Chapter 71: Visit part 1
At the corner of the curtain, Wu Mao was so anxious his voice changed, trembling as he said, “His Majesty just came out of the fire. Just now… while in the fire, he coughed blood.”
Staring at the Emperor with closed eyes on the couch, the physician felt the situation was tricky. Shifting his gaze to the Emperor’s chest, he unexpectedly saw spots of dark red.
It burned the eyes.
Wu Mao followed his gaze and hurriedly said, “The fire is getting bigger. Should we move His Majesty to avoid the fire first?”
With the west wind rising, the fire grew fiercer. The blaze, which was nearly extinguished, surged again, engulfing the entire Jiao Fang Palace in a sea of flames.
It gradually spread to the surrounding Baifu Hall, Lingqi Hall, and Huanzhou Hall.
Billowing smoke rose, threatening to blot out the sun.
The stars in the sky were hidden by the smoke. The sky, which should have darkened, was illuminated as bright as day by the firelight.
The physician said gravely, “We must be quick. His Majesty likely cannot wait. Have people prepare several vats of cold water.”
The Emperor’s skin was already an unnatural red. Covered by robes outside, it wasn’t obvious. When a young eunuch removed the Emperor’s left sleeve, he suddenly met resistance. Looking down, he realized that patch of flesh had stuck fast to the clothes.
“Supervisor Wu!” The young eunuch was almost scared to tears, calling Wu Mao tremblingly, shaking like a sieve.
Inside the tent was chaos; outside was chaos too.
Busy extinguishing fire, busy saving people, and countless burned servants. Not only was the Emperor heavily injured, but the fire started from the main hall of Jiao Fang Palace. Zhao Second Miss, who had been in the outer room of the main hall, was also injured significantly.
She was the Empress’s sister. Moreover, the Emperor had personally stated in Wan Chun Palace today that she was the Empress Dowager’s biological daughter and the Emperor’s sister. The servants had heard rumors, causing a stir, making them dare not neglect her in the slightest.
The fire was shockingly large. Zhao Duanduan was moved to a secluded palace courtyard, crying, “Sister… Sister is still inside…”
Mancao was burning with anxiety, her heart suspended, having to comfort her while almost collapsing herself.
“Second Miss, don’t be afraid. Yunzhu is still guarding over there. If there is news of Her Highness, this slave will inform Second Miss immediately.” Mancao directed people to treat her wounds, whispering soothing words.
Gradually, Zhao Duanduan’s voice lowered, only sobbing with head bowed. It was unknown if she cried from the pain of the wounds or the pain in her heart.
When the thick smoke dispersed, Zhao Yiyi snapped back to reality. Looking toward the source of the smoke, it was the direction of Jiao Fang Palace.
Staring for a long time, she was finally certain—it was Jiao Fang Palace.
Even if not, it was the surrounding halls.
She walked all the way to Jiao Fang Palace. Halfway there, she was stopped by palace servants, forbidden from going forward.
Amidst the turmoil, Zhao Yiyi dressed simply. The servant didn’t notice her, just pushing her outward. “Jiao Fang Palace is on fire. Go back quickly, don’t come here!” Before his voice fell, the servant suddenly grabbed her arm, calling in shock, “Empress Niangniang?!”
This exclaim instantly attracted all the servants’ eyes.
“Niangniang, why are you here?” The servant looked up in bewilderment, his soot-stained face frozen, looking dazed for a moment.
The west wind blew fiercely. A fire that should have been quickly resolved was still burning.
Zhao Yiyi was surrounded by servants and escorted to the hall where Zhao Duanduan was temporarily settled.
Seeing a crowd approaching, Zhao Duanduan heard footsteps and gripped the armrest, turning her head sharply.
Having hoped and been disappointed several times, just as she was about to withdraw her gaze hopelessly, she saw a lotus-colored figure surrounded by countless servants, walking gracefully toward her.
Apricot eyes, cherry lips, creamy skin, low bun.
Even in such chaos, she showed no disarray, her demeanor as usual.
As she approached, Zhao Duanduan burst into tears, throwing herself into her arms, whimpering, “Sister…”
Her throat was smoked and she had cried for so long; her voice sounded like it was scratched by a knife, hoarse and ear-piercing.
This frightened the servants and physicians, who hurriedly pulled her back. Mancao couldn’t help scolding her with a stern face, then ordered people to continue treating her wounds.
