Chapter 152 - 132: It Feels Like NTR
The news that Hui Pin, while attending the sick, had managed to get herself demoted from a concubine to a Noble Lady spread through the harem like wildfire.
Everyone sighed with trepidation, terrified they would be the next to be called in to fill the spot.
Although Weiyang Palace was sealed off, it wasn’t completely cut off from the outside world. However, the flow of information was firmly controlled by the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Once the Empress Dowager learned that Jiang Xian had everything in Weiyang Palace running in perfect order, she decided against sending anyone else in.
Sending in another of the Concubines would risk a repeat of the scramble for credit, only adding to the chaos.
...
Xie Che’s bout of unconsciousness lasted another two days.
When he opened his eyes this time, he was greeted by the rare sight of Song Yuanzheng himself taking his pulse. Seeing the Emperor awake, the Imperial Physician was overjoyed. "Your Majesty’s pulse has finally stabilized, and the scabies are beginning to recede! These are signs of recovery!"
But Xie Che, who had been sleeping so soundly he was dead to the world, blurted out:
"I fainted because I was exhausted. It has nothing to do with Gu Pin."
Song Yuanzheng froze. Hearing Gu Pin’s name followed by such a random statement, he assumed the Emperor’s first thought upon waking was for her. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, Lady Gu has been personally attending to you all these days. She has prepared and supervised all your meals and medicinal broths herself. She must be outside watching the stove right now. Normally, she never leaves this room."
Xie Che fell silent, only slowly coming to his senses after a moment.
’Whenever the Emperor so much as gets a headache, those around him suffer for it.’ He remembered fainting out of anger, yet he subconsciously didn’t want her to be punished because of it.
As the high fever subsided, his reason returned.
Xie Che asked, "How long was I asleep?"
After examining the Emperor and confirming he was out of danger and his condition was steadily improving, Song Yuanzheng reported back, his voice thick with emotion. The continuous high fevers and periods of unconsciousness had all been terrible omens to the Imperial Physicians. ’What if the prolonged fever turns the Emperor into an imbecile... Never mind how the throne would be secured, our heads certainly wouldn’t be.’
The Imperial Physicians had been terrified. Thinking of their wives and children, their fear and despair were so great that some lost their appetite by day and vomited at night.
Now that the weight was lifted, Doctor Song knelt as he replied, his eyes welling with tears.
Xie Che said in a hoarse voice,
"Gu Pin has worked hard these past few days. Go and give her a wellness check."
As long as the Emperor was unwell, all of Weiyang Palace’s medical resources had to be focused on him. To spare even a moment to diagnose someone else would be a sign of improper priorities. He was worried Jiang Xian might be ill without realizing it, which made him particularly insistent.
Just then, having received the joyous news that the Emperor was awake, Gu Pin entered carrying hot porridge and ginseng soup.
Song Yuanzheng had intended to check Jiang Xian’s pulse only after he was finished attending to the Emperor.
But the Emperor was staring at him intently from the side, a look on his face that said the matter wasn’t settled until her pulse was taken. Song Yuanzheng had no choice but to say, "Your Ladyship, if you would be so kind as to put down the porridge, please allow this servant to take your pulse."
Jiang Xian set down the porridge and offered her wrist.
Song Yuanzheng took her pulse for a moment, his brow knitting slightly as a look of confusion crossed his face.
As he lifted his head and his eyes met Jiang Xian’s, he heard her say, "The Emperor has only just begun to recover; we can’t say he is fully healed. He should not be subjected to great joy or sorrow. It’s best he lie back down."
Song Yuanzheng, who had just faintly detected a pregnancy pulse, felt a jolt.
’She’s right,’ he thought. ’This would be the Emperor’s first heir, and from Lady Gu no less. What if he faints from sheer ecstasy upon hearing the news...’ He steadied himself and decided to avoid mentioning the pregnancy pulse. "Your Ladyship’s pulse is steady, and your constitution has always been strong. There are no signs of fever, merely some exhaustion from overwork."
