Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The autumn twilight poured into the bedroom through the carved window lattices. Chu Ning slowly opened his eyes and found that he had slept from early morning to dusk.

He propped himself up and rubbed his brows, then he remembered that he had to travel day and night to return home and visit the Grand Tutor, which was too much for him even though he was in his prime.

"Your Highness is awake?"

Shen Wanying's voice came from outside, and then the bead curtain rang softly, and she walked in holding a bowl of warm lotus seed soup.

"You slept so soundly that you even missed lunch."

Chu Ning took the porcelain bowl and touched the wall of the bowl with his fingertips. The temperature was neither hot nor cold, just right for eating.

He scooped a spoonful and tasted the sweet lotus seeds mixed with the faint fragrance of osmanthus. It was obviously prepared by Shen Wanying's special order from the imperial kitchen.

"Where is Tian'er?" Chu Ning asked with a smile.

"I'm studying in the side hall, waiting for you."

Shen Wanying said softly, "I have asked the kitchen to prepare dinner. Would Your Highness like to have dinner with Tian'er?"

Chu Ning put down the bowl, stood up and changed his clothes: "Let's go and have dinner with him."

In the side hall, Chu Tian was copying calligraphy at his desk. When he heard footsteps, he immediately looked up, his eyes lighting up:

"Father!"

Chu Ning rubbed his son's head and glanced at the calligraphy on the desk: "Ten Thoughts to Admonish Emperor Taizong"?

"The Grand Tutor said that to govern a country one must first understand the gains and losses."

Chu Tian raised his head, and his childish voice was filled with a bit of seriousness: "I think the Grand Tutor is right. The king cannot slack off just because the world is peaceful."

A smile flashed in Chu Ning's eyes, and he turned to look at Shen Wanying: "Did you teach me?"

Shen Wanying pursed her lips and smiled: "Tian'er figured it out on his own."

The dinner was luxurious, with delicacies from land and sea, plus a bowl of tender mutton soup.

While eating, Chu Tian chattered about the horse riding and archery he learned today. Chu Ning occasionally responded, but his eyes kept glancing outside the hall.

Judging by the time, the cabinet ministers should already be waiting in the study.

Shen Wanying saw what he was thinking and said softly, "Your Highness, please have your meal first. I have already had tea and snacks served. I hope you will not neglect me."

Chu Ning nodded and put a piece of fish into Chu Tian's bowl: "Eat more and grow stronger so that you can lead the army in the future."

Chu Ning came to the study after dinner.

In the study, five important ministers had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Chu Ning step in, everyone saluted.

"No gift."

Chu Ning sat down at the table and asked directly, "How was the autumn harvest?"

Minister of Revenue Liu Shouren stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, this year's weather has been favorable, and with the implementation of the new policies, the people's contracted land has yielded 30% more grain than in previous years."

"Several large warehouses in Jiangnan and the Central Plains are already full, enough to last until next summer's harvest."

Chu Ning tapped the table with his fingertips: "Is there enough military rations?"

"Based on the existing military strength, it is more than enough."

Liu Shouren paused, "But if we continue to expand the army..."

Chu Ning raised his eyes and said, "Go on."

"The eight legions plus the Imperial Guards total six hundred thousand men."

Liu Shouren said stubbornly, "We can still sustain the food and fodder, but the military pay is indeed tight."

Minister of Personnel Lü Xiuwen chimed in, "Empress Feng's Suzaku Corps has reached a strength of 100,000, and the remaining six armies are also in the process of recruiting."

"However, the White Horse Cavalry has very strict requirements. So far, we have only recruited over 30,000 men. Including General Zhao's former troops, there are only 50,000 men."

Chu Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Quality is more important than quantity. It is better to have fewer White Horse Cavalry than to have too few."

Minister of Justice Ling Haoran suddenly spoke up: "Your Highness, I have recently received secret reports that Tang envoys are frequently entering and leaving the Wei border. I am afraid...

