Bao Yue’s face turned pale with fear, but she finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Empress Dowager’s words and rose, saying, “Please follow this servant, Your Majesty.”
Leading the way, Bao Yue trembled at the sight of bloodstains that hadn’t yet been cleaned from the hall. She carefully guided the Empress Dowager and Chen Mama around them, arriving at the inner chamber’s entrance. Upon entering, they encountered an even stronger smell of blood trapped within the closed room. All doors and windows were shut tight, with only soft sobbing and mumbling coming from behind the pearl curtains where the bed stood.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell upon a sword lying on the ground. Its blade gleamed coldly, clearly a superior weapon, now stained with blood. A pool of blood had gathered where it lay. Her expression changed slightly as she turned toward the pearl curtains.
Bao Yue lifted the curtains, revealing Feng Ling Su on the bed to the Empress Dowager and Chen Mama.
Feng Ling Su was wrapped in blankets, bound tightly with a silk ribbon over them. She writhed and struggled, but lacking strength, only managed to rumple the brocade bedding. As the Empress Dowager and Chen Mama stepped closer, both were startled.
The last time they had seen Feng Ling Su was at Yan Zhen’s wedding. For the past fortnight, she had remained confined in Chang Xin Palace, never stepping out. Rumors spread about her serious illness and that Chang Xin Palace had been tainted by evil spirits. The Empress Dowager, being ill herself, couldn’t visit Chang Xin Palace. Now, seeing Feng Ling Su for the first time in half a month, she appeared to have aged ten years. The once elegant and meticulously groomed woman had become a sickly, prematurely aged middle-aged woman with a waxy complexion and dark circles under her eyes. Bound tightly, her face was covered in what could have been either tears or sweat. She seemed to be in a trance-like state – though she saw the Empress Dowager and Chen Mama, her eyes showed no recognition.
Standing before the bed, the Empress Dowager and Chen Mama studied her face.
Chen Mama couldn’t help but say, “Noble Consort? The Empress Dowager has come to see you.”
Feng Ling Su’s eyes moved slightly as if seeing the Empress Dowager yet not seeing her, continuing to struggle uncomfortably.
Chen Mama sighed and turned to Bao Yue. “What happened here? Did you summon the Imperial Physician for the Empress Dowager? How did she become so unrecognizable?”
Bao Yue hurriedly replied, “Yes, we did! Prince Cheng requested one, and we servants also called for one. But the Imperial Physician couldn’t determine what was wrong with Her Highness. They only said she was deeply troubled, but she hasn’t faced any difficulties lately…”
Indeed, not only had there been no difficulties, but with the Empress and Crown Prince’s escape from the palace, opportunities had opened up for Yan Qi. Given Feng Ling Su’s personality, she should have been overjoyed.
The Empress Dowager frowned deeply. Noticing Feng Ling Su’s lips moving in a whisper, she leaned forward to listen carefully. She seemed to hear the words “Qi’er,” prompting her to ask, “She wants to see Yan Qi. Has he visited these past few days?”
Bao Yue quickly responded, “Prince Cheng came two days ago to see the Noble Consort. Though we don’t know what was said, he left looking troubled and hasn’t returned since. Before leaving, he instructed Bao Die to ensure the Noble Consort took her medicine and not to summon him unless necessary. Because of these instructions, when Her Highness became agitated today, Bao Die tried to placate her. When Her Highness realized Bao Die was following Prince Cheng’s orders, in her anger she…”
Bao Yue shuddered at the memory of Bao Die lying in a pool of blood.
Chen Mama glanced at the Empress Dowager and asked, “Your Majesty, shall we summon the Imperial Physician or Prince Cheng?”
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. “Both. Send someone to fetch Prince Cheng from outside the palace, clean up this chamber, and have the Imperial Physician examine the Noble Consort.”
Bao Yue quickly complied. Chen Mama then said, “Your Majesty, perhaps you should return now? It’s getting late, and you’ve seen her condition…”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, silencing Chen Mama, and turned toward a window couch nearby. “I’ll wait there. The Noble Consort’s illness is rather strange.”
