The southern tour took a hundred days, but most of that time was spent on the road.
According to the original plan, the entourage was to stay in Dengcheng Prefecture for no more than ten days.
Just as the date to set sail for the next destination was approaching, an unexpected incident occurred with the Emperor.
He had been absent from the banquets for several days, and then, from somewhere, rumors faintly emerged of his illness.
Wen Qingci, who had been staying in the adjacent courtyard, was suddenly summoned in haste.
The commotion was so great that it disturbed the entire procession.
That morning, accompanied by Wen Qingci’s hurried footsteps, the news of the Emperor’s serious illness finally spread throughout the entire traveling palace.
At the , it was still not fully light.
Wen Qingci had just arrived at Dezhang Hall and had not yet seen the Emperor when the medicine box he was carrying was taken by Zhao Gonggong, the eunuch responsible for the Emperor’s daily life, who mostly served in the inner hall.
Therefore, Wen Qingci did not see him often.
“Wen Xiansheng, do not hurry, this is Dengcheng Prefecture’s new tea for this year. Please try it before you get busy,” Zhao Gonggong said with a ruddy face, not at all looking like someone who had just cared for a seriously ill Emperor.
Wen Qingci paused, loosening his grip on the medicine box.
He was led by Zhao Gonggong to a tea room on the side, and as he sat down, Wen Qingci tentatively asked, “Is His Majesty suffering from adapting to the local climate?”
While pouring tea, Zhao Gonggong mysteriously smiled at him and replied, “Well, His Majesty is still resting… Wen Xiansheng will know once you take his pulse.”
“Alright,” Wen Qingci said no more, smiling as he took the tea from Zhao Gonggong’s hand.
The Emperor had called him here so early in the morning, causing such a stir, and yet he was not in a hurry to see a physician?
But just by looking at Zhao Gonggong’s expression, one could tell that the Emperor’s illness was probably completely different from the rumors outside…
Wen Qingci had wondered in the past few days, whenever the Emperor had a headache or even sneezed, he would hastily have someone bring Wen Qingci to take his pulse.
Why this time, when he was unwell, did he “rest in bed” until his condition became serious before remembering him?
Wen Qingci had gotten up a bit early today and was still sleepy.
After a few cups of tea, he finally became alert.
At that moment, a young eunuch hurried over and whispered something in Zhao Gonggong’s ear.
After he left, Zhao Gonggong bent down to pick up the medicine chest: “Alright, Wen Xiansheng. His Majesty has woken up,” he said with a smile.
With that, he led Wen Qingci towards the inner hall.
Wen Qingci had been in this book for some time now.
But before this, he had never been to the Emperor’s bedroom.
Although it was just a traveling palace, Wen Qingci couldn’t help but curiously look around as he walked.
The traveling palace of Dengcheng Prefecture, built at great expense, was said to be only slightly smaller than the standards of the Tai Shu Palace.
The corridor outside the Emperor’s bedroom in Dezhang Hall was full of colorful paintings, exquisitely beautiful.
Every nook and cranny was adorned with fine porcelain.
At first glance, Wen Qingci thought he had walked into some museum.
With a “creak,” the carved wooden door was pushed open from the inside, and Zhao Gonggong lowered his voice to say to Wen Qingci, “Wen Xiansheng, this way, please.”
The Wei Dynasty was known for its incense burning, and the Emperor was particularly fond of it.
Every place he appeared was shrouded in smoke.
Although the inner hall of Dezhang Hall was extraordinarily luxurious, it was far smaller than the Ning He Hall of the Taishu Palace.
The small palace room was still filled with incense burners as usual.
After burning all night, the room was filled with smoke, as if on fire, and Wen Qingci uncontrollably coughed lightly as he entered.
The incense in the inner hall was not only choking but also had a strong scent.
It was as if someone had spilled countless perfumes here, and one breath could make one dizzy.
Wen Qingci paused in his steps.
The Emperor’s voice then leisurely sounded.
