Chapter 39: The Summer Solstice (3)

Chapter 39: The Summer Solstice (3)

"The devil has possessed her?" The emperor had to divert his attention from the tedious state affairs to listen to these bizarre speculations about her.

Hesitant, Little Fu said, "This is what I'm thinking. Today's meals were very light and prepared by the imperial kitchen. Miss followed Lord's diet, and Lord is perfectly fine. So how could she suddenly be unwell?"

The emperor fell silent, thinking to himself that she was the biggest evil spirit in the Forbidden City recently. It would be strange if someone like her could be possessed.

"You saw her? She's cunning and can't be fully trusted."

Little Fu pondered for a moment before replying, "I caught a glimpse of her through the curtain. She looked pale and listless. Songe said she had stomach pain and even vomited once..."

Eunuchs serving the emperor often exaggerated minor ailments. Frowning, the emperor said, "It's just indigestion. How does it relate to being possessed? Send a physician to examine her."

Looking at De Lu, Little Fu stammered, "I've already sent for Doctor Zhao to take her pulse. I returned to report to Your Majesty first. I thought, though indigestion may seem insignificant, it could be serious. Miss went down to the underground palace today. The air underground is heavy with negative energy, and Miss was the only girl there. I'm afraid... just in case she's been affected by something, we should know what we're dealing with so that the treatment can be more effective."

How did one treat possession? By summoning a shaman. They were only halfway back to the capital; where could they find a shaman? Carrying a woman on the journey was troublesome. The emperor felt irritated, unsure if she was genuinely ill or pretending to be sick knowing that she would face consequences in the fall. However, he couldn't entirely dismiss the notion of ghosts and gods.

Flipping through the pages of his book casually, he paused and instructed De Lu, "Go have a look and figure out what's wrong with her. If she's really possessed, come back to me immediately." After a moment's thought, he still found it inappropriate. "Have Zhao Ding report to me after he examines her."

This was to ensure clarity in the report, so he had to inquire about her condition personally. De Lu was always considerate and promptly answered with an "Affirmative," rushing to Ying Miss's small tent.

Inside, the imperial physician had just finished his examination and was standing outside the tent, deep in thought. Upon seeing De Lu, he bowed and asked, "Are you here on the Emperor's orders?"

De Lu confirmed, glancing inside, "How severe is the young lady's illness?"

Doctor Zhao tilted his head and said, "She seems to be in excellent health; there's no sign of illness. According to her, she has stomach pain. After my diagnosis, there doesn't seem to be any indication of blood deficiency..."

De Lu understood that it was a pretense. He smiled and said, "His Majesty is deeply concerned. Dr. Zhao, let us report back to him."

Doctor Zhao agreed and, as they walked, he hesitated, unable to grasp the situation. He sought De Lu's advice, "What should I tell the Emperor, according to your opinion?"

De Lu looked up at the moon and considered that if he were to say she was possessed, they might have to rush back to the capital to find a shaman. While that wouldn't be a significant issue, they mustn't alarm the Empress Dowager, the revered Grand Empress Dowager. However, if they were straightforward and said the young lady was faking her illness, she might face punishment when brought before the Emperor, which would be pitiful.

Sighing, De Lu said, "Dr. Zhao, you're not well-versed in women's medicine, right? If the young lady says she has stomach pain but can't explicitly explain why, it could be due to...inconvenience!"

Doctor Zhao caught on quickly. When they met the emperor, his response flowed smoothly, "The young lady has a weak temperament, with insufficient kidney yang. Coupled with cold dampness invading her body, it causes stagnation of qi and blood, leading to irregular menstruation. However, Your Majesty, rest assured, it's not a serious condition. A few tonics to invigorate her energy and warm her body will suffice."

The emperor felt somewhat awkward. It turned out to be a women's ailment, yet it was reported directly to him – truly amusing. He felt a slight relief and said, "Since the cause of the illness has been identified, prescribe the treatment."

Dr. Zhao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need for a prescription. There's an immediate remedy for this condition. Mix yellow wine with ginger sugar, brew a hot bowl, and drink it. Within two hours, all illnesses will vanish."

Little Fu, sharp as a whip, knew what the Emperor was thinking and promptly said, "Your Majesty, I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare the soup right away." With that, he sprang up to convey the order.

San Qing accompanied Dr. Zhao out of the main tent. As there was no one else present, De Lu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Yingming's maid tends to panic easily. Moreover, the small tent only has a thick mat on the ground, which may worsen her condition as she rests on it. Perhaps it would be better to move Yingming to the royal residence? Your Majesty could grant her a bed, keeping her off the ground, and she might recover more swiftly."

Being a benevolent ruler, and considering Qi Yingming's favor with the Grand Empress Dowager, the Emperor didn't want her to return to the palace still ailing and causing concern to the Grand Empress Dowager. Reluctantly, he agreed and instructed that a blanket be added to the bed. De Lu received the order and returned to the small tent, speaking through the curtain, "Miss Yingming, His Majesty has granted you permission to spend the night in the main tent of the royal residence."

