly, she averted her eyes.

"You."

Yang Xian nodded and patted her shoulder. "Help me out a little bit to deal with His Highness. I'm sure that I can't get his permission without you and Lady Gao voicing out your thoughts."

Wei Liuying smiled bitterly. She could guess that Gao Ling must be asking for Prince Ji Sheng to not leave for the capital city because it was too dangerous. Even though she also didn't want Yang Xian to leave, one of them have to go. If not, they would be declared as criminals who defied the Imperial Edict.

'It's difficult.'

As she walked to the inner part of the residence, Wei Liuying was thinking of the overall situation. Once the Emperor died, there was no doubt that Prince Ji Shu would raise the rebellions flag and lead his soldiers to take the throne back from Prince Ji Tian. 

When the time came, Wei Liuying doubted that things would be peaceful. If either of the prince won, they would still be pulled into the inevitable flames of rebellions and might be forced to give their power. The military power in Prince Ji Sheng's hand was a card that was hard to miss. If Prince Ji Sheng were to disobey any of them, it would be the same as instant death.

'This is why politics are so….'

"Your Highness, Strategist Yang is here."

"Enter."