Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Wang Yuyan is well aware of the turbulent situation and must be cautious. She decides to secretly investigate and gather evidence to expose the conspiracy of those with ulterior motives. At the same time, she strives to gain support from various forces to consolidate the crown prince's position.

At a palace banquet, Wang Yuyan deftly defused a trap set for the Crown Prince, earning everyone's admiration. Her wisdom and courage earned the Crown Prince's reliance on her, and their relationship grew stronger amidst the crisis. However, the road ahead remained difficult, and Wang Yuyan knew she must remain vigilant to safeguard her future and that of the Crown Prince.

During this month, some scheming court officials began to deliberately or unintentionally probe the Qian Emperor's condition. Some learned the truth through various channels, while others, based on the Qian Emperor's recent behavior and conduct, speculated that he might be terminally ill and dying. After all, the Qian Emperor now frequently excused himself from court, a pattern never seen before. Even when he did attend court, he remained briefly before hastily departing, leaving the affairs of state to the Crown Prince.

This unusual behavior aroused suspicion and unease among many. Those with ulterior motives took advantage of the situation to quietly build up their power, waiting for the right moment to act. They knew that once Emperor Qian died, the court would inevitably fall into turmoil, presenting them with the perfect opportunity to rise to power.

That day, the Crown Prince arrived at Wang Yuyan's chambers, heavy with worry. After dismissing his attendants, he sat silently beside the bed, his eyes fixed blankly. Wang Yuyan noticed something was amiss with the Crown Prince. She gracefully approached him and softly asked, "Prince, what has happened? If you have any concerns, please speak to me. We are husband and wife, one, and I am willing to share your worries." The Crown Prince looked up at Wang Yuyan's anxious expression, and the long-suppressed emotions within him suddenly burst forth like a dam breaking. He hugged Wang Yuyan's waist tightly, sobbing softly.

Wang Yuyan gently patted the Crown Prince's back and comforted him, "I know Your Highness has been under tremendous pressure recently, but I will always be by your side, supporting and helping you." The Crown Prince raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes, and said in a choked voice, "I am truly exhausted. For over a month, various factions within the court have been constantly probing and gathering information. They've been making subtle moves in the shadows. I'm truly worried that all my efforts will ultimately come to nothing, and I'm even more worried about those with ulterior motives..."

Tired of crying in Wang Yuyan's arms, the Crown Prince slowly raised his head, gently wiping the tears from his face with his hand, his eyes gradually becoming firmer. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and regained his former dignity and solemnity. The Crown Prince gazed at Wang Yuyan affectionately and said in a serious tone, "However, my father's death is approaching, expected within this month. In the meantime, you need to stabilize the situation in the harem and ensure that everything is stable and orderly."

The prince continued, "I have asked my mother to strengthen the defense of the harem and strictly prohibit the leakage of news. At the same time, you must manage the prince's palace strictly and not give anyone with ulterior motives any opportunity to take advantage of it. We must protect the safety of the prince. This is our responsibility." He paused, and continued, "I will send a thousand royal guards to protect you and ensure that nothing goes wrong. At this critical moment, only if you are safe can I charge into battle with peace of mind." After speaking, the prince held Wang Yuyan's hand tightly, with a firm light in his eyes.

Wang Yuyan held the prince's hand and said softly but firmly, "Prince, don't worry. I will make sure that nothing goes wrong in this Hansifu. You can go and take care of father without worrying about us."

Hearing Wang Yuyan's assurance, he felt very comforted. I have taken good care of his Prince's Mansion, so he can guard his father with peace of mind. After all, he is his father. In this last time, he wants to accompany his father without any regrets.

Emperor Qian slowly woke up in his chambers. This was the umpteenth time he had fainted from exhaustion that month. His body had reached its limit, unable to support him in anything else. When he regained consciousness, he summoned his brother Taiyi and sternly demanded, "Give me a definitive answer. How many days do I have left to live? You must not lie to me. If you tell me even a single lie, I will behead you all!"

The imperial physician lowered his head, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes, but he still spoke truthfully: "Your Majesty, your condition is very serious. According to the current situation, you have at most one month to live. However, if you can rest well and stop worrying about state affairs, you may be able to extend your life."

After hearing this, Emperor Qian's face showed a look of despair. He knew that his condition was irreversible and his life was coming to an end. He sighed and said slowly, "I understand. You can go down. I want to be alone."

After the imperial physician and the others left, Emperor Qian lay in bed, staring quietly at the ceiling. He recalled his life, his heart filled with resentment and regret. He had experienced moments of glory and lows, but ultimately, he could not escape the decree of fate. Feeling immensely exhausted and helpless, he gradually closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep...

