Chapter 42 Before the Storm

Chapter 42 Before the Storm

Illness strikes as swiftly as a mountain collapsing.

Su Jiaojiao squinted as the procession drew nearer. When she finally recognized the face, her frail body swayed slightly.

Why was Noble Consort Wang rushing to the temple?

She and Ling Xiao discreetly stepped aside, avoiding Noble Consort Wang's entourage and standing at the edge of the steps. They bowed their heads in respect before she ascended the steps.

Yet, Noble Consort Wang appeared frantic, not even glancing at Su Jiaojiao. She stepped off the palanquin and rushed up the steps, likely seeking the monk for an urgent matter.

The Crown Prince was the only one who could make Noble Consort Wang anxious.

Could the Crown Prince’s illness still be lingering?

Su Jiaojiao had been feeling under the weather for the past couple of days and hadn't heard any rumors about the Crown Prince. She hadn’t anticipated his condition to persist.

Yet, considering the situation back then, the Crown Prince hadn't been underwater for long. He was rescued almost as soon as he jumped in, and emergency measures had been taken promptly. It shouldn't have come to this.

Su Jiaojiao had been underwater for quite some time before being saved, which led to her catching a cold. Was the Crown Prince’s frailty due to his youth, hindering his recovery?

Su Jiaojiao gazed calmly at Noble Consort Wang’s hurried form.

No matter the Crown Prince’s state, he was Noble Consort Wang’s son, and it had nothing to do with Su Jiaojiao.

And between her and Noble Consort Wang, a confrontation was inevitable.

A chilly autumn breeze swept by, making Su Jiaojiao shiver. Her loose strands danced in the wind, and the golden glow on her was quickly overshadowed by gathering clouds.

"My lady, it seems rain is imminent," Ling Xiao said, looking up at the sky with concern. "Maybe we should head up now."

Su Jiaojiao didn't delay any longer and walked to the center of the steps. "If we ascend now, all our prior efforts will be for naught. We cannot."

With that, she gracefully climbed three steps, then pressed her hands together and bowed reverently towards the temple.

The seventy-two steps of the blessing path, with three bows and nine kowtows, each step meticulously followed.

Ling Xiao stayed close by, concerned that Su Jiaojiao might not endure the wind today.

She hastened, so upon entering the temple’s main gate, Noble Consort Mi and Noble Consort Wang had only just arrived.

The moment she crossed the threshold, she spotted the monk stepping out from a side chamber, clutching the stack of scriptures she’d asked to be stamped.

Su Jiaojiao stepped forward to take them and handed them to Ling Xiao, smiling gratefully and clasping her hands together. "Thank you, monk. Your assistance is greatly appreciated."

The monk pointed behind him and said kindly, "You may proceed to the back hall from either side. Incense offerings and prayers are conducted there."

Just as Su Jiaojiao was about to head to the back hall with the scriptures, someone hurriedly emerged from the tea room behind her, their expression cold, and called out, "Monk, please wait."

The monk's steps halted, and Su Jiaojiao whispered, "It's Noble Consort Wang and Noble Consort Mi."

With that, she had no intention of getting involved in Noble Consort Wang's private matters and knew the importance of boundaries. She turned and led Ling Xiao into the back hall.

Noble Consort Wang was domineering and harsh, while Noble Consort Mi was arrogant and willful. Dealing with either one alone was enough to give anyone a headache, let alone both. The monk was already stretched thin, and there was no telling if they would start arguing. It wasn't worth getting caught in the crossfire.

The back hall was quiet, and the scent of sandalwood filled the air as soon as they entered. Su Jiaojiao looked up at the Buddha statue and, with Ling Xiao's support, knelt on the cushion. She pulled out a scripture and placed it in the brazier with the remaining embers.

She leaned forward and gently blew on it, causing the flames to quickly lick the paper, turning it into black ash.

As Su Jiaojiao rose to her feet, a sudden wave of dizziness struck her, causing her to sway involuntarily. She instinctively reached up with her right hand to steady her forehead, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Miss Su! What's wrong?" Ling Xiao was startled and hurried over to support her, her voice filled with concern. "Miss Su, the weather is gloomy and the wind is strong today. You haven't fully recovered from your cold, and now it seems you might be getting worse."

She helped Su Jiaojiao steady herself and then tightened the mantle around her, ensuring she was fully wrapped up before feeling somewhat reassured. "Let’s finish burning these quickly and head back. We should call an imperial physician to check your pulse."

Su Jiaojiao, feeling unwell, nodded softly and whispered, "Alright."

Before they could proceed, faint sounds of an argument drifted from the front hall, separated by a wall. The conversation seemed to be about royal offspring, though the words were intermittent and unclear.

