Chapter 70: Spring Thoughts in Disarray
Li Zhao only returned to the Eastern Palace after nightfall, and immediately sent for Zhang Huaicheng, the Crown Prince’s attending physician, to come to the inner hall for a consultation.
The Eastern Palace had a total of four attending physicians for the Crown Prince, holding a rank of seventh grade, upper tier, subordinate to the Crown Prince’s Medicine Repository Bureau, primarily responsible for diagnosing and prescribing for the Crown Prince.
Zhang Huaicheng was a descendant of Zhang Zhongjing and was the one who most frequently took the Crown Prince’s pulse.
News of what happened in the Imperial Garden had already reached the Eastern Palace.
For the past few hours, all the officials of the Eastern Palace had been in a state of anxiety. From the hour of Shen, the Crown Prince’s guests, the Spring Workshop’s junior officials, the Grand Masters of the Palace, secretaries, the Director of the Astronomical Bureau, the Crown Prince’s attendants, the Palace Scholars, and the Inner Guards, had all gathered in Chongwen Hall, waiting for the Crown Prince to return to the palace and summon them.
No one had expected that the attending physician would be summoned first.
Zhang Huaicheng was an honest man, always offering a smile before speaking, never losing his temper when faced with trouble, and always speaking gently. Anyone with a headache or a fever who came to him would receive patient explanations. Regardless of whether the illness was cured, the sense of security he provided earned him good favor.
But today, Zhang Huaicheng could not smile.
Hadn’t everyone seen the Crown Prince’s face?
It was as dark as the face of the fire tender in the main kitchen.
The entire Chongwen Hall was silent as cicadas in winter.
Lai Fu coughed lightly, signaling to the esteemed officials that there was no need to look as if they had lost their parents, and said with a gentle smile:
“His Highness drank a bit too much wine in the Imperial Garden today and caught a slight chill. His Highness has instructed that you all return to rest and resume discussions in Chongwen Hall tomorrow…”
Everyone responded in unison.
They speculated inwardly, feeling helpless for Zhang Huaicheng.
As Zhang Huaicheng entered the inner hall with trepidation, the Crown Prince had just finished bathing.
He wore loose, flowing robes, his hair still damp at the front, his thin lips pressed together, his expression very serious, the corners of his mouth slightly downturned, and his eyes seemed to harbor some unbearable gloom. In any case, it was more somber than any previous time Zhang Huaicheng had taken his pulse.
What exactly had happened in the Imperial Garden…
Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince had truly been schemed against and had… done something with a woman?
Zhang Huaicheng gently placed his medicine box down, not daring to make a sound.
Looking up again, he saw that the Crown Prince had already placed his wrist on the desk, without even waiting for him to retrieve a pulse pillow from the medicine box. His handsome face was as cold and frosty as ever, deep like a cold pool, yet it subtly revealed a sense of resignation and impatience, as if facing death…
Zhang Huaicheng was startled.
He quickly bowed and stepped forward, placing the Crown Prince’s hand on the pulse pillow.
“Is Your Highness feeling unwell anywhere?”
Li Zhao: “I am not unwell anywhere.”
This…
This was going to be difficult for Zhang Huaicheng!
He pondered, lowering his head to examine, and after a long while said:
“Your Highness’s pulse is taut, slippery, and rapid, especially in the cubit position. This indicates the presence of heat-evil accumulating within the body, leading to stagnation of qi and blood. In my humble opinion, it is likely due to the ingestion of something extremely hot and dry, causing excessive liver fire, disturbing the mind, and thus leading to restlessness and agitation… I will prepare a few doses of medicine to clear heat, purge fire, detoxify, and resolve stagnation, supplemented by moxibustion to disperse the accumulated heat. I believe this will bring much relief…”
Li Zhao opened his eyelids.
“Doctor Zhang, have you heard of Gu Poison from the Southern Border?”
Zhang Huaicheng was startled.
As a physician, how could he not have heard of it?
He nodded and honestly replied, “I have heard much, but I have never seen it. However, I believe that the mysterious evil arts of the remote Southern Border are merely exaggerated tales spread among the populace, relying on strange insects and mystical incantations… Where in the world is there something that can arbitrarily control people’s minds…”
Li Zhao said, “Then tell me, do I look like someone who has been poisoned by Gu?”
