Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The two carried items into the house. But the northern room had limited space; soon, the cabinets were full, and tables and chairs were piled high. Gao Zhen stood at the doorway, holding a rolled-up quilt, and said, "Your Highness, shall I make the bed first? There are still many things outside that could be placed on it."

The Ninth Prince, who was meticulously arranging small items in the cabinet, paused upon hearing this. Instead, he took the quilt from Gao Zhen’s hands and said, "Together."

"Alright."

Gao Zhen immediately smiled, his eyes crinkling happily.

Outside, He Shurong stood rigidly, his gaze fixed intently on the open doorway of the north room. Almost fifteen minutes had passed since Gao Zhen’s figure disappeared inside. Although the door was open and nothing "untoward" was likely happening, he heard the creaking sound of the bed.

He Shurong couldn’t stop his imagination from running wild.

He was so consumed by jealousy that his eyes burned, resenting that he wasn’t the one alone with Gao Zhen in the room.

He had to close his eyes, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms as the pain once again reined in his nearly wavering sanity.

Then, he turned and left the small courtyard.

A fire of bitterness burned fiercely in his chest. He feared that if he didn’t leave, he might do something he would deeply regret. He Shurong couldn’t see himself, so he didn’t realize how frantic his retreat looked as he left the cold palace. It wasn’t until he had walked all the way back to the Imperial Hospital and someone called out to him at the entrance that he snapped out of his daze.

However, when he saw who had called him, his face instantly turned as pale as paper.

"Father."

He Shurong averted his eyes, lowering his head.

He Dong could tell something was wrong just by looking at him. He scrutinized his son from head to toe, his gaze finally settling on the paper in He Shurong’s hand. Frowning, he asked, "What is that?"

He Shurong trembled, his panic unmistakable. He knew he couldn’t keep this from his father, but this wasn’t the place to talk. Wordlessly, he handed the paper over.

He Dong frowned as he took it. After reading only a few lines, his expression suddenly shifted. But being experienced, he quickly composed himself and said to He Shurong, "Come with me."

He Dong led He Shurong into the Imperial Hospital’s storeroom. What they discussed remained unknown to others. However, that same day, He Dong requested an audience with the emperor under the pretext of preparing medicinal food for him. It was said that during the pulse reading, the emperor specifically dismissed all attendants, allowing He Dong to examine him for a full hour.

With every word He Dong spoke, the emperor’s eyes lit up with growing interest. Finally, the emperor asked, "Once this matter is accomplished, you will have performed a great service. Do you have any wishes?"

He Dong had been waiting for this question. He hurriedly replied, "My son was previously assigned to the imperial kitchens to prepare medicinal food for the cold palace. Not realizing the gravity of the situation, he accepted the task. I worry that he is too young and inexperienced for such responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to pardon him due to his youth and show him leniency."

So that was the issue.

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. He had assumed the prescription was a family treasure of the He family, and that He Dong had hurried to present it now because he sensed the shifting political winds after the Empress Dowager’s interference with the cold palace. He likely believed the emperor had the upper hand and seized the opportunity to offer the treasure while also rescuing his son. This was also a way to declare their allegiance—that he and his son served the emperor, and they should not be mistaken as working for the Empress Dowager just because his son was preparing conception-promoting medicinal meals for the cold palace.

But was it really his son in charge of the cold palace’s medicinal food?

After a moment’s thought, the emperor made a decision. Seeing an opportunity to do a favor, he said, "Your son is acting under my secret decree to prepare the medicine. What crime has he committed?"

He Dong was stunned, not understanding the emperor’s meaning.

Seeing his confusion, the emperor smiled and explained, "The medicinal food your son prepares has only nourishing effects, no other purposes. Naturally, he is not guilty."

Now He Dong understood. The emperor meant that as long as his son quietly changed the medicinal food recipes from now on, he would not be held accountable for past actions.

He Dong hurriedly expressed his gratitude, a heavy weight finally lifting from his heart.

Afterward, he took leave from the palace, gathered several herbs listed on the prescription, and went straight to the royal Taoist temple to seek Daoist Master Jinming.

He Shurong never expected his father to bring back a secret decree for him. With this imperial edict, he could openly stop preparing that grueling conception-inducing concoction. However, he wasn’t sure if the Empress Dowager would blame him once she found out. It seemed he couldn’t shirk his duties entirely; he had to maintain appearances while avoiding her attention.

But then again, that ugly prince had said yesterday that from now on, he would only eat vegetarian dishes, avoiding all meat and grease, which simplified the cooking process considerably.

The crisis was averted.

Yet He Shurong still felt uneasy because he didn’t know whether this outcome had been planned all along by that ugly prince or if it was merely a coincidence.

He didn’t want everything to unfold exactly as that ugly prince had anticipated. That would make him seem like a pawn, a puppet to be manipulated—too foolish and useless.

That ugly thing better not have such ability, He Shurong thought resentfully.

That day, no matter how much turmoil occurred outside, the cold palace remained as usual.

Gao Zhen and the Ninth Prince made the bed with new bedding and sheets, then brought down the seasonal clothing from the cart, arranging them neatly along the wall by the bed. There were still many bowls, jars, pots, and other daily items with no place to put them.

The Ninth Prince pointed to the west room. "Over there."

Gao Zhen nodded. "If I’d known there would be so many things, I should have asked them for a cabinet."

"If there’s a chance, we’ll ask later."

The Ninth Prince seemed distracted, replying absently.

Gao Zhen had already run out, heading straight for the cart.

