Chapter 1464: Chapter 1464: Who’s Really Sick?

Eunuch Wan said, “No matter how great your affairs are, they cannot outweigh the Empress Dowager’s life. These days, the Empress Dowager is at the brink of life and death, and she could pass away at any moment. If by chance the Emperor comes out to see you and the Empress Dowager breathes her last during that time, wouldn’t the Emperor be unable to bid her farewell? This is a charge that I cannot bear. I advise all of you to return.”

“Is the Empress Dowager actually that seriously ill?” someone quietly murmured.

“Ill? It’s the Emperor who is ill,” another person quietly murmured in response.

“I think the Emperor can’t hold on much longer,” someone sneered.

Everyone whispered among themselves, but they refused to leave.

In the blazing sun, Eunuch Wan suffered too.

He was truly helpless, so he had to ask, “Official Cheng, why don’t you speak up and tell me what great matter it is? I will convey a message to the Emperor to see if he is willing to come out to see you.”

The crowd was moved, hearing what Eunuch Wan said, and someone felt the Emperor’s illness was dubious.

Could it be that the Emperor will really come out to reprimand them?

It had been so long without the Emperor showing up; they all doubted the Emperor was critically ill and couldn’t get out of bed.

Official Cheng declared gravely, “Eunuch Wan, we are here because of the case of the former Ducal Residence. The death of National Duke was suspicious, and we have found several prison guards from back then, feeling the matter is not that simple.

Moreover, given the character of National Duke, he couldn’t have committed suicide out of fear of guilt. Therefore, we earnestly request the Emperor to re-investigate this matter. If it is proven that National Duke was wrongfully accused, we ask the Emperor to restore the reputation for the Ducal Residence and the lives of three hundred and twenty-eight people.”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wan’s face darkened, and he snorted coldly, “Official Cheng, I think the sun has overheated you into confusion. The Ducal Residence case has long been concluded, so what are you trying to stir now? Are you deliberately trying to anger the Emperor?”

“Oh, I dare not, but as a subject, I cannot watch the Emperor be deceived and let a loyal and virtuous person suffer an unjust accusation. Please let the Emperor see clearly!”

Eunuch Wan was amused by his anger; the intentions of National Duke’s actions were known by all.

True, at first, the Crown Prince’s actions were somewhat rash and not quite right, but wasn’t that because he was forced by that old scoundrel National Duke?

Who has the energy to quarrel recklessly with him?

Now he’s dead, and there are still so many people stirring up trouble, proving the Crown Prince’s decisive actions back then were correct. Otherwise, that old scoundrel living till now would be even more troublesome.

“Official Cheng, this humble eunuch dares not help you convey the message, so I advise you to return. Once the Empress Dowager is out of danger, the Emperor will naturally come out to meet you.”

They were determined to force an audience and wouldn’t leave so easily.

Official Cheng showed a sly smile in his eyes, lowered his head, and said slowly, “Then we can only kneel here until the Emperor comes out.”

“We are willing to kneel indefinitely…”

The loyalists echoed in unison.

“You…you’re forcing the Emperor?” Eunuch Wan angrily said.

Official Cheng boldly said, “The Emperor has not attended court for many days. If he is truly unable to manage, please appoint the Crown Prince to act as Crown Prince Regent and handle the state affairs. The southern floods, northern droughts, and bandits rising in Xining all require the Emperor’s personal intervention. We can wait, but the people living through these disasters cannot; a nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. I urge the Emperor to think thrice…”