For a moment, no one in the hall answered.

Tan Zhaolin, anxious in his heart, couldn’t help but answer on their behalf: “Yes, yes! As long as it can wake my Lord up, I’m willing to try any folk remedy!”

Shen Xi said to the palace maids serving in the hall: “All of you, leave. Qin Sang, go guard outside. Zhao Lin, close the door properly.”

“There are three folk remedies in total.” After Tan Zhaolin had firmly shut the door, Shen Xi sprawled into the lantern-post armchair and held up one finger. “First, bloodletting.”

“The folk remedy says that since unconsciousness is caused by blood clots in the brain, and the blood flowing through the five viscera and meridians is all connected, we could try making a cut on Su Shiyu’s arm and drain three to five bowls of her blood. Once the blood disperses, perhaps the blood clot in her brain will dissolve too. What do you think?”

Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming looked at Shen Xi with perfect composure.

“Oh, you don’t think that’s good?” Shen Xi said with understanding, holding up a second finger. “Then how about cutting flesh?”

“The principle of cutting flesh is quite straightforward. She’s sleeping like this probably because there’s nothing in the mortal world worth her attachment. We could use a heated small knife to gouge out two pieces of flesh from her fingertips. The ten fingers connect to the heart—through this intense pain, perhaps we could shock Su Shiyu awake.”

Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming looked at Shen Xi with perfect calmness.

“Oh, you still don’t think it’s good?” Shen Xi said with understanding again, spreading both hands. “Then there’s only one last method—using a joyous occasion to dispel misfortune: marriage.”

“I think this one’s good.” Without waiting for Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming to respond, Tan Zhaolin immediately said, “But how does my Lord get married in this condition? Does she take a wife or marry a husband?”

“Naturally she marries a husband, and the husband’s family status can’t be too low either.” Shen Xi lifted his fan and tapped on the table, looking toward the two men before him, inquiring: “Which of you two will marry her?” Without waiting for them to answer, he shook his head again. “Thirteen, you won’t do. Minister Luo is still working daily on establishing your Empress. You can’t very well tell him you want to establish the Vice Minister of Justice as your Empress, can you? How about you, Liu Yun?”

The expressions on Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming’s faces could be described as utterly undisturbed, like still water.

Shen Xi let out a long sigh: “Looking at you two, neither of you can marry her. Then how about—” He folded his fan and consulted Zhu Nanxian and Liu Yun’s opinions. “I do it?”

Tan Zhaolin said hastily: “How can that work? My Lord treats you like a brother. Aren’t you afraid that when she wakes up and learns she married you, she’ll be so frightened she faints again?”

Shen Xi said with a grin: “I’m just sacrificing myself for righteousness.” He pushed himself up by the armrests and stood, straightening his sleeves. “Then it’s settled. I’ll go back right now and write the betrothal letter.”

Before Shen Xi reached the doorway, he heard Zhu Nanxian shout from behind: “Qin Sang—”

Qin Sang, who was guarding outside the hall, pushed the door open and entered: “Your Majesty.”

“Drag Shen Qingyue out and give him twenty strokes of the rod for me!”

Qin Sang stood stunned for a moment, looking at Zhu Nanxian, then at Shen Xi’s innocent expression.

Minister Shen and Emperor Jin’an had grown up together since childhood, close as brothers—this fact was known to all civil and military officials in court. He knew that when Zhu Nanxian said he would have Shen Xi beaten with rods, it was just words spoken in anger. Once his anger subsided, it would pass. How could he actually beat him? So he said: “Your Majesty, Lord Shen is at least a ministry minister. Without a crime or reason, the guards below have no way to carry this out.”

“Disrespecting hierarchy, having no regard for law and order, offending the imperial countenance—twenty strokes is too few. We can add another twenty.” Liu Chaoming said coolly.

With the Left Chief Censor having determined the crime and His Majesty having issued the oral decree, Qin Sang found himself in a difficult position. He could only bow with cupped hands toward Zhu Nanxian, planning to first take Shen Xi away and come back in two hours to ask His Majesty’s intentions.

Just at this moment, two more people entered Gardenia Hall—none other than Hu Yuanjie and Luo Songtang.

After the two performed their respects to Zhu Nanxian and exchanged a glance with each other, Hu Yuanjie immediately bowed: “Congratulations to Your Majesty, felicitations to Your Majesty! This humble envoy offers Your Majesty congratulations.”

Zhu Nanxian’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. Seeing Luo Songtang standing timidly to one side without speaking, he had already roughly guessed where Hu Yuanjie’s “congratulations” came from, yet still asked without revealing his thoughts: “For what matter does Envoy Hu offer congratulations?”

