Chapter 16
Chapter Summary: Cold Wind.
Just as Ayu finished her breakfast and was instructing people to clear the table, she heard a sound coming from the palace gate.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
Knowing they were coming, Yu Jing wasn't surprised. She stood up, walked to her seat, and waited for them to enter.
Qi Jin and Zhang Qingcen entered the hall. After Yu Jing's assassination attempt, Qi Jin often came to visit her, and Zhang Qingcen also came frequently. This was the first time the two of them had come together. Today, Qi Jin wore a black court robe with gold dragon patterns, and Zhang Qingcen wore the same black robe with gold phoenix patterns. Compared to yesterday's red, it looked much more somber.
"Your subject and concubine greet Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," they said together, bowing in greeting. Yu Jing hadn't noticed when they came to visit separately, but now that they were together, she felt that the two of them seemed somewhat distant.
"Get up and sit down." Yu Jing had spent some time with them and was no longer as nervous or awkward as before.
"Thank you, Mother Empress." The two responded and took their seats.
After they sat down, Ayu brought in people to serve tea. Qi Jin coughed lightly, and Yu Jing looked up and noticed that he didn't look well.
"What's wrong with the emperor?" Yu Jing asked casually.
"Reporting to Mother, it's nothing serious. I probably caught a chill last night." Qi Jin replied, picking up the freshly brewed tea beside him, skimming off the foam, and taking a sip.
“Your Majesty’s health is of utmost importance. Perhaps we should summon the imperial physician to take a look?” Zhang Qingcen said from the side. Yu Jing glanced at her and saw the concern on her face.
"It's alright." Qi Jin replied, putting down his teacup. Though his words were casual, they brooked no argument.
Zhang Qingcen hesitated, then glanced at Yu Jing with a hint of expectation. Yu Jing met Zhang Qingcen's gaze, thought for a moment, and decided it was just a matter of saying a few words, so she said, "Your Majesty should ask the imperial physician to take a look. Even if there is nothing wrong, some medicine and conditioning will help you recover faster."
"Hmm." Qi Jin responded indifferently, but still did not summon the imperial physician. Seeing Qi Jin's slightly perfunctory attitude, Yu Jing also stopped speaking. After all, if he himself was unwilling, it would be useless to invite the imperial physician to his side.
"The Ministry of Rites has proposed February 29th as the date for Your Majesty's trip to Wanjiang Mountain in the spring. I have consulted the Astronomical Observatory, and they say it is an auspicious day. What does Your Majesty think?" Zhang Qingcen asked.
Going to Wanjiang Mountain to pray for blessings was never Yu Jing's original intention, so it didn't matter what day he went.
“Very good, Your Majesty is very kind,” Yu Jing replied.
"As the Empress Dowager, it is only right that I do so," Zhang Qingcen said with a smile, her eyes lowered.
"Oh, by the way, Your Majesty, I also heard that Sister Yueqing and Lord Zheng have already set off from Youzhou and will arrive in the capital soon. I suppose Your Majesty will be able to see Sister Yueqing before going to Wanjiang Mountain to pray for blessings," Zhang Qingcen continued.
Yu Jing felt a headache coming on when she heard the Third Princess's name. She forced a smile and replied perfunctorily, "Very good, very good."
Qi Jin remained seated, listening quietly to their conversation, only coughing occasionally without uttering a word.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qi Jin stood up and said, "Mother, I have some matters to attend to at the Imperial Court, so I will take my leave now."
"The affairs of the previous dynasty are of utmost importance, go ahead," Yu Jing said.
"Your subject takes his leave." Qi Jin lifted his dragon robe, stood up, and walked out. Zhang Qingcen stood up, gave Qi Jin a slight curtsy, but only looked back after he had left.
After Qi Jin left, Yu Jing noticed that Zhang Qingcen was fidgeting below. After a while, she finally heard her speak: "Mother, I am a little worried about His Majesty. I would like to personally make some rock sugar pear soup for him and send it over to soothe his throat."
Yu Jing smiled slightly and replied, "Mm."
"Thank you, Mother." Zhang Qingcen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Yu Jingru's words, stood up, and left.
Yu Jing stared blankly at Zhang Qingcen's retreating figure. Whether as Empress, wife, or daughter-in-law, she was impeccable in every aspect. Previously, Yu Jing had thought that Zhang Qingcen's entry into the palace as Empress was merely because her father was the Grand Tutor, holding a high position and wielding great power. Now it seemed that she wasn't entirely without genuine feelings for Qi Jin. It was just that Qi Jin's feelings for her…
For some reason, Su Siyang's face suddenly appeared in Yu Jing's mind.
"What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?" Yu Jing sighed silently to herself, shaking her head helplessly. Thinking of Su Siyang made her irritable, and she picked up the teacup on the table and took a large gulp.
A few days later.
"Your Majesty, I heard from the eunuchs serving in Zhengyang Palace that His Majesty's cough has become increasingly severe recently."
Yu Jing was having breakfast when she heard A Yu say this. Her hand, which was picking up food, paused slightly, and she replied, "Have you asked the imperial physician to take a look?"
"Thank you," Ayu replied. "I heard she's been taking the medicine for several days, but hasn't gotten better."
"How could this be?" Yu Jing asked, somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, Qi Jin was so strong and vigorous at such a young age; any minor ailment should have healed quickly. How could this be? However, Yu Jing wasn't too worried. Although she hadn't consulted the Book of Fate, she knew that Qi Jin's death was definitely not now.
