Chapter 112: Returning to the Palace
Princess Yizhen was truly startled by this sudden mishap. Everything had been fine just moments ago—how could someone faint after merely seeing a person?
Not to mention that Lan Wu was now the one held dear in Chu Mingheng’s heart, but even if it were just that something had happened as soon as Zhu Qing arrived, she herself would have to give it more thought.
The imperial family most dreaded accidents; even the slightest disturbance had to be taken seriously, let alone for Chu Mingheng, a prince who had been the Crown Prince since birth and had suffered countless assassination attempts to this day.
Watching as Zhu Qing was taken away, Yizhen hurriedly knelt to pledge her loyalty, insisting that she had no idea what was unusual about Zhu Qing—she had only kept her because she seemed skilled in incense-making.
Chu Mingheng had no time to deal with her at the moment. He glanced at her sideways, picked up Lan Wu, and left the main hall.
The attendants quickly led the way, finding a quiet and comfortable side room where the two could rest temporarily.
Chu Mingheng stayed by the bedside. When the palace maid brought a cloth and cold water, he stepped forward himself to place the cold cloth on Lan Wu’s forehead. Looking at her flushed face, he felt regret—if he had known there would be strong winds today, even though he had brought her out to play, he should have kept a close watch on her every step of the way. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have fallen ill from a moment of inattention.
Fortunately, it was just an ordinary cold. Though it looked severe, according to the Imperial Physician, she would recover in a day once she sweated it out.
“Your Majesty, the medicine is here.” Mujin brought in the medicine bowl and watched as His Majesty helped the consort sit up and fed her the medicine.
As soon as the medicine was finished, she heard His Majesty speak:
“Give the order to line the carriage with felt cushions and soft quilts. Seal the windows and doors carefully to keep out the wind. We will return to the palace shortly.”
Ultimately, Chu Mingheng did not trust these people—neither Yizhen nor the Imperial Physician who claimed Lan Wu merely had an ordinary cold.
Mujin said nothing more, only bowed her head and acknowledged the order before hurrying out to make preparations.
Outside the door, Princess Yizhen paced back and forth. Seeing Mujin emerge, she quickly grabbed her arm and asked if Lan Wu was feeling any better.
“Your Highness, the consort is still unconscious.”
Yizhen was about to ask more when she heard Mujin say she needed to arrange the carriage. Startled, she realized they were about to leave.
She cautiously glanced inside the room, released Mujin’s hand, stepped over the threshold, and waited outside the screen, asking softly, “Brother, why are you returning to the palace so soon? The night wind on the road is chilly, and it might make Zhen Zhaorong uncomfortable…”
“Get in here.” Chu Mingheng didn’t even look up, his voice cold and dismissive as he ordered her inside.
Yizhen trembled in fright and hurried in.
Once inside, she didn’t dare speak loudly, only knelt on bent knees, desperately trying to distance herself from the matter. “Brother, please understand, your sister truly had no idea that Zhu Qing harbored ill intentions—I really only kept her because her incense-making skills were excellent!”
Chu Mingheng ignored her, simply replacing the cloth on Lan Wu’s forehead that had grown warm, dipping it back into the cold water, wringing it out, and placing it on Lan Wu again.
Only after doing this did he turn his head and look down at Yizhen.
“Are you very familiar with the Lin family? I’ve heard that the Lin daughters have been frequenting your residence lately.”
Why suddenly mention the Lin family?
Yizhen’s mind raced—the Lin family was considered a prominent and deeply rooted clan in the imperial city. Of the two legitimate daughters of the Lin family, one had married into the Prince Wei’s household as Princess Consort Wei, while the other, Lin Lianran, had just come of age. She had missed the imperial selection, but her temperament was gentle and quiet. Yizhen had interacted with her more often out of consideration for her fifth brother.
But now, according to her brother’s words, was she not supposed to associate with the Lin family?
Yizhen’s forehead was beaded with sweat as she cautiously replied, “She hasn’t come often, only… two or three times, always with other noble ladies. I have never met her privately.”
Though she was a woman and did not participate in the struggle for imperial power, living within the vortex, how could she be unaware of anything?
When the emperor ascended the throne, it was entirely legitimate—he was both the crown prince and had their late father’s decree. Yet such a major event as the enthronement of a new ruler inevitably invited ill intentions.
There were few surviving imperial heirs in the palace. Even if someone attempted rebellion, it was merely a spark quickly extinguished.
To this day, Prince Xuan remained under house arrest in his mansion, while only Prince Wei enjoyed relative freedom as an idle, carefree prince.
But now… could the emperor mean that Prince Wei harbored disloyal intentions?!
Yizhen restrained her expression, fearing she might hear something earth-shattering.
“You’d better pray that maid named Zhu Qing is completely innocent, otherwise…” Chu Mingheng left the threat hanging, but it was enough to instill vigilance.
At that moment, Mujin softly announced from outside that the carriage was ready.
Chu Mingheng wrapped Lan Wu in a quilt and lifted her horizontally, careful to shield her from any draft. He covered most of her face with the brocade quilt, carrying her tightly wrapped all the way to the outside of the estate.
The carriage was warm, with two extra layers of padding compared to when they had left the palace.
Lan Wu had taken her medicine not long ago and was sleeping soundly, though her flushed little face looked utterly miserable.
Chu Mingheng stroked her cheek, wishing he could suffer in her place.
“Have the carriage move smoothly,” he ordered those outside.
Chen Kangan promptly acknowledged the command.
Lan Wu was unaware she was already in the carriage. In her dazed state, it felt as if she had returned to her past life.
She remembered that face clearly—the woman who entered with attendants to proclaim the so-called “imperial decree.” Yet the decree in her hand was never shown to Lan Wu; she merely recited its words, declaring Lan Wu’s execution by strangulation.
Lan Wu screamed that it was impossible, demanding to see the emperor. In her struggle, someone slapped her hard, making her world spin and her face burn with pain.
This person… this woman looked at her without sorrow or joy, but when the servants approached with the long, thin cloth, a sudden surge of disgust flashed in her eyes, as if she were seeing someone else through Lan Wu.
Her slender neck was tightly constricted. Her fingers clawed desperately, only to grasp the wet mud on the ground, dirtying her hands beyond recognition.
Her face began to swell with blood, her eyes bulging almost out of their sockets. The space for breath grew smaller and smaller until it vanished entirely. Her chest felt completely blocked, as if about to burst. The scene before her gradually blurred until she could see nothing at all.
…
“A bunch of useless fools!”
“…If anything happens to her, you…”
“Summon the imperial physician again…”
Fragments of these voices reached her ears. The voice, filled with anger and restrained control, sounded strangely familiar, yet in her memory, its owner had never lost his composure like this. He was the emperor—when had he ever clamored like an unreasonable, stubborn fool?
Lan Wu’s thoughts momentarily surfaced from the chaos. Her lips parted, and she whispered something, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum.
The noise around her ceased. Someone leaned close, bringing with them a familiar scent.
“…Don’t…make noise…” Lan Wu uttered a few words before slipping back into unconsciousness.
Upon hearing this, Chu Mingheng immediately sealed his lips, his face taut. His eyes, reddened with shock and fury, blinked slowly as he gazed intently at Lan Wu, not daring to miss a single detail, as if fearing she might fall into an eternal slumber.