Being an otaku in the world of American comics

#756 - Emperor Yingzong of Song

Zhao Zhen's body was finished; he had reached the end of his life. This condition was beyond the salvation of any tonic or medicine.

It was a case of 'the lamp running out of oil,' his lifespan exhausted.

The reason he could be temporarily saved by Liang Yue's drop of Water Qi energy was simply because this energy was rich in massive amounts of vitality, forcibly sustaining his life.

If the people below are shameless enough, they might even give him the title of 'Emperor of the Ages'~

The time that such a drop of Water Qi energy continues to dissipate within the body is not very long. According to the current situation, it is estimated that it can only last about a year.

However, the scene before them really startled the clan, the key ministers, and Empress Cao.

After all, Zhao Zhen was on the verge of closing his eyes, about to die, but he was still saved by Liang Yue.

Originally, there was already crying and wailing everywhere. The chief eunuch standing next to him was also preparing to rush out the door to announce the funeral.

The emotions in the minds of the people in the hall had been brewing for a long time. The imperial daughters and princesses were all tearful, but they were forcibly stopped by Liang Yue.

This scene was really a bit frightening. Even Zhao Zhen himself was taken aback.

After being on the verge of death, he suddenly regained his clarity. At this time, he only felt that his physical condition was better than ever before. Nourished by the Water Qi energy, the original weakness seemed to be swept away, and his whole body was full of strength.

With a little effort, he jumped down from the sickbed and stood on the ground, repeatedly groping his thin body with his hands for a while.

Seeing this, everyone around was so shocked that they couldn't speak. Only Empress Cao, out of instinct, came up and took Emperor Renzong's arm.

The little old man himself, at this time, looked at Liang Yue with a hopeful expression and asked excitedly.

"Immortal, I, what is happening to me?"

"Your Majesty's lifespan has now reached its end, and your body is devoid of vitality. Now, it is only that I have used precious medicine to sustain your life, which can probably last for a year.

Didn't Your Majesty say before that you still have things to do? A year should be enough to smooth things over."

Liang Yue did not hide anything from him at this time. In the end, the Renzong opposite him was just a mortal person. Even as an emperor, he could not escape the fate of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

Considering his past care for the Flowing Cloud Sect, spending a drop of Water Qi energy for him was already very kind. He could not do anything more for him.

"So that's how it is... Alas, thank you for your grace, Immortal."

After hearing Liang Yue's words, the light in Zhao Zhen's eyes suddenly dimmed a lot. He subconsciously stroked his chest, which was beating rapidly, and a look of emotion could not help but arise on his face.

Afterwards, the little old man also gave him a solemn salute, his face full of solemnity and sincerity.

In contrast, the imperial clansmen who were originally kneeling on the ground in the hall clearly breathed a sigh of relief after hearing his words, although no one made a sound.

But in the air, the somewhat solidified atmosphere was relieved...

Emperor Renzong's life was sustained by precious medicine, and he could not die for the time being, so some things that had been arranged naturally had to be postponed.

Funerals, state funerals, the filling-in ceremony of the royal mausoleum, and even the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor, etc., all had to be postponed...

Then, naturally, there would be a series of personnel arrangements and changes, which were not something that Liang Yue, an outsider, could be involved in.

So, after talking a few simple words with Renzong and others, Liang Yue directly bid farewell and left.

As for the mess in the hall, it was naturally left to them to deal with themselves.

......

Thus, time quickly passed by another half a month.

The events that happened in the palace that day seemed to have been inadvertently spread to the people through the mouths of some busybodies.

Other places are not sure, but at least in Bianliang City, it has already spread among some dignitaries.

Even within their own Flowing Cloud Sect, some disciples who came from official families have recently mentioned it.

However, for the time being, it has not caused any substantial impact.

Apart from the occasional disciple asking when the sect will accept apprentices again, the internal affairs of Flowing Cloud are still operating as usual, step by step, as in the past.

As for accepting apprentices, in addition to the royal family and other limited forces, the Heavenly Sect naturally has its own set of procedures and standards, and few people can directly stuff people into their own cultivation grounds.

On this day, another imperial decree was sent to the Flowing Cloud Sect.

In fact, it can't be considered an imperial decree. Relatively speaking, it is more like an oral instruction, saying that it was issued by Renzong, personally inviting Liang Yue to participate in a gathering about the imperial examination.

But to put it bluntly, it was a banquet, a bit like a tea party.

The real rules and procedures of the imperial examination, etc., the imperial court already had them, and they had been implemented for many years, effectively and smoothly, so naturally no one needed to add anything superfluous.

The reason why he, a Taoist, was invited to participate, in Liang Yue's view, should be out of gratitude.

Moreover, the scale of this banquet was not small. Not only Liang Yue, but it is said that even many retired meritorious veterans who had not yet left the capital were among those invited.

It seemed that Renzong intended to take advantage of this imperial examination to bid farewell to his generation of officials.

He did not decline. After understanding the ins and outs of the matter, he casually agreed.

Three days later, one evening, Liang Yue came to the front of the imperial city gate again.

This time, there was no need for anyone to report his arrival. A small eunuch ran directly to lead the way for him, and soon he entered a large hall.

Compared to the banquet many years ago, this time Liang Yue was placed at the uppermost seat on the right, as the chief guest. He himself was not surprised by this.

Soon after taking his seat, many guests who had arrived in the hall beforehand cast their attention on him, and Liang Yue remained indifferent.

Soon, the guests had almost arrived. Under the escort of several members of the imperial clan, Zhao Zhen and Empress Cao arrived hand in hand.

It is worth mentioning that Zhao Zongshi ~ that is, Yingzong, who would succeed later, and his wife, were specially invited out of the hall at this time, and another table was placed next to Renzong and the Empress.

The meaning to be expressed by this gesture was naturally very obvious.

Although Renzong Zhao Zhen had met Liang Yue and used precious medicine to sustain his life, the next candidate to inherit the throne remained unchanged.

This was not a small matter, and many people present must have been very concerned about it.

Now that this position problem had been clearly expressed, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to become more harmonious.

After the banquet began, laughter and congratulatory sounds were endless.

......