After being sent to the cold palace, the emperor’s heart was burned into ashes CHAPTER 74

Chapter 74: Jiangdu

During their conversation, the Head Imperial Physician arrived to check the pulse.

Having finished a honey tangerine, Zhao Yiyi leaned against the window, casually taking a handkerchief to wipe her fingertips. She glanced toward the bamboo-green gauze curtain and asked with a light smile, “Does Your Majesty have any ideas?”

Head Physician Yang walked in from the outer room, followed by a boy carrying a medicine chest. Hearing the footsteps, Gu Zhen smiled and said, ” Zhen will tell you in a moment.”

“This subject wishes His Majesty and Her Highness peace.”

Head Physician Yang bowed to both of them, stepped forward two paces to the Emperor’s couch, whispered a greeting, and prepared to check the pulse.

But he was stopped by Gu Zhen.

“Yiyi,” Gu Zhen suddenly called out to the side, speaking softly, ” Zhen needs to change dressings in a moment. You go out and wait for Zhen for a bit.”

Head Physician Yang’s main duty was researching illnesses and compiling medical texts; he rarely came before the Emperor.

It was only because Head Physician Li had taken leave today, and the other physicians on duty were young and recently recruited from the provinces with insufficient experience, that he had to be swapped in.

Therefore, he had never witnessed the Emperor in such a state. He subconsciously turned his head and glanced at the Empress sitting alone by the window.

Almond eyes, crescent brows, cherry lips. Exquisite features pieced together on a face like a hibiscus, set off by skin as fair as jade; every part was just right.

Her hair was piled high like clouds, and the golden buyao hairpin swayed gently with her movements as she stood up.

Recalling this Emperor’s methods, Head Physician Yang withdrew his gaze in an instant, staring at the medicine chest beside him, quietly waiting for the noble master to leave.

Zhao Yiyi adjusted her robes and walked out gracefully. As she rounded the screen, she inadvertently looked back. The bamboo-green curtain was half-open, and a hand with distinct knuckles extended out, the dark sleeve rolled up, waiting for Head Physician Yang to check the pulse.

It was still dotted with scars, though compared to the previous time, the marks were much lighter.

With just a hasty glance, Zhao Yiyi pulled her goose-yellow cloak with twisting branch patterns tighter and walked out.

The faint sound of the water clock could be heard. Zhao Yiyi sat on a reed mat, asked a servant for paper and brush, and boredly sketched and wrote on it.

Several strokes down, several corrections made.

Mancao had just come over from Yande Hall. Bending over beside her to watch, she asked in a low voice, “Is Niangniang still dizzy? Does this slave need to massage you for a while?”

Zhao Yiyi had slept late last night, and unfortunately, was woken up early this morning by the sounds of Zhao Duanduan’s dressing change. Unable to fall back asleep, she felt groggy all over.

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She nodded slightly, leaning against the armrest and looking out the window. Raindrops were rolling down from the eaves, shattering into petals upon hitting the ground.

“How is Duanduan today?” she asked.

Mancao replied, “Second Miss is the same as usual when applying medicine, but her appetite is a bit better today; she had an extra half bowl of porridge.” She hesitated for a moment, then whispered in Zhao Yiyi’s ear, “The Empress Dowager sent a plate of osmanthus cakes. This slave didn’t dare place it before Second Miss.”

Zhao Yiyi frowned slightly, but relaxed a moment later and nodded. “Mm.”

“By the way, Second Master sent a calling card today, saying he wants to enter the palace to visit Niangniang.” Mancao was annoyed at her own memory and asked hurriedly.

Early on when the incident at Jiao Fang Palace happened, Zhao Chen had wanted to enter the palace to see her.

But at that time, the Emperor was unconscious with heavy injuries, and Duanduan’s injuries were not light either. A young girl suddenly having external wounds was ashamed to see people; she hid in her small room every day, only daring to peek at the scenery outside from the window.

Therefore, she hadn’t dared to let Zhao Chen come.

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Yiyi said, “Mm, let him come the day after tomorrow.”

In the Emperor’s living quarters, every flower and tree was carefully selected. A patch of cypress trees was planted outside the main hall. Though it was late autumn, they were as lush and green as usual.

