“Your Majesty, what do you make of all this?” Chen Mama whispered in Shou Kang Palace, watching Yan Qi speaking with the Imperial Physician in the distance.
The Empress Dowager sat on the low couch, silent for a long while. The pitiful image of Feng Ling Su remained before her eyes, along with those damning words. Though reluctant to believe, a voice in her heart kept counting those previously overlooked yet now strangely suspicious details.
The more she thought, the more confused she became. When Chen Mama questioned her, her lips moved, but no words came out.
Yan Qi hadn’t entered the palace these past two days and hadn’t realized his mother’s illness had progressed this far. Feeling both guilty and afraid of Empress Dowager’s displeasure, he was exceptionally attentive, personally speaking with the Imperial Physician at length before returning to her side. “Grandmother, please don’t worry. The physician has written a prescription, and Mother will recover after taking the medicine. It’s so late – let me escort you back—”
Though somewhat displeased with Yan Qi, the Empress Dowager felt slightly warmed by these words. “Your mother’s condition is indeed quite serious.”
After a pause, she added, “I’ll send someone to watch over your mother to prevent further incidents.”
Even Yan Qi hadn’t expected Feng Ling Su to kill Bao Die. His mother’s inexplicable murder of a palace maid would certainly damage her reputation if word got out. Not wanting further incidents at Chang Xin Palace, he immediately nodded, “Grandmother thinks of everything. Let’s do as you suggest.”
The Empress Dowager nodded and turned to Chen Mama. “Find someone capable of caring for the Noble Consort at Chang Xin Palace. These days, outsiders shouldn’t enter Chang Xin Palace carelessly. The Noble Consort needs peace to recuperate, and tonight’s events shouldn’t be spread around.”
Chen Mama acknowledged this, while Yan Qi appeared quite grateful. The Empress Dowager slowly stood and walked to Feng Ling Su’s bedside. Feng Ling Su had calmed down by now, perhaps exhausted from her earlier outburst, appearing frail and barely alive. After observing her for a moment, the Empress Dowager turned to leave.
Yan Qi moved to escort her, but she said, “No need to see me out. Stay and keep your mother company.”
As Yan Qi tried to speak again, the Empress Dowager asked firmly, “Has your father assigned you any tasks these days?”
Yan Qi nodded, “Yes, His Majesty has Yan Chi and me searching for people, though we have no definite news yet.”
The Empress Dowager nodded without further comment. “Focus on your duties then. As for your mother… let her recover properly. She’s worried about you. These days, visit her more often. She may seem confused at times, but she can be quite shrewd.”
Yan Qi’s smile froze, not understanding her meaning, but the Empress Dowager left without further explanation.
Yan Qi quickly bowed to see her off. As her sedan chair left Chang Xin Palace, he stood under the corridor eaves, lost in thought.
She may seem confused at times, but she can be quite shrewd…
These were the Empress Dowager’s exact words. Yan Qi couldn’t understand their meaning. Was she telling him to listen to Feng Ling Su? But recently his mother had been asking him to request a fief and leave the capital. When did the Empress Dowager mean his mother was being shrewd?
Yan Qi’s heart suddenly began racing, his recent joy turning uncertain.
Feng Ling Su’s illness had come mysteriously, after which she began speaking nonsense. Why?
On the way back to Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager suddenly asked, “What is the Emperor doing?”
Chen Mama quickly replied, “Palace servants just came from Chong Zheng Hall. His Majesty was speaking with Commander Lin. The city has been searching these past few days, and even Prince Yan Chi was sent out by His Majesty. Without definite news yet, His Majesty must be quite anxious.”
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment before saying, “These days, apart from our palace people, no one should approach the Noble Consort. Our people will personally attend to her.”
Though she had already given these instructions once, she was now repeating them. Chen Mama felt puzzled but nodded in agreement. The Empress Dowager fell silent again, seemingly lost in thought. Upon reaching Shou Kang Palace, as Chen Mama helped her down, she finally said, “Check on Chong Zheng Hall again, see how the Emperor is arranging things. Also, tell the Emperor that if the Empress is found, I want to see her.”
The Empress and Crown Prince’s escape, along with northern unrest, had become more than just a royal family matter. War could potentially break out.
Usually, the Empress Dowager would never involve herself in such matters, yet today she wanted to see the Empress.
Chen Mama felt vaguely uneasy but followed the instructions. After escorting the Empress Dowager to her chambers, she sent her most trusted person to Chang Xin Palace, managed affairs there, and then went to Chong Zheng Hall. When she returned to Shou Kang Palace, it was quite late, and she found the Empress Dowager in the long-vacant study.
The Empress Dowager had been quite scholarly in her youth, and Shou Kang Palace maintained a study. However, as she aged and her eyesight weakened, she rarely read or wrote anymore. The room was dimly lit, so Chen Mama quickly had three more lamps added, only to find the Empress Dowager examining several yellowed volumes of Zhen Long chess manuals.
Chen Mama approached, “It’s so late, why are you looking at these?”
The Empress Dowager finished turning through two volumes of chess manuals, then fell into a daze. Chen Mama watched with concern, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell after going out earlier? If you want to read, you can do so tomorrow. It’s late now, you should rest.”
The Empress Dowager shook her head, “No… it’s not…”
“What? What isn’t?” Chen Mama didn’t understand.
The Empress Dowager tried to stand, supporting herself on the chair’s armrest, but her knees weakened halfway up. Chen Mama rushed to help her and found the Empress Dowager’s palms cold with sweat, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. Chen Mama’s heart sank, and she panicked…
In Chong Zheng Hall, the Emperor’s expression darkened as soon as Chen Mama left.
Lin Zhang glanced at Yuan Qing; both seemed confused and surprised.
Yuan Qing stepped forward, “The Empress Dowager values the Empress highly, she probably wants to understand the Empress’s reasoning for such actions.”
The Emperor’s furrowed brow smoothed. “Still no news from Yan Chi?”
Lin Zhang nodded, “No, no news…”
The Emperor tapped the table corner rhythmically, then after a moment said, “The Empress’s departure from the palace must have had help from someone. This person’s power must be significant, yet after so many days, they’ve vanished without a trace, like a mud ox entering the sea. It’s too strange.”
Lin Zhang’s eyes widened, “Your Majesty means, could the Prince Rui have helped the Empress?”
The Emperor pressed his lips together without speaking, then after a while, as if confirming, said, “Yan Chi cannot be spared anymore.”