Chapter 87 Thoughts.
After a long and arduous night, the Empress Dowager was finally out of danger.
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, which were cloudy and seemed to be filled with tears. When she saw Chu Heng, her eyes lit up for a moment: "Heng'er."
With that muffled sound, a tear fell into the Empress Dowager's temple.
Chu Heng was confused; he didn't understand the Empress Dowager's meaning.
The Empress Dowager, however, had little energy to answer his questions. She closed her eyes again, and this time, with no danger to her life, she fell into a deep sleep.
The emperor dismissed everyone else, leaving only him and Chu Heng to stay by the Empress Dowager's bedside.
"Today, Marquis Jia'an visited the Empress Dowager." The Emperor's expression was unreadable; he spoke to Chu Heng, but his eyes were fixed on the Empress Dowager on the bed.
As expected, it was Marquis Jia'an, Fang Zhe, who complained to the Empress Dowager.
Chu Heng looked up at the emperor and immediately understood his emotions.
If the Empress Dowager dies this time, the Emperor will be very embarrassed. He must have thought about the worst possible outcome many times.
Now, the emperor, still shaken, not only blamed the Fang family but also took his anger out on Chu Heng.
Although the root of the problem lies with the emperor, Chu Heng's visit to Fang Zhe was also the emperor's way of intentionally warning the Empress Dowager.
But he is the emperor; he cannot be wrong, and he has the right to blame anyone.
Chu Heng lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I have not thought things through and my words have been inappropriate. Please punish me."
The emperor twirled the prayer beads in his hand: "Fortunately, nothing serious happened. You are still young, so be more careful in your words and actions in the future."
"Yes." Chu Heng bowed in greeting.
As dawn approached, the emperor summoned the imperial physicians and palace servants, carefully instructing them to attend to the Empress Dowager before leaving Renshou Palace. He needed to return to change into his court robes and prepare for court.
Chu Heng sneered behind him, "What a filial son."
Chu Heng went to Yongkang Palace to pick up Daiyu, and they went home together.
Daiyu lifted the curtain and looked at the fiery red sky in the east through the gauze window of the carriage: "Hurry up, or we won't be able to get back to court in time."
"It's alright." Chu Heng took her hand and held it tightly in his palm. "I've already asked His Majesty for leave. I'll rest at home for the day."
Daiyu frowned: "We've all been busy all night, but His Majesty didn't miss the morning court session, you..."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Only His Majesty can be a filial son."
Seeing that he looked unwell, Daiyu knew it couldn't just be from staying up all night, so she asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Chu Heng unconsciously stroked Daiyu's palm: "A little... you regret it, don't you?"
Daiyu grasped his hand in return: "What do you regret?"
“I regret it… I should have ignored everything and insisted on taking up my fiefdom instead of staying in the capital.” Chu Heng lifted Daiyu’s hand and covered his eyes with it.
Daiyu didn't know what had happened, but she felt heartache: "No matter where you go, I will accompany you, I will always be with you."
Chu Heng and Daiyu's hands slid down together, and he smiled gently: "I know."
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Chu Heng said again, this time with a reassuring smile. "I'm just a little tired from staying up all night, which is why I had these dejected thoughts. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
Daiyu felt a slight ache in her nose, but she held it back: "Alright, go back and get some rest."
After returning home, Chu Heng and Daiyu quickly washed up and lay down side by side on the bed.
“I’m thinking,” Chu Heng suddenly said, “that the Empress Dowager’s death isn’t actually a bad thing, but…”
Just as he was about to speak, Chu Heng suddenly stopped.
Daiyu continued slowly, "But since the Empress Dowager didn't die, you're not really disappointed, are you?"
Chu Heng remained silent for a long time, his voice barely audible: "Yes."
"It's alright now." Daiyu gripped his hand tightly. "It's all alright now."
Chu Heng remained silent for an even longer time this time. He slowly embraced Daiyu and told her about what happened in the palace last night after a long while.
Daiyu covered his eyes, not letting him see her red-rimmed eyes: "It's not your fault. It was just a game between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Whether you hoped for the Empress Dowager's death or her life, it's not your fault. She hurt you first."
Chu Heng buried his head in Daiyu's dark hair, took a deep breath, and then raised his head, his voice filled with certainty: "I know, don't worry, I'm fine."
Daiyu patted his back: "Go to sleep."
Chu Heng closed his eyes as instructed.
When Chu Heng woke up from his restless sleep, it was already afternoon. Daiyu was lying beside him, her eyes closed, not sleeping very soundly.
Chu Heng gently stroked her arm until Daiyu calmed down in her sleep.
"I'm sorry," Chu Heng said softly, "I've dragged you into this again."
...
The next day, after court, Chu Heng went to Renshou Palace to visit the Empress Dowager. She was still unable to get up, and Shuangyun was carefully serving her medicine.
"Heng'er." When the Empress Dowager saw him, her eyes lit up again, revealing the same bewildered look she had given Chu Heng the night before.
Chu Heng sat down on the stool beside the couch and looked at the Empress Dowager with a probing gaze: "Mother, are you feeling any better?"
The Empress Dowager swallowed a spoonful of medicine fed to her lips, speaking very slowly and somewhat unclearly: "Not bad... good, you... must come often, come often to see... me."
As Chu Heng observed the changes in her expression, he suddenly recalled that when she had just fallen ill, the Empress Dowager had said something similar, urging him and Daiyu to frequently visit the palace.
At that time, he didn't understand the Empress Dowager's purpose, and this time, Chu Heng was even more confused.
