Chapter 461: Chutang
Lian Zhou froze.
"Forget it?"
’The assassination attempt by the Southern Hu Blade Man is a grave matter. Even His Majesty considers it extremely important. And at this critical juncture, his master isn’t planning to pursue it?’
But when he looked up, he saw Shen Yanchuan’s expression was cold and detached, as if he paid the matter no mind.
Knowing his master’s mind was made up, Lian Zhou swallowed his words and lowered his head in assent.
"I understand!"
’His master must have his reasons for doing this.’
Lian Zhou took his leave, but just as he turned to go, Shen Yanchuan suddenly stopped him.
"Wait."
Lian Zhou turned back. "Do you have further orders, Master?"
Shen Yanchuan asked, "Ye Yunfeng left with Feng Zhang?"
Lian Zhou’s response was immediate. "Yes. They’ve gone to Xia City."
Shen Yanchuan lowered his gaze, looking thoughtful.
Lian Zhou was quite perplexed.
’I don’t know what Second Miss Ye is thinking, truly having the heart to send her own brother to suffer in such a harsh, cold place. Xia City is a strategic border fortress embroiled in constant warfare where countless soldiers have perished. And he’s only thirteen...’
He couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his master, muttering to himself, ’Even if she wants him to earn military merits, wouldn’t the north or the Southwest be a better choice than Xia City?’
’In the north, there’s Duke Dingbei, and in the Southwest, there’s King Yan Nan.’
’As long as she wished it, wouldn’t Ye Yunfeng be safer in either of those places than in Xia City?’
’Yet she chose—’
Shen Yanchuan was silent for a long while before letting out a soft laugh.
"That temperament... It’s so similar... Let him be."
Lian Zhou asked uncertainly, "Master, should we not have our men continue to follow him?"
’Swords and blades have no eyes on the battlefield. What if...’
Shen Yanchuan shook his head.
’Ye Yunfeng might be acting on impulse, but Ye Chutang isn’t.’
’Since she agreed to it, she must have her reasons.’
’Why should I be the one to overstep?’
"He’s not like those scions of noble families in the Capital City."
...
November in the Capital City grew colder by the day.
Ye Chutang began going to the palace every day to treat Emperor Muwu.
The Eldest Princess trusted no one else and had Ye Chutang personally oversee brewing the medicine.
Since Ye Chutang had little else to do, she readily complied.
The braziers burning in the hall kept it toasty and seemed to ward off the chill from outside completely.
The only thing that broke the silence was the occasional sound of arguing from a few Cabinet Ministers in the adjacent room.
Ye Chutang pretended not to hear. She lifted the lid of the medicine pot to check on it, and the strong, bitter aroma of the herbs instantly wafted out.
Consort Rong, standing guard by the dragon bed, caught a whiff of the smell and choked, covering her mouth as she let out two soft coughs.
She herself was practically steeped in medicine year-round, yet even she found the smell somewhat unbearable.
’I can’t imagine how bitter it must be to drink.’
Ye Chutang glanced sideways at her. "It must be very taxing for you, Your Highness, to keep watch here every day."
Consort Rong gave a faint smile and shook her head, but her expression turned sorrowful as her gaze shifted to Emperor Muwu.
"I’m not the one suffering. It’s His Majesty... Illness truly strikes like a landslide."
’In her memory, Emperor Muwu had always been brilliant and mighty. She’d never seen him so frail and sickly.’
’He was in a stupor most of the time, only waking for brief moments, and he had barely spoken a word in years.’
The shock of it all was so great that she could do nothing but keep vigil day and night.
Ye Chutang didn’t press the matter, simply using a cloth to pick up the medicine pot.
The brown decoction flowed into a porcelain-white bowl, its aroma quickly filling the air.
Consort Rong patiently waited for the medicine to cool to a lukewarm temperature before carefully feeding it to Emperor Muwu with a spoon.
Emperor Muwu’s eyes remained tightly shut, but his throat bobbed as he swallowed all of the medicine.
Consort Rong’s eyes reddened with joy.
Just then, the sound of light, quick footsteps came from outside the hall.
"Chutang!"