Chapter 53 A Mistaken Encounter in a Game of Chess (Part 3) Her Obedience Was Just a Pretense...
"The prison is cold and damp, the chill seeps into your bones." Xiao Lingyi gently slipped a thick cloth bundle through the crack in the cell door, her voice soft, "There are some warm clothes inside, you can make do with them."
"There's some food here that's easy to store. Eat some quickly to replenish your strength." Zhao Ning also quickly opened the food box in her hand, which contained several exquisite pastries.
Xiao Lingyi then carried another small package to the cell door next door, whispered a few words, and stuffed the contents inside.
Holding the cloth bag that still carried the clean scent of the outside world, Ye Yixiang felt a lump in her throat, her heart filled with a mix of emotions. She prided herself on not being a soft-hearted "saint," and never hesitated to assume the worst of her enemies.
But when he saw Zhao Ning's eyes filled with concern, when he saw Xiao Lingyi's gentle and serene profile, and when he thought of the list on which he had just pressed his fingerprint, which contained the names of Minister Xiao Zhenfu and Zhao Ning's maternal relatives...
An indescribable heaviness and self-reproach, like cold vines, instantly entangled her heart, almost suffocating her.
"Thank you..." She lowered her head, her voice barely audible, thankful that the prison was dark enough to conceal the unspeakable emotions swirling on her face. That thank you was mixed with too much unspeakable guilt.
“Actually… some things can’t really be blamed on you.” Zhao Ning suddenly sighed, her voice lowering.
"If Father Emperor's Zhenyuan Army had not been able to breach the imperial city and had not been able to ascend to that position, we would probably be the ones suffering in this prison now."
She paused for a moment, then said, "How many emperors have left their mark on history? In the end, it's all just a matter of the victor taking all."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I..." Ye Yixiang opened her mouth, unsure how to respond.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. We should leave quickly to avoid attracting attention," a jailer hurried over and urged in a low voice.
Xiao Lingyi also came back from next door and reached out to grip the cold prison bars tightly. All her words, in the end, turned into just one sentence: "Miss Ye, please take care of yourself."
“My brother asked me to pass on a message to you,” Zhao Ning stood up, pulled up the hood of her cloak to cover most of her face, and before her figure disappeared into the boundless darkness of the passageway, she left behind a final whisper, “He said he will definitely rescue you, and that you must take good care of yourself, and never… be reckless.”
The footsteps faded into the distance, and the prison was once again swallowed by darkness.
In the dim light, the sound of chains scraping against the ground was jarring and chilling. Suddenly, a loud recitation of poetry pierced the air:
"A demonic wind howls above the Golden Palace; loyal bones lie buried in the dust, yet their will remains undiminished."
The fall of the previous dynasty was written in blood; how can we allow the same mistakes to be repeated in this era?
I am willing to sacrifice my blood to awaken the king, and dare to ensure that treacherous officials have nowhere to escape.
A single, unyielding spirit supports the heavens and the earth; a righteous spirit soars to the highest heavens.
The voice was hoarse yet resolute, echoing in the gloomy prison.
"Lord Lin still has the energy to recite poetry, it must be because you haven't served him well!" Several jailers followed the sound, their footsteps particularly clear in the empty prison corridor.
The hoarse voice laughed loudly: "So what if you've had your patella removed? Though I can no longer stand between heaven and earth, my spine remains unyielding! I fear neither you snakes and rats!"
"Please escort Lord Lin out and let him clear his mouth. First, pull out his teeth, and if he can still speak, cut out his tongue!"
Ye Yixiang couldn't see clearly, but in the endless darkness, her senses were amplified. Screams were incessant, and the sounds of sharp blades cutting through flesh and piercing bone were clearly audible, each sound sending chills down her spine.
Is this what happens when you offend the Empress Dowager? If ministers of the Southern Dynasty are treated like this, what about "remnants of the previous dynasty" like her and Lingrou?
We can't just sit here and wait to die; we have to find a way ourselves.
"Lord Zhao! I want to see Lord Zhao!" Ye Yixiang rushed to the iron gate and shouted.
"Shut up! Once you're here, who do you think you can see?" A passing jailer slammed his sword sheath against the bars.
Ye Yixiang lowered her voice: "It concerns the Empress Dowager's health, so I have to say it."
Since this imperial prison was where the Empress Dowager eliminated dissidents, she must have planted her confidants there. Although she didn't know exactly who they were, the only one she recognized among the higher-ranking officials was Zhao Kui, so she had no choice but to try anything.
The jailer hesitated for a moment, then threatened menacingly, "Stay put! Be quiet!"
She had no choice but to retreat to the corner and sit down against the cold, damp wall. The screams continued unabated, and each sound of a sharp blade slicing through flesh terrified her.
A sobbing sound came from next door. Ye Yixiang gently tapped the wall and whispered comfortingly, "Lingrou, don't be afraid, your sister will definitely get you out of here."
After an unknown amount of time, a series of slightly hurried footsteps approached from afar. The glow of several lanterns dispelled the darkness in front of the prison gate, illuminating a figure dressed in a dark red eunuch's robe.
It was Eunuch Zhang, who served the Empress Dowager. His narrow eyes, like those of a venomous snake, scrutinized Ye Yixiang in the prison under the dim light.
"How did you learn that the Empress Dowager was unwell?" His voice was sharp and cold.
Ye Yixiang lowered her head, her posture respectful, but her voice was clear: "Reporting to Eunuch, a few days ago I was summoned by the Empress Dowager. I observed that Her Majesty seemed tired and listless. However, the imperial physicians have been taking her pulse every day. I am but a lowly servant and dare not make any diagnosis."