Hu Yuanjie said: “In reply to Your Majesty, this humble envoy heard that the Ministry of Rites and the two Consorts in the rear palace have selected the fourth young lady of the Marquis Anding household, Miss Qi from the Qi household, as Your Majesty’s Empress. The imperial wedding will take place shortly. This is truly a blessing for all the people of Great Sui, all the people under heaven. Therefore this humble envoy offers Your Majesty congratulations.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “Minister Luo told you this?”

Hu Yuanjie said: “In reply to Your Majesty, precisely so.” He wanted to praise Luo Songtang a few more lines, but when he raised his eyes to meet Emperor Jin’an’s gaze, he saw not a trace of pleasure in his brows or eyes—his expression was so heavy it was unfathomable.

“Luo Songtang.” After a while, Zhu Nanxian called out.

Luo Songtang knew he had already provoked imperial anger at this moment, but as Minister of Rites, he couldn’t very well not advise His Majesty to establish an Empress, could he?

So be it—extending the neck was one cut, shrinking the neck was also one cut. In any case, today this topic of establishing an Empress was raised by Hu Yuanjie. No matter how angry His Majesty was, he couldn’t say in front of a foreign envoy that he wouldn’t establish an Empress, much less punish him in front of a foreign envoy. All his painstaking efforts were done with loyal devotion for Your Majesty’s sake.

Thinking thus, Luo Songtang became like a dead pig that fears not boiling water. He stepped forward and replied: “This minister is here.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “I recall that the other day you said my enthronement ceremony is set for the first day of the ninth month?”

“In reply to Your Majesty, precisely so.” Luo Songtang said. “The Late Emperor passed away on the eighth day of the seventh month. By the twenty-seventh of the eighth month, the forty-nine days of mourning will be complete. After that, three days of preparation, falling exactly on the first day of the ninth month, a most auspicious date—this should be Your Majesty’s enthronement ceremony.”

Zhu Nanxian continued: “If I were to establish an Empress, by what date at the latest must the candidate for Empress be determined?”

Zhu Nanxian had always avoided the matter of establishing an Empress. Luo Songtang truly hadn’t expected that today he would actually take the initiative to inquire. In his great joy, he couldn’t help but feel that his tactic of inciting Hu Yuanjie had been effective, making His Majesty decide to swallow this bitter pill.

“In reply to Your Majesty, since the enthronement ceremony is on the first day of the ninth month, then the edict establishing the Empress should be read at the very latest twenty days in advance—that is, the tenth day of the eighth month. Otherwise, the Ministry of Rites simply cannot complete preparations in time.”

Zhu Nanxian said coolly: “Oh, what are the rules for establishing an Empress?”

Luo Songtang said: “In reply to Your Majesty, the rules for the imperial wedding are numerous, but establishing the Empress itself has nothing much to it—only the announcement of the edict is needed. However, according to protocol, this edict should be drafted by the Late Emperor or Late Empress. But since both the Late Emperor and Late Empress have passed away, going down the line of succession, only Your Majesty yourself can draft the sacred edict establishing the Empress.”

For a moment, no one outside Gardenia Hall made a sound.

After a while, Zhu Nanxian said: “Fine. On the tenth day of the eighth month, have Qiling enter the palace to receive the edict.”

Luo Songtang said in surprise: “Your Majesty has agreed?”

Zhu Nanxian neither confirmed nor denied.

Luo Songtang glanced again at Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming standing silently to one side, then hesitantly added: “Since Your Majesty has agreed, then after the court assembly on the tenth, this minister will invite Lord Liu, Lord Shen, and the other ministry officials, along with the two Consorts from the rear palace, to come together to Fengtian Hall to await Your Majesty’s announcement of the edict?”

Zhu Nanxian stood silently for a moment, made a sound of acknowledgment, then walked around him with large strides toward the entrance of Weiyang Palace, leaving behind one phrase: “And also Secretary Shu Huan.”

After the White Dew festival, Shen Xi had completely resolved the issue of Northwest military supplies and expenses. Although court affairs were still heavy, at least they weren’t as pressing. By the eighth month, news came from Liangzhou Wei that Zhu Xun and Mao Zuofeng were each leading advance troops and would arrive at Liangzhou City by the end of the eighth month at the latest, while the rear guard would arrive by mid-ninth month at the latest. This news undoubtedly brought great relief to Zhu Nanxian and the ministers. The Northwest climate was harsh—if the troops marched too slowly and dragged into the winter months, it would undoubtedly burden both military supplies and garrison defense. Arriving half a month early also secured sufficient time for the officers and soldiers to rest and reorganize.

