Chapter 140: Cough
Outside the hall, the night had deepened. When the hour arrived, Chu Mingheng announced the commencement of the banquet.
The night wind was cold and biting, yet the imperial dishes delivered from Yushan Fang could not be allowed to cool. Naturally, it was crucial for Your Majesty to have hot food. Any minor oversight in the details could lead to a matter of life and death.
Compared to the daytime palace banquet, the evening feast was more relaxed. In previous years during the New Year’s Eve Banquet, although everyone remained mindful of the emperor’s presence and avoided overtly confrontational remarks, there were still subtle rivalries beneath the surface, or imperial concubines on good terms would gather to chat.
With no Empress or Empress Dowager in the palace, the atmosphere might seem lighter, but in reality, the struggles among the imperial concubines were even fiercer.
However, this year’s New Year’s Eve, having witnessed the incident with Prince Wei in the afternoon, everyone appeared more restrained.
Chu Mingheng wore a cold expression that was intimidating enough. By the time Lan Wu noticed, even the music in the hall sounded pitifully subdued.
Unable to resist, she leaned over and whispered, “What exactly are you planning to say? It’s quite frightening.”
Chu Mingheng hadn’t touched any wine, and his mind was clearer than ever. His expression remained somber, as he had been lost in thought since earlier. Only when Lan Wu’s voice called him back did he turn to look at her, leaning in to whisper in return, “Did I scare you?”
Not really.
Lan Wu rarely felt fear because of Chu Mingheng, as she knew he would never do anything to harm her.
“Soon,” Chu Mingheng said, seeing her shake her head, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. He chuckled softly and urged her to eat more meat.
“This venison is nourishing. Have more.”
Lan Wu hadn’t forgotten the last time she ate too much venison and was tricked by Chu Mingheng. Although the two situations couldn’t be entirely equated, the person was still the same, with a particularly mischievous nature that required careful attention.
Thinking this, she discreetly pushed the piece of meat aside while Chu Mingheng wasn’t looking.
Perhaps the warmth in the hall was soporific, as soon someone appeared weary, looking drowsy.
Just then, a soft cough echoed from below.
Lan Wu saw Zhaoyi Wen, seated at a table toward the back, covering her face as she coughed quietly.
She had been ill for some time, but despite prolonged recuperation, her condition showed no signs of improvement. Forced to attend the banquet, she found few around her daring to speak with her, fearing they might inadvertently catch her illness.
Even as she struggled to suppress the sound, a few uncontrollable coughs escaped.
“Who is coughing?” Chu Mingheng asked, his tone neither light nor heavy, as if he hadn’t paid it much mind. He scanned the crowd below and saw a woman rise from a table at the back, bowing her head as she stepped forward.
Zhaoyi Wen’s throat itched terribly, and she coughed twice with every word she spoke. Anxious at being addressed, she hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, it is I.”
Chu Mingheng’s expression remained unchanged. “Why has your illness not yet healed?”
Zhaoyi Wen didn’t know how to respond. Although she had brought this illness upon herself, she hadn’t expected it to be so severe, lingering for days and even showing signs of worsening. She had only wanted to distance herself from Consort Shu, not to die.
Just as she was about to answer, Consort Shu stood up and spoke on her behalf: “Your Majesty, I previously inquired with the Imperial Physician who examined Zhaoyi Wen. He said she suffers from qi deficiency and physical weakness, requiring careful nurturing of her health. It will take some time for her to recover.”
Zhaoyi Wen’s expression faltered slightly, clearly not expecting Consort Shu to be so well-informed about her condition. These words had never been spoken to her face, not even by the imperial physicians.
She couldn’t help but glance at Consort Shu once more.
Chu Mingheng seemed to take Consort Shu’s words to heart, nodding slightly before continuing unhurriedly, “Which imperial physician diagnosed her illness?”
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu promptly replied, “Your Majesty, it was Imperial Physician Qi.”
Worried that Chu Mingheng might not recognize Imperial Physician Qi, she added, “Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Qi is newly appointed to the Imperial Medical Academy. He previously attended to my health check-ups as well, and his medical skills are quite exceptional. That is why, when I saw that Zhaoyi Wen’s illness had persisted for several days without improvement, I summoned Imperial Physician Qi to examine her.”
“Quite exceptional medical skills,” Chu Mingheng repeated casually, turning to Zhaoyi Wen. “What do you think?”
Zhaoyi Wen, singled out for questioning, felt her heart tighten. Uncertain of how to respond, she knew deep down that she must not displease His Majesty under any circumstances.
“Your Majesty, cough… earlier, it was Imperial Physician Chen who examined my pulse. It was merely a common cold, and I did not pay it much mind,” she recounted softly, punctuating her words with occasional light coughs. “However, cough… later, when that Imperial Physician Qi took over, I was unaware that he had been summoned by Lady Shufei. By the time Imperial Physician Qi examined my pulse, my condition had already worsened. I suppose it was my own carelessness that left the imperial physicians at a loss, cough, cough, cough—”
Her face was pale, bearing the unmistakable signs of illness. As she spoke, her tone lacked any force, evoking pity in those who observed her.
Consort Shu’s previously calm and composed expression suddenly stiffened. She turned sharply to look at Zhaoyi Wen, disbelief written across her face as she tried to discern the other woman’s expression.
But Zhaoyi Wen kept her head lowered, revealing nothing.
Consort Shu took a deep breath. She understood all too well the implications behind Zhaoyi Wen’s words, and it was precisely because she understood them that she found it so unbelievable.
From the very beginning, Zhaoyi Wen and Xiuyi Bai had been under her command, assisting her in her endeavors. Now, after finally managing to topple the other two consorts, instead of groveling before her to flaunt her loyalty, Zhaoyi Wen dared to betray her?
Who had given her such audacity—
A storm of emotions churned within Consort Shu, but she quickly masked her expression, offering a light laugh as she explained, “What Sister Zhaoyi says is true. Naturally, I hoped for her swift recovery. If her condition has persisted, it must be due to the negligence of the imperial physicians at the Imperial Medical Academy. Tomorrow, I will certainly question them thoroughly about how they examined Sister Zhaoyi’s pulse.”
Zhaoyi Wen turned slightly, bowing her head toward Consort Shu in a respectful gesture.
It seemed this unexpected turn of events was about to be brushed aside.
But Chu Mingheng would not allow it.
“Summon several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy,” he commanded, casually toying with the jade pendant hanging from his belt as he scrutinized the scene below.
All the imperial concubines present were taken aback.
Consort Shu most of all.
She attempted to persuade Chu Mingheng to reconsider. “Your Majesty, today is New Year’s Eve. It may not be appropriate to make such a spectacle of summoning imperial physicians for a concubine’s examination… Perhaps Zhaoyi Wen should be dismissed first, and tomorrow morning, I will have the Imperial Medical Academy send someone over. What do you think?”
Just then, palace attendants brought in fresh fruits, among them grapes that had been meticulously cleaned—each one dark, glossy, and perfectly round.
Chu Mingheng casually selected a large one, peeled it in a few quick motions, and brought it to Lan Wu’s lips for her to eat. At the same time, he remarked coolly, “What’s wrong with New Year’s Eve? I think this year’s New Year’s Eve should see some bloodshed. Every one of them has their heads held so high they’re practically in the clouds.”
After saying this, he paid no attention to the panicked crowd kneeling in fear below. Instead, he chuckled softly and asked Lan Wu, “Is it sweet? Do you want more?”