As night fell, the atmosphere within the palace was not as silent as before.
By the time Feng Yinwan sensed something was amiss, Ye Tingyan had already led his men into the Emperor's sleeping quarters.
Guards scattered, sealing off every area in an instant. Ye Tingzhu, who had been tending to his wounds in a side hall, heard the commotion and immediately tidied his clothes before stepping out.
"Second brother, why such urgency? Has that assassin infiltrated the palace again?"
The previous incident had yet to be resolved, and that day, Ye Tingyan had used it as an excuse to inflict a severe beating on him in the prison. Several days later, his wounds still showed no sign of healing. If it happened again, he truly couldn't bear it.
Ye Tingyan approached from behind, glanced at him, and said with a calm expression, "Elder brother, there's no need to panic. It's merely a precautionary measure."
These heavily armored guards all over the palace did not seem like the "precautionary measure" he spoke of.
Ye Tingzhu's expression flickered for a moment, but before he could speak, he saw Ye Tingyan striding into the hall. He paused briefly before quickly following.
The eunuchs serving in the palace had already been subdued. No one was in the hall, and the candlelight flickered dimly, casting a particularly somber atmosphere.
Ye Tingyan stopped before the Emperor's bed. Ye Tingzhu followed behind, feeling a tremor of unease.
As soon as they stopped, Ye Tingyan spoke in a low voice.
"Elder brother has been diligent in attending to our father's illness these days."
Ye Tingzhu's expression tensed. Just as he was about to respond, he heard Ye Tingyan continue, "This wicked illness is perilous. His Majesty has been ailing for a long time. Elder brother, do you think there is any room for recovery?"
These words were tantamount to discussing the Emperor's life and death.
He hadn't expected Ye Tingyan to be so indiscreet. Ye Tingzhu's face stiffened for a moment, then he said with a serious expression.
"Second brother, our father is the Son of Heaven, and his fate is determined by heaven. As his sons, our filial piety resides in our hearts and our loyalty in our actions. We should do our best and accept heaven's will, not speculate rashly and speak such presumptuous words..."
His words were cut short by a cold scoff.
Ye Tingyan turned his gaze to Ye Tingzhu and sneered, "Elder brother, after all these years, you still maintain this hypocritical facade."
Ye Tingzhu's face contorted with displeasure, but Ye Tingyan had already turned away and clapped his hands.
Guards from outside entered, carrying a bowl of medicine. As they approached, Ye Tingyan's command rang out coldly.
"I have had someone bring the medicine for today. The temperature is just right. Elder brother, please feed it to His Majesty."
The medicine bowl was presented, still the same small white porcelain cup filled with dark brown liquid. Ye Tingzhu's brow furrowed, and a bad premonition surged within him.
Ye Tingyan had never cared about such matters before.
With all this commotion tonight, and him personally delivering the medicine... he was likely intending to use him to murder the Emperor!
The moment this thought arose, cold sweat beaded on his back.
Ye Tingzhu's body stiffened. Beside him, Ye Tingyan's voice, like that of a venomous snake, echoed coldly.
"Elder brother hesitates. Does your heart object?"
Ye Tingzhu dared not retort. "It is not so. It is just that the Imperial Kitchen sent over some ginseng soup earlier, and His Majesty drank it not long ago. Perhaps it would be better to..."
A sharp blade was instantly placed against his neck. The cold, hard touch rendered him speechless. The guard glared at him and thrust the medicine bowl into his hands.
"First Prince, please."
Ye Tingzhu's body was stiff like a puppet's. He mechanically clutched the medicine bowl, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
Silence descended upon the hall for a moment. Ye Tingyan, holding a spoon, handed it over, his tone as calm as before.
"Elder brother need not worry. I have consulted the imperial physicians, and the two do not conflict."
Ye Tinglan had already been defeated. Currently, the only one who could threaten his ascension to the throne was Ye Tingzhu. The palace was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface. To prevent any unforeseen complications, he had to act swiftly.
Tonight, the Emperor must die!
Having made up his mind, he signaled to the guards with his eyes.
With a blade against his neck, Ye Tingzhu could only let them control him.
As he trembled, feeding the bowl of medicine to the Emperor, only a little remained.
Yet, even so, after the last spoonful was administered, the Emperor's complexion turned a dark purple.
Ye Tingzhu's face contorted in horror. He recoiled backward, only to be grabbed by a guard.
In mere moments, the movements on the bed intensified. Though still unconscious, the Emperor's body began to convulse uncontrollably.
Ye Tingzhu was forcibly held by the side of the bed. As he opened his eyes, he could almost see the fine capillaries protruding from the Emperor's body.
A terrifying chaos ensued. The Emperor's head lolled to the side, and his breathing ceased.
The face was inches away, rigid yet almost contorted. Ye Tingzhu screamed in despair. Behind him, Ye Tingyan's steady voice drowned out his cries.
"Father has passed away."
Past the third watch, nine funeral bells echoed across the capital, their sonorous resonance originating from the Imperial Palace.
After Ye Tingyan's cry of "Father has passed away," the palace plunged into chaos. Palace servants prostrated themselves, consorts wailed, and amidst the pandemonium, Feng Yinwan leaned back and disappeared into the deeper darkness.
She had been positioned directly above the sleeping quarters when Ye Tingyan coerced Ye Tingzhu into feeding the Emperor the medicine.
Knowing it was a deadly potion, she had not intervened. It wasn't due to Ye Tinglan's parting instructions, but because of the deaths of her father and brother.
She harbored resentment towards the Emperor, and having him die at the hands of his own son was the most tragic outcome, one she could achieve without effort.
However, even with the instigator gone, she felt no joy, not even a sense of relief.
Her father and brother would not return.
The cold wind howled, the court was in turmoil, and the inner palace mourned. This night was destined to be sleepless.
As if prearranged, within half an hour of the funeral bells, ministers flocked to the palace and gathered in the great hall of the court.
The nine funeral bells were an undeniable testament; the Emperor, who had collapsed a month prior, had indeed passed away tonight.
The incident was sudden, and he had left no imperial decree before his death. Therefore, the ministers who entered the palace tonight were divided into two factions.
One faction, led by the Prime Minister, sought to investigate the Emperor's cause of death. The other, composed of Ye Tingyan's close associates, advocated for the selection of a new emperor.
When Ye Tingyan appeared in court, the two factions were engaged in a heated argument.
The Prime Minister's anger was palpable. Seeing only Ye Tingyan arrive, his expression darkened further. "Why are the First Prince and Prince Yun not present?"
Previously, the Empress Dowager had suffered a stroke. Although Ye Tingyun had been imprisoned under charges of treason by the Prime Minister, the evidence was lacking, thus he was merely detained.
The Emperor's passing was a major event; he should not be absent.
The First Prince, even more so. He had been attending to the Emperor's illness for several days, a fact well-known among the court. His absence now was most inappropriate.
Facing the inquiry, Ye Tingyan's expression remained unchanged. He feigned grief and said solemnly.
"Prime Minister Lin, you may not be aware, but His Majesty's passing involves a hidden secret. Elder brother will likely not be coming."
This statement caused an uproar in the hall.
The Prime Minister had intended to question the Emperor's cause of death, but to have Ye Tingyan preemptively offer an explanation, his brow furrowed tightly, and he immediately spoke.
"May I ask the Second Prince, what is this hidden secret?"