Time dragged on endlessly within the confines of the Taishu Palace, which is nothing more than an exquisite cage.
Wen Qingci, who was in the midst of it, even lost a clear concept of the passage of time and seasons.
Each day was fragmented by war reports arriving from the northern front. From high-ranking officials to commoners, no one anticipated their forces achieving such significant victories.
The entire court buzzed with excitement, except for the person most revered in the Taishu Palace—sitting there, lifeless.
“Your Majesty, this is the latest war report from the north,” said a guard, clad in soft armor, kneeling on the cold floor of the Ninghe Hall.
He gingerly presented the report, stealing a glance at the figure seated on the imperial throne.
The emperor looked up. “Speak.”
“…Your Highness’s forces,” the guard hesitated, “have reached the capital of the Northern Di.”
Unlike others, the emperor despised hearing anyone other than himself address Xie Bufeng by his military title. So, although the report clearly stated Xie Bufeng’s rank, the guard substituted it with “Your Highness.”
At this news, the emperor’s smile turned icy. “Impressive, indeed… He actually made it there.”
The war between the Central Dynasty and the Northern Di had persisted intermittently for centuries. While others had previously reached the Northern Di capital, those were events lost in the annals of time.
The emperor’s praise seemed to laud Xie Bufeng, but the chilling smile on his face sent shivers down spines.
The emperor remained indifferent to the victorious report. Instead, he ordered, “Bring me the defense maps of Yongdu and the Taishu Palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard breathed a sigh of relief, handing over the wax-sealed defense maps.
Incense burned quietly in the Ninghe Hall.
Various differently shaped incense burners dotted the corners, their combined scents overpowering. Even the young eunuch standing behind the emperor wrinkled his nose.
—Usually, Xian Gonggong accompanied the emperor, but at some point, he had fallen out of favor, replaced by new appointees.
However, compared to recent events in Yongdu, this change seemed insignificant.
The coughing fit and bloodstains on Wen Qingci’s lips that day had confirmed the emperor’s suspicions of poisoning.
Before the guard visited Wen Qingci’s residence, the emperor had subtly suggested that Xian Gonggong send someone to bring Wen Qingci to the palace. But Xian Gonggong always excused himself, citing Wen Qingci’s “unconsciousness due to poisoning and frailty.”
In the emperor’s eyes, Xian Gonggong’s actions were merely an attempt to curry favor with Wen Qingci.
—How could the emperor allow such things to happen under his nose?
Though Xian Gonggong hadn’t faced any punishment, the emperor’s growing displeasure was evident.
Recent events reminded him to promote new “trusted” individuals.
—The guard who had brought Wen Qingci to the palace was one of the emperor’s hand picked recruits.
While the emperor read war reports slowly, he acted swiftly when necessary.
From the Taishu Palace and Yongdu garrisons, he selected a group of ambitious, background-less youths, forming a unit called the “Hengxin Guards” They served as both personal guards and ceremonial guards.
And within a few months, they gradually took over the security of the entire imperial city.
The war in the north wasn’t over, yet the emperor was already wary of Xie Bufeng.
Though the current ruler seemed indifferent to court affairs, he remained fiercely focused on securing his position.
…
In the afternoon sunlight, Wen Qingci sat in the small courtyard of the Imperial Physician’s Bureau, engrossed in a book.
A gentle breeze lifted his long hair, leaving a faint trace in the air. A snow-white rabbit hopped around his feet.
His mere presence turned the courtyard into a picturesque scene.
Even the Hengxin Guard, who kept a constant watch on him, dared not disturb the tranquility.
The courtyard remained quiet, except for the jarring sound of Wen Qingci’s cough.
He casually picked up a silk handkerchief and placed it against his lips, and what he saw was another blinding crimson color.
Wen Qingci glanced at the thing in his hand indifferently, then threw it into the burning incense burner on the side. The next moment, it turned into ashes and disappeared without a trace, leaving no trace at all.
Wen Qingci’s eyelashes drooped slightly, and he looked listless.
Against the backdrop of his pale face, his lips, which had just coughed up blood, turned a vivid crimson.
At this moment, weakness and fatigue were written all over his face, but this not only did not diminish his elegance, but instead gave him a sense of decadent beauty.
Wen Qingci slowly closed the medical book in his hand and stood up from under the magnolia tree.
From beginning to end, his left hand hung quietly by his side.
The Tianci poison had already had an impact on his body, not to mention that Wen Qingci had been tormenting himself in recent times. Unknowingly, his illness had become more and more serious.
Although he is a physician, due to his special physical condition, Wen Qingci can only do his best to recuperate.
