Chapter 55. Respect her, value her, honor her, love her, and so on...
Gu Zhan's breath hitched. He pulled Shen Mi into his arms and placed his hand on her shoulder. "What woman in this world wouldn't mind her husband taking a concubine? I said I wouldn't marry anyone else, and that's final. There's no need to be petty with me."
Shen Mi frowned, and in an instant she understood why Gu Zhan said that. He had only been in a position of high status since childhood, and had been flattered and worshipped by others, so he thought that every woman in the world should be devoted to him.
So she gave a light laugh and said, "Your Highness, jealousy arises from the heart; without the heart, there is no jealousy."
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhan tightened his grip on her shoulder. "What do you mean by that, Zhi Niang?"
He remembered clearly that the misunderstanding between them back then stemmed from Shen Mi mistakenly believing that he was going to marry Su Yuzhao as the Crown Princess, and now...
Shen Mi turned her head away, no longer looking at him, but she understood his unspoken meaning. "Back then, I was Your Highness's concubine, so it was inevitable that I would have some unrealistic expectations. Now, I don't know how Your Highness plans to bring someone who has been buried in a fire for four years back to life. In terms of status, I am not one of Your Highness's wives or concubines, so I have no right or intention to interfere with any of Your Highness's decisions."
Gu Zhan didn't realize that Shen Mi was trying to distance herself from him. He assumed that she was still concerned about her status. His lowered brows relaxed suddenly, and he recounted to her the story he had fabricated in front of the Emperor and Empress about what had happened to her four years ago.
"Therefore, Zhi Niang need not worry about your identity. The Emperor has already accepted my memorial, and perhaps the imperial decree to make you the Crown Princess will be issued to the Eastern Palace soon."
Shen Mi looked up at Gu Zhan in disbelief, and seeing his smiling face, she felt even more uncomfortable. "Then, according to Your Highness, who was that villain four years ago?"
Gu Zhan replied smoothly, "Of course, whoever helped you escape Bianjing and out of my sight, whoever helped you settle down in Runyang, that is the villain."
Shen Mi felt a chill run down her spine as she was held in his arms. "Ziyou... Prefect Su is, after all, a tutor who grew up with His Highness. How could you do this?"
When Gu Zhan heard her subconsciously call out Su Xingjian's courtesy name, his eyes darkened. He neither admitted nor denied it, but simply kissed Shen Mi's earlobe, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "So, behave yourself in front of me, eat well, and take your medicine properly, and I will suppress this matter. Otherwise, I don't need to say more about the crime of a subject coveting his monarch's wife."
A deep sense of regret suddenly welled up in Shen Mi's heart.
If she had really died in that fire back then, it would have been the end of it all. She wouldn't have been found by Gu Zhan four years later, and she wouldn't have implicated others. Now, she has no chance to escape, let alone even try to kill herself.
As they were talking, Cuiwei brought up the prepared medicine.
Gu Zhan took the medicine bowl with one hand, gesturing for Cuiwei to leave.
Cuiwei glanced at Shen Mi with some concern, but ultimately dared not disobey Gu Zhan's wishes.
Gu Zhan stirred the medicine with a spoon, tested the temperature to his lips, and then held the spoon to Shen Mi's lips. "Good girl, drink your medicine."
Shen Mi opened her lips blankly and swallowed the medicine. Thinking about her current situation, she didn't know how many decisions she could make, so tears streamed down her cheeks.
When the medicine entered her mouth, she couldn't immediately tell whether it was the saltiness of her tears or the bitterness of the medicine.
Gu Zhan stopped feeding her medicine and asked, "Why are you crying?"
Shen Mi closed her eyes and said, "It's nothing, maybe the medicine was too bitter."
Gu Zhan ordered someone to bring up some candied fruit and blew on the medicine to bring it to the right temperature. "Open your mouth."
Shen Mi did not resist anymore, and drank the bowl of medicine clean with a blank look in her eyes.
Gu Zhan put down the medicine bowl, gently placed a candied fruit into her lips, glanced around and saw Yang Ping still waiting outside, and said to Shen Mi, "I still have some things to take care of, you should rest, I will come to Qingluan Palace later."
