Chapter 1205 - 882: Damn It
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
The storm had raged continuously for three days. That day, Eunuch Yu led a little eunuch into Liangyi Hall. Once the heavy palace doors were closed, the howling storm was shut outside, and the entire hall felt so suffocated and sealed that not even a wisp of air seemed to blow in.
The little eunuch behind him instinctively held his breath.
Upon entering the inner hall, Yu Wenquan was seen leaning alone on the bed, eyes half-closed as if in light slumber. Although he appeared somewhat tired, his tall figure resembled a crouching tiger, exuding a sense of danger even from afar.
Eunuch Yu cautiously approached: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Bureau has sent the medicine."
After speaking, he waved his hand, prompting the little eunuch behind him to immediately present the bowl of medicinal decoction he held.
Yu Wenquan raised his eyelids to glance at the cloudy decoction, a trace of impatience appearing on his face, yet he reached out to take it and drank a mouthful, immediately frowning: "Why is it lukewarm?"
The little eunuch fell to his knees with a thud.
Everyone knew the Emperor was in a foul mood these days due to the assassination attempt at Hot Spring Palace. Not only did he imprison a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but he also placed the Chief Historian under house arrest. Several ministers came to plead for mercy but were all rebuffed, and the eunuchs serving closely were punished or whipped, all severely wounded and bedridden. Therefore, the little eunuchs serving in Liangyi Hall were extremely cautious, feeling as though they were treading on thin ice.
Upon hearing his complaint, the little eunuch feared for his life immediately and was about to kowtow and beg for forgiveness.
Yu Wenquan frowned, disinclined to bother with him; instead, he cast a glance at Eunuch Yu, who quickly stepped forward: "Forgive me, Your Majesty. It’s because there was a complication at the Imperial Medical Bureau, delaying the medicine delivery."
"Oh? The Imperial Medical Bureau? What happened?"
"It concerns Princess Qin; her palace maid went to the Bureau seeking Doctor Su to attend to the Young Master."
"What?!"
Upon hearing about his grandson, Yu Wenquan instantly sat upright, eyes wide with concern: "What’s happened to Yuanyuan?"
Eunuch Yu hurriedly replied: "It’s said the Young Master has been feeling unwell these past couple of days."
"How could this be?"
Yu Wenquan was anxious beyond measure, even disregarding the now-lukewarm decoction, carelessly tossing it aside: "Quickly summon Doctor Su—"
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"
His words were interrupted by Eunuch Yu’s careful reminder, prompting Yu Wenquan to immediately halt.
A peculiar expression surfaced on his face.
He pondered briefly, then said: "Summon King Qin and Princess Qin here. I want to ask them how they’ve been caring for the child!"
Eunuch Yu promptly replied: "Yes, I will go deliver the message."
He then turned and made to leave, but halfway through, Yu Wenquan called him back, speaking gravely: "Have only Princess Qin come. As for King Qin, he shall remain in Qianqiu Palace; without my summons, he is not to go anywhere."
Eunuch Yu bowed his head: "Understood."
Thus, he departed hastily, soon returning through the storm with a noticeably thinner Princess Qin.
Entering this seemingly long-deserted, stifling hall akin to an airtight box, Shang Ruyi instinctively sensed a heavy suffocation, but she immediately took a deep breath, handed her thick fur coat to a little eunuch behind Eunuch Yu, and hurried into the inner hall to kowtow and pay respects to Yu Wenquan, who had reclined back on the bed: "Your daughter-in-law greets Father Emperor."
Upon seeing her, Yu Wenquan’s gaze trembled slightly.
He tried to remain calm, yet as he spoke, he couldn’t help but lean forward: "I heard Yuanyuan is ill?"
Shang Ruyi knelt on the ground: "Sorry to worry Father Emperor, your daughter-in-law deserves death."
"Don’t talk about deserving death first; is Yuanyuan truly sick?"
"Not quite sick, just vomiting milk severely these past two days."
"Vomiting milk?"
"Yes. Previously, Doctor Su mentioned babies often vomit milk and advised careful monitoring. Everything was fine earlier, but over the last couple of days he vomits right after feeding. I asked She’er to fetch Doctor Su from the Bureau to examine, unexpectedly delaying Father Emperor’s medicine delivery. Your daughter-in-law deserves death!"
Yu Wenquan glared at the cause of the disturbance standing behind her with Eunuch Yu and knew he had explained the reason, then frowned: "Mind your tongue."
Eunuch Yu hurriedly replied: "I deserve death."
These words deepened Yu Wenquan’s frown, and he snapped: "Deserve death, deserve death; this one deserves, that one deserves—I think perhaps it’s me who deserves death!"
At hearing this, everyone in the hall dropped to their knees.
Shang Ruyi pressed her head low against the cold floor, whispering: "Your daughter-in-law, your daughter-in-law—"
Clearly, she dared not say "deserves death," yet seemed unsure of what to say, much less dare say it. Witnessing the once articulate daughter-in-law who easily amused him now cautiously tread, Yu Wenquan suddenly felt a void in his heart.
