Chapter 37 The Imperial Physician Does His Best to Protect the Pregnancy
Yuwen Che's words, "to be buried with him," were like a death knell, terrifying the kneeling imperial physicians to the bone. Cold sweat instantly soaked their official robes. The instinct for survival overcame their fear, and the head physician forced himself to remain calm, immediately engaging in a hurried, low-voiced discussion with the other physicians.
"We must stop the bleeding first! Otherwise, if we run out of blood and energy, both mother and child will be in danger!"
"Yes, first use moxibustion to stabilize the Chong and Ren meridians, then use acupuncture to strengthen the body's foundation and guide the flow of qi back to its proper channels!"
"The medication for preventing miscarriage must be the gentlest yet most effective formula, which can both stabilize the pregnancy and avoid being too strong and aggravating the bleeding!"
"We must act quickly! We must preserve the Empress's vitality and minimize damage to the mother's body!"
Once the agreement was reached, the imperial physicians immediately sprang into action, directing the young apprentices and female physicians to light the moxa sticks as quickly as possible and begin moxibustion on Su Luoxue's specific acupoints. The distinctive aroma of the moxa quickly filled the bedchamber.
On the other side, Fuling had already pulled aside a screen to create a separate space, and with several nimble palace maids, she prepared to change Su Luoxue's cold, blood-soaked dress. Yuwen Che was unwilling to leave Su Luoxue's side for even a moment.
Carefully, with his uninjured right hand, he gently and delicately unbuttoned Su Luoxue's beautiful but now filthy and blood-stained dress, working in conjunction with Fuling. Each glimpse of blood-stained skin caused his heart to ache. He personally used a soft handkerchief dampened with warm water to carefully wipe away the cold bloodstains from her body, as if cleaning a priceless treasure. His movements were so gentle, as if he were afraid of hurting her.
Fuling and the palace maids quickly replaced the blood-stained quilts and mattresses on the bed with clean, soft new ones.
Throughout the entire process, Yuwen Che's gaze never left Su Luoxue's pale and pained face. When he finally changed her into clean and comfortable nightgown and settled her back on the warm and clean bed, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and the wound on his left arm was bleeding again from the exertion, but he was completely unaware of it.
Seeing that everything was ready, the imperial physicians immediately stepped forward. The head physician personally administered acupuncture, the slender gold needles gleaming coldly in the candlelight as they precisely pierced Su Luoxue's acupoints. Another imperial physician directed someone to bring over the freshly brewed, piping hot medicine to prevent miscarriage, which Yuwen Che personally took and carefully fed to Su Luoxue little by little. Although most of it dribbled out from the corners of her mouth, he patiently tried again and again.
Yuwen Che stayed by the bedside without leaving for a moment, holding Su Luoxue's cold hand tightly. Seeing her brows furrowed with abdominal pain even in her unconscious state, and feeling her soft, painful groans, his heart felt as if it were being roasted on fire, about to break.
He knew his Xue'er was most afraid of pain; even a light pinch on her waist would make her whine and complain for ages. During intimate moments… he was always careful not to hurt her. But now, she had to endure this pain, and all of this, in a way, was his doing… If he had protected her better, if he had dealt with the Shen family as well when he attacked them…
Endless regret and heartache nearly overwhelmed him. But he couldn't collapse, nor could he soften his heart. At this moment, he had to be the strongest rock, providing her with shelter. He leaned down and whispered repeatedly in her ear, his voice hoarse yet carrying an undeniable strength:
"Xue'er, hold on... For me, and for our child... You must hold on... I'm here with you, I'll always be with you..."
Everyone was fighting against fate and the malevolent curse. At this moment, Yuwen Che's imperial wrath and deep affection transformed into the most unwavering protection.
Inside the warm pavilion, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive. His Majesty had not spoken, and the palace gates were already locked. None of the nobles, officials, and their families dared to move, nor could they leave. They could only sit stiffly in place, enduring this long, terrifying wait. The air seemed to still carry the lingering stench of blood and the echoes of Shen's mournful curses; everyone was filled with unease and anxiety. The safety of Consort Chen not only concerned His Majesty but also subtly influenced the direction of the court. If the Consort and the imperial unborn child were to suffer any mishap, given His Majesty's thunderous rage and ruthless methods displayed today, who knew what kind of bloodshed would ensue?
Inside Guanju Palace, however, a different scene unfolded, one of extreme tension. Candles burned brightly throughout the night, filling the air with the strong aroma of medicine and mugwort. The imperial physicians used every trick in the book, frequently applying acupuncture and administering herbal decoctions. Palace maids and eunuchs hurried about, holding their breath and focusing intently, not daring to slacken their efforts in the slightest.
Yuwen Che stood guard by the bedside like a stone statue, holding Su Luoxue's hand tightly, his gaze never leaving her face, as if he wanted to transfer his life force to her. Time passed slowly in agonizing agony.
After an unknown amount of time, as dawn approached and the sky was just beginning to lighten, Su Luoxue, whose eyes had been tightly closed and whose face was deathly pale, seemed to relax her furrowed brows slightly, and the painful groans that had escaped her lips gradually weakened.
The head physician, who had been intently examining the pulse, finally relaxed slightly. After a long and careful examination, he dared not withdraw his hand, knelt down, and reported, his voice carrying the exhaustion of surviving a close call and a barely perceptible hint of relief:
"Your Majesty... Thank goodness! The Imperial Concubine is blessed with great fortune; the imperial fetus... is safe for now!"
