Chapter 281

Chapter 281 Xie Run knew that something major must have happened at the palace last night, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, so suddenly. Prince An's rebellion had been crushed, and Prince Jing had distinguished himself by leading troops to the rescue. The Emperor was still sitting steadily in his seat... In the original script, he had lived to over seventy and served as Retired Emperor for more than a decade. Now the situation was quite clear—Prince Jing was likely to take the throne. Xie Run was utterly exhausted at the moment, and not particularly overjoyed. She had known this was coming all along. After enduring two years, weathering swords and spears, wind and rain, she had finally made it through. What was there to be excited about? Once Prince Jing became Crown Prince and then Emperor, she would only be more exhausted, competing with even more people... Let things rot. She'd just lie flat. Xie Run thought it over, then went back to lying down. But once she lay down, Xie Run couldn't get back up. In the afternoon, Nanny Li from the inner chamber sent word: "The Princess Consort has a fever!" Dantao went to call Xie Run, but after calling twice, she couldn't wake her. Seeing her flushed cheeks, she hastily summoned Xie Jiang to take a look. Xie Jiang felt her pulse and said calmly, "It's nothing serious—just a fever." "She's probably exhausted. Her nerves have been wound tight this whole time, and now that she's finally relaxed, wind-cold has invaded her body." Xie Jiang added one more question: "Has she rarely been sick these past two years?" Dantao was startled for a moment, then immediately nodded. Xie Jiang said, "Then take careful care of her. This illness has hit her hard—it will probably look a bit frightening." Seeing Dantao's face full of worry, Xie Jiang rarely offered some words of comfort: "Everyone's body harbors illness. Getting sick once in a while and letting the sickness run its course is a good thing." "As for people who never get sick—either their constitution is too weak and their body doesn't dare to fall ill, or their constitution is too strong, and when they do fall ill, it hits them like a mountain toppling." Dantao understood a little. "So our mistress is the second type you mentioned, Miss?" Xie Jiang nodded. "It looks severe, but if she gets through this stretch and then takes good care of herself, it's not a big problem." Dantao obeyed and immediately went to tend to Xie Run. Xie Run and the Princess Consort both came down with fevers. Hers burned even worse than the Princess Consort's—she was delirious. If not for Xie Jiang holding things down, the maidservants would have been frantic with worry. Qingsong Courtyard was in turmoil until midnight, when both fevers finally broke. Xie Jiang packed up her things and prepared to leave. Nanny Li was greatly alarmed. "Divine Physician Xie, you're leaving? What about the Princess Consort?!" Xie Jiang said coolly, "She has passed the most dangerous period. As long as she rests well afterward, her body will gradually recover." "I'll come every two days to take her pulse. You don't need to worry too much." "Besides, can't the household summon an imperial physician? Having one keep watch would be the same." Nanny Li naturally didn't want Xie Jiang to leave. But Xie Jiang's words reminded her of something. Xie Jiang was not an imperial physician, nor was she the prince's household physician. She was under no obligation to the household whatsoever. Nanny Li was also afraid that forcing her to stay would anger Xie Jiang. Unfortunately, Prince Jing was busy with affairs both inside and outside the palace at the moment, and Xie Run was down with illness. Nanny Li couldn't even find someone to mediate, and could only watch helplessly as Xie Jiang left. Xie Run only learned of Xie Jiang's departure in the middle of the night. She said weakly, "My sister still has two children to look after—she probably can't afford to stay away too long." "Dantao, go to the storeroom and prepare some practical things to send to my sister. Prepare two sets of everything for the children..." Dantao pressed her down with concern. "Mistress, I know how to arrange things. You rest for now." "The eldest Miss said this illness of yours came from exhaustion." Xie Run didn't have the strength to say anything more to Dantao. She nodded feebly and lay back down on the bed. Xie Run's illness struck with full force—the fever would break, then rise again, tormenting her for days on end. Even the news that Prince Jing had become Crown Prince only reached her when she woke briefly and heard the maidservants mention it. She didn't even have the energy to ask for more details. By mid-April, Xie Run's mind finally cleared somewhat. She leaned against the bed, listening to Taotao's laughter from the next room. In the main hall, Tinghe was speaking with Dantao. Tinghe asked with concern, "Is Consort Xie feeling better? The estate sent over some fresh fruit. The Princess Consort knows Consort Xie loves these things, so she specially sent me to bring them over." Dantao's voice was soft, tinged with worry. "The fever has broken, but she was quite ill for the past few days. She's still weak all day long. Divine Physician Xie said she needs to recuperate slowly." "Please thank the Princess Consort for her generosity on my mistress's behalf." Dantao asked, "How is the Princess Consort doing now?" Tinghe's voice was much lighter, carrying a smile. "My mistress's health improves day by day. Divine Physician Xie truly lives up to her reputation." "The Princess Consort has already ordered a banner made to be sent to Divine Physician Xie's clinic and hung there." "Yesterday the Emperor also summoned Divine Physician Xie to the palace—he must have heard of her fame." Dantao smiled. "Our prince has become the Crown Prince, and soon the Princess Consort will be the Crown Princess. This is truly... such wonderful news." Tinghe's smile faded considerably, her voice carrying a hint of worry. "This matter... I'm afraid it's complicated." Dantao didn't dare ask more. Tinghe brought up another matter. "On the way here, someone passed word that Side Consort Fang is currently kneeling in the front courtyard, begging for forgiveness." Dantao was startled. "Has something happened to the Third Young Master?" Tinghe: "Prince An's faction was defeated by the Prince and fled south with their men... How old is the Third Young Master? How could he withstand such hardship?" "Although the news is tightly sealed for now, Side Consort Fang suddenly went to the front courtyard to beg forgiveness—she must have gotten word of something." The two maids chatted for quite a while, and after listening, Xie Run began to feel weary again. Dantao lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing Xie Run sitting up, she hurried forward. "Mistress, why have you sat up?" Xie Run asked lazily, "I have some energy today. I just overheard you and Tinghe talking." Dantao nodded. "Mistress, you've been drowsy these past few days, so we servants didn't dare tell you many things happening in the residence." "Besides Fang Yuan'er kneeling in the front courtyard to beg the Prince, what else has happened?" Xie Run asked casually. Dantao handed her a cup of hot tea and said softly, "Mistress, Concubine Wan is gone." Xie Run's hand paused mid-reach for the tea. For a long moment, she didn't react. After a while, she asked stiffly, "Who did you say is gone? How did she die?!" Dantao repeated softly, "Concubine Wan." "I heard that during the aftershocks in Qiangwu, she was crushed by a collapsing building." Xie Run took a moment to compose herself. "And her body?" Dantao shook her head. "I heard from those who came from Qiangwu that the ground there collapsed entirely. Concubine Wan pushed the Prince out of the way at the first moment, but she herself was buried beneath the rubble." "Mistress may not know yet—Qiangwu experienced five consecutive tremors within a few days, and the entire county's residents were forced to relocate." "The part of the city where Concubine Wan was buried has been abandoned. The Prince sent people to dig, but they only unearthed a few mangled corpses, none of which could even be identified." Xie Run immediately grew wary. "So you're saying no one actually saw Concubine Wan's body?" Dantao nodded. "Yes." Xie Run lowered her eyes gently.