"I know."

Chu Ning interrupted him: "Yushi Jia, is there any unusual movement at the border?"

Imperial Censor Jia Yu bowed, "We haven't seen any large-scale troop movements, but Wei is indeed reinforcing Hulao Pass."

Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen coughed lightly and said, "Your Highness, should we send an envoy to urge the Tang Dynasty to take action?"

"No need." Chu Ning sneered: "Since they have already joined forces, let them continue to act."

The room was silent for a moment, and only the dripping sound of the copper clock could be heard.

Finally, Chu Ning stood up and said, "Lord Liu, recalculate the food and wages. Lu Xiuwen, the war horses of the Suzaku Legion must be allocated first. The rest of the matters will be discussed at the court tomorrow morning."

The cabinet meeting had just ended and the five ministers were about to leave when they suddenly saw Chu Ning's body sway and his right hand suddenly supported the table, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Your Highness?"

Minister of Personnel Lu Xiuwen was the first to notice something was wrong. Before he could finish his words, Chu Ning suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The scarlet blood foam splashed on the memorial, like blooming red plum blossoms.

His body leaned forward and fell heavily to the ground, his face instantly turning as pale as paper.

"Your Highness!"

Minister of Revenue Liu Shouren took a quick step forward and held Chu Ning's shoulders, but his touch was cold.

Ling Haoran, the Minister of Justice, immediately reached over to Chu Ning's neck, his expression suddenly changing: "The pulse is disordered, and the breath is weak!"

"Quickly call Dr. Sun!" Jia Yu shouted sternly, and the guards outside the door moved at the sound.

Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen stopped them, saying, "Sun Simiao is currently at the Imperial Tutor's residence, giving acupuncture to Lord Dugu. He won't be able to get here in a short while! Let's go to the Imperial Hospital first!"

The East Palace was instantly in chaos.

When Shen Wanying rushed over after hearing the news, her hair was disheveled and even her shoes and socks were not properly worn.

She rushed to the bed and saw that Chu Ning's lips were still bloody and his chest was barely rising or falling.

"How could this be?"

She held her husband's hand tremblingly, and his palm was as cold as ice.

Zhou Mingde, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, rushed over, and the silver needles and medicine bags jingled.

He took Chu Ning's wrist pulse, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and suddenly he exclaimed "Huh".

"Doctor Zhou, how is His Highness?" Shen Wanying's voice trembled.

Zhou Mingde's forehead was covered in sweat. He switched hands to check the patient's pulse. After a long pause, he hesitated and said, "The pulse is deep and astringent, like a needle hidden in cotton, yet sometimes it is rapid and swift like a galloping horse. I have been practicing medicine for forty years and have never seen such symptoms."

"But is the blood spider venom taking effect?" Ling Haoran asked anxiously.

"Absolutely impossible!"

Liu Shouren said firmly: "Your Highness has taken the antidote. Although there are some residues, they will not cause Your Highness to be in this state."

Zhou Mingde suddenly pulled open Chu Ning's collar, and everyone gasped.

The spider-web-like poison marks that had originally faded had now turned into a strange purple-black color, wriggling like a living thing under the pale skin.

In a side hall, candles lit brightly as five ministers and the imperial physician gathered for a secret discussion. Jia Yu slammed the table and said, "Someone must have poisoned me!"

"Be careful!"

Deng Hongwen lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness's meals are all tested for poison with a silver needle, not to mention the eunuchs who test the food."

Lu Xiuwen suddenly remembered something: "Your Highness, have you had any questions on your way back to Kyoto..."

"Absolutely impossible!"

Jia Yu's face was gloomy. "I am returning to the capital with His Majesty, and we ate together along the way. If His Majesty was poisoned on the way back, I would not be spared."

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Everyone turned around and saw Zhao Yu coming hurriedly with the white-haired Sun Simiao.

"Dr. Sun is here, please come and take a look at His Highness!" Shen Wanying quickly made way.