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In three years, Emperor Chen seemed to have aged ten years all of a sudden.
So much so that when Wu Ruian saw Emperor Chen Zhao, he didn’t even recognize her.
Emperor Chen Zhao’s temples were streaked with white, her body weak from illness. Though clearly in her prime, she had an air of decrepitude, requiring two maids, one on each side, to support her as she walked.
Compared to Emperor Chen Zhao, An Suyun still looked to be in the bloom of youth.
If Emperor Chen Zhao hadn’t been wearing imperial robes, if there hadn’t been a retinue of eunuchs and female officials around her, he would never have admitted that this was his invincible Imperial Mother.
Wu Ruian’s heart tightened, his nose stung, and he knelt straight down, kowtowing, “Your unfilial son has disappointed and worried Imperial Mother. Please punish this son.”
“Imperial son, quickly rise,” Emperor Chen Zhao strode forward, helped Wu Ruian up, and said with tender affection, “Imperial son, you’ve grown thin. Truly thin. You must have endured much hardship during these three years outside, no?”
Emperor Chen Zhao’s eyes were red, which made Wu Ruian feel distressed as well.
He shook his head repeatedly, denying, “Your son has not suffered. Please put your heart at ease, Imperial Mother.”
“Where did you go these past three years? Why didn’t you contact me? Do you know that I searched the entire Xuanguan Kingdom upside down, yet never received a single piece of news about your whereabouts?”
Wu Ruian looked at Emperor Chen Zhao’s aged and weary eyes, his heart filled with immense tenderness.
In that instant, he suddenly felt that his Imperial Mother was, after all, just an ordinary woman.
She would age, she would fall ill, she was not invincible.
“Your son was ill for three years, and as soon as I awoke, I immediately rushed back to Taiping Prefecture to pay my respects to you,” Wu Ruian lowered his head and said, “It is your son’s filial impiety to have caused Imperial Mother worry.”
“It’s good that you’re back, it’s good!” Emperor Chen Zhao held Wu Ruian’s hand, tears streaming down her face. An Suyun, seeing this, immediately brought a clean handkerchief to wipe away Emperor Chen Zhao’s tears.
At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the threshold of Prince Wu’s manor was already on the verge of being worn out by visitors from all walks of life, including common folk and high-ranking officials. However, except for Emperor Chen Zhao, Wu Ruian refused to see anyone else.
Today, he only wanted to share family warmth with his Imperial Mother; as for others, they could all be postponed to another day.
Prince Wu’s manor had been desolate for three years. After Wu Ruian’s return, the old housekeeper Liu Changqing also sprang up from his sickbed. In his heart, the Prince was heaven and earth, the driving force and meaning of his life. Was there any better medicine than the Prince’s return?
With the arrival of the heart’s medicine, the illness was cured.
Liu Changqing busied himself, arranging a splendid feast of fine wine and delicious dishes, setting up a banquet in the lakeside pavilion to welcome Prince Wu and cleanse him of the dust of his travels.
During the banquet, Emperor Chen Zhao was accompanied only by An Suyun, a single maid. Emperor Chen Zhao and Prince Wu, reunited after a long separation, had many intimate things to say, so all unnecessary accompanying eunuchs and imperial physicians were kept at a distance.
From Shi Yulin’s perspective, he could only see Emperor Chen Zhao and Wu Ruian chatting and laughing happily.
She was still more beautiful when she smiled.
Only when she fell ill and faced her long-lost son could she truly let go of all grievances and her imperial status, and converse with her son as a mother.
Wu Ruian told Emperor Chen Zhao about all he had seen and heard on his journey, the most infuriating of which was the matter of the dissolute monks at Baoguang Zen Temple.
Emperor Chen Zhao gasped, “Did that monk truly fail to sever his worldly desires and forcibly abduct innocent women?”
“Everything your son said is true. If your son hadn’t arrived in time, Di Jiang would have…” Wu Ruian stopped there, realizing he had said too much.
