When the sky brightened, Cheng Jiao-niang withdrew the gold needles from Cheng Si-lang’s hand.
“Fourth Young Master, your medicinal tea,” Ban Qin said as she brought over a steaming cup.
Cheng Si-lang took it with his other hand and drank it in one gulp.
“Brother, you should go now,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Cheng Si-lang hesitated slightly.
“Sister, must I really take leave?” he asked.
“Yes. From now on, you only need to take the decoction. No more acupuncture is required, so you may return to Jiang-zhou,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Cheng Si-lang gave an “oh” and rubbed his knees.
“What if I stayed in the capital instead?” he said. “I can’t bear to leave you here alone.”
Before Cheng Jiao-niang could reply, Lady Huang entered from outside, holding a child in her arms.
“Don’t worry, Fourth Young Master, we are all here with her,” she said with a smile, giving him a meaningful look. “Just listen to our sister.”
Cheng Si-lang then smiled.
Yes – there wasn’t much he could do to help her anyway. So why not follow her wishes and make her happy?
“Alright,” Cheng Si-lang said, rising to his feet. “I’ll go to the official bureau to request leave now.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and stood up, watching him leave.
“Is someone accompanying him?” she asked.
“Yes, four attendants are with him,” the maid replied cheerfully from the corridor as she walked closer. “Miss, it’s time for your archery practice.”
Qin Hu was stopped just outside the official bureau.
“My friendship with Young Master Gao isn’t quite at the stage where farewells are necessary, is it?” he said with a light smile.
Young Master Gao laughed heartily.
“I didn’t come here specifically for you. I was just handing over some official duties – I’m about to leave, after all,” he explained.
Qin Hu smiled faintly, cupped his hands in a polite gesture, and made to step inside. But Young Master Gao quickly caught hold of him again.
“But since I’ve run into you, there really is something I’d like to ask of you,” he said.
Qin Hu shook off his hand.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I imagine there aren’t many people in the capital who can invite Lady Cheng out for a cup of tea,” Young Master Gao replied with a smile.
Before his words even fully landed, Qin Hu grabbed his arm and twisted it back.
“Try laying a finger on her,” he said in a low voice.
Young Master Gao quickly patted his arm in reassurance.
“I’m neither stupid nor crazy – how could I do something like that?” he whispered back. “Listen. Go invite her out this very afternoon. Just spend a quiet, relaxed half day drinking tea with her at Desheng Pavilion.”
Hearing this, Qin Hu’s expression changed. He stared at Young Master Gao with something close to disbelief.
Young Master Gao grinned at him and shook off his grip.
“No need to thank me. Enjoy your pleasant outing with the beauty,” he said, then turned and strode away.
Qin Hu stood facing the direction he had left, watching as Young Master Gao mounted his horse. Young Master Gao raised a hand toward him once more, flashed a broad smile, and urged his horse into a clip-clopping trot as he rode off.
Qin Hu’s expression darkened. He glanced toward the official bureau, then let his gaze shift toward the imperial palace.
If you cut the weeds, you must pull out the roots…
All of this happened because of him – how much trouble has he brought upon her…
Be decisive when the moment calls for it. Cut the weeds and pull out the roots.
…
Inside the imperial palace, the Empress Dowager gestured with her hand. The attendant before her promptly moved away the small table piled high with memorials.
“Your Majesty, you have worked hard,” said Duke Jin’an.
The Empress Dowager looked at him and sighed.
“Have you seen His Majesty?” she asked.
Duke Jin’an’s expression turned somber. He nodded, his eyes reddening as he bowed deeply.
“Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty,” he said, voice choked with emotion.
Tears immediately welled up in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
Attendants on the side hurried over to console them both.
“Your Highness, please don’t make Her Majesty cry any further. Her tears have hardly stopped – the imperial doctors say if this continues, she may lose her sight,” the attendant said tearfully.
Duke Jin’an abruptly rose to his feet, an expression of utter disbelief on his face, and moved forward on his knees.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don’t cry, please don’t cry anymore,” he called out, using his sleeve to fiercely wipe away his own tears. “Look, I am no longer crying, your child has stopped crying.”
The Empress Dowager held his hand and nodded.
“Your Majesty, let none of us weep any longer. Your Majesty must take care of yourself – His Majesty and us cannot do without you,” Duke Jin’an said, his voice choked but determined as he held back tears.
The Empress Dowager nodded once more.
After a moment spent wiping their tears, palace maids brought towels to freshen their faces and served fresh hot tea.
“It’s been quite some time since you last came,” the Empress Dowager said.
