Fish Meat – Chapter 261
by Little PandaThe Fifth Year of Guangxing
Unofficial Histories (4)
When Zhen Wenjun arrived before the gates of Chonghua Hall, the assembled officials had already cleared a direct path to the Dragon Throne.
Some were at a loss, others were filled with doubt; no one knew what had happened to the usually composed Son of Heaven. All eyes turned to Zhen Wenjun, hoping to find an answer in her.
Zhen Wenjun indeed had the answer.
Almost the instant the palace attendant had come to find her in a panic, she immediately understood what had occurred. As she strode across the thick woolen carpets of Chonghua Hall and saw Wei Tingxu’s uncharacteristic expression behind the mianliu1, she only wanted to grab Ah Liao and knock some sense into her head.
“Wenjun…”
Only Zhen Wenjun heard Wei Tingxu’s low call, tinged with suppressed, almost imperceptible trembling. Her eyes held a thin sheen of tears; she even looked helpless. It was the first time Zhen Wenjun had seen Wei Tingxu at such a loss.
Almost instinctively, she opened her arms towards Zhen Wenjun.
Zhen Wenjun had never seen her in such a state. She didn’t know just how potent the Yulu Wan was, but Zizhuo, in order to maintain her imperial dignity, hadn’t lost her composure in the Imperial Court; one could only imagine what torment she was enduring. Zhen Wenjun immediately lifted her into her arms, then turned back to face the whispering crowd below, announcing in a clear voice:
“Her Majesty caught a chill last night and is unwell, yet still insisted on holding the morning court session. Her Majesty’s diligence and love for the people are truly a blessing for Da Cang, but she cannot continue now. This Palace2 must take Her Majesty back first; the morning court will have to be temporarily suspended.”
Anyone with eyes had seen how Wei Tingxu had toiled day and night since her ascension. Now that she had fallen ill, the officials were deeply concerned and quickly voiced their agreement.
Wei He was also very worried and immediately ordered an Imperial Physician to diagnose and treat Her Majesty, but Zhen Wenjun cut him off sharply: “Absolutely not!”
The assembled ministers looked at Zhen Wenjun, their minds full of confusion, not understanding what could possibly be wrong with having an Imperial Physician treat the Son of Heaven.
Zhen Wenjun’s mind always worked fast. “This Palace has followed Her Majesty for many years and is most familiar with Her Majesty’s constitution and the cause of her illness. Her Majesty is sensitive to many medications, and the slightest deviation in dosage can lead to severe consequences. If Her Majesty’s condition worsens, who can bear the responsibility?”
Though her tone was gentle, she was not one to shy away from scolding people back in the Changge Kingdom. When officials made muddled decisions, she had to establish her authority and rectify matters. Not to mention, she was a former female general; when she arched her brows and cast a cold glare, no one on the spot dared to utter another word.
Wei Tingxu clutched at her clothes, her grip tightening. Zhen Wenjun understood she was feeling even worse. There was not a moment to lose; they needed to leave immediately and find a private place!
Racing through the main palace avenue in the Imperial Carriage, Zhen Wenjun kicked out the driver and took the reins herself, driving both quickly and steadily.
Palace guards swiftly cleared the way ahead. Everyone in the palace bowed and made way upon seeing the imperial insignia.
It wasn’t far from Chonghua Hall to the bedchamber. Zhen Wenjun’s horsemanship was superb; it would only take one kezhong3 to arrive. Even so, Wei Tingxu couldn’t hold back any longer. Like a snake demon, her long skirt trailing, she crawled out from the carriage and embraced Zhen Wenjun from behind, tugging at her clothes. Her lapels were pulled open, yanked forcefully downwards, revealing shoulders that had, after several years of care, finally regained some of their fairness. Without a word, Wei Tingxu pressed down and bit.
This bite was meant to be fierce, but the moment Wei Tingxu’s teeth touched Zhen Wenjun’s shoulder, rationality abruptly surged back into her mind. She suddenly lessened most of the force, yet it still made Zhen Wenjun frown slightly. Zhen Wenjun was never afraid of pain; she had endured broken arms and legs, let alone a bite from Wei Tingxu.