"Yes." Regardless of what he thought in his heart, Chu Heng still respectfully agreed.
After taking the medicine, the Empress Dowager tilted her head to the side, it was unclear whether she had fallen asleep or fainted.
Chu Heng looked at Shuang Yun, who whispered, "The imperial physicians said that the medicine they prescribed is a sedative, and recently the Empress Dowager has been frequently falling into a coma."
Chu Heng nodded, did not linger there, and turned to go to the Ministry of Revenue.
In the afternoon, the emperor summoned Chu Heng to Haiyan Palace, saying that someone from the Censorate had impeached him for a very serious crime: being unfilial.
The emperor handed the memorial to Chu Heng, who lowered his head and said, "Your subject dares not."
"It's alright." The emperor smiled. "It's just us brothers here; there's no one else."
Chu Heng lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with indifference. He took the memorial with both hands and read it quickly, paying little attention. The only thing that caught his attention was that the memorial was written by a young censor.
Like the censor who impeached the Fang family, they were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who entered the Hanlin Academy and then the Censorate.
They were all disciples of the emperor.
Chu Heng had long known that the emperor would sacrifice anyone to save face, so he was not surprised by the impeachment.
The emperor did not really intend to punish Chu Heng; he did so partly to shirk responsibility and partly to give Chu Heng a warning.
He could grant Chu Heng power, but he could also take it back at any time. Chu Heng's honor, disgrace, life, and death were all in the hands of the emperor.
This display of authority was also the reason why the emperor was very displeased.
With the Empress Dowager so ill, he could no longer make a move against the Fang family, otherwise he would really have to send the Empress Dowager to see the late Emperor.
The emperor was displeased. He believed that the Fang family was unable to deal with the two culprits who had caused the Empress Dowager's serious illness, so he took his anger out on Chu Heng.
"This is truly a huge misunderstanding..." Chu Heng understood the emperor's meaning and had no choice but to offer him a way out. "Your Majesty knows that I am extremely anxious about Mother's illness."
The emperor said unhurriedly, "Of course I know, but censors are never punished for reporting based on hearsay. This is a trivial matter, you don't need to worry about it, I will explain it to him myself."
Chu Heng said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The emperor continued, "You have little experience, so it's inevitable that you'll overlook some things. Think more carefully next time, and don't give anyone a reason to catch you red-handed. Don't let me see any more impeachment memorials like this next time, or I won't protect you anymore."
Chu Heng replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I have remembered."
After giving Chu Heng a stern lecture, the emperor softened his expression and resumed playing the role of a good elder brother, nagging for nearly another quarter of an hour before Chu Heng finally left Haiyan Palace.
Chu Heng did not tell Daiyu about today's events, only that the Empress Dowager had brought up the matter of allowing them to frequently enter the palace again. He suspected the Empress Dowager's motives and instructed Daiyu to be extremely careful.
Daiyu said, "When I entered the palace today, the Empress Dowager said the same thing, and I really don't understand what she meant. Granny Zhao and Granny Wang both came into the palace with me, and Shuangyun didn't give them any other instructions."
The Empress Dowager's sudden and abrupt words puzzled Chu Heng and Daiyu for a long time. Even though she was seriously ill, they remained on guard.
Half a month later, when Chu Heng and Daiyu went to Renshou Palace to visit the Empress Dowager, they encountered the Emperor, who cleared up the couple's doubts.
The Empress Dowager is slowly getting better. Although she can't get out of bed, she can sit up to take medicine and eat some porridge and meat soup.
The imperial physicians come every day to administer acupuncture, and for now, we can only let it heal slowly like this; we must not rush it.
After the imperial physician took the Empress Dowager's pulse and learned that she was gradually recovering, the emperor smiled and ordered that the physician be rewarded.
The Empress Dowager looked unwell, but there was still a light in her eyes: "Illness is a slow process of healing, so take good care of yourself and rest slowly. Heng'er and Daiyu, you must come to the palace to visit me often."
It was that same phrase again. Chu Heng and Daiyu agreed verbally, but their doubts only grew stronger.
The emperor glanced at the two men, and after the empress dowager had rested, he left Renshou Palace with them.
“When you visit the Empress Dowager often, she’s in a good mood, and naturally, she recovers faster,” the Emperor suddenly said.
Chu Heng sensed that the emperor's words had another meaning, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "Sons and daughters-in-law should stay by their mother's side."
The emperor shook his head, his meaning unclear, and said, "Master Pingyi once said that you and your husband are blessed people. Therefore, the Empress Dowager believes that the blessings you two bring to her will be good for her health."
Chu Heng was taken aback, thinking of the Empress Dowager's single tear.
Daiyu was also stunned, after all, they never expected it to be for this reason.
The Empress Dowager firmly believed in Master Pingyi's great supernatural powers, while the Emperor preferred to believe it rather than dismiss it. Therefore, when the Empress Dowager said she would take the eldest prince to Longhua Temple to worship Buddha, the Emperor could not help but believe her.
As for Chu Heng and Daiyu, they are very fortunate people, and the emperor has no interest in them at the moment. After all, is there anyone in the world more fortunate than the emperor?
Chu Heng's good fortune also came from the emperor.
Whether it's his title of prince or his current position as a second-rank official, the emperor can give it to him, and he can also take it away.
The emperor was unwilling to expose the empress dowager's thoughts because thinking this way would invigorate her; the purge of the Fang family had not yet met the emperor's requirements, and the empress dowager could not die yet.
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