Inside the tent, Yingming was having a meal with Songe. Hearing De Lu's words, she dropped the meat jerky in shock. Gathering herself, she asked, "What did Shuida say? I didn't hear clearly."

De Lu replied, "Miss, your master has allowed you to stay in the royal residence tonight. He says that sleeping on the ground in the small tent is not beneficial for your health. In the main tent, there's a bed where you can rest and recover faster, without delaying tomorrow's journey."

Yingming's mind was reeling. She hadn't expected even her fake illness to escape the Emperor's grasp. All she wanted was to avoid him comfortably. She thought he might temporarily spare her after seeing her weakened state, but instead, he had ordered her to stay in the royal residence. This relentless determination was terrifying.

Reluctant to comply, she hesitated, "Please thank His Majesty for his kindness on my behalf. I've already lain down..."

De Lu said, "Miss, don't make it difficult for us servants. My duty is merely to convey the message, and I dare not assist you in defying the Emperor's command. How many girls in the world have received such grace from His Majesty? You must appreciate his favor and go before him to express gratitude."

Gratitude, a so-called blessing imposed upon her, was like a beautifully adorned pit. Unfortunately, even if she saw through it, she still had to smile and jump in. With no other choice, Yingming dragged her heavy steps out of the small tent, looking embarrassed as she said to De Lu, "Shuida, you know I'm still an unmarried maiden. If I were to spend the night in His Majesty's main tent, what would people say?"

De Lu sighed, "Miss, you're overthinking it. That's the Emperor we're talking about, not some ordinary gentleman. Who would dare to gossip behind your back? Just focus on taking care of yourself for now. To be frank, with your current relationship with His Majesty... there's no need to worry about others' opinions. Just like those in charge of His Majesty's bedchamber and accounts, aren't they all close attendants with status? You surpass them a hundred, a thousand times in dignity. People should be envious of you now, so what is there to fear?"

Envious of her enduring disgust while dealing with the Emperor daily? Envious of her constant suffering and injustice? Yingming forced a bitter smile, contemplating saying goodbye to Songe once again. Songe looked helpless but could only lament his young mistress's unfortunate circumstances. With a gloomy expression, he helped her adjust her appearance before sending her to the large leather tent.

"Miss Ying, " De Lu reminded with a smile, "Are you feeling better now?"

Yingming, preoccupied with her anger, had forgotten to maintain her composure. Hearing De Lu's words, she instinctively covered her stomach, "Thank you, Shuida, for your concern. It's still the same, nothing life-threatening."

De Lu nodded, "Then hurry inside and lie down. The Emperor has ordered Little Fu to prepare a soup for you; it will be here soon." As he spoke, he raised the curtain of the entrance, "Miss, please go ahead."

Returning to this place, Yingming felt utterly dispirited, as if she were genuinely falling ill. She had decided that if the emperor asked, she would say she was feeling better, at least well enough not to spend the night in his chambers. If she were to leave the royal residence early the next morning, there would be no way to clear her name before the Empress Dowager.

The burial of her dearest friend had just taken place, and yet she was offering herself on the same night. She couldn't bear the thought of others whispering behind her back. This was precisely the most vicious aspect of the emperor's character; in such matters, men never suffered any loss, while women's dignity was the one to be compromised.

Angry as she was, she entered with a sullen expression, unable to feign a smile for the emperor. This made him believe that she was indeed unwell, and quite seriously so. When she was robust, she could endure any sort of harassment, but if he pushed her too far now that she was sick, he feared she might not be able to withstand it. Should she, in a fit of anger, pass away, it would be highly undesirable.

She performed a deep curtsy, but the emperor waved it off, as her ailment was rather intimate, and as a man, he felt somewhat awkward about it.

"Permission granted to lie down," the emperor said, glancing to the west. There was a long couch over there, already prepared with cushions and bedding, looking cozy and inviting.

Yingming bowed with a soft plea, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy. I can still manage for now." Yet, she refused to budge, standing stiffly with her head lowered.

The emperor disliked her lack of awareness. He had shown her favor, yet she was now acting haughty.

"Go lie down," the emperor said coldly. "If you don't want to lie down, go stand outside, in front of the imperial guards. Let them look at you."

The imperial guards never left the emperor's side, especially in the grand tent where they stood guard like a solid wall. Yingming pondered whether enduring public scrutiny or facing the emperor was more unbearable. After some thought, she obediently lay down on the bed. Of course, she couldn't relax; she had always been well-mannered and never lain down in front of anyone except her mother and maidservants. Being forced to sprawl under the emperor's gaze felt like an even greater humiliation than kneeling under the inkstone in the Nourishing Heart Palace. Her face flushed red, and she felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry.

The emperor looked down at her, surprised by her appearance. "Are you thinking about something chaotic? Why are you so flushed?"

De Lu nearly dropped his jaw, while Yingming on the bed felt like crying but stubbornly claimed she wasn't thinking about anything, tears brimming in her eyes.

