Chapter 383: Consort Yin Infected with the Gu Worm
All the ministers withdrew.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation returned to silence.
Consort Yun heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Yun Chu had reminded her to unite all the imperial consorts who had borne princes.
At the time, she had worried that these consorts might betray them.
But Yun Chu had said that as mothers, their children came first.
If the Emperor were to pass away, the princes would suffer the most.
After all, what mother would risk her own child’s safety?
The Seventh Prince, holding the hands of the Ninth and Tenth Princes, said, "Ah Jiu, Ah Shi, Father is resting. Let’s not visit him today. Come, let’s go play in the imperial garden."
The Tenth Prince said in a childish voice, "But I haven’t seen Father in so long."
"Shh." Chu Hongyu made a silencing gesture. "If the ministers ask, you must say you just saw Grandfather. Don’t let the secret slip."
The Tenth Prince immediately covered his mouth, shaking his head. "I’ll listen, I’ll be good, I won’t slip up!"
The Ninth Prince patted his chest. "Father praised me earlier. You all saw it, right?"
"Yes, I saw it," Chu Changsheng said with a smile. "Let’s go, off to the imperial garden!"
Meng Shen and the Seventh Prince led the group of children toward the imperial garden.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shu Fei continued to feed medicine to the Emperor.
At the side of the hall, Grand Tutor Xu sat reviewing memorials. As a high-ranking official who had served in the court for half his life, he could make decisions on some major matters.
However, more significant issues—such as opening the national treasury, receiving foreign envoys, or deploying additional troops to the border—were beyond a minister’s authority and had to be postponed for the time being.
Yun Chu calculated the time.
Only two days remained. Once Shu Fei administered the final two doses of medicine, the Emperor would truly awaken, and Chu Rui would no longer pose a threat.
Seeing that the Hall of Mental Cultivation was temporarily stable, she made her way back to the Eastern Palace.
As soon as she entered, she saw Consort Yin holding Jue Ge’er and playing with him. Noticing Yun Chu’s arrival, Consort Yin handed the child to the wet nurse and stood up. "Qinghua will arrive in a quarter of an hour. Come with me to welcome her."
She knew that because of the maid Ding Dong, a rift had formed between Qinghua and Yun Chu.
One was her biological daughter, the other her daughter-in-law—both were dear to her. She hoped the two could get along better.
That was why she specifically suggested bringing Yun Chu along to greet Qinghua.
Yun Chu nodded.
By reason and sentiment, she ought to personally welcome her.
The two walked to the palace gate just as Qinghua stepped down from her carriage.
"Second Sister," Yun Chu greeted cheerfully. "You must be tired from the long journey. I’ve arranged lunch at the Eastern Palace. Please join us."
Qinghua was indeed weary but replied after a moment’s thought, "I’m truly worried about Father. Let me pay my respects to him first."
"This…" Consort Yin glanced at Yun Chu. "Chu’er, what do you think?"
Yun Chu’s smile remained unchanged. "Then let’s go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Qinghua had traveled all the way from Pingliang Prefecture to the capital to visit the ailing Emperor. There was no reason to stop her.
Moreover, Chu Rui had likely already guessed that the Emperor was unconscious but lacked proof.
Even young princes like the Ninth and Tenth knew the secret, so there was no need to hide it from Qinghua.
After all, only two days remained.
The group headed toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As they reached the long palace corridor, a young eunuch hurried over to report, "Crown Princess, it’s terrible! Prince Yu and the Ninth Prince have started fighting!""What?" Yun Chu frowned. "What do you mean they started fighting?"
Yu Ge'er was about the same age as the Ninth Prince, and the two got along exceptionally well. Though technically uncle and nephew, they interacted more like brothers. How could they have come to blows?
"Chu'er, you should go check on them quickly," Consort Yin urged anxiously. "When these children get into fights, they don't know their own strength. It would be terrible if someone got hurt and things escalated."
Yun Chu followed the young eunuch toward the imperial garden.
Meanwhile, Consort Yin headed for the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Qinghua. Before they could reach the hall, they encountered Su Ziyue along the way.
"Consort Yin, Princess Qinghua." Su Ziyue curtsied in greeting. "I just came from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The attendants said His Majesty just fell asleep. There's no need for you to make the trip in vain."
"No matter," Consort Yin replied with a smile. "Qinghua has come all this way - she must pay her respects regardless. Take care, Princess Consort Zhuang."
As Su Ziyue passed by Consort Yin, she suddenly stopped.
"Oh? It seems some of your lip color has stained your teeth, Your Highness."
She reached out with a handkerchief in hand, moving to wipe Consort Yin's lips.
Consort Yin immediately felt uncomfortable.
Just as she meant to avoid the gesture, she suddenly felt a tingling numbness on her lips. Something crawled from the corner of her mouth inside, then flowed over her tongue and down her throat.
Her eyes widened abruptly, and she clutched at her own neck.
"Mother!" Qinghua rushed forward in one swift movement, shoving Su Ziyue aside to check on Consort Yin. Seeing her mother desperately clutching her own throat, she glared furiously at Su Ziyue. "What did you do to my mother?"
Su Ziyue's youthful face was full of innocence. "I didn't do anything. See? Consort Yin is perfectly fine now."
Qinghua turned back and saw that Consort Yin had indeed returned to normal, as if the strange episode she had witnessed was merely an illusion.
She wanted to say more, but Consort Yin had already stepped into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Qinghua had no choice but to follow her inside.
The hall was heavily guarded with Imperial Guards stationed every three steps, creating an exceptionally stern atmosphere. A palace maid was brewing medicine, and the unpleasant odor of herbs permeated the Hall of Mental Cultivation, making one somewhat uncomfortable.
"Greetings to Consort Yin! Greetings to Princess Qinghua!"
The servants at the entrance paid their respects in unison.
Consort Yin pushed open the chamber door and entered.
Qinghua was astonished.
They could just enter His Majesty's chambers without even being announced?
Suppressing her confusion, she followed Consort Yin inside.
She didn't see the Emperor, only noticing that the dragon bed was surrounded by heavy curtains that blocked all view.
"Sister Yin." Consort Shu, who had been sitting by the dragon bed, stood up to greet them. "Has Princess Qinghua come to pay respects to His Majesty? I'm afraid he just fell asleep."
"Would you be so kind as to bring a bowl of medicine?" Consort Yin said calmly. "Qinghua wishes to personally feed His Majesty his medicine and fulfill her filial duties."
Qinghua frowned.
She didn't recall saying she wanted to feed her father medicine.
But since her mother wanted her to do so, she would comply.
Before long, Consort Shu returned with a bowl of medicine.
Consort Yin took it from her first, stirring it with a spoon as she spoke: "Draw back the curtains."
Consort Shu stepped forward and pulled back the heavy curtains layer by layer, hooking them to the side.
"Father..."
Qinghua's voice trembled uncontrollably when she saw the person on the dragon bed.
Was this still her father? How... how had he become so emaciated? Where was the imposing aura and dignity that befit the Son of Heaven?Although her father did not favor her as a daughter, how could she not love her father?
Like every child, she longed for her father's affection.
She also wished for her father to live a long life.
"Father, what is happening?"
Qinghua's tears fell.
She had already sensed that something was terribly wrong.
With such commotion in the hall, why was there no sign of her father waking?
Yin Fei handed over the medicine she had been stirring for a long time: "First, feed your father this medicine."
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