“Royal Father’s health is getting worse,” Qi Yun stated without preamble. “You should get ready for his passing.”

Nan Xun was surprised that the emperor’s condition was going downhill rather than making a recovery, while Jun Huang had seen this coming. She was plagued with poison herself. She knew how potent Eastern Wu’s poison was. Although the emperor had been saved from a quick death, his malady had not been cured, but only suppressed. The effort of staying alive was taking a toll on him.

Jun Huang thought for a moment. She worried that Prince Duan and Qi Chen, who were their biggest threats at the time being, might make a move soon.

The emperor knew that his days were numbered, and yet he refused to make Qi Yun the crown prince. There must be something they were missing here.

“Although I’m not sure what the emperor is going to do, he clearly puts a lot of hope in you,” she calmly said. “Don’t do anything reckless. We have to be patient. We’ll have the emperor...