The Fearless Empress - Chapter 17

Lu Yuanzheng’s reminder filled Cheng Sangyi with such shame that she wished she could vanish into the ground.

Having lived two lifetimes, she had never cared for anyone before, so mistakes were inevitable.

The Empress remained unconscious, her small face flushed with fever as she lay unresponsive on the imperial bed.

Palace servants hurried in and out. After surveying the scene, Cheng Sangyi found a seat on a nearby couch.

No sooner had she sat down than a lady-in-waiting rushed in, whispering in her ear, “Word has come from over there Prince Guangling has suffered a fundamental injury and will have difficulty fathering children in the future.”

The final sentence stunned Cheng Sangyi. Prince Guangling had brought this upon himself through his own recklessness.

The lady-in-waiting continued, “The Empress Dowager has requested that you send Lu Yuanzheng over to see if anything can be done. However, her letter makes no mention of Prince Guangling’s condition, only that you should dispatch Lu Yuanzheng.”

Given the strained relationship between the Empress Dowager and her own daughter, it was no surprise she would conceal such a disgraceful matter.

Cheng Sangyi understood the situation perfectly. She glanced at Lu Yuanzheng, who was tending to the Empress, her eyes sharp and penetrating. “Inform the Empress Dowager that the Empress is also ill and Lu Yuanzheng cannot be spared. Instead, send some physicians from the common folk and recall all imperial physicians from the Tai Hospital. If that fails, have Prince Guangling return to the capital for treatment.”

Previously, she had believed it unwise for the Empress Dowager to return to the capital, fearing she would stir up trouble. But now, it seemed better for her to come back.

Separating them from the 50,000 private soldiers would allow a thorough investigation into the origins of those troops.

Cheng Sangyi quickly made her decision and instructed the lady-in-waiting to carry it out.

The Empress’s fever persisted, and Lu Yuanzheng’s expression grew increasingly troubled. She repeatedly ordered servants to fetch cloths to wipe the Empress’s forehead.

Unaware that the Empress Dowager had designs on her, Lu Yuanzheng was already overwhelmed by the young Empress’s condition.

When the medicinal decoction was ready, Lu Yuanzheng lifted the Empress, attempting to administer it.

For some reason, the Empress refused to open her mouth. Frustrated, Lu Yuanzheng turned to Cheng Sangyi, who stood idly by. “Your Majesty.”

Cheng Sangyi approached. Lu Yuanzheng handed her the bowl of medicine. “You try feeding it to her.”

“What difference does it make whether you feed her or I do?” Cheng Sangyi did not take the bowl, her cold gaze sweeping over Gu Yunru without a trace of tenderness.

“The Empress refuses to open her mouth. Perhaps you should try?” Lu Yuanzheng emphasized the words “you try,” her cheeks tightening with tension.

Confused, Cheng Sangyi looked bewildered, like a helpless child. “Explain yourself clearly.”

Exasperated, Lu Yuanzheng attempted to feed the medicine herself. As she brought the spoon to the Empress’s lips, Gu Yunru’s mouth remained firmly shut, and the medicine dribbled down her chin, utterly wasted.

“You see? It’s impossible to feed her. You give it a try.” Lu Yuanzheng handed her the bowl but paused mid-air, recalling something. “Your Majesty, have you and the Empress consummated your marriage?”

Cheng Sangyi frowned in annoyance. “What does that have to do with feeding her medicine?”

“If you have, you could drink the medicine yourself and then pass it to the Empress through a kiss. If not then there’s nothing to be done. We’ll have to wait for her fever to break on its own. If her mind is damaged by the fever, there’s nothing I can do.” Lu Yuanzheng sighed deeply, muttering under her breath, “She doesn’t even know how to change clothes properly, and now she’s caused such a disaster. She’s only fifteen her mind is especially vulnerable to damage from fever.”

Cheng Sangyi: “…” Why is this being turned back on me?

An inexplicable irritation surged within her.

Cheng Sangyi dismissed all the palace attendants from the chamber, feeling somewhat relieved only after they had left. Lu Yuanzheng, sensing the mood, handed her the bowl of medicine and cautioned, “Make sure you don’t swallow it yourself.”