He had just stepped out of the Qingluan Palace when, before he could speak to Yang Ping, Yang Qing rushed over along the corridor. The group bumped into each other outside the moon gate of the Qingluan Palace.
Gu Zhan looked displeased; "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
Yang Qing bowed to Gu Zhan and said, "Your Highness, the people you left at the imperial mausoleum have sent word that Consort Yang is seriously ill and has developed a fever."
"Has the matter been reported to the palace? Has the Emperor sent any imperial physicians?" Gu Zhan's brows furrowed.
“I have already sent someone to inform the palace,” Yang Qing glanced at Gu Zhan, trying to reassure him: “The weather is getting colder at this time of year, so Your Highness may have caught a cold. Please don’t worry too much.”
Gu Zhan quickened his pace as he walked out, and at the same time instructed Yang Qing, "That is my mother. Also, regarding the Imperial Medical Bureau, if His Majesty sends an imperial physician to the Imperial Mausoleum, tell Cheng Lin not to arrange for anyone else, but to go himself. I will wait for him at the Shouchun Gate and tell him to be quick."
Yang Qing agreed and immediately went to do it.
The Empress had just recovered from her illness, and the Emperor, who was already busy with many affairs of state, was now preoccupied with Consort Li. Naturally, he had no intention of paying attention to Consort Yang, whom he had sent to guard the imperial mausoleum for many years. He only issued an oral decree, ordering Cheng Lin, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, to arrange for someone to take care of her.
The imperial mausoleum is remote, and it's dusk now. There are few imperial physicians on night duty, and none of them are willing to go to the mausoleum to treat Consort Yang, who has long since fallen out of favor. There's no reward for curing her, and if something goes wrong, they'll have to take responsibility. It's obviously a hot potato.
Cheng Lin then received a hint from His Highness the Crown Prince, so he pretended to be reluctant and rode out of the palace with his medicine chest.
His entry into the Imperial Medical Bureau was at the Crown Prince's behest, so he has always served the Crown Prince wholeheartedly. From an ordinary physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau to the deputy director, and now to the director, every step of his career has been thanks to the Crown Prince's promotion, so he naturally follows the Crown Prince's lead.
Gu Zhan changed into the clothes of an eunuch and was already waiting for Cheng Lin outside Shouchun Gate.
Upon seeing the prince's attire, Cheng Lin understood his meaning. Without asking any questions, he bowed to Gu Zhan on horseback, then took the reins and headed with him towards the imperial mausoleum.
The imperial mausoleum was still about half an hour away from Shouchun Gate. Gu Zhan was anxious the whole way and rode at full speed, arriving at the imperial mausoleum two quarters of an hour later.
The eunuchs and guards stationed outside the imperial mausoleum were all low-ranking officials. Tonight, in the dim light, Gu Zhan, disguised, followed behind Cheng Lin. Cheng Lin held his official badge, and everyone assumed that Gu Zhan was Cheng Lin's assistant, so they did not stop him.
As soon as Gu Zhan entered the imperial mausoleum, he took three steps at a time and followed his childhood memories to find Consort Yang's residence with ease.
Normally, he was mindful of his status as the crown prince and could not visit the imperial mausoleum often. Most of the time, he would have his subordinates keep a close eye on the movements inside the mausoleum and, under the guise of the empress, send food, charcoal, and seasonal clothes to Consort Yang inside. Now, having not seen his mother for a long time, he was surprised to find that her hair was already streaked with gray, and she was lying on the couch, looking haggard.
He felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
By the dim light of the candle, Cheng Lin examined Consort Yang's complexion and tongue before taking her pulse. Only then did he feel relieved and said to Gu Zhan, "Your Highness need not worry. Consort Yang has only caught a chill at night and is not seriously ill." He took out a medicine bottle from his medicine box. "I have brought some antipyretic pills. Please trouble Your Highness to give them to Consort Yang. I will also prepare some decoction. If Consort Yang takes them on time, she will recover in a few days."
Gu Zhan took the pill from Cheng Lin's hand, pushed it into Yang Meiren's lips, poured her a glass of water, and helped her swallow it before he felt a little relieved.
"Go and prepare the medicine; I'll stay here and keep watch."
"Yes." Cheng Lin put away the medicine box and left the room only for Consort Yang and His Highness and his son.
