CHAPTER 673: CHAPTER 673: VOMITING BLOOD

The news that the Empress had defied the Emperor’s orders, kneeling in Zhaochen Palace until she fainted and vomited blood, somehow spread throughout the harem.

The most anxious among them was Shih Jieyu, who had served the Emperor the night before.

Last night, the Emperor had suddenly visited her, telling her with a hint of apology, "The Empress is unwell; she has always regarded the Third Princess as her life’s treasure. This was something I failed to consider!"

Shih Jieyu was greatly alarmed. "Your concubine dares not!"

"Thank Your Majesty for your concern, and thank you for your grace!"

Even if the Third Princess couldn’t be brought over, expressing gratitude for the Emperor’s favor was a must.

Zhao Junyao saw that she was quite sensible, not as he imagined she would be—crying, causing a scene, or threatening to hang herself—so he was mostly satisfied and allowed himself a slight smile. After rewarding her with a few items, he left, not even staying for the night nor drinking a cup of tea.

Shih Jieyu leaned against the doorframe, foolishly watching his retreating figure, her heart filled to the brim and swelling with warmth.

The Emperor is still so commanding, so calm and authoritative, with such sharp and handsome features, as if he were the open sky after a storm clears. To marry such a man—I don’t know how many lifetimes of good fortune it took to achieve this. Even if it was by riding on my cousin’s coattails, I feel as if I’ve ascended to the heavens in one step.

But Shih Jieyu’s gaze gradually became misty, like a young girl lost in the throes of first love.

When will I ever get the Emperor to take another glance at me? Consort Xian Pin! How I envy her. To be held and cherished in the palm of the Emperor’s hand, she must be so happy!

Zhaoer brought a cloak to drape over her. "My lady, it’s late. You should sleep!"

Shih Jieyu nodded somewhat dejectedly and then followed her inside the room.

Lying in bed, she lowered the bed curtains, leaving only one lamp burning, which cast its light onto a sewing basket. Inside the basket was a half-finished embroidered pouch. With just two more, she would have a hundred.

Just in time for the Emperor’s longevity celebration, I can present them as longevity gifts, all handmade by me, symbolizing something quite extraordinary.

With that thought, she happily drifted into dreams.

Little did she know that good times would be short-lived. The very next morning, Shih Jieyu heard the news about the Empress collapsing and vomiting blood.

She turned pale with fright. "If something happens to the Empress, wouldn’t it be my fault?"

Without waiting another moment, she hastily got dressed and, with her palace attendants, rushed towards Jiaofang Hall.

The other concubines who received the news also hurried over. According to protocol, they were all required to attend to the Empress, even if it was just for a headache or a fever. No one dared to be absent.

「Inside Jiaofang Hall.」

When Xia Ruqing arrived, not all the Honored Ladies had gathered yet—she was rather early. She was dead tired; Zi Yue and her other attendants had dragged her out of a deep sleep. After hearing the news, she, too, was shaken and had quickly made her way there.

Before long, everyone had arrived. Sister Qing from the Empress Dowager’s retinue also came. With the Emperor not present, it would be utterly improper if no one came from the Empress Dowager’s side.

Soon, Imperial Doctor Zhang emerged from within, his brow deeply furrowed. "Pent-up frustration has attacked her heart. Much of it had already dispersed, but now... it has stagnated again! Moreover, it’s cold outside, and the Empress was already ill. Having been exposed to the cold, she now has a relentless high fever and is talking incoherently!"

He sighed. The situation seemed extremely dire.

Sister Qing’s expression immediately turned grim. "Alas! Imperial Physician, use whatever medicine you deem necessary. You must cure her! Hurry and dissipate the fever!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang nodded, deep in thought as he penned a prescription. "This medicine must be decocted and administered immediately. It would be best if it can reduce the fever. If not... we can only think of other methods!" And that would be even more tricky.

Yu Lan, Sister Ji, and the others fought to hold back their tears, their eyes red from the effort. At that moment, they couldn’t care less about propriety; they took the prescription and hurriedly went to prepare the medicine.

The Imperial Physician stayed to watch over the situation. The rest dared not speak.

Sister Qing sighed and thought to herself, Indeed, just as the Empress Dowager suspected, the Empress... is not a clever person! Even if she were enraged, how could the Emperor be pleased with a matter escalating like this? Truly, this was somewhat improper! After all, the Emperor is the ruler of a nation!

Sister Qing sighed again and, like most people, sat in silence.

The medicine was decocted and brought over; Sister Ji and Yu Lan worked together to get the Empress to drink it. After waiting a while longer, the Empress’s fever indeed began to subside.

Imperial Doctor Zhang made another diagnosis and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The high fever has been stopped, and there’s nothing else particularly dangerous now!" The vomiting of blood was due to a sudden surge of anger overwhelming her heart. "She just needs to expel the stagnant qi from her body. This mainly depends on her mood!"

In other words, with an improved mood and some nourishing supplements for gradual recuperation, she could recover in a few months.

If not... Imperial Doctor Zhang dared not continue the thought.

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, including Sister Qing.

"It’s good that she’s alright, good that she’s alright!"

"Yes, indeed, the Empress is truly blessed by destiny!"

Sister Ji was very excited. She rushed to a nearby shrine where a Buddha statue was worshipped and kowtowed repeatedly, her lips constantly muttering, "Amitābha."

The hearts that had leaped into everyone else’s throats finally settled back into place.

Sister Qing saw that having so many people crowding around was not helping, so she took charge and asked everyone to leave.

Initially, Sister Ji disagreed. "Those who are required to attend to the sick must stay; that’s the rule!"

Sister Qing looked at her coldly and said indifferently, "The Imperial Physician instructed the Empress to rest quietly. Can she rest properly with so many people around? Besides, you keep talking about rules, yet you disregard Her Majesty’s health. Are you truly acting in the Empress’s best interest?"

Sister Ji fell silent.

Sister Qing glared at her and walked away without turning her head.

The stabilization of the Empress’s condition was a result everyone welcomed. After all, if she were not well, it would be difficult for anyone else to be at ease.

As soon as Xia Ruqing returned to Qingya Residence, she lay worriedly on the warm kang bed, lost in thought. Zi Yue called her several times, but she did not respond.

After an unknown period, she murmured to herself, I wonder what I’ll have to endure this time! Last night, the Emperor went to Shih Jieyu’s place. But in the end, it was I who attended him! Heavens, I had no idea the Emperor was coming, much less about the Empress kneeling in Zhaochen Palace! This matter only spread throughout the palace the next day.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Ruqing’s expression had turned somewhat uneasy.

Sigh! I’d almost rather the Emperor hadn’t come!

If Zhao Junyao found out, he would surely pin me to the bed and torment me thoroughly.

"What, you don’t want me to come?"

"Not at all!" she’d imagine herself replying coyly.

COUGH. COUGH.

Xia Ruqing dared not continue the thought and shook her head to clear it.

Forget it. I’ll face problems as they come. One step at a time!

After all, it wasn’t the first time the Empress and the Noble Consort had treated her as a thorn in their side. So, what was the harm in one more time?!

「October 12th was the Second Princess’s birthday.」

Consort Hui Pin still refused to allow a celebration. She said that with the Empress still ill, it wasn’t her little girl’s turn to hold a birthday feast. It was to be considered an act of filial piety towards the Empress.

Afterwards, on October 16th, it was the Empress’s birthday, but that too wasn’t celebrated; she was still ill, after all. She had taken a few doses of medicine and her spirits had improved somewhat, but she still looked pale.