Chapter 399

Chapter 399 At certain moments, the Emperor's rebellious streak was quite strong. If others refused to accept Xie Run, he would deliberately dote on her all the more. If others looked down on her, he would deliberately elevate her. More importantly, Xie Run was also worthy of it—not only had she borne him a healthy prince, but she would soon deliver his second child. Occasionally, the Emperor himself would feel that Xie Run was so good that she deserved to be favored. The Empress was gravely ill, and the harem was restless, with schemes churning in every palace. The Emperor rarely had leisure time, so he took the opportunity to slack off at Xie Run's place, spending an entire afternoon playing with Taotao. Xie Run had no idea what chord the talisman paper incident had struck with the Emperor, but for the next several days, he stayed at Zhaohua Palace every night. Given her condition, the Emperor didn't insist on intimacy. After bathing each night, they simply went to sleep, occasionally exchanging a few idle words. Their emotions were so unnervingly calm that it seemed they had skipped their youth entirely and stepped straight into the dynamic of a middle-aged married couple. The Emperor's nightly presence at Zhaohua Palace, however, had the newly entered concubines frantic with anxiety. They had gradually come to realize: If the Empress passed away, they would likely be unable to serve the Emperor for a long time. Though no rule required the Emperor to observe mourning for the Empress, given his deep love and respect for her and his reputation, they knew he wouldn't go around bestowing his favor the moment his wife died. They had barely served the Emperor at all—if they weren't favored during their new days, then by the time newer concubines arrived and they became old faces, all hope for the rest of their lives would be lost. Those with steady temperaments, like Noble Lady Bai and Lady of Beauty Kong, stayed quietly in their own palaces. Those without, like Forest Lady Ming, had already secretly paid silver to the imperial physicians for potent medicines to heal her injuries faster, hoping to curry favor before the Empress passed. Others wavered, like Talented Lady Xue and Lady-in-waiting Miao, who had already strolled through the imperial garden several times, hoping to chance upon the Emperor. Xie Run occasionally heard the palace maids report such news and found it quite amusing. This kind of favor-seeking was far more entertaining than the vicious schemes of the prince's residence. Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Concubine Shen could no longer hold back and quietly came to see Xie Run. "Sister Xie, someone cursed you—are you just letting it go like that?" "Times have changed. Making a fuss over such a small matter isn't worth it." Concubine Shen couldn't help but say, "Sister Xie is willing to swallow this, but I can't!" "The person behind this has such deep schemes—they nearly framed me for it. If they had succeeded, it might have cost me my life. I won't let them off easily!" "These past few nights I've been having nightmares—dreaming I was framed, unable to clear my name no matter how much I spoke, and thrown into prison." The more Concubine Shen spoke, the angrier she grew, her brows furrowed in rare seriousness. "If I don't find out who's behind this, I won't be able to let it go!" Xie Run waved her fan casually: "If you want to investigate, I'll have my people cooperate with you. That works just as well." In her late pregnancy, Xie Run grew increasingly intolerant of heat. It was mid-July, and the weather had already turned cool, but after sitting in her room for a while, she felt feverish. Concubine Shen nodded repeatedly: "If I get any leads, I'll tell you immediately, Sister." Xie Run's fanning hand paused. "You came all this way just for this?" Concubine Shen would never visit while the Emperor was staying at Xie Run's place. First, she feared being unwelcome; second, she feared drawing the Emperor's attention. Risking a visit to Xie Run just to say these two sentences was unusual. Concubine Shen hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Sister Xie knows I have sharp ears—I occasionally pick up gossip from inside and outside the palace." "This morning, I suddenly heard a piece of news that made me restless. After thinking it over, I could only come to you, Sister Xie." Xie Run was puzzled and still in the mood to smile: "What major matter has you so conflicted? Tell me, let me hear it." Concubine Shen hesitated for a long while before leaning close to Xie Run's ear and whispering: "I heard from the purchasing eunuch today that something major seems to have happened in the Xia Dynasty." Xie Run's fox-like eyes glanced at her. "You're teasing me with suspense now?" Concubine Shen: "...He said the Empress's birth mother died suddenly, and her funeral rites were held ten days ago." "The Xia Dynasty originally sent envoys to report the mourning, but the Emperor intercepted them." "I heard the Emperor didn't even let them through the capital's gates!" Xie Run was so startled by this news that her fan nearly slipped from her hand. "Is your information reliable?!" "With such a major matter, why hasn't a single word reached the palace?!" Concubine Shen said with a troubled expression: "This is exactly why I hesitated to tell you, Sister." "The young eunuch in charge of purchasing goes in and out of the palace gates daily. He said the news has already spread outside—it's only the palace that's sealed off tightly. I'm afraid the Emperor has ordered that the Empress must not know." "I think it's