Duke Jin’an lowered his gaze slightly and bowed his head in deference.
“Your Majesty, this subject must observe the proprieties,” he replied.
“Don’t use ‘subject’ this and ‘subject’ that with me – what kind of subject are you to me?” the Empress Dowager said with irritation, gesturing toward the memorials piled on the nearby table. “Are you talking about avoiding attention because of those absurd, fault-finding memorials? What does it matter to them whether my children stay or leave?”
Duke Jin’an looked back at her, his expression caught between a bitter smile and deep emotion.
“Your Majesty, I understand your kindness. But from now on, please… you truly must not speak this way again,” he said softly. “I deserve to be impeached.”
The Empress Dowager looked at him, and tears threatened to well up again.
“My child, you are so good – why can’t any of them see that?” she said.
Duke Jin’an quickly bowed his head in respect.
“Your Majesty, please don’t cry anymore. Your child is doing just fine. As long as you are here, I am afraid of nothing,” he said.
The Empress Dowager held back her tears and nodded, then turned and gave an order.
“Summon Prince Qing,” she said.
Duke Jin’an could not conceal his joy at once – his eyes followed the attendant as he left, and he shifted restlessly in his seat.
It had been so very, very long since he last saw Prince Qing…
“In truth, it’s only been a few days,” the Empress Dowager said, unable to hold back a smile at his expression.
Duke Jin’an grinned back at her.
“Ever since that campaign, this has been the longest we’ve been apart,” he replied, still looking eagerly toward the door as he spoke.
The Empress Dowager shook her head with a soft laugh.
“The two of you really are so close,” she remarked, her eyes glistening with tears that held a flicker of hesitation and reluctance.
“Your Majesty, please don’t start crying again,” a nearby attendant gently reminded with a light cough, offering a towel.
Hearing this, Duke Jin’an also turned back.
“Please don’t cry, Your Majesty,” he said hastily, watching as the Empress Dowager took the towel and gently pressed it to her eyes before finally relaxing.
From the direction of the doorway came Prince Qing’s gurgling exclamations. Duke Jin’an leaped up from the floor in an instant.
“Oh, you startled me!” the Empress Dowager exclaimed with a laugh, watching as Duke Jin’an rushed to the door and caught the entering Prince Qing in a firm embrace.
“Liu Ge’er, Liu Ge’er,” Duke Jin’an called out repeatedly, grinning as he held Prince Qing by the shoulders, looking him over from side to side, up and down. “Did you miss me?”
Prince Qing hated being restrained above all else, and being suddenly seized like this immediately made him irritable. He struggled to break free, grumbling loudly.
But Duke Jin’an paid no mind. He continued to soothe him while studying his face.
“Did you miss me? I brought you some delicious treats.”
As Duke Jin’an went on with his affectionate, almost comical chatter, the attendants nearby exchanged glances and privately curled their lips.
Miss him? He doesn’t even know who’s who!
Once everyone was seated again inside the hall, Duke Jin’an bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager.
“Caring for Prince Qing has surely been a strain on Your Majesty,” he said.
“What kind of talk is that? It is my duty to care for him. On the contrary, it is you who have been burdened with him for so long,” the Empress Dowager replied, shaking her head before instructing that a meal be served.
Hearing this, Duke Jin’an hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help glancing toward Prince Qing.
“Your Majesty, I dare not stay for the meal. I have already been here for quite some time,” he said with another bow.
The Empress Dowager’s face instantly darkened.
“Can you not even stay for a single meal?” she demanded, her eyebrows raised sharply. She slapped the table and pointed toward the side. “Burn every one of those memorials at once!”
“Your Majesty!” Duke Jin’an hastily urged, “you must not do that.”
The Empress Dowager looked at him, tears threatening again.
“…Still, your caution is warranted. These ministers are sharp-tongued and quick with their words. Go ahead and leave,” she said, then beckoned to Prince Qing. “Come, bid your brother farewell.”
Prince Qing had no idea how to do any such thing. Instead, he grabbed a teacup from the table and tried to put it in his mouth.
Duke Jin’an quickly reached out and took it from him.
“Prince Qing is hungry,” he said softly, his gaze resting on the boy with tender reluctance, unable to look away. Finally, he clenched his teeth. “Have the meal served. It has been a long time since I last tasted the dishes from Your Majesty’s table.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly, and her hands, resting before her, clenched slightly. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but the attendant beside her spoke first.
“Have the meal served,” the attendant called out, then turned toward Duke Jin’an with a gentle smile.
“Knowing Your Highness was coming, Her Majesty ordered all the dishes you loved as a child.”