“I understand,” Cheng Sangyi replied, then asked, “Will the fever subside if she takes the medicine?”

“I cannot say for certain, Your Majesty, but without the medicine, the fever will definitely not break,” Chief Physician Lu answered.

Holding the scalding medicine bowl, Cheng Sangyi couldn’t comprehend how merely making Gu Yunqi kneel in punishment had led to such complications.

If she had known this would happen, she should never have involved herself with Gu Yunqi, much less appointed her as empress.

Now, she was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cheng Sangyi gazed down at the unconscious figure, frustration simmering inside her. She reached out and pinched Gu Yunqi’s cheek, muttering under her breath, “Gu Yunqi, oh Gu Yunqi, you truly are my nemesis. You committed such a grave offense, yet here I am, going to great lengths to save you. It would be better if you just died. Once you’re gone, I’ll appoint a new empress.”

The empress’s fever showed no signs of abating, her cheeks burning hot. Cheng Sangyi felt that searing heat travel from her fingertips to her chest, unsettling her deeply.

Instinctively, she lifted the blanket and touched Gu Yunqi’s wrist and the back of her hand they were equally scorching.

The medicine had to be administered. Resigned, Cheng Sangyi took a sip of the decoction and leaned closer to Gu Yunqi.

Chief Physician Lu had warned: Make sure you don’t swallow it yourself.

With the medicine held in her mouth like an arrow on a bowstring, she had no choice but to proceed.

She lowered herself, her lips brushing against Gu Yunqi’s soft ones.

At fifteen, the girl’s body was tender and pliant something Cheng Sangyi had noticed earlier when she pinched her cheek.

Now, touching her lips, they felt even softer.

Perhaps out of shame, the moment their lips met, Cheng Sangyi panicked, swallowing nervously in her tension.

That single gulp struck her like a thunderbolt. Chief Physician Lu’s warning echoed in her ears: Make sure you don’t swallow it yourself.

She had already swallowed it.

Her face flushed and ears burning, Cheng Sangyi stared blankly at Gu Yunqi’s reddened lips. Not only had the kiss been pointless, but she had also swallowed the medicine herself.

How could she have been so foolish?

Try again!

Frustration mounting, Cheng Sangyi pinched Gu Yunqi’s cheek once more. “Once you recover, I’m going to dump a pile of troublesome tasks on you. If you fail to handle them, I’ll make you copy texts. If your handwriting is poor, you won’t be allowed to eat until you starve to death. And once you’re dead, I’ll appoint a new empress.”

After venting her anger, she gritted her teeth, took another sip of the medicine, and pressed her lips to Gu Yunqi’s again.

Practice makes perfect this time, she succeeded.

As the medicine flowed into Gu Yunqi’s mouth, Cheng Sangyi pulled back quickly, only to find that Gu Yunqi refused to swallow. She had no choice but to pinch her nose, forcing her to gulp down the decoction.

Once the bowl was empty, Cheng Sangyi hastily grabbed the cold teacup from the table and took a large gulp, her heart racing uncontrollably.

At least the medicine had been administered. Setting down the teacup, she fled the room in a fluster.

Outside under the eaves, Chief Physician Lu watched her hurried departure and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Master, you’re laughing,” the young apprentice exclaimed in surprise. Laughing foolishly into the dark night was as eerie as seeing a ghost.

Chief Physician Lu composed himself, turned, and patted his apprentice’s head. “Focus on your work. Close your eyes.”

“How can I work with my eyes closed?” the apprentice grumbled, rubbing his sore head. Had his master been possessed by a ghost?

The night dragged on. Cheng Sangyi returned to Zichen Hall in the dead of night.

The bedchamber remained brightly lit, the palace maids’ faces etched with worry. Even after the medicine was administered, the empress showed no signs of waking.

In the latter half of the night, everyone remained on high alert.

At daybreak, the high fever finally subsided. Physician Lu, leaning on her young apprentice for support, sat down. Having stood all night, her back and waist ached as if they no longer belonged to her.

