Liu Jue arrived at the Chancellor’s residence in high spirits, and saw Chancellor Li come out to welcome him. However much he disliked the man, in name Li was still his father-in-law. Seeing Chancellor Li’s face wreathed in smiles as well, he exchanged greetings with a smile of his own. He was welcomed into the main hall, seated, and they exchanged pleasantries for a while.
Chancellor Li’s heart was uneasy. His eldest daughter and the Crown Prince had already been placed under house arrest, soon to be sent to the eastern suburb estate to be confined. Chancellor Gu’s position had risen another level, becoming father-in-law to the sovereign himself. His second daughter Qingfei had married Vice Minister Cheng — neither prominent nor lowly a match. That left only the third daughter. Between the new king and Prince Pingnan, quite a story seemed to have played out. That scene at Prince Anqing’s manor was still fresh in his memory.
If only she could marry the King — even if not Empress, at least a favored consort, and that would put him on equal footing with Chancellor Gu. Perhaps, someday, A’Luo might bear a son who, through favor, could be made Crown Prince… but then, Prince Anqing and his son…
Chancellor Li’s mind spun through countless possibilities before quickly settling on a new conclusion: the new king would certainly not, at this delicate juncture, risk seizing a subject’s wife. Moreover, this particular subject was no ordinary official — he was the old Prince’s own son, Prince Pingnan, whose great victory at Linnan had shaken the realm and secured the Fourth Prince’s successful ascension! So, the marriage arrangement with Prince Pingnan was as good as settled, beyond doubt.
Seeing Liu Jue arrive, naturally anxious about Qingluo, his tone carried extra warmth and flattery: “Worthy son-in-law, your might at Linnan was truly awe-inspiring — I hear the Chen army fled at the mere sight of you! And this time, you had the wisdom to choose the right sovereign to serve — the prince is truly a blessing to our kingdom of Ning! For my daughter to have found such a husband is the fortune of three lifetimes!”
A shiver ran through Liu Jue; the hair on his arms stood on end. He stretched his mouth into a grin. “Chancellor, you flatter me. This was entirely due to our king’s brilliant and heroic leadership, his masterful command of troops! Combined with father-in-law and the other loyal ministers turning the tide, exposing the Wang clan’s sinister scheme — that’s how our king came to ascend the throne!”
Chancellor Li flinched slightly, laughing awkwardly. This Prince Pingnan was quite the talker himself!
They chatted on, drifting from one topic to another for a good while, until Chancellor Li finally noticed a hint of impatience beneath Liu Jue’s polite demeanor. He struck his forehead as if suddenly remembering something. “Ah, where are my wits — A Yun, quickly take the prince to Tang Garden to see the Third Miss. Has she woken yet?”
“Yes, my lord! But… the Third Miss, she…” A Yun trailed off hesitantly, glancing up briefly at Liu Jue.
Liu Jue shot up from his chair as if launched. His eyes fixed on Chancellor Li. Chancellor Li’s heart lurched — ah, how could I have forgotten to check on A’Luo? He asked urgently, “What exactly is wrong? Speak quickly!” His hands had already begun to tremble.
“This A Yun girl — please lead the way,” Liu Jue said, having no patience left to hear her explain further. He’d already taken a step forward as he spoke.
A Yun still stood frozen. Chancellor Li, coming to his senses as well, hurried to lead the way to Tang Garden himself. “Let’s go see her — oh dear, so much happened in the palace today, this old man was careless. Vice Minister Cheng said there was nothing seriously wrong when he brought A’Luo back.”
Liu Jue steadied himself and said, “Chancellor, you’re a pillar of the state — with so much happening today, and since Vice Minister Cheng said there was no danger, there should be no cause for concern.”
Entering Tang Garden, Liu Ying cupped his hands in salute to Chancellor Li and Liu Jue. “The young lady is still deep asleep. Her pulse, however, is steady and calm.” His eyes turned to Liu Jue with unmistakable worry.
Liu Jue followed Chancellor Li into the room. A’Luo lay on the bed as though in a dream, her face somewhat pale, her breathing long and even. He hurried forward two steps and took her wrist to check her pulse — indeed steady and calm, nothing unusual. Liu Jue called softly, “A’Luo, wake up, it’s me, A’Luo!”
She seemed not to hear at all. Liu Jue asked in a low voice, “When did Vice Minister Cheng bring her back to the residence?”
A maidservant nearby answered quietly, “At the fifth quarter of the noon hour. Vice Minister Cheng said the Imperial Physician had already examined her — just exhaustion, nothing serious.”
Exhaustion? It was now the hour of the rooster — over three hours, and she still hadn’t woken? Liu Jue’s heart sank with foreboding; he had no idea what Wang Yanhui might have done to her. He glanced at Liu Ying, then said to Chancellor Li, “Chancellor, please rest in the main hall. I’ll try channeling some internal energy into her.”
Liu Ying quickly ushered Chancellor Li and the two maidservants out of the room, closing the door carefully and standing guard outside.
Liu Jue gently propped A’Luo up; her whole body was limp against him, as if asleep, without a trace of awareness. He silently channeled a thread of true qi into A’Luo’s body, sensing that her meridians were normal inside; he probed for a long while but found nothing unusual.
“A’Luo! Can you hear me? Can you feel this?” Liu Jue called again, his voice low and gentle.
A’Luo gave no response. Liu Jue’s heart lurched with panic, and he couldn’t help pulling her tightly into his embrace. The warmth of her heartbeat and body temperature against him gave him a little reassurance — at least he could tell she was still alive. Breathing in the warm scent of her, Liu Jue murmured, “Don’t frighten me, A’Luo. If you’ve had enough sleep, wake up now. Wake up — listen to my heartbeat, it’s pounding, my heart is in such turmoil — wake up!” As he spoke, he began gently shaking her. A strand of her hair came loose and fell, but A’Luo’s face, still as carved jade, remained utterly unchanged.
Liu Jue’s heart trembled; he pulled her tightly into his embrace once more. His mind had turned to complete chaos. Aside from her breathing, heartbeat, and body warmth, A’Luo now seemed no different from a living corpse. Unwilling to give up, he channeled another thread of true qi into her, probing her meridians over and over again. Still nothing unusual.
Liu Jue slowly laid her back down. He stared at her for a long moment — what exactly was wrong with her? His brow furrowed into a tight knot. He was certain something was not right. He leapt up, pulled open the door — Liu Ying, seeing his expression, was startled. “The young lady, is she—?”
“No one is to leave her side, not even for a moment! No one is to approach her!” Liu Jue ordered coldly. He strode to the main hall and said urgently to Chancellor Li, “A’Luo isn’t merely sleeping — something is very wrong. I’ve already ordered that no one is to touch her. Chancellor, please don’t worry — I will find the answer myself.” With that, he hurried away.