Su Jiaojiao pretended not to hear and, with Ling Xiao's help, proceeded to burn the stack of Buddhist scriptures that had been stamped with the Buddhist seal. After praying before the Buddha, she rose to her feet, her face pale.

As she stood, the dizziness intensified, and her throat began to feel dry and sore. A slight shake of her head made the world spin, and she nearly lost her balance.

Ling Xiao reached out to touch her forehead and exclaimed, "Oh no! You're running a fever! Miss Su, you have a fever. We must return to Pixiang Hall and call an imperial physician immediately."

She glanced toward the front hall, anxiety written all over her face. "Noble Consort Mi and Noble Consort Wang are still lingering there. If we leave through the front hall, it might cause unwanted complications. If Noble Consort Wang decides to target you, delaying the medical attention could make your condition much worse!"

Su Jiaojiao's face flushed with an unnatural redness as she whispered, "Help me sit down, and go quickly to inform Consort Shu. Tangli Hall is closer. Ask her to send her palanquin to carry me back."

Ling Xiao clenched her teeth and helped her sit on a chair in the side room, saying, "Miss Su, please stay strong. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Su Jiaojiao leaned back in the chair, her head tilting slightly as she closed her eyes to rest. Since entering the palace, she had never been this seriously ill. She had thought it was just a minor cold, but she had underestimated her illness.

Fortunately, today's plan had been accomplished, and Noble Consort Mi's suspicion toward her would be greatly reduced. In the future, even if she gained favor, Noble Consort Mi might not be too displeased. And if problems arose, perhaps she would show some leniency in light of today's events.

Noble Consort Mi was at the height of her power, and gaining even a little of her favor could be of great benefit in the harem. Especially since Noble Consort Mi and Noble Consort Wang were already at odds, and Su Jiaojiao herself was locked in a mortal feud with Noble Consort Wang. Having a common enemy made things easier.

Su Jiaojiao struggled to keep her consciousness from slipping away, but her vision began to blur, and her body alternated between chills and fever. Her limbs felt weak, and even sitting upright became difficult.

From the moment she left Pixiang Hall until now, it had been no more than three hours, yet she had fallen so ill. Truly, illness hits like a ton of bricks.

Unknowingly, Su Jiaojiao lost consciousness as she leaned back in the chair.

In her ears, she faintly heard the sound of pouring rain and someone anxiously calling, "Su Jiaojiao! Su Jiaojiao!"

"Hurry! Help Consort Lian into the palanquin! Someone hold an umbrella for her! Call an imperial physician to Tangli Hall! Hurry!"

She didn't know how much time had passed, but when she woke again, it was late at night. Su Jiaojiao's entire body felt weak and sore, and she was soaked in cold sweat.

As she tried to move, she noticed someone leaning on her left arm. Turning her head slightly, she saw that it was Consort Shu.

Further away, Ling Xiao was slumped over the table, exhausted, her head nodding as she nearly fell onto the table.

Su Jiaojiao tried to speak, but her throat was in pain. When she finally managed to produce a sound, it was dry and hoarse, barely audible. "Sister, it’s me."

Consort Shu suddenly lifted her head, her eyes clearing from their dazed state. Without speaking, she first grabbed Su Jiaojiao's hand, feeling that it was slightly warm. Then she touched her forehead and, sensing that the fever had subsided, let out a sigh of relief. "The fever’s gone down. That’s a relief."

Only then did Consort Shu realize that Su Jiaojiao had woken up, and her tone immediately turned cold. "Su Jiaojiao, you’re pushing yourself too hard!"

"If Ling Xiao hadn't run to get me, would you have let yourself succumb to illness in the temple?"

Su Jiaojiao's throat hurt, and speaking was a struggle. Each word felt like torture, but she still managed to whisper hoarsely, "Sister, don't be angry. The goal... it’s been achieved."

She gave a weak smile and added slowly, "You’ve got me."

Consort Shu felt a surge of anger at Su Jiaojiao's stubbornness, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't vent her frustration on someone who was sick. Taking a deep breath, she said coldly, "Yes, I'm here, but what about when I'm not? How will you survive?"

"Even if the plan is important, you need your health to see it through."

The sound of their conversation startled Ling Xiao, who suddenly looked up and exclaimed with joy, "My lady, you're awake!"

She hurriedly stood up and said, "The medicine from Imperial Physician Lin is still simmering. I'll go fetch it now."

Consort Shu nodded, then turned back with a frown, saying, "You see, there are many in the palace who care about you. When you fell ill, both Ling Xiao and I couldn't eat or sleep well."

Su Jiaojiao smiled gently, "I understand, I’ll be more careful."

Consort Shu was completely at a loss with her, and said stiffly, "You’d better not."

