bookrandom Chapter 42 Angelic Afterglow
Chapter 42 Angelic Afterglow
Li Yu was taken aback when she heard the Emperor say this, and asked, "Didn't Your Majesty say that you would go to Yanxi Palace to have dinner with Consort Xian tonight?"
The emperor glanced at him and said, "Wherever I want to go or not, it's not your place to decide." With that, he turned and left.
Li Yu followed obsequiously, saying, "This servant deserves to die; this servant has spoken too much."
Jinzhong followed behind, keeping his eyes downcast but inwardly sneering.
He had previously bribed a lowly eunuch in the sweeping department to find out what Li Yu had done at Yanxi Palace that day.
Thinking that Li Yu had only received a paltry favor from Consort Xian, yet he was willing to risk offending the emperor to speak up for her, he suddenly felt that his future looked brighter.
The emperor took a few steps, thought for a moment, and then said, "Give Consort Xian more decorations and silks. Also, have the Imperial Household Department send those two pots of green plum blossoms to Consort Xian."
After Rongyin finished serving pastries with the eldest and second princes at the Xiefang Palace, she took them to the flower room.
The nursery nanny diligently led the two children around the greenhouse. In the end, the eldest prince chose a potted pine tree, the second prince chose a ginseng ficus for himself, and a potted anemone for Jingse.
As the group walked out of the flower room, they ran into Qin Li directing two palace maids to carry two pots of green plum blossoms: "Be careful, these green plum blossoms are a rare find!"
Upon seeing Rong Yin and her entourage, Qin Li immediately smiled and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress, and greets the First Prince and the Second Prince." Two palace maids, who were bending over to move flowers, also immediately lowered their heads and curtsied upon seeing the Empress.
Rongyin said "No need for formalities" and asked, "What brings Steward Qin to this flower room in person?"
Qin Li smiled and said, "His Majesty remembered that Consort Xian liked the green plum blossoms of Suzhou and Hangzhou, so he specially ordered officials to find two pots, which have been planted in the greenhouse. Today, he wants to bestow them upon Consort Xian. I thought that green plum blossoms are rare, and I was afraid that we servants would be clumsy and not careful enough, so I came here in person."
Rong Yin smiled and said, "Steward Qin is meticulous and thoughtful, which is a good thing."
As the two were talking, a muffled thud was heard, and one of the palace maids behind Qin Li suddenly fell to the ground.
Qin Li seemed startled, turned around and scolded, "You blind brat, can't you even perform proper etiquette in front of the Empress!"
Rongyin exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on?" She immediately instructed, "Yingluo, go and see if this palace maid is ill. If she is, find a royal physician for her. Baizhi, take the two princes back first."
The second prince was confused, while the eldest prince timidly asked, "Empress Mother?"
Rongyin said softly, "Your Majesty has some things to take care of here. Could you help me take your younger brother back to Changchun Palace and give the silver lotus to Jingse, okay?"
The eldest prince hesitated for a moment, then took the second prince's hand and left.
Yingluo noticed that Qin Li gave her a look before turning around, and felt a little strange. When she got closer to the palace maid and saw her face, she suddenly exclaimed, "Ye Xin?"
She saw that Ye Xin's eyes were closed and her face was flushed. She reached out and touched her forehead, which was burning hot.
She immediately said, "Your Majesty, Ye Xin has a high fever and needs to be treated by an imperial physician."
Rongyin immediately sent Mingyu to fetch the imperial physician. Yingluo told Rongyin to wait at the nearby Yanhui Pavilion, and then directed the nanny to carry Yexin to the palace servants' quarters near the flower room and settle her in. Qin Li instructed everyone not to reveal this matter to Yanxi Palace, and sent two eunuchs from the flower room with green plums.
Yingluo covered Yexin with a blanket, wet her own handkerchief and placed it on Yexin's forehead, then lifted the curtain and went out to fetch the imperial physician.
As she passed the flower room, she saw the head maid of Yanxi Palace, Su Xin, talking anxiously to another maid. Not far away, a figure appeared from behind in a nearby corridor; judging from his attire, he seemed to be an imperial physician.
