WK Chapter 20

The so-called illness experience essay is nothing more than writing about how uncomfortable you feel.

 

A fever was the simplest. To conserve energy, he wrote lightly, with tiny characters, pushing through his feverish mind to write a flowing thousand words.

 

It was extremely detailed and padded.

 

Including how he felt when eating, sleeping, and walking.

 

He had to try to make his nominal father change his mind in the limited time, even if he felt so uncomfortable that he wanted to vomit. He didn’t lower the authenticity value.

 

Considering the high word count, please give him more lifespan value!

 

As the sky gradually darkened, Ye Xiaoyuan came in to bring him a lamp. Qu Dubian quickly covered up what he was doing. Seeing that he was reading and practicing writing, Ye Xiaoyuan didn’t disturb him. He brought in some snacks, reminded him not to tire himself out, and then gently closed the door.

 

After writing the last character.

 

Qu Dubian said: “Submit.”

 

Simulator: [Scanning in progress.]

 

Simulator: [Scan complete, evaluating.]

 

Simulator: [Evaluation complete. The host has not truly experienced a full day. According to the program, deductions have been made accordingly. Lifespan value obtained: 35 days.]

 

[Remaining lifespan value updated.]

 

[Total remaining lifespan: 36 days]

 

It was a few days more than he expected. Qu Dubian immediately adjusted the 100% authenticity value to 0. His body was still hot, but his mind instantly cleared.

 

Simulator: [The host has submitted the experience essay. Do you want to shorten the originally planned three-day simulation time to the minimum of one day?]

 

Qu Dubian: “Not yet.”

 

Simulator: [We wish you a pleasant simulation.]

 

When he sat down to write, it was still afternoon, but by the time he finished, the sky had completely darkened.

 

He tossed the paper with his essay into the charcoal brazier, waiting for it to burn completely, then directly lay down on the desk, unable to resist the fatigue, and fell into a light sleep.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan had come in several times in the afternoon to urge him to rest, but seeing the young prince studying diligently, he only brought snacks and didn’t disturb him.

 

Unexpectedly, this time when he entered, he found the young prince asleep on the desk. He approached quietly, intending to carry the child to bed.

 

But as soon as he reached out, he felt the astonishing heat emanating from the child.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan’s heart trembled.

 

He touched the young prince’s forehead, the scorching heat burning straight into his heart.

 

He nearly cried out in panic:

 

“Xiaochun… Xiaochun! Come in quickly—!”

 

–

 

Late at night.

 

In the Zichen Hall.

 

Emperor Chongzhao woke up in a cold sweat, suddenly startled.

 

He instinctively wiped the sweat from his forehead, only to realize his breathing was rapid and his hands were trembling.

 

He had just had a dream.

 

In the dream, there were no ominous predictions from the Astrology Bureau, and Consort Yun was alive and well, raising their young son with him.

 

But before the child turned three, he developed a high fever and slowly died in his arms. Consort Yun, unable to bear the pain of losing her child, held the child’s body and perished in a great fire.

 

Consort Yun was shouting: “The Astrology Bureau has wronged me, they will face retribution—”

 

“Your Majesty, save Dubian, save our child—”

 

He could only watch helplessly, wanting to rush into the fire, but was held back by others.

 

Until the fire was extinguished.

 

Two charred bodies were presented before him, the mother protecting the child, fused together. The overwhelming pain and despair felt as real as if thousands of sharp swords had pierced his heart.

 

Until he woke up.

 

The pain in his heart was still gnawing at his flesh like ants.

 

“Yu Decai.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu, “Your Majesty, it’s still early, why are you awake?”

 

He was about to pull back the curtain when he heard the Emperor’s voice stopping him.

 

“Go pour a cup of water.”

 

Head Eunuch Yu complied, then heard another sentence: “Hot.”

 

Hot?

 

Now Head Eunuch Yu was truly puzzled. Usually, it was cold tea; had the Emperor become confused in his sleep today?