What made her knit her brows was Wei Tingxu’s loss of composure.
When had Wei Tingxu ever behaved so wantonly in public? Moreover, she was now the Son of Heaven of Da Cang, always known for her considerable prestige, and would absolutely never commit even the slightest impropriety in front of others. The bedchamber was still ahead, yet she was already draped over Zhen Wenjun’s back like a blazing fire, her entire body scalding hot, clinging relentlessly, stirring Zhen Wenjun’s own heart to become restless and flighty4.
“Wenjun, Furen…” Wei Tingxu murmured incessantly, her consciousness hazy, her fingertips scratching at Zhen Wenjun’s back through the fabric. Zhen Wenjun glanced back and saw Wei Tingxu’s cheeks flushed as if in the grip of a fever, her whole body seemingly boneless, unable to support itself. Her teeth were grinding back and forth on the spot on Zhen Wenjun’s shoulder where she had already left a bite mark; clearly, she was in extreme discomfort.
There had been a deviation in when the Yulu Wan took effect, but its effects were even more potent than imagined.
“Zizhuo, I know it’s very uncomfortable right now, just endure it a little longer. If you want to bite, then bite. We’ll be at the bedchamber soon.”
Zhen Wenjun had already prepared herself to be bitten fiercely, but Wei Tingxu instead pressed her forehead against her back, let out two scalding breaths, her eyes glazed over, and her voice so soft it was almost rootless.
“I can’t bear to,” Wei Tingxu said.
Finally, they reached the main entrance of the bedchamber. Almost in the same motion as she leaped off the horse, Zhen Wenjun scooped Wei Tingxu down and rushed into the hall.
The instant the door closed, one of Wei Tingxu’s secret agents, witnessing this unusual scene, immediately appeared from a hidden door. Zhen Wenjun, already halfway inside, grabbed her.
“Good timing!”
The secret agent was taken aback.
Zhen Wenjun spoke a few words to her, telling her to find Ah Liao. The secret agent had been by Wei Tingxu’s side since childhood and was inexperienced in worldly matters5. It took her a moment to process what Zhen Wenjun was saying. The young face beneath the mask flushed red, and she hurried away…
For the next three days, apart from Ah Liao’s visit and the delivery of food and wine, Wei Tingxu’s bedchamber remained closed to everyone.
The officials were all worried about Her Majesty’s safety. Initially, they all gathered outside the bedchamber, wanting to get news of Her Majesty at the earliest opportunity. Later, Ah Liao arrived with the Grand Princess6 Ah Ran and the Empress Dowager, and only then were they all persuaded to leave.
“What exactly is wrong with the Son of Heaven?” The Empress Dowager could trust Ah Liao and had come to persuade everyone to leave, but now even she couldn’t go in to see Her Majesty, which made the Empress Dowager very worried.
Ah Liao found it incredibly difficult to speak. Faced with the questioning and worried gazes of the Grand Princess and the Empress Dowager, she lowered her head in shame.
How could she tell them that the Son of Heaven’s current predicament was entirely her doing? That Her Majesty had already been considering adopting an heir7 and establishing a Crown Prince, but she had run over saying she’d obtained a secret method for female-female conception, and had Her Majesty take it before even trying it herself? Even if Her Majesty had been completely willing, even if Her Majesty had been a bit too hasty, could she shift the blame to Wei Tingxu? No, not unless she no longer wanted her head.
Moreover, this Yulu Wan had indeed deviated in its effects; it hadn’t worked on the spot but instead, its effects had belatedly arrived the next day, causing such a major incident and nearly disgracing the imperial family’s dignity. Ah Liao dared not imagine what would happen if there were any real mishap. Never mind her own head, even the thirty-plus ladies of Qingyuan, as well as the distant Zhangsun family in Dongchun, would probably be uprooted by the Empress Dowager.
Ah Liao tried her best to persuade the Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess to leave. After all, Zhen Wenjun’s medical skills were outstanding, and she was also Wei Tingxu’s most trusted and intimate companion. With her inside, there shouldn’t be any major problems. The Empress Dowager left, half-convinced and somewhat reluctantly, liable to return at any moment.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Ah Liao didn’t dare to go in either.
