Chapter 50: Abdominal Pain

Zhang Xu is right, this soup is truly chilling.

Zhao Yan, who is usually sturdy, felt like she was being sliced by a blunt knife and experienced waves of cold after drinking the soup medicine this time.

Liu Ying wrapped the pants that the master had changed out of layer by layer and took them away to be destroyed. Then she handed a bowl of soup to Zhao Yan’s cold fingers and asked softly, “Can Your Highness still go to the palace today?”

Zhao Yan nodded slightly with difficulty, holding her stomach and said, “Returning to the palace, it’s both reasonable and proper to seek permission.”

Liu Ying wanted to persuade but refrained, nodding and saying, “Your Highness, rest a while longer. I’ll go make arrangements.”

Zhao Yan hadn’t slept well half the night and had drunk a throat-suppressing soup in the morning. The scent of incense and medicine in the Taiji Hall made her feel nauseous.

Behind the sheer curtain, the Emperor, dressed in green robes, sat cross-legged at the center of the bright lamp, with consort Zhen wearing a golden lotus crown on his left and Shenguang Sect official holding a dusting brush on his right, as if they were planning something important.

Zhao Yan vaguely heard words like “Beiyuan Palace damaged by wind and thunder” and “rebuilding the temple,” knowing that it was probably related to wasting resources and manpower.

“…the golden elixir is complete, this is indeed a gift from heaven.”

Consort Zhen lightly poured green tea, and when she saw the “Crown Prince” entering the hall, she stopped speaking with a smile.

Suppressing the turmoil in her chest, Zhao Yan waited until the voice behind the sheer curtain ceased before respectfully approaching the Emperor and bowing, “Your son pays respects to Father Emperor.”

“You’ve returned.”

The Emperor seemed somewhat distracted, saying slowly, “After resting for these days, is your health better?”

The tiled floor was cold and hard. Zhao Yan lowered her eyes, enduring the discomfort, and said, “Thanks to Father Emperor’s protection, your son’s health has improved significantly. This son is grateful for Father Emperor’s care and brings back two items as a token of filial piety.”

With a slight raise of her gaze, Li Fu behind her presented a tray that had already been prepared.

On the tray were a document written in imitation of the Crown Prince’s style and a jug of pure water taken from the depths of the Yuquan Palace’s spring.

The Emperor glanced briefly at the weighty document with neat handwriting, only picked up the jade jug and poured a cup, praising, “Good water!”

Shenguang Sect official observed his breath and heart, immediately chiming in, “I’ve heard that the water from the Yuquan Palace’s spring, which gushes from the depths of the dragon veins, has the effect of prolonging life. It is most suitable for taking with elixirs.”

“The Crown Prince is thoughtful.”

The Emperor rarely praised, not for the strategizing of the document or for the benefit of the people, but for a jug of “spiritual spring” brought back casually.

“Thank you for the undeserved praise, Father Emperor.” Zhao Yan lowered her eyelids, the corners of her mouth moving almost imperceptibly.

“You’ve come at the right time.”

The Emperor suddenly remembered something and instructed, “In a little over a month, it will be your mother’s birthday. Last year, you were away from the palace for summer retreat and couldn’t pay your respects in person. This year, I entrust you with the task of organizing her birthday banquet, which can be considered making up for the regret.”

“Your child accepts the order.”

The Emperor didn’t say much more, waving his sleeve to signal her to leave.

Feeling relieved, Zhao Yan bowed and left, brushing past the chief eunuch.

The chief eunuch bowed respectfully to Zhao Yan and then hurriedly whispered something in the Emperor’s ear.

The Emperor pondered for a moment, then closed his eyes and said, “No rush, send it in a couple of days.”

The chief eunuch’s expression changed slightly, only nodding and saying, “Yes.”

Zhao Yan withdrew from the Taiji Hall, unaware of what would happen next.

Taking a deep breath, she held Liu Ying’s hand to ease the waves of pain in her abdomen, then asked, “Earlier, I heard consort Zhen say something about ‘the elixir almost returning to its full form.’ Do you know what that is about?”