“…You have come, my beloved subject. It’s just past the , and you probably haven’t had breakfast yet?”
The voice of Xie Zhao Lin was leisurely, sounding slightly hoarse.
But it sounded more like he had not fully woken up in the morning, rather than the seriously ill state rumored.
He was indeed feigning illness!
With that, the Emperor gestured for Zhao Gonggong to send over some pastries from the side.
“Your servant has heard that Your Majesty is unwell. Do you need a pulse diagnosis now?” Wen Qingci temporarily suppressed his doubts and asked calmly.
After a pause, the Emperor, who always cherished his life and paid attention to health, nodded and said, “Alright, then take my pulse first.”
He then stretched out his wrist.
Feigning illness could not fool any physician, let alone himself, known as a “divine physician.”
Was he not afraid that Wen Qingci might “accidentally” reveal the truth and spread the word?
Curious, Xian Gonggong stepped forward with a smile on his face and said, “Wen Xiansheng, the side hall of Dezhang Hall has been cleaned up for you. You will stay here for the next few days and focus on recuperating His Majesty’s health.”
It was only right for the imperial physician to be by the Emperor’s side at all times when he was “seriously ill.”
No wonder the Emperor was so unconcerned, this was his plan all along.
But it was unknown why the Emperor was feigning illness this time.
“Alright,” Wen Qingci nodded lightly to Xian Gonggong and patiently took the Emperor’s pulse.
…As Wen Qingci had guessed, the Emperor’s pulse was neither floating nor sinking, composed and strong, even healthier than himself.
In the past few days, he had just been lying in bed in the inner hall of the traveling palace.
Wen Qingci gently withdrew his hand and honestly said, “Apart from the old ailments, Your Majesty’s body is not in serious trouble.”
The Emperor had closed his eyes and pretended to sleep at some point.
“Then, Wen Xiansheng, take this time to recuperate His Majesty’s health,” Zhao Gonggong said in a low voice, smiling as he continued, “And you can also rest well in the side hall.”
“By the way, if you need any medicinal materials, no matter how precious, our household will find them for you as soon as possible.”
Since he couldn’t leave for the time being, Wen Qingci could only rest well here as suggested.
Wen Qingci smiled, packed up the medicine chest, and nodded to Zhao Gonggong: “Thank you for your trouble.”
While taking the pulse just now, the smoke in the room gradually dissipated, and the choking scent faded a lot, probably because the incense in the burner had burned out.
Wen Qingci had not yet breathed a sigh of relief when the Emperor, who had been pretending to sleep, seemed to realize this and opened his eyes to look towards the corner of the inner hall.
“Zhao Gonggong, light the incense.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After saying that, Zhao Gonggong hurriedly ran to the corner, took out a brocade box from somewhere, and prepared to add incense.
Wen Qingci subconsciously followed Zhao Gonggong’s movements and looked over there.
He had only glanced casually, but unexpectedly, he saw an unexpected scene.
—Zhao Gonggong opened the lid of the incense burner, intending to add incense.
This was an everyday scene in the imperial palace and the entire Wei Dynasty, where incense burning was prevalent.
Even the incense burner itself was particularly unremarkable.
But unlike usual, through the curling smoke, Wen Qingci saw that the jade incense burner did not contain the common incense or other powdered fragrances.
Instead… it was a pill?
Wen Qingci, who had intended to leave the inner hall, paused and involuntarily took a few steps towards where Zhao Gonggong was.
Through the thick smoke, the contents of the incense burner became clear.
He had not seen wrong; indeed, there was a pill-shaped object in the incense burner.
The red pill stood out starkly in the green jade incense burner, making it difficult to ignore.
Wen Qingci’s gaze was somewhat obvious, and seeing this, Zhao Gonggong’s hand adding the incense suddenly shook heavily.
But the next second, he smiled and made way, whispering to Wen Qingci, “This is a calming incense.”
From Zhao Gonggong’s expression, there was no sign of anything unusual.