When he woke up again, it was already noon the next day. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the prince guarding his bedside. He was filled with relief. At least his son was still filial and knew how to love his father.

Emperor Qian patted the prince's hand and said weakly, "You all know about my physical condition. I don't have much time left. From now on, the country will depend on you." The prince's eyes were red. He knelt in front of the bed and nodded heavily.

Emperor Qian continued, "Remember, you must be a wise ruler, love the people, and not be licentious and immoral." The prince raised his head and looked at Emperor Qian with firm eyes, indicating that he would definitely remember his father's teachings.

Emperor Qian nodded slightly, a smile on his face. Gathering his last bit of strength, he pulled out a jade pendant from under his pillow and handed it to the prince. "This is a relic I leave for you. It represents my power and expectations. You must keep it safe."

The prince held it solemnly in his hands, feeling extremely excited and nervous. He was excited that his father finally came and trusted him to leave such an important thing to him, but he was nervous because he was afraid that he would disappoint his father's expectations.

The prince solemnly said to his father, "Father, don't worry. I will do as you say and be useful to the people and the court. I will not let you down. I will make sure that the people of the world have enough food and clothing, which is my lifelong goal."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian said with great satisfaction: My son, I will hand over the world to you. I am a little tired, you go down first. Upon hearing this, the prince bowed and walked out, saying: My son, you take a rest first, I will come to see you later.

After leaving the palace, the prince returned to his chambers with a heavy heart. He knew that from this moment on, the burden on his shoulders had become even heavier. He decided to summon some trusted ministers and advisors to discuss how to govern the country.

A few days later, at the imperial court, Emperor Qian announced a series of reforms aimed at reducing the burden on the people, strengthening the country's military, and rectifying the officialdom. The ministers expressed their support, as they saw Emperor Qian's determination and ability.

After a few days, Emperor Qian felt that his health had improved a little, so he sent for the imperial physician to seriously instruct the doctors of the Imperial Hospital, "I don't care what method or medicine you use, just make sure that I am no different from an ordinary person within half a month. This is my final order to you. If you can do this well, I will reward you with a hundred taels of gold. If you can't do it well, you will be buried with me."

The imperial doctors knelt on the ground and answered tremblingly: "Your Majesty, your ministers understand, we understand. We will definitely try our best to do it and will not let Qian Hong down." The emperor waved his hand and asked the doctors to retreat. The doctors retreated tremblingly and walked out of the palace.

After the imperial physician left as ordered, Emperor Qian began to make arrangements for his death. He secretly summoned several loyal and trusted ministers and shared his final wishes and plans for the future of the country with them. He also issued a special order to ensure the stability and security of the country.

Soon after, news spread from the palace that Emperor Qian's condition had miraculously improved. He reappeared before everyone, looking energetic and vigorous, as if he had never been ill. However, only a few insiders knew that this was just a false impression created by the former Huang to stabilize the situation.

In the days that followed, Emperor Qian intensified his training of the Crown Prince, teaching him the art of governing. He hoped that he would become an outstanding monarch, leading the nation to prosperity. The Crown Prince lived up to expectations, diligently studying and gradually demonstrating remarkable talent and leadership qualities.

On the seventh day after Emperor Qian's recovery, he announced to the court that the crown prince would be enthroned in three days and he would step down. Some ministers in the court said, "Qian Huang, you are in good health and at the peak of your career, how can you abdicate? The crown prince is still too young, you should watch over him for a few more years. Kneel down!"

Emperor Qian saw this and said with a serious expression, "You don't need to worry about it. I will take advantage of my good health and watch over the prince for a few more years. After he successfully ascends the throne, if there is anything wrong, I will assist him. This will also help him take over state affairs more quickly. I have made up my mind."

Emperor Qian said: The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Observatory, please step forward. As Qian Huang's voice fell, the leaders of the three departments stepped forward and knelt on the ground waiting for the emperor's order.

The emperor did not waste time and directly ordered, "I limit you to two days to calculate the auspicious process and weather for the crown prince's enthronement. I want to see the crown prince ascend the throne smoothly in three days. If you make any mistakes, you will be beheaded." After hearing this, the people with official positions in the three departments knelt down and kowtowed, saying that they would do their best to complete the task and live up to the trust that the emperor has placed in them.

Emperor Qian announced the matters concerning the examination and the crown prince's ascension to the throne to the court, then waved his hand wearily, dismissing everyone. He left the hall first. The ministers behind him, hearing the news, were like a drop of water dripping into a boiling frying pan, instantly exploding into pieces. The uproar threatened to blow the roof off. The ministers were confused. Was this Emperor Qian good or evil? Unsure of what to do, they hurried back to consult their staff.