Chapter 146 - 126: Sleeping With Me Shortens His Lifespan?
Upon arriving at Changle Palace, Jiang Xian was not immediately welcomed inside.
The nanny had her wait for a moment in the outer chamber.
She heard a commotion from inside and faintly made out the sound of crying, though it was muffled.
’This concerns me, and it’s something the Empress Dowager is deliberately keeping from me. I absolutely have to hear it.’
Jiang Xian opened the System Mall and selected an item that enhanced her hearing.
[Name]: Sharp-Hearing Ear
[Type]: Single-Use Consumable
[Function]: For thirty minutes after use, the host’s listening range will be increased by three hundred percent.
[Note]: Use before bed may lead to insomnia. Please consider carefully.
After equipping the [Sharp-Hearing Ear], the sounds from the inner hall instantly became clear.
The first thing she heard was the sound of a young woman’s sobs.
Next, she heard someone pick up a bottle, pour out some liquid, and rub it on skin. An older voice advised, "Hui Pin, the Empress Dowager is already deeply distressed over the Emperor’s illness. Can’t you be more considerate of her?"
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes as the nanny rubbed peppermint and camphor oil into her palms and gently massaged her temples.
Hui Pin’s tone grew agitated. "I’m only a concubine of pin rank! Since Gu Pin has already been chosen, the other person should be Ronghua Wan Yi, yet you named me, Aunt... Aunt, I’m only twenty-one!"
Tears streamed down her face as she addressed the Empress Dowager with such casualness.
"At twenty-one, you’re no longer a child."
The Empress Dowager’s voice was grave. "My decision on this matter is final. You keep saying that I, your aunt, have no pity for you. But since entering the palace, you have failed to win the Emperor’s favor. If you weren’t my niece, how could you possibly hold the rank of a concubine? Sending you to attend to his sickbed is an honor! If you happen to fall ill in Weiyang Palace, I will ensure the Imperial Physicians treat you. There is no need to be this terrified."
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s resolute words, Hui Pin’s heart was filled with a mix of panic and terror.
’If I die from this illness while attending him, my family can just send another girl of the right age to the palace. Perhaps... that would even be what Aunt wants, since I’ve never been able to win the Emperor’s favor.’ Thinking this, she crawled on her knees to the Empress Dowager and pleaded desperately.
But the Empress Dowager’s mind was made up; there was no room for discussion.
In the Empress Dowager’s view, the Emperor was very young and had always been robust. This illness was merely temporary. Hui Pin was also in good health; this was a prime opportunity to earn merit. In the future, the Emperor would look upon her more favorably. Of course, there were risks, but how could one attain glory and wealth without taking any? If the Emperor were to pass away and the throne fell to another line, they would all be finished. Today, Hui Pin was representing the Empress Dowager’s maternal clan in attending the sick. She could not back down. Even if she were to die, she would die in Weiyang Palace.
Seeing this, Hui Pin could do nothing but dab at her tears with a handkerchief.
After a while, the Empress Dowager finally summoned Jiang Xian inside.
Hui Pin was the Empress Dowager’s chosen candidate, but Gu Pin was not. Even now, the Empress Dowager was hesitant. After all, this was the girl who had saved her life. If the court hadn’t been in such an uproar at the Lu Family’s instigation, she would not have wanted to send Gu Pin to knock on the door of Yama Hall. "The Emperor’s health is poor, and my heart is heavy with worry. I summoned you to have a chat."
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xian took a step forward and knelt down ramrod straight.
’What is she doing?’
’Is she going to cry and beg me for mercy, just like Hui Pin?’
’Why are none of these concubines willing to take a risk for my son?’
The Empress Dowager’s grip on her Buddha Beads tightened until they clicked together. Although she had already intended to spare Gu Pin, seeing her act this way still made her heart ache for her son.
Just then, she heard Gu Pin say in a clear voice:
"I humbly volunteer to go to Weiyang Palace and attend to the Emperor’s sickbed!"
※
Everyone in Changle Palace was stunned.