As the continuous autumn rain fell, the cypress branches swayed, shaking vigorously under the west wind.

Amidst the haze, reflecting against the gray tiles and pink walls, it looked exceptionally solemn and majestic.

Sudden barking came from outside the hall, accompanied by the sound of pattering paws. A black and a white figure ran past the hall door.

In a flash, they ran back.

After several passes, she finally got a clear look.

It was a slender hound and a Folin dog (lapdog).

She recognized the slender hound; it was Gu Zhen’s favorite dog, kept behind Zichen Palace and brought along for hunts. But she didn’t know when a Folin dog had been added.

Folin dogs were mostly kept by noble ladies in the capital; rarely did men keep such dogs. Moreover, she felt it looked vaguely familiar but couldn’t recall why.

When the two figures ran past her for the fifth time, she asked casually, “When was a Folin dog added?”

A servant beside her smiled. “It’s been raised in Zichen Palace for half a year. If Niangniang likes it, shall this slave catch it?”

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Zhao Yiyi shook her head. Watching the two dogs suddenly stop at the door, tilting their heads to stare at her in unison, she felt a teasing impulse and couldn’t help asking, “What is this Folin dog called?”

The servant didn’t think much and replied, “It is named Zhao Xiaobai.” As the words fell, he suddenly remembered the Empress’s surname was Zhao, and his entire face went white in an instant.

Zhao Yiyi’s eyes darkened. Though she didn’t say anything, she lost the mood to tease them. She simply nodded to the servant to indicate she understood.

Seeing the Empress didn’t pursue it, the servant breathed a sigh of relief. He mentioned a new swing had been built in the rear hall and asked if she wanted to go admire the cassia flowers.

The mid-autumn cassia was the most fragrant.

Zhao Yiyi declined with a shake of her head. She simply rested her chin in her hand, turning her head to admire the autumn scenery outside.

She watched for an unknown amount of time until Wu Mao came to invite her back to the bedchamber. Only then did she crumple a sheet of snow-white paper into a ball, walk around the dwarf pine placed at the side, and return to the bedchamber.

Elm incense was burning again in the bedchamber; curling mist dispersed from the apertures of the Boshan censer.

When Zhao Yiyi entered, she heard a few light coughs from the hall.

They were just ordinary coughs, but because his throat was injured, the sounds were muffled and hoarse, uncomfortably piercing the eardrums.

After a moment, the coughing stopped, and Zhao Yiyi entered the inner hall.

“Yiyi.” Gu Zhen called her warmly, smiling. ” Zhen thought for a while just now—how about using ‘Fengyi’ as the title?”

Compared to his usual cool and indifferent voice, right now, it inexplicably carried a hint of ingratiation.

Zhao Yiyi didn’t pay attention to him.

She was fine when she went out. Sensing her mood wasn’t right upon mentioning Zhao Duanduan’s title, Gu Zhen said helplessly, “Who provoked you again?”

Although Zichen Palace was vast, there were only so many people, and only one master.

By asking “who provoked you,” he was practically asking if he had displeased her again.

“If you don’t like it, Zhen will change it to another,” Gu Zhen added.

It would have been fine if he hadn’t asked, but with this question, the fire in Zhao Yiyi’s heart sizzled upwards. Steam practically rose from her head as she walked over quickly and pushed him through the curtain.

“Isn’t it you?” She was so angry her chest hurt, annoyed. “Why did you name the dog that?”

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Gu Zhen was stunned for a moment before realizing she meant Zhao Xiaobai. He felt a bit guilty immediately. “Although you didn’t want it, Zhen did give it to you initially, so I named it after your surname.”

Zhao Yiyi’s face turned green with anger. “This consort thinks following Your Majesty’s surname is also quite good.”

Through the curtain, Gu Zhen tentatively touched her. Seeing she didn’t notice, he grew bolder, even holding that hand as white as jade.

“That day, Zhen heard you call that slender hound Zhao A-Huang, so…”

Zhao Yiyi said, “Of course this consort can, but how can Your Majesty?”

Gu Zhen hadn’t expected that a name chosen on a whim would cause such trouble now.

