syncope
After the morning court session, the relentless snowfall finally subsided, and the officials gradually dispersed. Inside the Golden Palace, however, the lamps were not yet fully lit, and the red charcoal that had burned all morning still glowed dimly. The incense burner, intricately carved with dragon patterns, slowly released the fragrance of ambergris, which then dissipated into the cold air, leaving no trace.
Emperor Su casually removed the crown from his head, sat down behind a sandalwood table, and ran his fingertips over the lid of a warm jade cup on the table. The water in the cup had long since turned cold, but he merely raised his eyes to stop the palace servant who was about to bend down and refill his cup.
A pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes watched silently as the steam from the bronze kettle swirled in the air. After a long while, he spoke, breaking the silence in the hall.
"Have you brought the person?"
Zhao Fu hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Lady Dou Lin has been waiting in the side hall for an hour."
Emperor Su raised his right eye and looked at the Crown Prince, who had been standing in the hall since the court session ended and was now bowing respectfully.
Throughout his life, he had few children. His fifth son was skilled in martial arts but dull-witted, and his ninth son was cowardly. Only his third son was the least like him, yet he was also the most outstanding. He was the legitimate heir of the Empress Dowager and the only child who had been raised by her side before her death. He had always excelled in the imperial examinations and was unparalleled in riding and archery, thus living up to the reputation of the Wei family bloodline.
The usually dignified and cautious Emperor Su never criticized him too harshly.
The Crown Prince respectfully said, "Father, I know I was wrong."
Emperor Su lowered his eyes slightly, without raising his head, and said in a low voice, "Last night, the wind and snow were continuous, and it snowed all night long."
The Crown Prince felt a pang of panic, naturally understanding the meaning behind Emperor Su's words, and quickly cupped his hands in greeting:
"The wind was cold and the night was heavy. Lady Dou risked her life to plead for the princess. I think it was reasonable for me to do so. That's why I had to resort to this desperate measure. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Emperor Su gently placed the lid of his cup on top, the sound soft yet seemingly creating ripples in the silent hall. He raised his eyes to look at the Crown Prince, his gaze not particularly sharp, but extremely deep:
"Now that the person has already knelt down and all the officials have seen him this morning, what do you think should be done about the princess's matter?"
The Crown Prince shuddered, cold sweat beading on his neck. He quickly said, "Your Majesty is wise and has made his own decisions. Your son dares not presume to comment."
Emperor Su was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.
The usually dignified emperor stood up and slowly walked to the palace window.
Snowflakes began to fall silently again outside the eaves, covering the carved and golden beams outside the window, falling softly like cotton. A half-rolled gauze curtain hung down, brushing against the magnificent embroidery on the dragon robe. The palace lantern slanted its light on the profile of the most honored man in Dayu, but could not illuminate the deep thought on his brow.
"The person is already in the side hall, so what will you choose?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's face turned deathly pale. He abruptly raised his head, seemingly unable to believe what he had just heard. His usually clear eyes were now filled with undisguised horror. "Father..."
He hurriedly lifted his robe, knelt down with a thud, and pleaded in a low voice.
Emperor Su turned around and looked quietly at the crown prince kneeling at his feet, his tone very calm.
"Your Highness, choose for yourself."
The crown prince had not expected the emperor to act this way. He was both shocked and terrified, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His voice exploded, shattering on the cold floor.
"Father... Your son knows he was wrong. I beg you, I beg you to spare her life!"
The once noble and unparalleled Crown Prince had never been so humiliated. He was filled with remorse, fearing that he had lost the Emperor's favor, and that Lin Xu, who was only a wall away, would perish in the blink of an eye... How could he be so incompetent! The Crown Prince pleaded in near despair.
Emperor Su's indifferent voice came from far above, drifting into the air mixed with ambergris.
"I heard that after your mother arranged the marriage for her, you went to plead with the Empress?"
A bead of sweat silently fell from the Crown Prince's forehead to the floor. His heart trembled; he hadn't expected his father to know so early! His mother, devoted to him, would never leak the news. Who was it?
The crown prince slightly raised his head and met Zhao Fu, the eunuch holding a whisk and with an indifferent expression, at the door.
Before he could think any further, the Crown Prince's voice was already choked with sobs:
"Father, please understand. I once had some feelings for Lady Lin, which is why I was momentarily confused and tried to ask Mother to rescind the decree of marriage. But, that was all... Now, years have passed, I am married, and everything is back to normal... This matter had nothing to do with Lady Lin. I was only acting out of desperation because I was worried about my cousin, Princess Kunrou, whose whereabouts are still unknown. I had no other intentions! I was confused, and I beg you, Father, to punish me! She... she is now pregnant, please forgive her..."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Su snorted softly, then chuckled softly.
"What a fine son of the Wei family!"
His hawk-like eyes were devoid of any emotion. Emperor Su pursed his thin lips, shook his head, and stepped back to sit down behind the sandalwood table.
Just then, a young eunuch with his head hunched over flashed past the door and reported in a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."
.
Inside a side hall of the Golden Palace.
