Chapter 0336: The Emperor Falls Ill

Chapter 0336: The Emperor Falls Ill

Looking back now, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Before the man was brought back to the capital, Consort Jinde was confined, with all servants in Zhaohua Palace restricted from free entry and exit.

Only one person was allowed out each day to fetch meals.

This truly mirrored the Empress's earlier situation.

In the evening, He Jinli visited Yuqu Palace. Since the demotion of the Crown Prince, his visits to the inner palace had become increasingly rare.

Clearly, he was not in the mood.

Of the eight newcomers to the palace this year, not one has served in his bedchamber yet.

That's rather unfortunate.

After greeting He Jinli, Yunli helped him off with his cloak.

Today was cold, with early morning snowflakes, though it didn't last long, but it was windy. The weather remained very cold.

"Bring me a bowl of hot porridge," He Jinli sat down and said.

"I think the small kitchen here has some meat broth," Yunli said.

"Mmm, bring some of that then. I didn't feel very well after eating this evening," He Jinli rubbed his head.

Yunli sent someone to fetch it.

She watched him eat and then called someone to help him rinse his mouth.

He Jinli was clearly feeling unwell and went to wash up and to bed early.

In the middle of the night, Yunli woke up startled from a dream.

She dreamt she fell into a pit of fire, scorching hot.

Upon waking, she found herself turned away from the Emperor, held tightly in his embrace, and his body burning up.

This is bad.

Yunli held her forehead.

"Someone come."

She struggled free, and He Jinli opened his eyes: "What's wrong?"

"Don't you feel it? You're sick," she lamented the ill fortune of him falling ill in her quarters.

Zhifu and Yincha came in, and Yunli instructed: "Go summon the imperial physicians, call for Doctor Li and Doctor Zhu. Inform Meng Chang that His Majesty has a fever."

"Yes," Yincha hurried off.

Zhifu stayed to assist Yunli in caring for the Emperor.

At this moment, He Jinli felt it, his body burning without any strength.

"Just felt something was off today," he managed to say.

He Jinli had been sick a few times over the years, but nothing serious.

Such a high fever was indeed rare for him.

Meng Chang was alarmed to hear the Emperor was ill and quickly got up.

In less than half an hour, the night-duty Doctor Zhu arrived by sedan.

Bouncing all the way, the old bones nearly came apart.

Doctor Li was not in the palace tonight; someone has gone out to find him.

Doctor Zhu, initially uncomfortable from the bumpy ride, forgot all about his discomfort after taking the pulse.

He was terrified.

"Your Majesty... you... you've caught a cold," Doctor Zhu thought, how did His Majesty suddenly become so ill?

Yunli...

"You really scared me to death; I thought His Majesty was poisoned. A cold is just a cold, even emperors are flesh and blood. His Majesty has been overworked recently, and it's cold now, plus there was a spell of snowflakes this morning. Isn't it just a cold?" Yunli said, patting her chest.

He Jinli laughed: "Heh, you really are..."

Yunli rolled her eyes at him: "Isn't it the truth?"

Doctor Zhu chuckled awkwardly: "Yes, yes, Consort Yunli is right, my mistake."

"His Majesty is strong; a cold is nothing serious. Since he fell ill here, let him recuperate here. No need to move him, what do you say, Your Majesty?" Yunli asked.

He Jinli smiled: "So you want to keep me here?"

Yunli, speechless: "Yes, yes, I miss you. I'll be anxious if you leave. Please, don't go."

He Jinli laughed again: "Alright, as you wish."

Doctor Zhu, head bowed, thought, is this really something I should be witnessing?

After Doctor Li entered the palace and examined together, they prescribed medicine. They couldn't disturb the Empress Dowager in the middle of the night.

They also instructed all quarters not to make any moves.

Meng Chang went ahead; in a bit more than an hour, it would be time for the morning court session, but clearly, His Majesty could not attend.

Best to stop them early.

After taking the medicine, He Jinli found himself unable to sleep, feeling feverish yet somewhat excited.

Yunli couldn't sleep either and brought over some hot tea to keep him company.

"Talk to me," He Jinli propped himself up with a pillow, his face and neck flushed red.

Yunli set the tea aside: "You should be sleeping now, but since you can't... shall I annoy you for a bit?"

He Jinli smiled: "Go ahead."

Yunli leaned closer: "I'm really going to annoy you, okay?"

He Jinli looked at her: "Yes, tell me."

"I recently did something, not exactly bad, but not entirely aboveboard," Yunli smiled, "I went to the Empress and shared some findings. I had my brother investigate the matter of the eldest prince. In the capital, it was found that bandits had eliminated the wet nurse's remaining family. That's hard to trace. But the matter concerning Su Jingui's family was easier to investigate."

"Why investigate this?" He Jinli asked.

"Actually, it was for the Empress," Yunli looked up at him: "Maybe you should get angry first. Scold me, then I'll continue."

He Jinli squeezed her shoulder, regretfully lacking strength at the moment.

"Speak."

His voice carried a hint of anger.

"I was wrong. I didn't scheme anything. The reason I looked into this was because, after the Crown Prince was deposed, there were rumors in the palace accusing the Empress of harming the eldest prince. Rumors don't come from nowhere. I thought if anything could severely impact the Empress, it would be this. So, I sent someone."

"Oh? And what was your intention? If it turned out to be true, what would you have done if the Empress was responsible?" He Jinli pressed her shoulder again.

"If it were true, I would of course have told Your Majesty. Alright, the truth is..."

Yunli moved closer, resting her face against his neck: "Ah... it's because of the children. Your Majesty, looking at Xiaojiu, did you not think of Qi Xiaohe?"

He Jinli had indeed thought of Qi Xiaohe, but as the child's father, he often didn't dwell on it.

"I didn't care initially; Qi Xiaohe is related by blood to me. My child resembling him is nothing unusual. But the Empress... her looks at Xiaojiu sometimes terrified me. The past incident was Qi Xiaohe's fault. He deserved his fate and is gone. But now, with the Empress in a precarious position and the Xie family's decline, people can endure anything in good times. But what about in adversity? I fear she might harm Xiaojiu someday."

"So I took matters into my own hands. I knew nothing about the affairs in the Eastern Palace, nor could I have known the reasons behind the Empress and Concubine Wu's miscarriages. But there was a clear trail to follow regarding the Crown Prince's case. Back then, His Majesty thoroughly investigated and it turned out to be smallpox. Now that someone has revived this matter, there must be new circumstances. Hence, I looked into it."

"If the investigation reveals that the Empress was involved, I will inform you. But since it wasn't her, I informed her first. I hope she'll see my assistance as a favor and refrain from targeting Ninth Princess in the future."

"I didn't intend to hide it from you; I truly acted without permission. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Han Jilie: Well, here I am, sick.

Yun Li: I'm playing my cards openly!"