The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 40

Even with so many imperial physicians present, Zhou Jin was still dissatisfied. Her eyes swept fiercely over every kneeling imperial physician, and she parted her red lips, asking impatiently, “Could it be that this heavy rain has also blinded the imperial physicians?”

The imperial physicians trembled and dared not reply. With the crucial task of saving Shen Lingyan at hand, Zhou Jin was unwilling to argue further with them and stepped aside.

The imperial physicians’ eyes brightened when they saw Zhou Jin move. They immediately swarmed forward—some taking the pulse, others examining the complexion, and still others dipping silver needles into blood to test for poison. Several imperial physicians busied themselves, rushing about in an orderly fashion, thanks to their superb medical skills.

Zhou Jin stood by, watching with a cold eye. After the physicians’ thorough examination, the leading physician, an elderly man, slowly turned around, bowed to Zhou Jin, and reported, “Reporting to Your Royal Highness the Regent, Her Majesty the Empress has succumbed to an attack of rage, which triggered her illness. It is the most difficult-to-treat illness of coughing up blood. This condition…”

“What!?” How could Zhou Jin not know how difficult the coughing up blood condition was to treat? It was almost a slow suicide, with no medicine to completely cure it, only the possibility of slowly wearing it down, and the patient’s body would become increasingly frail.

“Please, please, Your Excellency, examine her again! How could this be? Her Majesty’s body has always been very good! How could she suddenly contract this coughing up blood disease!?” Yun zhu was also terrified. Her tears fell like broken pearls, and she knelt by the side, pulling on the imperial physician’s sleeve, a heart-wrenching sight of weeping beauty.

Zhou Jin was actually more anxious than Yun zhu, but she was not adept at showing it on her face. Her hands, clasped tightly into fists behind her back, showed her concern as she spoke, “Examine her again. Her Majesty has always been in good health. How could she suddenly contract such an illness?”

The old chief imperial physician knew his diagnosis was correct, but out of deference to their request, he symbolically led a few other physicians to re-examine and diagnose. The result remained the same.

Zhou Jin truly did not know where to vent her surging anger and doubts, so she grabbed the imperial physician by the collar, demanding an explanation.

The imperial physicians had always known that the Regent, Zhou Jin, was a woman of devastating beauty on the surface, but her methods and temperament were extremely bizarre.

Thus, the old imperial physician was not flustered when Zhou Jin pulled him up. He slowly explained based on his knowledge, “It must be because Her Majesty accompanied Your Royal Highness to Liangzhou a while ago. She was already suffering from multiple injuries. Unlike Your Royal Highness, who is skilled in martial arts, Her Majesty has been pampered in the palace since childhood. Although the late Emperor once took Her Majesty hunting… at her core, she is still a delicate princess.”

In the face of illness, status means nothing. Even though the old imperial physician knew the identity of the person gripping his collar and the identity of the person he was treating, he maintained an air of composure while describing the illness.

This calm temperament somewhat affected Zhou Jin, and she gradually calmed down. She released the old imperial physician’s collar, her face full of worry. “Then… is there truly no way to cure it completely?”

Although Zhou Jin was known for her strange temperament to outsiders, she had never shown such great emotional volatility as she did today, nor had she ever shown worry for anyone. Yet now, it was for Shen Lingyan.

The old imperial physician racked his brain, recalling all the cases of coughing up blood he had encountered, and finally gave a carefully considered answer, “The first priority is to control the frequency of Her Majesty’s hemoptysis. We must prevent Her Majesty from succumbing to fits of rage again. At least for a short time, she cannot have major emotional fluctuations. This old official has also heard a little about the border affairs…”

Upon mentioning the border affairs, Yun zhu immediately turned her gaze towards Zhou Jin. As long as Zhou Jin was willing to lead 100,000 soldiers in support, the border situation would surely be resolved without mishap.

Although Yun zhu didn’t know what they had been arguing about just now, Zhou Jin understood in her heart. She met Yun zhu’s gaze, showing a hint of impatience. “I said I would lead 100,000 elite troops to support the front. You don’t need to look at me with that kind of gaze anymore.”

Yun zhu sighed in relief upon hearing this, quickly averted her gaze, and knelt cautiously. Just as the room fell silent, a woman rushed in through the heavy rain. Seeing Shen Lingyan lying on the bed, her eyes were filled with worry. Zhou Jin frowned, feeling an immediate repulsion towards this woman the moment she entered.

Yun zhu recognized the woman immediately upon raising her head. It was Dai Junwu’s daughter, Dai Sulan. Yun zhu quickly led the palace maids of Chaohui Palace to salute Dai Sulan. It was only amidst the salutations of the palace maids that Zhou Jin realized who had arrived.

“Dai Sulan greets Your Royal Highness the Regent.” Even though Dai Sulan was anxious to see Shen Lingyan, she had to complete the courtesies. Only after receiving a dismissive wave from Zhou Jin did she dare to rise and approach the bed.

“Sulan just heard the imperial physician’s words. Now that Her Majesty has contracted the coughing up blood disease, and Your Royal Highness the Regent is about to personally lead the army to war, Sulan is willing to attend to Her Majesty…”

When she said this to the imperial physician, Zhou Jin’s face darkened again. She was about to open her mouth to refuse, but she realized she couldn’t let Shen Lingyan’s emotions fluctuate further right now, and perhaps Shen Lingyan didn’t want to see her either. So, Zhou Jin reluctantly compromised, “Then this Prince will obediently return to the prison…”

When Shen Lingyan had fainted earlier, she had commanded people to take Zhou Jin away. The guards, having received the order, surrounded Zhou Jin again and escorted her. Although they were restraining her now, they didn’t dare use force, only symbolically taking Zhou Jin to the dungeon.

