Chapter 148: I Am Fine
By the time Chu Mingheng finished dressing and stepped out of the chamber, Chen Kangan approached, intending to report something.
Lan Wu was still inside the room, so Chu Mingheng motioned for him to speak in the outer hall.
“Your Majesty, Prince Wei claims he has matters to clarify with Your Majesty alone while in prison.” Prince Wei had been imprisoned yesterday, and with no orders yet on how to handle him, it was said that from yesterday until today, the prince had not been idle. At first, he dared not shout or curse, but seeing that no one paid him any attention, he grew louder and more incessant, insisting he had matters to discuss with the emperor and demanding an audience.
Chen Kangan was uncertain, fearing Prince Wei might still have some trick up his sleeve, which was why he came to report.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of disgust crossed Chu Mingheng’s face, as if he had heard something vile that disturbed his good mood.
“Do I need to teach them what to do? Treat it as treason. There’s no need to listen to whatever nonsense he has to say.”
Chen Kangan understood immediately and acknowledged the order. Just as he was about to withdraw, the emperor spoke again.
“That palace maid named Zhu Qing.”
Chen Kangan listened carefully.
“Lingchi. Then have an Imperial Physician tend to her regularly with medicine. Don’t let her die too quickly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Chen Kangan inwardly sighed. Lingchi punishment, with an Imperial Physician prolonging her life—this punishment would likely last for years, wouldn’t it? It showed just how much the emperor detested this woman named Zhu Qing. But then, she had committed countless evils and deserved her fate.
“Go and make preparations. We will leave the palace for Nanli Temple shortly.”
Chen Kangan was taken aback, not quite understanding why. Hadn’t they just visited Nanli Temple not long ago?
But how could he question the emperor’s decree? He merely ventured to ask cautiously, “Your Majesty, should we increase the guard?”
Although Prince Wei was imprisoned, there was no guarantee he didn’t have other schemes. At such a time, protecting the emperor’s safety was even more crucial.
Chu Mingheng pondered briefly, then nodded. “Increase it. Assign two groups to follow the carriage.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Chen Kangan withdrew.
Taichen Palace summoned an Imperial Physician.
This time, Lan Wu was present, watching closely as the physician took the emperor’s pulse.
“I merely felt a slight fever upon waking this morning, nothing more.” Chu Mingheng’s words were directed at both Lan Wu and the physician, but before he could finish, Lan Wu interrupted him.
“Don’t speak. I’m not listening to you; I’m listening to what the Imperial Physician says.” Lan Wu frowned, giving him a particularly displeased look. “You still have a headache, don’t you? Have you forgotten—”
Chu Mingheng fell silent and turned his head away.
The Imperial Physician below felt increasingly uneasy as he took the pulse.
When Taichen Palace summoned him, they said Guifei was ill, but upon arrival, he was asked to take the emperor’s pulse. From the pulse reading, the emperor was in good health, with no apparent issues… Yet the consort mentioned the emperor had a fever and a headache…
Was it his own lack of knowledge, his inadequate medical skills?
He couldn’t detect anything.
Troubled, the physician carefully examined the pulse a while longer, then tentatively asked, “Did Your Majesty not rest well last night?”
Lan Wu looked at Chu Mingheng, puzzled.
“I slept soundly through the night,” Chu Mingheng turned back to the physician, enunciating each word clearly.
“Ah… then perhaps Your Majesty was overworked yesterday… or has unresolved worries?” The physician ventured another question, somewhat awkwardly.
Chu Mingheng grew impatient, withdrawing his hand and speaking coldly, “The Imperial Physician may speak plainly. I know well enough whether I am ill or not.”
They took a shortcut when leaving the palace, with two groups of imperial guards following behind the carriage. Though they avoided the bustling markets, such a large entourage was still enough to draw attention.
Lan Wu muttered softly inside the carriage, “The imperial physicians in the palace are all afraid of you, so naturally they wouldn’t dare diagnose you with any serious illness… It’s also your fault. After you said that, how could the physician dare speak directly about your condition?”
Chu Mingheng peeled an orange for her, removing the skin and separating it into segments, meticulously cleaning away every bit of pith before feeding them to Lan Wu one by one.
The fresh fragrance of the orange soon filled the carriage.
Lan Wu’s mouth was stuffed with fruit, and though she swallowed reluctantly, the orange was so sweet that she temporarily fell silent.
She didn’t speak, but Chu Mingheng had something to say.
“I am not ill at all.” The orange was too cold, so he didn’t let Lan Wu finish it, setting aside the remaining half.
Lan Wu thought he wasn’t being entirely sincere, figuring she would find out once they met Master Huifan.
It had snowed the day before, making the mountain path more difficult to traverse, with a layer of snow about half a finger thick covering the ground.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Chu Mingheng stepped out first, then turned to lift Lan Wu down. He glanced at the temple, remaining silent.
Lan Wu held a hand warmer and, noticing Chu Mingheng’s hands were cold, offered it to him.
Interrupted from his thoughts, Chu Mingheng looked down at what Lan Wu was handing him. Seeing her face framed by the white fox fur cloak, a figure seemed to flash before his eyes—the same face, but draped in a different cloak, with red maple leaves accentuating her delicate beauty.
This memory was… from the last time he accompanied Lan Wu to Nanli Temple.
A nerve in his head seemed to throb, tightening painfully, and the sound of Lan Wu’s crying echoed in his ears.
His expression darkened as he slowly exhaled, the scene before him gradually clearing.
Lan Wu tilted her head, looking at him curiously, her hand still extended with the hand warmer, as if wondering why he hadn’t taken it.
“…Your Majesty? What’s wrong?” Her voice gradually became audible, the crying fading away.
“Are you having a headache?” She freed one hand and reached out to touch Chu Mingheng’s face.
The surrounding attendants discreetly turned away.
Chu Mingheng gently took Lan Wu’s hand and said, “It’s nothing. I just remembered that the maple leaves were red the last time we came.”
“Keep the hand warmer for yourself. I don’t need it. Don’t let your hands get cold.”
After a brief pause, he continued, “I’ll just hold your hand.”
He was remembering more and more.
Lan Wu, realizing belatedly, allowed him to lead her into the temple.
They entered the same small courtyard as before, and as soon as they stepped inside, a figure stood before the hall, seemingly waiting for them.
It was Master Huifan.
Master Huifan remained as amiable as ever, offering a Buddhist greeting from afar and stepping aside to guide them into the hall once they approached.
Chu Mingheng’s gaze was sharp as he looked at Huifan, yet he said nothing, as if waiting for Huifan to speak first.
Neither of them spoke, but Lan Wu broke the silence.
“Master Huifan, His Majesty hasn’t been well these past few days. He had a fever yesterday and again this morning. He also mentioned a headache. Could you examine his pulse?”
Lan Wu’s words actually eased the somewhat tense atmosphere in the hall.
Although Master Huifan was willing to take Your Majesty’s pulse, the one who now seemed unwilling was not him.
“Your humble monk observes that Your Majesty appears somewhat weary. Has Your Majesty not been resting well recently?” Huifan spoke softly and slowly.
Chu Mingheng glanced at Lan Wu, then calmly extended his hand, unhurriedly saying, “The master is mistaken. I am perfectly well.”