Chapter 45 [VIP]
Huai Jing's words of questioning and accusation revealed all the doubts that everyone had but had not spoken aloud.
Although Chief Minister Song and his entourage were outside, they were only separated by a screen and could hear everything clearly.
He so decisively tore away a thin layer of disguise, revealing the darkness beneath.
Qingping clicked his tongue in amazement and couldn't help but glance at that hothead.
Oh?
After all these days, he finally saw a normal person among the dark, gloomy, and gray-hued unlucky people...
Tsk.
Not only is it normal, it's also a sign of great fortune.
This doesn't seem like a naive young man.
The emperor flew into a rage: "Are you accusing me?"
Huai Jingzhi did not kneel down. He held his neck straight, remaining silent, yet it seemed as if he had said a thousand words.
The emperor was trembling with rage. Since his ascension to the throne, no one had ever dared to be so insolent in front of him; it was as if they were pointing their fingers at him and cursing him.
"Do I need to explain my feelings for Chen'er to you?!"
The emperor's chest burned with a fierce intensity, as if a ball of fire had been settling within him: "More than anyone else, I wish Chen'er could wake up!"
That's the truth.
If Xie Yingchen were to die like this, anyone would speculate like Huai Jingzhi.
Xie Yingchen served as a hostage in Liang for six years, and he survived.
He survived the long journey of thousands of miles from Liang Kingdom to the capital.
He died just over a month after returning to the capital, right there in the palace, right in front of his own emperor.
What will the world think of him?!
The emperor's heart was in turmoil. He placed all his hopes on Qingping. "Master, think of a way to make Chen'er wake up."
Qingping was quite adept at reading people's expressions and demeanor, and during that year he moved among the wealthy and powerful, displaying remarkable tact and diplomacy.
He understood the emperor's implication: to wake Xie Yingchen up, not to cure him.
Waking up is not difficult.
He has a few Qing Shen Pills here, which his master gave him when he left home. His master personally refined them.
"Yes," Qingping said, cupping his hands in greeting. "I'll give it a try."
Qingping took out a pill and bent down to feed it to Xie Yingchen by hand.
"No!"
Huai Jingzhi yelled and rushed over, using his back to block the emperor and the others' view. He quietly hooked the pill with his finger and put it directly into his mouth.
His movements were swift as the wind, and his face was filled with grief and indignation as he demanded, "What did you feed the young master?!"
"What?! Didn't you eat them all? You're blaming him? Are you even being reasonable?!" This Qingping Pill was a precious item that even he wouldn't dare eat. Qingping's beard trembled with anger. Huaijingzhi didn't give him a chance to speak, shouting loudly, "What if something happens to the young master…!"
He glared at everyone with hatred, not allowing them to come any closer.
"Jingzhi".
Just then, Xie Yingchen, lying on the bed, spoke in a weak, feeble voice: "How dare you be rude..."
"Chen'er!"
The emperor was truly overjoyed and wept tears of joy.
Qingping: "..."
He glanced at the "greenhorn" out of the corner of his eye. So, he had become part of their plan too?!
"Master, you are truly a highly accomplished person!"
The emperor said this sincerely.
Well, Qingping flicked his whisk. Since he had already said that, how could he possibly expose him?
Xie Yingchen said weakly, "Jingzhi, the Emperor is my uncle. He is very concerned about me. I am weak and have nothing to do with the Emperor. Don't make wild accusations and cause endless criticism from the world."
"His Majesty is worried about me, which is why he let me live in the palace so that he can take care of me nearby."
"now……"
Xie Yingchen coughed, speaking haltingly, as if it were just a final burst of energy before he was about to lose all his breath.
He mustered all his strength and said, "Your Majesty, I have been dreaming of my father frequently these days..."
"Please allow Jingzhi and the others to leave the palace with me."
The emperor remained silent.
He and Xie Yingchen stared at each other. Xie Yingchen's lips were deathly pale, and his face was completely bloodless. He spoke in fits and starts, making it impossible to doubt that he would faint at any moment and never wake up again.
Even so, a reassuring smile remained on his lips as he restrained the urge to turn against himself.
The emperor felt a surge of frustration. He had clearly done nothing wrong today, yet everyone was convinced that he was the one who had done it. Who could he reason with?
