The empress dowager raised a hand and rested it on the Jing Lord's shoulder. "Yuan, you're still young. There are some things you don't understand."
"But Fang Master makes more sense than Minister Sheng," the Jing Lord, Zhao Yuan, protested.
The empress dowager frowned slightly, then looked puzzled. After thinking for several moments, she seemed to realize something. She stared into the Jing Lord's eyes and asked, "Who around you likes Void Sage Fang the most?"
"Aunt Hongzhuang, of course!" Zhao Yuan answered, his face lighting up.
The empress dowager froze for several moments. A gray shadow flashed through her eyes. Suddenly, she covered her mouth, doubled over, and began coughing violently.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
"Mother! Mother..." Zhao Yuan shouted.
"The imperial physicians! Summon the imperial physicians!" The chief eunuch beside her hurried forward to support her.
The officials of the Medical School rushed forward. Disregarding any concerns about propriety, they immediately manifested their medical books to treat the empress dowager.
The Heaven-Serving Hall seemed to have been divided in two.
One side was quiet and orderly; the other was chaotic and noisy.
Soon, the imperial physicians and the others escorted the empress dowager away. The Jing Lord, Zhao Yuan, sat on the dragon throne, bewildered and at a loss, his little feet dangling over its edge, pressed tightly together.
Sheng Boyuan immediately said, "The empress dowager is gravely ill. We should discuss this matter again after she recovers."
Fang Yun countered, "This matter cannot wait! Your Majesty, I ask that you invoke Golden Mouth and Jade Words and revoke the imperial decree Sheng Boyuan previously forced the empress dowager to issue. You witnessed what I and the officials said just now. You already understand whom the officials support more."
Sheng Boyuan's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Fang