When Su Xin heard that Ye Xin had just been severely punished and demoted to the flower room, she immediately went to find Jiang Yubin, thinking of checking Ye Xin's injuries and bringing her some medicine.
Just then, Jiang Yubin was off duty, so the two quietly went to the flower room. Su Xin told Jiang Yubin to hide aside while she went to inquire about Ye Xin.
Not wanting the people in the flower room to know that the Empress had personally intervened, none of them dared to say anything, and simply claimed that they did not know who this person was.
Just as Su Xin was getting anxious, she heard someone call out unexpectedly from behind: "Su Xin?"
Startled, she turned around and saw Yingluo's figure come into view.
Inside Yanhui Pavilion, Rongyin sat upright in the inner hall, while Qin Li and Imperial Physician Bao stood below her.
Physician Bao was reporting on Ye Xin's condition.
"After being punished, Miss Ye Xin did not receive timely medical treatment. She caught a cold, her wounds developed boils, heat entered her body, and she also suffered from some stagnation, resulting in blood and phlegm stagnating in her chest. I inquired with Miss Xin and learned that she had previously been exposed to cold, so her constitution was probably already weak. In addition, the delay in treatment has made Miss Ye Xin's illness quite dangerous."
Rongyin said, "Do your best to treat him. If he needs any medicine, deduct it from my allowance."
She twirled her prayer beads and then ordered, "Eunuch Qin, find two old women to assist Imperial Physician Bao in examining Ye Xin's injuries and recording it in the Imperial Household Department's archives. Have the people from the Accounting Department accompany me to Yanxi Palace to find Consort Hai and get some answers."
Her voice was soft and her speech was slow and gentle, yet at this moment it carried an air of authority.
Everyone knelt down and said, "We respectfully obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree!"
In the Yanxi Palace.
Sanbao nervously reported, "My lord, Eunuch Li said that His Majesty will be having dinner with the Empress and the two princes tonight, so he won't be coming."
Ruyi was somewhat disappointed, thinking: Although she was favored by the Emperor, the Empress could use children to keep him tied down. When would she be able to have a child?
Seeing the disappointment on her face, Sanbao quickly said, "My lady, the Emperor still cares about you. He ordered the Imperial Household Department to send many gifts. The Imperial Household Department also presented you with several pieces of fine wool fabric, and presented Sister Aruo and Sister Xinxin with two blue woolen sheepskin-collared robes, a rose-purple gray squirrel fur coat, and a magenta cotton-silk phoenix skirt."
Furthermore, please take a step into the courtyard and take a look.
Ruyi arrived in the courtyard, and Sanbao smiled and pointed to two pots of green plum blossoms in the courtyard: "Consort Xian, these were sent by the Emperor, they are so beautiful!"
Ruyi smiled charmingly: "I haven't even arrived in Jiangnan yet, but the green plums have arrived first. Your Majesty remembers that I love the green plums of Suzhou and Hangzhou the most."
She wanted the palace maids around her to say a few words about how "the Emperor treats his mistress with deep affection and loyalty," but Su Xin hadn't returned since the afternoon. A Ruo said she would go look for her, but she never came back, and Ling Zhi and Yun Zhi didn't respond either.
She had no choice but to continue on her own: "Between two hearts, there is a wisp of plum fragrance. Green plum blossoms are rare, and the Emperor's sentiment is even rarer. Sanbao, move these two pots of green plum blossoms to the backyard and take good care of them. Also, you are not allowed to go out and make a fuss about it, nor are you allowed to have any disputes with the people of Xianfu Palace."
At that moment, Zhao Yitai's booming voice rang out: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Everyone immediately knelt down.
The Empress alighted from her sedan chair and slowly entered Yanxi Palace, saying "No need for formalities." However, her face was ashen, devoid of her usual gentle elegance.
When Ruyi saw that the Empress's gaze lingered on the two pots of green plum blossoms, she thought to herself that the Empress only received power from the Emperor, but not his heart. She could only use her child to attract the Emperor's attention, but the Emperor was able to understand her heart. She couldn't bear that the Emperor knew her preferences and even went out of his way to cater to them.
So the Empress really couldn't resist causing trouble?
