The many imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy were swiftly summoned to Zichen Palace.

Imperial Physician Zhang was the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy; Imperial Physician Zhou was the most senior and most skilled physician within it; and then there was Wei Yan, whose medical genius had earned him the deepest trust of the Emperor — these three naturally led the effort to treat the Emperor.

Wei Yan’s acupuncture was exceptionally refined, and he had always served as the Emperor’s personal attending physician. The needlework, therefore, remained his responsibility. The diagnosis, assessment of the Emperor’s condition, and writing of prescriptions were left to Imperial Physician Zhou, Imperial Physician Zhang, and the others.

Between the needles and the administered medicine, they managed at last to haul the barely-breathing Emperor back from the edge.

Before daybreak, the Emperor struggled to open his eyes — but had not a shred of strength to speak, and quickly slipped back into a deep sleep.

Worthy Consort Wei and Noble Lady Li remained in the Emperor’s bedchamber throughout the night.

As for Noble Lady Wang, Worthy Consort Wei found her very presence irritating, and after a brief discussion with Noble Lady Li, she had Noble Lady Wang “escorted” back to her own palace without ceremony.

As long as the Emperor had not recovered, Noble Lady Wang would not be stepping out of her palace.

When dawn broke, the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, and others who had received word arrived at the palace.

Noble Lady Li had been weeping at the Emperor’s bedside all night and was spent. Worthy Consort Wei had no choice but to steel herself and step out of the bedchamber to receive the Crown Prince and the others.

“Worthy Consort, what is Imperial Father’s present condition?” the Crown Prince stepped forward and asked urgently.

Prince Yan was also visibly fraught with worry. “This prince rushed here the moment the news reached me — has Imperial Father still not regained consciousness?”

Worthy Consort Wei sighed, her face drawn with grief. “The imperial physicians are all here and have already administered acupuncture and emergency treatment, then given His Majesty medicine to drink. Before dawn, His Majesty finally stirred from unconsciousness. Yet he said not a single word before falling back into a deep sleep. The physicians are now all standing watch at the bedside. Elder Sister Li and I have been keeping vigil with His Majesty throughout. Now that I see you are all here, my heart has eased a little.”

The Crown Prince furrowed his brow and said gravely, “Imperial Father had fully recovered not long ago — how could he suddenly have fainted? Have the physicians diagnosed the cause?”

Worthy Consort Wei hesitated a moment, visibly reluctant to broach the subject.

The Crown Prince’s frown deepened, though he did not press her.

Prince Yan and the Crown Grandson both looked over.

Under the anxious and questioning gazes of everyone present, Worthy Consort Wei finally lowered her voice and disclosed the truth. “Several imperial physicians have diagnosed the cause. They say that His Majesty has been taking tonic medicine recently, causing his blood and vital energy to flourish, and that he was too indulgent and undisciplined in matters of pleasure, depleting his vital essence severely. Last night, when Noble Lady Wang attended him, the over-excitement and agitation brought on this collapse.”

……So it was as he had suspected.

The corner of the Crown Prince’s mouth twitched several times; for a moment he could not find a single appropriate word to say.

At his age, rather than quietly cultivating his temperament and preserving his health — to so abandon himself to carnal pleasure! Truly like an immortal swallowing arsenic — tired of living! After an episode like this, there was no telling how long the Emperor would need to recuperate before his health could be restored.

……

By the afternoon, the Emperor had finally woken.

His complexion was pallid, with a slight puffiness; beneath his eyes lay a murky, dark grayish-blue. His gaze was clouded and vacant.

Even someone who knew nothing of medicine could look upon him and know — this was a man at the very end of his vitality.

Noble Lady Li called out to the Emperor in a broken voice, and with the release of that long-held tension, she fainted. This immediately caused a flurry of panic. Fortunately, the physicians were all present, and someone quickly had Noble Lady Li carried to an adjacent room to be treated.

Worthy Consort Wei’s tears fell freely, and she said in a choked voice, taking the Emperor’s hand, “Your Majesty — you are finally awake. This entire night and day has truly terrified your consort.”

Speaking thus, she wiped at her tears.

The Emperor, too weak to move, worked his lips slightly. His voice was so faint it could not be heard at all.

