Chapter 85 Lost

It wasn't until someone heard "The Second Prince has woken up" from inside the bedroom that Xie Junyao entered the bedroom without even glancing at her.

"Is Jingshi awake?" Xie Junyao sat down beside the bed and asked softly, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Concubine Zheng followed behind him and stood aside.

The second prince licked his lips, which were chapped from dryness, and said, "I'm thirsty. I want to drink some water."

Hearing this, Linglong hurried to pour a glass of water, and Xie Junyao fed him.

The Second Prince opened his eyes. His face was pale and sickly, a color unbecoming of a child his age.

The Second Prince saw his father feeling aggrieved and pouted, "It's so uncomfortable. Father, it's so uncomfortable."

He only remembered that his father had not visited him and his mother for several days.

"Be good, Jing Shi. Father asked the imperial physician to find a way to make you feel better." Xie Junyao's voice was very gentle.

The Second Prince still clung to Concubine Zheng, his lips moving gently: "Mother, Mother."

But Concubine Zheng's mind was not here, still on what happened just now. Even though Jing Shi woke up, she was still absent-minded. She didn't even hear Jing Shi calling her.

Xie Junyao's eyes darkened, and his expression was somewhat displeased: "My Lady, Jing Shi is calling you." His son is still here, and he can be distracted. In the end, he doesn't care.

His reminder brought Concubine Zheng back to her senses and she looked at them in confusion: "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Xie Junyao's face was gloomy and he ignored her. Concubine Zheng looked embarrassed, but fortunately, the Second Prince extended his hand to her, which eased her embarrassment.

"Mother, mother will accompany you."

Concubine Zheng held the Second Prince's hand, squatted beside him, and said, "Okay, mother will accompany you."

Beads of sweat covered the Second Prince's forehead, likely from excessive sweating. His pale lips, cracked and chapped, were once again bleeding.

Xie Junyao said coldly: "Open the window."

"No." Concubine Zheng lowered her eyebrows and eyes and said, "Your Majesty, Jing Shi is afraid of the cold."

Xie Junyao ignored her. His gaze fell on Linglong, who remained motionless, and he said coldly, "Why, I can't control you?"

Linglong hesitated for a moment, then went to open the window.

Concubine Zheng took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, Jing Shi is afraid of the cold. Moreover, the sudden change from cold to hot will make Jing Shi weak and he may not be able to bear it."

Xie Junyao's voice was low and cold, shocking everyone in the bedroom: "Noble Concubine, when will you change yourself?"

"Did the imperial physician advise against burning the charcoal fire so vigorously? Look at Jingshi's forehead again. Isn't that sweat from the heat?"

Concubine Zheng felt extremely aggrieved. She was Jingshi's mother, and every decision she made was made for Jingshi's sake. How could it be her fault?

Concubine Zheng raised her eyelids and stared at him with a delicate gaze, "Your Majesty, Jingshi is my child. I am doing this for Jingshi's sake."

Seeing his father and mother arguing because of him, the second prince became anxious and coughed deliberately to distract their attention.

Concubine Zheng looked away and said with tears in her eyes, "Why are you coughing again? Are you feeling uncomfortable again?"

"Father and Mother, please don't quarrel."

After all, she had given birth to two children for him, and he owed her something. Xie Junyao sighed, "Jingshi, have a good rest. Your father and your mother are fine."

It was getting late, and there was an early court tomorrow. The Second Prince's condition had stabilized, and family and state affairs were equally important to Xie Junyao. Concubine Zheng suggested resting in Fuyao Palace for the night, but Xie Junyao declined, citing inconvenience.

Concubine Zheng was very disappointed. In the past, the Emperor would rest in Fuyao Palace for ten days, not even half a month. Now, he only stayed there for three or five days a month. He even refused to allow the Emperor to rest in Fuyao Palace for a night without having to travel back and forth.

I only promised Jing Shi that I would come to see him the next day.

As he passed by the group of imperial physicians, he said with a serious expression, "For the next few days, you should stay in Fuyao Palace during the day. Keep an eye on the Second Prince's health. I want to see him get better."

The imperial physicians kowtowed and said, "Yes, we will do our best."

There was a pile of used charcoal in the courtyard of Fuyao Palace. Xie Junyao took a quick look and stopped abruptly, nearly bumping into it. Li Dexian wasn't paying attention.

There were only a few scattered orange-dark lights in the yard, but one could also make out the strange smell of charcoal fire.

He lowered his voice and said, "Have someone carefully check the charcoal fire in Fuyao Palace."

"Yes, I understand." Li Dexian was shocked. Could there be something wrong with the charcoal fire?

————

Before the hour of You, Wen Wanyu had already prepared to leave the palace and had changed into clothes suitable for outside the palace.

Wen Wanyu would occasionally send Bai Su or Qing Dai out to take a look, until the moon was high in the sky. The emperor still hadn't sent anyone to pick them up. Wen Wanyu knew they were probably being stood down.

Wen Wanyu waited from Youshi to Sishi, and changed her clothes. Later she learned that the second prince was ill and the emperor had rushed to Fuyao Palace.

For some reason, Wen Wanyu kept waiting. As she waited, she fell asleep on the table.

At two o'clock in the morning, Bai Su welcomed Li Dexian into the hall. Li Dexian bowed and spoke with a sincere apology: "My Lady Ling, the Emperor has sent me to inform you. I'm afraid it's not convenient for the Emperor to take you out today."

It was obvious that Lady Ling was very sleepy. It seemed she had been waiting for the Emperor.

To be honest, Li Dexian was unsure. Perhaps because Concubine Zheng had just lost her temper for no apparent reason, he was a little worried that this young lady would also lose her temper. He would be hard-pressed to explain then.

Wen Wanyu lowered her eyes: "I understand."

"My lord, there is one more thing. The emperor has told me to tell you—"

"What?"

"The Emperor said he would not break his promise. Please wait a few more days."

Wen Wanyu smiled, her eyelashes fluttering. "I understand. The emperor must be very busy. Please tell the emperor to take care of himself no matter how busy he is."

Li Dexian heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Master Ling was not the kind of person who would make trouble for no reason. He smiled and said, "Yes, I will definitely convey your message. Then, Master Ling, you should have a good rest. I will take my leave now."

"Take care, father-in-law."

After sending Li Dexian away, Wen Wanyu closed the door of Changlixuan. Only a few close friends knew about her 'fake amnesia'. After Bai Su turned off the lights, worried that she would be disappointed, he said comfortingly: "My lady, you..."

Wen Wanyu knew that she wanted to comfort herself and smiled at her: "I'm fine."

She was definitely disappointed, but it wasn't enough to keep her immersed in the feeling of loss.

The palace was filled with endless silence.

Xie Junyao closed his eyes and rested on the dragon chariot.

Suddenly thinking of Wen Wanyu, he hurriedly asked, "Is Concubine Ling angry?"

Li Dexian smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Concubine Ling is not angry. She even asked me to tell you to take care of yourself and remember to rest no matter how tired you are."

In the darkness, Xie Junyao suddenly raised his lips and smiled.

Concubine Zheng's unreasonable behavior just now made him feel suffocated for a moment, but Wanwan's comforting words made him breathe again.