Jianjia Palace had remained sleepless throughout the night. Only when the rising sun painted the dawn clouds red did Chief Physician Hu from the Imperial Medical Institute finally leave Jianjia Palace with his medicine box.

He was soaked as if he had been pulled from water, merely pulling out a white handkerchief from his chest to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead and the back of his neck.

Concubine Zhao’s shoulder wound had festered and bled incessantly. Now, the bleeding had finally been stopped with great difficulty, but he still couldn’t determine the cause of the bleeding.

He had meticulously examined the residue of both the external and internal medicines—there were no problems. They were standard prescriptions for stopping bleeding and healing tissue, which shouldn’t have been wrong.

However, Concubine Zhao’s injury had occurred months ago. Though the wound was somewhat deep, it wasn’t dangerous and should have healed long ago. For it to persist without improvement, there must be something mysterious at work. He couldn’t believe otherwise.

But who could understand the affairs of the palace!

Chief Physician Hu didn’t dare return directly to the Imperial Medical Institute. After much consideration, he first sent a medical apprentice to the front hall to find Eunuch Gao and inquire whether he could have an audience with the Emperor today.

After Chief Physician Hu left, Jianjia Palace grew quiet.

Zhao Wan had endured pain throughout the night and had only fallen into a dazed half-sleep after taking a dose of sleeping medicine.

Su Xue gently lifted the gauze curtain in front of the bed, glanced at her, and then lowered it again.

On a small table in the bedchamber sat a blue porcelain incense burner with pine, bamboo, and plum blossom patterns. The ash had completely burned out, without a trace of heat.

Su Xue picked up the incense burner, looked back at the bed once more, then took out a silk handkerchief from her waist and shook the remaining ash from the burner into it, wrapping it up and tucking it back into the sachet at her waist.

She went to fetch new incense from the cabinet, lit it with a candle, and placed it in the burner. Blue sparks flickered twice, and a heavy bamboo fragrance wafted from the burner.

At 9 a.m. precisely.

After the morning court session, Xiaoyan met with Chief Physician Hu at Tianlu Pavilion.

Chief Physician Hu composed himself and bowed: “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

“Has Chief Physician Hu come regarding the matter at Jianjia Palace?”

“Indeed.” Chief Physician Hu steadied his nerves. “Last night, Concubine Zhao’s shoulder wound bled. Although the bleeding has stopped, the wound refuses to heal. If this continues, she will inevitably suffer harm to her foundation due to excessive blood loss.” Chief Physician Hu bowed again. “This humble official is incompetent and cannot discern the cause.”

He had made up his mind to report this matter to the Emperor first to avoid disaster later. Concubine Zhao was now highly valued in the palace, and Chief Physician Hu was very anxious, fearing that one misstep would implicate him unnecessarily.

He still didn’t know how former Chief Physician Xu had left the Imperial Medical Institute, but he suspected it wasn’t for a good reason.

He heard the Emperor speak slowly: “You worked hard last night, Chief Physician. I am already aware of this matter.” He paused for a moment. “However, the Chief Physician must ensure Concubine Zhao’s survival. As for other matters, I will investigate them thoroughly myself.”

Chief Physician Hu felt somewhat reassured. “This humble official will do his utmost.”

After Chief Physician Hu left, Xiaoyan took out the files sent by the Three Departments. The file recorded Zhao Jiu’s confession, but it was difficult to reopen the case based solely on one person’s testimony. For this matter to have been buried so thoroughly back then, it was likely not just the Crown Prince’s order—others must have been helping to cover for him.

He laughed coldly, wondering if it had been the Late Emperor or the Empress Dowager.

*

In the afternoon, the sky suddenly released a fine spring rain. The rain fell like a curtain, lightly tapping the flowers and trees, moistening things silently—an unhurried, lingering rain.

Because of the rain, Gu Yi could not go out riding today. She called Duo Luo alone to her bedchamber, intending to verify her suspicions.

*You are a character in a book.*

She wanted to say it but couldn’t make a sound.

*I’ve died four times already.*

Still, she couldn’t speak.