After a long time, he simply stopped paying attention to his body.
He was about to leave when he suddenly heard footsteps not far away.
He was about to leave when footsteps approached.
“Master Wen, Master Wen!” A girl in sky-blue palace attire, her hair styled in twin buns, ran toward him, clutching something in her hands.
“Your Highness, Princess, please slow down!” The wet nurse followed her breathlessly.
The moment he saw the person coming, Wen Qingci’s gaze softened.
Xie Fuyin was young and had short hair. Although the palace maid tried her best to comb her hair, it became slightly loose after she ran a few steps, revealing a few stubborn curls.
“Why is Your Highness here?” Wen Qingci hurriedly leaned over and asked her with a smile.
“Here, here’s a gift for you!” Xie Fuyin was less than two years old, but her articulation was already very clear among children of the same age.
After the little girl finished speaking, she slowly opened her palm.
What she had clenched in her hand turned out to be a cluster of nameless wildflowers.
The pale purple petals were no bigger than a fingernail, and they lacked any fragrance. Compared to the exotic flowers in the imperial garden, they seemed unremarkable. Yet, there was a stubborn beauty about them.
Xie Fuyin’s face flushed slightly. The little girl was a little embarrassed, but also a little expectant as she said, “I picked this myself… I gave it to my mother, to Sister Ming Liu, and to Master Wen!”
After saying this, she secretly glanced at Wen Qingci.
Observing this scene, the wet nurse behind them couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Xie Fuyin, this little one, not only admired herself but also had a penchant for handsome people. She kept clamoring to meet the “handsome Master Wen” from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Sunlight fell into Xie Fuyin’s amber eyes. Her clean and transparent gaze made Wen Qingci pause momentarily before he gently accepted the small flowers from her hand.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“No need to thank me!” Xie Fuyin blushed and retreated behind the wet nurse, but she couldn’t resist stealing another glance at Wen Qingci. She didn’t know about his delicate health or that he had coughed up blood earlier. All she noticed was that today, his lips had a faint red hue, making him even more attractive than usual.
Wen Qingci smiled and turned to retrieve a porcelain bottle from the side. He carefully placed the flowers he had just received inside. Then, he added a little water and placed it on a windowsill to nurture them.
He didn’t know when Xie Fuyin came over curiously.
At that moment, the rabbit that had disappeared earlier suddenly reappeared within their view.
Seeing this, the little girl’s interest was immediately piqued.
“Wow, a rabbit!” Xie Fuyin exclaimed excitedly. She crouched down and gently touched the rabbit’s head. The white fur had a few mud stains and bits of grass clinging to it.
Ignoring the mess, Xie Fuyin held onto the rabbit. The wet nurse, alarmed, cautioned her, “Your Highness, be mindful of your heart!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Xie Fuyin giggled, refusing to let go.
Wen Qingci stood up, amused by the scene before him.
…If Xie Bufeng hadn’t been treated as a monster, would he have grown up with a personality like Xie Fuyin’s, cheerful and carefree?
Children were remarkably destructive. In just a few minutes, Xie Fuyin had turned the courtyard into chaos, and the rabbit was chased around.
The wet nurse, following behind her, turned apologetically to Wen Qingci. “I apologize for the disturbance, Wen Xiansheng. We always end up bothering you here.”
Before Wen Qingci could respond, Xie Fuyin, who had stopped chasing the rabbit, pouted and turned to say, “Unlike my older sisters, I can’t play with them. I’m stuck in Huixin Palace all day, and it’s so boring!”
Her tone was filled with disappointment.
—In Tai Shu Palace, there were more princesses than just Xie Fuyin. However, the others were rarely favored by the Emperor, and their mothers weren’t highly regarded either. As a result, they remained inconspicuous.
The “elder sister” and “second sister” Xie Fuyin mentioned were born to the same Consort and had grown up together.
After her previous statement, Xie Fuyin couldn’t help but express her regret. “I wonder when my brother will return.”
She had no memory of Xie Bufeng, her older brother. She only knew from conversations around her that she had a brother who was currently fighting on the battlefield.
Xie Fuyin had played with the Fourth Prince before, but he found her too young and refused to spend time with her. So now, she looked up with a troubled expression and asked, “Master Wen, do you think my brother will play with me when he returns?”
Wen Qingci’s heart trembled.
He smiled and nodded at Princess Xie, “Naturally… When His Highness was younger, he loved holding you.”
Wen Qingci’s expression softened as he spoke.
“Then Master Wen, do you know what kind of person my brother is?”