All the palace eunuchs and maidservants had been driven out and were standing before the red-lacquered round pillars8 outside the hall, all looking at Ah Liao.
Don’t look at me, I don’t know anything. Ah Liao covered her face and walked away.
She knew this Yulu Wan wasn’t life-threatening; it was just that the “baby-making” process might take a little… longer… perhaps?
By her estimation, once it took effect, the drug’s effects would last for twenty-four shichen9. If properly… relieved, it would naturally subside after two days.
But it was already the third day, and the two of them still hadn’t come out.
Sister Wenjun was so valiant; Ah Liao had witnessed it plenty of times in daily life. Presumably, she wouldn’t be much different in the boudoir10. Someone who could make Tingxu so utterly infatuated must be outstanding in all aspects; there shouldn’t be any issue of improper “relief”.
Then it must be… it must be…
The Yulu Wan’s miraculous effects had deviated, leaving Ah Liao exceptionally unsure.
Could it be that if the onset time was wrong, the duration was also problematic?
If there really was a problem, how long would it take?
Five days? Ten days? It couldn’t possibly be half a month, could it?
Twenty days later, in Xuzhou, the capital of the Changge Kingdom.
The Crown Prince Xiao Xiao, who was responsible for overseeing the state, was about to be buried alive by mountains of memorials11. Her face was dark. “When on earth is Mother Emperor coming back! Not a single reply to the letters sent. What happened!”
Xiao Xiao desperately wanted to go to Boling herself, but she couldn’t get away.
It couldn’t be that Wei Tingxu was clinging to Ah Mu again, making her not even return to the Changge Kingdom, could it?
Xiao Xiao felt uneasy—it shouldn’t be, right? Although Wei Tingxu is cunning, she’s quite good to Ah Mu. After the two kingdoms allied, Xiao Xiao had met her a few times and could see that this person indeed treated Ah Mu differently from others. How could it come to this…
As Xiao Xiao was worrying, an urgent letter was delivered to her.
After reading the urgent letter, Xiao Xiao had one thing she didn’t understand. This Wei Tingxu was ill, and Ah Mu had been alone with her in the bedchamber for twenty days already…
Ill? Alone? Twenty days?
What kind of illness could last this long without recovery or death, and require Ah Mu to personally care for her, staying by her side without leaving for so long?
The more Xiao Xiao thought about it, the less she understood. Finally, she found an excuse and summoned her strategist, Li Rong, for an audience.
Footnotes
- 冕旒 | miǎnliú | A type of ceremonial crown worn by emperors and high officials in ancient China, distinguished by strings of jade beads hanging from the front and back.
- 本宮 | běngōng | Lit. “this palace.” A self-referential pronoun used by an empress or high-ranking imperial consort.
- 一刻鐘 | yī kèzhōng | One kè of time. A traditional Chinese unit of time, equal to a quarter of an hour (15 minutes).
- 心猿意馬 | xīnyuányìmǎ | Lit. “heart like a frisky ape, mind like a galloping horse.” An idiom describing a state of being restless, distracted, or infatuated.
- 未經人事 | wèi jīng rénshì | Lit. “not yet experienced human affairs.” Often implies sexual innocence or naivety about the ways of the world.
- 長公主 | zhǎng gōngzhǔ | Grand Princess or Eldest Princess. A title for the emperor’s eldest sister or a particularly honored princess.
- 過繼子嗣 | guòjì zǐsì | To adopt a child from a kinsman to continue the family line, especially to become an heir.
- 朱漆圓柱 | zhūqī yuánzhù | Round pillars painted with red lacquer, a common feature in traditional Chinese palatial architecture.
- 時辰 | shíchén | A traditional Chinese unit of time, equal to two hours. Twenty-four shichen would be 48 hours.
- 閨房 | guīfáng | Boudoir; a lady’s private chamber, often associated with intimacy.
- 奏折 | zòuzhé | Memorials to the throne; official documents submitted by ministers to the emperor.
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