Four days later.
Guan Zhiyue was unconscious for three days and three nights. Today, she finally woke up from the nightmare. She sat up somewhat dejectedly and curled up with her hands around her knees.
When the Guan family learned of the news, they were frantic. Empress Dowager Xin came out of the palace to take charge, and the carefree prince who had been missing for more than a month finally appeared.
With both the Emperor and Empress unconscious, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the court and the country. Empress Dowager Xin began ruling from behind the curtain, and Su Xu organized the civil and military officials to maintain order. Prince Xiaoyao was also forced to step in and act as regent.
Some of the ministers below were spreading rumors and inciting unrest, and those with ulterior motives started to stir up trouble, but no matter what they did, they could only target the carefree prince.
After all, the emperor has no children yet, so it's not their place to instigate him. And the Prince of Xiaoyao is a smiling tiger; whatever you say, I'll just smile and not say a word. What can you do to me?
As for someone like Xiaoyao Wang, it's like 'forcing a cow to drink water'—it's useless. He's the kind of person who won't do what you want him to do. He was fine for the first day or two, but after that, he completely let himself go.
A crisp sound rang out in the Cold Palace.
Then came Bilian's exclamation: "Your Majesty, you've finally woken up."
Guan Zhiyue raised her head, looking blankly at Bilian standing at the door, then at the overturned porcelain basin by the door, and lowered her head again without saying a word, continuing to hug her knees and shrink herself into the corner.
Upon seeing this, Bilian quickly stepped over the basin and rushed over. Looking at Guan Zhiyue on the bed, her eyes were filled with tears, and she didn't know what to say.
Their helpless appearance was heartbreaking to see.
"Your Majesty, are you hungry?" Bilian asked after holding back for a long time.
Guan Zhiyue raised her head, nodded, and then lowered it again. Bilian nodded with tears in her eyes, ran to the door, shouted into the courtyard, and then turned back.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, His Majesty has woken up today. He's just a little weak. Once you've recovered, you can go visit him," Bilian said softly.
Upon hearing the news that the Emperor had awakened, Guan Zhiyue sat up abruptly from her dejection, looking at Bilian with delight, as if seeking confirmation.
"Yes, don't worry. Can we get up now? How are you feeling?" Bilian asked.
"You have no idea, you've been unconscious for three days and three nights. Master and Madam, as well as the General and the young masters, were all worried sick, and I was worried sick too. I'm so glad Your Highness is alright." As Bilian spoke, tears started flowing uncontrollably again.
Guan Zhiyue shook her head and then said, "I...cough cough...I'm fine!"
"Your Majesty, please have some water first! Look at my head, I was so happy that I forgot you haven't had any water yet!" Bilian said.
Here at Chengqian Palace.
"The Emperor has awakened!" This exclamation startled everyone gathered outside the palace. In an instant, imperial physicians, ministers, and concubines all rushed into the palace.
Empress Dowager Xin leaned on a golden dragon-headed cane, a gift from the previous emperor. Seeing the cane was like witnessing the emperor's presence. Dressed in her empress dowager's court robes, Empress Dowager Xin stood majestically at the entrance of Chengqian Palace, looking down at the people in the courtyard.
"No one is allowed to enter except for the imperial physicians who are treating patients, Chief Minister Su, and Prince Xiaoyao. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without exception!" Empress Dowager Xin slammed her dragon-headed cane on the ground with a loud thud, stunning everyone present.
Seeing that everyone had stopped crowding and arguing, Empress Dowager Xin led the imperial physician, Chief Minister Su, and Prince Xiaoyao inside.
Li Qiji was sitting on the headboard, his face pale and bloodless, looking sickly and giving off a particularly delicate feeling.
"Your Majesty, how are you?" Empress Dowager Xin asked.
Li Qiji coughed lightly a few times, then said, "Thanks to Mother Empress, I am fine, just a little weak!"
"That's good, that's good. Imperial Physician, come and see His Majesty quickly," Empress Dowager Xin instructed.
Then Chief Physician Zhang came over from behind, took out his medicine box, took out the pulse diagnosis tool, and carefully took the emperor's pulse. He then nodded and reported, "The toxins in the emperor's body have been cleared, but he has lost too much blood and is showing signs of anemia."
"You need to rest lying down more; you need to stay in bed for at least three months."
Upon hearing this, Li Qiji thought, "How can I stay in bed for so long? I still have so many state affairs to attend to. It's getting hotter every day. Can I really stay in bed for three months?"
"Alright, I understand. Just prescribe the medicine, my dear minister," Li Qiji interrupted.
Li Qiji then glanced at the people inside the room and said to Empress Dowager Xin, "Mother, why don't I see the Empress? Where is she?"
Empress Dowager Xin said with displeasure, "The Empress is also ill and has not yet woken up!"
Upon hearing that the Empress was also ill, Li Qiji quickly inquired, "Cough cough cough... Empress, why is the Empress ill as well? Is she injured?"
The carefree prince chimed in, "No, no, I heard he was frightened and hasn't woken up yet!"
"It's good that you're not injured. Should we summon the imperial physician to take a look?" Li Qiji asked again.
He looked somewhat anxious, as if he hadn't taken good care of Guan Zhiyue. His anxious appearance made Su Xu feel uncomfortable, and Li Qishang just sullenly said nothing more.
Empress Dowager Xin was somewhat displeased and said coldly, "Alright, you've only just woken up and you're already only concerned about your daughter-in-law. Nobody cares about me, your old mother!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiji knew that his mother was jealous, so he quickly took her hand and said, "Mother, thank you for your hard work. I am an unfilial son who has caused you worry."
The Empress Dowager smiled and patted his hand, saying, "Alright, the Empress is fine. She was just frightened because it was her first time seeing such a scene. The imperial physician has also prescribed medicine."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
——
night.
Guan Zhiyue, accompanied by Bilian, arrived at the entrance of Chengqian Palace in a sedan chair. Led by Hua Quan, they finally saw Li Qiji lying on the bed.
"Your Majesty, thank you!"
"Your Majesty has arrived. Are you feeling better? I heard you were also unconscious. Why did you rush here so soon after waking up today? What if you caught a chill on the way?"
"Come on up, get under the covers!"
Upon seeing Guan Zhiyue, Li Qiji immediately launched into a chatterbox mode, urging her to lie down on the bed next to him before he felt at ease.
"Your Majesty, why did you save me? You could have avoided it that night," Guan Zhiyue said softly.
Li Qiji smiled and said softly, "I only wish you peace and happiness!"
"Thank you, but as the emperor, you shouldn't have saved me. Look at me now, I'm injured and lying in bed, unable to do anything."
After listening to Guan Zhiyue's words, Li Qiji thought for a moment and said in a calm tone, "You are my wife, whom I married with great ceremony and in a proper ceremony. We will be buried together after I die. How could I not save you? It's alright. I'm a man. Getting a little injured is nothing."
"Did you ever love me?" Guan Zhiyue asked calmly.
Li Qiji didn't understand and remained silent.
What I fear most is a sudden silence, and what I fear most is the Empress's sudden heart-to-heart talk!
Guan Zhiyue received no answer, so she kept quiet, closed her eyes, and waited silently.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com