Chapter 229: Give it Your Best Shot

Chapter 229

Having settled the Old Emperor comfortably, Li Yao really left this time.

She could not stay in the imperial palace indefinitely, firstly there was no point, and secondly she needed to buy some things.

The Crown Prince had a ruthless heart. Not only did he feed the Old Emperor poison, he did not even give him any food.

Therefore, Li Yao bought some herbs and boiled them into medicinal liquids, and also brought the old man some food.

That night, Li Yao sneaked into the palace again. When the Old Emperor saw a greasy roast chicken, the corners of his mouth turned up into a grin.

"I don't know how many years it's been, I've always wanted to eat Huang Ji's roast chicken again, but the imperial chef just won't buy it for me."

Even the diet of an emperor was not so free.

The imperial chef would make anything he wanted, but would never buy ready-made food from small roadside stalls.

So the roast chicken Li Yao brought him allowed him to taste the flavors of his youth.

After the Old Emperor finished the roast chicken, Li Yao gave him some medicine to help regulate his body, with the goal of getting the Old Emperor in the best shape possible before he lost consciousness.

By the third day, the deadline given by the Crown Prince had arrived.

This time Li Yao did not lie on the roof, but hid inside the bedchamber.

The Crown Prince still came in alone. Seeing the Old Emperor's face as pale as paper, a hideous smile emerged on his face.

"Father Emperor, have you considered it?" said the Crown Prince. "If you abdicate now, I can still allow you to live out your remaining years in comfort."

"If... if I... don't abdicate?"

"Don't abdicate? Then tonight will be the time Your Majesty leaves this world."

"You... have such a cruel heart... cough cough..."

The Old Emperor pretended to tremble all over in anger as Li Yao had taught him, and then coughed violently, even coughing up quite a bit of "blood".

Then he gasped for breath, unable to catch it, and passed out with his eyes closed.

"Imperial physicians, hurry and come take a look!"

A few imperial physicians came over with their heads lowered, took the emperor's pulse, and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty's pulse is chaotic and weak, I'm afraid he is..."

"How much longer does he have?"

"At most two or three days."

"Humph, it seems your medicine is not very effective," said the Crown Prince. "Just two or three days, I can wait. These next few days, continue to take good care of His Majesty."

After a pause, the Crown Prince said coldly, "The medicine he should take, he still has to take."

"Yes."

"Who exactly are you?" the guard asked.

"I'm a friend of Song Prefect of Yi Prefecture."

Hearing she was a friend of Song Prefect, the guard's attitude became somewhat better, but he was still very wary. They had heard lately that there would be turmoil in the capital city, so they guards had to be extra alert at night.

"Wait here, I'll ask the steward."

Li Yao stood in the street and waited over ten minutes. Fortunately the guard came back and said the Left Chancellor was willing to see her.

She followed the guard to the study. Song An was already waiting.

At first glance, Song An asked in surprise, "You are Li Yao?"

"How does the Left Chancellor recognize me?"

"Originally I didn't recognize you. But a month ago, Song Feng sent back a portrait of you, saying that if you came to the capital city, I should do my best to assist you."

Was this Song Prefect a fortune teller? A month ago she was still in the northern borderlands, how did he know she would come to the capital city?

Never mind, now was not the time to worry about that.

Since Song An recognized her, that just saved some trouble.

"Miss Li, why have you come?"

"The Crown Prince wants to kill His Majesty and usurp the throne. He's already making preparations."

"Cough cough..."

Song An, who was drinking water, choked and couldn't catch his breath.

This Miss Li spoke too directly, too directly.

One must know, such words cannot be spoken carelessly. If His Majesty or the Crown Prince heard them, it would be an immediate beheading!

"I know it's a bit far-fetched," Li Yao continued without regard for Song An's astonishment. "But that is the truth. These last few nights I've been in the palace helping His Majesty cling to life. But the Crown Prince cannot wait any longer. He plans to make his move tomorrow night."

Song An stared at Li Yao tongue-tied, momentarily at a loss for how to respond. Because every sentence was so far-fetched.

"Then what use is there in coming to me? I'm just a civil official. My power is still under the Right Chancellor's. I have no factions at court..."

"The Yi Prefecture army and border armies should arrive soon, but the city gates are sealed shut now, so no messages can be sent out," Li Yao said directly. "If the Left Chancellor can contact them, perhaps there is still a chance to turn things around."

The Yi Prefecture army and border armies have come to the outskirts of the capital?

This news was even more astonishing to Song An than the Crown Prince's usurpation.

The arrival of the Yi Prefecture army at the capital without a sound was tantamount to rebellion!

But he was more willing to believe Li Yao's words. After all, the Crown Prince's usurpation was something everyone had already known in their hearts for some time.

"Alright, I'll do my best to try."