"Your Majesty, I want to..." Xie Yingchen paused for a long time, unable to catch his breath, "to go back to the house where my father used to live, and stay with my parents. Please grant my request, Your Majesty."
emperor:"……"
Xie Yingchen is still the same as he was six years ago.
When Xie Yingchen withdrew, his condition was that those still alive in the Eastern Palace would be spared further pursuit, and their families should not be implicated if the Eastern Palace members had already died.
He would lead everyone to Liang Kingdom, willingly serving as hostages.
Six years later.
Even though Xie Yingchen was convinced that he was the one who did it, he backed down once again.
He proposed leaving the palace to save face, on the condition that everyone around him be spared.
And return all the belongings of the deposed crown prince and his wife to him.
Xie Yingchen closed his eyes slightly, as if using his last strength to wait for the emperor's answer.
The emperor nodded almost imperceptibly.
He paused for a moment, then disagreed, saying, "Your illness means you cannot leave the palace. If anything were to happen to you, how could I face your grandfather and your father!"
"Master Qingping, if you can wake Chen'er up, can you also make Chen'er better?" The emperor shook his head repeatedly and said anxiously, "As long as Chen'er can get better, I am willing to personally pray to all the gods in the heavens, even if it means shortening my lifespan."
Qingping's forehead twitched.
This capital city isn't big, and everyone here is a shrewd and capable person. Just on this trip alone, he's witnessed several battles firsthand.
Why.
The emperor also did not want Prince Chen to continue staying in the palace, but he was a "kind elder" and could not simply send someone away because he was ill.
One must never lose face.
Therefore, he said these words to make amends and offer advice.
Ugh. So tired.
No wonder his master had to offer a few words of advice when he said he wanted to come to the capital to gain worldly experience.
"Your Majesty," Qingping pretended to do some calculations, then shook his head and sighed mysteriously, "Forgive this humble Taoist for his incompetence."
Qingping said solemnly, "You are the emperor, and your good health and longevity are related to the well-being of all the people and the stability of the country. I cannot go against the will of Heaven."
"Your Excellency! This is my imperial decree..."
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
The Prince of Jin rushed in from outside, knelt before the Emperor, hugged his leg, and said earnestly, "Please take care of your health. Chen'er doesn't want to see you worry about him like this!"
The Prince of Jin barged in, and the Grand Secretary and Prince Li followed him in.
"Your Majesty. Chen'er has been away from the capital for many years, and it is his wish to live in the former residence of his parents."
"Please let Chen'er go in peace."
"Your Majesty, please allow Chen'er to leave the palace!"
With tears in his eyes, the Prince of Jin knelt on the ground and personally handed the steps to the emperor's feet.
Tears welled up in the emperor's eyes.
Everyone here knows the "truth"—even the emperor himself feels he has been terribly wronged.
Grand Secretary Song stared at Xie Yingchen's ashen face, his eyes filled with pity, mixed with guilt and self-reproach.
Since returning from Liang, Prince Chen has been bedridden. If his health were truly that bad, how could he have traveled so far to return to the capital? However, the cabinet has reviewed his medical records, and the Emperor has no objection to this.
Now that he has suddenly fallen seriously ill, if he were to die in the palace, whether it is to seek justice for Prince Chen or to take the opportunity to eliminate his rivals, there will inevitably be suspicion and disputes in the court, and factional strife will rage.
Beset by internal and external troubles, and with the court in turmoil, we cannot afford any more chaos.
Regardless of whether it was done by the emperor or not, sending Prince Chen out of the palace is the best option now.
If Prince Chen is lucky enough to survive, then he can also live outside the palace and be less constrained.
If not.
The Grand Secretary lowered his eyes, a deep sorrow flashing in his aged gaze, but it vanished in an instant. He sighed and said, "Your Majesty, why not grant the eldest son's wish?"
Chief Minister Song acted out of consideration for the stability of the court.
Prince Jin, who always knew the emperor's heart best, wiped away his tears and said, "Your Majesty, for the sake of the country, you must not act recklessly and harm your health."
Prince Li nodded silently in agreement: "When the late Emperor was alive, he loved Chen'er the most. He never refused any request Chen'er made. Your Majesty, you have always treated Chen'er the same way. Now... alas, you have granted Chen'er's last wish."
