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墨書 Inktalez
Gu Bei saw it but could only pretend not to.
The emperor's health was not just a personal matter; it was a significant piece of information that concerned the nation and its people, and it had to be kept confidential.
"Heh heh." The emperor chuckled softly when he saw Gu Bei with his head lowered, wearing a calm expression. "You need not pretend. With General Gu's keen eye, how could you possibly miss something so obvious, especially when you can shoot an enemy general straight in the heart?"
Gu Bei replied, "I am terrified, Your Majesty."
"Terrified of what?" The emperor smiled. "Since I summoned you here today, I have no intention of hiding this matter. In fact, this is the very reason I called for you."
After a pause, the emperor continued, "Gu Bei, the Imperial Physician has just diagnosed me. I have less than three months to live."
The emperor's voice carried a sense of attachment to life, as well as a calm acceptance of reality.
"Your Majesty!" Although Gu Bei had suspected that there was something wrong with the emperor's health, hearing that he had only three months left was truly unexpected.
"Is the Imperial Physician really so certain? Should we consult another Imperial Physician?" Gu Bei furrowed his brow tightly. "Even Imperial Physicians can make mistakes."
The emperor waved his hand dismissively. "You still worry for me; I can feel your loyalty. I am well aware of my own condition. Long ago, I knew I would not last much longer. These years of survival have been thanks to the Imperial Physician's skills, merely keeping me alive by a thread."
"How could this be?" Gu Bei looked at the emperor in disbelief. In public, the emperor appeared no different from an ordinary person; one would never guess he was gravely ill.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this..." Gu Bei still couldn't accept it; a healthy person suddenly facing death was unfathomable.
The emperor coughed lightly, and Eunuch Tang quickly offered a new handkerchief but was refused.
"I am fine," the emperor clarified Gu Bei's confusion. "I have been poisoned."
Gu Bei was even more astonished. "Poisoned? The palace is heavily guarded; how could anyone possibly carry out such an act?"
His mood quickly sank, a deep sense of guilt washing over him: "The Emperor has been plotting against me, and I was completely unaware. I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"
"You cannot blame yourself," the Emperor comforted Gu Bei in return. "My poison has already seeped into my lungs; it cannot be cured. Let us not speak of this for now."
It was clear that the Emperor did not wish to reveal the reasons behind his poisoning to Gu Bei, and Gu Bei could not press for answers.
"I summoned you today to discuss another matter," the Emperor said, appearing somewhat uncomfortable as he adjusted his position with Eunuch Tang's assistance to a more comfortable one.
To Gu Bei, this scene felt particularly desolate.
The Emperor no longer had the strength to turn himself over.
All he could do was turn a blind eye to this moment, preserving the dignity of the Emperor in his final moments of life.
Gu Bei's actions did not go unnoticed by the Emperor, who showed a hint of appreciation.
"Gu Bei, you are a good child," the Emperor said with a touch of nostalgia. "Your father should be proud to have you as his son; it is enough for him to boast about for a lifetime."
After a pause, the Emperor shifted the topic back to Gu Bei: "Do you know why I called you here today?"
The Emperor's health was failing, with only three months left to live. What else could be of utmost importance? Naturally, it was the question of who would inherit the throne.
Under the Emperor's rule, Dongchuan had enjoyed peace and prosperity, and he certainly wished for the throne to continue in capable hands.
Although a crown prince had long been established in Dongchuan, everything remained uncertain until the new emperor ascended.
Moreover, even Gu Bei, who was not deeply involved in court affairs, could clearly sense that the Emperor was not entirely satisfied with this crown prince.
"Your humble servant dares to ask, is Your Majesty considering the matter of the new emperor's ascension?" Gu Bei ventured, offering what seemed to be the only answer.
He guessed correctly; the emperor soon confirmed his thoughts.
"Indeed," the emperor replied. "You are my most trusted minister, and I wish to hear your opinion. Among the princes, who do you think is most capable of handling the throne?"
Gu Bei did not expect the emperor to pose such a direct question to him. As a minister, he certainly had a duty to share the emperor's burdens, but such a significant matter as selecting a new emperor was beyond the purview of a mere subject.
