Chapter 388 Hysteria
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, poured himself a small cup, and drank it all in one gulp: "I think someone else is the one who's passed out drunk."
This obvious provocation worked on Mingzhu.
"Hehe, it's just a cup of wine, how could it possibly stump this princess!" With that, she practically snatched the wine pot, filled her own cup to the brim, picked it up, and mimicked Shen Yi's earlier gesture, tilting her head back to gulp it down.
"Hey, drink slowly..." Jiang Huan couldn't help but remind him when she saw this.
This girl is too naive; she always succeeds in using reverse psychology.
Unfortunately, it was too late; Mingzhu had already gulped it down.
The wine is sweet and refreshing as it goes down your throat, with a rich aroma of peach blossoms. You can hardly taste any spiciness; there is only a warm sensation as it slides down your throat.
Mingzhu smacked her lips, her face, which had been tense from sulking, relaxed, and even revealed a hint of smugness.
"Hmph, it's nothing special, it's sweet, like sugar water."
As she spoke, she poured herself another glass, this time taking small sips, enjoying it immensely with the spicy Sichuan-style chicken.
Jiang Huan found it amusing, shook her head, and let her be.
However, after a few drinks, Mingzhu gradually felt her cheeks burning, her head was a little dizzy, and she could see double.
She shook her head, trying to stand up to get the lotus root slices in the distance, but she stumbled and swayed weakly to the side.
Shen Yi happened to be sitting next to her, and upon seeing this, he instinctively reached out to help her up.
Mingzhu softly fell into his arms, the sweet fragrance and warmth of peach blossom wine wafting onto his neck.
Shen Yi's body stiffened slightly, and the hand that was supporting her shoulder stopped.
The person in his arms was warm and fragrant, with rosy cheeks. Her bright eyes, which usually stared at him, were now misty with tears, making her look somewhat dazed and innocent, revealing a touch of naivety.
Shen Yi quickly came to his senses, gently straightened Mingzhu, and helped her back to her seat, his tone regaining its usual languidness.
"It seems the princess is not a good drinker. This peach blossom wine is sweet, but it has quite a strong aftereffect."
Mingzhu leaned back in her chair, feeling dizzy. She didn't seem to fully understand what had happened, but her head was spinning even more. She mumbled something, then her eyelids drooped, and she became drowsy.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Huan quickly instructed a palace maid to help Mingzhu back to her room to rest.
As Shen Yi watched Mingzhu being helped away, his fan movements seemed a little slower than usual.
He stood up, cupped his hands to Jiang Huan, and said, "Your Majesty, I shall also take my leave."
As he left, he glanced casually in the direction Mingzhu had gone.
That night, Mingzhu fell into a deep sleep in her guest room at Weiyang Palace.
Perhaps it was the effect of the peach blossom wine, but she slept exceptionally soundly and even had a bizarre dream.
In my dream, there were no arguments or bickering, only a peach blossom forest in full bloom, with petals fluttering like rain.
A familiar figure dressed in a moon-white robe stood with his back to her under the peach tree, tall and dashing.
She instinctively approached, and the person suddenly turned around, a familiar smile on his lips, and offered her a peach blossom in full bloom.
"Princess, are you happy?"
Mingzhu froze in her dream, staring blankly at the peach blossom, her heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason...
On the other side, Jiang Huan, having spent most of the day working, also felt a wave of weariness wash over her.
She leaned lazily against the soft couch, like a satiated cat, her eyelids beginning to droop.
Huo Linzao finished dealing with military affairs in the study and came out with a feeling of gentle warmth in his heart. He walked quietly to the bedside and gently brushed away her loose hair.
"You've been up and about all day, let's get some rest."
Jiang Huan snuggled comfortably in his arms and gave a muffled "Mmm".
"I'm a little sleepy, but I'm very happy today..." she said, giving a small yawn.
A faint smile appeared in Huo Lin's eyes. He was about to carry Jiang Huan to the bedroom when a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. Wang Degui walked in.
"Your Majesty, an urgent report from Cining Palace: The Empress Dowager is having a nightmare, as if she is suffering from hysteria. She is talking nonsense and is very agitated. The palace servants are helpless, and the imperial physicians cannot calm her down either. We have no choice but to disturb Your Majesty."
After he finished speaking, Wang Degui was drenched in sweat.
Jiang Huan's drowsiness vanished with a start. She sat up straight and looked at Huo Lin: "The Empress Dowager..."
Huo Lin's expression darkened. His mind raced, and he quickly stood up, saying to Jiang Huan, "I'll go see you. You're feeling unwell, so please rest well."
Jiang Huan nodded upon hearing this: "Then go quickly, and be careful."
Huo Lin responded and then strode away.
When he rushed there, the Cining Palace was already in a mess.
The palace servants knelt on the ground, trembling, while several imperial physicians surrounded the imperial bed, all covered in sweat and looking terrified.
The Empress Dowager, with disheveled hair, huddled in the corner of the bed, her eyes wide open, muttering incoherent babbling, sometimes screaming, sometimes crying, appearing as if she had gone mad.
Huo Lin was about to step forward to check when the Empress Dowager on the couch seemed to be stimulated by something, raised her head, and her gaze met Huo Lin's directly.
In an instant, the Empress Dowager's pupils contracted sharply, her face drained of color, and her expression was filled with fear.
She screamed as if she had seen a vengeful ghost, and frantically shrank back, waving her hands wildly as if trying to drive away something terrifying.
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer! It wasn't me! Go away! Go away!"
Her voice was hoarse, tears streamed down her face, and she was incoherent, completely in a state of frenzy.
Huo Lin abruptly stopped, standing still, looking at the Empress Dowager's expression as if she regarded him as a monstrous threat, his eyes unfathomable.
The imperial physicians were terrified and rushed forward to try to calm her down, administering acupuncture and medicine, but to no avail. Instead, the Empress Dowager struggled even more violently.
"He's going to kill me! He's going to kill me!"
Huo Lin observed coldly for a moment, then waved away the flustered imperial physicians and ordered in a deep voice, "All of you, step back. Wang Degui, go and invite the chief physician over."
"Yes!" Wang Degui scrambled out.
Soon, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy arrived, panting. After carefully examining the pulse and observing the patient, he knelt down and reported back.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's illness is a mental one, which cannot be cured by ordinary medicine. She needs to calm her mind and soothe her nerves, and we should proceed slowly. I will first prescribe a few doses of medicine to calm her nerves and stabilize her condition before making further plans."
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