Jiang Kui suddenly had a premonition that Xie Wuyan would sleep for a very long time this round.
She propped up his unconscious form to lean against the carriage wall, covering him with a fur blanket. She then tucked a warming brazier beneath the blankets. His breathing was very shallow and his entire body was as cold as ice, she could even feel a chill standing next to him.
This was the first time she had seen Xie Wuyan in such a state. He would occasionally doze off before as well but it seemed to merely be light naps and he would soon rouse after resting briefly. She suspected sometimes he deliberately feigned sleep – she was quite certain he often pretended to slumber.
In such ambiguous circumstances, she simply couldn’t discern how much truth lay in the severity of his illness.
But this time felt different.
She had witnessed firsthand his struggle against succumbing to sleep. Usually he would casually say he felt sleepy regardless of standing or sitting. Whenever drowsy he would immediately keel over as if playing around, making it impossible to ascertain his genuineness.
Yet now he had resisted the surging fatigue with all his might, nearly depleting every last bit of energy to remain awake. Like gasping for air amidst drowning, he had grasped at straws before still slowly sinking into the darkness.
Therefore she understood that this time, it would be a very long wait before he awoke again.
“Don’t worry, I know,” she murmured at his face.
In such precarious political waters, others mustn’t know the Crown Prince remained unconscious.
Otherwise, someone might seize any chance to make trouble whenever possible.
The imperial carriage returned to the Eastern Palace, stopping near a side hall. Eunuch Gu stood by the entrance with several trusted attendants. When Jiang Kui parted the curtains, they immediately swarmed forth to support the comatose Xie Wuyan towards that hall.
Someone brought over a steaming hand-warmer while another delivered thick blankets. Yet someone else wrapped him in a fox-fur overcoat. Their actions were swift and skilled as he quietly reclined like a compliant mannequin.
Amidst the flurry, a memory from years ago suddenly assaulted her. Three years prior at Prince Wen’s autumn banquet, Jiang Kui had sat in a corner watching the youth who had accidentally spilled his wine jug – that had been Xie Wuyan. Back then she hadn’t recognized him, only recalling the chaotic attendants rushing to send the unconscious crown prince back to the Eastern Palace.
That very day, everyone present witnessed the crown prince collapse. Remaining unconscious for over ten days exposed the grave illness of the imperial heir apparent beyond possible concealment. Rumors swirled and the prince’s faction fell from grace after that.
With the removal of Prince Wen from office, the Southern Offices’ struggle against the Northern Office took a downward turn. Everything happened that year.
Had that been when Xie Wuyan first fell ill?
“Esteemed Consort,” Eunuch Gu bowed deeply at Jiang Kui. “I will take His Highness to soak in herbal medicine. When Master Bo Yang arrives, please receive him on His Highness’s behalf.”
“Of course,” Jiang Kui nodded.
By the time she reached the main hall, Ling Yang had already paced back and forth several laps. When Jiang Kui was about to bow, Ling waved for her to stop, anxiously asking, “Is Wuyan back? What is his current condition?”
Before Jiang Kui could even speak, Ling strode off towards the side hall demanding, “Bring him before me!” He didn’t even glance at her, only waving for her to follow.
This Minister of War and crown prince’s tutor didn’t seem to like Jiang Kui much. He would frequently visit to teach his student this past month, Xie Wuyan always bringing Jiang Kui along to meet him. He would glower fiercely, gazing at Jiang Kui very frigidly.
Jiang Kui was utterly baffled over offending him. Xie Wuyan could only explain that Master Bo Yang acted that way towards everyone.
Right then, after Jiang Kui finished recounting the ambush at the hunt, Ling’s eyes frosted over even more. He shoved open the hall doors ordering Eunuch Gu, “Bring him over!”
Eunuch Gu supported the unconscious Xie Wuyan out of the medicinal pool. Hair still dripping wet, clothes completely disheveled. Eunuch Gu draped an overcoat on him and propped up both shoulders to sit Xie Wuyan upright, head lolled forward with long lashes drooping. Droplets of herbal liquid clung amidst the strands.
Ling eyed his student and heaved a heavy sigh.
“I will channel energy to heal his injuries. Guard the doors lest anyone enters,” he commanded Jiang Kui as well without niceties before signaling them to stand at attention tightly shut.
Sitting cross-legged on the ebony floor, he deeply inhaled and exhaled. Both palms pushed forth emitting pure bright inner energy from his skin into Xie Wuyan’s back heart acupoint. Strand by strand it slowly suffused inside him, helping resist the chillWithin his meridians.
Xie Wuyan lightly coughed, traces of blood emerging from his lips.
After prolonged energy channeling, traces of fatigue showed on Ling’s face. He gradually withdrew his palms, leaving Jiang Kui and Eunuch Gu behind to care for Xie Wuyan while he himself went to another palace chamber to recuperate his own energy and breath.
