“Why doesn’t Madam the Empress rest properly…”
Why did she have to come here to find her?
Xunian was uncertain whether she should push the Empress away.
The warm breath brushing past her ear felt like a feather gliding over her heart, stirring a faint ticklish sensation.
Suddenly, she felt a weight settle over her. The Empress had draped herself entirely atop her, eyes closing.
Xunian noticed Xia He by the side, her eyes wide with shock. Embarrassed, Xunian patted the Empress’s hand, trying to get her to sit up.
Xia He was so stunned her jaw nearly dropped.
She couldn’t fathom why the Empress would be so close to a newly arrived Palace Maid—the two of them leaned together like lifelong friends, completely oblivious to the world around them.
For a moment, Xia He didn’t know if she should avert her eyes.
As she hesitated, she realized something was off with the Empress.
Summoning her courage, she softly called to the person leaning on Xunian, “Madam?”
There was no reaction from the person behind. Xunian’s heart tightened, and she gently shook the Empress’s cold hand.
“Madam the Empress?”
The Empress still rested quietly against her, unmoving.
Xunian’s heart gave a jolt; she could feel the Empress’s breathing growing faint.
The arms wrapped around her loosened weakly.
Xunian hurriedly held the Empress, letting her rest in her embrace.
The fragile beauty leaned against her, eyes tightly closed, face incredibly pale.
Even through her clothes, Xunian could sense the chilly dampness of her body.
Xunian’s pupils contracted, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.
Her arms trembled as she held the Empress, and she looked up sharply at Xia He.
“Call the Imperial Physician!”
……
The unconscious beauty was gently laid upon the bed, those nearby keeping anxious vigil.
A scene drifted through Xunian’s mind: her sister lying on a sickbed, herself helplessly waiting by the side, unable to do anything.
That all-too-familiar sense of powerlessness washed over her, spreading through her limbs.
Her hands at her sides clenched unconsciously, nails digging into her skin, but she didn’t even notice the pain.
Xia He hurried in, leading a middle-aged man of about thirty or forty.
He wore a deep blue robe with the insignia of the Imperial Hospital.
Xunian quickly stepped aside, yielding space for the Imperial Physician.
The Imperial Physician set his Medicine Box aside, and through a draped veil, took the Empress’s pulse.
His brow furrowed slightly as he felt her pulse, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking:
“Madam is not in serious danger. She has simply not rested well these days—her sleep is poor, her heart and spleen are both weak. She needs ginseng, astragalus, white atractylodes, with licorice and angelica to assist…”
As he spoke, he retrieved several medicinal herbs from his Medicine Box.
After measuring them, he placed them upon a piece of Yellow Paper.
After packing the medicine, he respectfully handed it to Xia He.
Xia He accepted it, bowing in thanks. “Thank you, Imperial Physician Wen.”
So, his surname is Wen… Xunian felt uneasy, quietly noting his name in her mind, planning to check into it when she had the chance.
“This humble official takes his leave and will not disturb Madam’s rest further.”
Imperial Physician Wen dared not linger, and after prescribing the medicine, he took his leave.
He had barely exited when the person on the bed slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing her awake, Xunian finally relaxed, letting out a long breath.
The Empress’s eyes were half-lidded, her breath as thin as silk, but her words still carried a hint of command:
“Throw it away.”
Xia He answered, “Yes.”
Throw it away?
The medicine was just prescribed—why throw it away already?
Xunian was a bit puzzled. Noticing her look, Xia He shot her a glance, signaling for her to follow outside.
Xia He carried the medicine out.
Just as Xunian was about to follow her out, she heard the person on the bed ask in a soft, weary voice, “Where are you going?”
Xunian pretended not to hear and simply walked out.
After all, the Empress hadn’t told her to stay—she’d just asked where she was going.
The door closed softly behind her.
Good.
The Empress leaned weakly against her pillow, curling her lips into a faint, cold smile.
How many days had it been? Now even Xunian dared to disregard her words.
The Empress quietly noted this slight; once she recovered, she’d be sure to settle the account.
She had almost forgotten—she was supposed to confine Xunian.
The Empress had always been lenient with others.
She’d let her enjoy a few more days of freedom.
If, after a few days, Xunian still dared to defy her, she’d have no choice but to lock her up.
The Palace Maid tossed the packet of medicine into the rubbish heap, then lifted her head and said to the girl beside her,
“Madam the Empress doesn’t trust the Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Hospital. She never drinks the medicine they prescribe.”
Xia He thought for a moment and added, “She only drinks the medicine I cook for her every day.”
“I see.”
Xunian wasn’t surprised, and simply nodded calmly.
So that’s how it was.
“You and Madam the Empress… were you acquainted before?”
Xia He was truly curious and couldn’t help but ask.
Xunian wanted to say she really hadn’t known the Empress before, but she figured Xia He wouldn’t believe her anyway.
So she simply agreed, “Yes.”
Xia He, remembering how much the Empress trusted Xunian, instructed her, “Then… today, you’ll take care of Madam the Empress.”
“All right.”
……
Fearing she’d disturb the Empress’s rest, Xunian entered the room on tiptoe, carrying the bowl of herbal medicine Xia He had just finished brewing.
Xunian didn’t understand why the Empress placed so much importance on her. She’d always suspected the Empress was the Duke’s Daughter.
But if she really was the Duke’s Daughter, why wouldn’t she acknowledge her?
Her gaze landed on the pale and fragile Empress lying quietly on the bed.
For some reason, the Empress’s appearance always reminded her of her Sister.
The thought made her heart ache uncontrollably.
When the Empress woke, she’d felt as if a weight had finally lifted, and she could truly relax.
Xunian set the bowl of medicine at the bedside, gazing at the Empress’s ashen profile, her eyes filled with concern.
At that moment, the Empress happened to open her eyes and saw the look on Xunian’s face.
It felt as sweet as eating candied fruit.
Her lips curved into a faint smile, a river of stars shimmering in her eyes, their upturned corners full of lingering tenderness, fixed unblinkingly on Xunian.
Xunian truly cares about her.
Being stared at like that made Xunian a little uneasy. “Madam, why do you look… at me like that?”
“You’re beautiful.”
As soon as those words left her lips, Xunian’s cheeks flushed pink.
What did the Empress mean by that?
She must be delirious from illness, saying such nonsense.
Xunian felt her face growing hot.
She picked up the bowl and held it beside the Empress, staring at the wall as she said, “Madam should take her medicine now.”
The Empress didn’t take the bowl. When Xunian couldn’t help but glance at her, the Empress lowered her gaze, eyes falling on her own hand, voice tinged with disappointment,
“My hands… have no strength.”
Why did that feel so familiar?
With no other choice, Xunian sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the bowl, scooped a spoonful of medicine, and blew gently on it before bringing it to the Empress’s lips.
The Empress drank from her hand, her pretty brows furrowing slightly, as if overwhelmed by the bitterness.
Xunian hesitated, then set the bowl aside and leaned in close. Her sweet face filled the Empress’s vision.
“Close your eyes.”
The face she dreamed of day and night was now so close at hand.
Her heart thudded—was it from nervousness, or excitement?—as if it might leap out of her chest.
The Empress blushed and obediently closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling, her throat moving with tension.
Xunian’s unique, fresh fragrance drifted over, coming ever closer.
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