 

–

 

The candles in Ju’an Hall burned all night.

 

Imperial Physician Qiu from the Imperial Hospital kept watch, and during this time, he had Wen Xiaochun fetch medicine from the hospital, which he personally oversaw being brewed.

 

When he took the pulse, his expression was not good.

 

He had some thoughts in mind.

 

Such a small child, with a pulse indicating a not-so-strong constitution, suddenly developing a high fever—if it lasted too long, it was uncertain whether the child could survive.

 

He didn’t dare to say this, only stating: “Let’s start with some mild medicine and see if we can bring the fever down.”

 

When the medicine was administered, Qu Dubian woke up.

 

He smacked his lips; the medicine wasn’t too bitter.

 

Qu Dubian quickly got into character, looking at Imperial Physician Qiu, his mouth pouting as if about to cry, “I want to see Father Emperor…”

 

“Doesn’t Father Emperor want me anymore?”

 

“He’s sending me away.”

 

“Why… have all my brothers seen Father Emperor, but I haven’t…”

 

“Father Emperor dislikes me.”

 

The child’s voice was small and weak when sick, like a listless sick cat, his face flushed from the fever, his lips pale, with tears welling up in his eyes.

 

With a gentle blink, tears fell from his thick lashes.

 

He cried silently, his nose red, looking both wronged and sad, making anyone who saw him feel a pang in their heart.

 

Imperial Physician Qiu, who had children of his own, felt a pang of sympathy seeing him like this and sighed. Truly, it was pitiful.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan felt as if his chest had been struck.

 

When the young prince first learned he was to be sent away, he didn’t show any displeasure, and he had been studying all afternoon, with no time to interact with anyone outside.

 

Such a sudden change could only mean that the young prince actually understood what being sent to the temporary palace signified.

 

He understood, but he didn’t say anything.

 

He even smiled, acting like a little adult to comfort them.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan sat by the bed, half-embracing Qu Dubian, holding him tightly, his voice choked with emotion.

 

Even comfort seemed pale and powerless.

 

“It’s not like that, Your Highness…”

 

But it was exactly like that.

 

Yet he could only say so.

 

“Your Highness, take your medicine well, and when dawn comes, and the palace gates open, we’ll go report to His Majesty. His Majesty… His Majesty…” will come to see you.

 

He couldn’t bring himself to say the last part, knowing that an unfulfilled promise would only deepen the hurt.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan: “His Majesty will definitely care about you.”

 

Qu Dubian apologized in his heart; he didn’t want to make Ye Banban worry so much, but whether he could stay and to some extent clear his name as an ill-fated child, making his cheap father suspicious of the Astrology Bureau, depended on this.

 

Wen Xiaochun couldn’t help but say: “Imperial Physician Qiu.”

 

Imperial Physician Qiu said: “Rest assured, when a prince falls ill, the Imperial Hospital naturally reports it to His Majesty.”

 

Before was before, now is now.

 

A prince who receives attention is naturally more precious than one who doesn’t.

 

Given the situation, he would have to stay in Ju’an Hall tonight, overseeing the brewing of medicine and diagnosing at any time. He hadn’t known the young prince’s fever was so high before coming; if anything went wrong, he might also be implicated.

 

After Wen Xiaochun called out earlier, he remained silent. Ye Xiaoyuan called him several times before he snapped back to reality.

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

Wen Xiaochun stood behind the bed curtain, his gaze fixed on the young prince’s flushed and uncomfortable face.

 

His fingers in his sleeve were clenched tight, the knuckles turning a pale blue, yet he said softly:

 

“Nothing.”

 

–

 

The next day.

 

Imperial Physician Qiu was waiting outside the Zichen Palace early.