“Not obedient at all.” On the way, Zhao Yiyi had heard about her injuries. She knocked her head lightly, her expression showing displeasure.
This palace courtyard had been abandoned for a long time. Though not small, it was overgrown with weeds.
The servants spent a long time cleaning before managing to clear a few habitable rooms. Today was chaos; the fire still raged.
Zhao Yiyi washed up simply and rested on a couch in the inner room. She had suffered shock today and had a fever. Later, without taking medicine, she blew in the cold wind by the pool all night.
Lying on the couch now, her head felt heavy, her body uncomfortable.
Touching the pillow, keeping her eyes closed, she remained awake. Unknown time passed, perhaps the sky turned white, before she fell into a groggy sleep.
The next day, she was woken by blinding light.
Hearing faint voices of servants outside, she relaxed, turning over on the couch, unwilling to move.
“Yesterday His Majesty was hurt badly. Wonder if he’s better.”
“Sigh, His Majesty fainted when he came out of the fire. How could he be better?”
Several little palace maids muttered. Their voices faded as they moved away with their things.
Zhao Yiyi blinked, finding her eyes dry. She blinked several times before turning to the slightly open window.
Flying eaves like hooks, tiles like glaze—it was the towering Qingyue Pavilion. She realized she was in Yande Palace.
Staring at the blue sky, the door creaked open. Yunzhu led two little maids in, one carrying medicine, one carrying food.
“What time is it?” Zhao Yiyi asked dazedly.
Yunzhu replied, “Noon. This slave came several times, but Niangniang didn’t wake. Hearing movement inside just now, I had them heat the food and medicine.”
Sitting by the bed, she touched Zhao Yiyi’s forehead, sighing helplessly. “Did Niangniang take the medicine last night?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head, her eyes misty. “Forgot.”
“How could…” Yunzhu was exasperated, speechless for a while. “This slave had porridge made, and some side dishes, plus the糟鹅 (marinated goose) Niangniang likes. Niangniang eat quickly, then take the medicine. Sleep, and you’ll be well.”
Zhao Yiyi ate the porridge from her hand small mouthfuls at a time. The freshly made porridge was hot, making her frown.
When the bowl bottomed out, she asked suddenly, “I heard His Majesty came out of the fire last night. But wasn’t it Jiao Fang Palace that caught fire?”
Yunzhu paused, looking down at her skirt. After a long silence, she whispered, “Last night, His Majesty mistakenly thought Niangniang was still in the hall and entered the fire personally to save Niangniang. For some reason, he fainted in the fire and was carried out by servants.”
Zhao Yiyi choked suddenly.
Yunzhu fed her half a cup of water before she felt better.
Just as she was about to sleep after medicine, Physician Lin asked for an audience to examine her.
The sudden fever yesterday was due to shock; a sleep had improved it. Physician Lin checked her pulse, prescribed a recuperative formula, and sighed, “Fortunately Niangniang wasn’t in Jiao Fang Palace yesterday…”
Zhao Yiyi asked, “How is His Majesty?”
Physician Lin’s brush paused. After pondering, he replied, “His Majesty rushed in yesterday disregarding everything, searching frantically. The fire burned him severely. He coughed blood in the inner hall first, and when brought out, no part was intact. When this subject treated the Second Miss, I saw a patch of His Majesty’s flesh stuck to his clothes, bloody and blurred…”
Imagining the scene, Zhao Yiyi felt horrified, clenching the quilt, frowning unconsciously.
“And today?” she asked.
“His Majesty hasn’t woken yet. Physicians Yang and Li are leading others in full rescue efforts.” Physician Lin lowered his voice, resuming writing the prescription. “This subject went to Zichen Palace today, only checked the pulse through a barrier. Specifics are unknown.”
Because the Emperor was heavily injured, the morning court was cancelled.
Though the news was tightly suppressed, the physicians were forbidden from going home. But the fire in the palace city last night, with smoke covering half of Luoyang, couldn’t be hidden.
By now, there must be guesses outside.
They couldn’t leave the palace, naturally not knowing the outside situation. But undeniably, there must be unfavorable rumors.
While dazed, Yunzhu brought another bowl of medicine.
Zhao Yiyi took a sip and frowned, moving the bowl away. “So bitter.”
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