Chapter 83: Focused on the Present

Chapter 83: Focused on the Present

Consort Chu Li is dead.

On the night of the twenty-eighth, Qing Yang Palace was taken over by Yang Xin, the Chief Eunuch. Consort Chu Li, already gravely ill, only confessed to seeking revenge for her sister before she passed away shortly after.

Yang Xin, following the emperor's orders, was in a position even Empress Liu couldn't intervene in.

Consort Chu Li was posthumously convicted of treason, stripped of her title, demoted to a slave, and her entire clan was exterminated.

Originally an orphan with her sister, their home in Handan had long been silent. After gaining favor, Consort Chu Li searched in vain for her maternal family and eventually acknowledged a kinship, facilitated by Princess Chongyang, with Chu Huang, the Minor Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who also hailed from Handan.

Additionally, Chu Huang's son, Chu Jian, was adopted by Consort Chu Li as a brother to continue their ancestral lineage.

At the age of thirteen, Chu Jian was appointed to the rank of regular sixth-grade Tongzhi Lang.

In the case of Consort Chu Li's conspiracy, Chu Huang's entire family was implicated and imprisoned.

All the palace servants and eunuchs who served Consort Chu Li in Qing Yang Palace were thrown into the brutal prison and ordered to death. Empress Liu, unable to intervene or even see the emperor, was extremely anxious and turned to Zhu Yan in Fu Hua Palace for help.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yan had fallen ill, suddenly and severely, unable to get out of bed.

If it weren't for seeing Imperial Physicians Song and Chen summoned to stay in Fu Hua Palace, delivering medical reports to Qian Yuan Hall thrice daily, Empress Liu would have been terrified, fearing Zhu Yan had become another out-of-favor Consort Chu Li.

With such significant events unfolding in the palace, the emperor not returning to the inner court created an atmosphere of unease, lacking any festive cheer for the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, the thirtieth day, Empress Liu cancelled the entry of noblewomen of third rank and above to the palace for the official banquet. Instead, she held only a night banquet, a reunion dinner for the ladies of the harem to stay up together for the New Year. Empress Liu also sent Liu Zhongshi to Qian Yuan Hall to invite the emperor, but he did not attend.

Empress Liu was both disappointed and relieved.

Last year's New Year's Eve saw Consort Wei Xian plotting against her own son, and just two days before this year's New Year's Eve, the case of Consort Chu Li's conspiracy emerged. If the emperor actually attended the banquet, any small mistake by someone could provoke him, with unforeseeable consequences.

She felt that these past two years had been particularly unlucky.

Turning around, she instructed the Eunuch Department to set off more firecrackers to drive away evil spirits, hoping for a peaceful and smooth year in the palace. She began contemplating whether to personally visit a temple on Renri, the Day of Human, to pray for the well-being and health of everyone in the palace, in addition to hosting the 'Seven Dishes Soup' banquet and exchanging luxurious gifts with the concubines in Feng Yi Palace.

During the New Year's vigil, just past midnight, she was informed by Liu Gugu, "The emperor has gone to Fu Hua Palace."

Upon hearing this, Empress Liu finally relaxed and instructed, "Let the ladies return to their palaces, and for those with children, grant them the use of wind-proof palanquins."

With the palace's unsettled atmosphere, she decided to stay up until dawn. The other ladies were free to return as they wished, without any insistence from Empress Liu.

"Liu Gu quickly went to make arrangements."

——

"In Fu Hua Palace, lights shone brightly."

"With the Empress bedridden and not getting up, two imperial physicians had moved in, casting a gloomy atmosphere over the palace. Everyone, except for Prince Zhang Ji, moved quietly, careful with even their footsteps."

"In the sleeping quarters, Qu Gu and Prince Zhang Ji stayed by the Empress’s sickbed."

"Ever since her visit to Qianyuan Hall the previous night, Zhu Yan had developed a fever, plagued by nightmares and waking up intermittently in panic and cold sweats. Even the calming medicines from the palace pharmacy were ineffective, resulting in a restless night."

"Qu Gu, Qiu Ye, and Physician Chen took turns at her bedside."

"By the next morning, the fever had subsided. When the imperial physicians checked her pulse, they advised rest and maintaining a calm mindset. Just as things seemed to be improving, Zhu Yan, regaining some clarity, asked about Consort Chu Li's death and her clan's execution, then fainted."

