Chapter 165 His Majesty's Illness
The news that the Imperial Concubine was going to Changyong Mountain to pray for the Emperor's well-being quickly spread throughout the palace, causing an uproar in the harem, with everyone saying it was impossible.
Putting aside how much His Majesty values and favors Consort Gui, why would he allow her to leave the palace at such a critical juncture? Judging from past events, there is absolutely no reason for any Consort Gui to go to Changyong Mountain to offer sacrifices to Heaven on her own.
Has His Majesty truly fallen seriously ill? Or is there some unknown secret at play?
"Your Highness, is it true that the Imperial Concubine is going to Changyong Mountain?"
In Consort Zhuang's palace, Consort Yun couldn't help but ask a question out of curiosity.
The palace was neither spacious nor extravagant, and its layout and furnishings were not much different from when Consort Zhuang was still Consort Wu.
Consort Zhuang sat in the main seat, slowly put down her teacup, and sighed softly, "Since everyone's saying it, it might really be true."
Yun Zhaorong had only met the current Imperial Concubine when she was boating on the lake. She thought that the Imperial Concubine was not someone who would be willing to go to Changyong Mountain. After all, the Imperial Concubine was not very old and was not very composed. Moreover, with His Majesty's favor, how could she just give it up?
Thinking of all this, Yun Zhaorong couldn't help but frown again. She held the teacup in her hand, the warm cup against her palm, radiating a gentle warmth.
If it really wasn't the Imperial Concubine who went voluntarily, could it be that His Majesty made her go?
"His Majesty's illness..." Yun Zhaorong murmured, but before she could finish, she saw Consort Zhuang above her frown, look at her, and silently shake her head, signaling her not to say anything more.
Yun Zhaorong quickly shut her mouth.
When Consort Liang and Consort Mu arrived at Yilan Palace, Lanwu was having people prepare to pack their things. Upon seeing them arrive, she ordered them to be taken to the main hall first, and that she would be there shortly.
They waited for a while and then saw Lan Wu come over.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be blessed with longevity." Both women rose and bowed.
In the past, when Lan Wu's rank was not high, the three of them would not usually bow to each other when they met, but now this etiquette cannot be abolished.
Lan Wu didn't want to go through all that trouble, so she told them to get up first.
Consort Mu was the most impatient. After all the palace servants had left, she asked softly, "Why does Your Highness suddenly want to travel far away? Has something gone wrong somewhere?"
Unaware of the true situation, they naturally assumed there was some problem between Lan Wu and His Majesty. However, considering how much His Majesty usually doted on Lan Wu, they thought that if they could talk to him properly, it might work...
Lan Wu, however, didn't quite understand and looked at her with a puzzled expression, saying, "I went to pray for His Majesty's well-being. What kind of mistake could there be?"
Is it really to pray for His Majesty's well-being?
Consort Mu and Consort Liang exchanged a glance and gasped, several incredulous thoughts flashing through their minds—Could His Majesty really be…dying?
Logically speaking, His Majesty is in the prime of his life, and they shouldn't have such speculations. Even though there are rumors in the court that His Majesty has contracted a strange illness, they didn't take it seriously. But now, Lan Wu is going to Changyong Mountain to pray for His Majesty, which is rather strange.
After a moment's thought, Consort Liang spoke first, asking softly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty's illness... is somewhat strange, but surely Your Majesty doesn't need to travel so far to pray for His Majesty. His Majesty would certainly not want Your Majesty to go on such a long journey."
Lan Wu nodded in agreement: "It's alright. If I go to Changyong Mountain, it will show my sincerity."
Sincerity...
"Did His Majesty really agree to let the Empress go for three months?"
"I agree. I will return to the palace in three months, and His Majesty's illness will surely be cured by then." This trip to Changyong Mountain was to cure Chu Mingheng's illness. She had never left the palace before, and thinking about it carefully, it was quite novel.
A moment of silence fell over the surroundings.
Seeing her completely oblivious appearance, Consort Mu and Consort Liang couldn't help but worry about her.
Although three months may not seem like a long time at first glance, in the harem, three months is an extremely important period of time, enough for newcomers to rise and old favorites to fall.
Isn't Lan Wu afraid that His Majesty might take a fancy to some new woman during these three months?
Lan Wu indeed had no such worries. She trusted Chu Mingheng completely. Chu Mingheng didn't want anyone but her, so why would she worry about such a thing? She hadn't even thought about it.
Seeing their complicated expressions, as if they clearly wanted to say something to her but couldn't express it, Lan Wu found it rather strange.
What's wrong with you?
Consort Liang shook her head slightly, unable to express herself clearly, and could only say, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we concubines will certainly wait for Your Majesty to return in the palace."
The way she said that made it sound like something extraordinary would happen if she went to Changyong Mountain.
Despite this thought, the departure day arrived three days later.
These past few days, even without Chu Mingheng mentioning it, Lan Wu herself has wanted to stick close to him.
She had never been separated from Chu Mingheng for so long before. In the previous life, Chu Mingheng went to Changyong Mountain, but this time it was her who went. When she returned, it would be the end of March or the beginning of April, by which time the spring flowers in the palace would have bloomed.
"Is Changyong Mountain cold, Your Majesty?" Lan Wu snuggled into Chu Mingheng's arms, reluctant to go to sleep, and asked him one question after another.
Lan Wu had already said goodbye to the other Chu Mingheng yesterday, and she guessed that Chu Mingheng would not be able to sleep tonight. Not only Chu Mingheng would not be able to sleep, but she would not be able to sleep either.
"You'll be staying in a royal villa on Changyong Mountain. Although it's built on a mountain, it has everything you need, so you won't be cold." Chu Mingheng held her, gently kissing her forehead and cheeks, his voice soft, it was unclear whether he was comforting Lan Wu or himself.
"Wuji Temple is about 45 minutes west of the villa."
Upon hearing this, Lan Wu let out an "oh" and rubbed her other half of her face against his neck, urging him to say more.
"What else do you want to know?" Chu Mingheng asked her.
"So, do I have to go vegetarian? I said it's to pray for your well-being, so I can't just eat meat and fish, can I?" Although Lan Wu didn't think there was anything wrong with being vegetarian, the thought of having to eat vegetarian for three months in a row was still quite disheartening.
Chu Mingheng then lifted her small face and asked, "You were so confident when you said you were going, but now you can't eat vegetarian food?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Wu couldn't help but feel a little sad. It wasn't that she was sad that she couldn't eat meat, but she was just sad.
She couldn't help but blink, staring intently at Chu Mingheng.
The palace was brightly lit with candles tonight, and she could see the struggle and reluctance in Chu Mingheng's eyes.
"How about..." Chu Mingheng had only uttered two words when Lan Wu raised her head and kissed him, silencing him.
"But I want to eat meat. How about just once in a while?" she said softly, trying to negotiate.
Chu Mingheng couldn't bear to bully her anymore, so he sighed and said, "I was just kidding. You're a noble consort. Who would dare to neglect you? You can have whatever you want to eat. Don't worry, A-Wu."
Unable to sleep through the deep of night, even as the moon rose high in the sky, I could still hear the soft calling of Lanwu's name from my bedside.
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