lcionline Chapter 385
Chapter 385
But the person on the bed had lost all color in his face, and even his lips were abnormally blue and purple. He clearly looked like he was dying, so he naturally couldn't respond to her.
Concubine Cheng wailed for a long time, staring at the person on the bed with tearful eyes. Even her majestic Xiang yellow palace dress was tinged with a bit of sadness.
Eunuch Su stood by, a look of pity on his face. He wiped his red eyes with his sleeve, then stepped forward and leaned over to offer solace, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is now in a coma and can't hear you. Why don't you return to Jingren Palace and get some rest so the imperial physicians can carefully discuss and diagnose your condition? His Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will surely recover."
"Okay." Concubine Cheng was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. She held Emperor Yuanzhen's hand for a long time before reluctantly letting go. When she stood up and looked at Eunuch Su, the sadness on her face faded and she returned to her usual dignity. "I am only causing trouble here and disturbing your majesty's peace. I will go back and recite scriptures and pray for your majesty. I only hope that the gods and Buddhas will bless you and help you recover soon."
"I'll entrust this place to Eunuch Su. If anything happens, you must immediately send someone to Jingren Palace to pass on the message."
"Yes, Your Majesty, don't worry. I will be looking after this place. But if there is any unusual movement, I will report to you immediately." Eunuch Su replied while lightly supporting Concubine Cheng's arm and leading her out. Concubine Cheng also let him support her.
When the two walked out of the inner room and saw the imperial doctors kneeling in the hall, Concubine Chen raised her hand to signal Eunuch Su to leave.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Su withdrew his hand, lowered his eyes to hide the expression in his eyes, and stood quietly behind her.
Concubine Cheng didn't notice anything unusual. She glanced coldly at the imperial physicians lying on the ground and said in a deep voice, "You all receive royal salaries and are the most skilled doctors in the Great Zhou. Now that His Majesty has suddenly fallen ill, you must treat His Majesty with all your strength and without reservation."
At this point, her tone turned cold, and she snorted, "If I discover that anyone is hiding something or has ulterior motives—" The last syllable paused, the chill intensified, "Don't blame me for cleaning up the mess for Your Majesty."
"Of course, whoever can make a contribution in saving His Majesty, when His Majesty wakes up, I will recommend and praise him to His Majesty, and will make him enjoy endless wealth and glory. Did you all hear that clearly?" She suddenly changed her attitude to be kind, but these words that were both kind and threatening made the doctors even more frightened, and they dared not show any disrespect.
I've long heard that Concubine Cheng is a master at managing the harem. Since the late Empress' passing, she's managed the harem perfectly, earning His Majesty's deep affection and respect. Today's words further intimidated everyone, who stood up and responded, "As you command."
Concubine Cheng looked around at everyone and saw that they all nodded in agreement. She then nodded with satisfaction and said, "Since that's the case, I will return to Jingren Palace to pray for His Majesty."
As soon as she finished speaking, the imperial doctors separated and stood on either side, and Concubine Cheng walked out of the hall. The maids and eunuchs of Jingren Palace had already been waiting outside and hurried forward to serve her.
Concubine Cheng said "hmm" lightly and ignored them. She turned her head and saw Ye Yunzhou standing upright like a wooden stake. Her eyes flickered slightly, and then she stepped forward and spoke in a gentle tone like an elder: "Master Ye."
When Ye Yunzhou heard Concubine Chen calling him, he had no choice but to turn around and bow: "Your Majesty, I greet you."
"No need to be so polite," Concubine Cheng said, motioning for the eunuch beside her to come forward and help. But Ye Yunzhou straightened up as soon as he finished speaking. The eunuch took half a step and then stopped where he was, looking a little embarrassed. He hurriedly stepped back a few steps and stood back behind Concubine Cheng with his hands hanging down.
A hint of coldness flashed across Concubine Cheng's eyes, but she quickly concealed it, as if she didn't notice. Her tone was only slightly more worried, and she asked with concern, "Lord Ye is a close minister of His Majesty. Do you know why His Majesty suddenly became seriously ill? He was drinking tea in my palace a few days ago and seemed fine..."
Before she finished speaking, her beautiful eyes shone with a hint of water. A closer look revealed a flawless, wrinkled face, giving her a more mature and charming demeanor than the average unmarried woman. Her palace attire, a near-pure yellow, accentuated her beauty, truly more beautiful than a flower.
Unfortunately, Ye Yunzhou on the opposite side seemed to be blind to it. His eyelashes drooped, and although he was standing opposite her, he never looked at her, so naturally he could not see her pitiful appearance.
Ye Yunzhou's face was calm, as if he could not hear the testing meaning in her words at all, and his tone was as usual: "Your Majesty is too polite. Your Majesty is a lucky man and will be safe." He avoided the main point and turned a deaf ear to Concubine Cheng's questions.
Concubine Cheng's fingertips, lacquered with rouge, dug into her palms, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks. Yet, she maintained a dignified expression. Seeing Ye Yunzhou unmoved, she forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Lord Ye, for your kind words. I hope Your Majesty is safe and sound. I will not disturb you from your duties." There was a subtle, unspoken question in her words.
Ye Yunzhou seemed unaware and simply bowed and said, "I respectfully escort your Majesty back to the palace."
Concubine Cheng was speechless at the cold attitude. She had lived a life of luxury in the harem for years. Although she was a concubine, she had held the reins of power for many years. Even in front of His Majesty, she had never been treated so coldly. Only this Ye Yunzhou, she could not get the slightest advantage.
Concubine Cheng's expression suddenly turned cold, her eyes narrowing as she unabashedly surveyed Ye Yunzhou from head to toe. A glimpse of his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and upright figure dissipated the rage bubbling within her like spring water melting snow. She was well versed in the affairs of men and women; how could she not know that this figure was the most captivating of women's hearts? Recalling how His Majesty had visited her palace over the years, often for mere tea and small talk before leaving in a hurry, her heart grew even more swayed with passion. Even if he was arrogant and rude, so what? She simply fell for his arrogant, cold demeanor. When she ascended the throne of Empress Dowager, she would make him her lover, her companion day and night.
Thinking of this, the haze in Concubine Cheng's eyes disappeared, a faint smile appeared on the corner of her lips, and she turned to leave. Seeing this, the palace maids and eunuchs beside her hurriedly and carefully supported her.
After Concubine Cheng and her group walked away, Ye Yunzhou watched their retreating figures, disgust surging in his eyes like a tide. Every time he met this woman, she always looked at him with that disgusting gaze. If he hadn't been concerned about her status as a concubine, he would have killed her right there and then. Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and silently said to himself: Just bear with it a little longer, and I'll be able to get away soon.
He ignored his surroundings, pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve, and unfolded it. His expression remained unchanged as he read the contents, but as his eyes scanned the last few small words, his heart trembled slightly. He clutched the slip tightly, turned, and stepped into the side hall. A moment later, he reappeared, walking to the foot of a tree in the courtyard. A small bird landed gracefully on his shoulder. Ye Yunzhou reached out and caught it, quickly slipping a newly written note into a bamboo tube. Then, he released his grip and watched the bird flutter its wings and disappear into the sky.