Looking around cautiously, Liu Ying lowered her voice and said, “This servant learned from miss He just now that lady Xuanyi is pregnant. It is said that the night before she was diagnosed, she dreamed of a auspicious cloud entering her embrace. People speculate that lady Xuanyi is likely pregnant with a prince.”

Zhao Yan sneered at the strange and inexplicable matters. However, with the limited heirs in the Zhao family, after the Emperor had toiled for most of his life and only had five daughters and one son, and none in the past decade, it seemed as if they were cursed. Now, suddenly hearing news of a concubine being pregnant at this critical moment was indeed strange.

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Yan asked, “Is this lady Xuanyi one of consort Zhen’s people?”

Liu Ying shook her head and said, “It is said that consort Zhen is devoted to the Dao and hasn’t shown any favoritism towards her. However, because of her indifferent demeanor and her detachment from worldly affairs, the concubines are all willing to befriend her.”

Strictly speaking, consort Zhen couldn’t be considered a peerless beauty who could overthrow nations and cities, but her temperament was extraordinary. With her wearing a golden lotus crown and holding a dusting brush with a faint smile, she truly resembled a goddess stepping out of a painting, almost perfectly fitting the Emperor’s pursuit of immortality and Dao.

Empress Zhen’s benevolent and amiable character, combined with the divinity of wearing Daoist robes, far surpassed the cold and noble Empress Wei in charm.

Zhao Yan turned around and instructed, “Go to the Kun Ning Palace.”

“The Empress has been suffering from accumulated worries for some time now, with severe headaches. She just had a doctor give her an acupuncture treatment and is resting in the inner chamber.”

The attendant bowed forward respectfully, leading Zhao Yan into the palace.

Zhao Yan bit her lip forcefully, rubbing her cheeks with her palms, and then asked Liu Ying softly, “How does it look?”

Liu Ying examined the blush on her cheeks and nodded, “Your complexion has improved a lot.”

Only then did Zhao Yan put on a calm appearance, relieved, and stepped into the hall with confidence.

Incense smoke curled up on the table, and Empress Wei sat on the couch, closing her eyes while palace maids massaged her temples to relax.

Her complexion wasn’t good, her long eyebrows knitted together like an unopened knot. Despite that, her makeup was still impeccably done, her phoenix robe elegant and regal, showing no signs of fatigue, as if she were an undefeated female general sitting upright.

Seeing Zhao Yan enter and greet her, she opened her eyes, restoring her usual cold and dignified demeanor, and gestured for the palace maids to withdraw.

“I heard that the Empress is slightly unwell.”

Zhao Yan bowed and asked, “Is it because of what happened to lady Xuanyi?”

“It’s an old ailment.”

Empress Wei looked at the familiar face in front of her, slightly distracted, “You look a bit haggard.”

Zhao Yan was taken aback, instinctively touching her face. Despite her efforts to regain some color, she was still seen through.

She could only come up with an excuse, “Yesterday on the way back to the palace, a horse was startled and fell off a cliff. Perhaps I was startled and haven’t recovered yet.”

“I’ve also heard about this.”

Empress Wei’s phoenix eyes remained calm as she said, “Keeping Liu Ji by your side was always a hidden danger. It’s better now that she’s gone.”

Zhao Yan understood her mother’s words were for the greater good, devoid of personal feelings, but she still felt a pang in her heart. Those in high positions seem to only see interests and the bigger picture, disregarding human lives. The truth of Zhao Yan’s wrongful death seemed insignificant.

Zhao Yan pinched her fingers, lifting her beautiful, stubborn eyes, “Mother, don’t you want to ask what I’ve learned during these days away from the palace?”

Empress Wei looked at her, calmly saying, “If you’re referring to the ‘Lit the Lantern’ matter, there’s nothing I need to ask.”

“Mother knows?” Zhao Yan was astonished.

“Yan’er is my son. How could a mother not know what her child is thinking and doing?”

“Do you know why Brother died… Do you know who the murderer is?”