The emperor finally nodded.
In just half an hour, the imperial carriage was ready.
The late emperor had shown great favor to the deposed crown prince. When the other princes left the palace to establish their own residences, he jokingly bestowed a house upon the deposed crown prince as well, telling him that a ruler should not be too aloof and distant from the hearts of the people. If one does not even know how the people live, how can one become a wise ruler?
The deposed crown prince did not live outside the palace all the time, but would go out for a few days during his days off.
This house has always been preserved.
Even though it hasn't been properly renovated in recent years, it was once the residence of the deposed crown prince. It was originally built according to the regulations for the crown prince, and the drawings were personally drawn by the late emperor. There was definitely no problem with people living there.
The emperor brought along everyone from Xiyunwu, including eunuchs and imperial guards.
No one knows what the emperor and Xie Yingchen had said to each other alone, but when Xie Yingchen came out of Xiyunwu, he fell into a coma again and became even more frail. The imperial physicians took turns feeling his pulse and all shook their heads and sighed at the emperor. The chief imperial physician even said that he had at most five days left to live.
The emperor personally escorted the person to the residence.
The main gate of the house was wide open, and the old servant who remained inside was kneeling on the ground.
The emperor stared at the peeling vermilion gate, then looked up at the empty lintel. The plaque that once hung there, bearing only the two characters "Xie Mansion," was gone. His hands clenched unconsciously, trembling slightly, and he blurted out, "Stop."
"I……"
He wanted to say, "Let's go into the mansion."
He should see Xie Yingchen settle down with his own eyes.
However, those two words just wouldn't come out of my throat, no matter how hard I tried.
The emperor's hands trembled even more violently. He swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "I'll return to the palace now."
He didn't even make up an excuse; he only kept half of the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy, and they never stepped through that door.
The door closed.
Several old servants knelt on the ground, their eyes already brimming with tears: "Young Master..."
The young master is back.
They were all eunuchs who had guarded this house for six years, expecting to live in such darkness until the day they died.
Who would have thought?
Daylight broke.
Chongjiu quietly stopped.
The others followed Xie Yingchen to the main courtyard first, and then all left to take care of their own tasks and arrange everything that the young master had set up before he fainted. Only Huai Jingzhi and Qin Chen stayed by his side.
Huai Jingzhi let out a long sigh of relief and gently placed a sachet that he had been holding in his palm beside Xie Yingchen's pillow.
Everything is proceeding as planned.
They finally left the palace openly and legitimately.
"How long will it take for the young master to wake up?"
"He won't stay asleep forever, will he?"
"Didn't Miss Gu write that on her silk paper?"
Qin Chen spoke in one breath, then sighed, "If only we could invite Miss Gu in."
Huai Jingzhi's face was expressionless, and his plain features appeared extremely bland.
Even after the young master briefly regained consciousness, he could tell how weak the pulse was. Even though he left the palace without any major incident, Huai Jingzhi's heart was still in his throat.
Qin Chen and the others stayed up all night, and the imperial physician stayed up with them until dawn. Surprisingly, Xie Yingchen's condition was not good, but it did not get worse either.
The imperial physician wiped away his sweat; regardless, the day was over.
As long as he survives another day, Prince Chen will not be considered to have died in the palace.
After the imperial physician took his pulse and went out to prescribe medicine, Qin Chen came in from outside, covered in morning dew, and whispered, "Old Huai, the guards have been changed."
"Um?"
"They've switched to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
The Imperial Guards have all withdrawn, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards have taken over.
Huai Jingzhi seemed to be thinking for a moment, and the two exchanged a tacit glance, neither of them saying anything more.
It got brighter.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window and enveloped Gu Zhizhuo.
She, too, hadn't slept all night.
"Have some water first."
Qiongfang brought a cup of warm water to the head steward, Zheng Qi, who drank it all in one gulp to relieve his dry mouth.
Zheng Qi was one of the most important stewards in the mansion, in charge of the Duke's mansion's spies in the capital and the palace.
After the incident, her third uncle, Gu Baibai, gave Zheng Qi to her. Yesterday, as soon as she returned from the palace, Gu Zhizhuo ordered him to send people to keep an eye on things outside. She knew immediately whether Xie Yingchen left the palace or moved into the deposed crown prince's residence.