After Eunuch Gu changed Xie Wuyan and settled him into bed to rest, he brought over a piping hot bowl of medicinal soup. He asked Jiang Kui sitting at the bedside, “Esteemed Consort, will you feed him the medicine?”
Jiang Kui froze momentarily.
Luo Shiyi had also asked her this when she was by Zhu Zi’an.
She had refused then. Yet now she suddenly didn’t want to refuse.
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll do it.”
Eunuch Gu propped Xie Wuyan up to sit. Jiang Kui gently blew the soup, spoonfeeding it bit by bit into Xie Wuyan’s mouth. Deep asleep without awareness, he still extremely obediently swallowed every mouthful. His actions were overly smooth as if having repeated this far too many times over the years.
Soon, his brows knitted together.
Jiang Kui halted, watching him.
That little frown was truly too familiar.
Zhu Zi’an had also frowned when eating medicine. She had only witnessed it once yet clearly remembered.
Eunuch Gu still awaited her feeding Xie Wuyan. She barely paused a split second before lifting the bowl to scoop another spoonful of soup.
She scrutinized Xie Wuyan’s face attentively, watching him unconscious with eyes sealed, slightly parted lips slowly swallowing as his Adam’s apple gently shifted. Then his frown only deepened further, nearly balling up as pain flickered through his brows.
Her heart quivered and she suddenly had an absurd guess.
After feeding Xie Wuyan his medicine, Jiang Kui sat at the table writing Zhu Zi’an a letter with brush poised over thin sheet of paperbark.
If…that vague yet bold conjecture was correct, she wouldn’t receive Zhu Zi’an’s reply before Xie Wuyan awakened.
Henceforth Jiang Kui bustled about the entire day. She had to hide Xie Wuyan’s comatose state while also organizing Eastern Palace affairs. She later even scaled the walls to leave word for Zhu Zi’an at their secret bookshop rendezvous. For a time she was too preoccupied to bother with anything else.
Thus she didn’t know Shen the Physician had come to the Eastern Palace that night with Luo Shiyi.
Shen’s expression was extremely grave after administering acupuncture to Xie Wuyan within the side hall. “After this bout, His Highness’s condition has drastically worsened…I’m afraid he will remain asleep for a while.”
“Around how long before he could wake?” Luo Shiyi softly asked.
“At least ten days, but at most…” Shen shook his head. “I can’t say for certain.”
“As long as he awakens in the end,” said Luo Shiyi very lightly.
Both imperceptibly shuddered…trying desperately not to envision the day he couldn’t wake again.
“What on earth happened this time?” Shen sharply interrogated Luo Shiyi. “His illness just relapsed at the beginning of last month. How could it act up again so soon this month?”
After Luo Shiyi recounted the ambush, he hung his head deeply. “It was my incompetence. His Highness originally only needed to wait safely in the carriage as planned. I failed to realize there were two waves of attackers and was unable to promptly rush to his side…”
“He shouldn’t have gotten involved with such danger to begin with!” Shen paced about furiously. “I’ve told him time and again yet he never listens! I told him to rest more and strain his mind less. He still busies himself with this matter and that from dawn to dusk every single day and night! I said his condition would continue worsening after autumn settled in so no roaming outside the palace walls or venturing out at night. Yet he persists in running all over the place daily. The frigid energy amidst the mountain wilds, how can his frail body possibly bear?”
“Ever since Young Master Jiang’s arrival though, His Highness’s condition has actually been improving all this while,” Luo Shiyi shook his head. “As for what he still strives to accomplish, no one can dissuade him.”
“If this keeps up,” Shen raged, “I fear he won’t even have a single year left!”
Both instantly grew taciturn after the outburst.
Shen seemed to regret voicing this, heavily pounding his chest as he furiously stamped about the hall. Luo Shiyi turned to gaze upon Xie Wuyan peacefully slumbering amidst the blankets. Strands still draped over his pallid face.
“Physician Shen,” Luo Shiyi murmured. “You understand as well. His Highness…no longer cares about his remaining days.”
Shen halted his steps with a long sigh.
Over ten days passed and Xie Wuyan still hadn’t stirred.
Yet Jiang Kui received Zhu Zi’an’s reply letter.
Mixed amidst the piles of letters addressed to the Eastern Palace, the thin sheets of paperbark were slipped in as always without fear of her missing them accidentally.
The front still held Zhu Zi’an’s messy scrawl. He would occasionally ask after her but mostly wrote about being “busy” or having “no free time”, hastily penned to an infuriating degree.
She would often coldly snort and flip to the back, slowly decoding the intricate glyphs and symbols about the mundane world’s latest situation – steadily escalating conflicts between the Beggars’ Sect and Gentlemen’s Circle, and murmurs of the imperial court soon intervening in martial world affairs.
Jiang Kui noticed nothing out of norms. She frequently sat by the sleeping Xie Wuyan, briefly scanning Zhu Zi’an’s letters before raising her eyes to gaze at Xie Wuyan’s face. He slumbered deeply and undisturbed, head tilted to expose his jawline.