“Prince Yong, Prince Su, or even the influential families touched by interests… Which one couldn’t be the culprit? But what does it matter? Who among us can move them?”

Empress Wei took a deep breath, closing her eyes slowly, “I understand what you want to ask, but Changfeng, in half my life, I’ve climbed high and fast like holding a treasure, wanting to reach the highest point, run the fastest, until one day, one of the treasures in my arms suddenly broke, piercing my heart…”

Since then, she had lost the courage to rush forward, only thinking about how to be steadier, how to protect the only remaining treasure in her arms, hoping it wouldn’t break too.

—

Prince Su’s mansion, Cai Tian stood outside the study, reporting intelligence one by one.

“Everything is as expected, traces of the ‘Immortal Master’ have been found through the bait released, there should be action soon.”

“The matter of Liu Baiwei has also been handled as instructed by the prince.”

“A message came from the Taiji Hall today, saying that the elixir has not been completed, and the delivery date must be postponed by two days. I speculate that the Emperor is dissatisfied with the case of the heir Prince of Prince Yong, seizing the opportunity to shake things up.”

Behind the desk, Prince Su, clad in a dark-colored civil and military robe, folded his legs, leaning against the palace chair, holding a scroll in his left hand while his right hand rested on the small stove warming wine.

As the day of poisoning approached, the prince was in a bad mood and often distracted himself by reading scrolls.

However, in the past, the prince had always read profound and mysterious military strategies, but recently, he had switched to scrolls of romance. His eyes cast two shadows, and his cold white face showed no trace of intimate emotion, as if his serious pursuit of knowledge just now had nothing to do with the shocking intelligence he had just received.

Since the master didn’t speak, Cai Tian didn’t dare to retreat rashly.

Seeing no movement for a long time, Cai Tian, feeling anxious like an old monk in meditation, couldn’t help but speculate: Could it be that he had missed some intelligence, or that the prince was not entirely satisfied with his performance?

As Cai Tian pondered, he heard a slight rustling sound of pages turning.

Wen Renlin flipped open a page with his fingertips, pressed it down towards the end, then switched to hold the scroll with his right hand, placing his left hand by the stove to warm it.

Cai Tian rummaged through all the intelligence in his mind, finally tentatively adding, “The Crown Prince sent someone to Mingde Pavilion and is still monitoring the situation of Liu Baiwei.”

The slender hand of Prince Su, warming by the stove, turned slightly, the speed of scanning the scroll slowing down.

As Cai Tian’s mind raced through the intelligence, he added another piece, “This morning, the Crown Prince went to the palace to pay respects. A palace attendant saw that His Highness’s complexion was not very good, and he often held his stomach, seeming to have a hidden illness.”

The brow of Wen Renlin wrinkled imperceptibly, glancing sideways out of the window.

The setting sun stretched out long shadows, the sunset magnificent like fire, the residual heat of the day baking the cicadas into long, powerless chirps.

Zhang Cang’s sleeve was pulled up to his elbows as he wiped away sweat and reported, “Your Highness, the carriage is ready. Shall we depart for the Yuquan Palace immediately?”

It was almost the beginning of the month, and soaking in hot springs could slightly alleviate the prince’s cold poison. If it weren’t for dealing with the Prince heir of Yong and taking care of the princess, Prince Su really shouldn’t have returned to the city these days.

Hearing Wen Renlin’s indifferent response, he gently put down the unfinished scroll in his hand and left with his hands behind his back.

In the Eastern Palace, the lights were just coming on.

Zhao Yan dragged her weary and aching body back to her sleeping chamber and collapsed onto the bed.

Despite the summer heat, she shivered from head to toe, having to huddle under a thin blanket on the bed. Cold sweat beaded her forehead, enduring until the end, she even felt dizzy and nauseous. There was no longer the loud and domineering voice of Liu Ji in the Eastern Palace, which felt a bit uncomfortable, as quiet as a tomb.

Zhao Yan finally found something to distract herself, holding up the bedding and searching for paper and pen, revealing only a pale face, saying, “I’ll write a letter to Liu Baiwei. When Gu Xing comes back, you’ll have him personally deliver it to Mingde Pavilion.”