No sooner had Zhou Jin been locked in the dungeon than Yun zhu arrived. She squatted by the cell door, looking at the food arranged there, which was comparable to what one would find in a palace. She was puzzled. “Since you are so worried, why didn’t you wait until Her Majesty woke up before leaving?”

Zhou Jin sighed and lay down on the straw mat. “Right now, everything revolves around the mood of Her Majesty’s sister. You go back quickly. Inform this Prince the moment Her Majesty wakes up.”

Yun zhu originally wanted to give a few more instructions, but seeing the enjoyment Zhou Jin was taking in her surroundings, she opened her mouth but decided not to say anything more. She then rose and walked out of the prison.

Shen Lingyan was still lying in bed, unconscious. The old imperial physician had no choice but to use acupuncture, inserting several needles into Shen Lingyan’s acupoints on her hands and head. This finally made Shen Lingyan feel a slight pain and frown.

Under the watchful eyes of the several imperial physicians, Shen Lingyan finally opened her eyes slowly, though her complexion was pale, and her condition was not good.

“Your Majesty!” The imperial physicians were excited and all knelt down. Those who were already kneeling straightened up even more excitedly, leaning forward to check Shen Lingyan’s condition.

Shen Lingyan naturally knew what was happening. Her entire head was throbbing uncomfortably from the coughing, and waves of metallic sweetness surged up her throat. The moment she thought about the border situation, she wanted to cough. The old imperial physician quickly helped her steady her breath. “Your Majesty must not get angry again… you are suffering from the coughing up blood disease…”

“What is… coughing up blood disease?” Shen Lingyan blinked. She had no idea how the ancient people defined this illness until the imperial physician explained it to her. It was then that Shen Lingyan felt her world collapsing.

Is this a Korean drama?? Why is there a plot involving life and death separation?? The original novel never mentioned Shen Lingyan having the coughing up blood disease!

Unfortunately, Shen Lingyan hadn’t even fully processed the situation while sitting on the bed when she heard Dai Sulan’s concern and the sound of Yun zhu opening the door and leaving.

Yun zhu: I’m truly having a hard time. I just got back and now I have to go relay the message.

“Sulan, why are you here…” Shen Lingyan’s voice was extremely weak, making Dai Sulan’s eyes turn red. She walked over, sat by Shen Lingyan’s bed, and boldly held Shen Lingyan’s hand. “Your Majesty… you have suffered…”

Shen Lingyan was somewhat confused by her words, but thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true. So, for the first time, Shen Lingyan indulged in a moment of sentimentality and rested briefly on Dai Sulan’s shoulder.

Back at the dungeon, Zhou Jin had just settled down when she saw Yun zhu arrive again. This time, she wasn’t impatient; her eyes were bright. “Is… Her Majesty awake?”

Yun zhu had just run over and only managed to nod when she heard the question. However, she suddenly realized: I am clearly Shen Lingyan’s person, so why have I run back and forth several times to inform Zhou Jin!?

So, Yun zhu began to restrain herself. She reported this one time and never came back, turning and leaving without a trace of lingering feeling. She also didn’t see Zhou Jin’s subsequent… action.

After seeing Yun zhu leave, Zhou Jin began to throw all the food on the ground. She also asked the jailer to send a few live, jumping mice. The mice scurried into the cell and began to run wild, colliding with the food Zhou Jin had thrown on the ground. Zhou Jin stood there, and after the scene had been thoroughly messed up, she found a clean little corner of the wall to sit in, messed up her hair, and wore the dirty prisoner’s uniform…

The jailer was stunned.

He walked over, not quite understanding, wanting to reach out and chase away the mice for Zhou Jin. Who knew that Zhou Jin would directly shout, “Stop! Get out!”

The jailer was so frightened his legs trembled, and he immediately ran outside, even forgetting to lock Zhou Jin’s cell door.

Zhou Jin then walked over with an expression of impatience and locked herself inside the cell, right in front of the faces of the inmates across the way who desperately wanted to get out.

Inmates: …Is this the Regent’s privilege?

It wasn’t until nightfall that Zhou Jin finally heard the footsteps she had been waiting for. She watched the continuous rain outside, lacking even the moonlight she loved. She sighed, shedding all her previous arrogance, and stared at the iron bars, lost in thought…

Should I? Sneak out to see her?

This thought immediately expanded infinitely in Zhou Jin’s mind. Eventually, she was already climbing up the straw mat when she suddenly heard noisy footsteps coming from the end of the prison corridor.

Someone is coming?

Zhou Jin immediately used a qinggong move to leap down from the straw mat, shrinking into her little corner, looking pitifully towards the cell door…

“Your Majesty, the Regent is right here…” The jailer’s trembling voice sounded. Shen Lingyan slipped him a handful of silver, then took the key and came in quietly herself.

Seeing this, Zhou Jin buried her head even lower. “How could Her Majesty’s sister bear to come and see me…”

Shen Lingyan found this quite amusing. She suppressed a cough and looked around… then tutted softly.

“Jailer, move her to a better cell.” Shen Lingyan’s voice was much weaker, and Zhou Jin noticed it immediately.

“And then? Is there anything else you want to say?” Zhou Jin stood up and supported Shen Lingyan, despite her struggle.

Shen Lingyan only shook her head. “Thanks to the Regent, I will not live much longer.”