This morning was no different. She tucked him in and he barely stirred. His ears that would ordinarily blush whenever she drew near now remained still and tranquil, fragile as if shattering upon a mere touch.
Xie Wuyan had persisted in this state for a long time now. Eunuch Gu would daily send him to soak in medicinal liquids while Master Bo Yang never failed to come channel energy into healing. Jiang Kui often spoonfed him medicine in the mornings then accompanied his bedside for a spell during evenings.
All these days he simply slept on without anyone knowing when he might awaken.
His deep steady breathing slowly dissolved that covert guess hidden in her heart.
She gave a self mocking laugh, mumbling to herself, “What am I even thinking?”
Outside, a head female attendant bowed before the doors respectfully announcing, “Esteemed Consort, there is movement on that end now.”
“Very well,” Jiang Kui rose, casually tucking the stack of letters amidst the covers as she did.
Ever since Xie Wuyan lost consciousness, she busied herself with concealing his condition while also closely tracking the two dubious eunuchs who had stalked her on her wedding night – seeming to gain clues recently.
Within the Eastern Palace she spread conflicting rumors, shrouding the crown prince’s seclusion in mystery, neither true nor false with vague suggestions here and there – like bait tempting restless fish to bite hooks.
And now ten odd days later, those two eunuchs finally made a move.
One eunuch was highly skilled so having others monitor him risked exposure. Jiang Kui decided to personally keep watch. Breath bated in the shadows, she tailed the pair through the convoluted Eastern Palace until finally arriving at the Imperial Pharmacy Bureau.
The Imperial Pharmacy Bureau oversaw medicines. According to regulations, if the crown prince fell ill, the attending physician would be summoned to diagnose and prescribe a formula. Necessary medicinal ingredients would generally be crushed and sifted by medicine attendants before the physician-in-waiting decocted the formal prescription to present within the palace chambers. Xie Wuyan’s perpetual frailty required daily doses of medicine prepared and delivered from this very location.
After carefully checking for any observers, the two eunuchs quietly slipped in the Bureau’s side door right before the bubbling medicine cauldron. From their sleeves they retrieved a small packet of powder poured entirely into the boiling concoction.
Exchanging a mutual look, they promptly exited.
Amidst gurgling liquid, Xie Wuyan opened his eyes.
“How long have I slept?” he softly asked, voice somewhat hoarse.
The separate hall was still thick with lingering herbal steam. Beyond the bamboo partitions a white-robed attendant knelt. Noticing the stirrings, his eyes flickered before bending forth in a long bow. “Fifteen days…Your Highness, you’ve finally awakened.”
“Is that so?” Xie Wuyan murmured. “Truly lengthy.”
He felt as if plunged into endless pitch black, drifting through unknown oblivion for an ageless eternity. Upon waking immersed chest-deep in heated water, for an instant he nearly lost all awareness of himself.
Luo Shiyi entered beyond the screen. Supporting Xie Wuyan from the pool to blanketed floor, he draped a black fox cloak about his shoulders before turning to collect the wooden tray left on a stand – slowly spoonfeeding the steaming tea to Xie Wuyan.
Xie Wuyan coughed hoarsely, gradually finishing the drink. Just roused, he was extremely weak without much strength. Exhausted, he shut his eyes bundled in the warm cloak, leaning sideways against the wall too frail to even grip the cup on his own.
After downing the scalding tea, he laboriously opened his eyes again staring blankly at the brazier in his lap for a long quiet spell, seemingly lost in thoughts.
“Your Highness…” Luo Shiyi tentatively asked. “How much do you still remember?”
“Why so worried?” Xie Wuyan glanced his way, soundlessly chuckling once. “I remember everything. Just thinking things over.”
After a lengthy pause he finally asked, “What is she doing?”
“Young Master Jiang comes daily to attend you,” Luo Shiyi knew exactly who he spoke of. “These last days she has been investigating suspicious Eastern Palace figures, seeming to gain some leads.”
“Were all the letters I prepared before falling asleep delivered out successfully?”
“Every last one sent per your prior instructions, Your Highness,” Luo Shiyi swiftly reported. “The visible content holds the calligraphy you left behind earlier. Concealed on reverse sides are honorable sir Qing He’s proxy scribing. Young Master Jiang noticed nothing amiss.”
“Good,” Xie Wuyan faintly nodded. “Continue this way if I fall unconscious again in the future.”
He briefly shut his eyes before adding, “When I’m gone one day…”
“Your Highness—” Luo Shiyi cut him off, unable to bear hearing the rest.
“After so many years, even I am no longer afraid. What is there for you to fear?” Xie Wuyan sighed without continuing his previous thread.
Luo Shiyi lowered his head in silence. Seeing how he shut his eyes again for a spell, gradually gathering enough strength to cradle the brazier, he finally softly gave his report: “Your Highness, during your slumber…the mundane world saw some incidents.”
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