Under Emperor Chen Zhao’s questioning gaze, he continued, “In short, countless women were deceived and violated by him. Such a scoundrel truly defiles the purity of Buddhism and is unworthy of being human!”
Empress Chen Zhao curved her eyebrows, smiled, and said, “Monks are also human, they have seven emotions and six desires. This kind of thing can be understood, but it cannot be forgiven.” Then, she said to An Suyun, “You should record this matter and, upon returning to the palace, hand it over to the Eight Circuit Inspectors for investigation. This kind of impropriety must be thoroughly suppressed.”
“Yes, this servant has noted it,” An Suyun nodded.
“Imperial son, is there anything else worth celebrating that you can share with your Imperial Mother, cough cough cough—” Emperor Chen Zhao had not finished speaking when she began to cough violently.
Each cough, a profound ache in the heart.
“Your Majesty, have some water,” An Suyun held up the hot water, speaking while gently patting Emperor Chen Zhao’s back repeatedly.
Wu Ruian, seeing this, also immediately stood up, surrounding Emperor Chen Zhao, and asked with concern, “Imperial Mother, you...” Just as he was about to say some comforting words, he saw some scattered bloodstains on the white handkerchief in Emperor Chen Zhao’s hand.
Emperor Chen Zhao coughing blood, this was the first time.
Wu Ruian’s expression changed dramatically: “Imperial physician! Summon the Imperial physician!”
After coughing blood, Emperor Chen Zhao fell into a coma and did not awaken until evening. Wu Ruian stayed by her bedside the entire time, not leaving for a single moment.
After An Suyun fed the herbal soup to Emperor Chen Zhao spoonful by spoonful, she and Shi Yulin waited outside the door, attending to the affairs of Prince Wu’s manor.
Outside the main gate of Prince Wu’s manor, hundreds of household retainers and onlookers had already gathered. Officials from various aristocratic families had also submitted their visiting cards, requesting to see Wu Ruian. However, Wu Ruian kept the gate tightly shut, refusing to see anyone.
It wasn’t until midnight that Emperor Chen Zhao regained consciousness. As soon as she awoke and realized she wasn’t in the imperial palace, she immediately decided to return.
Wu Ruian feared that the journey by carriage would exhaust her and affect her health, so he said, “Imperial Mother, the night is deep and the dew heavy. Please rest here with your son tonight.”
Emperor Chen Zhao shook her head, insisting on leaving, saying, “Court has already been suspended for a day today. Tomorrow, it cannot be delayed any further, otherwise, if the officials are uneasy, how can I stabilize the empire?”
Wu Ruian knew that when Emperor Chen Zhao had made up her mind, further words from others would be futile. So, he simply took a retinue of guards and personally escorted Emperor Chen Zhao back to the palace.
During curfew, even when spotted by patrolling martial officers, no one dared to comment further. They would only assume that Emperor Chen Zhao had been so fond of Wu Ruian that she lost track of time while chatting.
After Emperor Chen Zhao returned to the palace, she drank the calming soup and fell back into a deep sleep.
Wu Ruian, having attended to everything, was about to leave when a young eunuch blocked his path.
Shi Yulin bowed and knelt, saying, “Your Highness, it is late tonight, please rest in the palace.”
Wu Ruian found it quite abrupt.
How dare a mere young eunuch block his path?
Wu Ruian hadn’t slept for the past two days, and with Emperor Chen Zhao’s poor health, his mood was even lower. Now that the young eunuch had stumbled into his path, he really wanted to vent his frustration on someone.
Wu Ruian said in a deep voice, “Who are you? Look up.”
Shi Yulin complied, raising his head, but still kept his eyes downcast, not daring to meet Wu Ruian’s gaze directly.
That submissive, cautious demeanor made Wu Ruian instantly feel that the eunuch wasn’t so confident when facing him.