Ruyi lowered her head and considered how to endure this, but Mingyu, who was by the Empress's side, said, "Her Majesty the Empress has some matters to discuss today and wants to question Consort Hai and her servants. Consort Xian is a principal consort, so she came to inform you first."
Ruyi was taken aback, then replied, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders." She then said to Sanbao, "Go and invite Consort Hai here."
The Empress said, "There's no need to trouble Consort Xian. I will go to her myself."
Then, the group of people went to Hailan's residence in a grand procession.
Sanbao asked worriedly, "Consort Xian, should we... go and invite the Emperor?"
Ruyi said calmly, "His Majesty has granted the Empress the authority to handle all matters, large and small, in the palace. If the Empress decides to handle them, His Majesty will not say anything, and we cannot interfere."
So hot……
Ye Xin felt dizzy and disoriented, as if her body was burning hot. She struggled to open her eyes, only to see a raging fire in the void before her.
Terrified, she cried out, "Fire! Fire! Help! Quickly, bring me water!"
A faint female voice came from beside him: "What's going on?"
An even more ethereal voice drifted over: "Close your eyes, repeat after me, then open your eyes."
The chanting sound seemed to be coming from above. Who is that? Is it the Black and White Impermanence coming to take me away?
The woman's voice rang out again: "What's going on? What do we do now, Yuan Yi?"
"The lingering flames of non-human beings have little impact, and the power of this world can be quelled. Every sip and bite is preordained. Go to the Cold Palace to find that person burdened with karmic debts, and let him atone for his past sins and settle his karma."
That female voice... it sounds so familiar... it's... it's Yingluo from the Empress's side...
Ye Xin grasped at a straw and reached out her hand: "Yingluo, save me! I'm so hot, so painful! It's all fire, all fire!"
Another burst of chaotic sounds filled my ears.
"Ye Xin! Ye Xin! Let go! Can you hear me? Physician Jiang, Physician Bao, Ye Xin keeps talking nonsense, what should we do?"
"The medicine has been administered; the rest is up to Miss Ye Xin's own fate."
"Don't worry, Su Xin, Miss Ye Xin will be alright."
"Xin Xin! Yanxi Palace is so busy, yet you've come to the flower room to slack off... What's going on? Waaah..."
"Tie A'Ruo up, don't let her escape! I'm going to find someone!"
"The person has been brought."
The sounds came from near and far, as if someone submerged in water could hear people talking on the shore.
Ye Xin did feel some water flowing into her mouth, but in the raging flames, the water turned into vapor the moment it touched her lips and dissipated into the air.
Suddenly, a person strode quickly towards them in the firelight.
The face before Ye Xin's eyes overlapped with the face in Xianfu Palace that had threatened her and Consort Hai.
Double happiness?
She saw Shuangxi's mouth opening and closing rapidly, her right hand holding a needle and drawing lines on her forehead, while her other hand reached forward and a small green snake poked its head out from Shuangxi's sleeve.
Before she could scream, the little green snake flicked its tongue and gently touched her forehead.
The flames before his eyes vanished instantly, leaving only a burning ember that seemed to have been stuffed into his chest and abdomen, with a scorching heat rising up.
She tilted her head and began to vomit profusely.
She opened her eyes wide in horror and saw that she had vomited out a charred lump of something. The thing was burned and deformed, and its original shape could no longer be seen. Only what was originally supposed to be a mouth was wide open, from which a red-hot blade was slanted out.
"The bloody sputum has been cleared up, so everything should be fine. I thought the incantation technique was just a folk legend, but I didn't expect it to actually work," a male voice said with a sigh of relief.
"Well, it's mainly the medicine prescribed by the two imperial physicians that's effective; the incantation technique is just a supplementary measure. But if she can pull through this time, we should still prepare offerings to thank the gods of the four directions."
Ye Xin looked around blankly, and the figures in front of her gradually became clear. Su Xin and Ying Luo came closer to her. Su Xin still had tears in her eyes, while Ying Luo breathed a sigh of relief. The two imperial physicians and Shuang Xi were talking not far away.
Aruo was tied to a chair, her mouth seemingly stuffed with something, and she was looking at us in terror.
The fear subsided, and exhaustion immediately overwhelmed her. Soon, her consciousness was plunged into darkness once more.