The color of the pill in front of him was too distinctive, and almost subconsciously, Wen Qingci uttered its name: “…Cinnabar?”
Cinnabar is indeed often used to treat palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and dreams, so calling it “calming incense” was not wrong.
After all, it was originally a heavy sedative medicine.
“Exactly, it’s made of cinnabar,” Zhao Gonggong said while crushing the incense pill, flattering him, “As expected of Wen Xiansheng, you recognized it at a glance.” After speaking
Mercury sulfide, when heated, decomposes to release mercury, which then silently evaporates into the air…
It was in this daily ritual of incense burning that the Emperor was poisoned!
The people of this era had no correct understanding of heavy metal poisoning—as could be seen from the countless emperors who died from consuming ‘elixirs’ laden with heavy metals.
However, from the medical texts left by the original owner, it was known that the Valley of Divine Physicians had already conceived this concept.
Was the Emperor’s poisoning an accident, or was it someone’s deliberate doing?
Wen Qingci couldn’t help but frown.
The Emperor was strict about his incense, as soon as one stick burnt out, the eunuchs would immediately replace it.
As a palace eunuch serving directly before the Emperor, Zhao Gonggong would not be unaware of this habit.
Yet just now, as the scent of the incense in the hall was about to dissipate, the usually meticulous and careful Zhao Gonggong seemed to have forgotten this matter, stubbornly refusing to add more incense.
It was only when the Emperor spoke up that he seemed to remember…
And facing Wen Qingci’s gaze, Zhao Gonggong’s hand trembled oddly—he was afraid.
A physiological reaction that could not be concealed.
This could not have been an accident.
Wen Qingci could almost confirm that Zhao Gonggong knew the cinnabar was toxic and understood the significance behind his actions… he was intentionally poisoning the Emperor.
But who was behind this eunuch?
Wen Qingci gripped the handle of his medicine box tightly, recalling everything he knew about Zhao Gonggong—
At dawn, news of the Emperor’s serious illness spread throughout the entire traveling palace.
Along with it, a royal decree was issued.
—The Emperor commanded the Second Prince to handle all official duties on his behalf in the coming days.
Although rumors had already been circulating, when the news was officially announced, everyone pretended to have just learned of it, praying for the Emperor with great sorrow.
The threshold of the temple Wen Qingci had visited last time was nearly worn down in just one day by the ministers and concubines.
Although her son temporarily held great power, Consort Hui did not seem happy at all.
Early in the morning, she appeared outside the back hall with various supplements and medicinal soups, repeatedly pleading with Xian Gonggong to let her see the Emperor.
“Consort Hui, His Majesty is still resting, you cannot enter now…” Xian Gonggong said with some difficulty, standing outside the hall.
Most people understood this reasoning, and aside from Consort Hui, no one else came here today.
But this consort had always acted without thinking, doing whatever she wanted.
Sure enough, she frowned and said, “I just want to deliver the medicinal meal I prepared for His Majesty, is that not allowed?”
At the end, Consort Hui added, “This is His Majesty’s favorite flavor.”
Xian Gonggong smiled slightly, saying with a hint of helplessness, “His Majesty has someone to take care of him, Your Highness need not worry.”
Although the old steward smiled, he was already somewhat impatient inside.
He had wasted too much time here with Consort Hui early in the morning.
Consort Hui had been in the palace for nearly twenty years, but she still did not have a clear understanding of her status, always unable to help treating the Emperor as an ordinary husband.
As a result, Consort Hui often did things that were inappropriate for the time, saying things that should not be said.
If Wen Qingci knew what Xian Gonggong was thinking, he would probably summarize it like this—Consort Hui has a somewhat low EQ and is slightly love-struck.
This was also everyone’s consistent impression of her.
“Someone to take care of him…” Consort Hui reluctantly repeated these words.
Seeing that the other party really had no intention of letting her in, she finally gave up.
“Then please take the soup I made inside,” she conceded.