Like Wen Qingci, Concubine Lan also had many more attendants around her.
Although she was not kept a close eye on all the time, Concubine Lan, who had always been very cautious, became even more cautious.
She rarely mentioned anything about Xie Bufeng to Xie Fuyin.
Sure enough, as soon as Xie Fuyin finished speaking, all the guards nearby turned their eyes over.
Being stared at by so many cold eyes, Wen Qingci remained calm.
“I know.” Wen Qingci smiled and thought carefully. Seeing this, Xie Fuyin stopped chasing the rabbit.
“He… is a very good person, a very good brother. His Highness was born to be an excellent general, a hero of the Wei Dynasty, and is admired and worshiped by countless people,” Wen Qingci looked into Xie Fuyin’s amber eyes and said to her, “Your Highness, the Princess should also be proud of him.”
Wen Qingci’s tone and look were extremely serious when he spoke, and there was no sign of him coaxing a child at all.
After saying that, he paused and then smiled and said, “Princess, please remember that His Highness loves you too.”
Hearing this, even Xie Fuyin became serious. She nodded very solemnly: “Okay!”
The girl’s eyes were clear and bright. Although she had never left Yongdu, she didn’t know what the north looked like, and she didn’t understand the meaning of war, but at this moment she seemed to follow Wen Qingci’s gaze and see the dazzling young man.
The scene he saw in Changyuan that day suddenly appeared in Wen Qingci’s mind.
In a trance, he seemed to see the heavy snow flying like goose feathers again, and the young man wearing black armor and riding a horse in the snow.
… Countless people cheered and shouted his name loudly.
The bonfire outside the city that day seemed to never go out.
The guards who were watching all looked unhappy, and the wet nurse couldn’t help but feel scared.
“All right, Princess. Don’t you want to play with the rabbit? Go quickly.” In her haste, she didn’t care whether she got dirty or not.
“Ah~rabbit!” Xie Fuyin finally remembered this.
She turned around and saw the plump, white rabbit raised by Wen Qingci jumping around in the yard.
Xie Fuyin immediately lifted the hem of her skirt and trotted over there, hoping to catch the rabbit at this time.
Her movements were so fast that even the wet nurse and the other palace maids who followed her were unable to react.
However, no matter how skillful Xie Fuyin’s movements were, she was just a child after all.
There was green grass planted in the courtyard of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and a few bluestone slabs were laid on the grass to serve as roads.
After years of being trampled on, the patterns on the bluestone slabs have been worn away completely.
Last night, a light rain had just fallen, leaving the stone pavement slightly slippery. At that moment, Xie Fuyin held her skirt’s hem with both hands, unable to see her footing in the dim light.
Before she could react, her body suddenly lost balance and tilted to one side.
“Ah!” The young girl couldn’t help but cry out, instinctively closing her eyes.
The wet nurse and palace maid nearby widened their eyes and rushed over.
“Your Highness, be careful!”
“Princess!”
But their actions were too slow.
As Xie Fuyin’s head neared the ground, suddenly, near the edge of her vision, a misty figure appeared. It was Wen Qingci, his footsteps light as he moved swiftly.
Wen Qingci reached out to pull Xie Fuyin up before she hit the ground.
However, as he raised his arm, a sudden numbness and pain shot through his bones, causing his left hand to drop heavily.
He tried to extend his fingers, but his hand had lost all sensation and control.
Turning quickly, Wen Qingci caught Xie Fuyin in his arms, and they both fell heavily onto the stone pavement.
Xie Fuyin’s body was soft, but the well-fed young girl still had some weight.
The impact caused pain to shoot through Wen Qingci’s entire back.
He wanted to ask if Xie Fuyin was okay, but before he could speak, a violent fit of coughing overtook him.
Finally, the palace maid who had arrived helped them both stand up.
Xie Fuyin, still shaken, stood in place, crying loudly.
But as she cried, she noticed the bloodstains on Wen Qingci’s lips, no longer hidden.
Completely stunned, Xie Fuyin stopped crying and asked, “Master Wen, what happened to you?”
With red eyes, she looked at him.
“It’s nothing.” Wen Qingci forced a smile, trying to reassure her.
But Xie Fuyin wasn’t fooled. “But your mouth is bleeding…”
She sniffled, guilt evident in her voice. “I’m sorry, Master Wen. I shouldn’t have tried to catch the little rabbit.”
Breaking free from the wet nurse’s embrace, she approached him.
Before Wen Qingci could understand her intentions, Xie Fuyin reached out and gently rubbed his left arm, which hung limply by his side.
“Master Wen, what’s wrong with your hand?” she asked, looking up at him.
