Conferred Gods: Master Tongtian is my master

Morning song

Longevity Palace

Inside the bedroom, on a luxurious bed, lay a dying, extremely ill man. This man was none other than the contemporary Human Emperor—Di Yi.

His face was pale, like a piece of paper under the moonlight, lifeless. Under his tightly closed eyes were sunken eye sockets, as if telling of endless fatigue and pain.

His breathing was weak and rapid, and every breath he took seemed like a difficult struggle with death.

The gauze curtains beside the bed swayed gently, bringing a slight coolness, but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere in the bedroom.

The air was filled with a faint scent of medicine, but it could not cover up the breath of death.

A doctor was kneeling beside the bed, giving acupuncture to Emperor Yi. After Emperor Yi's breathing became stable, he left the bedroom.

Outside the hall stood the pillars of the Shang Dynasty, including Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, Prime Minister Shang Rong, the king's uncle Bigan, the king's uncle Jizi, and the historian Xinjia.

Wen Zhong and the other four looked anxious and looked into the hall from time to time.

"I don't know how the king is doing?" Uncle Wang Bigan said with a worried look on his face.

Prime Minister Shang Rong said solemnly:

"The king's health has not improved in recent times, and now he can hardly get out of bed."

Uncle Wang Bigan turned to look at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and said:

"Grandmaster, you are a cultivator, do you have any good medicine to cure the king?"

Wen Zhong listened to this, his face became solemn, and he said calmly:

"People who practice cultivation cannot interfere with the birth, aging, illness and death of the emperor. The cause and effect relationship is very serious and it is not something I can bear."

"Are we just going to watch the king die?" Uncle Wang Jizi asked angrily.

Wen Zhong remained calm and continued:

"Even a saint cannot change the life span of the Human Emperor, let alone Wu Na!"

Just as Wang Shujizi wanted to say something else, the doctor walked out of the hall and bowed to Wen Zhong and others.

Uncle Wang Bigan hurried forward and said:

"How is the king? Is he feeling better?"

The doctor looked at everyone and said solemnly:

"My Lords, the King has reached the point where his life is running out and there is no cure. I have tried my best and used all I have learned in my life to only relieve the King's pain."

Upon hearing this, Bigan murmured to himself:

"The king's health has become so serious that he is about to die."

"How much time does the king have left?" Wen Zhong asked.

The doctor frowned slightly and stammered:

"Given the king's current physical condition, it will take less than three days. Moreover, three days is already the limit."

Taishi Xinjia on the side said:

"The king has not yet appointed a crown prince. May we ask to see the king to discuss the matter of the crown prince?"

Wen Zhong and others heard this and felt sad that Emperor Yi's life was about to come to an end.

However, the country cannot be without a monarch for a day, and the next monarch needs to be appointed when Emperor Yi is awake.

Wen Zhong looked at the doctor and asked:

"When will the king wake up?"

"I am not sure either. If acupuncture is used, he will wake up in a moment."

Uncle Wang Bigan turned his head and looked at Wen Zhong, and said solemnly:

"Grandmaster, you are deeply trusted by the king. You make the decision on this matter. I will listen to you."

Prime Minister Shang Rong also echoed:

"Master, you decide. I will listen to you!"

Wang Shujizi and Taishi Xinjia also nodded repeatedly, expressing their agreement with Bigan's point of view.

Seeing that everyone had handed the decision-making power to him, Wen Zhong did not hesitate and said bluntly:

"Doctor, come into the hall and give me acupuncture!"

"Yes, Grand Master!"

After saying that, everyone walked into the bedroom.

When everyone walked into the hall, their eyes were focused on this seriously ill man, and their hearts were filled with worry and helplessness.

They knew that this man had once been the pillar of the country, and that his every decision affected the fate of countless people.

But now, he could only lie helplessly on this bed, letting the disease eat away at his body.

Wen Zhong signaled the doctor to come forward and give acupuncture, while he and others stood aside, waiting for Emperor Yi to wake up.

The doctor took the order, knelt down beside the bed, took out a silver needle from his sleeve, and inserted it into the center of Emperor Yi's eyebrows.

After a while, under the effect of the silver needle, Di Yi slowly opened his eyes, his lifeless eyes were like two black holes without souls.

It swallows up all the light and warmth, making it impossible for people to find any vitality or energy in it.

When Wen Zhong and the others saw Emperor Yi wake up, they hurried forward, bowed respectfully, and said in unison:

"Meet the king!"

When Emperor Yi on the bed heard the voice, his eyes gradually focused and he regained his former spirit and deep gaze.

Emperor Yi turned his head and looked at everyone, and said in a trembling voice:

"My dear ministers, please don't be so polite. Get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"How long have I been asleep?" asked Emperor Yi.

The doctor beside the dragon bed bowed and said respectfully:

"The king has been in a coma for five days."

After listening to the doctor's words, Emperor Yi murmured to himself:

"Did I sleep for so long? No wonder I feel weak and dizzy."

"Grand Master and others are here, but is there something important happening in the court? I have been unconscious for five days, who will be responsible for the affairs of the court?"

