Yuhua Pavilion

Muruo had drunk some alcohol and had just woken up. After dispersing the smell of alcohol from his body, he began searching for something in the room.

Crash, clatter—

The entire room was turned upside down into complete chaos!

A young servant boy entered from outside, swept a glance around, and asked, “Master, what are you looking for?”

“Where’s that box I brought back?”

“Which box?”

“The wooden box with a lock carved on it.”

Muruo was about to continue searching, sweeping books and objects from the room onto the floor.

The servant boy scratched his head, suddenly remembered, and rushed outside to retrieve it from under a table corner.

“Master, it’s here!”

As the box was pulled out, the table with its broken leg lost its balance.

With a “bang,” it toppled over, and all the medicinal herbs on top scattered across the floor.

Muruo came out to look, and his eyes nearly turned green with anger.

He reached out and took the box from the servant boy’s hands, scolding, “You little rascal, who told you to use my box to prop up the table leg?”

“Master, I’ve been wronged! Yesterday when you came back from Prince Rong’s residence, after drinking, you were the one who shoved this box under this broken table corner, yelling about fixing the table. I couldn’t stop you no matter how I tried. When I saw the table could be used, I placed the medicinal herbs on it. You can’t wrongly accuse me!”

So innocent!

Muruo felt a wave of embarrassment!

Because he knew clearly that when he drank too much, he was indeed capable of doing such shameful things.

However, this shameful act wasn’t really anything compared to two years ago when, after drinking with Jingrong, he had insisted on stripping naked and getting into bed to sleep with Jingrong.

“Fine, fine. I wrongly accused you.”

Muruo clutched the box and turned to leave.

“Where is Master going?”

“To the palace!”

…

The Imperial Palace

Within the magnificent palace buildings, red walls and green tiles, golden lacquered plaques like strands of platinum—each hall and chamber displayed undeniable grandeur.

And within this vast Lingong Palace, aside from the Cold Palace, only one place was desolate and bleak.

That was Tongren Hall!

The Fourth Prince Jingxian’s palace!

The entire palace walls had long fallen into disrepair. Peeling wall plaster, green tiles pecked through by crows, weeds filling the entire courtyard—even the paper-covered windows were torn one after another.

One could see the dilapidated and miserable state of Tongren Hall!

Naturally, this also demonstrated Jingxian’s status!

Although Jingxian had already been enfeoffed as Prince Xian and could establish his own household and build his own residence, Emperor Qizhen had stripped him of this privilege. Using Jingxian’s chronic illness as justification, he had settled him within the palace to properly recuperate.

By rights, the fact that Emperor Qizhen could still remember Jingxian’s illness and keep him in the palace, arranging imperial physicians to diagnose his condition, should count as treating this son well. But aside from this one thing, there was nothing else—moreover, he paid no attention and asked no questions.

As a result, palace servants felt this Prince Xian existed in name only and gradually distanced themselves from Tongren Hall. Eventually, aside from delivering some stipend silver and three meals, basically no one came.

And all the civil and military officials throughout the court knew that Emperor Qizhen was implementing a technique of confinement and restraint on Jingxian!

It was equivalent to binding his hands and feet, keeping him close by. His every move was within range of sight. Every place he went, every word he spoke—all were beneath Emperor Qizhen’s eyes.

But some people didn’t understand—Jingxian was a sickly person, his maternal family was also insignificant, he posed not half a threat. Why would Emperor Qizhen want to confine and restrain him at his side?

This question—people had never investigated deeply, nor dared to investigate deeply!

Inside the main hall, it was still relatively clean. Though the inner chamber wasn’t luxurious, it could be considered to have everything necessary!

The two windows in the room opened outward. Outside was a maple tree. In the spring season, the tree had sprouted, its leaves a vibrant green.

The tree’s shadow fell on the wooden window frame, swaying faintly!

On the rocking chair before the window, Jingxian reclined, eyes slightly lowered, his face sickly pale. But he was still a handsome man, his features resembling both Jingrong and Jingyi.

The imperial family’s genes were indeed powerful!

