Chapter 32 Illness "It's truly a humiliation for Miaomiao to marry me."...
As night deepened, the distant horizon took on a dark blue hue, with thin clouds revealing stars that flickered and drifted by.
Inside the Qin Garden of the Xie residence, the atmosphere was cold and solemn. His Majesty's personal guards stood inside and outside the courtyard. Xie Jingxuan and Xie Mengjun were blocked on the outside and were not allowed to enter.
Xie Mengjun gripped Xie Jingxuan's sleeve tightly and whispered, "Great-grandfather, will my cousin...cousin be in trouble? Will she...will she abandon Mengjun too?"
Just like parents...
The young girl's eyes were moist, her nose was red, and her mouth was trembling unnaturally.
She lost her parents at a young age and was raised by Xie Jingxuan. She usually appears to be an optimistic person, but in reality, she is sensitive and insecure. Although she knows that this identity and kinship are just lies, to Xie Mengjun, Wen Miao is her cousin.
"No, Miao Niang will be fine."
Xie Jingxuan patted Xie Mengjun's head, but when he looked up at the closed door, his eyes were filled with worry, guilt, and another indescribable mix of emotions.
Miao Niang's unrecovered memories are like a hidden blade between them. No one knows when it will fall, so they can only wait anxiously, simultaneously simulating a thousand possibilities for what will happen if Miao Niang regains her memories.
Accept it peacefully? Make a complete break? Or something else entirely...?
Xie Jingxuan dared not think too deeply about it, only feeling a heavy weight in his heart, as if a huge rock was pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.
Just a door away, the smell of medicinal soup wafted from inside the house.
Wen Miao curled up in bed. It was a sweltering July day, but she felt cold all over, dizzy, and had a splitting headache.
She fell into a state between sleep and wakefulness, unable to see the figures moving around her or hear what they were saying. It was as if her five senses were covered by a thick fog, completely isolating her from the world.
In a daze, it seemed as if someone embraced her and gently touched her forehead and cheeks with warm hands.
Wen Miao struggled to open her eyes, tears welling up and wetting her long eyelashes, strands sticking together. Through her veiled vision, she saw Emperor Qian Yuan sitting sideways on the edge of the couch.
The emperor's handsome and majestic face appeared even colder at this moment. His thick eyebrows were furrowed, casting a shadow, and the corners of his lips were tightly turned down. A terrifying aura surrounded him, and he was imposing without being angry. Even the imperial physician Fang, who was taking Wen Miao's pulse not far away, was somewhat trembling and his face turned pale.
...This kind of emperor is so fierce.
That's scary.
Wen Miao, curled up in bed, shivered.
Emperor Qian Yuan forced a smile, revealing an ugly grin. He gently stroked Wen Miao's neck, which was soaked with cold sweat, and carefully comforted her: "Don't be afraid, I'm not angry with you, Madam. I... I'm just a little worried."
Qinyuan is Wen Miao's exclusive territory. Emperor Qian Yuan has never sent Cheng Ying Guards to secretly enter it. They only operate outside Qinyuan and are responsible for protecting Wen Miao's safety on a daily basis. Therefore, after the imperial edict was issued today, Emperor Qian Yuan was able to rush from the palace to Xie Mansion immediately.
Upon hearing the emperor's explanation, Wen Miao opened her lips but said nothing. In an instant, she fell asleep again, but her sleep was still not deep. Her mind was filled with a dull pain, and her body was alternating between cold and heat.
Emperor Qian Yuan sat silently, only holding Wen Miao's hand tightly.
Time passed again, and the imperial physicians and maids came and went. Xie Jingxuan led Xie Mengjun back to her room to rest, but Emperor Qianyuan just sat quietly inside, staring intently at Wen Miao.
Looking at the woman on the bed, covered in cold sweat and with a sickly appearance, he felt a pang of pain in his heart. He reached out and took the wet wipe that Wanbi handed him, carefully wiping the sweat from her temples.
It was at this moment that Wen Miao, who had been dozing off for a while, opened her eyes, looking a little more awake than before.
Right now, it's pitch black outside the window; it's already late at night.
The Emperor said in a low voice, "Your Majesty's sudden fainting today has truly frightened me. I have already had Physician Fang take your pulse, and he said you were somewhat startled."
He concealed the diagnosis from Physician Fang that Wen Miao might regain her memory earlier than expected... This feeling was as if he had stolen it.
Wen Miao blinked slowly, trying to understand the seemingly hazy words that drifted into her ears.
Is the illness caused by being startled?
But what startled you?
Wen Miao pursed her lips, feeling weak and listless.
She tried to recall the images she had seen in her mind before she lost consciousness. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a hoarse voice: "I think... I saw some memories from the past."
Emperor Qian Yuan felt a vein throb on his forehead, as if his heart and lungs were being roasted on a blazing fire.
He composed himself, carefully helped Wen Miao up, and let her lean against him. He then fed her a sip of warm water and asked softly:
"...Was it those memories that startled the lady?"
The emperor's voice trembled slightly upon closer listening, but Wen Miao, who was feeling unwell at the moment, was unaware of it.
