Chapter 23: The Emperor Goes to Yonghe Palace

Chapter 23 The Emperor Goes to Yonghe Palace

"The Emperor has arrived."

The eunuch's announcement sent a jolt through everyone in Yonghe Palace. How long since the Emperor last visited? Normally, when the Emperor wished to see someone, he would summon them to Qianqing Palace. Occupied with state affairs, the Emperor rarely set foot in the Eastern and Western Six Palaces, only occasionally visiting the Empress's Kunning Palace.

Dong Shulan wasn’t vain enough to think the Emperor had come to see her. Only Wuya Shi had the Emperor’s favor in Yonghe Palace; the Emperor probably didn't even remember Attendant Li, Answering Attendant Sun, or Answering Attendant Fu Cha. Wuya Shi had recently broken out in rashes all over her body, and word must have reached the Emperor, prompting his visit to check on her.

Without time to redo her makeup or change, Dong Shulan hurried out with her servants to greet the Emperor, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, may you be well."

"No need for formalities. The weather is hot, Consort Duan. You’ve lost weight."

Dong Shulan, seeing the Emperor extend his hand, could hardly contain her excitement as she placed her hand in his. It had been so long since he had held her hand like this. The warmth from his palm spread to hers, and she replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, I haven’t had much appetite these past few days."

"Tell the kitchen to make your favorite dishes. Don’t starve yourself; your health is important. I heard Noble Lady De is ill and came to see her."

Dong Shulan noticed how quickly the Emperor brought up Wuya Shi, as if eager to go to the back courtyard to see her. Though inwardly displeased, she maintained a smile. "Yes, Imperial Physician Zhangjia examined Sister Wuya a few days ago. Let me escort Your Majesty to the back courtyard."

The group moved from the front courtyard to the back. Aside from Wuya Shi, everyone else had come out to greet the Emperor—a rare chance to be seen by him. Dong Shulan noticed that Attendant Li had applied powder, while Answering Attendant Sun, perhaps lacking time for makeup, wore an exquisite coral, jade, and gem butterfly hairpin. Answering Attendant Fu Cha had applied bright red lip color. These scheming women were clearly trying to catch the Emperor’s eye, preening and posing.

Dong Shulan shot them a dirty look, unable to resist glaring as they performed exaggerated bows to the Emperor. "His Majesty is here to see Noble Lady De. Move aside and clear the path. Your Majesty, Sister Wuya’s room is here. This way, please."

As she passed Attendant Li and the others, Dong Shulan deliberately bumped into them, then led the Emperor to Wuya Shi’s room.

The room carried a faint medicinal scent from days of drinking and applying ointments. Wuya Shi and several servants were inside, crouching in respect. Wuya Shi wore a veil covering half her face.

"Sister Wuya, are you feeling better?" Dong Shulan asked with concern.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I am much improved."

The Emperor looked at Wuya Shi. Even from a distance, he could smell the ointment on her. The exposed part of her forehead was slightly red. Were there no others present, he would have lifted her veil to see for himself. With others around, he only said gravely, "I heard you were ill, covered in rashes. I came to see how you are. Did the imperial physicians say what caused the rashes?"

Dong Shulan cut in, "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zhangjia said Sister Wuya has a heat illness. The weather has been extremely hot lately, and Sister Wuya suffered from the heat, sweating profusely. The rashes were caused by the heat."

This was the first time the Emperor had heard of a heat illness causing rashes. Others with heat illness only suffered from heatstroke and dizziness—why was she covered in rashes? He looked questioningly at Wuya Shi, wanting to hear her explanation.

Wuya Shi’s small room was crowded. The Emperor’s rare visit to Yonghe Palace had drawn Consort Duan and others to follow him into her room. She said softly, "Yes, Consort Duan is correct. The physicians said it was due to the heat—my body wasn’t accustomed to it. Your Majesty, as soon as the physicians identified the cause, Consort Duan shared her allotment of ice with me. Attendant Li, Answering Attendant Sun, and Answering Attendant Fu Cha also gave me their ice allotments. With the ice in my room, I felt much better. I am really touched by their concern and worry for me these past few days. Fortunately, after Imperial Physician Zhangjia and Imperial Physician Chen identified the cause, I applied the ointment, and the rashes have gone down a lot."

Dong Shulan was pleased to hear Wuya Shi specifically thank them in front of the Emperor. She nodded slightly in satisfaction and smiled at Wuya Shi. She was sensible, after all—not in vain had she shared her ice with her.

The Emperor praised Consort Duan and the others, following Wuya Shi’s words, saying they had done well and that the rear palace was harmonious because of their kindness and consideration.

Dong Shulan was not completely clueless. Sensing that the Emperor might want to be alone with Wuya Shi, and having achieved her goal of being seen by the Emperor, she saw no need to stay in the room and risk displeasing him. "Your Majesty, Sister Wuya has indeed suffered these past few days. Perhaps you could comfort her. I and the other sisters will leave now."

Dong Shulan led Attendant Li and the others out.

Wuya Shi, seeing this, signaled Pan Liu and the others to leave as well. Liang Jiugong, understanding the situation, immediately followed. With all the servants gone, only she and the Emperor remained in the room.

Wuya Shi threw herself into the Emperor’s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, I’ve been so miserable."

As soon as everyone left, Wuya Shi shed her earlier restraint, becoming her bold self again, switching from referring to herself as "this servant" to "I." He wrapped an arm around her waist and asked her to remove the veil so he could see.

Wuya Shi took off the veil, pushed up her sleeves, and undid three buttons, revealing her neck. "Your Majesty, look. The rashes haven’t completely faded yet."

The Emperor carefully examined her exposed skin. She was naturally fair-skinned and thin-skinned, and now her face, neck, and the skin below were noticeably flushed. There were several red scratches where she had likely tried to relieve the itching. She looked truly pitiful.

"Get on the bed and take off your clothes. Let me see."

Wuya Shi complied, removing her outer garments until only a pink underbodice tied around her neck and her underpants remained. She sat cross-legged on the bed, lifting her head. "Your Majesty, it was unbearable a few days ago. Everything itched, and Pan Liu and the others wouldn’t let me scratch, afraid I’d scar."

The Emperor found Wuya Shi both pitiable and adorable at this moment. In broad daylight, she was unembarrassed to undress. Her usually pale skin was now an abnormal, sickly red, like a thoroughly cooked crab. She looked at him so openly that he couldn’t help but lick his dry lips, his eyes darkening. He touched the rash-covered areas on her body and asked if it hurt.

"It doesn’t hurt, just itches. Your Majesty, please don’t touch. The more you touch, the more it itches. Your Majesty, I have rashes on my face too. You must think I’m not pretty anymore."

The Emperor said impatiently, "In this state, and you’re still worried about looks? I won’t find you ugly. Let me see where else there are rashes."

"You can look, but don’t touch, or I won’t be able to stop myself from scratching."

The Emperor nodded.