Chen Mama sighed. Being ill was one thing, but for it to become this severe and result in death was truly worrying. She helped the Empress Dowager to the couch and poured her hot tea. Seeing the Chang Xin Palace servants in disarray, the Empress Dowager instructed, “Go help them clean up properly and question the others to see if you can learn anything. This situation is very peculiar.” After a pause, she added, “Also, check on that girl’s situation and arrange compensation from the Internal Affairs Office.”
The Empress Dowager referred to Bao Die. Chen Mama quickly nodded, “Yes, I’ll go look into it right away. Please rest here.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, and Chen Mama left. With Chen Mama gone, only the Empress Dowager remained in the inner chamber. She sipped her hot tea, feeling the bloody atmosphere dissipate somewhat before exhaling. Because of the Empress Dowager’s presence, the others took extra care in cleaning the bloodstains from the inner chamber. The activity seemed to disturb Feng Ling Su on the bed, who opened her eyes and began mumbling again.
The Empress Dowager heard the sound and walked to Feng Ling Su’s bedside…
“Qi’er… Qi’er…”
Feng Ling Su kept repeating Yan Qi’s name, but the Empress Dowager couldn’t think of anything amiss with him recently.
The Empress Dowager leaned closer. “Noble Consort? Yan Qi will be here soon…”
Feng Ling Su’s pupils suddenly trembled, as if the name “Yan Qi” had struck a nerve. She struggled violently, but with her limbs trapped in the blankets, she couldn’t reach anything. The more she struggled, the more desperately she spoke, “Qi’er… don’t… don’t compete… listen to your Mother…”
Hearing these words, the Empress Dowager’s brows immediately furrowed.
She knew Feng Ling Su’s nature too well. For years, she had appeared utterly devoted to the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager saw how much was genuine affection and how much was for maintaining favor and power. When the Empress and Crown Prince got into trouble, someone of Feng Ling Su’s usual disposition would have celebrated behind closed doors and eagerly pushed Yan Qi to compete for the position of Crown Prince, especially since he was now the most suitable candidate without the Crown Prince in the picture.
Yet now, Feng Ling Su was telling Yan Qi not to compete?!
In her current confused state, Feng Ling Su had no intention of putting on an act, so why had she changed her mind?
Feng Ling Su’s illness had come mysteriously, her attitude toward Yan Qi’s succession even more so, and she reportedly hadn’t visited Chong Zheng Hall recently. All of this seemed to point to some unknown cause. The Empress Dowager, deeply suspicious, couldn’t help but ask, “What if Yan Qi insists on competing?”
Feng Ling Su seemed to vaguely understand, her pupils suddenly widening as her voice filled with terror.
“No… don’t compete… he… he won’t let you become Crown Prince…”
Feng Ling Su’s low, hoarse voice carried fear and trepidation, as if afraid someone might overhear. “Don’t compete… ask for… ask for a fief… Qi’er… listen to Mother… Mother won’t harm you… the Crown Prince… the Crown Prince is the precedent…”
The Empress Dowager’s expression changed as she caught these broken words.
The Crown Prince as precedent?! The Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince because of his involvement in corruption cases, but Yan Qi wasn’t involved! What did Feng Ling Su mean?!
“What about the Crown Prince? How could Yan Qi be like the Crown Prince?”
Feng Ling Su shook her head, her pupils rapidly dilating, as if harboring a terrible secret she dared not speak.
The Empress Dowager’s suspicions grew stronger, her heart practically clawing with curiosity. “Noble Consort? Why wouldn’t the Emperor pass the throne to Yan Qi? Both the Crown Prince and Yan Qi are the Emperor’s children, unless…”
“No… no… not true… not true…”
The Empress Dowager had merely posed a normal question, but before she could finish, Feng Ling Su began shaking her head and struggling more frantically. Those words “not true” struck the Empress Dowager’s heart like a hammer! She’s gone mad! Feng Ling Su has gone mad!