 

After Emperor Chongzhao finished the morning court session, he heard Imperial Physician Qiu report:

 

“Your Majesty, yesterday the Seventh Prince in Ju’an Hall suddenly developed a high fever, and throughout the night, there have been no signs of it subsiding. Your humble servant’s medical skills are inadequate, I request Your Majesty to summon more experienced physicians from the Imperial Hospital for diagnosis.”

 

“High fever? Last night?”

 

Emperor Chongzhao unconsciously stood up, immediately thinking of the dream he had last night.

 

Was this a father-son connection, or…?

 

He suppressed that unpleasant thought, “Summon all the physicians from the Imperial Hospital who specialize in treating children’s fevers.”

 

Imperial Physician Qiu: “Yes.”

 

He felt slightly relieved, as now if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t bear the responsibility alone.

 

After he left, Emperor Chongzhao became restless.

 

He had dreamed last night, and his young son had developed a fever last night.

 

No one would believe this wasn’t a father-son connection.

 

The first and second dreams were both related to Consort Yun and his young son. In the first dream, a black disaster star fell into the Astrology Bureau, and in the second dream, Yueqing directly said ‘The Astrology Bureau harmed me’ – could it be that Yueqing was trying to remind him of something from the beyond?

 

Emperor Chongzhao rhythmically tapped the table and ordered: “Send out the same secret guard who watched Xiao Qi last time to keep an eye on things for me.”

 

The head of the secret guards was slightly surprised.

 

Secret guards, after all, operated in the shadows.

 

They handled many royal secrets, and generally wouldn’t be easily dispatched. Once they appeared in public with their true identity, or frequently contacted outsiders, it would gradually reduce their level of secrecy to dangerous levels. The consequences would be losing their qualification as secret guards – either death or having their limbs broken and being imprisoned forever.

 

It was very rare for the same person to be dispatched repeatedly and so frequently.

 

–

 

Fengwu Palace.

 

It was customary for the consorts to pay their respects to the Empress daily.

 

Actually, what was called paying respects was really a large-scale palace tea party. The palace had been quite peaceful these past few years, and everyone’s conversation time had shortened.

 

These days were different, they practically wanted to embed their bottoms into the chairs in the Empress’s palace and live there.

 

The Empress, with her elegant features, sat properly in the main seat, with the sweet tea beside her having been replaced three times. Listening to the chattering conversations below, she still had the leisure to think that today’s sweet tea was bland, and next time she should try adding some red dates.

 

Noble Lady Rong: “Originally, being transferred to study in the Eastern Garden was thought to be a turn of fortune, but unexpectedly… this is how it ends, truly unfortunate.”

 

The Fifth Prince’s mother was Noble Lady Rong, who didn’t qualify to raise a prince, but Noble Lady Rong’s family had allied with Noble Consort Lan’s family, achieving considerable merit in their jurisdiction.

 

With Noble Consort Lan’s backing, Emperor Chongzhao specially granted permission for Noble Lady Rong to raise the Fifth Prince by her side.

 

Since then, Noble Lady Rong had become Noble Consort Lan’s lackey, going wherever directed, extremely eager to curry favor.

 

Not only did she herself curry favor with Noble Consort Lan, but she also had her son curry favor with the Sixth Prince.

 

Therefore, Noble Lady Rong’s displayed attitude was often Noble Consort Lan’s attitude.

 

Noble Consort Lan gave a light laugh: “Alright, the Seventh Prince is almost gone, it’s better to say less. Consort Yi, I heard the Fourth Prince and Seventh Prince are very close?”

 

Consort Yi turned the prayer beads in her hand and closed her eyes saying: “The children’s affairs are their own. Whoever he wishes to be friends with, let him be friends with them. I don’t manage such things.”

 

What a stubborn personality, truly boring.

 

Noble Lady Rong covered her mouth: “Sister should let the Fourth Prince have less contact with those from Ju’an Hall, the bad luck that comes with it can’t be cleared away no matter how many sutras are chanted.”

 

She turned her head to look at Noble Consort Lan: “The Sixth Prince is very sensible and well-behaved. This consort must learn from Your Grace about how to educate children.”