When the news reached the Zichen Hall, Cheng Sangyi also breathed a sigh of relief. Nodding slightly, she instructed the palace maid who had delivered the message to take good care of the Empress.

Su Shi happened to be present as well. Glancing at the messenger, she pursed her lips as if wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words.

She said nothing at all.

After dismissing the palace maid, Cheng Sangyi instructed Su Shi, “Draft an edict announcing that I will welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace the day after tomorrow. Also, find some skilled physicians specializing in men’s ailments. The Prince of Guangling has fallen ill, and I must pay him a visit.”

In that simple sentence lay layers of meaning, causing Su Shi’s face to turn pale and then flush with a mix of emotions, a truly remarkable sight.

But the news of the Prince of Guangling’s impotence had already spread far and wide.

The young Empress awoke in the afternoon. Still weak, she drank some medicinal broth before drifting back into a heavy, drowsy sleep.

She slept until evening, and by then, her spirits had improved considerably. She managed to eat three bowls of rice in one go, and her complexion looked much better.

Cheng Sangyi did not return that night. Instead, she sent word for the Empress to return to the Jiaofang Hall and inquired whether she wished to accompany her to the imperial mausoleum the day after tomorrow.

Such an opportunity to travel together was too good to pass up. The young Empress happily agreed and returned to her palace to prepare for the journey.

Before she could even sit down, the four consorts quietly arrived.

The palace maids were startled, especially Li Yao, who instinctively advised the Empress, “Meeting with the consorts so late at night may not be appropriate.”

The young Empress waved her hand dismissively. “If you tell a group of women who claim to live with pure hearts and few desires that it’s improper to meet at night, they’ll drown you in their spit. Let them in. Prepare tea and snacks quietly, and make sure word doesn’t actually get out.”

Seeing that her advice was unheeded, Li Yao led the palace maids to make the preparations.

The four consorts, draped in fox fur cloaks, entered side by side, with De Fei at the forefront, followed by Xian Fei and Ming Fei.

The young Empress sat on her phoenix throne, smiling as she watched the four of them. “Here for more gossip again? You’re too impatient. You could have waited until tomorrow.”

“When there’s gossip to be had, we can’t wait a moment longer,” said Gui Fei, leaning on her maid’s arm as she slowly took a seat. Noticing how much thinner the Empress had become, she exclaimed in surprise, “Your Highness, you’ve lost so much weight!”

The young Empress squinted. “It’s a long story. Sit down first, or you might faint from shock. This piece of gossip is absolutely explosive.”

Hearing this, the four consorts felt their visit was well worth it and looked at the Empress with eager anticipation.

The Empress’s first piece of gossip was: “The Prince of Guangling’s lower half is broken.”

The four consorts: “…”

Explosive indeed!

Gui Fei blushed upon hearing this and immediately tried to stop the Empress. “Your Highness, Your Highness! Could you phrase it more delicately? You can’t say it like that. Could you tell us how he became incapable?”

As an eyewitness, the young Empress grinned mischievously. “Too much.”

Wasn’t that delicate enough?

De Fei burst out laughing. “Your Highness, that’s a very delicate way of putting it so delicate it says nothing at all.”

“Really, it’s just that simple. Think about it: if you eat too much, won’t your stomach suffer? Same principle too much and it breaks.” The young Empress widened her eyes, earnestly defending herself with the fearlessness of a newborn calf.

The four consorts were left speechless. They had assumed there was some foul play involved, but it turned out he had brought it upon himself.

Gui Fei, ever tactful, waved her hand and changed the subject. “Let’s not talk about that. Your Highness, you haven’t returned for several days. Have you been staying with His Majesty?”

As she spoke, the corners of her lips curled upward uncontrollably.

The young queen giggled innocently, “I took her bed, and I don’t know where she’ll sleep. I don’t think she’s ill just ignorant!”

Not ill.

Just ignorant.

Cheng Sangyi, who had just stepped onto the floor tiles, narrowed his eyes slightly. What did she mean by “not ill”?

And what did “just ignorant” mean?

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