"Breakfast is over, let's go see the Emperor," Yu Jing said. After all, he was someone who called her Mother.
"Yes," Ayu replied, instructing her subordinates to prepare things in the storeroom.
Yu Jing stepped out of the palace gate, where a group of people bowed and greeted her. The snow had been falling on and off for the past few days, but it had stopped today, though some snow still clung to the palace walls. Yu Jing told them to rise, and was somewhat surprised not to see Xie Xuan. She casually asked a guard, "Where is Lord Xie?"
"Your Majesty, Lord Xie is off duty today." After reporting, the guard added, "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"
Yu Jing shook her head: "It's nothing."
"Ayu, let's go."
"yes."
Having been cooped up in her bedchamber all day, Yu Jing decided against taking a sedan chair, thinking it would be better to walk. Although it was cold, Cining Palace was far from Chengming Hall, and by the time they were almost there, she was warm all over, which was quite comfortable.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Xu Xinshu and his entourage were waiting at the palace gate. Upon seeing Yu Jing, they hurriedly bowed and paid their respects.
"Get up," Yu Jing replied, but before she could speak, she heard Xu Xinshu say.
"His Majesty is currently reviewing memorials in the palace. Your Majesty, may I go in and inform Your Majesty?"
"Okay." Yu Jing responded and stood waiting under the eaves.
Although I was standing outside the door, I could still faintly hear Qi Jin coughing inside, in bursts, and it sounded quite heavy.
"Creak." The door opened, and Xu Xinshu emerged from inside, bowing and smiling obsequiously as he said to Yu Jing, "Your Majesty, His Majesty invites you in."
Yu Jing nodded and stepped inside. Upon entering the hall, she was immediately enveloped by the strong scent of ambergris, completely different from the delicate fragrance of the moon-scale incense burning in the Cining Palace. The ambergris was quite overpowering. Yu Jing raised her hand to cover her nose and continued walking. The charcoal fire burned brightly, making the hall warm and cozy. Yu Jing glanced at the furnishings; the desks and chairs were made of rosewood, and the ornaments on the shelves were few but simple, yet exuding an air of nobility. In the center of the hall was a bronze dragon-patterned brazier, with a small inner tier, presumably for burning incense. The incense smoke, like a woman, rose gracefully, revealing her slender figure.
"Cough cough cough." Qi Jin's cough was very close in the inner hall, and Yu Jing could clearly feel that he was covering his mouth with his hand. Then came the sound of teacups clinking together.
When Yu Jing arrived at the inner hall, Qi Jin was having tea. He looked even worse than he had at the beginning of the year, likely due to lack of sleep; there were dark circles under his eyes. This Qi Jin appeared less sharp and more defeated.
Seeing Yu Jing enter, Qi Jin put down his teacup and was about to stand up: "Your subject..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yu Jing interrupted him: "Now that you're both ill, there's no need for formalities."
Qi Jin was visibly taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly regained his composure and sat down, replying, "Yes."
"I've heard that the Emperor's health hasn't been very good lately?" Yu Jing asked bluntly.
"It's just a cold, thank you for your concern, Mother." Qi Jin said, then coughed faintly again.
Yu Jing looked at Qi Jin, whose face was deathly pale. The table was piled high with memorials and imperial edicts beside them. She sighed and said, "Let's put the memorials aside for now. It's more important for the Emperor to recover."
Qi Jin paused for a moment and said, "It's nothing, just... cough cough cough... just a cold, I'll be fine soon."
Seeing Qi Jin's insistence, Yu Jing said nothing more; after all, she had said what she needed to say. Then, as if remembering something, she said, "Physician Xu's medical skills are quite good. How about I have him examine you?"
After her assassination attempt, Xu Mingzhen was the one who took care of her. Although it is unknown how good his medical skills were, a royal physician who could treat Sheng Hua must be quite good.
After Yu Jing finished speaking, the hall became noticeably quiet for a moment before Qi Jin said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Physician Mei's medical skills are comparable to Physician Xu's. Since Physician Mei has already examined me, there is no need to trouble yourself further."
"Alright." He was the emperor; what trouble would it be to summon a royal physician? He simply didn't want to. Since he didn't want to, Yu Jing didn't insist. She instructed A Yu to hand over the gifts she had brought to Xu Xinshu, and after sitting for a while, she got up and left.
Just as she stepped out of the palace gate, she ran into Zhang Qingcen, who was carrying something in. Zhang Qingcen was somewhat surprised to see Yu Jing, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
Yu Jing glanced down at what Zhang Qingcen was carrying and said, "Get up."
“Yes.” Zhang Qingcen stood up and generously explained to Yu Jing, “I noticed that Your Majesty has been coughing badly these past few days, so I specially prepared some Sichuan fritillary and loquat soup for you.”
"Hurry inside, it won't be good if it gets cold," Yu Jing replied.
"Yes," Zhang Qingcen replied, and the two passed each other.
Ayu whispered to Yu Jing beside her, "I heard that Her Majesty the Empress has been serving His Majesty very diligently these past few days."
“But His Majesty doesn’t seem to care much about this,” Ayu continued.
After all, he was an emperor. Judging from Qi Jin's appearance, he didn't seem like the type to be preoccupied with romantic love. It's a pity Zhang Qingcen's sincere feelings were wasted. She should have checked who Qi Jin's matchmaking thread was tied with before descending to the mortal realm. But it's alright, she can ask the Old Man of the Moon next time she has the chance.
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