It's not something you can figure out just by looking at it.
She sneered inwardly. Knowing that she was to meet the Empress Dowager, she had switched the sachet at her waist beforehand, adding a special fragrance inside.
This fragrance clashed with the scent of the imperial ink that the Empress Dowager usually used. She was certain that, given the Empress Dowager's fondness for displaying "benevolence," she would feign a friendly demeanor and summon her to speak.
He only intended to make his enemy suffer for a few days and give him a slight punishment, but he never expected that this seemingly insignificant move would become the key to saving his life!
The Imperial Medical Academy would certainly not be able to diagnose the root cause. The symptoms appear to be a cold, but in reality, it is a mild case of a toxic antagonistic combination. Continuing to take medications for colds would only exacerbate the toxicity.
“If you cure him, you will be richly rewarded. If you don’t cure him…” Zhang Gonggong’s eyes flashed with malice, “then I will take your head!” With a single glance, the jailer beside him immediately stepped forward and opened the cell door.
“I’d like to trouble you, Eunuch,” Ye Yixiang said as she stepped out of the cell, glancing uneasily at Ye Lingrou, whose hands were bound in the next cell. “Could you please have someone treat my younger sister kindly? If she suffers here, I will be uneasy, and I fear it will affect my ability to treat the Empress Dowager.”
Since they can't rescue Lingrou right now, they can only stabilize the situation. As long as she can get out and "treat" the Empress Dowager, they'll have leverage for negotiation and maneuvering! They must seize this only opportunity.
"Young lady, you should take care of yourself first," Zhang Gonggong snorted coldly, then turned and left.
Ye Yixiang followed silently. The road to the prison was slippery and sticky, whether from the lingering dampness or congealed bloodstains, she didn't know. With each step, the soles of her shoes were pulled, making an uncomfortable, slight sound.
This place is eerie and terrifying, even more so than the legendary Avici Hell.
As we walked up the steps through the narrow, oppressive underground passage, the guards behind us extinguished their lanterns.
The light in front of her gradually intensified, from faint to blinding, making it almost impossible for her to open her eyes.
As her feet touched the solid ground, a gentle breeze carrying warmth and the rich fragrance of flowers wafted towards her, accompanied by the long-lost, clear and melodious chirping of birds. Sunlight filtered through the lush foliage, casting dappled patterns of light. It took her eyes a while to adjust to the light that had been lost and then regained.
"Take her to wash and change, lest her foul smell offend the Empress Dowager!" Eunuch Zhang covered his nose with his whisk and instructed the young eunuch behind him.
Ye Yixiang was led to a small side room containing only a set of ordinary palace maid's clothes and a bucket of cold water. Although the environment was simple, it was a thousand times better than the filthy place of the imperial prison. Enduring the biting cold, she quickly washed off the filth on her body, changed into the clean clothes, and then followed Eunuch Zhang to Cining Palace.
"May Your Majesty the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace. Your humble servant, Ye Yixiang, has come to inquire about Your Majesty's pulse." She knelt outside the hall, her voice clear and respectful.
"Ahem... Come in." The Empress Dowager's slightly weak voice came from behind the curtain, quite different from her usual imposing manner.
Passing through layers of draped brocade curtains, Ye Yixiang stepped into the inner chamber. She knelt on the footrest of the luxurious canopy bed, held her breath, and gently placed three fingers on the Empress Dowager's wrist, which extended from the curtain.
The pulse she felt through her fingertips confirmed her guess.
A moment later, she respectfully withdrew her hand.
"What exactly is wrong with me?" The Empress Dowager's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
"Your Majesty, although this illness is partly due to overwork, the root cause is rather complex. This servant... needs to personally examine the prescriptions Your Majesty has been using recently in order to make an accurate diagnosis." She replied with her eyes lowered, her posture extremely humble.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, and Jin Xuan, the nanny standing to the side, immediately signaled a palace servant to bring a stack of prescriptions.
Ye Yixiang took the medicine with both hands and examined it closely in the bright light of the hall, her brows furrowed. Sure enough, it contained top-quality medicinal herbs for treating colds. Logically speaking, Chu Huaili was also knowledgeable in pharmacology, and he was the one who taught her her medical skills.
Logically, these subtle signs of poisoning should not have escaped his notice. Was it because the Empress Dowager had not summoned him to attend to her during her illness?
Or was he... intentionally condoning it? This thought stirred a hint of doubt in her heart.
"Your Majesty, the prescription... is slightly off and not entirely effective." She put down the prescription and said respectfully, "This servant dares to devise a new prescription, which Your Majesty may try."
After receiving the Empress Dowager's tacit approval, she rose and retreated to the desk in the outer room, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and concentrated on writing.
She dared not use all the herbs needed to completely eliminate the remaining poison at once, as the imperial physicians would easily spot the flaws in the prescription. She could only cleverly break down the antidote into smaller parts, hiding them within different formulas, and proceed gradually.
After writing it down, she presented the new prescription to the imperial physicians who were waiting nearby. "I would be grateful if you gentlemen could take a look."
The imperial physicians huddled together and discussed in hushed tones for a moment. The head physician stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with this prescription. We have simply replaced a few of the herbs with milder ones that are more suitable for the symptoms, and added some herbs that nourish qi and blood.”
Granny Jin Xuan came out from the inner room and conveyed the Empress Dowager's decree: "Prepare the medicine according to the new prescription proposed by Miss Ye."
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