Chapter 197 The Empress Dowager is angered to the point of collapse!
Inside the Qianqing Palace.
Since Shui Xian gave birth to a child, the Qianqing Palace has always been filled with the smell of medicine.
Narcissus leaned against the chaise longue, covered with a brocade quilt. Her face was paler than before, and a lingering sadness hung between her brows.
After her mother and sister left the palace and she moved back to the Qianqing Palace, her "worried and anxious" appearance became even more genuine.
After the court session, Emperor Zhaoheng came straight here, his steps more hurried than usual.
He dismissed the palace servants, sat down on the couch, and naturally squeezed Narcissus's hand, finding it icy cold to the touch, as if it had been soaked in ice.
Emperor Zhaoheng frowned and asked, "I heard that you didn't sleep well again last night, and you only ate half a bowl of porridge this morning?"
He reached out to touch her forehead, his eyes filled with undisguised worry.
Narcissus tilted her head slightly to avoid his hand, managing a stiff smile, her voice weak.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine... However, I heard that there was another disturbance in the court today because of me..."
It has been almost half a month since Tinglu inquired about it that day, and she heard that Emperor Zhaoheng has been making a fuss in the previous dynasty.
Shui Xian thought it was time for the news from the previous dynasty to reach the Qianqing Palace, so she brought it up to avoid Emperor Zhaoheng suspecting her of inquiring about state affairs.
She lowered her eyes, trying to be strong, but her already fragile strength was easily broken, especially since she was becoming increasingly weak after giving birth.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty truly does not wish to see His Majesty arguing with court officials because of me, thus causing unnecessary trouble."
When Emperor Zhaoheng saw her like this, he felt both pity and anger. He was angry at the group of old ministers, but naturally felt pity for her.
"You don't need to pay attention to those pedantic words! I have already rebuked their absurdity in court..."
Emperor Zhaoheng noticed her pale profile and his tone gradually softened.
“You have just given birth to my son and your health is so poor. Instead of showing them any compassion, they attack you with baseless accusations. They are utterly despicable.”
Narcissus raised her tearful eyes at just the right moment, her gaze shattered with tears, filled with self-reproach.
She leaned gently against Emperor Zhaoheng's chest and began to sob softly, her shoulders trembling with grievance.
"It's all my fault... I always bring trouble upon Your Majesty..."
She was crying so hard she could barely breathe, and the sight of her reddened eyes touched Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
Narcissus: "Your Majesty, my health is failing me. It is already against the rules for me to live in the Qianqing Palace, and yet... I still cause Your Majesty so much worry. I am truly... truly ashamed..."
Her soft body trembled slightly, tears soaking the front of his dragon robe. Her choked, helpless voice was like an invisible hand tightly gripping Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
He quickly pulled her into a tighter embrace, gently stroking her back with his large hand.
The tone of his voice when coaxing her was even gentler than when he coaxed Yongning.
"Nonsense! I am the emperor. I can favor or protect whomever I want. Why should I care about others' opinions? Just rest assured and take care of yourself. I will protect you from all the storms outside!"
"With me here, no one can bully you in the slightest!"
Even Emperor Zhaoheng didn't realize that the advice of his senior ministers had actually pushed him toward Narcissus.
At this moment, the two shared a deep intimacy, as if they had gone through thick and thin together.
The brocade curtains hung low, concealing the intertwined figures of the two. Occasionally, a few patient words of coaxing could be heard, a man's tenderness for a woman, regardless of their social status.
——
Emperor Zhaoheng thought he had appeased her, but to his surprise, during dinner, Shui Xian only touched her chopsticks a few times before stopping, looking listless.
Emperor Zhaoheng saw this and felt deeply distressed.
After the meal, the palace servants cleared away the leftovers and served tea.
Holding the warm teacup, Shui Xian remained silent for a long time, as if she had made up her mind, before speaking softly: "Your Majesty... after much thought, I still wish to move back to Lihe Palace to live."
