Zhou Quande said, "The Second Prince just said that he discovered the handwriting on the memorial had changed."
Qin Zhe took the memorial he had annotated and compared it with the Emperor's previous annotations. He said, "It looks quite similar already. Let me copy it a few more times."
"That's good. Please pay extra attention to this matter, Your Highness. We cannot let anyone outside the palace know that His Majesty has not woken up yet!"
"Thank you for the reminder, Steward Zhou. This prince will be careful."
Qin Zhe appeared calm on the surface, but was secretly delighted inside.
In the past, with the Crown Prince and Second Prince above him, he never thought he would have a chance at the throne.
Thus in his actions and conduct, he was very low-key, trying his best to maintain good relations with each of his brothers.
Yet living in the imperial family, who could be completely unmoved by that position?
But after Qin Zheng let Qin Lie assist in governing, Qin Zhe completely gave up on unrealistic thoughts and settled for being an idle prince.
Yet suddenly after Qin Zheng's accident returning to the capital, he was secretly summoned into the palace. Under Zhou Quande's arrangements, he began reviewing and annotating memorials - things only the Emperor could do!
He realized his father was grooming him!
He was his father's chosen Crown Prince!
Thinking of this, Qin Zhe became even more diligent in copying Qin Zheng's writing.
In front of Qin Zheng's sickbed, the imperial physician was administering acupuncture.
Wei Chen stood watching at the side.
Zhou Quande entered the bedchamber and walked over to stand beside Wei Chen, asking in a low voice, "Does Chief Censor Wei know when His Majesty will wake up? The situation outside is changing."
Two months ago, Qin Zheng had briefly regained consciousness.
After instructing Zhou Quande to let the Third Prince review memorials, he sank back into a coma.
Wei Chen said, "When the time comes, His Majesty will naturally wake up. As long as His Majesty is still here, the weather will eventually clear up."
Hearing Wei Chen's words put Zhou Quande's mind at ease. "I'll take Chief Censor Wei's auspicious words."
Wei Chen gazed at Qin Zheng's face, still puzzled inside. Why did he have the Second Prince assist in governing, yet also let the Third Prince make vermilion markings on memorials?
Whichever of them became Crown Prince, the other would be unhappy, inevitably leading to conflict and instability in court!
Letting things continue to develop like this, the court would be shaken at the minimum, or the foundation of the country threatened at worst!
The Emperor must know the pros and cons, yet still chose to do this - it was deliberate!
But Wei Chen still couldn't figure out the reason.
Through 502, Qin Zhao learned that the Emperor was in a deep coma, yet she did not appear flustered at all.
She went about her days as usual.
The wounds Qi Yan Su Luo suffered were healed.
The two resumed their nightly passions.
Every day Qin Zhao would sleep in lazily until noon, eat lunch, practice her swordsmanship for a while, then go to Mo Qianqiu's courtyard to make wooden items with her.
"Your Highness, Lady Mo said to please come a little later today. She has a surprise to show you." Linglong said to Qin Zhao, who was practicing her swordplay in the courtyard.
Qin Zhao chopped off the wooden man's arm with her sword. "This princess understands."
Then she continued hacking and slashing.
Watching her mistress, Linglong's eyes were full of worship for her agile figure and smooth, flowing swordwork.
The formerly weak and helpless Princess Zhaoyang now seemed like a distant memory from another lifetime.
Cong Han made a sign to Shen Xue, and Shen Xue nodded. She took a sword from the rack and leapt in front of Qin Zhao, exchanging pointers with her.
The two originally just meant to play for fun, but their competitive instincts gradually took over, turning it into a serious match!
The clear ringing of metal colliding energized the atmosphere in the courtyard.
Cong Han cheered them on from the side.
Qi Yan Su Luo watched them through the window.
The maidservants around them, busy with sweeping and watering, also sneakily cast their gazes towards the two.
After exchanging thirty-some moves, it ended with Shen Xue's sword flying out of her hand.