With the Northwest expedition—the most thorny matter in court—temporarily resolved, the next top priorities were the enthronement ceremony and establishing the Empress.

On the tenth day of the eighth month, after the court assembly concluded, all officials of third rank and above did not leave.

After the palace attendant Wu Chang, who was guarding outside Fengtian Hall, called out three times, the doors of Fengtian Hall opened left and right, and Qiling appeared wearing a crabapple-colored wide-sleeved jacket with cloud-patterned霞披draped over her arms. The gold walking-stick hairpin by her clouded temples was neither elaborate nor simple, making her appear altogether as graceful as a lotus and as charming as a spring peach.

She walked slowly to the center of the hall and bowed: “This subject-woman Qiling pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “Rise.” He then handed the imperial edict in his hand to Shu Huan standing to one side.

Shu Huan unfolded the edict. A flash of surprise passed through his eyes and vanished. He read aloud: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The fourth daughter of the Marquis Anding household, Qiling, possesses gentle and excellent bearing, complete virtuous deportment, born steadfastly into distinguished military service, able to uphold fine traditions. She is hereby specially granted the title of Princess Xianli. From this day forward, she shall conduct herself with the protocols of a princess. Thus it is decreed.”

The assembled ministers had originally thought they were waiting today for the edict establishing the Empress. Who knew that with one decree, Zhu Nanxian instead granted Qiling the title of princess. Once she became a princess, she entered the imperial clan. As such, it would no longer be possible for her to become Empress or consort.

Qiling knelt and bowed to receive the edict: “Princess Xianli, Qiling, thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”

Her expression was extraordinarily calm, as if she had long anticipated this outcome.

Zhu Nanxian looked at her, fell silent for a moment, then said: “Qiling, you have shared hardship with me and once helped me in a time of crisis. I have always kept this in my heart and wish to bless you with a lifetime of fortune. However, conferring honors and establishing titles must be done step by step. The reason I am reading this edict in Fengtian Hall today, aside from granting you the title of princess, is also to make you a promise before all these ministers—on the day of your wedding, I will accept you as my sworn sister and confer upon you the title of Princess Imperial of our Great Sui dynasty. With the protocols of a Princess Imperial, I will see you married in splendor.”

Qiling knelt in Fengtian Hall with lowered eyes.

Speaking of which, it was laughable. When she entered the hall, she had actually counted in her heart—aside from the deceased Empress Dowager, she should be the second subject-woman to enter Fengtian Hall awaiting an edict of investiture, right?

Unfortunately, her presumptuous thoughts had already dissipated without trace the moment she learned that Su Jin was a woman.

All these years, perhaps even Zhu Nanxian himself didn’t know that she had always silently watched him walk from his initially bright and carefree self to his later composed and steadfast self.

She remembered his carefree youth, had also tossed and turned during the five years he campaigned in the Northwest, and when the catastrophe at Zhaojue Temple—which for him was like flaying skin and crushing bones—occurred, she too had been entangled in nightmares, sitting withered until dawn.

But all of this—whether unwillingness or persistent confusion—in the end was ultimately only her own affair.

And that Thirteenth Prince she had thought of in her heart for so many years—his transformation, his grand romantic tribulation and heart-searing conflict—in this lifetime would only arise and perish for another person.

Qiling raised her eyes, gazing at Zhu Nanxian with brimming emotion. After a moment, she smiled slightly. So-called “splendid marriage”—if the one married was not the person in her heart, could it still be called “splendid”?

But she didn’t voice this question either. She buried it along with everything from the past in the depths of her heart, then bowed her head and kowtowed: “Ruyu thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”

After Qiling withdrew from Fengtian Hall, Zhu Nanxian swept his gaze around the assembled ministers in the hall and asked: “Do you beloved ministers have any objections to my edict today?”

For a time, no one in the hall dared speak.

After a long while, Luo Songtang secretly tugged at the sleeve of Vice Minister of Rites Zou Liren. Zou Liren had no choice but to open his mouth and ask: “Then… does Your Majesty mean that you will temporarily not establish an Empress?” He paused, then asked again, “But, if Your Majesty does not establish an Empress today, then when will you establish an Empress?”

Upon hearing this question, Zhu Nanxian’s gaze turned cold.

He spoke icily: “What about all of you? Do you all harbor the same doubts as Minister Zou?”

In Fengtian Hall, one could hear a pin drop.

Zhu Nanxian clasped his hands behind his back and descended the steps one by one: “I ask you—is it that if I don’t establish an Empress, I cannot ascend the throne?”

“Is it that if I don’t establish an Empress, I cannot be your sovereign?”

“Is it that if I don’t establish an Empress, the realm will not recognize me as Emperor?!”