Chapter 405 – What’s the Condition Really Like?

Chapter 405 - What's the Condition Really Like?

Merely the fact that the Empress Dowager looked unwell was enough to spark a month's worth of speculation in the palace.

The news that the Fifth Prince had punished his consort spread swiftly throughout the imperial harem.

Although the Empress was currently unaware, Lady Liao was indeed harboring such intentions. She feared the Empress's affections more than punishment, for they were truly fatal.

Consort Yuzhu was a woman of her word; after leaving Fengyi Palace, she truly made her way to Zhengyang Palace.

But this was clearly an unnecessary detour.

Regardless of whether she pleaded or not, once the case was resolved, these martial artists would have no reason to remain.

She was merely going to confront the Fifth Prince.

In Yuzheng Palace, the Concubine Imperial commented with a tsk, "Consort Yuzhu is indeed like you – she never acts without purpose. I almost forgot what she was like when she first entered the palace."

Yun Li smiled. "I remember that. She's quite skilled at it. Indeed, this Empress Yu has been keeping a low profile all these years. She's a force to be reckoned with."

"I've figured it out now. In this harem, those who can remain calm and have their wits about them never fare too badly. But I don't understand why she's challenging the Empress now. If Eleventh Prince has a chance, he still has several elder brothers ahead of him. She hasn't made any other moves, so why is she doing this?" The Concubine Imperial was puzzled.

After some thought, Yun Li said, "I've actually pondered over this before. I believe she's aligning herself with us, but I'm not entirely certain. At the very least, she's willing to establish friendly relations with us. And she doesn't seem to have much faith in the Empress."

Speaking of the Empress... The Concubine Imperial looked at Yun Li. "I had Doctor Lu specially inquire about the Empress's health. It's not looking good."

Doctor Lu had served the Concubine Imperial for many years, so she trusted him.

Yun Li relied on Doctor Zhu, after all. This elderly doctor had saved her life.

"Oh? What did he say?" Yun Li was intrigued.

"He couldn't get all the details directly from Doctor Zhu, but although the Empress's medical records are sealed, they're not a complete secret. Through indirect inquiries, he learned that the Empress is currently taking a lot of painkillers," the Concubine Imperial clicked her tongue in disapproval.

"I asked, and Doctor Lu said that although the prescription has changed several times, the ingredients have remained similar, with more and more pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicines being added. There are also some cooling blood and calming medications."

"Especially the medicine the Empress takes at night, which mostly consists of calming agents. Doctor Lu mentioned that the Empress's lingering illness from years ago has never fully healed. It's unlikely to ever do so. Normally, such conditions would worsen as one ages. Yet the Empress remains unscathed. Clearly, the medicine is having an effect."

"Did Doctor Lu mention what would happen if the medicine were discontinued?" Yun Li inquired.

"I asked, and she can't stop now. While the medicine dulls her pain and even allows her to sleep peacefully at night due to its calming effects, it's worsening her injuries in reality. Eventually, the painkillers won't work anymore, and her injuries will worsen from lack of proper rest. At that point, she... might not recover," the Empress Dowager explained.

After a long moment of reflection, Yun Li nodded. "I see. I did notice that she seemed unwell before the New Year, so how could she suddenly improve? I suspected she was relying on medication, but I didn't imagine it was to this extent. She truly isn't considering the consequences."

"Indeed. According to Doctor Lu, if Her Majesty had properly rested, it wouldn't have come to this. But she's suffered too much damage. Giving birth to Prince Qin prematurely injured her body. Then there was a miscarriage later on. Coupled with the fall from her horse, her health has never fully recovered. Now, if the medicine loses its effectiveness, she may decline rapidly. It might even affect her lifespan," the Imperial Concubine said.

Yun Li shook her head gently. "She truly has had a string of bad luck. One misstep leads to another. When I first entered the palace, His Majesty might not have shown her exceptional favor, but he respected her greatly and put her first in all matters. It's a pity."

"Yes, but isn't this also one's destiny?" The Empress concubine also shook her head.

"Ah, right…" The Empress concubine suddenly asked, "Don't people in your Great Jin believe in mutual repression? Could it be that the Empress restrains the Fifth Prince? Before she supported him, he was fine. Why did things go wrong after her intervention?"

Yun Li remained silent for a long while, unable to utter a single word.

She didn't know how to criticize this sister of hers.

You should believe in science, but how can I still remember my past life?

Well, in the end, she could only laugh it off.

On the other side, Liao sat in the carriage, pondering over the message Yu had conveyed to her.

'He who helps himself is aided by heaven.'

Upon returning home, she headed straight for the inner courtyard.

The Fifth Prince arrived soon after. "You're back. What did Mother want you to tell me?"

Liao burst into tears.

"Tsk, why are you crying? What did Mother say?" the Fifth Prince asked anxiously.

Trapped within the estate like an animal in a cage, how could he not be anxious?

Through her sobs, Liao replied, "Everything was fine before. She kept calling me a good child. Now that something's happened, which isn't even a major issue and certainly wasn't caused by you, why the change in attitude? Just as things get a bit rocky, she starts addressing me by my name."

Liao wept, "In the end, I'm not your birth mother. When you were in favor, she was all sweetness and light. But with the slightest misstep from you, she turns like this. In the end, she's just a discarded queen with no support. Isn't she hoping that if you succeed, she'll be lifted up too?"

"How can she still treat you like this? I've heard the whispers in the harem about how they speak of you. Yet, she even subtly blames you for not consulting her beforehand. You're already an adult..."

The Fifth Prince's face darkened. "Did she scold you?"

Liao wept without a word.

The Fifth Prince frowned. "Stop crying. Speak if you have something to say. What good does crying do?"

"I just feel it's unfair for someone like you to go through this. Don't trust her; she only seeks benefits. It's a rule of life that the higher one stands, the more challenges one faces. I, as a young woman, understood this principle, so how could someone with half her life lived not comprehend it? She simply doesn't see you as family," Liao sobbed as she threw herself into the Fifth Prince's arms.

The Fifth Prince was quite content with his wife. Seeing her cry like this tugged at his heartstrings. He patted her back. "There, there, I know you've been wronged. Don't cry anymore."

"I don't mind my own suffering, but it's for His Highness that I feel it's unjust. Your Highness, be cautious around her in the future and don't believe everything she says," Liao said.

The Fifth Prince sighed. "Alright, I understand."

He felt an immense sense of disappointment.

Indeed, the Empress was no stranger to neglect for many years; no wonder, then.

Liao nestled in the Fifth Prince's embrace and suddenly grasped the meaning behind Lady Xian's words.

She had always pondered over how to save herself.

Divorce or separation, she had considered them both.

But, after all, she was a traditional young lady.