"Her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness."

This greatly frightened Qu Gu and the two imperial physicians; amidst the chaos, they revived her with acupuncture. Zhu Yan was left so weak she couldn't get off her bed. Afterward, when fed rice porridge, she couldn't swallow and vomited blood twice, clutching her chest and abdomen in pain. The physicians diagnosed it as a stomach ailment.

In medical terms, it's known as epigastric pain, caused by excessive worry and anger leading to obstructed Qi flow.

Commonly referred to as heart pain or pain below the heart.

The physicians unanimously recommended first alleviating the excessive emotional distress to maintain a calm state of mind.

Initially, Zhu Yan had moved her son out due to her illness, but hearing the physicians' advice, Qu Gu disregarded the risk of transmitting the illness and brought the Fourth Prince into the sleeping quarters to accompany Zhu Yan. By noon, Zhu Yan managed to eat a bit of very thin millet porridge and drank the medicine prescribed by the physician.

The medicine currently prescribed is mostly for calming the mind and stabilizing the Qi.

In the straightforward words of Physician Chen, "A good doctor can't save those who yearn for death."

Following this, Zhu Yan spent most of her time in a drowsy state, waking only to eat or take her medicine. The only relief was that she no longer vomited blood.

In just two days, Zhu Yan had noticeably lost weight. The flesh she had managed to regain during her stay in the palace had vanished, leaving her face pale and bloodless.

On New Year's Eve, a night spanning two years, the fifth watch divided two years.

After midnight, when firecrackers had been set off in the palace, Qu Gu coaxed the more spirited Fourth Prince to sleep, saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness, on growing another year older. You should sleep now. Tomorrow, if you're lively, it will cheer up Her Highness. When she's happy, she'll recover faster."

Zhang Ji obediently agreed, wishing for his mother's swift recovery, "I'll stay here with mother tonight. Don't take me away."

"Alright," Qu Gu nodded in agreement.

She noticed that having the Fourth Prince by her side stabilized Zhu Yan's emotions, even when she awoke from nightmares. Qu Gu couldn't fathom what had transpired in the Yang Xin Hall, but Zhu Yan's illness was undoubtedly triggered by that night's events, rooted in anxiety and anger.

"Your Majesty," Qu Gu noticed the emperor entering and quickly stood up.

The Fourth Prince, Zhang Ji, turned around and called out to his father.

The emperor approached and picked up his son with both hands.

Seeing his father's stern face, Zhang Ji felt a bit scared but volunteered, "Father, since Tian Tian returned, he has been with mother. This afternoon, mother woke up once, ate some millet porridge, took her medicine, and talked a lot with Tian Tian." He had woken up early this morning to accompany his father to the ancestral temple for the ritual, and upon leaving, his father immediately sent him back to be with his mother.

"Good boy, Tian Tian," the emperor softly patted his son's head, managing a faint smile, "It's late now, go with your nurse and sleep."

"I'll listen to father," Zhang Ji replied with a smiling face, looking up.

Qu Gu, watching this, felt a pang of sadness, realizing how prematurely mature palace children had to be. Unlike the Third Prince, who was simple and honest, many were like the Fourth Prince, exceptionally intelligent and acutely aware of the importance of affection.

Ironically, Zhu Yan, the one who should understand this best, seemed oblivious to it.

"I am here, you may leave now," the emperor said.

The emperor's command brought Qu Gu back to reality. She quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty," but not before adding, "Her Highness often wakes up frightened at night these past few days."

"I understand," responded the Emperor.

The Emperor waved for Qu Gu to leave and looked up at the person lying on the bed. Her face was pale, unnaturally white, with lips equally devoid of color. Even in a faint, her brows were furrowed in unrest. He sat beside the bed and gently touched Ah Yan's forehead, her face so thin that bones were more prominent than flesh.

Yet the Ah Yan before him remained breathtakingly beautiful.

It was as if he understood the saying: "Beauty lies in the bones, not the skin."

He felt that he might actually be ill.

He hadn’t visited these past few days, firstly because he was genuinely busy. With the year-end approaching, there were numerous tasks and various rituals. This year, it was also time for the regional kings to come to the capital for their official visit. Additionally, Xu Jie, the envoy he had sent to the Huihe, had returned in these past few days, with the King of Huihe agreeing to send two princesses to marry into Dayu, thereby strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"Secondly, he didn't want to further upset Zhu Yan."