With the Empress Dowager’s experience, she quickly understood Gu Pin’s reasoning—Gu Pin was of humble birth, and the immense favor she received had earned her the jealousy of countless people in the harem. Once the Emperor was gone, it would be her time of reckoning. Her only chance was to go in, attend to his sickbed with all her heart, and fight for a slim chance of survival.
But there was more than just cold calculation at play.
The Empress Dowager could clearly see that Gu Pin genuinely wanted to go.
And she was truly without fear or regret.
It made sense. Since she entered the palace, the Emperor had treated her generously. Back at Jingxin Temple, she had been willing to jump out and block a sword for her beloved’s mother. It was only natural that today she would disregard life and death to enter Weiyang Palace and attend his sickbed.
Thinking this, she realized she had been judging a noble heart with a petty mind.
"Good. Since you have this resolve, I will grant your wish."
The Empress Dowager signaled to the nanny with a glance to help the kneeling Gu Pin to her feet.
Beside them, Hui Pin’s lips moved, but in the end, her face pale, she couldn’t say a word.
※
When they learned that the Empress Dowager had chosen Hui Pin and Gu Pin to attend the Emperor in Weiyang Palace, while the Empress was to oversee the harem, the other concubines nearly split their sides laughing.
They didn’t pay much mind to Hui Pin; she was just a pawn for the Empress Dowager’s family to gain merit. Who didn’t know that Hui Pin was the harem’s "disgrace of the over-promoted"? The Empress Dowager probably saw she was a lost cause and decided to make a desperate gamble.
Gu Pin, on the other hand, was in a terrible position.
As expected, having no powerful family to back you up was truly fatal at a critical moment.
The Empress had intended to plead Gu Pin’s case, but gave up the idea after learning it was Gu Pin’s own wish.
※
Because they had to wait for Hui Pin to calm down, Jiang Xian ended up having lunch with the Empress Dowager in Changle Palace before setting off for Weiyang Palace.
Before boarding the palanquin, a thought occurred to Jiang Xian. ’System, didn’t you say the Emperor could live to be over ninety? Does that mean he’s certain to get through this crisis safely?’
System: "That lifespan was calculated on the premise that the host would not enter the Emperor’s notice and would not affect his life. The host has already completed the mission to attend the bedchamber ahead of schedule and has greatly influenced the Emperor’s life. His lifespan may also be affected."
Jiang Xian: ’Sleeping with me shortens his life?’
System: "The possibility of extending his life also exists."
Jiang Xian decided the system was just blowing smoke.
On the way to Weiyang Palace, Hui Pin remained pale and seemed to be in a daze.
’She repeatedly wanted to ask Gu Pin if she wasn’t scared at all. But with so many eyes and ears around, she didn’t dare to speak. Besides, she thought, the Emperor treated Gu Pin so well, it was only natural for her to attend to him. She, on the other hand, had never been favored. Compared to the Emperor, she cared more about her own life... but her cruel aunt just didn’t understand.’
Jiang Xian, however, had nothing to say to her. The whole way, she was focused on browsing the System Mall, searching for useful items.
’The protective medicines in the Mall were all for the host and the host’s offspring. The system doesn’t seem to care much about the Emperor’s life or death. After all, from the system’s perspective, the emperor in a palace drama could be replaced at any time. A fight in the harem is a fight in the harem, no matter whose it is, right?’
Items for cooling and disinfecting had to be requisitioned from other systems.
She planned to use the odorless disinfectant to force-feed the Noble Consort.
’The cooling patches were for me to create an "icy-skinned, ethereal fairy" persona. As for why I’m preparing to stick them on the Emperor? Well, who’s to say he isn’t an ethereal fairy boy himself?’
Halfway through browsing the Mall, Jiang Xian casually pulled up her own status page.
[Querying Host Status—
Rank: Concubine
Privileges: Rong Hua
Heirs: 0
Punishments: Forced kneeling, copying texts (108 forms of cruel torture not yet unlocked)
Status: Pregnant (3 weeks)
System Evaluation: Has reached the rank of Noble Lady, closely watched by the Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager, Noble Consort, and Consort Xian. A promising future awaits. Feared by high-ranking court officials, with the makings of a nation-toppling Evil Concubine.]
"..."
Jiang Xian stared at the word "Pregnant," her smile freezing on her face.