Chapter 27
Tian Wenshan asked the young eunuch, "How is Consort Yu doing?"
The young eunuch said, "The imperial physician said that the Imperial Concubine's old illness has flared up and she is still unconscious. The imperial physician who is treating her has been staying in Zhaoyang Palace."
"...There's just something I'm not sure whether I should say or not."
Tian Wenshan glanced at him.
The young eunuch hurriedly replied, "Last night, His Majesty said that the Imperial Concubine was not an Imperial Concubine, and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to go to the Pei residence. However, His Majesty fell ill on the way."
After that, Xiao Cong took His Majesty back to his palace, and the matter was dropped.
Tian Wenshan initially didn't take it seriously. He knew all too well what the Pei family meant to His Majesty. If he could find an excuse to bring Madam Pei back to the palace openly, His Majesty might very well do so in his rage after the assassination attempt.
His Majesty is unwilling to wait any longer.
But an hour later, Tian Wenshan suddenly realized what it meant that the Imperial Concubine was not an Imperial Concubine.
Tian Wenshan immediately ordered the palace servants to bring over Pei Jiu, who was by the side of the Imperial Concubine.
He seems to have been neglecting His Majesty's recent situation. What if the person in Zhaoyang Palace at this moment is not the Imperial Concubine, but Lady Pei?
His Majesty's actions clearly indicate that he intends to have the Imperial Concubine.
Fifteen minutes later, Pei Jiu, her eyes swollen from crying, appeared in front of Tian Wenshan. Pei Jiu glared at Tian Wenshan with her red eyes.
Tian Wenshan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly asked, "Miss Peijiu, has something happened to Her Highness the Imperial Concubine?"
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Pei Residence, Jade Mirror Courtyard.
Qi Yu was looking at the little fellow, wondering what to do, when she heard the maid say, "So clever! Yu Ge speaks the words Madam taught her so fluently!"
Qi Yu was taken aback; the "madam" the little maid was referring to was obviously not her.
Zhao Wanyi usually teaches her parrot to mimic the words "May the Empress be auspicious" at home.
"Take me to the study," Qi Yu said.
The maidservant readily agreed, but then added, "Madam, the carrier pigeons haven't returned yet today."
She took care of the birds and naturally knew that the pigeon the lady had sent out would fly back every afternoon, but today the time had not yet come and the pigeon had not yet appeared.
Qi Yu said, "The carrier pigeon won't be coming back today."
Before going to the study, Qi Yu originally intended to discover something, but once she arrived, she was unwilling to pry into Zhao Wanyi's privacy.
Zhao Wanyi's study was filled with many things, mainly books and account books, as well as brocade boxes containing other items, making the study completely full.
However, because they are arranged neatly, they do not appear cluttered at all, but rather give people a sense of abundance and completeness.
Just from the study, one can tell what a clever and intelligent woman Zhao Wanyi is.
Qi Yu sat on the soft couch in the study, spending the entire afternoon undisturbed.
The study is a wonderful place.
As dusk settled and it was time for dinner, Qi Yu could no longer avoid it.
A maid came to call her to have a meal, and when she arrived at the flower hall where the meal was to be held, she found Pei Jin there as well.
Pei Jin must have been running around all afternoon and was exhausted.
Qi Yu and Pei Jin sat down at a distance from each other.
Qi Yu stared at the dishes in front of her and ate slowly, trying not to talk to Pei Jin. Fortunately, Pei Jin did not bring up the topic either.
After finishing her meal, Qi Yu drank the medicine without changing her expression, appearing completely calm, even though she had already discarded her tongue a while ago.
Pei Jin was supposed to return to the main courtyard after his meal today, but somehow he ended up following Qi Yu for a while.
Qi Yu was on guard.
Suddenly, Pei Jin spoke up: "It seems that Madam hasn't called me today."
He lowered his voice, which was soft and gentle, as if he were asking for something.
Qi Yu paused slightly, recalling the only time Zhao Wanyi addressed Pei Jin, it seemed to be... Pei Lang.
Qi Yu felt her throat was very heavy, as if there were stones on it, forcing her to keep her from speaking.
She was embarrassed; a huge sense of guilt enveloped her at that moment. She shouldn't have even uttered that term of address.
Seemingly sensing Qi Yu's hesitation, Pei Jin stopped and said, "Do we, as husband and wife, need to be so formal?"
His voice was gentle, but the meaning behind it was one of relentless pressure.
If Qi Yu hadn't been so emotionally agitated, and if her senses hadn't been clouded by the high fever, she might have been able to keenly sense Pei Jin's ill intentions.
But right now, she just wants to get rid of this.
Qi Yu's voice was hoarse: "Pei Lang."
A dark glint flashed in Pei Jin's eyes, but before he could closely observe her guilty expression, Qi Yu fainted without warning.
Upon touching Qi Yu's burning hot skin, Pei Jin understood the reason. He silently apologized, picked her up, and instead of going to Yuzhao Courtyard, he went to Hengwu Courtyard, where he had stayed several times before.
He instructed his attendant, "Go to the palace and fetch the imperial physician. Also, go to the Jade Mirror Courtyard and ask what the lady was doing this afternoon."
Why did my illness worsen after taking the medicine?
The servants hurriedly obeyed orders.
Pei Jin walked quickly towards Hengwu Courtyard. Hengwu Courtyard was well-prepared for his visit at any time. After entering the room, he was tucked into a soft brocade quilt, and Pei Jin finally relaxed a little.
He took off Qi Yu's shoes, covered her with the quilt, and stared at her intently with a frown.
The imperial physician was naturally unable to come, but Pei Jin learned that the imperial concubine in the palace was still unwell. His attendant found another doctor named Meng She. Pei Jin gave up his seat after seeing Meng She, but his eyes remained fixed on Qi Yu.
Meng She took Pei Jin's pulse and said, "Madam was already ill, and now she's been overthinking things. The cold wind has entered her body, so her high fever is naturally worse. I'll prescribe a strong medicine for her first, and see if the fever goes down after tonight. If it does, that's good; if not…"
Meng She didn't finish speaking before going to get the medicine.
Pei Jin knew this person; he owned a clinic in the capital and was famous far and wide for his superb medical skills, but he helped the poor but not the rich.
He only charged poor families one or two coins, not even enough to cover the cost of medicine, but he required high-ranking officials and nobles to prepare ten thousand taels of gold.
Pei Jin pressed his temples and ordered someone to prepare the consultation fee. At this moment, the person who went to Yuzhao Courtyard to inquire returned and said that the madam had gone to the study in the afternoon and was not called out by the maid until it was time for dinner.
Pei Jin recalled that Qi Yu didn't even have a thin cloak on her before and after the meal, and the afternoon sun couldn't shine into the study of Yuzhao Courtyard, but Qi Yu stayed there until dusk.
-
Qi Yu lay on the bed, unconscious. She was burning up and uncomfortable, and her body was heavily pressed down by the brocade quilt, making it impossible for her to move.
She struggled to regain her senses, but after a long effort, only a stream of hot tears flowed from the corner of her eye.
Oh, she didn't mean to cry.
But only tears are truly obedient.
A note from the author:
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Everyone else thought Xiaoyu was a pitiful little thing, but Xiaoyu herself didn't think so.
The next chapter will be available for purchase, so this chapter is short. It may be updated twice tomorrow.
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