After about an hour, Yang Meiren finally woke up. She saw the man guarding her bedside. Even though her vision was still blurry and she couldn't see his face clearly, she still called out based on her intuition: "Zhan'er?"
Her voice was a little hoarse, so Gu Zhan immediately poured her a glass of warm water. He helped her up and held the glass to her lips, saying, "Mother, I'm here. Zhan'er is here."
With trembling hands, Consort Yang took the water cup, drank a few sips, and her eyes finally regained their clarity. "Zhan'er, why did you come to this imperial mausoleum all of a sudden? The Emperor and Empress have always been unwilling for you to know your background. It's fine if they send things here on ordinary days, but why are they here today?"
Gu Zhan took a breath and said, "As a son, I usually call others 'Mother'. I am already ashamed of not being able to be filial to my mother. If I cannot even serve her at her bedside when she is sick, I am truly ashamed of being a son."
Lady Yang leaned against the headboard and took Gu Zhan's hand. "Good child, your mother doesn't ask you to do much for me. Just take care of yourself while you're out there. You don't need to worry about me here. I'm doing well in the imperial mausoleum and don't have to face the intrigues in the palace. Your mother only hopes that you can do what you want to do smoothly and become a wise and benevolent ruler admired by all the people in the future."
Gu Zhan lowered his head, a rare occurrence, and said calmly, "I will definitely ascend the throne smoothly. When that day comes, I will have no more worries and can bring Mother back to the palace to live out her days in peace. Mother will no longer have to suffer in this imperial mausoleum. At that time, the three of us, or the four of us, can be together day and night without having to experience any more separation."
Yang Meiren sighed and said, "Mother is not someone who covets wealth and glory. As long as you are safe and sound outside, Mother will be very content." She paused and then said, "But, you just mentioned that the three of us have finally moved on from the departure of that child, Zhi Niang?"
Gu Zhan slowly shook his head and said to Consort Yang, "What happened back then was just an accident. Now, I have found Zhi Niang. Some time ago in Yangzhou, I took her to pay respects at my maternal grandfather's grave." He smiled at Consort Yang and said, "I am very much in love with her now. I have already petitioned the Emperor to make her the Crown Princess."
A smile finally appeared on Yang Meiren's face, though it was not obvious due to her illness. She looked at Gu Zhan and said, "This is the best thing that could happen. You and Zhiniang are destined to be together."
Gu Zhan nodded slightly, not denying what Yang Meiren said.
Lady Yang said, “You have always been so respectful to me, so you must not make things difficult for Zhi Niang. As a husband, you should be more tolerant and considerate of your wife. She is a few years younger than you, and her parents died early. She is also a child with a hard life, so you should take better care of her temperament.” She coughed a few times and continued, “You two are husband and wife as one, and you have a long road ahead of you. You must respect her, value her, honor her, and love her. Only in this way can you last.”
"I will keep Mother's words in mind."
Yang Meiren pointed to a cabinet not far from her, "There's a small box in that cabinet, could you get it for me?"
Gu Zhan, without any suspicion, presented the small box to Lady Yang.
Lady Yang opened the box, and inside lay a gold bracelet, carefully wrapped in fine silk.
She said, “This gold bracelet was a gift from the Empress when I was pregnant with you. I have never worn it and have always treated it with utmost care, afraid of damaging it. Now that I am in this imperial mausoleum, I have no use for it. Please take it back and give it to Zhi Niang as a token of my affection.”
Gu Zhan's expression was complicated, but he still accepted the bracelet. "I will convey all of Mother's words and wishes."
It was already late at night, and Gu Zhan had to attend court the next day. Consort Yang did not allow him to stay at the imperial mausoleum any longer, urging him to return early so as not to give anyone any ammunition to use against him. Although Gu Zhan was reluctant, he could only take advantage of the night and return with Cheng Lin first.
The moon shone brightly that night, and the wind carried a slight chill. Gu Zhan rode his horse across the fields on his way back to the city, carrying the box in his arms.
Gu Zhan looked up at the crescent moon and gently smiled.
He and Zhi Niang will surely grow old together in love, and everything is under his control.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, there will be another update later tonight [starry-eyed emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