Duke Jin’an promptly smiled and bowed in acknowledgment.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your thoughtful care,” he said.
The Empress Dowager looked at him with a touch of emotion.
“You have been a sensible child since you were young – never picky, always eating whatever was served. It has never been a trouble for me,” she replied.
Living under another’s roof, one must be obedient and eat what is served – how could one pick and choose and risk causing displeasure?
Duke Jin’an lowered his gaze slightly, then lifted his head and nodded toward the Empress Dowager with a soft smile.
The midday meal did not last long. The Empress Dowager’s mood remained somber, and she ate only a few bites before setting down her chopsticks. Prince Qing ate while playing; once he was no longer very hungry, he stopped immediately, squirming in his seat and clamoring to leave.
Duke Jin’an coaxed Prince Qing into finishing one more bowl of rice, but after that, the boy could sit still no longer – waving his arms, kicking his feet, and shouting loudly.
“Alright, alright, let him go,” the Empress Dowager said.
Duke Jin’an set down his bowl and chopsticks, his eyes lingering on Prince Qing with reluctant fondness. He reached out to wipe the corner of the boy’s mouth.
But Prince Qing, long since impatient, pushed his hand away and dashed out of the hall with muffled, excited sounds.
The attendants swiftly streamed out after him.
Duke Jin’an stood up and unconsciously followed a few steps before stopping himself.
“It’s alright. Come more often from now on,” the Empress Dowager said. “No matter what outsiders say, we are family. We understand each other’s hearts – we need not fear their words.”
Duke Jin’an turned back toward her and nodded.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am not afraid,” he replied.
An attendant nearby stepped forward, offering tea.
“Your Highness, please have some tea,” he said, bowing his head respectfully.
Duke Jin’an looked at the tea presented to him, took it, and drank it down in one go.
“Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now.”
The Empress Dowager rose to her feet, her expression full of sorrow. She watched as Duke Jin’an bowed, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Wei-lang,” she called out, her voice trembling.
It was the first time since he had arrived that she used this name. Duke Jin’an could not help but lift his head to look at her.
“Wei-lang…” the Empress Dowager said again, holding his gaze.
“Your Majesty, please don’t cry. I will come to see you again,” Duke Jin’an replied, then bowed once more.
As she watched Duke Jin’an step back slowly and withdraw, the Empress Dowager could no longer hold herself still. She rose and moved forward, leaning on her palace maid as she followed him out.
“Wei-lang,” she called once more, her voice shaking.
“Your Majesty, the sun outside is harsh. Please don’t go out,” an attendant urged, stopping just inside the hall entrance.
Duke Jin’an, who had already stepped outside the hall, turned back with a smile.
“Your Majesty, please don’t come out. You should rest now,” he said, bowing once more. “I take my leave.”
With that, he strode away.
As she watched the young figure recede into the distance, the Empress Dowager could no longer hold back her tears – they streamed forth like a spring.
“My child… my heart aches so terribly…” she murmured, pressing a hand to her chest. Her strength seemed to give way, and she went limp, swaying as though she might fall.
Attendants and palace maids rushed forward in a flurry, catching and supporting her.
Inside the residence of Prince Qing, attendants and several advisors had been waiting impatiently. When they saw Duke Jin’an enter the compound, they hurriedly gathered around him.
“Your Highness, why were you gone so long?” one advisor asked, his expression anxious and urgent.
“Her Majesty insisted I stay for the meal,” Duke Jin’an replied.
The advisors’ expressions shifted dramatically.
“Your Highness, didn’t we say you absolutely must not dine in the palace?” one said, stomping his foot in distress. “Quickly – summon Doctor Li!”
“Indeed, these are extraordinary times. We truly cannot afford to be careless,” another added.
Duke Jin’an merely stared ahead woodenly without speaking. Suddenly, he halted his steps, his expression changing.
“Your Highness?” the others exclaimed, startled, and stopped to watch him.
Slowly, Duke Jin’an raised his hand and looked at his sleeve.
“I spat half a cup of tea into my sleeve,” he said slowly, his voice slightly hoarse. “I spat half a cup of tea into my sleeve.”
What does that mean?
For a moment, everyone looked bewildered. Their eyes fell on Duke Jin’an’s sleeve – the right sleeve was indeed soaked through and damp.
“I spat half a cup of tea into my sleeve!” Duke Jin’an suddenly raised his voice, still repeating the same words. He lifted his head toward the sky and cried out hoarsely, tears welling in his eyes. “Your Majesty… I only spat half a cup of tea into my sleeve!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and crumpled forward.
“Your Highness!”
“Send for Doctor Li – quickly!”
