“Your Majesty!”
Consort An’s voice echoed through the Emperor’s bedchamber.
The Empress had just finished feeding the Emperor a bowl of tea broth. Taking the handkerchief offered by a palace maid, she was carefully wiping his face.
“Your Majesty, stop wiping,” Consort An said urgently, moving around the couch to grasp the Empress’s sleeve. “Duke Jin’an is in trouble.”
“What happened?” asked the Empress.
“The Duke’s residence reported that he has been poisoned,” Consort An said, her face pale. “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager wept immediately, saying that His Highness must have been driven to despair, and that she should never have spoken those words to him yesterday.”
The Empress looked stunned.
“I truly never imagined that old woman could be so heartless,” she murmured.
“Your Majesty, was it truly the Empress Dowager?” Consort An asked, her voice trembling.
“Besides her, who else could harm that child now?” the Empress replied, a faint, mocking smile appearing on her lips. “Most of those who can harm us are the ones closest to us.”
“And His Highness…” Consort An pressed.
“If the incident happened yesterday and they are only reporting it now, it surely means his life is not in danger,” the Empress said, letting out a soft sigh as she sat down on the couch.
“But if this happens, the imperial clan will likely be too afraid, and no one will dare support Your Majesty’s proposal for an adoption,” Consort An said timidly.
The Empress let out a short, dry laugh.
“That’s not necessarily true. The world is never short of those unafraid of death – it all depends on whether the benefits are tempting enough,” she remarked. “With Duke Jin’an gone, wouldn’t everyone have a better chance?”
“Nothing is certain until the very end.”
In Prince Qing’s residence, the room felt dim with the curtains drawn.
“The Empress Dowager…”
The weak voice of Duke Jin’an came from the couch.
“She said that?”
The eunuch bowed his head in confirmation.
“Before any of us servants could speak, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager had already offered that conclusion,” he said, keeping his eyes lowered.
Indeed – what else could it be? Investigate the poisoner?
Lying deep in the shadows of the couch, shielded from light and wind due to his frail state, Duke Jin’an seemed to let out a faint, almost inaudible laugh.
“Since Her Majesty wishes me to play the part of Prince Yanyi,” he said quietly, “then I shall fulfill her wish and follow her lead.”
…
“He didn’t die?”
With the gates of Prince Qing’s residence reopened, news finally began to spread.
Gao Lingjun was among the first to learn the outcome, and he slammed the table in frustration.
“Once again, it turned out like this!”
“If we had known, we shouldn’t have focused on that Lady Cheng – we should have eliminated Li Sishen instead,” one of his advisors said with a frown. “Who would have thought that as we increased the dosage, Li Sishen’s medical skills improved accordingly?”
“What’s the use of saying that now?” Gao Lingjun retorted.
“But sir, although Duke Jin’an didn’t die, he’s practically no different from dead,” an attendant quickly added. “Half his life is gone, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll ever be able to get out of bed again.”
“Is that true?” Gao Lingjun asked, frowning.
“Yes, I followed the people sent by the Empress Dowager to see for myself,” the attendant replied. “He truly was…”
As he spoke, the image of that frail young man lying on the couch with almost no life left in him reappeared in his mind.
“So, they’re both broken men now – no one can laugh at Prince Qing anymore,” Gao Lingjun remarked. “Even if he survives this time, if he dares to make another move, we can kill him once, and we can kill him again.”
Everyone in the room murmured in agreement.
“Now, we should discuss the matter of Prince Qing,” Gao Lingjun said, preparing to leave but then pausing as he remembered something. “Also, keep a close watch on those imperial clansmen. See which one still dares to dream of becoming the next Prince Yanyi.”
…
After the Empress Dowager’s envoys departed, Prince Qing’s residence declined all further visits and inquiries, and the inner chambers finally returned to silence.
“…Doctor Li, please go and rest for a while.”
“How is His Highness?”
“He has taken the pill and has just fallen asleep…”
Doctor Li carefully lifted the bed curtain, then gently pulled back the blanket and took out Duke Jin’an’s hand. As he turned it over to check the pulse, he noticed the Duke’s hand was clenched tightly.
What is this?
He paused, moving his hand away from the wrist and instead trying to see what was being held.
Duke Jin’an’s hand shifted slightly and withdrew.
Startled, Doctor Li looked up and saw the Duke’s eyes open on the couch.
“I disturbed Your Highness,” he said hastily, though not without a touch of relief.
“You’ve saved me yet again,” Duke Jin’an said softly.
“It is Your Highness’ own fortune and the heavens watching over you,” Doctor Li replied, his voice trembling slightly. He reached out once more. “Now, please allow me to check your pulse.”
Duke Jin’an slowly extended his hand and uncurled his fingers.
Doctor Li stared for a moment at the piece of bark lying in his palm.
Oh… this…
“No… we must wait… we have to wait for her…”
The image of that hand gripping the doorframe desperately flashed once more before his eyes.
Doctor Li lowered his gaze and reached out to take the Duke’s pulse.
“Your Highness was in such critical condition yesterday, then the medicine was stopped this morning, and the acupuncture was applied once to seal the meridians… Can he really endure all this?” a eunuch nearby asked anxiously.
“He must endure, even if it is unbearable,” the advisor said. “Otherwise, there will be even greater suffering he cannot bear.”
Doctor Li withdrew his hand and stood up.
The two men stopped talking and immediately turned their attention to him.
“Perhaps… we should ask Lady Cheng to come and take a look,” Doctor Li said.
The advisor and the eunuch both paled visibly.
“Could it be…” the eunuch couldn’t help but exclaim.
“No, no, it’s nothing like that,” Doctor Li quickly waved his hand. “It’s just to be more certain.”