Emperor Zhaoheng was taken aback: "Xian'er, do you think the service at Qianqing Palace is inadequate?"
Narcissus gently shook her head, her eyes dimming.
"Qianqing Palace is very nice, but... although I am protected by the Emperor, it is still against etiquette for me to live in Qianqing Palace, and it has already attracted a lot of criticism."
"Your Majesty, I do not wish... I do not wish to cause you any more trouble because of my own condition. Moreover..."
She paused, her voice even lower, "In the Qianqing Palace, I always felt like I was under the gaze of everyone, unable to breathe. Returning to a familiar place, perhaps... my mind can relax a bit."
Shui Xian's expression didn't change much until she mentioned Emperor Zhaoheng, at which point she felt sorry for him.
"Your Majesty is also afraid... afraid that those officials and censors will use your long stay in the Qianqing Palace to spread rumors about Your Majesty."
Every word she uttered seemed to be for his sake, yet it was tinged with grievance and concession, leaving Emperor Zhaoheng with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Knowing that she was sensitive after childbirth and troubled by rumors, he was very reluctant to part with her when he saw her so depressed, but in the end he could not bear to go against her wishes any longer.
Emperor Zhaoheng was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Very well... I will do as you say. I will increase the number of guards protecting Lihe Palace and will not allow anyone to disturb your peace."
Narcissus lowered her eyes and softly hummed in agreement, concealing the fleeting calculation in the depths of her gaze.
The news that Shui Xian had moved back to Lihe Palace to recuperate quickly spread throughout the inner palace, especially after she stopped at the palace gate with loads of gifts.
Now that the favored Imperial Noble Consort has moved out of the Qianqing Palace, it presents a good opportunity for many lower-ranking concubines.
Meanwhile, news came from Cining Palace that the Empress Dowager's condition had suddenly worsened, leaving her bedridden.
Soon after, an imperial edict bearing the seal of the Cining Palace was delivered to the Lihe Palace.
The imperial edict, written in the voice of the Empress Dowager, was earnest and concerned about her own health, the emperor's offspring, and the fate of the nation. It stated that only through the sincere prayers of her closest and most noble relatives could the situation be resolved.
Therefore, the emperor specially ordered the Imperial Noble Consort to kneel and recite the Diamond Sutra for one hour every day in the small Buddhist hall of Cining Palace for seven days, in order to "please the emperor's ears above, secure the country below, and also accumulate blessings for the Imperial Noble Consort herself."
The imperial edict, embodying both filial piety and righteousness, was so persuasive that it was hard to refuse.
When Shui Xian received the imperial decree, her expression was remarkable.
She knelt down calmly, her voice gentle and soft: "Your Majesty, I accept the decree and will pray sincerely for the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the nation every day."
That evening, when Pei Jichuan came to check Shui Xian's pulse, he was surprised to hear about her plan and looked up in astonishment.
"Your Majesty, what if things don't go as planned..."
Narcissus smiled confidently: "I know him."
——
The next day, Narcissus appeared on time in the small Buddhist hall of the side hall of Cining Palace.
She wore only a simple, elegant white dress with cloud patterns, without much jewelry or makeup, which made her appear even more slender and pitiful.
The Empress Dowager did not appear; only the stern-faced, shrewd-eyed old woman beside her accompanied her.
The Buddhist hall was filled with the rich scent of sandalwood, yet it exuded a stale and cold atmosphere.
As instructed, Narcissus knelt on the cold prayer mat and began chanting sutras.
She had given birth less than two months ago, and her voice sounded weak and feeble due to the exhaustion from childbirth.
"Your Highness, reciting scriptures requires sincerity. How can the Bodhisattva hear such a weak voice?"
The old woman's voice rang out, full of harshness.
Narcissus adjusted her posture slightly and raised her voice a little.
