Chapter 360
**Chapter 358: A Flicker of Life**
Mo Xun was stationed in the side hall of Yongning Palace.
Ever since Shen Wei fell gravely ill, Li Yuanjing had ordered Mo Xun to remain in Yongning Palace, not allowed to leave even a step.
Mo Xun cursed under his breath.
The grueling days of working day and night were unbearable!
“Here we go, here we go.” Mo Xun swallowed his frustration, carrying a medicine box as he entered the inner chamber.
He took Shen Wei’s pulse.
Li Yuanjing had sent someone to take Le You away. Le You was still young and couldn’t bear too much shock.
Le You turned back three times, his little head drooping, leaving the chamber in silence.
Once Le You was gone, Mo Xun finally spoke to Li Yuanjing: “Your Majesty, the poison in the imperial concubine has spread to her internal organs. Her pulse is weak, and she could lose her life at any moment. Perhaps we won’t even wait for the antidote from General Sun.”
Li Yuanjing’s face darkened like frost.
Mo Xun administered two more needles to Shen Wei, replaced the herbs in the incense burner, and prepared to leave the chamber.
The room was quiet, the fragrance of the herbs slowly filling the air. Li Yuanjing leaned against the bed, gazing at Shen Wei’s lifeless face, the pain in his eyes almost palpable.
“Wei Wei…” Li Yuanjing murmured.
Please wake up.
...
The next day, a gentle spring rain fell, drenching the flowers and trees in the inner palace, their leaves glistening with a vibrant green.
In the misty rain, Liu Qiao’er held an oiled paper umbrella, dressed in a deep green silk skirt, walking slowly along the long palace path.
“This is the road the Emperor takes every day to court, right?” Liu Qiao’er confirmed with her personal maid once more.
The maid nodded: “Yes. At this hour, the Emperor should be returning from the morning court.”
A smile crept onto Liu Qiao’er’s face.
Today, she had made a rare effort to dress up, wearing the green silk skirt and the jade hairpin the Emperor had gifted her years ago. After years of simple meals and neglecting her appearance, Liu Qiao’er was no longer the beauty she once was.
But she firmly believed that the Emperor still held feelings for her.
The friendship they shared in their youth always carried a beautiful filter.
“Your Highness, the Emperor’s carriage is coming!” The maid, with sharp eyes, noticed the imposing procession approaching and quickly whispered to Liu Qiao’er.
Liu Qiao’er’s red lips curled into a smile as she stopped by the flowerbed along the path, eagerly awaiting the Emperor’s arrival.
The sound of footsteps grew closer.
As the Emperor’s palanquin approached, Liu Qiao’er called out clearly, “This humble servant greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!”
The light rain pattered on the oiled paper umbrella.
It concealed Liu Qiao’er’s still alluring face.
As soon as Li Yuanjing spoke, she would gracefully lower the umbrella, revealing her true self.
The spring rain fell softly, the elegant oiled paper umbrella reminiscent of Jiangnan ink wash paintings, and the beautiful palace concubine in her green silk skirt—this scene was sure to be captivating, a sight to capture Li Yuanjing’s heart.
Unfortunately, the Emperor’s procession did not stop.
They simply passed Liu Qiao’er by.
Stunned, Liu Qiao’er thought perhaps her voice had been too soft for Li Yuanjing to hear.
So, she hurriedly followed in her embroidered shoes, hoping to speak with him again. A eunuch from the procession blocked her path, speaking neither too humbly nor too arrogantly: “Qiao’er, if the Emperor wishes to see you, he will send word through his servants. The Emperor has not been in a good mood lately; it would be best to wait a while before visiting him.”
Liu Qiao’er halted in her tracks.
She watched the Emperor’s figure grow distant, heading towards Yongning Palace.
Her personal maid approached and whispered, “Your Highness, let’s wait a little longer. The Concubine Chen has suddenly fallen ill. Once she passes, you can rekindle your connection with the Emperor.”
The news of Concubine Chen’s sudden illness could no longer be kept secret.
Everyone in the inner palace knew.
Some rejoiced, while others were filled with sorrow.
Those who had benefited from Concubine Chen’s favor burned incense and prayed for her safety.
Others seized the opportunity, hoping to rise in status. Not just Liu Qiao’er, but several other concubines were eager to act.
