CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 87

"Reporting to the Emperor, Concubine Xi is currently resting in the side hall."

The palace maid said.

Due to her meritorious act of saving someone, the Emperor granted Concubine Xi special permission not to come out to greet him upon his arrival.

Xie Zhixing hummed in acknowledgment and walked over.

He initially thought he would see a pitiful and bedraggled figure resembling a drowned rat, but as soon as he drew open the curtain, a fragrant aroma of food hit him.

"This concubine pays respects to the Emperor."

Yun Jiao had just put down her chopsticks when Xie Zhixing waved his hand to dismiss her formalities.

Reason told him that with Concubine Xi’s ability to reverse life and death, she should be the least of his worries regarding safety. However, as he traveled on the Imperial Chariot to come here, apart from the rescued Eldest Prince, Concubine Xi was a constant weight lingering in his mind.

"What did the Imperial Physician say?"

"The Imperial Physician said this concubine is healthy and robust, no serious issues. Just need to keep warm to disperse the cold."

"They didn’t prescribe medicine for you?"

Yun Jiao shook her head, but Xie Zhixing ignored it and directly called for an Imperial Physician to come in.

"This subject pays respects to the Emperor and Concubine Xi."

A middle-aged Imperial Physician entered and bowed; as soon as he lifted his head, Yun Jiao recognized him.

This was the same Imperial Physician who insisted on prescribing medicine for her last time.

Why is it you again!

Everything he prescribed was unbearably bitter.

Every time Yun Jiao drank the medicine, she felt the need to save her progress, to avoid having to drink that bitter medicine again if anything required her to revert to a previous state.

She summoned all her acting skills, trying to force out a cold and fierce glare at Doctor Zhang, hoping he’d catch the hint.

Doctor Zhang shivered under her glare.

He completely got the hint from the Lady!

He carefully examined Yun Jiao’s pulse and with an acting prowess ten times better than hers, assumed a grave expression: "Your Majesty! Although Concubine Xi’s health is good, the greatest taboo for women is exposure to cold and chill. If the cold invades the body, it may take a hundred days to recover."

Yun Jiao: ?

Last time it was a week, now it’s starting at three months?

Did she really need a postpartum confinement after swimming in winter?

Yun Jiao forced a smile and said, "That won’t be necessary! I merely went into the water once."

Doctor Zhang, understanding the situation, played along: "It’s because the Lady is modest and doesn’t seek credit, but her ailment has significant implications."

"Doctor Zhang, feel free to speak," Xie Zhixing said. "Focus on the main points."

Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhang found confirmation in his actions to curry favor with Concubine Xi. Didn’t this give him a safe opportunity to make a name for himself? He listed a long line of nourishing supplements, while also detailing things to pay attention to in clothing, food, housing, and travel. Gong Mei diligently documented every word, ensuring that Concubine Xi was cared for as delicately as a rare porcelain artifact.

Yun Jiao felt weak, pathetic, and helpless: "Your Majesty..."

Xie Zhixing nodded, signaling him to leave: "Repeat Concubine Xi’s condition in front of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, just as you have stated now."

The higher the stakes, the more he lacked the common emotion of being "moved."

Princess Consort Jing neglected her duties; regardless of her distress or pain, a penalty was due, although not to be mentioned now, to avoid causing worry for the Eldest Prince.

Concubine Xi risked her life to save the Eldest Prince, but instead of feeling touched, he thought of rewards and recognition, deciding to grant her additional honors. Noticing Doctor Zhang’s exaggeration of her condition, he asked him to deliver the same account to the Empress Dowager, aiming to enhance her standing before the Empress Dowager. Correct deeds should receive their deserved rewards.

Having arranged everything, he then transitioned from being the Emperor back to Xie Zhixing.

He sat on the edge of the couch, using a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth: "Were you afraid?"

"At first, a little, but then I just felt tired,"

Yun Jiao mumbled.

The ability to reverse her state dulled her fear of death, yet the repeated experience of entering water brought an intensified repulsion to the suffocating sensation of cold water invading her ears, mouth, and nose. Each time, her mind screamed of exhaustion and disinterest in further attempts — that everything was destined, and her misfortune lay in becoming an eunuch in the palace. It was better to restart... then numbly revert to an earlier state.

She was no genius, only through continual mistakes did the rescue briefly turn into muscle memory, offering a slight chance of success.

Xie Zhixing stroked her head, the daylight filtering through the window, enrobing her in a veil of gold and brown light, his expression neutral yet reflecting an underlying emptiness.

Yun Jiao spoke ambiguously, but he caught a glint of insight in his eyes.

Previously, his solemn treatment of her was due to viewing her as a living Immortal walking the Earth. Yet, realizing Immortals also tired like humans and required time reversal to save a person without omniscience, she often unknowingly exposed her vulnerabilities before him.

Is there a possibility that apart from reversing time, she possesses no other abilities?

The entire Yun Family resided in the Capital City; closing the city gates would easily control them.

"You hadn’t seen the Eldest Prince then; at that time, he wore the attire of an eunuch, appearing as a mere little eunuch falling into the water. Would you still save him?"

In this world, anyone could give in to emotion, but not an Emperor, who had to consider the bigger picture, prioritizing major issues above all else. This distanced him from entanglements with the concubines, sparing himself needless troubles. He gently caressed her hair, his hand slipping down her slender back.

"I didn’t think too much at the time..."

Yun Jiao paused, recognizing that impulsive acts were driven by adrenaline, though after, rational judgment took over: "Ultimately, it was an innocent human life."

The Emperor observed his face mirrored in her clear eyes.

Though unspoken, it was apparent that in her heart, eunuchs and princes were equals; such blasphemous thoughts amounted to rebellion, yet it made her seem more divine.

"In the future, you are not allowed to risk yourself. If someone cannot be saved, do not get yourself involved."

Xie Zhixing’s personal interests made this command, as he reverted to his usual tone.

"This concubine understands."

"I won’t stay here long, you should rest well."

Xie Zhixing stood up to go handle the palace attendants serving the Eldest Prince.

The final investigation concluded it was indeed an accident. The Eldest Prince, frail and seldom leaving his chambers, caught the attendants off guard when he seized the opportunity to steal a eunuch’s attire and wander outside, nearly costing his life. The negligent attendants received severe punishments. The Emperor personally selected new palace maids and eunuchs for the Eldest Prince, enforcing them to witness the punishment to remember this lesson.

After Yun Jiao finished her meal, Princess Consort Jing came to express her gratitude: "Regarding today’s incident with Jing’er, this consort is truly beyond words of gratitude."

Princess Consort Jing held her hand.

Princess Consort Jing’s hands were emaciated and exceptionally cold:

"Jing’er has always had poor health; with the weather outside... if it hadn’t been for Concubine Xi, he might have... If I lost him, this consort wouldn’t even know how to go on living," Princess Consort Jing shed tears, her voice mournful: "I merely lay down for a nap, and upon waking, Jing’er had vanished. In the future, I plan to move his bed to my chamber; I simply cannot trust those attendants."

Grasped by both hands, Yun Jiao blinked a bit at a loss: "Princess Consort Jing overstates it, this concubine did only what was necessary."

Princess Consort Jing shook her head: "He was wearing eunuch attire; if it had been anyone else not recognizing the Eldest Prince, they wouldn’t have saved him."

An eunuch’s life is of little worth.

When they drown, they’re simply retrieved later; in this weather, if clothes get wet, causing cold-induced illness needing medicine bought at one’s own expense — if they die of illness, there’s no place to seek justice.