Wen Qingci: “…”
Wen Qingci hesitated. He hadn’t expected Xie Fuyin to notice his left hand’s condition.
Before the canal incident, his left hand had merely been weak, unable to lift heavy objects. But after the tumultuous journey back to the palace, it had almost become useless…
His left arm hung motionless, and it was constantly cold and painful.
The wide sleeves of the court robes concealed most movements, and the injury didn’t show due to the lack of writing or acupuncture.
So, during this time, Wen Qingci had hidden it well, and hardly anyone noticed his hand’s problem.
Until now, when Xie Fuyin caught it.
Though she was young, she wasn’t easily fooled.
Her amber eyes stared at Wen Qingci—innocent, serious, and stubborn.
Bending down, Wen Qingci smiled at her, whispering in a voice only they could hear, “My arm has a minor injury and can’t move.”
As expected, Xie Fuyin persisted, “But aren’t you a Physician?”
Wen Qingci chuckled. “Physicians can’t cure every ailment.”
Xie Fuyin nodded, half understanding. “So, why did you get hurt?”
Her voice was hoarse, and this conversation remained between them.
“I caught a chill recently.”
“A chill?”
“I soaked in cold water,” Wen Qingci deflected, “so, Princess, remember to avoid cold water.”
“Okay…” Xie Fuyin finally pressed her lips together, no longer asking.
Seeing this, Wen Qingci breathed a sigh of relief.
He lowered his voice, ensuring only they could hear, “This is our secret. Don’t tell anyone.”
The word “secret” piqued the child’s curiosity.
Xie Fuyin nodded solemnly. “I promise!”
As the wind rustled through the fallen leaves, it seemed to wrap their secret away.
The appearance of the “Hengxin Guard” had somewhat improved the emperor’s mood.
His physical symptoms fluctuated, but overall, they were manageable.
When he wasn’t unwell, the emperor appeared like any middle-aged man.
But his greatest issue lay not in his body but in his mind.
Though no one dared to say it outright, everyone knew the emperor’s “madness” was worsening.
He was originally good at pretending to be a wise ruler, but now he could no longer control his emotions.
It was clear that more than a year ago he was just a little irritable in private and would occasionally break cups and glasses.
But now he can hardly control his emotions even in the court.
“Physician Wen…” The young eunuch ran into the Imperial Medical Bureau breathlessly. While adjusting his breathing, he hurriedly said to Wen Qingci, “You should go to Baiqiao Tower and take a look! His Majesty, His Majesty seems…”
He was clearly in a hurry just now, but he suddenly fell silent when he said this.
Wen Qingci put down the pen in his hand and stood up.
“What happened to him, Your Majesty?”
The young eunuch looked around and finally, as if he had made up his mind, lowered his voice and said to him, “Your Majesty, his… that old illness seems to have come back again.”
The “old illness” mentioned by the eunuch refers to hysteria, which is a general term for mental illness in this era.
The emperor himself refused to admit that he had any mental problems, so Wen Qingci, the imperial physician, never wrote so in the medical records.
However, everyone inside and outside the court had long assumed that the emperor was suffering from hysteria.
“Okay, take me there.”
“yes!”
The young eunuch quickly turned around and took Wen Qingci to their destination.
On the way, he said, “I don’t know which gentleman said something that angered His Majesty… Just now, His Majesty was in court when he suddenly became furious and the court was interrupted.”
The morning court session was forced to be interrupted. It seemed that the emperor had indeed gone too crazy.
“…We originally thought that His Majesty was going to go back to the Ninghe Hall to rest, but somehow, he ended up going to the Baiqiao Tower. Then he was talking about something alone in the empty building, hysterically not letting anyone get close to him, and…he also punished a bunch of people.”
Wen Qingci understood that the young eunuch came to him to find a way to calm the emperor down.
The few of them walked very quickly and arrived outside the Baiqiao Tower in just a few minutes.
Perhaps because the emperor was particularly crazy this time, the Hengxin guards who were guarding outside the building said nothing after seeing Wen Qingci and let him in.
The door of Baiqiao Tower was slightly open.
Before he could push the door open and walk into the building, a familiar voice reached his ears.
The emperor looked up at the flower-painted patio on the top of Baiqiao Tower, took a big step back as if he was hallucinating, and then suddenly said to the void with a trembling voice: “… Ning Yuzhao, are you, are you going to take my life again?”
Dewy on BLPSG Chapter 86: The Emperor’s old illness: “I want QingCi to give this little wolf a big slap after healing him -__-” Oct 23, 13:18
