Chapter Sixty-Three: The Dragon’s Body Is Unharmed

Seeing how much his master valued Empress Guo, and having been told to treat all information regarding her as “top-level intelligence,” Wei Xiaobao immediately took it seriously. He knelt down at once and said, “Your humble servant obeys! I will see to it at once! Is there anything else Your Highness wishes to instruct me?”

Zhu Hao pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then waved his hand, indicating that he had nothing further to say and that Wei Xiaobao should leave. Wei Xiaobao respectfully kowtowed to Zhu Hao before departing the prince’s private chambers.

Only Zhu Hao remained in the room. Seated on a chair, he could not help but feel a creeping sense of dread. Inwardly, he thought, “If that old witch’s poisonous scheme had really succeeded, I would have regretted it bitterly. Not to mention that I carry the system’s task to protect my mother, and this concerns whether Xiao Ling will ever awaken. Besides, in this month since I crossed over to this world, living with this woman who is now my mother, her genuine care and meticulous concern have moved me; I have already come to see her as my true mother. I absolutely cannot let anything happen to her.” As he thought this, Zhu Hao clenched his fingers tightly, so hard that his knuckles turned white.

While Zhu Hao paced anxiously in his own quarters, the Qianqing Palace was in even greater chaos. Emperor Zhu Changluo woke and fainted repeatedly; imperial physicians came and went in a dizzying succession, yet none could offer a definitive cure. Witnessing this, Empress Guo furiously berated the physicians, declaring that should anything happen to the emperor, they would all be buried with him. Though Emperor Yingzong had abolished the Ming dynasty’s burial-with-the-dead custom, there had always been exceptions through the ages. Empress Guo was not merely threatening; her anger was genuine.

During this ordeal, Empress Guo glared several times at Consort Dowager Zheng, who sat serenely on high. Consort Dowager Zheng merely smiled in return. No words were exchanged between the two women. But seeing Zheng’s composed demeanor, Guo felt somewhat reassured; she did not believe Zheng would dare break their agreement outright and claim Zhu Changluo’s life.

Restless, Empress Guo walked to the doors of the Qianqing Palace, gazing at the sky heavy with black clouds. She turned to look once more at the still-unconscious emperor. In her heart, she felt a mixture of regret, perhaps a slight sense of satisfaction, and even a sliver of unease. She could not quite tell what she felt. With a soft sigh, she mused, “Was I right or wrong to do all this? I should hate this faithless man with all my being—hate him for his betrayal, for abolishing the crown prince and empress without cause, for doting on that contemptible Consort Liu, for spoiling Liu’s bastard son, for ignoring me these past years, for everything. Yet now, seeing him lying there so quietly, unable to curse me, unable to depose the prince or empress, why do I feel no joy at all? Why does my heart ache for him? Is it possible I still harbor hopes for this heartless man?”

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Empress Guo suddenly cried out inwardly, “No! I shall never again harbor illusions about him! I hate him! I wish he would die this instant! Even if he died right now, I would not shed a single tear! He brought all this upon himself! I did not wish to be so ruthless, but it was he who first discarded our more than twenty years of marriage. None of this is my fault!”

Just as Empress Guo was screaming silently within, a faint voice broke the stillness of the Qianqing Palace: “Water, water, I… need water! Cough, cough—”

Zhu Changluo had awakened once more. The waiting eunuch quickly poured a cup of water and held it to the emperor’s lips. Zhu Changluo had barely taken two sips when he was seized by a violent coughing fit, frightening the eunuch so much that he fell to his knees and dared not move.

After the fit passed, a trace of color returned to Zhu Changluo’s pale face, and he was able to speak in full sentences. Glancing around at Consort Dowager Zheng and Empress Guo, he asked in surprise, “Empress, why are you here?” The implication being: Had I not confined you? How did you get out?

At his words, Empress Guo instantly knelt by the dragon couch, tears brimming in her eyes. Choking with emotion, she said, “Your Majesty, upon hearing of your illness, I was tormented with worry and begged Consort Dowager Zheng to allow me to tend you, that I might fulfill my duty as a wife and repay your years of kindness. Her Ladyship, moved by my sincerity, pardoned me from Kunning Palace so I could attend Your Majesty. If my presence displeases Your Majesty, I will return at once to Kunning Palace to continue my reflection and pray for your speedy recovery and good health.”