"I am but a foolish servant," Gu Bei knelt and responded. "I am Your Majesty's subject, loyal for life. Whatever decision Your Majesty makes, I shall abide by it."
Regardless of which prince the emperor ultimately chose, his loyalty would always lie with the Eastern Chuan Empire.
The emperor silently regarded Gu Bei for a moment before speaking again. "Take good care of the Sixth Prince in the future."
He did not name a specific candidate directly, but in this context, instructing Gu Bei to look after the Sixth Prince effectively indicated that his final choice would be the Sixth Prince.
This decision left Gu Bei deeply astonished. The Sixth Prince was hardly noticeable among the many princes. Whether it was the Crown Prince or the Third Prince, they both had far more presence than he did.
Had he not heard it with his own ears, Gu Bei would never have believed it.
However, which prince was chosen did not make much difference to Gu Bei. Since this was the emperor's choice, there must be a reason behind it. Gu Bei chose to accept it.
"Yes, I will remember Your Majesty's instruction," Gu Bei said without further questioning and directly accepted the emperor's choice.
"Good, good." The emperor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, yet also appeared exhausted, his expression weary. "I have no other matters for you; you may leave."
"Yes!" Gu Bei bowed and turned to depart.
“Minister Gu,” the Emperor called out to Gu Bei from behind, not using his name but addressing him with the title appropriate between sovereign and subject.
Gu Bei turned around and replied respectfully, “Your servant is here!”
The Emperor looked at him deeply and said, “Minister Gu, I entrust this empire to you.”
Gu Bei stepped forward and performed a deep bow, declaring loudly, “I shall obey your command!”
Returning from the Emperor's presence, Gu Bei was engulfed in a profound sadness that he could not shake off. He never expected that the seemingly robust Emperor was on the brink of death.
In Gu Bei's memory, the Emperor had always been strong, sometimes even imposing enough to make others feel suffocated. At times, Gu Bei found himself afraid of him.
A person like that should have lived a long life, enjoying peace in the Palace of the Empress after the new Emperor ascended. Yet now, it seemed he would soon be separated from this world forever.
Moreover, the Emperor's choice of the Sixth Prince puzzled Gu Bei greatly.
The Sixth Prince had always been inconspicuous; over the years, he had not shown any particular favoritism from the Emperor. Why choose him at such a critical moment?
Understanding the true situation of his sovereign was also part of a minister's duty. In the following days, Gu Bei began to gather and organize information about the Sixth Prince.
As he busied himself with this task, he completely lost track of time, neglecting his own affairs.
With only three months left in the Emperor's life, Gu Bei had to prepare everything before then to ensure a smooth ascension for the Sixth Prince.
Having promised the Emperor, Gu Bei was determined to fulfill that promise, even if it meant risking his own life.
He sent Gu Da to inform Ye Xiaohan and others not to worry; he was simply busy lately.
"Understood, let him take care of himself and not push too hard."
Ye Xiaohan felt a bit down but quickly pulled herself together. Gu Bei was a general, and his work concerned the nation and its people; she could endure a little longer.
Before, Gu Bei would come by whenever he had the chance, but now that he suddenly stopped visiting, Ye Xiaohan felt an emptiness no matter where she looked.
Perhaps it was her heart that felt empty.
To fill this void, Ye Xiaohan worked even harder, managing to boost the tavern's business by ten percent in a short time.
She was generous too; after making some money, she directly raised the employees' salaries, which motivated everyone to work even more diligently.
However, despite these achievements, Ye Xiaohan found that she wasn't as particularly happy as she had been before.
Unbeknownst to her, Gu Bei had become more important in her heart than the money she cherished most.
"Sigh." Ye Xiaohan sighed as her fingers poked at the leaves of a pot of aloe vera on the table.
This was something she had dug up during an outing with Gu Bei in the countryside, discovered by chance along the roadside. She had brought it back and placed it in a beautiful porcelain pot.
The capital was cold, and the planting conditions weren't ideal. Whenever she saw aloe vera looking listless, she felt it was a resilient plant that continued to strive forward despite its disadvantages.
But now, Ye Xiaohan felt like a wilting aloe vera herself, living life with an overwhelming sense of boredom.
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