Chapter 186 High Fever

Lan Wu knew nothing about this; all she knew was a white expanse in front of her.

Everything was white.

The palace's golden bricks and red walls, its jade-paved screens, were all concealed by a blanket of pure white.

Is this... a funeral?

Lan Wu tried to take two steps forward, but it felt like she was stepping on cotton. Her legs were so weak that she couldn't support herself to move forward.

He fell to the ground with a thud.

Palace—Taiji Hall?

Whose funeral...?

What about Chu Mingheng?

Where is he?

Several palace maids dressed in white walked by the roadside, hurrying past and carrying white flowers in their hands.

Lan Wu stared blankly at them, wanting to follow them, but her body felt like it was sinking into the ground. When she looked down, she felt as if she were surrounded by a dark swamp, unable to break free and sinking deeper and deeper.

...

After an unknown amount of time, she finally heard a sound. She appeared in the main hall where civil and military officials were kneeling, and she heard the eunuchs calling her name.

He said, "Kowtowing again—"

As the sound faded, a large group of figures dressed in white knelt down below the steps, and the sound of weeping gradually became clearer.

But where is Chu Mingheng?

What about him?

Is he... dead?

The thought kept flashing through Lan Wu's mind. She looked around frantically and finally saw a coffin lying quietly in the innermost part of the main hall.

Chu Mingheng is dead...

-

The night was quiet, but suddenly a commotion arose outside the main hall where Lan Wu was.

The palace servants hurriedly summoned Physician Chen, not daring to delay even for a moment on their journey, and quickly explained the situation to her.

"The wind picked up last night, and a palace maid went to the Empress's palace to close the window. She happened to hear the Empress's breathing become heavier. The Empress's curtains were not drawn properly, and the palace maid, worried about the Empress, took another look."

"Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the Empress had developed a fever, and her body was burning hot to the touch."

After hearing this, Chen Li asked her, "This afternoon, when Your Highness and the Princess went to the mountain to bask in the sun, did Your Highness feel hot and take off her clothes?"

"No, Her Majesty just sat there embroidering a handkerchief, and then went for a walk with the princess. Her Majesty's illness has only just improved, so why would she take off her clothes?"

"I'll go check on the Empress first. You go and ask someone to bring in some more cool water."

Upon entering the palace, they saw several people already waiting by the bedside. The person on the bed was clearly quite ill, as he could not wake up even when called, and was still struggling in his sleep with his brows furrowed.

Chen Li frowned as he took Lan Wu's pulse.

At this moment, Lan Wu also began to murmur something with difficulty.

Chen Li was close enough to hear her even though she was speaking very softly.

She heard the Empress calling for His Majesty.

At the same time, Lan Wu struggled even more fiercely.

“She has high fever and convulsions. You, quickly hold down Her Majesty’s hands and legs, I will give Her Majesty acupuncture—” Chen Li’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. This kind of convulsion is more common in children, but it can be serious or minor in adults. It is not easy to relieve the symptoms, and it depends more on the patient’s own condition.

Mu Jin and Lian Xi stepped forward, one holding down the Empress's foot and the other holding down her hand, preventing her from moving around.

Chen Li took out the silver needles from the box and quickly and accurately stuck them into Lan Wu's body.

"Go prepare some more strong liquor; we'll need it to bathe Her Majesty later," Chen Li reminded the palace maid beside her during a break from acupuncture.

"yes."

As the palace maid hurriedly retreated, she saw Princess Yizhen approaching at the palace gate.

"How is Lan Wu?" Yi Zhen asked hurriedly.

"Your Highness, Physician Chen said that Her Majesty is suffering from high fever and convulsions, and acupuncture is already being administered..."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a sudden, deafening explosion erupted in the sky, followed by a thunderclap—

-

Spring thunder rumbled in, and lightning flashed overhead, enveloped in a dark cloud.

The carriage carrying the emperor was making its way towards the Changyong Mountain area without stopping.

Chu Mingheng faintly heard thunder in the distance, frowned slightly, and gently knocked on the window.

The next moment, Chen Kang'an's voice rang out from the window: "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"How much longer until we reach Changyong Mountain?"

"Your Majesty, it rained a few days ago, and the roads are muddy, so we will have to travel slowly. However, it will take about half an hour to reach the foot of Changyong Mountain," Chen Kang'an replied with a bow.

Too slow.

Chu Mingheng's expression darkened slightly, and he ordered him, "Go and bring my horse here."

Bring the horse?

Your Majesty wouldn't be thinking of riding to Changyong Mountain yourself first, would you?

Chen Kang'an inwardly cursed, and quickly said, "His Majesty's horse is right behind us. This servant will have someone bring it over immediately."

Once the horse was led over, Chu Mingheng emerged from the carriage.

He mounted his horse, reached out and grabbed the reins, slowly leading the horse forward a few steps. He then pulled on the reins, turned the horse's head, and looked down at the several groups of people and horses in front of him.

Before Chen Kang'an could offer any advice, he said, "Issue the order: one contingent of the Imperial Guards will accompany me to Changyong Mountain. The rest of you shall proceed as usual."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With this command, the sound of hooves began to rise, pounding on the muddy road as they galloped toward the distant Changyong Mountain.

-

The thunder roared like heavy hammers, as if it were about to smash the night sky overhead.

A strong wind howled through the night, heralding the approach of an early spring thunderstorm.

The hall was brightly lit by candlelight. On the bed, Lan Wu was still talking incoherently. Those nearby could hear that the person she was calling out to was His Majesty.

But His Majesty has not yet arrived at Changyong Mountain.

"Physician Chen, Her Highness's lips are a little dry. Could you give her some water?" A palace maid standing nearby was also anxious, noticing the dry skin on Lan Wu's rosy lips.

Chen Li was still administering acupuncture; this skill required a lot of effort, and even she had to be extremely careful.

"You can give her some warm water. I'll go and brew the medicine later. If Her Majesty doesn't get better after drinking it, you should wipe her body with strong liquor. We need to bring her high fever down as soon as possible."

"Okay, okay."

After a short while, the acupuncture treatment ended, and Chen Li signaled to Mu Jin and Lian Xi that they could release Lan Wu.

The acupuncture did have some effect; at least Lan Wu stopped struggling and moving around.

Danshan stepped forward and fed Lanwu water with a spoon, but accidentally touched her burning hot body, and was still anxious.

He was fine during the day, so why did he suddenly develop a high fever at night?

When Yizhen saw someone come out, she quickly asked in a low voice, "How is she? Is she feeling better?"

"Your Highness, the physician has already administered acupuncture, but Her Highness's fever has not yet subsided. She says she needs to observe the situation further."

Yizhen was also very annoyed and paced anxiously outside the palace: "I should have known better than to let her go out in the sun this afternoon. Who knows if she caught a chill in the wind this afternoon?"

“Princess, there’s no need to blame yourself. Physician Chen said that Your Highness had a nightmare last night, which caused your high fever and palpitations. Your Highness will recover soon.”

In fact, Lan Wu's illness cannot be blamed on Yi Zhen. It was the anniversary of her death in her previous life, and she had been feeling somewhat resistant to it these past few days, unable to sleep well at night. Moreover, knowing how Chu Mingheng had wasted his health in his previous life and was about to die young, she felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart, making her feel suffocated.

Tonight's dream was an even bigger blow to her, appearing directly at Chu Mingheng's funeral. No wonder she couldn't wake up.