Zhang Huaicheng’s pupils contracted, and he immediately knelt on the ground, his hands clasped together, trembling slightly.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, please do not frighten this humble servant…”
Li Zhao: “Is it or is it not?”
Zhang Huaicheng dared not say yes, because he could not diagnose it.
He also dared not say no, because he did not know what bizarre events the Crown Prince had encountered in the Imperial Garden.
“This, this, Your Highness, would you like me to find two shaman doctors from the Southern Border to come?”
Li Zhao withdrew his hand and calmly lowered his sleeve.
“No need.”
What use would it be to bring those people back to spout nonsense?
It would be better not to let more people know about this matter.
In fact, whether or not he had been afflicted by the “Love Silk Gu” was easy to verify. As long as he did not react as Xue Liu described, then there was no problem, and he need not fear her. If he did…
The moment he thought of Xue Liu’s face, his heart suddenly fluttered, and the amorous scene in the bamboo forest cabin surfaced in his mind.
He didn’t know if it was the residual poison of the “Love Silk Lure” stirring his mind or the “Love Silk Gu” acting up, but he suddenly felt an unbearable heat, his qi and blood rising, his breathing becoming slightly rapid. The more he tried to clear the illusion, the more he found it difficult to suppress the surging heat within him. His Adam’s apple involuntarily rolled, and he clenched his fists tightly…
Damn Xue Liu!
He would definitely kill her!
“Lai Fu…”
Lai Fu stood beside him, bowing, his heart pounding with fear.
“Your Highness, I am here.”
“Prepare water.”
Lai Fu was taken aback.
Hadn’t His Highness just bathed?
Li Zhao crossed his legs slightly, his knuckles turning white, pinching his palm. With a calm expression on his face, he said to Zhang Huaicheng, “You may go and write a prescription for me for a dose of medicine to clear the mind and calm the spirit… no, clear the mind and pacify the spirit.”
Zhang Huaicheng looked at the Crown Prince’s demeanor and seemed to ponder.
“This humble servant obeys.”
After Zhang Huaicheng left, Li Zhao looked coldly at the innocent-looking Lai Fu.
“The water temperature earlier was too hot, I want it cold!”
Lai Fu had been sold into the palace by his family when he was very young, but he knew a thing or two about matters between men and women. Hearing this, he quickly agreed and, steeling himself, went to prepare the water.
The spring chill had just passed, and he was bathing in cold water. Wasn’t His Highness harming his own body?
He didn’t know what love potion His Highness had taken; ever since returning from the Imperial Garden, he had been completely out of sorts…
~
The next morning, an imperial decree arrived.
Princess Ping Le, misled by a wicked servant in her mansion, had acted inappropriately at the Spring Flower Banquet. She later repented and, due to excessive self-blame, her qi and blood surged, leading to emotional turmoil and fainting. Fortunately, she was saved by the Sixth Miss of the Xue Mansion.
His Majesty, grateful for the meritorious rescue by the Sixth Miss Xue, specially bestowed ten bolts of superior Shu silk, a jade ruyi from Hetian, a pair of emerald and ruby gemstone hairpins, ten boxes of imperial nourishing ginseng soup, and a plaque inscribed with “Benevolence and Kindness to Women” to honor her virtue.
The Princess had always been virtuous. Although she was temporarily misled by a wicked servant, her actions were contrary to royal decorum. If she were not punished, it would be difficult to maintain the discipline of the imperial harem. Therefore, she was confined for three months to reflect on her mistakes, as a form of punishment.
The wicked servants involved in the mansion, who incited the Princess, were guilty of unforgivable crimes and were all to be beaten to death.
This vaguely worded imperial will led to much speculation from those who were unaware and sighs of regret from those who knew.
The servants were killed to silence them, and the Princess’s reputation was preserved.
Emperor Chong Zhao’s punishment for this matter did not surprise anyone.
After all, his indulgence of Ping Le over the years was not a one-time or two-time occurrence…
Moreover, Princess Ping Le was still bedridden?
How could he, a doting father, punish his daughter?
Rumors about Princess Ping Le’s illness eventually began to spread.