She cleared her throat, still feeling tired and weak, her thoughts slowly processing the emperor's questions. "I don't know... After reading it, I seem to have forgotten it."
The dull pain in her brain reminded her that those past, forgotten memories had not completely disappeared. However, if we were to talk about recovery, she had only seen a few fragments before she lost consciousness, which she could not piece together into a coherent picture. Now, in her delirium, she could not even recall those scattered fragments.
Especially since her body was also suffering, Wen Miao couldn't help but wonder if she would have been spared this ordeal if she had never remembered.
But just as that thought crossed her mind, another idea quickly surfaced in her head—she should remember the past.
"It's better if you don't remember."
Emperor Qianyuan gently stroked Wen Miao's hair and back, holding the frail and helpless woman in his arms with tender care. "My lady, please don't frighten me like this anymore, okay?"
Wen Miao didn't speak, her face flushed with illness as she looked toward the doorway where there had just been movement.
Shi Cui walked in cautiously, carrying a bowl of warm, dark brown medicine. Emperor Qian Yuan took it and placed a cushion on the couch behind Wen Miao, saying, "Drink some medicine first."
She responded softly, cooperating with Emperor Qian Yuan's actions. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly from the bitter medicine, and she took a sip of warm tea to rinse her mouth and relieve the discomfort.
After all that was done, Wen Miao was helped back into bed by the emperor. Despite it being summer, her hands and feet were ice-cold, and even with several hot water bottles that had been heated earlier, she still felt chilled.
Emperor Qianyuan dismissed his servants and stayed alone in the room, gently rubbing Wen Miao's wrist with his warm hands, trying to warm her body.
Wen Miao said weakly, "...Your Majesty."
"What's wrong?" The emperor immediately leaned closer, afraid of missing something.
The beautiful widow on the couch, who had been designated as the new Empress of Great Chu but whose ceremony had not yet been held, tilted her head slightly, her lips moved slightly, and said in a light but very serious tone, "Thank you for your trouble."
Although eight or nine parts of her relationship with the emperor were forced upon her by him, Wen Miao also knew that Emperor Qian Yuan had helped her a great deal since they met.
The emperor, who had been thanked, lowered his head and kissed Wen Miao's eyebrows and eyelashes, and even wanted to kiss her lower eyelids.
Wen Miao turned her head away, "...Be careful not to catch the illness."
"I am in good health, I cannot pass."
Emperor Qian Yuan moved closer to her again, his warm lips gently touching her as he slowly raised his head.
He gazed intently at Wen Miao, as if trying to see into the depths of her eyes.
The emperor, whose bones were filled with inferiority and a sense of unworthiness, said in a low, hoarse voice, "It is truly a grievance for Miaomiao to marry me."
Wen Miao paused, a look of surprise flashing across her face, which was flushed from illness.
She wanted to say something more, but the emperor simply patted her gently, adjusted the pillows and blankets on the couch, and said in a gentle tone, as if he were coaxing a little girl to sleep, "Sleep, I'll stay with you."
As night deepened, Wen Miao, having taken her medicine, quickly fell asleep again. Only Emperor Qian Yuan remained, sitting quietly by the bed like a statue, holding Wen Miao's hand while tracing her face with his gaze, as if he could watch until dawn.
Meanwhile, inside the Duke of Wei's mansion—
Meng Hanzhou's whip marks on his back had not fully healed, but in the afternoon he still kept it a secret from the Duke of Wei and, with his servant, went out through the side gate, looking across the street at the extremely bustling Xie Mansion.
He was pale and leaned on the arm of his servant.
The crowd was noisy, but Meng Hanzhou could only hear the Minister of Rites announcing the imperial decree and see Lady Wen, who, having received the Emperor's grace, was sitting in a chair receiving the decree without having to express her gratitude.
This is the first such case since the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty, and also the first recorded case in the history of previous dynasties.
At that moment, Meng Hanzhou suddenly understood what his father had said. No matter how hard he tried or how many military achievements he made at the border, the best he could earn for his wife was an imperial title, and it would take three to five years to achieve that.
Even though he offered what he thought was the best thing, Lady Wen still had to bow down and kneel before the imperial power after marrying him.
Because he was a subject, and Lady Wen was the subject's wife, and above them was the supreme ruler, the Emperor, who reigned for ten thousand years.
He cannot pluck this bright moon.
But in the Great Chu, there was someone who could hold that moon high, so that it would never fall to the ground.
Meng Hanzhou suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.
That night, Meng Hanzhou, who had returned to his residence to recuperate and was greatly shocked, fell seriously ill and developed a high fever. Knowing the cause, the Duke of Wei naturally had some guesses in his mind.
He blocked the Duchess of Kaiguo and Meng Jingqiu, and went in alone. Looking at his eldest son's face, which was red from the burning, he said with a cold and hard expression, "Meng Hanzhou, you are still thinking about someone you shouldn't be thinking about?"
The prince, delirious with fever, shook his head in a daze, "No, I don't care anymore..."
At least until he has the ability, he can't afford to think about it, nor does he dare to.