Empress Guo finished speaking and turned to leave the palace. Zhu Changluo, seeing this, waved his hand and said, “Since you are here, you may as well stay. We have been husband and wife for many years. I know I have wronged you, but you too have your faults. I don’t wish to say more today. Since you are willing to honor our bond, you may remain and care for me. Let us speak of everything else when I am well.”

Was Empress Guo truly about to leave? Of course not; it was all for show. Even if Zhu Changluo hadn’t spoken, she would have found some excuse to remain. She could not rest easy leaving Consort Dowager Zheng alone to tend the emperor. Since the incident when Zhu Hao shot the Minister of Rites, Cui Shi, and Consort Zheng had tricked her, Guo could no longer bring herself to trust her ally.

With matters settled between Zhu Changluo and Empress Guo, the emperor turned to Consort Dowager Zheng. “Consort Dowager, my health has failed me. I must trouble you with so much.”

Consort Dowager Zheng smiled at Zhu Changluo, her kindly face belying the venom within. She waved a hand and replied, “You are too polite, Your Majesty. Though you are not my son, you are the late emperor’s heir. As your elder, it is only right that I look after you. Besides, you are in your prime; don’t let your mind wander to dark places or utter such dispiriting words. Focus on your recovery—the empire’s future still depends on you. For now, leave the affairs of state to the cabinet and courtiers; your chief task is to regain your health.”

Zhu Changluo nodded. “I am in your hands, Consort Dowager.”

After waking, Zhu Changluo ate a little porridge, then lay down to rest. The imperial physicians once again took turns feeling his pulse, concluding that he was on the mend and would recover with some convalescence.

This news left the two women in charge of Qianqing Palace each with mixed feelings, joy and worry warring in their hearts.

When Zhu Hao, in his own quarters, heard that his father had awakened and eaten a little, his anxiety lifted considerably. Having eaten nothing all day, he now dined and, in his good mood, invited Wei Xiaobao to join him. This left Wei Xiaobao both flattered and nervous, and he accompanied Zhu Hao gingerly for supper, then hurried off, claiming he needed to keep watch over Qianqing Palace.

Hearing Wei Xiaobao’s clumsy excuse and watching him scurry away, Zhu Hao felt both exasperated and amused. He mused, “It seems my father’s illness has made me so moody that even Wei Xiaobao is afraid of me!”

While Wei Xiaobao reported back to Zhu Hao, in an obscure corner of Qianqing Palace, Consort Dowager Zheng was glaring furiously at the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies, Cui Wensheng. In a cold voice, she demanded, “Cui Wensheng, how dare you! Has your office gone to your head that you now ignore my summons? Don’t forget how you got your position! I raised you up, and I can just as easily tear you down!”

At her words, Cui Wensheng instantly dropped to his knees, all the swagger of the chief eunuch who had barred Zhu Hao and his mother from the palace vanishing. Now he was nothing but a frightened, cringing lackey. Panic and grievance written all over his face, he pleaded, “Your Ladyship, what are you saying? Everything I have is thanks to you! Without you, I am nothing. I wouldn’t dare acknowledge my own mother over you! I swear absolute loyalty to Your Ladyship!”

Consort Dowager Zheng snorted. “Enough with the sweet talk. Tell me—why did the emperor suddenly wake up? Why do the physicians say he’ll recover? Don’t you owe me an explanation?”

Cui Wensheng hurried to reply, “I truly don’t know! I did exactly as you instructed; every day, the emperor’s ginseng tea contained the medicine you gave me. As for why he woke and is unharmed, I genuinely have no idea. Please believe me—I have no disloyalty toward you!”

It turned out Zhu Changluo’s collapse had been orchestrated by Consort Dowager Zheng, with Cui Wensheng administering the poison. This was the very plan Consort Dowager Zheng had once discussed with Empress Guo. She had never imagined, however, that Zhu Changluo’s fate would prove so tenacious, and the poison would not take his life.

Consort Dowager Zheng stared coldly at Cui Wensheng for a long moment before finally choosing to believe him. With an icy snort, she said, “Stand up. I will trust you this once more. If you make another mistake, I will make you regret it for life!”

Cui Wensheng knocked his head on the floor repeatedly, swearing, “I will serve you with all my heart and carry out every task you assign—please, Your Ladyship, rest assured!”

Consort Dowager Zheng nodded in satisfaction. “Rise, and come closer.”

At her command, Cui Wensheng stood and cautiously leaned in, and Consort Dowager Zheng whispered a few words in his ear.