Shen Xue shook her numb hand and massaged her sword callus. "Your Highness's skills have improved remarkably. This subordinate is no longer a match for you."
Everyone silently marveled at Qin Zhao's martial prowess.
Qin Zhao sheathed her sword and stood straight, smiling. "Since I've defeated you, doesn't it mean I can at least rank in the top four of the realm's leaderboard?"
Shen Xue said, "It's possible, but not certain. The top ten masters have considerable differences in strength between every rank. Your Highness would have to test your skills against the fourth-ranked master to know for sure."
"Then this princess must find an chance to duel with the fourth-ranked master."
Qin Zhao placed her sword back on the rack, then went to bathe and change into fresh clothes.
Estimating it was about time to go to Mo Qianqiu's courtyard, she strolled over.
Pushing open the door and entering, she saw Mo Qianqiu immersed in inexplicable delight, an unmissable smile on her face.
Qin Zhao asked, "Mo Qianqiu, what are you smiling about?"
Mo Qianqiu snapped out of her daze and said, "I learned how to make a wooden item from the Lu Ban Manual!
Qin Zhao walked over, quite interested. "What wooden item? Show me quickly!"
Any random wooden item made using the Lu Ban Manual was enough to shake people's perceptions. Qin Zhao had long wanted to see for herself.
Mo Qianqiu said, "Please close your eyes, Your Highness."
"You're being so mysterious. If I'm not satisfied, I'll punish you."
"Don't worry Your Highness, you'll definitely be amazed."
Qin Zhao closed her eyes.
Shortly after, Mo Qianqiu said, "Alright, please take a look, Your Highness."
Qin Zhao opened her eyes, and saw a fifty-centimeter tall wooden man on a one meter square table, nimbly dancing a set of sword forms that seemed familiar.
It was the set she practiced daily!
Qin Zhao didn't know what words could describe her shock in that moment.
Mo Qianqiu could currently only animate small wooden figures.
Given time, Qin Zhao believed she could also get larger wooden constructs to move freely!
One wooden man was nothing. If there were a hundred, a thousand, what impact would that bring?
Just the thought made Qin Zhao's heart surge like the tide.
"Mo Qianqiu, you've made a huge breakthrough!"
Not understanding completely, but sensing the princess was praising her, Mo Qianqiu smiled. "It's thanks to Your Highness's constant support that I can attain some achievements in wooden crafts."
Qin Zhao patted Mo Qianqiu's shoulder. "Keep at it. No matter what level you want to reach, this princess will do her utmost to support you."
Mo Qianqiu cupped her fists. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
The next day, Qin Lie recounted to the ministers what had happened when he met the Emperor outside Jingyang Palace.
"Everyone need not worry. His Majesty is very healthy, he just wants to rest."
His words did nothing to lessen the ministers' anxiety over the Emperor's condition.
Xiao Ang Ming said, "Without seeing His Majesty with our own eyes, none of us here can be at ease."
The others chorused their agreement.
"Prime Minister Xiao speaks true!"
"Please, Second Prince, try persuading His Majesty again to at least let us see him once!"
In the past, such words would be treason.
But after stewing for over two months, many had started doubting the Emperor's health, even thinking he was already dead!
Thus they dared to be so brazen.
Qin Lie was also helpless against them. He only assisted in governing, without much real power.
Even if he had the authority to convict ministers of crimes, now was not the time.
At least he had to wait until his ascension, when his power was consolidated, before he could eliminate dissenters en masse.
Sitting atop the jade steps, he impatiently rubbed his forehead. "Fine, go to Jingyang Palace gate yourselves to request an audience if you want. This prince will not stop you."
At noon, all the ministers did indeed kneel outside Jingyang Palace's gate.
The ministers' loud cries begging to see the Emperor were piercing, startling the palace's birds into scattering away!
The tense atmosphere on site spread outward.
Just then, the creaking sound of the palace gates opening came. Everyone looked up...