The emperor wasn't skilled in comforting others, but seeing her pitiful state, he decided to let her off the hook for now. "Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you. I have no interest in you, so don't misconstrue my intentions."

De Lu's face fell completely. He thought to himself that a life too smooth could sometimes breed arrogance. Despite having had an empress and over a dozen concubines, the emperor still didn't know how to interact with women. Indeed, his summoning of concubines was no different from calling in officials; he'd simply flip a menu, and when the time came, the red blanket would be rolled out to carry the chosen one inside. Sometimes, he wouldn't even need to call for them; his business would be done... For him, bedding women was merely occasional amusement and a means of continuation of the royal bloodline. He didn't bother to understand their preferences, nor did he even know their surnames. Thus, applying the same mindset to deal with women as with courtiers was bound to end in disaster.

As for Yingming, she could relate. The emperor was the most disgusting existence to her, especially with his self-importance, which was laughable. All her embarrassment vanished under his presence. She lay straight, saying, "I'm just not used to lying here, Your Majesty. Please don't take it the wrong way."

The emperor hummed in response. "Not used to lying here? That's great. Sleep in the grand tent again tomorrow. If you're still not used to it, go to the Nourishing Heart Palace and keep lying there until you do."

Yingming was so furious that her anger clouded her senses, the pent-up frustration almost suffocating her. But she couldn't confront him; instead, in a fit of rage, she pulled the thin blanket over herself and refused to speak any further.

Her lifeless posture looked rather frightening. The emperor sneered, finding satisfaction in her distress. It seemed he had made the right decision in letting her spend the night in his tent. Her attempt to deceive him with a false seal wouldn't be so easily forgiven. He would bide his time; there were many days ahead. Unless she could fly out of the palace walls, this discomfort would be her eternal fate.

At that moment, Little Fu entered with a bowl in hand, bowing as he said, "Your Majesty, Doctor Zhao's soup is ready."

Delu spoke gently to the young lady, "One mustn't endure illness. Drink this soup, and you'll feel much better. Empress Dowager cares for you deeply. It wouldn't be good if she were to find out about this just as we're about to arrive in Beijing."

Yingming felt helpless and regretful; she had brought this upon herself. Reluctantly, she sat up and said insincerely, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness." She took the bowl from Little Fu's hands.

Bowing her head, she saw golden sediment floating on the surface of the liquid, indicating it was ginger soup. It didn't taste unpleasant, and she was just about to drink it all in one go when she caught a whiff of alcohol. She lifted her eyes in surprise, "Why is it made with alcohol?"

Little Fu smiled and said, "Red rice wine is excellent for warming the body. The imperial physician mentioned that after drinking this, Miss will surely feel better within an hour. Please give it a try, Miss."

However, Yingming abstained from alcohol completely, unlike most noble Qian women who were accustomed to drinking wine as casually as tea from a young age. Even indulging in drunken shrimp would leave her legs weak; let alone a full bowl of it.

"I can't drink this..." She said awkwardly, "What if I lose my composure in front of the emperor?"

The emperor regarded her willingness to take the medicine as the sole criterion to determine whether she was genuinely ill or feigning sickness. "I despise being deceived the most. If you lie to me today, I shall hold you accountable for the offense of contempt towards the imperial authority."

Yingming thought she was now in a difficult situation, for the illness she feigned could not be verified as genuine or fake. Hence, the Emperor likely intended to torment her with this method, having perhaps learned that she didn't drink and wanting to witness her embarrassment.

But she couldn't refuse. She had never tested her alcohol tolerance, nor did she know how she behaved when drunk. Before taking a sip, she glanced at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this servant has never consumed alcohol. Today, as Your Highness has granted me this favor, I cannot decline. However, if by chance I become inebriated and commit an act of disrespect, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The Emperor felt confident in his tolerance and didn't think he would hold a grudge against a drunkard. Besides, the offense she mentioned... He was even somewhat curious about what kind of disrespect it might entail.

Of course, these were merely his private thoughts; he still wouldn't let her off easily in words. "It's just a bowl of ginger soup. Are you planning to use drunkenness as an excuse to show disrespect to me? One's behavior while drinking reflects their character. I hope you will conduct yourself with dignity," he said sternly.

Yingming had no retort. Meeting this Emperor was like encountering a ghost; anything she said seemed futile.

She drained the bowl in one straight shot, savoring the last taste. It wasn't particularly unpleasant, though the flavor was rather strong. Indeed, it warmed her stomach, rushing down her throat like sparks igniting a pile of wood, setting her entire chest ablaze.

Yingming was usually confident in herself, believing that if she were to get drunk, she would simply pass out. However, according to De Lu's account, she had engaged the emperor in a lengthy conversation. She vaguely recalled this episode, with two phrases lingering clearly in her mind even after she woke up. Amidst her slurred speech, she had declared, "I am usually quite gentle in my words. If there ever comes a day when I put you on the spot... don't be puzzled, I did that on purpose."