Chapter 41 The Death of Madam Shen
The incense wafted gently, yet it couldn't dispel the faint smell of medicine. Su Luoxue lay back in the brocade quilt, her face still somewhat pale.
"Still feeling unwell?" A deep and familiar voice sounded in his ear. Yuwen Che sat on the edge of the bed, the sleeves of his black casual clothes rolled up, and he was personally testing the temperature of a bowl of warm tonic medicine to help prevent miscarriage.
Su Luoxue shook her head, trying to sit up: "Ache, I'm fine now, you're busy with court affairs..."
"Lie down." Yuwen Che pressed her back onto the soft cushion without any room for argument. His tone was calm, but it carried an unyielding force. "Nothing is more important than you and the child." He scooped up a spoonful of medicine, carefully blew on it to cool it, and brought it to her lips. "The imperial physician said that you must rest absolutely."
Su Luoxue obediently drank the medicine, the bitter taste causing her to frown slightly. Her hand unconsciously went to her lower abdomen, where two fragile little lives were growing. Thinking of the harrowing events of yesterday, she still felt lingering fear.
"A-Che, outside the palace gates..." she couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling slightly. Even though she was deep within the palace, she had vaguely heard the news that the deposed Empress Shen had been turned into a human pig and placed at the palace gates.
Yuwen Che continued feeding the medicine without pausing, his eyes calm and unwavering: "Xue'er, that's not something you should worry about. Those who defy the law will only seek their own death."
He put down the medicine bowl and gently wiped the medicine stains from the corner of her lips with his fingertips, his actions completely different from the cold and hard expression he had shown when discussing the tragic events at the palace gates. "The only thing you need to do now is to take good care of yourself and give birth to a healthy imperial son for me and for our Great Zhou."
At this moment, the chief eunuch Li Dehai tiptoed in, bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, General Pei is outside requesting an audience, saying he has important matters to report."
Yuwen Che didn't even raise his head, his gaze still fixed on Su Luoxue's face: "Tell him to wait in the side hall."
"Yes." Li Dehai responded, but hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty, also... at the palace gate, the guards on duty reported that Lady Shen... has passed away."
The inner hall fell silent instantly, with only Su Luoxue's rapid breathing audible. She instinctively gripped Yuwen Che's sleeve tightly.
Yuwen Che grasped her slightly cool hand in return, his tone completely calm: "In that case, drag her to the mass grave. Issue my decree that anyone who dares to criticize Consort Chen or curse the imperial heir will suffer the same fate as Shen."
"This servant obeys the decree." Li Dehai lowered his head even further and quickly retreated.
“A-Che,” Su Luoxue’s voice was filled with lingering fear, “For my sake, you…you dealt with the Shen family, deposed the Empress, and now…what will the court officials do…”
"Them?" Yuwen Che's lips curled into a cold smile. "Yesterday at the palace gates, wasn't my sword enough to bring them to their senses? Xue'er, I am the emperor. I can give them wealth and glory, and I can also make them vanish in an instant. If anyone makes you uneasy, I will make the whole world uneasy."
The menacing tone in his voice sent a chill down Su Luoxue's spine, but she was immediately enveloped by a profound sense of security. She knew that this man was using his own way to create an absolutely safe haven for her.
“I’m just afraid… afraid of implicating you, afraid of the children…” she murmured softly, leaning against his strong arm.
"What are you afraid of?" Yuwen Che put his arm around her shoulder and softened his voice. "With me here, no one can harm you in the slightest. I have already ordered that Guanju Palace be doubled in the number of trusted guards, and all food and clothing will be handled by Li Dehai personally."
Just then, the palace maid Fuling brought in a plate of exquisite candied fruit, her face beaming with joy: "Your Highness, is the medicine bitter? Quickly suck on a piece of candied fruit to sweeten your mouth. His Majesty truly cares for you; these candied fruits were specially ordered by the Imperial Kitchen to be made with Sichuan fritillary and loquat, making them both refreshing and soothing to the throat."
Yuwen Che took the plate, picked up a piece himself, and brought it to Su Luoxue's lips: "Try it."
Su Luoxue opened her mouth and took it in; the sweetness melted away, dispelling the bitterness of the medicine and slightly dispelling the gloom in her heart. Looking at the emperor before her, who was decisive and ruthless on the outside but considerate and attentive to her on the inside, she was filled with mixed emotions.
"Ah Che, before I entered the palace, I never thought..." Before she could finish speaking, Yuwen Che interrupted her.
"I never imagined it either." He gazed at her, a rare tenderness appearing in his deep eyes. "That day on the long street, you bumped into my arms. The moment I saw your eyes, I knew that you were the one for me."