Zheng Qi put down his water cup and reported, "Miss, this morning, past 7:30, all the Imperial Guards inside and outside the mansion have been withdrawn and replaced by the Embroidered Uniform Guards."
Gu Zhizhuo leaned forward slightly and repeated, "Are you sure it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Yes, young lady.
Gu Zhizhuo gently stroked his forbidden step with his fingertips.
Why the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
After the young master returned to the capital, he had been guarded by the Imperial Guards. Why was he suddenly switched to the Embroidered Uniform Guards? In the Emperor's view, the young master was already a dying man, and there was no need for further intervention. Unless…
Gu Zhizhuo recalled that when they were in the palace, Shen Xu had visited Xiyunwu.
And last time at the estate...
A strange light flashed in Gu Zhizhuo's eyes. After asking a few more questions about the situation outside, he sent Zheng Qi away and returned to the inner courtyard.
She didn't go out again and stayed there until evening.
As soon as it got dark, she changed into a simple and convenient outfit and quietly left the mansion. This time, she only took Qingmei with her and left Qiongfang behind.
There is no curfew now, and there are still some people coming and going on the streets, until the crowd gradually thins out after going around a few streets.
Upon arriving at the main street where the Xie residence was located, Gu Zhizhuo could immediately see the peeling vermilion gate and the Imperial Guards standing in front of it.
The flying fish robe and the embroidered spring knife are impossible to mistake.
It has indeed been changed.
Gu Zhizhuo surveyed his surroundings and strode forward.
Before she could even get close to the Xie residence, a member of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and stopped her.
The Imperial Guards remained silent, their faces grim, their embroidered spring knives slightly drawn, as if to say: "Get out of here or die."
"return."
It's Shengjiang.
Sheng Jiang walked over, his gaze only lingering on her for a moment before quickly shifting away. He shouted at the Imperial Guard, "What are you doing standing here? There's no one here."
After saying that, he left first.
The Embroidered Spring Blade was sheathed, and the Imperial Guards followed closely behind him.
Neither of them looked at her again.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't look in the direction of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Instead, he led Qingmei straight to the main gate of the Xie residence. The side gate opened, and the two entered without any trouble.
"Miss Gu."
Qin Chen waited on the other side of the door, as if he knew she would come.
He clenched his right fist and tapped his left palm, saying with great excitement, "Old Huai was right."
"What did Huai Jingzhi say?" Gu Zhizhuo asked casually as he followed him inside.
"He said, 'You knew that the Imperial Guards had been replaced by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, so you would definitely come.'"
Old Huai loved to use cryptic language, and Qin Chen never bothered to dwell on things he couldn't understand. He only cared about one thing: "Miss Gu, the young master hasn't woken up yet."
"I know."
Gu Zhizhuo said nothing and quickened his pace.
"This way."
"A total of 120 Imperial Guards came. They were all in the first three courtyards and did not enter the main courtyard. Further inside, there were only our own people."
Qin Chen led her along the bluestone path, and after passing through two hanging flower gates, the Imperial Guards were nowhere to be seen.
He continued, "Lord Shen came to Xiyunwu yesterday, right after you left."
Just as Gu Zhizhuo had guessed, Shen Xu must have reached some kind of deal with the young master.
Only he could persuade the emperor to replace the Jinwuwei with the Jinyiwei to guard the Xie residence.
"Watch your step, we just moved in, and we haven't prepared lanterns or anything yet."
There's a step here.
Qin Chen led the way. The mansion, with only a few lanterns, was dark and gloomy, and the starlight and moonlight were also somewhat dim.
Gu Zhizhuo was actually more familiar with this mansion than Qin Chen. She had walked through every path and corridor countless times and could walk with her eyes closed without ever getting lost.
Xie Yingchen lived in the main courtyard, which was unique in that it had two extra glass lamps hanging in it, so that when you walked in from the dark, your vision would suddenly become bright.
Upon entering the main room, two imperial physicians were waiting outside the screen.
Qin Chen said, "The other imperial physicians have all gone to rest, leaving only these two."