“Of course!” Xian Gonggong, who had been troubled here for a while, quickly took the items, “Your Highness, please go rest, you’ve also been busy all morning!”
Consort Hui took a deep look at the rear hall, finally sighed, and walked back with the support of her maids.
Afterward, she no longer paid any attention to Xian Gonggong, as if she was angry with him.
Consort Hui always wore bright colors, and during this southern tour, she did not bring any plain clothes at all.
Today, after the news of the Emperor’s illness came out, everyone in the traveling palace became subdued, except for her, dressed in peach pink, dazzling to the extreme.
Seeing this figure, Xian Gonggong couldn’t help but frown.
…The Second Prince was good in every aspect, except for having a not-so-reliable mother.
Consort Hui, of humble origin, later rose to prominence and became arrogant with the Emperor’s favor.
Her behavior was always somewhat frivolous.
But precisely because of this, she was easy to predict, although a bit troublesome to deal with, she did not require much thought.
The official duties from the capital were sent here every seven days by fast horse, always a thick stack, time-consuming to process.
Although mentally prepared, Xie Guanzhi still stayed up late into the night on the first evening.
It was unknown what time it was when Consort Hui, carrying a bowl of chicken soup, came to the study.
“His Majesty has entrusted you with a heavy responsibility, Guanzhi, you must take it seriously and not slack off,” Consort Hui gently placed the soup bowl on the table and draped a cloak over Xie Guanzhi, her movements unusually gentle and careful, “Although your father did not say it explicitly, by entrusting you with handling official duties while he is seriously ill, he must already regard you as the crown prince…”
Consort Hui was much calmer than her usual bluster, but the concern and pride in her words remained.
Normally, Xie Guanzhi would not pay much attention to his mother’s words.
But today, upon hearing this, he subconsciously set down the pen in his hand.
“Do not mention the matter of the crown prince again,” he reminded, frowning.
“What’s wrong with that?” Consort Hui looked at him, puzzled, “If we don’t mention it, should Consort Lan mention it?”
The young man shook his head and said no more.
Although the Emperor had asked him to handle official duties, he had no intention of relinquishing power.
After a night of busyness, Xie Guanzhi only felt a headache.
Amidst the discomfort and fatigue, the young man couldn’t help but recall the look Wen Qingci gave him in the Ninghe Hall that day…
…It was a pity he had never seen it before.
At the time, it was fine when he made eye contact with Wen Qingci, but as time passed, the more Xie Guanzhi recalled it, the stranger it seemed.
…
At this moment, the traveling palace was divided into two completely opposite worlds by a courtyard wall.
Outside the wall, people bustled about, either busy speculating about the Emperor’s current condition or busy currying favor with the Second Prince.
Inside the wall, the Emperor, who had no illness, took the opportunity to throw off his duties and give himself a break.
After relaxing, even the frequency of his headaches decreased.
Thus, Wen Qingci, who was called into the back hall early in the morning without bringing anything, also became particularly idle.
The newly built traveling palace had nothing much, and the scenery in the small courtyard where the Emperor stayed was indeed nice, but after two days, it became tiresome.
After resting in the side hall for two days, Wen Qingci had even caught up on the sleep he had been missing since entering the palace.
…If only there was a book to read at this time.
It was the fifteenth, and the silver moon was exceptionally round and bright.
The moonlight penetrated the paper window, illuminating the room, and soon awakened Wen Qingci, who was a light sleeper and not very sleepy.
He slowly opened his eyes, hesitated for a moment, then wrapped in his cloak, pushed open the door, and walked out.
The traveling palace was vast but exquisitely built.
The side hall where Wen Qingci temporarily resided was on a small hill, next to willows and a pond, and further away was a tall courtyard wall.
The night breeze blew, and Wen Qingci, who was not sleepy, became fully awake. He gathered his clothes and slowly sat by the pond, looking up at the moon.
In the world where Wen Qingci lived in his previous life, light pollution was severe, and he seemed to have never seen such a bright and large moon.
