Chapter 228

Facing the Old Emperor's questioning, Li Yao was too lazy to explain much, and directly put the letter on his bed.

After reading all the letters, the Old Emperor did not have the expected anger, but was calmer.

"In fact, We have long known about the crown prince's wolfish ambition, and he has won over a large number of ministers up and down the court," the Old Emperor said lightly, "It's just that We didn't expect that he would actually dare to collude with the barbarians and foolishly weaken Our Daling army."

"Grand Marshal Xu has also been imprisoned."

"Haha, this kid is still thinking things through very well." The Old Emperor laughed and said, "Indeed, if you want to usurp the throne, you must first control General Xu, otherwise he will call out with a shake of his arm, and the army will go straight to the capital."

"Since you understand, why don't you take precautions early?"

"What precautions? Precautions against your own son? Precautions against your own ministers?" The Old Emperor said, "If you guard against everything, how can you govern this world?"

Li Yao: ...You make it sound very reasonable.

"But We also took precautions and sent Liu Yun to Yi Prefecture, hoping to preserve his life there." The Old Emperor sighed lightly, as if suddenly remembering something, turned his face and asked, "By the way, who are you?"

Li Yao didn't expect him to be a silly old emperor.

So she took off the black cloth from her face and revealed her true face: "I am Li Yao."

The Old Emperor looked at Li Yao for a long time before he came back to his senses: "So you are the Li Yao. I have heard Yun'er mention you many times. It turns out he wasn't just trying to make me happy. But your courage alone is enough to make most men in the world lose their color."

"Your Majesty praises me too much."

"You said you came to save me?"

"Yes."

"Haha, I appreciate your kindness," the Old Emperor said, "I can't leave the palace. If I take a step out, the Crown Prince will be able to logically ascend the throne. What's the difference between that and killing me directly?"

It does seem like there is no difference.

"So you go, don't bother with things in the capital anymore. The Crown Prince is now overbearing in power. No one can stop him from usurping the throne and ascending to it," said the Old Emperor. "Go back to Yi Prefecture and tell Yun'er on my behalf not to think about avenging me, but to live well in Yi Prefecture."

"Okay, then I'll go." Having delivered the letter, Li Yao's purpose has been achieved.

As for how the emperor makes use of these letters, it is none of her concern.

Back at the rope, Li Yao nimbly climbed up, but just halfway up, she heard the Old Emperor say: "You're really leaving just like that?"

Li Yao was puzzled. Weren't you the one who told me to leave?

"Does Your Majesty have anything else?"

"We..." The Old Emperor suddenly didn't know what to say, and finally said, "We don't have much time left. Why don't you stay and chat with me a little more?"

What an old man on the verge of death probably looks forward to the most is to have his children by his side.

But this old man's son happened to be an ambitious villain, and Liu Yun was far away in Yi Prefecture.

Oh well, it's still early anyway, so I might as well accumulate some virtue.

Li Yao slid back down the rope and pulled up a chair next to the Old Emperor and sat down: "What would Your Majesty like to hear?"

"Just tell me about things in Yi Prefecture. I heard you did a lot of interesting things there."

"It's not that interesting, just some gadgets."

......

"Hmm, I just want to know, why don't those two-wheeled carriages fall over?"

......

"And those sweet potatoes, can they really produce thousands of catties per mu?"

......

"And and and, how does a bowl of charcoal send people up into the sky?"

......

The Old Emperor tonight was just like a curious baby.

Perhaps because he had no imperial airs, Li Yao didn't dislike him either. In fact, having such an ordinary chat with the current emperor was likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Such an experience was rare and precious. Unnoticed, time passed until early morning the next day.

"Your Majesty, I must go now."

"Alas, go on," the Old Emperor said. "Thank you for chatting with me for so long. You must take good care of yourself from now on."

Li Yao climbed onto the roof along the rope and had just pulled the rope back when the palace gate was pushed open. Several imperial doctors walked in carrying a bowl of steaming hot medicine to the Old Emperor's bed.

"Your Majesty, time to take your medicine." The Old Emperor looked at the pitch-black medicine bowl and finally took it and drank it all in one gulp.

But from beginning to end, he didn't say a word.

He knew that these imperial doctors had long been bought by the Crown Prince, and this bowl of medicine was most likely poison meant to end his life.

Li Yao guessed as much.

So after the doctors left, she lowered the rope again and slid back down.

"Why did you come back again?"

"There may have been a problem with the medicine you just drank."

"Of course I know that," said the Old Emperor. "But so what? If I don't drink it, they'll still force it into me. I might as well just drink it myself and be more comfortable."

"But you can spit it out."

"Ah? How?"

Li Yao stretched out two fingers and said, "With your hands, stick them down your throat."

Old Emperor: ......

After being emperor for decades, he could never have imagined that one day someone would teach him to stick his fingers down his throat!

"But what's the use?" said the Old Emperor. "If they can't kill me with medicine, they still have ways. "

"Buy time."

"How much time can be bought? The Crown Prince is too impatient already."

"If you can buy ten or so days, then Your Majesty may really be saved," Li Yao said. "I've already sent word to Yi Prefecture today to summon troops, and I also sent word to the northern border. If it's fast, the troops from Yi Prefecture and northern border will arrive in the capital in half a month."

"Will they...believe you?"

"They should," Li Yao said. "Yi Prefecture Prince definitely won't stand idly by, and as for the northern border troops, although Grand Marshal Xu isn't there, my son is a captain who also has the deep trust of the generals."

As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, no one wants to die.

The Old Emperor was naturally no exception.

At this moment, the fire of new hope suddenly reignited in his heart that had already died out.

"But can it really be delayed that long?"

"If Your Majesty cooperates, of course it can," Li Yao said. "The Crown Prince has given you three days. So on the third day, act like your end is near. He won't make another attempt but will wait for Your Majesty to perish naturally. As for later, I will use some tricks to make Your Majesty gradually fall into a coma but not truly die. When the troops from Yi Prefecture and the north arrive in the capital, Your Majesty can counterattack."

"Good, we'll do as you said!"