“The Princess seems to be in a state of madness, her behavior is strange…”
“She has been in the palace for two days and has not yet returned to her mansion…”
“Imperial physicians are going to Hua Yi Palace one after another; the threshold of Hua Yi Palace is almost worn down by them…”
“The lights in Hua Yi Palace are brightly lit at night, and faint moans of a woman can be heard…”
“His Majesty went to Hua Yi Palace immediately after the morning court to visit, it seems the Princess is seriously ill…”
“Some young eunuchs said they saw the Princess crying incessantly and rolling on the bed while ill…”
Gradually, some news reached the marketplaces and residential areas.
There were exaggerations.
There was baseless speculation.
No one knew what was true and what was false.
However, after the Princess awoke, she had not recovered and had not yet returned to the Princess’s Mansion, which was a fact…
Normally, it was inappropriate for a married daughter to stay in the deep palace for an extended period. Although Emperor Chong Zhao had made exceptions for Princess Ping Le numerous times, some still suspected that her illness was unusual. Firstly, the palace guards were strict, making it easier to conceal information. Secondly, His Majesty doted on his daughter, and it was more convenient for the Imperial Hospital physicians to attend to her…
Then it was rumored that the Princess had summoned the Imperial Son-in-law to the palace to accompany her day and night.
However, no information about the specific illness leaked outside.
The guards at Hua Yi Palace were strengthened, making it as impenetrable as an iron barrel.
–
At noon, Jinshu arrived at Li Xiang Courtyard to visit Xue Sui.
Speaking of the rumors outside, she said, “It’s difficult to get news from the palace. We don’t know the truth about Ping Le’s current condition yet…”
Senior Sister Yuheng’s methods rarely failed.
However, the Imperial Palace was not short of renowned physicians. Xue Sui did not dare to be certain that no flaws had been discovered.
Because that bowl of medicinal soup used her heart’s blood as a medicinal guide, she could not use ordinary poisons. If anything happened to Ping Le, with Emperor Chong Zhao’s unreasonable protectiveness of his daughter, he might lash out at someone.
Xue Sui did not want to implicate others.
For example, the female physician guarding her…
Therefore, the poison she administered to Ping Le was extremely similar to the sleeping potion given by Imperial Physician Hu. Even if Imperial Physician Hu diagnosed something, he would only think that Ping Le had taken too large a dose, damaging her spirit, and would not immediately suspect that she had tampered with it…
As for why she exhibited such lewd and frenzied behavior?
What Imperial Physician Hu would likely think of was the “Love Silk Lure” that Ping Le had given her.
After all, having drunk her blood and been harmed by the Love Silk Lure was understandable. Ping Le had taken the initiative, and such a despicable method was not something that could be openly discussed, especially since she was now the Princess’s “savior.”
However, Xue Sui still wanted definite news.
“Spirit Feather…”
The little pigeon cooed and hopped onto her desk.
Xue Sui spread out a piece of paper, and Xiao Zhao ground ink beside her.
After careful consideration, she silently wrote a few words on the white paper.
“The wind rustles the green bamboo, her voice and appearance are distant; may the swallow’s return to the grand hall not be delayed.”
“The wind rustles the green bamboo” referred to the swirling rumors.
“Her voice and appearance are distant” meant that Ping Le’s current situation was unknown.
“Grand hall” referred to the palace.
The white pigeon, Spirit Feather, had already delivered the message. Crown Prince, please do not delay your reply to me.
She was too lazy to guess what expression Li Zhao would have upon seeing the message. Casually, she had Xiao Zhao put the letter into the letter tube, tied it to Spirit Feather’s leg, and affectionately stroked Spirit Feather’s little head.
“Go. Be careful, don’t get hit and have your soup drunk.”
Spirit Feather cooed and soared into the sky.
Soon, it disappeared into the blue sky above the four corners of the courtyard.
Xue Sui opened the window to let in air and gazed at the sky.
This vast blue sky was so beautiful. If there were no worldly filth and dust, people could laugh freely, families could be happy, and there would be no worries about food and clothing. How wonderful that would be…
Spirit Feather returned very quickly this time.
It was written in Li Zhao’s own hand.
A single line of text.
Fierce and wild.
Just like Li Zhao himself.
“Beside the flowers, the wind rages, spring thoughts are chaotic; medicinal soup offers no aid to a wild and unruly nature.”
Xue Sui held the letter to the fire and lit it, a slight smile appearing on her face.
It would be good to have with dinner at the second watch…
The sun is very good in Chengdu today. Wishing everyone a sunny day and a happy day!