The two of them worked for over an hour before finally moving all the items from the cart.

"Do you want to eat these dishes?" the Ninth Prince asked Gao Zhen, pointing at the food on the table.

Who’d eat something that makes you pregnant? He shook his head firmly. "No. Should we bury them?"

"Alright. Let’s bury them."

So together, they dug a pit behind the house, poured the food in, and buried it. After finishing this, Gao Zhen took out the silver needles and woke the dazed eunuch.

He patted the eunuch’s head, and the eunuch slowly opened his eyes, looking around dazedly. Suddenly spotting a beautiful person standing with his hands on his hips, smiling at him, he scrambled up in fright.

"Eunuch, we’ve finished the meal. Please take these away," Gao Zhen said cheerfully, pointing at the empty plates on the table.

The eunuch then remembered he was in the cold palace and recalled eating something there earlier that day, which made him vomit violently. His stomach still ached, and he felt it was bad luck. When he realized that all the people who had come with him had left, even the imperial physician was gone, he felt a shiver down his spine.

Hearing Gao Zhen’s call, he hurried over, gathered the dishes, tossed them onto the cart, and quickly pulled it away.

"Ran away pretty fast," Gao Zhen muttered, peering out the doorway with half his head before closing the door.

Probably no one else would come today, right? As he pondered, he bolted the door. Turning around, he saw the Ninth Prince approaching, carrying a large bundle on his back, holding three small bundles and an empty basket.

"Going to see Consort Ning?" Gao Zhen swiftly opened the door again.

The Ninth Prince smiled and asked, "Want to come along?"

Last time, he had disliked him for following; this time, he was inviting him? Gao Zhen grumbled inwardly but ultimately didn’t want to be separated from him, so he nodded and followed. He took the three small bundles from His Highness and squeezed them; they felt soft, probably clothes.

The Ninth Prince noticed his action and said, "There are two sets of spare clothes each."

"Oh."

Why pack Consort Ning’s clothes separately? Gao Zhen was still pondering when he saw a figure at the crossroads up ahead, holding a pillow and staring right at them.

The Ninth Prince took one of the small bundles from Gao Zhen’s hands and handed it to the person. "Here, wear these. Don’t go tearing them up."

Imperial Concubine Hong took the bundle in a daze, her blank stare finally stirred with a ripple of emotion. She began to cry, her voice hoarse as she murmured, "Anything else? Any food?"

Gao Zhen, this was his first time seeing her like this, immediately stopped and asked, "Are you hungry?"

Imperial Concubine Hong nodded frantically.

Gao Zhen felt a tightness in his chest, as if something were gripping it. He wanted to give her something to eat. So, he looked up at the Ninth Prince and saw an indulgent smile on his face.

The Ninth Prince said to him, "Go ahead."

So, Gao Zhen ran off.

He sprinted back to the small courtyard in one breath, pulled open the cabinet door in the north room, picked up a large box of pastries from the neatly arranged items, and hurried back.

Gao Zhen was sweating profusely from running. The Ninth Prince wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and Gao Zhen asked breathlessly, "Can I give her the whole box of pastries?"

"Split it three ways," the Ninth Prince suggested.

There was still Beauty Feng and Qin Lelang.

Gao Zhen quickly nodded, "Okay."

The Ninth Prince held the box of pastries for him while Gao Zhen removed the lid, turned it over to use as a plate, and placed a third of the pastries inside before handing it to Imperial Concubine Hong.

Imperial Concubine Hong’s hands shook as she accepted it, as if she couldn’t believe it.

Gao Zhen noticed that her hands were reduced to skin and bones, her skin dry and cracked, like withered branches fallen into the mud in winter. Gao Zhen still remembered the first time he saw Imperial Concubine Hong—he had thought she was a lifeless statue. It seemed that whether people or objects, when torn from their original environment, they inevitably become discarded; no one spares a second glance or any concern for whether they are still alive.

A sudden, inexplicable ache tightened in Gao Zhen’s chest again.

He looked at Imperial Concubine Hong, raised his hand as if to pat her head, but withdrew it and simply said, "This is for you to eat. No more crying."

After murmuring comfort, he immediately grabbed the Ninth Prince and ran off.

Only Imperial Concubine Hong remained, holding the pastries, standing in place as she quickly wiped away her tears.

Gao Zhen averted his gaze, was silent for two breaths, and said to the Ninth Prince, "Imperial Concubine Hong suffered severe damage to her heart meridians after losing her child—the shock was too great. This type of condition can be treated."

"Mm."

The Ninth Prince responded indifferently, then after a moment, asked, "A Zhen wishes to treat her?"

"Can I?"

Gao Zhen looked up, his expectant gaze fixed on the Ninth Prince’s face, and added, "I have silver needles now. I can do many things."

The Ninth Prince’s expression remained neutral, but his eyes, fixed on Gao Zhen, were filled with a benevolent look, as if saying, "If you wish, anything is possible."

"Really?" Gao Zhen clapped his hands happily, walking backwards with an exceptionally bright smile on his face. At that moment, his eyes seemed to hold an indescribable affection as he looked at the Ninth Prince. He said, "Thank you, Your Highness. Meeting you has been such a blessing!"

Zhou Yunning was stunned, then lowered his eyelashes. It seemed no one had ever said such words to him before. In his memory, even his mother had never said that giving birth to him was a good thing, because his face had been disfigured from birth...

"Your Highness!" Gao Zhen grabbed Zhou Yunning’s hand and pointed ahead. "Beauty Feng’s courtyard is just up ahead. Let’s pick up the pace."