While waiting for Ling Xiao to bring the medicine, Consort Shu whispered, "Did you hear anything when you passed out in front of the Buddha hall earlier?"

Su Jiaojiao was slightly startled and hoarsely replied, "All I know is that Noble Consort Wang and Noble Consort Mi were arguing."

Consort Shu nodded, her face grave, "Yes, by the time I got there, they were already leaving. Originally, I only heard from the monk that there was a dispute, but I didn't expect that by dinner time, Noble Consort Wang was kneeling in front of the Taiji Hall, asking the Emperor to uphold justice for her, saying—"

"She claimed the eldest prince was gravely ill, but Noble Consort Mi was blocking her from seeking the monk’s help, calling her wicked and unfit to manage the palace."

The eldest prince had not been out since his illness, and even if he hadn't fully recovered, it had only been two days. How could it be serious enough to need the monk’s intervention? Moreover, performing rituals for the living harms one's fortune. Noble Consort Wang, who adores the eldest prince, how could she be so misguided?

Su Jiaojiao pondered for a moment, then calmly looked at Consort Shu and said, "I suspect—the eldest prince’s illness is just an excuse, and the real goal is to grab power."

In this palace, Su Jiaojiao isn’t the only clever one. She could calculate Noble Consort Mi's return to the Buddha hall, and it's not surprising that Noble Consort Wang could too.

Using the eldest prince’s illness to vie for the monk’s favor against Noble Consort Mi, and then riling her up—if she slips up, Noble Consort Wang can use the imperial heir as leverage to stir trouble with the Emperor.

When it comes to the imperial heir, Su Jiaojiao isn’t sure how the Emperor will handle this.

Consort Shu said with concern, "Ever since we returned from the summer retreat, the palace has been in constant turmoil, with things changing by the minute. If you don't recover quickly, we can only be passive."

Su Jiaojiao gently patted her hand and softly said, "Take your time."

The situation is chaotic now, like the calm before a storm. Being in it, no one knows where the rain will start first.

Before the chaos erupts, she needs to recover quickly.

The next day, Su Jiaojiao, feeling a bit better, was escorted back to Pixiang Hall by Consort Shu. As soon as she stepped in, everyone in the courtyard rushed to greet her.

Yu Ying, with tears in her eyes, said, "It’s so good to have you back. When Ling Xiao brought the news yesterday, I was terrified, worried something had happened to you. Now that your fever’s gone, I’m relieved."

She wiped her tears and said, "Quick, help the mistress inside. Imperial Physician Lin is already in the hall, ready to check her pulse!"

Su Jiaojiao was helped to her bed, the blanket tightly tucked around her, and then the physician was called in to take her pulse.

After carefully examining her pulse, Imperial Physician Lin bowed and said, "My lady, your cold hadn’t fully healed, and yesterday’s prolonged exposure to the cold wind made it worse. That’s why you spiked a fever last night. For the next few days, you must not catch cold again. I will slightly adjust the prescription, and after drinking it for a few days, you should be mostly recovered."

Everyone in the inner room breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Ying then advised her, "My lady, as the saying goes, illness comes like a mountain falling, but goes like drawing silk. You’re still very ill, so you mustn’t go out again. Since you’ve already taken leave from the Empress, just focus on resting and recovering."

Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly and softly said, "Alright."

Then, as if remembering something, she coughed twice and asked, "Did Noble Consort Wang go to the Taiji Hall today?"

Yu Ying whispered by the bedside, "This morning, she skipped paying respects to the Empress altogether. As soon as the Emperor finished his court session, she went to kneel in the Taiji Hall, quite relentless."

Su Jiaojiao said indifferently, "The eldest prince was just saved by me from the water, and the Emperor is soft-hearted towards her now. Using the eldest prince's discomfort to accuse Noble Consort Mi, and subtly trying to seize her power, this move is indeed sinister."

"If the Emperor really strips Noble Consort Mi of her power, it will definitely dishearten the Yin family. But if he lets it go, it will also dishearten the Wang family and the eldest prince. If you were the Emperor, what would you do?"

Yu Ying lowered her head, "I dare not."

Su Jiaojiao gave a faint smile, "Even I can't predict what His Majesty will do."

Matters of power are entirely different from vying for favor. The influence of the Yin and Wang families is not to be underestimated. How will His Majesty make his choice?

Will he strip both of their powers, or will he delegate authority to them?

As lunchtime approached, Ling Xiao returned with news: "Mistress, I heard that after the court session, His Majesty visited the Crown Prince and Noble Consort Wang at the Jade Hall Palace. He also summoned several physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau to re-examine the Crown Prince and bestowed numerous gifts."