true, but with something this major, I'm also afraid it might be a rumor... The Empress already doesn't have much time left. If this news reaches her, it might become the final blow that sends her to her grave!" Concubine Shen was well aware of how severe the consequences would be if this news got out, which was exactly why she couldn't hold it in any longer and had come to find Xie Run. Xie Run's brows furrowed tightly, and suddenly something stirred in her belly. She froze, then quickly placed her hand gently on her abdomen to soothe it. "Mother is too tense. Don't be afraid!" Concubine Shen said regretfully, "It's my fault! I forgot you're carrying a child and shouldn't be overtaxing your mind. Sister Xie, you shouldn't dwell on this too much..." "It's fine!" Xie Run's expression was calm and indifferent as her hand gently stroked her belly. "This is something we'd have to learn about sooner or later. Knowing earlier means we can make plans earlier." Xie Run slowly lowered her eyes. "No wonder the Emperor suddenly ordered that no one in the Six Palaces approach Fengyi Palace after the Empress vomited blood." "It seems the Emperor already knew by then." Concubine Shen nodded repeatedly. "Consort Wen came to seek an audience earlier and was also turned away at the door. I wonder if she knows something?" "At a time like this, the Emperor keeping the news under wraps is also for the Empress's own good." Concubine Shen couldn't help but sigh. "The Empress is such a good person. Why can she never find peace?" Xie Run said, "This news absolutely cannot reach the Empress's ears, or something terrible will happen!" Concubine Shen immediately said, "Rest assured, Sister Xie. Once I walk out that door, I won't utter a single word about it. If I do, may I be struck by lightning!" "Even though we know now, there's nothing we can do," Xie Run said slowly. "What I fear is that someone with ulterior motives might learn of this and try to do something." Concubine Shen said in shock, "But this is the Empress! Who would have such audacity?!" Some disrespectful words were better left unsaid. The Empress would die sooner or later anyway. Why would anyone courting death stir up trouble and invite resentment? If the Empress died of illness on her own, the Emperor couldn't hold anyone accountable. But if she were harmed, then heads would roll—nine generations of families would be waiting with their necks bared. Xie Run said, "The newcomers in the palace all hope the Empress lives a long life, but the old-timers may not feel the same." If the Empress didn't fall, how could they rise? Thinking about it this way, if something did happen, Xie Run, as Noble Consort, would be under no small amount of suspicion. The more Xie Run thought about it, the more she felt things were taking a bad turn. She instructed Concubine Shen, "Keep your eyes and ears sharp these next few days. Take the opportunity to do some probing. The moment there's the slightest stir outside, be on your guard." "If anyone asks, say that Ben Gong specifically consulted a high monk for a method to pray for the Empress's blessings, and asked you to handle it on my behalf." Concubine Shen said, "I will not disappoint Sister's expectations!" After Concubine Shen left, Xie Run thought it over and still felt it wasn't enough, so she had someone quietly deliver a message to the Emperor. Xie Run instructed Dantao, "Concubine Shen just left my palace, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to bring this up directly. Just say that there have been many rumors circulating in the palace lately, and strict measures must be taken to rectify the inner court and keep the palace staff's tongues in check, lest trouble arise." "Although Ben Gong has been granted the authority by the Emperor to manage the Six Palaces, my strength falls short. I'm afraid I'll need Consort Jingshu and Consort Wen to lend their efforts as well." Since Xie Run now knew of this matter, she couldn't keep it from the Emperor. But she also couldn't be too direct about it. The Empress's life and death were closely tied to her own interests. Being too straightforward would make it seem like she was eager to distance herself from any suspicion, which would only invite more doubt. Xie Run added, "Send someone to Consort Wen's side to probe for information. See whether Consort Wen knows about this matter. If she does, then so be it. If she doesn't... guard against her going to find the Empress once she learns of it." Dantao was taken aback. "Should this matter be reported to the Emperor?" Xie Run said, "Not for now." The way many things developed couldn't be guessed through speculation alone. The Emperor's imperial guards were stationed there, and no one in the palace would dare reach out toward the Empress. But that didn't stop those outside the palace from having means that could reach the heavens. In Fengyi Palace, the Empress lay sickly in bed, numbly drinking the medicine Nanny Li fed her. Then a report came: "Your Highness, Imperial Physician Jiang has come to take your pulse." Nanny Li frowned. "Why is it Imperial Physician Jiang?!" "Your Highness's illness has always been treated by Imperial Physician Xie. Why isn't Imperial Physician Xie here today?" "Reporting to Your Highness, Imperial Physician Xie's young son came down with an acute illness, so he reported to the Emperor and had Imperial Physician Jiang take his place for the pulse diagnosis. The pulse record will be documented, and Imperial Physician Xie will still write the prescription and administer the needles." Upon hearing that the Emperor had been informed, Nanny Li thought