These words, like heavenly music, instantly dispelled the gloom that had been building up in the bedchamber!
Yuwen Che's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and an overwhelming joy washed over him, making him even a little dizzy. He suppressed his excitement and asked in a hoarse voice, "Really?! Are you sure you're alright?"
The head of the hospital cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, the bleeding has basically stopped. Although the Empress's pulse is still weak, it has become more stable, though the slippery pulse is still present. However... this injury was quite significant, and the Empress's vital energy has been greatly depleted. The pregnancy is still extremely fragile, and she must absolutely rest in bed for the next few months, requiring meticulous care. She cannot tolerate any further stimulation or exertion, otherwise... the consequences will be unimaginable."
Hearing that the pregnancy was still extremely fragile, Yuwen Che's heart tightened again, but at least the child was saved, and Xue'er's life was saved as well. This was the best news at the moment.
"I understand," he said in a deep voice, his gaze returning to Su Luoxue's face with endless heartache and the preciousness of something lost and then regained. "You must use the best medicine and the most meticulous care to ensure that the Consort and the Prince are safe and sound."
"We will do our utmost!" the imperial physicians replied in unison.
Yuwen Che waved his hand, indicating that they could rest for a while, but still needed to be on standby at any time. He leaned down and gently stroked Su Luoxue's still cold cheek, whispering in her ear with a voice softer than ever before: "Xue'er, can you hear me? Our child is safe... You are very brave, really brave... Sleep well, I'm here with you."
Perhaps feeling comforted by his words and the good news, Su Luoxue seemed to calm down a lot while unconscious, and her breathing became more even.
Inside Guanju Palace, the tense atmosphere eased slightly with the temporary stabilization of Su Luoxue's pregnancy, but the air still reeked of medicine and carried a lingering heaviness. Yuwen Che's entire attention was focused on the unconscious Su Luoxue, until Li Dehai seized an opportunity to cautiously approach and whispered a reminder:
"Your Majesty, the officials and their families in the warm pavilion are still waiting, and the palace gates have been locked."
Yuwen Che snapped out of his extreme worry and remembered those forgotten in the warm pavilion. His brows furrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Having experienced the Shen family's assassination attempt and Xue'er's near-death experience, he was now extremely sensitive to the safety of the palace and any potential risks.
He hesitated for a moment, then whispered to Li Dehai, "Have the Dragon Guards personally open the palace gates and escort them out of the palace. Make sure... no one lingers under any pretext."
The word "escort" was emphasized, its meaning self-evident—it was not only to ensure safety, but also to monitor and clear the area, preventing any unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the situation to hide in the palace and cause further trouble.
Li Dehai understood immediately and was about to accept the order when Yuwen Che remembered something else and added, "Also, tell those people that Consort Chen and the imperial fetus are now stable, but they need to rest in absolute quiet. Convey my decree that no one, without my special permission, may disturb the tranquility of Guanju Palace for any reason."
He knew all too well that the wives of high-ranking officials were adept at currying favor, and that some might try to use the guise of visiting Xue'er to get closer to her and build a relationship. At this moment, both Xue'er and the unborn child were extremely vulnerable, and he absolutely could not allow any unnecessary disturbance or risk.
"This servant understands." Li Dehai bowed and hurriedly withdrew.
Inside the warm pavilion, the group, who had waited all night, were exhausted, hungry, and cold, yet dared not utter a word of complaint, and could only force themselves to sit. When Li Dehai reappeared, all eyes turned to him.
Li Dehai cleared his throat and conveyed His Majesty's message, his tone respectful yet carrying an unquestionable air: "His Majesty's decree: Consort Chen and the imperial fetus are now stable, but her health has been damaged, requiring absolute rest. The Dragon Guard is hereby ordered to escort all officials and their families out of the palace. Furthermore, His Majesty decrees that during Consort Chen's period of rest, no one is permitted to disturb the tranquility of Guanju Palace; those who violate this order will be severely punished."
Hearing that the pregnancy was safe, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, at least temporarily relieved that His Majesty wouldn't be angry because of his grief over the loss of his son. However, the subsequent order not to disturb him and the escort by the Imperial Guards made everyone nervous again, and they felt more clearly His Majesty's airtight protection of Consort Chen and his vigilance against potential threats.
After Li Dehai finished speaking, he gave a wink to the deputy commander of the Longxiang Guard who was waiting to the side, and then instructed in a deliberately emphasizing tone: "Deputy Commander, His Majesty has ordered that you must personally... without missing a single one, safely 'escort' all of you and your families out of the palace."
The deputy commander clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and immediately directed his men to act. The Dragon Guards remained expressionless, yet their movements were efficient and swift. They began to ask the officials and their families to leave the warm pavilion in order and head towards the palace gate. Throughout the entire process, no one dared to make a sound, no one dared to linger; the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
After that night, everyone once again deeply understood just how much of a taboo subject Consort Chen, Su Luoxue, was in the Emperor's heart. And the undercurrents and murderous intent beneath this seemingly magnificent palace were far more dangerous than they had imagined. For many, leaving the palace safely was the best possible outcome. As for the subsequent turmoil in the court caused by the complete annihilation of the Shen family and Consort Chen's near-death experience while pregnant, that was a matter for later. At this moment, the tranquility of Guanju Palace was the only thing His Majesty cared about.
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