"He hadn't anticipated that the incident the night before would so profoundly affect Zhu Yan, causing her to fall ill."

"In his eyes, Zhu Yan was always fearless."

"To say she was audacious was an understatement."

"She had the nerve to disobey, defy him, and even dared to physically confront him, yet she frightened herself into this state, lying in bed, sick and unable to rise."

"He had always thought that Zhu Yan wasn't afraid of him."

"Usually, she would only be submissive in her sleep."

"However, that night, he discovered that even in sleep, she wasn't compliant; waking in alarm, she had pushed him off the bed."

"Falling from the bed to the floor, even though the chamber's golden brick floor was covered with a thick tiger skin rug, the fall was still painful. Just as he was comfortably asleep, his rest was abruptly disrupted. Standing up, he saw the culprit wrapped in a quilt, nonchalantly saying, 'I didn't know it was you.'"

"The Emperor was amused and exasperated, 'On this bed, besides me, there's only Ah Ji. How could you not know it was me?'"

"Zhu Yan didn't respond to that. She had been chased relentlessly in her dream, and waking up to find him beside her, the same person from her nightmare, felt like a haunting. Angered, she hadn't thought much before pushing him off the bed with all her might."

"Perhaps exerting herself too much, she felt drained, her mind foggy and listless."

Out of sight, out of mind, Zhu Yan simply closed her eyes.

Seeing this, the emperor climbed onto the bed and embraced Zhu Yan, pressing her for answers, "Ah Yan, I know you're awake. Stop pretending to be asleep. Did you do that on purpose just now?"

Zhu Yan, jostled vigorously, unable to muster the strength to push him away, could only say, "I'm not feeling well."

"Where do you feel unwell?"

The anger that had been building up in the emperor dissipated, replaced by concern. He immediately let go of Zhu Yan and checked her forehead, "Wait here, I'll go call the imperial physician right away."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan suddenly opened her eyes and scrutinized him. She noticed his hurried and disorganized manner as he got out of bed. He was so anxious that he didn’t even put on his socks and ran out barefoot.

The felt curtain swayed gently, barely letting in a draft of cold air.

Zhu Yan, hand on her chest, suddenly realized that despite his fickleness and love for beauty, the emperor did have some genuine affection for her, at least for now.

If she focused only on the present, without regard for the long term.

In this period, she could certainly captivate the emperor's heart, becoming a seductress.

Besides, she had no future to consider.

So, when the emperor returned, Zhu Yan said directly, "I'm fine now, no need for the imperial physician."

"Are you really okay?" the emperor asked, full of doubt.

"Just a bit tired," said Zhu Yan, closing her eyes again.

"Then you should sleep," the emperor said, tucking her in before going to the door to instruct that the imperial physician was no longer needed. He then returned to bed, careful not to disturb Zhu Yan with his cool body, covering himself with a separate brocade quilt.

The next day, New Year's Day, was important for the imperial court meeting. The emperor dared not fall asleep.

After he woke up early in the morning, Zhu Yan also awoke. He immediately wished her a happy new year, "For this new year, I wish Ah Yan good health and a life free from illness and disaster."

"I wish His Majesty peace and prosperity for the nation and the people," Zhu Yan responded.

As soon as Zhu Yan finished speaking, the emperor's face lit up with joy, seemingly surprised by her response. He embraced Zhu Yan without regard for his already donned court attire, caressing her cheek, "Ah Yan, you must take good care of yourself."

"Does Your Majesty truly wish for my health to improve?"

The emperor raised an eyebrow at Zhu Yan, "Of course. When have I ever lied?" He prided himself on never resorting to falsehoods.

"Consort Chu Li is dead. Indiscriminate killing is against the harmony of heaven. Would you consider sparing the lives of the servants and eunuchs of Qing Yang Palace?"

Zhu Yan looked up at the emperor and noticed his expression stiffening visibly, a sign of anger she had come to recognize from spending time with him.

Undeterred, Zhu Yan continued, "I am unwell. Could Your Majesty not spare their lives as a blessing for my health?"

Author's note:

Today's update, xoxo~~~ Responding to reader snow in the comment section: The story is about halfway through now~~