Chapter 165: Your Majesty’s Illness
The news that Guifei was to go to Changyong Mountain to pray for the emperor quickly spread throughout the palace, causing an uproar in the rear court. Everyone said it was impossible.
Not to mention how much Your Majesty valued and doted on Guifei—how could he possibly let her leave the palace at such a critical juncture? Moreover, judging by past precedents, it was absolutely unheard of for a Guifei to go to Changyong Mountain alone to perform the sacrificial rites.
Could it be that Your Majesty had truly contracted some grave illness? Or was there some hidden reason unknown to others?
“Your Highness, is it true that Guifei is going to Changyong Mountain?”
In Consort Zhuang’s palace, Zhaorong Yun couldn’t help but ask curiously.
The hall was neither too spacious nor overly extravagant, and its layout and furnishings were not much different from when Consort Zhuang was still Wu Guipin.
Sitting in the main seat, Consort Zhuang slowly set down her teacup and sighed softly. “Since everyone is saying so, it must be true.”
Zhaorong Yun had only interacted with the current Guifei during the boating excursion. She thought Guifei was not the type to willingly go to Changyong Mountain. After all, Guifei was still young and not particularly steady in temperament. Moreover, with Your Majesty’s favor upon her, how could she simply give it up?
Thinking of this, Zhaorong Yun couldn’t help but frown again. She held the teacup in her hands, the warmth of the cup seeping into her palms, bringing a faint sense of comfort.
If Guifei truly wasn’t going voluntarily, could it be that Your Majesty had ordered her to go?
“Your Majesty’s illness…” Zhaorong Yun murmured, but before she could finish, she saw Consort Zhuang above her frown and look at her, shaking her head silently to signal her to stop.
Zhaorong Yun quickly closed her mouth.
When Liang Fei and Mu Zhaorong arrived at Yilan Hall, Lan Wu was instructing people to prepare and pack her belongings. Seeing them arrive, she ordered them to be taken to the main hall first, saying she would join them shortly.
They waited for a while before Lan Wu arrived.
“Your servants pay respects to Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings,” both of them stood up and bowed.
In the past, when Lan Wu’s rank was not so high, the three of them rarely exchanged formal greetings when they met. But now, such etiquette could not be omitted.
Lan Wu didn’t want to trouble them either and asked them to rise first.
Mu Zhaorong was the most impatient. Seeing that the palace maids had withdrawn, she asked softly, “Why is Your Highness suddenly traveling far away? Has something gone wrong somewhere?”
Unaware of the inside story, they naturally assumed that something had happened between Lan Wu and Your Majesty. But considering how much Your Majesty usually doted on Lan Wu, as long as they could talk it out properly, things should still be manageable, right…
Lan Wu, however, was puzzled and looked at her in confusion. “This consort is going to pray for Your Majesty’s well-being.” What could possibly have gone wrong?
So it really was to pray for Your Majesty’s well-being?
Mu Zhaorong and Liang Fei exchanged glances, both gasping in surprise. Unbelievable thoughts flashed through their minds—could it be that Your Majesty was truly… on the verge of death?
Logically speaking, Your Majesty was in the prime of his life, and they really shouldn’t entertain such speculations. Even though rumors in the court said Your Majesty had contracted a strange illness, they hadn’t taken it seriously. But now, Lan Wu was going to Changyong Mountain to pray for Your Majesty—this was indeed strange.
After a moment of thought, it was Liang Fei who spoke first, asking softly, “Your Highness, Your Majesty’s illness… though somewhat unusual, surely it doesn’t require Your Highness to travel so far to pray for him. Your Majesty must also be reluctant to let Your Highness go so far away.”
Lan Wu nodded in agreement with her words: “It’s fine. My going to Changyong Mountain will show sincerity, won’t it?”
Sincerity…
“Did Your Majesty really agree to let you go for three months?”
“He agreed. When I return to the palace in three months, His Majesty’s illness will surely be cured.” This trip to Changyong Mountain was to cure Chu Mingheng’s illness. She had never left the palace before, and thinking about it carefully, it felt quite novel.
A moment of silence fell around them.
Seeing her completely unaware appearance, both Mu Zhaorong and Liang Fei couldn’t help but worry for her.
Although three months might not seem long at first glance, in the harem, three months could already be considered an extremely important period—enough for newcomers to rise and old faces to fall.
Wasn’t Lan Wu afraid that during these three months, His Majesty might take a liking to some new beauty?
Lan Wu indeed had no such worries. She trusted Chu Mingheng deeply. Since Chu Mingheng already had eyes only for her, why would she worry about such a thing? She hadn’t even considered it.
Seeing their complex expressions, clearly wanting to say something but unable to voice it, Lan Wu felt puzzled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Liang Fei shook her head gently, unable to explain clearly, and could only say, “Your Highness, rest assured. We will surely await your return in the palace.”
The way she said it made it seem as if something momentous would happen just from her trip to Changyong Mountain.
Though she thought so, three days later, the day of departure arrived.
These past few days, even without Chu Mingheng mentioning it, Lan Wu herself wanted to cling to him.
She had never been separated from Chu Mingheng for so long before. In her previous life, it was Chu Mingheng who went to Changyong Mountain; this time, it was her turn. By the time she returned, it would be late March or early April, when the spring flowers in the palace would be in bloom.
“Is Changyong Mountain cold, Your Majesty?” Lan Wu nestled into Chu Mingheng’s embrace, reluctant to sleep, asking him question after question.
Yesterday, she had already bid farewell to the other Chu Mingheng. Lan Wu guessed that Chu Mingheng wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight—not only him, but she couldn’t sleep either.
“You’ll be staying at the royal villa on Changyong Mountain. Although it’s built on the mountain, it has everything you need. It won’t be cold.” Chu Mingheng held her, gently kissing her forehead and cheeks one after another, his voice gentle, as if comforting Lan Wu or perhaps comforting himself.
“From the villa, heading west for another half an hour, you’ll find Wuji Temple.”
Hearing this, Lan Wu let out an “oh” and rubbed the other half of her face against the crook of his neck, urging him to say more.
“What else do you want to know?” Chu Mingheng asked her.
“Will I have to eat vegetarian food? Since it’s to pray for your recovery, I probably can’t eat meat or fish, right?” Although Lan Wu didn’t think eating vegetarian was a bad thing, the thought of having to do so for three whole months was enough to be disheartening.
At this, Chu Mingheng lifted her little face and asked, “When you said you wanted to go, you spoke with such conviction. Now, when it comes to eating vegetarian food, you can’t handle it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Wu couldn’t help but feel sad—not because she couldn’t eat meat, but just sad.
She blinked, not daring to miss a single expression on Chu Mingheng’s face.
Tonight, the candles in the hall were brightly lit, and she could clearly see the struggle and reluctance in Chu Mingheng’s eyes.
“Maybe…” Chu Mingheng had just uttered two words when Lan Wu raised her head and kissed him, cutting off his words.
“But I want to eat meat, just once in a while, okay?” she softly negotiated.
Chu Mingheng couldn’t bear to tease her any further either. He sighed and said, “I was just kidding. You’re a Guifei, who would dare neglect you? You can have whatever you want to eat, don’t worry, A’wu.”
Late into the night, sleep remained elusive. Even as the moon climbed the treetops, one could still hear soft calls for Lan Wu from the bed.