Had he known, he would rather have named the Folin dog Gu Xiaobai.

After coaxing patiently for a long time, hearing her voice soften slightly, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Yiyi, what do you think of ‘Fengyi’ as Zhen mentioned just now?”

Zhao Yiyi knew that according to the rules of Great Chu, counties within the imperial domain containing famous mountains or great marshes could not be used as fiefs.

And Mount Hua was located within the territory of Fengyi Commandery.

Yet she frowned and said, “I don’t want it.”

Her voice was as clear and moist as clouds; even when refusing, she left no room for anger.

Gu Zhen smiled helplessly, softening his voice to ask her, “Then which one does Yiyi want?”

Zhao Yiyi lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze falling on the hand he held firmly. She asked softly, “Does Your Majesty think the words ‘Jiangdu’ sound good?”

Jiangdu Commandery was the place of the Gu clan’s rise, the dragon’s origin. Its status was extraordinary, more critical than famous mountains or great marshes.

Other rules had exceptions, but only Jiangdu had never been used as a title.

Zhao Yiyi waited for his reaction.

However, Gu Zhen only laughed. Leaning closer, his warm breath sprayed through the thin layer of gauze. “Since Yiyi has decided, just tell Zhen directly. Why beat around the bush?”

“Your Majesty agrees?” Zhao Yiyi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Low laughter came from his side. In their current posture, if looked at inadvertently, they appeared to be embracing.

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Gu Zhen replied, “If I don’t agree, what can Zhen do with you?”

The familiar scent calmed Gu Zhen’s mind, and his expression softened.

“Whatever you like is fine, as long as Yiyi is happy.”

A servant entered to announce the arrival of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had come several times before, but Gu Zhen had been unable to deal with it and had people turn her away.

But now that the Emperor’s injuries were improving and he was frequently summoning courtiers, it would be inappropriate to ask the Empress Dowager to leave as before.

“Yiyi, Zhen will go see Mother.” Gu Zhen tugged at her arm, lowering his voice to coax her.

He lowered his posture extremely low, almost into the dust, before earning a light chuckle from her.

“Where will Your Majesty see Mother?” she asked.

Gu Zhen whispered, ” Zhen will change clothes and go to the outer room for a brief meeting; I’ll be back soon.” Knowing she didn’t want to see the Empress Dowager for various reasons, he coaxed, “You just wait for Zhen inside; no need to go out.”

Saying this, he called for Wu Mao to come in and help him change, asking Zhao Yiyi to wait outside the screen first.

But Zhao Yiyi stood there refusing to leave, preventing him from calling Wu Mao, smiling faintly. “Are Your Majesty’s injuries ready to be seen? Come to think of it, this consort hasn’t seen Your Majesty recently and is very curious.”

“Yiyi won’t let Wu Mao in; do you plan to change Zhen’s clothes personally?”

A bitter smile appeared on Gu Zhen’s lips. He said warmly, “You know what Zhen looks like now. Let’s not look, hm?”

Zhao Yiyi refused to listen. “What if this consort insists on looking?”

The bedchamber fell silent. The fierce wind whistled outside the window, mixed with pattering rain.

After an unknown silence, Gu Zhen’s face showed some cracks, his expression dazed and lost. He suddenly reached out and tugged at her sleeve. “Yiyi, although Zhen is much better than before, the physician said it will still take some time to heal completely.”

“What if you look, find Zhen too ugly, and don’t like me anymore?”

Speaking of this, his voice indeed carried an unconscious tremor.

Zhao Yiyi smiled unhurriedly. “Let this consort think. Hmm… this consort thinks, then I’ll just switch to another one.”

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Gu Zhen’s expression changed drastically. He abruptly yanked open the curtain, gripping her sleeve tightly, gritting his teeth. “Don’t you dare think about it!”

Translator’s Note:

Jiangdu: In this chapter, Yiyi chooses “Jiangdu” as the title. Jiangdu is historically significant and often associated with the rise of power or specific dynasties in Chinese history/literature (often linked to Yangzhou). The raw notes it as the “Dragon’s Rise” place for the Gu clan, meaning it’s extremely prestigious—more so than standard titles named after mountains.

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