Under the gaze of the King of Danyang, the King of Ying's expression grew colder and more sinister. He pulled a decorative rope from the wall, and the large plaque with the words "Eternal Dynasty" fell, crashing onto the back of the King of Danyang, who was already on the ground. The King of Danyang, barely clinging to life, couldn't withstand the impact. He let out a final cry, vomited a large mouthful of blood, and fell into unconsciousness. At that moment, he realized his brother's treachery had been long-planned. The plaque's mechanism was clearly not an impulse act. But it was too late. His thoughts, filled with hatred, descended into darkness.
The King of Ying's plan had succeeded, and a triumphant smile almost broke through. He quickly recovered. This was not the time for celebration. He immediately put on a mask of panic and shouted loudly. "Help! Help!" His face was a picture of genuine fear and anxiety. "A plaque has fallen from the heavens! A punishment for my brother!" he cried out again.
The ministers outside heard his cries and rushed in. They saw the King of Danyang, bleeding from his nose and mouth, lying unconscious under the plaque.
"Summon the imperial physician! Quickly!" the King of Ying shouted, his performance now in full swing.
The imperial physician pushed through the crowd and knelt to examine the King of Danyang. "No head or neck injury, his life is likely safe! But the impact has damaged his internal organs," he announced. "He must be treated immediately!"
The physician was lying. He had clearly seen the neck injury, which was inconsistent with a plaque falling on his back. In his current state, the King of Danyang was beyond help. The physician, however, was in league with Empress Xiao Yan and was part of Wei Tingyu's plan. He knew exactly what to say.
The King of Ying's face darkened when he heard that his brother could be saved. If the King of Danyang woke up, his plot would be exposed. However, the ministers were all focused on the King of Danyang and the physician, so no one noticed the change in his expression.
"Take him to the King of Danyang's residence!" Zhang Song, seeing his opportunity, quickly ordered.
"No!" the King of Ying objected immediately. "You tried to kill my brother at his residence this morning! I cannot entrust him to you. He will come to my residence, and I will personally care for him!"
The King of Ying's words were sincere, filled with concern for his brother and distrust of Zhang Song. Many of the ministers were moved. Who said there was no familial love in the royal family? Here was a prime example of brotherly devotion.
"Wait!" Zhang Song tried to speak, but an official whispered to him, "Prime Minister, the Emperor is gone, and now the King of Danyang is injured. You already have a history with him. You would be an easy suspect!"
Zhang Song was stunned. Under the circumstances, it was indeed unwise for him to take charge. Given his earlier actions at the King of Danyang's residence, if the King of Danyang died in his care, all blame would fall on him. The new emperor would have no choice but to punish him, and his family would be ruined.
In that moment of hesitation, the King of Ying turned to the eunuchs. "What are you waiting for?" The eunuchs quickly carried the King of Danyang to the King of Ying's residence.
With the King of Danyang in his hands, his life was his to take. The King of Ying's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Zhang Song, who had finally recovered, saw it. He froze, his face a mask of shock. He finally understood. The King of Ying was the true mastermind, the one who had been hiding his ambition while he and the King of Danyang fought. Now that the King of Danyang was out of the picture, the throne would surely go to the third brother.
Evening fell, with the rumble of thunder signaling an approaching storm. A large crowd of Wu officials stood in the palace square. They had heard of the Empress's "miscarriage" and had gathered to wait for news. The King of Ying appeared, leaning on his cane.
"Your Highness!" the officials bowed. The King of Ying now controlled the court, and their respect for him had grown.
"Thank you for waiting," the King of Ying said, looking exhausted. "My brother's condition has stabilized, but he has not yet woken." Of course, he was secretly gloating. He knew the King of Danyang would never wake again.
"How is the Empress?" he asked, suppressing his triumph.
"It has been four hours, and there is no news," a leading minister said with worry. "The imperial physician says it was a hemorrhage from the miscarriage. We wish to enter, but the Imperial Forest Guard says they have orders from the Empress not to let us in."