As Liu Ying brought in a half-bucket of freshly boiled hot water, she nodded at the words.

She had only learned last night from His Highness that Liu Baiwei was actually a man, disguising himself as a woman only to serve as a strategist for the Crown Prince without arousing suspicion.

She was quite shocked for a while, firstly because the Crown Prince had kept it from her for so long, perhaps because he didn’t trust her; secondly because Liu Ji often addressed the young prince as a sister, behaving intimately and naturally, not knowing how much of it was due to official business and how much was due to personal feelings.

After thinking all night, she gradually accepted it. As long as it was someone trusted by His Highness, she should also learn to trust.

Liu Ying placed medicinal herbs in the wooden tub and rolled up her sleeves to grind ink for Zhao Yan, saying, “Your Highness is still feeling unwell. You might as well rest for a while. We can write the letter tomorrow.”

Zhao Yan gently shook her head, sitting behind the desk and saying, “Liu Baiwei is impatient and straightforward. If he doesn’t wait for my message, who knows what he’ll do.”

Just as she spoke, Liu Ying’s ink grinding suddenly paused, bowing to the outside and saying, “His Royal Highness, Prince Su.”

There was a tall figure standing behind the screen, and it was unclear how long he had been there. Zhao Yan’s pen tip paused, only to see Wen Renlin slowly stepping out from behind the screen and walking steadily towards her.

Unconsciously, Zhao Yan swallowed, gesturing to Liu Ying and the eunuch at the door, “You both may leave.”

Liu Ying glanced at the particularly cold and stern Prince Su, eventually bowing to Zhao Yan’s signal and leaving, closing the door behind her.

“Why didn’t the Grand Tutor send someone to inform…”

Before Zhao Yan could finish her sentence, her whole person, along with the blanket, was lifted into the air and placed back on the bed by Wen Renlin leaning over.

She was stunned, subconsciously reaching out to wrap her arms around Wen Renlin’s neck, the unusually cold body temperature also spreading to his neck. Wen Renlin took her hand and lowered his eyelids slightly, placing two fingers on her pulse.

After a while, he slowly furrowed his brows, looking at Zhao Yan, “What did you eat to upset your stomach?”

Zhao Yan knew she couldn’t hide it, so she withdrew her hand, and said in a muffled and soft voice, “Bishi Soup.”

“What?”

Wen Renlin raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone noticeably darker.

Under his deep and penetrating gaze, Zhao Yan felt like a defendant under interrogation, not daring to speak again.

“Didn’t I already feed you, Your Highness? How could you randomly eat those rough things outside?”

Wen Renlin’s voice was low and heavy, gently lifting Zhao Yan’s chin to make her meet his gaze, “Who prescribed the medicine for you?”

Zhao Yan had no choice but to meet his gaze, saying reluctantly, “I wanted to take it myself… Didn’t the Grand Tutor say not to be too confident in your self-control?”

A frightening silence ensued.

“Was that how you interpreted it, Your Highness?”

After a long while, Wen Renlin asked calmly.

Fearful that his next sentence would be to have Zhang Xu taken down and beheaded, Zhao Yan hugged her stomach and curled up, like a soft clam wanting to retreat into its shell, hoarsely saying, “Let’s discuss it later. I don’t have the energy to talk to you now…”

Wen Renlin looked at the letter on the desk that had not yet dried, chuckled softly.

He turned around and took off his outer robe, casually throwing it onto the desk, then silently began rolling up his sleeves, layer by layer, until they were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sturdy forearms.

Zhao Yan’s heart tightened, fearing that he was about to hit someone?

Signaling for Wen Renlin to bend down and hold her ankle, Zhao Yan subconsciously shrank back.

Wen Renlin glanced at her, speaking gently, “If you move again, I will have both Zhang and Liu brought in, and use their warm blood to warm Your Highness.”

Zhao Yan immediately stiffened.

Wen Renlin, not very gently, removed her boots and socks, then held her feet in his palms, gently dipping them into the comfortably warm water.

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