Lin Xu sat upright in the hall, her hands neatly placed on her knees, her slender shoulders and back straight. The surrounding furnishings were extremely elegant, with carved dragon tables and gold-threaded screens gleaming with golden light. She kept her head down, not daring to look too closely.
On the table beside me was a jade porcelain warming pot and several plain pastries served on green plates. The tea was steaming, with wisps of heat rising and dispersing in the air.
Lin Xu remained completely still.
A wave of unease washed over her. Despite her doubts, she could vaguely sense that her chances of survival were slim.
Behind her stood five or six palace maids with delicate features, but they all remained silent.
Lin Xu gently stroked her lower abdomen, feeling a deep sense of regret. The only person she felt sorry for was her child, who had suffered so much with her all these days.
If... if she can have a safe delivery, she will definitely treat her child well and not let it suffer any injustice.
After a day and a night of running around and working hard, she was exhausted and would fall into a deep sleep as soon as she closed her eyes. But Lin Xu did not dare to slack off and forced herself to stay alert.
She still has her father, and Dou Yanxun... She has to get out of here alive.
She must get out of here alive!
Lin Xu lowered her head and looked at the ruby ring on her finger. When the princess gave her this ring that day, did she ever imagine their current situation? Her heart ached, and she shook her head helplessly.
Suddenly, her brows furrowed, and she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, making her feel as if her internal organs were curling up.
Her child!
Before she could think further, another sharp pain shot through her. Lin Xu clenched her hands, feeling as if a stone had fallen into her abdomen and was rapidly descending, pressing down on her so hard she could hardly breathe. Involuntarily, she gripped the corner of the cushion on the chair beneath her.
My palms were already covered in a dense layer of cold sweat.
"I...I'm in so much pain..."
Lin Xu turned her head with all her might and whispered for help to the palace maids behind her.
The maids seemed startled by her appearance, and the next moment, Lin Xu felt her vision go black and could no longer hold on. She slumped uncontrollably against the table next to her.
.
In a hazy state of consciousness, Lin Xu closed her eyes. She felt that the surroundings, which should have been completely silent, were instead enveloped by a cluster of subtle noises. These two disconnected sensations made her extremely tired and prevented her from resting.
She was already too weak to do anything else, and could only seem to hear a woman's calm voice in her ear, "...In that case, take her to my palace."
She had no idea what happened after that.
Or perhaps it was all just a dream. She dreamt that she was soaring through boundless clouds, or perhaps she was in a vast grassland, riding horses with the princess, laughing heartily. Liang Zhengyuan, meanwhile, crossed his arms, watching them laugh and joke with doting eyes.
And yet, it was as if everything was simply back in the same place, returning to the palace gate that had remained closed for so long the night before. She waited for a long time in the snow, her body frozen stiff, but no one came out. And at daybreak, the white mourning clothes for Princess Kunrou fluttered in the sky…
Amidst the ethereal fragrance, soft, cloud-like curtains hang gently, accompanied by a warm, intoxicating aroma. The surroundings are so quiet that only the soft crackling of the fireplace and the occasional rustling of incense ash falling to the ground can be heard, as subtle as a cicada's wing.
Lin Xu moved his eyelids and slowly woke up.
She felt her head was as heavy as a mountain, and her limbs were limp, as if she had floated up from the deepest, coldest night. A dull ache still lingered in her lower abdomen, which jolted her awake—
"My child!"
As she struggled to sit up, a calm and gentle female voice sounded beside her.
"Has Madam Dou woken up? You caught a cold, but fortunately the baby in your womb is safe and sound. Her Majesty the Empress has already ordered Physician Xu to examine your pulse, so please rest assured."
Despite her splitting headache, hearing the words "Empress" was enough to revive her remaining strength and composure. The Empress...?
Lin Xu then looked around absentmindedly at the woman in front of him and his surroundings.
But she found herself inside a curtained room, with the flickering candlelight casting a warm yellow glow on the purple-gold phoenix-carved bedposts beside her.
On the table beside the bed were several porcelain cups and silver dishes, faintly exuding the fragrance of medicine, which mingled with the incense burning in the hall, making her heart skip a beat and her brow furrow sharply—
"What... medicine did you give me?"
The palace maid, who was about thirty years old and had a dignified appearance, saw Lin Xu nervously gripping her hands and smiled, comforting her, "Madam Dou has been frightened and must be very nervous. This is a prescription for pregnancy-stabilizing medicine given to you by Physician Xu. You can rest assured and relax."
The palace maid stood up, subtly withdrew her hand, and nodded slightly, saying:
"You suddenly fainted in the palace just now, which frightened all the palace staff. It was the Empress who found out and sent someone to check your pulse and ensure a safe pregnancy. You are currently in Changchun Palace."
Changchun Palace...
Those memories that had been gradually forgotten due to being busy with Kunrou's affairs resurfaced.
Lin Xuyu's eyelashes trembled, and she whispered, almost using all her strength:
"Is Her Majesty the Empress currently in the palace? I would like to... personally express my gratitude to Her Majesty the Empress."
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