He rarely mentioned their first encounter, but when he did, a blush rose on Su Luoxue's pale face.
Fuling smiled and said, "His Majesty and the Empress have a deep affection for each other, which is a blessing for the young princes. The imperial physician said that although the Empress's pregnancy is somewhat stable, she still needs to keep a cheerful mood and avoid excessive worry."
Yuwen Che nodded: "Did you hear that? Even Fuling understands better than you. Don't think about those unimportant people and things anymore."
Just then, a series of slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the palace. Though light, they were exceptionally clear in the quiet palace. Yuwen Che frowned slightly and patted Su Luoxue's hand: "I'll be right back. You rest."
Inside the side hall, Pei Xuan, the trusted commander of the Imperial Guards, dressed in military uniform, immediately knelt on one knee upon seeing Yuwen Che emerge: "Your Majesty."
"Stand up and speak." Yuwen Che stood with his hands behind his back, resuming his imperial demeanor. "What is it?"
Pei Xuan stood up and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, the news of what happened at the palace gates has spread throughout the capital. The people are talking about it and are quite frightened. Some of Shen's old friends and disciples, although they are outwardly silent, seem to be secretly conspiring. In addition, at Cining Palace... today the imperial physician went to check on the Empress Dowager's health, but was kicked out by her. I heard that the Empress Dowager is unwell and has vomited blood again."
Yuwen Che's eyes darkened, and he snorted coldly: "Collusion? I'd like to see who dares to follow in the footsteps of the Shen family. Order the secret guards to keep a close watch on them. If there is any unusual activity, kill them without exception."
"Yes!" Pei Xuan accepted the order, then added, "Your Majesty, should the news that Consort Chen is pregnant with twins be kept strictly confidential?"
Yuwen Che pondered for a moment, a sharp glint in his eyes: "There's no need to deliberately block it, but there's also no need to publicize it. I want to see how many demons and monsters in the inner palace and the court can't hold back. You tighten the guards in the palace, especially Guanju Palace. If there's even the slightest mistake, you'll have to answer to me with your head."
"This humble general swears to protect the safety of the Imperial Concubine and the Prince with his life!" Pei Xuan said solemnly.
"Also," Yuwen Che walked to the window, looking at the somewhat desolate courtyard outside, "how is the progress on the people I asked you to arrange for the Su family?"
"Your Majesty, as you wished, we have been secretly supporting Master Su's business, allowing it to gradually grow in scale. Young Master Su Jingxing is exceptionally talented, having achieved the highest rank in this year's autumn imperial examination. In my opinion, it will not be difficult for him to rank among the top three in next year's spring imperial examination. At that time, he can then naturally enter the court."
Yuwen Che nodded slightly, his eyes deep: "Very good. Remember, do it discreetly, and don't let anyone know it's my doing. The Su family will be an important support for Xue'er and the princes in the future." This was the first time he had used his imperial power to secretly support a maternal relative for personal reasons, breaking his own principles of fair rewards and punishments and impartiality.
"Your subject understands." Pei Xuan understood immediately.
Yuwen Che waved his hand, and Pei Xuan quietly withdrew.
When he returned to the inner palace, Su Luoxue was leaning against the headboard, being served a small bowl of bird's nest porridge by Fuling. Seeing him return, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with dependence and inquiry.
Yuwen Che walked over, naturally took the jade bowl from Fuling's hand, and personally fed her, his tone returning to its previous gentleness: "It's nothing serious, just some trivial matters of the court. Xue'er, take good care of yourself during your pregnancy. Once your pregnancy is stable, I will take you to the imperial estate in the suburbs of the capital to relax."
Su Luoxue nodded obediently, swallowed the bird's nest in her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then asked softly, "Ache, the Empress Dowager is... after all your mother. If it is because of me that you and your mother are at odds, I will feel really uneasy..."
Yuwen Che paused in his feeding, his eyes instantly becoming complex, filled with heartache but also an unyielding coldness. He put down the bowl, took her hand, and said in a low but resolute voice, "Xue'er, remember, from the moment she plotted against Hao'er, she ceased to be my mother. There are some things that are better left unknown to you."
Looking into her clear yet worried eyes, he finally softened his tone, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek: "You only need to know that I will never allow anyone, including her, to have another chance to hurt you and our child. This country belongs to me, and no one can touch the people I want to protect."
His words, like the most solemn promise, echoed in the warm, medicinal fragrance of the inner palace. The bloodshed and cruelty that once existed outside the palace gates seemed to be kept out of this warmth, yet like a lurking shadow, they reminded her of the hidden dangers beneath this ultimate favor. Su Luoxue nestled in his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat, and the child in her womb seemed to quiet down as well.
She gently stroked her lower abdomen, silently praying: My children, you must be born safely.
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