Hearing this, the two men let out a sigh of relief.
“If she were truly reliable, Doctor Li, you wouldn’t have exhausted yourself staying up all night,” the advisor said with a hint of disdain. “Even without her, His Highness can still be treated. Don’t underestimate yourself.”
The eunuch coughed softly.
“Let His Highness rest now,” he said, bowing toward Duke Jin’an.
Hidden within the depths of the couch, the Duke’s expression remained unclear.
The bed curtains were drawn shut once more.
“…Don’t keep bringing her up, again and again…”
“…But her medical skills are truly remarkable…”
“…So what if they are? No matter how skilled she is, she’s not on our side! She’s already said she won’t treat His Highness anymore – why beg and cling to her shamelessly? Even without her, His Highness can still be cured.”
The hushed argument from the outer room filtered through the curtain.
Duke Jin’an slowly closed his fingers again, feeling the rough bark press into his palm.
Did she say… she wouldn’t treat him?
“…Master Gu, that’s not entirely right. If it weren’t for her, His Highness truly might not have been cured.”
The Duke’s hand clenched once more. He tried to lift his head, straining to hear more clearly.
She…
“…This acupuncture technique – I actually learned it from her. Back when Old Master Chen was critically ill, I watched her perform it and learned it then.”
“…But you were the one who learned it. It’s your skill now. If we had relied on her, His Highness would have been lost long ago.”
Doctor Li’s expression darkened.
“Master Gu, if you want to put it that way, then let me say this – if it weren’t for her, His Highness would have died five years ago,” he said firmly.
The advisor and the eunuch were both taken aback.
“In our profession, we value respect for our teachers. Even someone who teaches you a single needle technique is still a teacher. What you think in your heart is your own affair, but it’s best not to speak ill of her in front of me,” Doctor Li said curtly, flicking his sleeve as he turned and walked out.
The advisor and the eunuch exchanged a glance.
“Talented in every way, just a bit too rigid,” the advisor remarked with a shake of his head and a faint smile.
The eunuch hesitated for a moment.
“Should we… invite Lady Cheng to come and take a look?” he suggested, glancing toward the inner chamber door with evident concern. “His Highness’s condition has truly deteriorated too severely this time.”
“Indeed, His Highness’s health can’t withstand even the slightest disturbance now,” the advisor replied. “And that is precisely why I truly dare not take the risk.”
The eunuch fell silent for a moment.
“Did Lady Cheng sit outside the gate all night yesterday?” he asked.
“It seems so. The guards said she only left when they went to the palace to deliver the message…” The advisor’s words were cut off as a heavy thud came from the inner chamber.
The eunuch rushed in immediately, followed closely by the advisor. Inside, they saw two maids kneeling by the couch, supporting Duke Jin’an as he struggled to sit up, the bed curtains half-pulled aside.
“Is he going to vomit?” the eunuch cried out, his face pale with fear.
Duke Jin’an lacked the strength in the end and collapsed back onto the couch.
“She… she came?” he asked weakly.
Who?
The eunuch was momentarily stunned.
“Did Lady Cheng… come last night?” Duke Jin’an asked, forcing his voice to sound louder and clearer.
The advisor shot a glare at the eunuch before stepping forward and bowing his head.
“Yes,” he replied.
Duke Jin’an laughed breathlessly, his hand at his side clenching tightly. Just as quickly, his smile faded.
“I… said to wait… but I didn’t… I broke my promise…” he said haltingly. “Was she… angry?”
“Your Highness!” the advisor said with disapproval. “She made no promise, so there was none for you to break.”
Duke Jin’an gave a weak smile.
“Nonsense. If there’s still one person left in this world who keeps her word… it would be her,” he said, his voice broken by labored breaths.
“Your Highness, yesterday she refused to treat you without even examining you,” the advisor reminded him, frowning.
“Then… she must have had her reasons for not treating me,” Duke Jin’an replied without hesitation.
The advisor stared at him, speechless.
The eunuch knelt by the couch, took a towel from a maid, and gently wiped the sweat from Duke Jin’an’s forehead.
That brief effort to sit up and speak a few words had already covered his brow in a fine sheen of perspiration.
“Didn’t you let her in last night?” Duke Jin’an asked.
“Her stance is unclear – friend or foe – so I dared not act lightly. The situation yesterday was too critical,” the advisor explained.
She sat outside the gate all night…
She sat outside the gate all night…
“I want to see her,” Duke Jin’an said.
“Your Highness! At a time like this, how can you?” the advisor urged anxiously.
Duke Jin’an looked straight at him.
“I want to see her,” he repeated, leaving no room for further discussion.
…
“What is this?”
Standing in front of the Cheng residence, the man halted, frowning as he looked at the white paper pasted on the door and the vivid red peach wood charms covered up.
This house is preparing for a funeral.
“You wished to see me?”
Under the corridor, the man watched as the young lady stepped out of the house and quickly bowed.
“I serve Duke Jin’an,” he said softly, unable to resist glancing up. He didn’t dare stare directly at her, so his gaze shifted to the maid standing beside her.
The maid’s eyes were frighteningly red and swollen, still brimming with tears.
So it truly is a funeral?
Prince Qing’s residence had been sealed tight and on high alert all night, with everyone focusing intently on the movements of key court ministers, generals, and imperial troops – other news hadn’t reached them.
“What is the matter?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
The man quickly pushed aside his wandering thoughts and bowed once more.
“His Highness wishes to see you,” he said.
“My apologies,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “My household is in mourning. With my parents and elders absent, I, as a daughter of the Cheng family, must observe the rituals of filial piety and am not at liberty to receive guests.”
The man looked up in astonishment.