Liu Qiao’er pressed her fingers to her forehead: “I just fear that Concubine Chen might have good luck and survive.”
The maid replied, “I’ve inquired at the Imperial Medical Bureau; Concubine Chen’s illness is difficult to treat.”
Liu Qiao’er held the oiled paper umbrella, her eyes flickering: “Very well, I can wait a little longer.”
She had been low-key and patient for years; waiting a few more days was no trouble.
...
Two days later.
As night fell, Li Yuanjing was in the study of Yongning Palace, reviewing memorials. The flooding in the south after the spring thaw was severe, with several old levees breached, and the waters rampaging.
Li Yuanjing held a red brush, furrowing his brow as he read the memorial from the governor of Nanzhou, quickly writing down his comments.
After finishing a stack of memorials, Li Yuanjing felt a wave of melancholy wash over him. He gazed out at the dark, overcast sky, as black as ink.
He sighed, as if questioning the heavens: “I have done no wrong by the people, nor by the world. Though I may not be as wise as Yao, Shun, or Yu, I am still a benevolent ruler who cares for my subjects. Heaven, if you have eyes, why do you seek to take away my beloved?”
The night wind rattled the window, but the heavens offered no reply.
Li Yuanjing lowered his cold gaze, murmuring, “It seems I have succumbed to jealousy and suspicion, reaping what I have sown.”
If only he had been more rational back then, had not hurt Shen Wei’s feelings, perhaps she wouldn’t be suffering now.
Li Yuanjing regretted his past actions.
At that moment, Eunuch Deshun suddenly burst into the study, beaming with joy: “Your Majesty! The Concubine has awakened!”
The red brush in Li Yuanjing’s hand clattered onto the desk.
The cover of the memorial was smeared with bright red cinnabar.
Li Yuanjing strode towards the adjacent chamber, the beaded curtain swaying with a rustle.
In the depths of the light green canopy, Shen Wei had opened her eyes, looking around in confusion.
She seemed to have regained her vitality.
“Wei Wei!” Li Yuanjing called out.
Shen Wei looked over, bewildered, and a bright smile spread across her face: “Your Majesty.”
The candlelight flickered warmly, and Shen Wei’s brows and eyes were alive with beauty.
The pain that had weighed on Li Yuanjing’s heart for over ten days vanished in an instant.
He felt like a person who had been drowning for a long time, suddenly able to breathe again.
Li Yuanjing’s steps were too hurried, and he accidentally tripped over a chair. He nearly fell, scrambling to steady himself as he staggered to the bedside: “You’re awake! Finally awake!”
Shen Wei’s eyes sparkled, her speech as clear as ever, and her once pale cheeks were slowly regaining their color. She asked in confusion, “Your Majesty, what has happened?”
It seemed she was still unaware of the poison she had suffered.
Li Yuanjing replied joyfully, “Nothing, nothing. It’s good that you’re awake.”
He took Shen Wei’s hand.
But in the next moment, Li Yuanjing’s expression changed to one of disbelief. He squeezed Shen Wei’s fair fingers again.
Shen Wei had awakened.
But her fingers were still cold.
Even colder than before.
Unaware, Shen Wei shook her dizzy head, feeling a soreness and pain in her neck. She tried to pull her hand away from Li Yuanjing’s grasp, feigning anger: “Your Majesty hasn’t paid any attention to me for a month, and now you want to pull and tug at me?”
Li Yuanjing opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He realized that Shen Wei had not truly recovered.
Her current state...
A flicker of life before death.
Before dying, some people suddenly appear full of energy, able to speak normally, seeming to have recovered. But in reality, it is merely a fleeting moment of clarity.
Shen Wei habitually called out to the outside: “Cai Lian, what time is it? Tell the kitchen to make some sweet rice soup; I’m hungry.”
Cai Lian was still in the small kitchen preparing medicine and didn’t hear Shen Wei’s voice.
After calling out twice with no response, Shen Wei could only shake her head in resignation. Just as she was about to get out of bed, her strength suddenly drained away, and her vision darkened as she fainted.
“Wei Wei!” Li Yuanjing exclaimed.
In a brief moment, Li Yuanjing watched helplessly as the vibrant Shen Wei quickly withered away.
She collapsed into his arms.
The last flicker of life was rapidly fading.
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