So it was true.

She thought.

Duo Luo stood in place, seeing her open her mouth several times without speaking, and asked with confusion: “My Lady, did you summon me for instructions?”

After sixty seconds of silence, Gu Yi finally said: “I wonder how Concubine Zhao at Jianjia Palace is doing today after last night. Could you find a way to inquire?”

Duo Luo nodded in agreement and went to find out.

It seemed this silence function wasn’t new—she just had never triggered it before?

Gu Yi got up and walked around the bedchamber a couple of times. Though somewhat troublesome, it wasn’t fatal, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

The most urgent matter now was to confirm whether the female protagonist’s life was in danger, and then to wait for the Gu family to arrive in the capital.

In less than half an hour, Duo Luo returned. “My Lady, I asked Eunuch Gao. He said that although Concubine Zhao was in danger last night, the bleeding has stopped. She is not in any great danger now, so My Lady need not worry.”

Gu Yi found it even more strange. In the book, the female protagonist had never been sick for so long, let alone had a bleeding wound.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Let’s go visit Concubine Zhao at Jianjia Palace. It’s been a while since we’ve seen her.”

Duo Luo quickly fetched an oil-paper umbrella to hold over Gu Yi’s head. Halfway there, the rain stopped.

Outside Jianjia Palace, while a palace servant went in to announce her, Gu Yi gently shook the water droplets from her thin cape.

“Concubine Rou, please enter,” a maid said at the entrance.

After entering the palace, Gu Yi was immediately met by a warm breeze that heated her entire body. She removed her cape and handed it to Duo Luo behind her.

Even though it was already April, Jianjia Palace still had warming stoves in all four corners. Could Zhao Wan be this seriously ill?

Gu Yi’s heart sank further as she quickened her steps, following the maid into the bedchamber.

Zhao Wan was already awake, her long hair loose, wearing a moon-white inner garment with a bamboo-green outer robe, reclining on the bed. Her complexion was pale, not a pristine ceramic white, but rather a dim, sickly grayish-white on her high cheekbones. Her once full, peach-colored lips now showed not a trace of color, revealing the bluish-purple of blood loss.

My goodness!

Was the female protagonist going to die?

How could they call this “not in any great danger”? How could they say “need not worry”?

Gu Yi instinctively lightened her steps as she approached the bed and curtseyed: “Greetings to Concubine Zhao.”

Zhao Wan’s eyes moved slightly as she looked steadily at Gu Yi, whose complexion had a hint of pink beneath the paleness, with clear, bright eyes. She wore a light pink padded jacket, her silhouette appearing slightly fuller than during the southern tour, completely unlike Zhao Wan’s current skeletal state.

“No need for such formality, Concubine Rou.”

Gu Yi carefully observed her complexion and asked hesitantly: “How does Your Ladyship feel now? Is your shoulder still painful? What did the Imperial Physician say? Is a change of prescription needed?”

The urgency in Gu Yi’s eyes didn’t seem feigned.

Zhao Wan was momentarily stunned before answering: “There’s still some dull pain. The Imperial Physician hasn’t changed the prescription, but he comes to examine it personally every day.”

Gu Yi noticed the white gauze on her shoulder was tinged with red. She turned her gaze away, scanning the bedchamber. Jianjia Palace’s bedchamber was spacious. Perhaps due to Zhao Wan’s current weakness, all six latticed windows were tightly closed.

A charcoal brazier burned in the western corner, and an incense burner on the table closest to the wooden bed emitted a faint bamboo fragrance.

Zhao Wan followed Gu Yi’s gaze and frowned slightly, but then saw Gu Yi turn back. “Though Your Ladyship is weak, the chamber should still be ventilated regularly. The spring scenery outside is at its peak—seeing it would cheer Your Ladyship up.”

She felt alarmed for a moment.

“Concubine Rou speaks truly.”

As she finished speaking, Su Xue entered with a sandalwood tray and bowed: “Greetings to Concubine Rou. I have brought tea.”