“You’re lucky today. This prince will forgive your disrespect. Now, begone.” Wu Ruian finished speaking, about to leave, but the young eunuch hurriedly took a step to the side and knelt, blocking his path again.
“What, you want to die now?” Wu Ruian’s face darkened, anger creeping into his eyes.
Shi Yulin prostrated himself again, kowtowing and saying, “Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty is ill from longing, having thought of you for many days. It is likely that during court, she also hopes to see Your Highness at the first possible moment. Please, Your Highness, stay overnight in the palace and accompany His Majesty.”
“You…” Wu Ruian had not stayed in the palace since he acquired his own manor. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, he simply didn’t want to.
Before, there had always been some estrangement between him and Emperor Chen Zhao. Now, with Emperor Chen Zhao’s illness, this barrier, though its distance had lessened, still lay there, insurmountable for him.
Moreover, Wu Ruian found it somewhat strange.
Was this young eunuch being overly meddlesome? He didn’t seem very old, yet he harbored so many thoughts? And his demeanor didn’t suggest he was someone with ulterior motives, seeking to curry favor with the powerful… It was truly perplexing.
Wu Ruian ultimately did not stay overnight in the palace, nor did he punish the young eunuch. However, the next morning, he still dressed neatly and entered the palace at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) to attend the morning court.
The morning court session was brief; most matters had already been handled by Prince Gong and Gongsun Miao.
During this time, the most eye-catching figure was none other than Prince Wu Ruian.
Prince Wu Ruian’s disappearance for three years and his reappearance naturally caused quite a stir. However, before the court adjourned, Emperor Chen Zhao summoned him to the inner palace, so the ministers did not have a chance to speak with him.
After court, Gongsun Miao was also asked by Emperor Chen Zhao to stay and report on yesterday’s council meeting. Clearly, Emperor Chen Zhao specifically kept Wu Ruian so that he could participate and familiarize himself with court affairs as soon as possible.
After Gongsun Miao reported on official business, seeing Emperor Chen Zhao in poor spirits and her breath faint, he said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there is something, I’m not sure if this humble official should speak of it?”
Emperor Chen Zhao nodded: “My dear minister, speak freely.”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble minister has observed that recently, illnesses have been frequent in Taiping Prefecture, and quite a few officials have fallen ill. It seems to be an inauspicious year…”
“Oh?” Before Gongsun Miao could finish, Emperor Chen Zhao was startled, and anxiously asked, “Which other esteemed minister has fallen ill?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, Grand Historian Changsun has been bedridden and has not left his bed for three months.”
Emperor Chen Zhao frowned, suddenly startled.
“Why was I not informed of this matter?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, Grand Historian Changsun feared you would worry, so he ordered everyone not to leak this information. This humble minister worries that if we don’t tell you soon, then…”
“Then what?”
“Then you won’t be able to see Grand Historian Changsun one last time,” Gongsun Miao said calmly, but in Emperor Chen Zhao’s heart, it stirred a huge commotion.
“What…” Emperor Chen Zhao’s mouth slightly opened, seemingly in disbelief.
Gongsun Miao was silent for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, should we invite Grand Master Xianshen to perform a ritual?”
Wu Ruian, who was beside them, heard this and asked, “Grand Master Xianshen is…”
“Replying to Your Highness, Grand Master Xianshen is the great master this humble official invited from Buzhou Mountain. He is now the Imperial Preceptor of our Xuanguan Kingdom.”
“I see,” Wu Ruian nodded and said, “It is indeed proper to perform a ritual for the Ghost Festival.”
Emperor Chen Zhao listened to their conversation, paying no mind to it. Her mind was entirely filled with the image of Changsun Wugou.
She sighed and said, “You are fully responsible for this matter. An’er, you accompany me to the Changsun Manor to visit Grand Historian Changsun.”
“Your Imperial Son receives the decree.”
“Your humble minister receives the decree.”
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