no more of it. "Let him in." Before long, Imperial Physician Jiang entered Fengyi Palace quietly with a disciple in tow. "Your humble servant pays respects to Her Highness the Empress!" The Empress said weakly, "Rise." Imperial Physician Jiang rose, hunched over as he approached, and opened his medicine box to begin preparing to take the Empress's pulse. Suddenly, the disciple following beside Imperial Physician Jiang knelt before the Empress's bed. Nanny Li shouted angrily, "How dare you!" "What do you think you're doing?!" Tinghe and Tingshuang also rushed forward in alarm, thinking the disciple intended some mischief. Imperial Physician Jiang looked just as bewildered and was about to speak when the disciple kneeling on the ground said in a tearful voice, "Your Highness the Empress, Consort Yun has passed away!" For a moment, no one else in the hall reacted. Only the Empress was struck as if by lightning, her face stiff, her voice trembling as she asked, "What did you say?!" "Who did you say has died?!" The young disciple kneeling on the ground knocked his head several times, each knock louder than the last, while crying out in a pitiful voice. "Consort Yun, having angered His Majesty, was cast into the Cold Palace and died of illness. Before her death, she kept calling your name and refused to close her eyes." "Consort Yun said she was sorry to you. She should have dashed herself to death before the Hall of Diligent Governance back then, rather than sending you to the Yu Dynasty for a marriage alliance, and certainly should not have ruined the rest of your life!" "The Xia Dynasty envoy came to report the death, but was blocked outside the capital for a full ten days... Consort Yun's bones have already grown cold!" Imperial Physician Jiang reacted quickly, knowing there was no Consort Yun in the palace now. This fellow even mentioned the Xia Dynasty envoy—clearly he was from Xia, likely here to bring harm to their Yu Dynasty! Imperial Physician Jiang swung his medicine box and struck the disciple on the head. "How dare you!" The box hit the disciple's head, and blood immediately flowed. Imperial Physician Jiang rebuked, "Who allowed you to fabricate such nonsense before Her Majesty the Empress?!" "Get out of here now!" The Empress suppressed the sound in her throat and said, "Stop!" "You say this happened ten days ago?!" The disciple wept, "Your servant would not dare deceive the Princess. If the Princess does not believe it, she may send someone to ask the Yu Dynasty Emperor!" "This matter has already spread throughout the Yu Dynasty. It is the Yu Dynasty Emperor who deliberately sealed off news from the harem and has been concealing it from you all along!" The Empress's dark, heavy gaze stared fixedly at him. After a long moment, she said, "This man spreads rumors and deliberately sows discord between Ben Gong and the Emperor. Drag him out... and beat him to death!" When she spoke those last two words, the Empress's voice trembled. The disciple kneeling on the ground suddenly raised his head, staring at the Empress in utter shock. "Princess, have you been Empress of the Yu Dynasty so long that you no longer want your own birth mother?!" "Consort Yun will never rest in peace beneath the earth!" Nanny Li listened as if struck by lightning. Without a word, she covered the man's mouth and had several people drag him away by force. When Nanny Li returned, she only saw Imperial Physician Jiang kneeling on the ground admitting his fault. "Your Majesty, your servant is guilty. Your servant failed in vigilance, allowing this Xia Dynasty spy to slip in." "I beg Your Majesty to punish your servant. Even a thousand deaths would not absolve your servant of blame!" The Empress leaned against the headboard, her long hair loose and scattered. Looking closely, one could see several silver strands mixed among the black hair, adding a touch of weariness and age to her young face. She stared into the void with open eyes, unable to react for a long time. Nanny Li's tears flowed bitterly. "Imperial Physician Jiang's mistake should be punished by the Emperor. To disturb Her Majesty at this moment, do you not want your life?!" Imperial Physician Jiang hastily said, "Your servant understands. Your servant will leave at once..." Before Imperial Physician Jiang could finish, the Empress, lying back on the bed, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed weakly against the bedside. All the vitality and spirit in her seemed to be drained away in an instant. Nanny Li cried out in heart-wrenching anguish, "Empress!" Tinghe and Tingshuang also rushed over at once. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! What is wrong?!" "Call the imperial physician!" "Go fetch the Emperor!" Imperial Physician Jiang was pulled back again. Fengyi Palace fell into chaos. By the time the Emperor arrived at Fengyi Palace in a fury, an air of mourning permeated the skies above the entire palace. The medicinal smell that had lingered over Fengyi Palace for days seemed to have dissipated greatly, but a faint scent of blood had taken its place in the air. The anger on the Emperor's face faded, replaced by heaviness. Seeing the Empress lying on the bed with only the faintest breath remaining, the Emperor already had a sense of foreboding in his heart. "The Emperor has come!" The sound of salutations rose. Nanny Li, holding the Empress, said tearfully, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is here. The Emperor has come to see you." "Open your eyes... Your Majesty!" The Emperor stood to the side with lowered gaze, asking in a deep voice, "How is the Empress?"