 

Noble Consort Lan paused, somewhat unnaturally lifting her teacup for a sip.

 

“Yes, he is very sensible. When I came, he was already studying by himself.”

 

Noble Lady Rong flattered: “Excellent, excellent.”

 

The Empress inwardly let out a long sigh and offered some superficial pleasantries:

 

“Though the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes are young, they are all steady and sensible. You have worked hard in raising the royal children. When you leave later, I have prepared new cloth for you to make new clothes for the children.”

 

–

 

Xiuxiang Palace.

 

It was in complete chaos.

 

The Sixth Prince was very angry and said to the eunuch blocking him: “Get out of the way! I’ve told you but you still don’t understand.”

 

“Why can Seventh Brother go to the temporary palace but I can’t?! This is too hateful, I’ve never been out in all my life!”

 

“I want to go to the temporary palace too! I want to go to the temporary palace too! Why is Mother Consort keeping me confined!”

 

The eunuch was on the verge of tears, “Your Highness, that temporary palace is not a good place.”

 

With the study hall not yet repaired, the Sixth Prince and others didn’t need to attend classes, but being confined in the palace was also quite unbearable, as study hall was one of the few social times for children.

 

Once idle, they started finding all sorts of ways to cause trouble.

 

He just felt that anything he couldn’t have must be good, and if he couldn’t go, others shouldn’t be able to go either.

 

The Sixth Prince dodged left and right, avoiding the defensive line and charging out. The palace people had no choice but to follow behind him.

 

The Sixth Prince charged all the way to Funing Palace where the Fourth Prince was.

 

The main hall of Funing Palace housed a small Buddhist shrine, and the incense made by Consort Yi had no inferior smell, but was rather light and pleasant.

 

“Hey! Hey!!”

 

The Sixth Prince charged straight in, finding the Fourth Prince dozing in the corridor.

 

The Fourth Prince opened his eyes drowsily: “What are you doing?”

 

The Sixth Prince supported himself on his knees, catching his breath: “Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother! Seventh Brother is being sent away!”

 

The Fourth Prince slowly widened his eyes.

 

His napping companion was leaving?

 

The Fourth Prince hurriedly said: “No, no.”

 

The Sixth Prince: “Then let’s go find him first, he can’t secretly go to fun places!”

 

The Fourth Prince nodded repeatedly, at least they should take him along.

 

The Sixth Prince was about to leave with him when the Fourth Prince reminded: “There’s still Fifth Brother.”

 

“Oh right!” The Sixth Prince slapped his forehead, “I forgot about him.”

 

The two quickly agreed, and without caring whether the Fifth Prince was willing or not, they went straight to his palace and dragged him out. Poor Fifth Prince, even his shoes had to be brought and put on by the palace people who chased after them.

 

The three princes, followed by seven or eight palace servants, marched grandly towards Ju’an Hall.

 

The “Find Little Brother” trio made their magnificent entrance!

 

–

 

Ju’an Hall.

 

Qu Dubian estimated that the time was about right, and used the excuse of being hungry to send away Ye Xiaoyuan.

 

He put on his clothes, quietly got out of bed, then crept to the table and wrote a line of characters.

 

His teaching efforts during this period had yielded good results; this line of characters could be understood by Ye Banban and Xiaochun, and would certainly be seen by his nominal father.

 

He placed the note in a conspicuous position at the head of the bed, then secretly slipped away along the wall.

 

Due to Qu Dubian’s habits, the newly added staff in Ju’an Hall had already been sent away, and Wen Xiaochun was watching over the fire to decoct medicine, so he was not discovered by others.

 

The charcoal fire burned silently in the bedchamber.

 

The little master of the bed had disappeared, leaving only a note that read:

 

[Dreamed of Mother Consort, Mother Consort said she would take me away, happy. Want to see Father Emperor before leaving.]

 

 

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