Gu Yi smiled but spoke to Zhao Wan: “Now that I’ve seen Your Ladyship, I won’t stay long to avoid disturbing your rest. I’ll take my leave.”

Zhao Wan nodded slightly.

Only after walking outside Jianjia Palace did Gu Yi take a deep breath.

It was too strange.

Gu Yi walked out of Jianjia Palace’s gate, her mind unsettled.

“My Lady, His Majesty is coming,” Duo Luo reminded her.

She turned to look and saw a long line of people coming down the narrow palace path.

The person at the front, dressed in bright yellow robes, was Xiaoyan.

Gu Yi stopped and bowed as the arrivals drew near: “This concubine greets Your Majesty.”

When Xiaoyan encountered Gu Yi outside Jianjia Palace, he felt an indescribable emotion flash through his heart, something like guilt. “Rise.”

Gu Yi looked up and met his gaze. Their eyes locked, staring at each other, but neither spoke first.

“You…”

“This concubine…”

Xiaoyan stopped speaking. Gu Yi waited for a moment before smiling and saying: “This concubine just visited Concubine Zhao and saw her haggard appearance. She’s truly very ill…”

“Chief Physician Hu examined her last night.” He hesitated for a moment. “I’m going to see her now.”

Gu Yi nodded, the doubt in her heart lingering. She carefully said: “Concubine Zhao has been unwell for so long, which I find quite strange. During the southern tour, the physician said the injury wasn’t serious. Yet it still hasn’t healed. I find it rather frightening.”

*Quickly, go investigate if someone is plotting to harm the female protagonist!*

Seeing her speak with such sincerity, Xiaoyan felt an inexplicable displeasure rise in his heart. “I understand.” He turned and entered Jianjia Palace.

Gu Yi sighed silently. At this moment, she couldn’t be bothered to analyze Xiaoyan’s emotions.

If the female protagonist died now, she might truly die along with her.

However, now that Xiaoyan had come, perhaps the situation might turn around.

Inside Jianjia Palace, as soon as Xiaoyan entered, he ordered the palace servants to collect all items for inspection. All forty-nine people in the palace, excluding Zhao Wan, were summoned to the front of the main hall. Palace officials meticulously searched every corner of Jianjia Palace.

Zhao Wan, lying in the bedchamber, heard the commotion and was about to get up when she saw Eunuch Gao approach the chamber entrance and call out: “Your Ladyship need not worry. His Majesty asks that you rest easy and not come out.”

Her heart settled somewhat. She bit her lip but made no further movement.

After a full two hours, the sun outside the palace was already leaning west. The candles in the hall had all been collected but not yet lit. The wide-open palace doors let in the last few rays of daylight.

A blue-robed female official from the Palace Administration Department quickly entered the hall, came forward, and bowed: “Report to Your Majesty, this official found a silk handkerchief stained with incense ash in the first-rank maid Su Xue’s room. Though it was soaking in a basin, there were still blue-black marks on the handkerchief. After examination by the medical officials, it appears… it appears to be Zhuxi incense.”

Xiaoyan rested his elbow on the table, supporting his chin, and laughed softly. “Zhuxi incense? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name. It brings back memories. Bring her here. I will question her myself.”

Su Xue had expected the Emperor to come today, but hadn’t expected him to come so quickly.

She was flanked by two palace servants and made to kneel before the hall.

The Emperor sat in the half-lit room, seemingly looking down at her.

Su Xue’s back trembled as she lay prostrate on the ground. “This servant is wrongfully accused! May Your Majesty see clearly!”

“Where did you get this incense?” His tone sounded calm and steady.

Su Xue knocked her head heavily on the ground. “This servant is wrongfully accused! May Your Majesty see clearly!”

“I have waited long today and have no patience left. If you won’t speak, so be it.”

The two palace servants stepped forward to drag her out of the hall. Su Xue struggled violently several times, kicked her legs, and managed to break free from their restraint. She lunged forward, shouting: “It was Concubine Rou! It was Concubine Rou!”

“Nonsense,” Xiaoyan said, putting down his arm and standing up.