Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1142 - 153: The Emperor Is Poisoned

On the eve of New Year’s Eve, the Emperor remained awake, not in bed, but slumped on a couch, scrutinizing a secret dispatch from the Dragon Guards.

Sun Kui stood by unobtrusively, his gaze fixed on the Emperor with evident concern.

Upon concluding the perusal of the secret letter, the Emperor emitted an enigmatic chuckle before instructing Sun Kui to fetch a candle.

Sun Kui retrieved the candle and positioned himself, slightly stooped, before the Emperor.

Holding the secret letter to the flame, the Emperor ignited it. The instant the paper began to burn, he was seized by a violent coughing fit.

Witnessing this, Sun Kui cried out in alarm, "Your Majesty." He then swiftly produced a handkerchief and offered it to his sovereign.

The Emperor accepted the handkerchief, using it to wipe away the blood from his palm and mouth.

Sun Kui voiced his worry again, "Your Majesty..."

Noticing Sun Kui's distress, which seemed on the verge of tears, the Emperor tossed the blood-stained handkerchief at him.

"Do not look as though I am on the verge of death."

"Your Majesty, your health..." The Emperor was genuinely unwell, not merely feigning illness.

"I am not dying," the Emperor stated with utter indifference. "Merely some old wounds from my younger days."

Sun Kui, hearing the Emperor's casual tone, replied with heightened anxiety, "Your Majesty, you have coughed up blood."

"And what of it? Coughing up blood does not kill. It’s not as though this has never happened before. When I was conquering the realm, I lost count of how many times I coughed up blood." The Emperor cast Sun Kui a look of mild contempt. "Cease this theatrics."

"Your Majesty, can the current situation be compared to those times?" Sun Kui was truly close to tears from worry. "You are clearly ill, yet you conceal it from Lady Liang and Prince Han."

"What purpose would informing them serve? Would it not simply cause them unnecessary worry?" The Emperor reclined back onto the couch, his expression nonchalant. However, a closer observation revealed he was in constant, suppressed agony.

"You cannot sleep at night due to the pain, you..." Sun Kui, as the Emperor's personal eunuch, possessed intimate knowledge of the Emperor's condition. "Furthermore, you are now poisoned, exacerbating your ailment. Why do you exhibit no concern whatsoever?" The Emperor's bloody cough was not a symptom of old injuries but a consequence of poisoning. While the toxin would not prove fatal, it was guaranteed to inflict considerable suffering.

"It is not a lethal poison; what is there to be concerned about?" Having weathered numerous trials and brushes with death in his youth, the Emperor had long grown accustomed to such afflictions. As long as he remained alive, such matters were trivial to him.

"You are poisoned..." Sun Kui felt a surge of indignation at the Emperor's apparent disregard for his own well-being, yet he was powerless, left only to fret anxiously.

"It is a minor toxin, hardly worth mentioning." The Emperor fixed Sun Kui with a glare. "Enough, I do not care, so cease your incessant nagging. Your voice pains my ears."

"I must inform Lady Liang; she can attend to you."

The Emperor's eyes flashed with a fierce intensity, and he spoke with extreme harshness, "If you dare inform Xiao Xiao, I shall have your head removed."

Sun Kui flinched, startled by the Emperor's vehemence, and stammered, "I would not dare."Zhao Yao observed Sun Kui's pale face, inquiring with genuine worry, "Mr. Sun, your complexion appears quite ill. Are you perhaps not feeling well?" Sun Kui felt a warmth seeing Zhao Yao notice his condition. He managed a smile and replied, "Your Highness, thank you for your concern. I am quite well." "Are you truly fine? Your face still seems rather unwell." "I remained on guard duty throughout the night, Your Highness. My current appearance is simply due to a lack of sleep."