Eunuch Fu Lu entered from outside, carrying a bowl of medicinal decoction in his hands, which he placed on the table beside Jingxian.

“Prince Xian, it’s time to take your medicine!”

“Just leave it there.”

“The weather is cool—don’t let it get cold.”

Jingxian had no choice but to take the bowl of medicine and drink it down.

Fu Lu bowed at the waist and spoke again, “Today the imperial physician prescribed a new formula. He said the medicinal ingredients were brought from the Tianshan Mountains and will definitely be effective. Prince Xian will surely recover soon.”

Jingxian’s gaze remained fixed on the view outside the window. Over the years, the phrase he had heard most often was probably this very sentence Fu Lu had just spoken.

He smiled bitterly. “Whether I recover or not has already become meaningless to me.”

Fu Lu sighed inwardly. He had watched Jingxian grow up. This child’s fate was bitter, and his heart ached for him.

“Your Highness’s illness will definitely improve. This old servant believes that if Her Ladyship has a spirit in heaven, she will surely bless Your Highness.”

“It’s been fourteen years. Why do you still mention my mother?” Jingxian’s tone was sorrowful.

“This old servant was wrong.”

“You may withdraw. I want to rest for a while.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Jingxian close his eyes, Fu Lu picked up the empty bowl and quietly withdrew.

Just as he reached the doorway, someone approached.

Muruo hurried forward, holding a long rectangular box in his hands, his expression calm.

“Doctor Muruo, how did you…”

Before he could finish speaking, Muruo raised his hand to interrupt, craning his neck to glance into the room.

He pressed his index finger to his lips.

“Shh!”

Fu Lu shrank his neck and asked in a hushed voice, “Doctor Muruo, what’s the matter?”

“Keep your voice down. Go about your business, don’t mind me.”

“Yes!”

Muruo tiptoed into the room, glanced at Jingxian with his back turned, reclining on the rocking chair, and only then carefully placed the long box in his hands on the table.

“What did you bring?” Jingxian suddenly spoke.

“I was so quiet—you still knew I came in?”

“Tongren Hall has been this desolate for so many years. I can even hear the sound of falling leaves brushing the ground.”

It sounded rather bleak.

Muruo smiled, simply took the box and walked over, sitting beside him.

He asked, “How has your health been lately?”

“Same as always!”

“Let me take a look.”

Jingxian rolled up his sleeve and extended his hand.

Muruo took his pulse. His brow, which had been relatively relaxed, suddenly furrowed. His fingers left Jingxian’s wrist.

“The imperial physicians changed your medicine?”

Jingxian made an affirming sound.

“Before I left, didn’t I tell you to have medicine prepared according to the prescription I gave you?”

“Oh? Did you? I don’t really remember.”

His tone was indifferent!

Muruo was displeased. “You and Jingrong’s temperaments are truly two extremes. He’s stubborn and unyielding, and extremely competitive, while you’re cold and detached, not caring about anything, not cherishing anything—you don’t even care about your own life.”

Seeing him getting agitated, the corners of Jingxian’s pale lips curved up. He smiled bleakly and said to him, “This illness of mine cannot be cured. You needn’t rack your brains anymore. I’m nothing but an empty shell. Can I really hope that one day I’ll be like ordinary people?”

“With me here, you’ll naturally be fine.”

“It’s been fourteen years. Even your father was at his wit’s end.”

Muruo grunted and handed him the box he had brought. “That old fellow’s medical skills aren’t as good as mine. Illnesses he can’t cure, I can. I obtained this thing while traveling. It will help your condition. Keep it close by and smell it every day. Also, don’t drink the medicine the imperial physicians prescribe for now. Have medicine prepared according to the prescription I gave you before. Don’t skip a single dose.”

Jingxian opened the box!

Inside was a sky-blue medicinal herb, with lush bamboo-like leaves connected to root vines.

“What is this?”

“Heartless Grass. Your heart blood doesn’t flow smoothly. This medicine can help regulate it. No amount of silver can buy this medicine.”

“I’m a person on the verge of death. Why waste this precious medicinal herb?”