After watching for a while, it felt as if the moon would sink from the sky at any moment and fall into the pond.
Wen Qingci subconsciously shifted his gaze.
His eyes inadvertently fell on the distant courtyard wall, and then he suddenly paused.
……what is that?
There seemed to be a dark shadow on the high vermilion wall.
Wen Qingci stared at the moon for a long time, and the bright moon left a shadow in his eyes.
For a moment he couldn’t even tell what it was.
Just when Wen Qingci was lost in thought, a black shadow suddenly fell from the palace wall and approached him little by little.
As silent as a ghost, yet carrying an oppressive pressure.
“…Your Highness?”
Wen Qingci finally recognized that the dark shadow on the palace wall was Xie Bufeng.
“Why are you here?” he couldn’t help asking.
Xie Bufeng did not answer Wen Qingci’s question. He walked over slowly and handed over the thing in his hand.
With the help of moonlight, Wen Qingci saw… Xie Bufeng seemed to know that he was bored. He took over a few medical books that he had been reading recently.
There was a rare hint of surprise in Wen Qingci’s eyes.
He slowly reached out and took the book.
At the same time, it rubbed against the back of Xie Bufeng’s hand inadvertently.
Wen Qingci’s body temperature was already low, and a gust of cold wind just now hit him.
To Xie Bufeng, it was like a piece of thin ice sliding across the back of his hand.
Wen Qingci’s movements were obviously very light, but they made the young man’s fingers tremble.
Xie Bufeng could feel that his ears suddenly became hot.
In order to avoid being discovered by Wen Qingci, the young man subconsciously turned around, imitated what he had just done, and slowly sat down by the water: “No one is always watching you here.”
His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, and the Suzhou accent he had a few months ago had disappeared at some point.
In a trance, Xie Bufeng seemed to have matured a lot.
Wen Qingci was stunned for a moment before he understood what the young man meant.
Although the emperor did not allow him to go out, he did not send anyone to guard here.
Firstly, he was sure that he would not run away, and secondly, if the place was heavily guarded, it would expose the fact that he was faking illness.
Seeing Xie Bufeng sitting down, Wen Qingci, who was still not sleepy, slowly walked over and sat next to the young man.
The moon is bright at night, and the silence amplifies every sound.
Wen Qingci felt that he should say something at this moment to break the silence.
But such tranquility makes people reluctant to destroy it.
Perhaps it was the youth’s body that shielded him from the cold wind.
After sitting down, Wen Qingci, who originally couldn’t sleep, actually slowly began to feel sleepy.
He didn’t know how long it was quiet.
In a daze, his forehead accidentally touched the young man’s body.
Wen Qingci did not tie her hair up at night, and the ink-black color accompanied by a bitter fragrance spread out from her shoulders like a waterfall.
In his sleepiness, he couldn’t help but wonder, how did Xie Bufeng know that he was in the yard?
He couldn’t sleep either, so he just happened to come here, or he had been here for a long time…
The night wind lifted up his long hair and brought the fragrance towards Xie Bufeng.
The young man’s heart began to beat wildly.
The sound was so loud that he couldn’t help but worry about waking Wen Qingci up.
Xie Bufeng turned around cautiously and looked towards the moon-white figure.
——The pale forehead was resting on his shoulder.
Wen Qingci still had a slight frown on his face after falling asleep, exuding a hint of fragility and compassion like a god.
Xie Bufeng’s heartbeat was so loud that it seemed to shatter his eardrums.
The young man slowly approached Wen Qingci, even holding his breath.
The moonlight is imprinted in the amber eyes.
There is nothing here except tenderness.
Kiss it, kiss it.
The voice in his heart was urging him frantically at this moment.
However, just as he was about to kiss Wen Qingci’s cheek, Xie Bufeng seemed to be suddenly awakened from his sleep.
He suddenly turned his head and sniffed the long hair of the person next to him with great cherishment and greed…
Oh that good good pining….my favorite meal 🍴🍚