Su Jiaojiao sat up slightly and asked, "Has he granted Noble Consort Wang the authority to oversee the six palaces?"

Ling Xiao shook her head, "Not yet."

Su Jiaojiao nodded thoughtfully, her brow furrowed in silence.

She had heard rumors that His Majesty intended to promote the civil service examination for commoners, but there had been no progress. Su Jiaojiao didn't understand court politics and hadn't paid much attention to these matters before. But now, she realized that the affairs of the court and the harem were always intertwined.

If she were His Majesty, she would naturally desire the supremacy of imperial power and would not want to see powerful families dominating.

In the harem, the daughters of the four major families were all represented. Now it seemed that His Majesty had not entirely neglected any of them.

Among them, the Yin and Wang families were the most prominent. Especially Noble Consort Mi of the Yin family, whose grandfather was the Left Minister, equivalent to a prime minister, truly second only to the emperor. The Wang family's fief was in Suzhou, and they were all formidable military generals, holding significant military power.

As a result, Noble Consort Wang and Noble Consort Mi were among the four consorts, mutually restraining each other.

Noble Consort Wang gave birth to the Crown Prince, and over the past three years, His Majesty had favored Noble Consort Mi, elevating her to the position of one of the four consorts.

Su Jiaojiao suddenly realized. It seemed that His Majesty, who appeared to act on a whim and not interfere in harem affairs, was actually carefully weighing every move and had everything under control.

She couldn't help but wonder, what role did she play in His Majesty's heart within this deep palace?

She had originally believed that His Majesty's favor towards her was the result of her own careful efforts. But now, she wondered what position her father, Su Chang, held in the court.

Was His Majesty's favor towards her due to Su Chang's influence in the court, or because His Majesty genuinely liked her?

Perhaps relying on Su Chang would make Su Jiaojiao's favor more stable, but she privately hoped that His Majesty's favor was for herself, not because of her family's influence.

The Su family had never been her backbone.

Su Jiaojiao leaned against the head of the bed, her appearance increasingly fragile and pale due to her lingering cold. She was so thin that she seemed as if she could break at any moment, with snow-white skin and jet-black hair, breathtakingly beautiful.

As Yu Ying brought in a bowl of clear porridge and some side dishes, a voice announced from outside, "His Majesty is arriving!"

Su Jiaojiao was surprised but remained in bed, not getting up to greet him. She simply closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, as if she was not sleeping peacefully.

The wind picked up outside, and as Ling Yun opened the door to welcome the imperial carriage, a gust of cold air rushed in. Su Jiaojiao on the bed seemed to sense it and coughed lightly twice.

Shen Huai gestured for her to close the door and walked in alone.

Seeing Su Jiaojiao sleeping peacefully in her illness, the irritation and displeasure in his heart seemed to dissipate somewhat.

He stood still for a moment, then walked towards the bed. But as soon as he took two steps, Su Jiaojiao slowly opened her eyes.

She was fragile in her illness, her lips very pale.

The light from the wooden window fell on her, adding a touch of flawless purity. She bit her lip, tears in her eyes, and whispered, "Your Majesty, please don't come closer. I'm afraid I might pass my illness to you."

Shen Huai did not stop, saying calmly, "I am the Son of Heaven. How could I be afraid of a mere cold?"

He strode forward and helped Su Jiaojiao lie down properly, saying, "You're not fully recovered yet. Why did you go to the Buddha hall in the cold wind yesterday?"

Su Jiaojiao quietly sought the Emperor's hand and carefully hid her slightly cold hand in his, whispering softly, "Jiaojiao wanted the monk Kongjing to stamp the Buddhist scriptures he copied for me and then chant sutras for blessings."

"The Mantra of Rebirth, done for Noble Consort Mi," Shen Huai added calmly when he saw she didn't finish, "Why not tell the whole story when you've done a good deed, and have me say it for you?"

"Others would have told me early to claim credit for what they've done, but you and your father are the same, never—"

He paused, tightening his grip on her hand, and said, "You and your father are truly cut from the same cloth."

Su Jiaojiao's expression remained unchanged, only her eyes curved as she whispered, "As long as Your Majesty is at ease, Jiaojiao is content."

Shen Huai's heart stirred slightly, and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. After a moment, he asked calmly, "Have you heard about Noble Consort Wang's accusation against Noble Consort Mi in the Taiji Hall these past two days?"

Su Jiaojiao knew she couldn't hide it from the Emperor, nor did she need to, and said, "Noble Consort Wang made a grand scene in the Taiji Hall; it was hard not to know."

Thinking of Noble Consort Wang, Shen Huai's gaze turned slightly cold, but his voice remained calm, "If it were up to you, what would you do?"