He paused briefly, then said: "Yu Mingli, inform Lin Shian to visit Qianqiu Palace and examine what ailment Yuanyuan is suffering."
"Yes."
Eunuch Yu kowtowed and then hurriedly walked out again.
Shang Ruyi kneeled in place, motionless.
Under normal circumstances, if Yuanyuan were ill and the Emperor summoned the Chief Imperial Doctor to examine him, she, as his mother, should accompany him back, but Yu Wenquan only sent Eunuch Yu to summon the Chief Imperial Doctor and did not allow her to leave...
She knelt on the ground, her knees aching faintly, yet she tried her best to calm her breathing.
Yu Wenquan said nothing as he quietly watched her. After a while, he said, "Stand up."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Shang Ruyi slowly got to her feet, enduring the pain in her knees to stand upright. Yu Wenquan beckoned to another little eunuch to grant her a seat. After apologizing, Shang Ruyi sat down cautiously.
Upon receiving a seat, Shang Ruyi thought Yu Wenquan might say something, but once seated, he said nothing.
Shang Ruyi lowered her head, never feeling time as torturous as this moment. Every second stretched endlessly, and she repeatedly forgot to breathe until she heard Yu Wenquan’s gentle, rhythmic breathing in the silent air, reminding herself to keep breathing, keep her heart beating.
And to keep waiting.
Finally, she heard a hurried series of footsteps outside.
The footsteps sounded somewhat chaotic. They stopped outside the hall, and among them, the fastest one was distinctly a martial artist’s footsteps.
Shang Ruyi did not turn her head but sat quietly. Shortly, a little eunuch hurried in to report, "Your Majesty, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Lord Yan and General Ningyuan request an audience."
"Let them in."
After saying this, Yu Wenquan discreetly glanced at Shang Ruyi sitting nearby. Seeing her still sitting quietly without even a ripple in her gaze, he felt a mix of emotions, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
Then, Yan Shaoxuan and Lou Yingxiong walked in one after the other.
Upon entering the inner hall, the two saw Shang Ruyi sitting quietly by the side and were slightly startled. Lou Yingxiong’s eyes flashed coldly, and together with Yan Shaoxuan, they stepped forward to bow to the Emperor and paid their respects to Princess Qin.
Shang Ruyi only nodded slightly.
Seeing her present, both men had words to say, but hesitated. Yu Wenquan said lightly, "I called Princess Qin here to ask her certain matters. Delay your reports for now."
The two exchanged glances and bowed their heads, saying, "Yes."
Thus, Liangyi Hall fell silent once more.
Fortunately, this suffocating silence did not last long. Soon, another jumbled and anxious series of footsteps were heard outside. Eunuch Yu and Chief Imperial Doctor Lin Shian had returned from Qianqiu Palace. The two entered, bringing wind and snow with them. Lin Shian was taken aback upon seeing Yan Shaoxuan and Lou Yingxiong but did not dare speak much and hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.
Yu Wenquan interrupted him with a wave and asked, "How is my Imperial Grandson?"
Lin Shian replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Young Master is temporarily stable."
"Stable?"
Yu Wenquan frowned and glanced at Shang Ruyi, "Then why did Princess Qin mention my Imperial Grandson has been unwell these past two days?"
Lin Shian hurriedly answered, "Reporting to Your Majesty, typically, infants of two or three months have extremely delicate organs. After consuming broth, they need to be moved more to aid digestion. Vomiting is due to insufficient activity."
"Oh? Then why the lack of activity?"
Lin Shian cautiously glanced at him and said, "I inquired, and learned that the staff at Qianqiu Palace have not ventured outside these past days, confining the Young Master indoors all day, hence—"
Yu Wenquan furrowed his brow again, then gradually relaxed.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi stood up immediately, apologetically saying, "So that’s the reason. Doctor Su did once remind me, but I—forgot these past two days. Please forgive me, Father Emperor."
She claimed she forgot, but how could she truly forget?
If truly forgotten, why didn’t Yuanyuan vomit over the previous two months, but began only in these past days?
Yu Wenquan sighed deeply and said, "You were all stubborn, considering the heavy snow these days. I instructed you to rest at Qianqiu Palace, yet you didn’t step out at all, now leaving the child distressed."
Shang Ruyi repeatedly responded, "Yes."
Yu Wenquan said, "Enough, continue as usual in the future."
Shang Ruyi quickly bowed in thanks and asked, "Then, can Doctor Su continue visiting Qianqiu Palace for consultations with me and others?"
"...!"
Upon hearing this query, Yu Wenquan slightly raised his brow, glanced at Lou Yingxiong standing silently by the side. Lou Yingxiong immediately stepped forward and said, "Princess Qin, I’m afraid that’s not possible."
Surprised to hear him respond to her question, Shang Ruyi turned her head to look at General Ningyuan, lifting her chin slightly, "What do you mean by this, General Lou?"
Lou Yingxiong replied, "Because Imperial Doctor Su Qinglan has been arrested and brought to justice."