"Your Majesty, you must kneel upright and not bend your back, otherwise it is disrespectful to Buddha."
But soon enough, the criticism came again.
Narcissus straightened her back as instructed, but her body swayed almost imperceptibly.
After being repeatedly harassed like this, and kneeling for less than half an hour, Shui Xian's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and her breathing became rapid.
She forced herself to recite a few more words, but suddenly her body went limp, the prayer beads in her hand rolled to the ground, and her face turned deathly pale as if she had finally given in and fainted.
"Your Majesty!"
Yinzhu and Tinglu, who followed, exclaimed in surprise.
Almost simultaneously, hurried footsteps and a eunuch's loud announcement came from outside the Buddhist hall: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Emperor Zhaoheng, with a cold and stern expression, strode into the main hall of Cining Palace.
He originally came here because of the narcissus, so he came to visit.
After exchanging a few words with the Empress Dowager, he heard her say in a sarcastic tone, "This old woman's bones are no longer useful, and it's only because the Imperial Noble Consort has to come and pray for my well-being that I'm afraid something might happen to her due to her frail health, so I've already had the imperial physician waiting by my side..."
Clearly, the Empress Dowager had ruled out the possibility that Narcissus might faint.
Before Emperor Zhaoheng could react, he heard a commotion and the exclamations of palace servants coming from the direction of the small Buddhist hall.
His heart sank, and he immediately turned around and hurried toward the small Buddhist hall, not even having time to notice the Empress Dowager's instantly unpleasant expression behind him.
Upon entering the Buddhist hall, one sees Narcissus lying pale-faced in Yinzhu's arms, her eyes closed and her lips white, looking so fragile that she seems about to perish at any moment.
The imperial physicians sent by the Imperial Medical Academy were about to step forward when Emperor Zhaoheng shouted, "Get out of the way!"
He was filled with distrust of everything in the Cining Palace at this moment.
As Emperor Zhaoheng stepped forward to embrace Narcissus, he immediately ordered, "Summon Pei Jichuan! Quickly!"
Pei Jichuan happened to be on duty at the Imperial Hospital today, and upon hearing the news, he immediately rushed over with his medicine box.
He knelt down and carefully examined Narcissus's pulse. After a moment, he reported back with a solemn expression.
"Your Majesty! The Imperial Noble Consort is still weak after childbirth, her vital energy is greatly depleted, and she is also suffering from excessive worry, causing stagnation of liver qi in her heart and poor blood circulation... This is a sign of a serious illness!"
"You must not be subjected to any further stimulation or exertion. You must rest and recuperate in complete peace, otherwise... otherwise your life may be in danger!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng turned his head sharply, his gaze like a cold, sharp sword, shooting directly at the Empress Dowager, who was being helped to the scene by palace servants.
"I had no idea! When did the Buddhist hall in Cining Palace become a place of torment!"
"The Empress Dowager is seriously ill, and the imperial physicians and palace maids are taking good care of her. Why should a concubine who has just given birth and is so weak come here to kneel and recite some scriptures?! Is this what the Empress Dowager calls accumulating blessings? I think it's just a death sentence!"
The Empress Dowager trembled with rage at his merciless questioning, her face turning ashen. Her finger quivered as she pointed at Emperor Zhaoheng: "Emperor! How...how dare you speak to me like that!"
She was pretending to be sick, but Emperor Zhaoheng was so angry that she almost fell ill!
Emperor Zhaoheng stopped looking at her, and after confirming with Pei Jichuan in a low voice, he bent down and picked up the unconscious Shui Xian in his arms.
He coldly uttered his words, each one as cold and piercing as ice.
"Since Your Majesty is unwell, please rest and recuperate in Cining Palace! You need not trouble Your Majesty with matters of the inner palace!"
After saying this, Emperor Zhaoheng strode away from Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager, who was angered by Emperor Zhaoheng's attitude, fainted after her vision went black!
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