The Crown Prince’s wife walked to Worthy Consort Wei’s side and gently guided her away, offering quiet words of comfort. Only then did Worthy Consort Wei stop weeping and dab at her eyes with her handkerchief.

The Crown Prince then approached the bed, bent low, and asked, “Imperial Father — how does Your Majesty feel?”

Before his words had even settled, Prince Yan surged forward eagerly, grasping the Emperor’s hand. “Imperial Father, from this moment on, your son will go nowhere and remain at Imperial Father’s side at all times.”

Even the Crown Grandson — ordinarily the most silent and reserved of all — wore a face full of concern and worry. “Imperial Grandfather’s vitality is depleted — please rest in peace and ease. Do not trouble yourself with strenuous affairs.”

Off to one side, Princess An Ya was weeping softly, eyes red-rimmed, calling out “Imperial Father” again and again.

The Emperor felt both comforted and privately ashamed.

The reason for his sudden collapse — even without being told, he knew more or less. With his children and grandchildren gathered at his bedside, they had all no doubt figured it out as well……

The Crown Prince, as the eldest and most dignified among them, said a few quiet words of reassurance to the Emperor, then turned to address everyone. “Imperial Father has already woken. There is no need for everyone to crowd in here. Please step outside and wait, so as not to disturb Imperial Father’s rest.”

Prince Yan immediately chimed in. “Crown Prince Brother is right. Just leave me here to attend on Imperial Father. State affairs still need Crown Prince Brother and the others to manage — let me be the one to fulfill a son’s filial duty here with Imperial Father.”

Prince Yan was, indeed, shrewd.

Knowing full well he could not gain the upper hand in court matters, he wisely conceded ground on that front and devoted his time and energy to remaining by the Emperor’s side.

A gleam passed through the Crown Prince’s eyes. He smiled mildly. “Then we shall trouble Sixth Younger Brother.”

It was not possible for the court to go a day without someone managing its affairs. He and the Crown Grandson had business in court to attend to and genuinely had no time to contend with Prince Yan over this.

……

Before departing, the Crown Prince made a point of summoning Wei Yan for a private word. “Imperial Physician Wei, tell me frankly what Imperial Father’s true condition is — every detail. Do not conceal anything.”

The Crown Prince’s inquiry was weighty, and Wei Yan dared not be negligent in the least. He composed his expression, clasped his hands in a formal salute, and replied, “In response to Your Highness the Crown Prince — His Majesty’s health is of the utmost importance, and this minister would not dare conceal anything. His Majesty has completely depleted his vital essence in this instance, but fortunately treatment was administered in time, and there is no immediate threat to his life. Nevertheless, this matter must not be taken lightly.”

He paused, then continued, “This minister and Imperial Physician Zhou and Imperial Physician Zhang have together diagnosed the cause, and we unanimously agree that His Majesty requires absolute tranquility of mind and rest. Going forward, I fear it would be inadvisable for His Majesty to enter the harem any further.”

The words were relatively restrained and tactful.

Even so, the meaning was perfectly plain.

The Emperor had snatched one life back from the gates of the underworld — henceforth he could only rest and recuperate. “Inadvisable to enter the harem” was the polite way of putting it. The plain truth of it was that he was no longer capable of fulfilling those duties.

The Crown Prince hesitated briefly, then asked delicately, “Tonic medicines should also not be taken again, I presume?”

Wei Yan gave a nod. “That is correct.” And added, “Even if they were taken, the effect would be uncertain.”

The Crown Prince had nothing more to say.

Going by what Imperial Physician Wei had said — Imperial Grandfather would never again be able to be intimate with a woman. In that case, Ling Jingshu would be safe within Zichen Palace as well. The Crown Grandson quietly breathed a sigh of relief……

Wait.

Imperial Grandfather had gone to extravagant lengths taking tonic medicines and summoning consorts to the bedchamber — and Ling Jingshu had fallen ill for more than a month, not by coincidence but apparently by design, evading this entire ordeal. And now Imperial Physician Wei was saying Imperial Grandfather would never again be able to approach women. Ling Jingshu would have nothing more to worry about henceforth.

Putting these two matters together, they seemed rather suspicious……