Chapter 170 Invisible
What is she now?
Is this a dream?
Or perhaps it was her soul that left her body to meet Chu Mingheng...
Lan Wu hadn't figured it out yet, so she couldn't help but frown and walk around to face Chu Mingheng, looking down at him intently at his current state.
She had never seen Chu Mingheng so dejected.
His hair was disheveled, he was listless, silent, and in a sorry state.
The sky outside the hall was a bit overcast, and the hall itself was not warm, even rather cold. Yet he was only wearing a thin outer robe, and he looked much thinner. He just kept his head down and drinking.
Lan Wu called his name several times, but Chu Mingheng did not respond at all. She then tried to touch him, but failed every time.
Chu Mingheng could not see her, could not hear her, and naturally could not feel her.
Seeing that he was about to finish another pot of wine, Lan Wu was so anxious that she paced back and forth.
He's clearly not in a good state. He's drunk so much; what if he gets himself into trouble? What if he does something while drunk?
Just as they were getting anxious, footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, getting closer and closer.
Lan Wu looked towards the direction of the palace entrance.
Chen Kang'an waited anxiously outside the hall and cautiously reported, "...Your Majesty, Master Huifan has arrived and is now on his way to Nanli Temple."
There was no sound in the hall. Chen Kang'an stood stiffly, even thinking that His Majesty was drunk and hadn't heard what he said. Just as he was about to repeat himself, he finally heard a soft, low, and hoarse "I know" from inside.
The voice sounded as if he hadn't spoken for days and nights.
Chen Kang'an looked at the few palace servants waiting silently outside the hall, somewhat at a loss for what to do.
His Majesty neither attends court nor reviews memorials. For three days, civil and military officials have been crying and pleading outside the palace gates, but His Majesty has not come out to meet them. He just stays in the Empress's Yilan Palace, drinking day and night.
Unfortunately, His Majesty could neither get drunk nor fall asleep, and seemed to have lost all his energy, leaving him in a low mood.
But Your Majesty is the emperor, and you have a vast empire to govern. How can you just ignore it like this?
If things continue like this, won't the dynasty collapse and the country be on the verge of ruin?
Now we can only hope that Master Huifan can find a solution.
Lan Wu glanced at Chu Mingheng, who was still drinking and silent, hesitated for a moment, and then walked out of the hall.
It's probably mid-April now.
Lanwu saw that green buds were sprouting on the branches of the tree.
She immediately spotted two rows of palace servants standing in the courtyard far from the palace gate. They were the same servants who had swept and served her in her previous life. Now, they stood there, not daring to move.
Looking down the corridor, I saw Luo Yun. A moment later, I saw Chen Kang'an heading in Luo Yun's direction. The two seemed to be about to say something.
Lan Wu quickly went over to listen.
Chen Kang'an glanced at the main hall and whispered to Luo Yun, "How much has His Majesty drunk?"
Luo Yun didn't hide anything: "I've been drinking since I arrived this afternoon."
Chen Kang'an immediately gasped and frowned: "It would be fine if His Majesty could get drunk, but I've never seen His Majesty drunk before... When should the medicine from the imperial physician be sent over?"
Luo Yun shook her head; she didn't know either.
"How could this happen... Sigh, if only Her Majesty were still here."
"Don't mention the Empress, or His Majesty will kill someone again," Luo Yun said seriously, reminding him.
Chen Kang'an immediately shut his mouth.
Lan Wu remained completely oblivious to their presence, yet she still understood what they meant.
Did Chu Mingheng start drowning his sorrows in alcohol after her death? But he couldn't get drunk. Even if he could, alcohol would still harm his body, so he had consulted the imperial physician to prepare medicine in order to prevent Chu Mingheng's body from becoming too weak.
But what do they mean by murder?
Who did Chu Mingheng kill?
Lan Wu stood there, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Her fingers unconsciously dug into her palms, leaving marks on the soft flesh, but she was completely unaware of it. She turned around and went back into the main hall, trying to make a commotion again so that Chu Mingheng would notice her.
It was all in vain.
Watching Chu Mingheng pour the last drop of wine from the wine pot into his cup, Lan Wu did not continue to try to stop him.
She couldn't stop it either.
Why would you drown your sorrows in alcohol? You're not that kind of person...
Lan Wu stood in front of him and murmured softly.
Finally, she noticed that Chu Mingheng was making other moves.
He propped himself up on the table, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache. His thin outer shirt and disheveled hair made him look unkempt.
But clearly... clearly His Majesty is the most dignified person, and would never be so reckless.
Lan Wu's nose felt a little stuffy, but she pursed her lips and continued reading.
Chen Kang'an, who was waiting outside the palace, only saw His Majesty's figure walking out quickly. He hurriedly followed and asked, "Your Majesty, are you going back to Taichen Palace?"
"Go to Nanli Temple." Chu Mingheng's pupils were like an unyielding black ink. Perhaps because he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, his eyes were bloodshot, making him look somewhat ferocious and terrifying when he stared at people.
Go to Nanli Temple?
Now?
But it's already late afternoon, and it'll be dark soon, not to mention...
"Your Majesty, you haven't eaten yet today. Please eat something. Also... it's chilly on the mountain. If Your Majesty goes like this, you might catch a cold. This servant will go and ask someone to bring you some clothes." Chen Kang'an advised gently, but saw His Majesty frowning and closing his eyes, looking like he had a headache. He only managed to utter two words.
"Shut up."
Chen Kang'an had no choice but to shut his mouth and quickly ordered people to prepare a carriage to go to Nanli Temple.
Lan Wu followed and sat down next to Chu Mingheng. She would touch his face and hug him, even though she knew it was useless.
It was almost dark when the carriage stopped at Nanli Temple.
Lan Wu had assumed that Chu Mingheng had been asleep with his eyes closed in the carriage, but in fact, the moment the carriage stopped, she saw him open his eyes. His eyes were clear, showing no signs of sleepiness or drunkenness.
However, Chu Mingheng had been drinking, and it was unclear whether the smell of alcohol on his body was stronger than the sandalwood incense in the temple.
Upon seeing someone approaching, the monks in the temple knew that it was His Majesty himself who had come, and they all came out to greet him.
Chu Mingheng ignored them all, walked straight past them, and strode quickly toward the back of the temple.
As Buddhists, they were surprised to see the emperor in his current state, but they did not show it on their faces. They remained silent until Chu Mingheng's figure walked away and disappeared into the dark night.
Lan Wu followed him all the way, feeling more and more familiar with him. When she saw Hui Fan standing at the entrance of the palace, she thought to herself, "Just as I expected."
It's still that elegant hall.
"This humble monk greets Your Majesty." Hui Fan showed no surprise whatsoever, and merely gave Chu Mingheng a perfunctory Buddhist bow as he approached.
Lan Wu stood beside Chu Mingheng, pondering: if Chu Mingheng couldn't see her, could Hui Fan see her?
After all, Huifan must also be involved in all of this.
However, when she reached out to test the waters, Hui Fan's reaction was exactly the same as Chu Mingheng's.
They couldn't see her.
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