Wen Zhong and the others looked at each other, not knowing how to respond. At this time, Taishi Xinjia stood up and said bluntly:

"Your Majesty, the affairs of the court are handled by the Grand Tutor, the Prime Minister, and the King's uncle. I am here to ask Your Majesty to select a crown prince to handle the affairs of the court."

When Bigan and others saw that Xin Jia was so stubborn, they secretly gave him a thumbs up, saying that you are worthy of being so bold and outspoken.

When Emperor Yi heard this, he was not angry at all. He also knew his physical condition. It was difficult for him to get out of bed, let alone attend court meetings.

He was thinking about his own children. He had only three sons, namely the eldest son Weizi Qi, the second son Weizi Yan, the third son, and the third son, the legitimate son Zishou.

The one he liked the most was his eldest son, Weizi Qi, who had a gentle personality, cared about the world, loved the people, was both talented and handsome, and was most like himself.

Then, Emperor Yi looked at everyone and said:

"I have decided to make my eldest son Weizi Qi the crown prince to oversee state affairs!"

Everyone was shocked when they heard what Emperor Yi said, because although Weizi Qi was the eldest son, his mother was of humble status and was just a concubine. How could he be made the next crown prince?

Moreover, King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty wrote the system of primogeniture into the legal code, with the famous saying "the eldest son shall be chosen based on age, not virtue; the son shall be chosen based on nobility, not age".

Taishi Xinjia was the first to disagree and said bluntly:

"Your Majesty, you already have a legitimate son, so how can you make your eldest son the crown prince? The law clearly states that if you have a legitimate son, you should make him the crown prince."

Emperor Yi looked at the historian Xin Jia who opposed him, his face visibly sank, and he said:

"Zi Qi is my eldest son, he is wise and virtuous, steady and has a good character. How can he not be made the crown prince?"

Bigan echoed Emperor Yi and said:

"I also think that Zi Qi can be the crown prince!"

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong said nothing. He was Zishou's teacher, so it was not appropriate for him to speak at this time. He decided to let Grand Historian Xinjia lead the charge.

Sure enough, Taishi Xinjia heard this and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, Uncle, the law of primogeniture was established by the previous king. If Your Majesty is determined to make the eldest son the crown prince, you can abolish the law first."

Emperor Yi was so angry that he almost died after hearing this. He silently said to himself that he should not argue with such a pedantic person. Gradually, his anger subsided. He looked at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and said:

"Grandmaster, tell me who will be the crown prince?"

Wen Zhong saw that he was being pointed at, so he expressed his opinion and said calmly:

"Your Majesty, I only have one thing to say. The Dongyi, Nanman, Xirong, and Beidi people will not let you down because of your kindness, but they will be afraid of you because of your bravery."

When Emperor Yi heard this, his mind suddenly became clear. There were many vassal states in the Shang Dynasty. If he made Zi Qi the crown prince, would he be able to suppress them all?

If Zishou is made the crown prince, with his bravery and intelligence, he will definitely be able to subdue those who are ready to make trouble.

The king's uncle Bigan, who was standing by, also came to his senses and felt that it was inappropriate to make the eldest son Weizi Qi the crown prince.

If Wen Zhong knew that what he said allowed them to convince themselves, he would definitely give himself a thumbs up.

Taishi Xinjia said respectfully:

"Your Majesty, for the sake of the Shang Empire, Your Majesty should follow the ancestral system and make your legitimate son the crown prince!"

Emperor Yi sighed and said:

"That's all. If that's the case, I'll make my third son Zishou the crown prince. Bigan, go and pass on the order."

Bigan bowed respectfully and said:

"My brother is wise, I will obey your orders!"

"Grandmaster, I know my own physical condition. You are Zishou's teacher. I entrust Zishou to you to assist him in governing the country."

Emperor Yi coughed for a while and continued:

"I have given you the whip to beat the king. You can beat the tyrant king and the slanderous ministers. It is obvious that you do not want to bow down."

After hearing this, Wen Zhong bowed respectfully to Emperor Yi and said seriously:

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will live up to your trust, assist the Emperor, and be loyal to the Shang Dynasty."

Emperor Yi looked at Wen Zhong with satisfaction. He knew that Wen Zhong was loyal and upright. He then looked at the others and said:

"My dear ministers, I hope you will assist Zishou wholeheartedly in governing the country and revitalizing the Shang Dynasty!"

Everyone said in unison:

"I obey your orders and will loyally assist the Emperor in governing the country and protecting the people."

"Okay, you guys can leave now. I'm a little tired."

After saying this, Di Yi slowly closed his eyes, his weak breathing indicating that his life was still continuing.

Everyone took their leave in unison and left the hall.

Outside the bedroom, the night grew darker, and the moonlight shone through the window onto the seriously ill man, covering him with a layer of silver glow.

On this silent night, the only sounds in the bedroom were faint breathing and occasional sighs.

These sounds are like silent elegies, telling of the impending death of a life.

And the seriously ill person slowly approached the end of his life in this endless waiting.