’Based on the pulse, she must be just over a month along. The signs are faint; only an Imperial Physician as experienced as I am could confirm the pregnancy. To act out of consideration for the sovereign can’t be considered deliberate concealment.’
Hearing the Imperial Physician say Gu Pin was fine, Xie Che finally relaxed a bit. "My fever has broken, so I should be fully recovered soon. Gu Pin, you go get some proper rest! Liang Yuyin, bring me the memorials that have piled up. I’ll review them while I eat."
He didn’t even want to imagine how much official business had accumulated during his illness. He could only start tackling it slowly.
As the Emperor awoke and his condition turned from critical to stable, the entire Weiyang Palace seemed to come back to life.
Although the Palace Attendants moving about didn’t dare to chat and laugh casually, smiles graced their faces. They were happy for the Emperor and relieved that their own necks were safe. ’Life certainly hasn’t been easy!’
One of the only two miserable people was Consort Zhang, still isolated in Weiyang Palace.
’Because in all these days, hardly any of the Palace Attendants had been infected!’
’If only I’d known this illness wasn’t so contagious, I would have gone to serve before the Emperor myself! Why did I have to end up in this state?’ She couldn’t help but fantasize: if she and Gu Pin had split the duty of serving the Emperor, and her aunt had fanned the flames over her merits, couldn’t she have been promoted to concubine, or even to Rong Hua?
The other miserable person, however, was Gu Pin—the very one everyone assumed should be the happiest.
The Emperor had ordered the overworked Gu Pin to get plenty of rest.
He wouldn’t even let Gu Pin stay in a different room. Ignoring all rules and decorum, he had a bed moved into his own bedchamber and placed it off to one side. He forbade Jiang Xian from doing any work whatsoever, permitting her only to rest.
’Attend to him? Unnecessary, there are eunuchs.’
’Help him with his memorials? No, he can manage on his own.’
’The affairs of Weiyang Palace? As long as Liang Yuyin isn’t dead, he can handle them. How could Gu Pin be burdened with such things?’
’Read a book? He’ll summon a literate palace maid to read to her, but not for too long, as thinking is also strenuous.’
To make matters worse, he himself was flying through stacks of memorials, his brush never leaving his hand even while taking his medicine or meals. In recent days, the memorials returned to the ministers all carried the faint scent of herbs.
’Forcing a King Juan to do nothing but lie around, able only to watch others work... The agony... is indescribable!’
The Emperor, surprisingly, never again mentioned what had happened that day when he was delirious with fever.
Xie Che couldn’t bring himself to mention it. ’It was just too embarrassing.’
Besides, with pressing matters at court, there were always things more important than romance demanding his attention. So he shelved the issue for the time being, but he became even clingier with Gu Pin. ’Since I’m not sure what she’s thinking, keeping her by my side can’t be a mistake.’
After three days of "recuperation," Jiang Xian finally couldn’t bear it any longer. "Your Majesty," she declared, "if you mean to kill me or torture me, just say so. But tying me down here and not letting me do anything... it’s agonizing!"
Hearing this, Xie Che put down his brush. "What are you talking about? I’m just worried you’ll tire yourself out. If you’re bored, you can summon Xia Zhu to give you a massage, or have someone bring you fruit and snacks. If that’s not enough, I can call in a couple of comedians from among the Palace Attendants to entertain you."
Although he was still annoyed with Gu Pin, Xie Che had never once thought of tormenting the woman he liked. You can’t cultivate a twisted heart by surrounding it with happiness and luxury.
He was offering Gu Pin a life fit for a goddess—eating well, sleeping well, and even being entertained.
But Jiang Xian refused. "I only wish to help Your Majesty with your burdens."
Seeing Jiang Xian’s eyes fixed on his memorials, Xie Che was both exasperated and amused. "How strange. If this were anyone else, I’d assume they were trying to pry into court affairs for their family. But your father’s rank is so low, any information you gathered would be useless. Fine. Come here."
The Emperor had relented. Jiang Xian was thrilled and immediately used a Prenatal Education Pill.
’Little one, time to wake up and watch your daddy go through his paperwork!’