Upon seeing Qin Chen bring people in, the two imperial physicians remained silent and quietly withdrew outside.
The house hadn't been well-ventilated in a long time, and Gu Zhizhuo smelled a faint musty odor. Besides Huaijing, there was another old acquaintance of Gu Zhizhuo in the house, Chongjiu.
Chongjiu stood beside the screen, so quiet that it seemed as if he wanted to blend into the screen.
Huai Jingzhi bowed respectfully, saying, "Miss Gu."
Gu Zhizhuo returned the greeting and quickly walked to the bedside.
Xie Yingchen looked terrible; his face was pale and he was barely breathing, like the last rays of the setting sun.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She blinked hard to stop them from falling.
It's okay. It's not from the previous life.
It's alright. The young master won't die; he's still alive.
Gu Zhizhuo sat down on the bed and raised his hand to feel her pulse.
Her eyelids were lowered, and she almost missed her pulse due to nervousness. After a long time, she finally felt a faint but imperceptible life force slowly awakening and repairing her nearly decaying internal organs in the almost dying pulse.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyes suddenly lit up.
Huai Jingzhi had been staring at her, and seeing this, he hurriedly asked, "How is it?"
Gu Zhizhuo withdrew his hand and smiled at him: "It's nothing."
"Young master is very good."
Qilin Cat is capable!
This recipe is perfect!
Gu Zhizhuo revealed a pleasant smile. From leaving the palace yesterday until now, his restless heart has finally returned to its normal rhythm.
She took out her sewing kit and her precious compass from her bosom.
As usual, we'll start by casting a divination.
The interaction of Kan and Li signifies the union of Yin and Yang.
"Great fortune."
"The heart pulse can be taken."
After she finished speaking, she spread out the needle case and then reached out and pulled off the brocade quilt covering Xie Yingchen. Her movements were so swift that even Qin Chen didn't have time to react.
Qin Chen: !
Wait, wait, wait!
Qin Chen's voice caught in his throat as he stared in disbelief as this Miss Gu casually pulled open the young master's clothes, stripping him down to just a white undergarment in a few quick movements.
Having traveled a long way from the palace to this place, and given Xie Yingchen's extremely poor condition, they only removed his outermost garment when settling him in.
"etc!"
Qin Chen finally said those two words, and as a result, Huai Jingzhi pulled him back again.
Huai Jing glared at him, annoyed that he was meddling.
"Oh right, you're wearing too many clothes, so you can't get acupuncture, right?" So, the unfinished words took a detour from his mouth and became a few other words: "Miss Gu, let me take them off for you."
Gu Zhizhuo turned to look at him, her attitude frank and without the slightest hesitation: "No need."
Why bother taking it off? The inner garment is enough.
Even through the inner garment, she could accurately access the acupoints. Of course, it would be even better without the inner garment, but in her previous life, the young master refused no matter what.
Gu Zhizhuo was lost in thought, but his hands didn't stop moving at all.
She placed the compass beside her and took out the longest needle from her needle case. She first inserted it into the Tianchi acupoint.
The long needle was slowly inserted into the acupoint. Her movements were extremely slow, sometimes light and sometimes heavy. Except for occasionally glancing at the magnetic needle, all her attention was focused on the silver needle.
The slender silver needles seemed to weigh a ton in her hands. Before long, Gu Zhizhuo's forehead was covered in sweat, and large beads of sweat streamed down her cheeks. Qingmei gently wiped them away with a handkerchief.
After a full incense stick's time, Gu Zhizhuo finally withdrew his hand.
At the same time, the silver needle trembled slightly and emitted a low hum.
Gu Zhizhuo took the pulse with one hand and reached for the second silver needle with the other.
Nine needles in total.
There were only nine needles, but it took from dusk till dawn to complete this set of needles.
Gu Zhizhuo let out a long sigh of relief, feeling utterly exhausted, his back already soaked with sweat.
Just as she was about to get up and stretch her muscles, everything suddenly went black before her eyes, her body swayed back and forth, and her right hand involuntarily pressed lightly on Xie Yingchen's body.
"Young Master?"
Xie Yingchen's eyelids twitched, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
The moment their eyes met, Gu Zhizhuo's lips curled up into a smile as bright as the rising sun, reflected in his pupils.
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