Duke Wei was both angry and helpless. He simply pressed down on Meng Hanzhou's shoulder, applying pressure in a way that was both a warning and a comfort, "...Remember what you said."
Their Duke's Mansion is no longer as prosperous as it once was. It no longer has the face that even the late emperor showed them some deference to decades ago. Now, these old guys are completely timid and obediently guard their own little territory when facing Emperor Qian Yuan. If they were to cause trouble in secret again, they might even lose their titles!
After all, the one sitting on the dragon throne now is notorious for his ruthless methods; he's not someone to mess with... those princes are the best example of that.
Duke Wei shivered, looking at his eldest son who had a fever on the bed. He could only pray that Emperor Qian Yuan would not pay any more attention to their family, and that his eldest son could put his mind at ease and stay as far away from that Empress as possible in the future!
Both were sick with fever, but the young man's body was in better shape. In addition, Meng Hanzhou had been practicing martial arts for many years. After burning up for half the night, most of his mental knots were untied, and his physical condition recovered a lot.
That night, while in Qinyuan Garden, Emperor Qianyuan, who was taking care of Wenmiao, listened to the report from Chengying Guard and coldly twitched the corner of his mouth.
Meng Hanzhou was quite lucky to fall ill on the same day as his wife.
...
The next day, the sky was hazy, the morning mist was thick, and dewdrops clung to the treetops and leaves, adding a touch of coolness to the air.
Before sunrise, Emperor Qian Yuan, who had been keeping watch all night, took advantage of Wen Miao's waking up to kiss his still groggy wife, and then touched her forehead to check her condition. Seeing that her body temperature was normal and her headache had subsided, he tucked her in and left as the sun rose.
Before leaving, he kissed the base of Wen Miao's ring finger and whispered, "Wait for me to come and marry you."
After Emperor Qian Yuan left, Wen Miao, still feeling drowsy, fell asleep again and didn't fully wake up until 9:00 AM.
After washing up, Wen Miao, feeling groggy as if she had been dreaming for half the night, sat on the chaise longue, propping her head up with a coat draped over her shoulders. Although she still looked somewhat sickly and listless, she was much better than she had been the night before.
Shi Cui and Wan Bi accompanied her, whispering about what had happened the day before. At the end, Wan Bi's face showed a hint of hesitation. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shi Cui tugged at her sleeve, and she immediately pursed her lips and shut up.
Wen Miao smiled gently, her face still a little pale, "Why are you stammering? Is there anything you can't say in front of me?"
Wanbi blinked, unable to contain her naturally impulsive nature. Seeing that the madam had responded, she immediately started chattering, "Madam, after you fainted yesterday, His Majesty rushed over very quickly. He looked quite frightening!"
Even when she and Shi Cui were still under the Lord's command, they had never seen His Majesty so frightening, as if he could draw his sword and kill all those who wanted to harm the Lady at any moment!
It's like a demon incarnate!
She continued, “Last night, we servants wanted to serve you, but His Majesty wouldn’t allow it. He only told us to bring hot water and medicine and then leave. We were worried that His Majesty wouldn’t know how to serve people, but this morning after His Majesty left, we saw that you were in excellent condition. You even changed into a new nightgown.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Miao's previously hazy memories instantly became clearer—
Although she was sick and felt cold at night, her forehead and torso were burning hot. Her thin nightgown was soaked with sweat, and her neck and back were sticky and uncomfortable.
The emperor, having dismissed his maids, personally took care of everything, even more meticulously.
He coaxed Wen Miao, who was still half asleep, to lift her hands and feet, and supported her waist and abdomen. He not only changed her sweaty nightgown, but also wiped her hot and plump body with a warm towel, and then changed her into a clean and soft nightgown.
Even the inner garment was carefully put on her by the emperor, who bowed his head as if he were holding an embroidery needle.
The knot looked rather ugly, and Wen Miao felt strange about it after waking up in the morning, so she bent down and retied it herself. Now that Wan Bi mentioned it, it reminded her of many details that she had overlooked while she was delirious from the fever the night before.
In the hazy moments between her opening her eyes, she seemed to see the tall emperor bending over, as if facing a formidable enemy, clutching those two narrow, thin ribbons, looking somewhat bewildered and helpless.
He even asked his wife in a low voice whether the rope should be tied at the back or... at the front.
This undergarment is a new style recently released in the capital, slightly different from the previous ones, which is quite a dilemma for Emperor Qianyuan.
Wen Miao, who was half asleep at the time, had no idea how she answered. But now that her memory had returned, the woman sitting on the chaise longue blushed instantly.
Wanbi covered her mouth and chuckled secretly. Shicui glared at her gently. Fearing that the lady would be too embarrassed, the two of them made an excuse to leave so that Wenmiao could process it herself.
The room fell silent instantly. Wen Miao raised her hand and patted her flushed cheeks, trying to stop herself from thinking about it.
I don't know how the emperor of the Great Chu developed such a habit of serving others.
After we get married... I wonder what will happen?
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Author's Note: Emperor: (blushing with excitement) Madam, this, this ribbon, should it be tied at the back or at the front?
Wen Miao: ... (blushing and not wanting to speak)
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