The Empress Dowager’s chest heaved with anger, but seeing Feng Ling Su’s terrified tears streaming down, she also felt pity for her.
In this state, Feng Ling Su wouldn’t dare lie, but how could she utter such damning words?!
The Empress Dowager’s heart raced as countless images flashed through her mind. She swayed slightly, steadying herself against the window sill as she sat down. This movement further startled Feng Ling Su, who writhed toward the foot of the bed, spouting nonsense.
“I don’t know, I don’t know anything… I don’t know anything…”
“His Majesty… His Majesty is His Majesty… I don’t know anything…”
Feng Ling Su’s convulsive voice gradually weakened, while the Empress Dowager’s face remained frozen. She stared at Feng Ling Su’s face, aged so dramatically in just half a month, not understanding what had transformed this Noble Consort who had always taken such pride in maintaining her delicate beauty. The former Feng Ling Su had cared most about the Emperor’s favor and her appearance, but now, she seemed like a completely different person. More terrifying still were her incomprehensible ravings!
Soon, Chen Mama returned, surprised to find the Empress Dowager sitting by Feng Ling Su’s bed while Feng Ling Su huddled at the foot of it. “Your Majesty, what happened?”
The Empress Dowager remained lost in thought before saying, “Call in that serving maid from earlier.”
Chen Mama, somewhat puzzled, went out and brought Bao Yue back in. The Empress Dowager asked her, “What has the Noble Consort been saying in her ravings these past few days?”
Bao Yue started slightly, then quickly replied, “The Noble Consort keeps calling Prince Cheng’s name, occasionally mentioning His Majesty, probably hoping for his visit. But with recent events keeping him busy, His Majesty hasn’t come to Chang Xin Palace… The Noble Consort also said… also said to let Prince Cheng go to his fief, not to… not to compete…”
These words matched exactly what the Empress Dowager had just heard, suggesting the Noble Consort had been saying these things for days, though the palace maids couldn’t understand their meaning.
“How does she speak of the Emperor?”
Bao Yue hurriedly answered, “This servant heard twice, she seemed to say His Majesty is His Majesty…”
Bao Yue looked confused, clearly not understanding Feng Ling Su’s meaning, but the Empress Dowager’s face darkened at these words. “What other strange behaviors has the Noble Consort shown?”
Bao Yue thought briefly. “The Noble Consort… is very frightened, as if she’s seen… seen something terrible. Because of this, we summoned people from the Imperial Observatory days ago, but it didn’t help… No one knows what’s wrong with Her Highness…”
The Empress Dowager frowned. “The Noble Consort began…”
Bao Yue quickly added, “She fell ill after the Fifth Princess’s wedding…”
The Empress Dowager pondered this information for a moment before nodding. “Very well, let the Imperial Physician enter.”
Bao Yue nodded and went to fetch the physician. The Empress Dowager gathered herself, trying to stand, but found herself unable to. Chen Mama quickly caught her. “Your Majesty… you…”
The Empress Dowager steadied herself with Chen Mama’s help and shook her head. “Let’s wait a bit longer until Yan Qi arrives.”
Chen Mama nodded and helped the Empress Dowager to another seat. Soon the Imperial Physician arrived, and Feng Ling Su was untied. After checking her pulse, the diagnosis remained similar to previous ones. The Empress Dowager waved for the physician to write a prescription. Two incense sticks later, Yan Qi finally arrived. Upon entering the palace, he learned of the incident at Chang Xin Palace but hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to be waiting there. Seeing her, he didn’t dare be casual and quickly bowed.
The Empress Dowager asked coldly, “What did your mother say to you during her illness these past few days?”
Yan Qi showed hesitation, but the Empress Dowager said, “The palace maids have told what they know, just speak truthfully.”
Left with no choice, Yan Qi nodded and said, “Grandmother, Mother has been strange these days, constantly wanting me to ask Father for a fief and live there…” Yan Qi smiled bitterly and continued, “With so many affairs in the capital now, how could I leave? Yet Mother remains insistent…”
Yan Qi’s words completely matched up, and she nodded, momentarily silent.