"We are very worried about the Empress!" other ministers complained. They could do nothing but wait.
"I will go," the King of Ying said with determination. He turned and headed for the palace. The commander of the Imperial Forest Guard tried to stop him, but the King of Ying struck his cane on the ground with a loud thud. "Impudent! My sister-in-law's life hangs in the balance! As the Zongzheng Ling, it is my duty to oversee this! Is the name of Wu no longer Yang?"
The commander, faced with the King of Ying's righteous fury and considering the high possibility of him becoming emperor, stepped aside and let him pass.
"Please wait here, everyone," the King of Ying said to the ministers. "I will send a message as soon as there is news." He then turned to the commander. "What are you doing? Get some seats, food, and water for the officials!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" the commander replied, ordering his men.
"With the King of Ying here, we finally have a leader!"
"We are so lucky to have him in charge!"
"With the Emperor and now the Empress in trouble, if not for the King of Ying, Wu would surely fall!"
The King of Ying's actions had won over the ministers. He smiled with satisfaction as he walked away, hearing their praise. "Well done," he said to the commander. "You are my most trusted subordinate. I will reward you generously."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the commander said, bowing low. The King of Ying was now certain of victory. The Imperial Forest Guard was his most important asset, and the throne of Wu was now within his grasp.
Inside the palace, eunuchs and maids were bustling about. Xiao Yan's pained moans could be heard from within the main hall. The King of Ying's smile grew wider.
"Your Highness!" a young imperial physician waiting outside the hall greeted him cautiously.
"How is she?" the King of Ying asked.
"Just as you wished, Your Highness," the physician replied. "Not only did she lose the child, but it seems the Empress will not survive." The King of Ying felt a fleeting moment of sadness. He had only planned for the Empress to lose the child, not die. But he quickly brushed it aside. To become emperor, sacrifices were necessary. It was all part of his plan. He had personally offered his sister-in-law a cup of ginseng juice that morning, which he had secretly poisoned.
"The Empress has fainted!" a palace maid's frantic cry came from inside.
"Make sure she does not survive," the King of Ying said to the young physician. He had to be ruthless to secure his position.
"Yes," the physician replied, leaving to tamper with the Empress's medicine.
"Sister-in-law, you must hold on!" the King of Ying cried out dramatically. "Your brother is in a bad way, and you are my only family left!"
"Your Highness," a soft voice said behind him. It was Xiao Yan's trusted maid. "The Empress has awakened. It may be a final flicker of life. She wishes to speak with you."
"Sister-in-law!" the King of Ying exclaimed, his face a mixture of feigned alarm and genuine triumph. He rushed inside. The eunuchs and maids were silent, their faces full of sorrow. The head physician and other doctors stood to the side, sighing.
Xiao Yan lay motionless behind a curtain. "Sister-in-law!" the King of Ying cried out, his voice filled with fake grief.
"Why are you crying?" Xiao Yan's weak voice came from behind the curtain. "I have no luck. I am dying. Ying, come closer. I have something to tell you." The King of Ying approached slowly.
"Leave us," Xiao Yan's frail voice commanded. The eunuchs and maids bowed and left. The King of Ying also motioned for his guards to leave. The two were alone, separated by the curtain.
"Sister-in-law," the King of Ying said softly, standing by her bed.
"Before I die, I have understood many things," Xiao Yan said, her voice strained. "Was... my miscarriage... and all of this... your doing?" The King of Ying froze, his hand hovering over the curtain. He slowly retreated. "Why do you ask what you already know?" he replied, admitting his guilt.
"Why?" Xiao Yan asked, her voice filled with pain. "We... have always been good to you."
"Good to me?" the King of Ying laughed. "I never wanted your pity! By birth, my mother was of the highest rank! By talent, I am ten times better than my brothers! But because I saved you from drowning when I was eight, I became disabled and was forever excluded from the throne! This is what you owe me! You owe me!" His face was twisted with hatred. "You owe me a life, yet you would rather recommend the low-born King of Danyang than even consider me!"