Chapter 36: Old Matters of the Forbidden Palace part 1
They should have known each other; their meeting was just unavoidable fate.
A marching cot was set up in the study of Weiyang Palace.
Logically speaking, it was absolutely impossible for an official of the Emperor to recuperate in the study.
But the Emperor of this dynasty was too frugal. He had no concubines, so there were few palace chambers in use. If Xie Qianli wasn’t arranged in the study, he would have to be arranged on the Dragon Bed, and that certainly wouldn’t do.
With the Emperor’s decree, the imperial physicians were already waiting in position.
The Duke of Ying of the past was so heroic and upright, in white robes and silver armor, like a white birch covered in frost and snow.
Now, before the guards even carried him into the room, the smell of blood had spread along the way. Drops of blood actually seeped through the stretcher, dripping down one by one.
The little maids along the way covered their mouths in astonishment at the sight.
That was a bloody man in no exaggerated terms. His lips had lost almost all color. He had fallen into a deep coma and was transported to Ying Xi.
Doctor Liu and the others hurriedly began treatment.
In an instantāremoving armor, disinfecting, bandaging, cleaning rust from muscle and bone…
The imperial physicians surrounded Xie Qianli in the middle.
Ying Xi couldn’t help with the treatment.
Knowing that staying there would only make Doctor Liu and the others constrained and force them to report to him at every turn, he decided to return to his sleeping quarters, leaving the Weiyang Palace study completely to the wounded.
Yu Jing pondered the Emperor’s meaning. Before leaving, he carefully instructed the physicians: “His Majesty has granted special permission for you to treat him in Weiyang Palace. The Duke of Ying absolutely cannot die.”
The physicians nodded individually.
For such an unprecedented event, who dared to be negligent?
The physicians became even busier.
Doctor Liu had the highest medical skills and handled the deepest knife wound. He first washed the wound with a herbal decoction, but there was an arrow wound next to that knife wound, and the arrowhead had destroyed muscle tissue.
Doctor Liu had to deal with the necrotic part, using a knife to remove a portion. The blade had been roasted over fire; the effect of the Mafeisan (anesthetic powder) hadn’t kicked in yet.
Couldn’t wait.
Doctor Liuās blade scraped away the shredded flesh!
Even in a coma, one could feel the bone-scraping pain. Xie Qianliās body convulsed violently.
He said hoarsely, “Iā”
The physicians’ attention was drawn. Their hands didn’t stop, but they were all listening to his words.
After a moment of silence, the Duke of Ying vaguely spat out the second half of the sentence: “Child knows his mistake… I want… definitely want…”
Then he kept repeating the word want.
But what did he want?
The physicians wondered in their hearts.
Although the Duke of Ying’s residence seemed less glorious than in the past since the new Emperor took the throne, Xie Qianliās favor with the Emperor seemed undiminished.
Although curious, the physicians shook their heads one after another. No one dared to probe too much, fearing they would touch upon royal secrets.
The Duke of Ying became famous at a young age, with a noble title.
What else was there that he could desire but not reach?
…
ā”Uncle, I ask to marry the noble person who holds the main seat of Fanglan Hall!”
That was the Lantern Festival night several years ago.
The Weiyang Palace of that time was very different from now.
Silk and bamboo music was warm and soft; palace maids in spring attire lined up like fish.
Dragon brain incense burned everywhere in Weiyang Palace. Even the lamp oil was specially made, releasing a lingering fragrance when burned.
Before the year’s end banquet, royal nobles participated as per custom.
Xie Qianliās seat at the banquet was far higher than all the dragon sons and phoenix grandsons of his generation because of his Uncle Emperor’s special fondness.
The Lantern Festival was Xie Qianliās birthday.
So the reserved program of the night banquet every year was Emperor Yuantai asking Xie Qianli what birthday gift he wanted.
At five, he got a full set of shadow puppet toys.
At twelve, the snow-white warhorse presented by the Kingdom of Dayuan; he liked it, so he asked for it to ride.
At fourteen, he got a handy weapon, the Swimming Dragon Glaive.
Today, he was fifteen.
In order to make this request to his Uncle at the palace banquet, Xie Qianli had followed his father on campaign and won a great victory. Logically speaking, this gave his Uncle a lot of face. Uncle would definitely be happy, and if he was happy, he would definitely agree!
If Emperor Yuantai agreed, Xie Qianliās plan would succeed.
After three rounds of wine, the banquet was halfway through.
Brewing over the words he was about to say again, Xie Qianliās heart beat fast, terribly excited.
Even though he usually had a calm and self-controlled personality, perhaps what he was about to do this time was a bit outrageous compared to his usual self.
Xie Qianli suppressed his emotions but couldn’t control the slight curve of his lips. He downed a cup of honey water alone. The honey was sweet, the aftertaste slightly sour. He couldn’t help but think of his first meeting with Xiao Xi.
One spring day, Xie Qianli climbed the big tree outside Fanglan Hall to snap a magnolia flower. The flowering tree was lush, white as snow.
Just as Xie Qianli snapped a branch, he looked down casually. Amidst the overlapping light and shadow of the flowering tree, his breath was stolen by what he saw, thinking a spirit or immortal had appeared in the flowers.
He held back his surprise. Only after checking many times did he realize it was a face that was overly beautiful, yet crying alone, holding back tears.
That should be a little girl, right?
Xie Qianli looked down at the person, and the little girl looked up at him too.
Their eyes met. The tree full of magnolia flowers lost their color. Xie Qianli gripped the flower branch in his palm tightly, unaware that small thorns had already pierced deep into his hand.
“…”
When did a little immortal move into Fanglan Hall? And what made them weep?
Xie Qianli was incredibly familiar with this imperial palace. He jumped down from the tree crown, wanting to inquire.
The moment he landed, he crashed into the other person’s arms.
The little girl gripped Xie Qianliās arms with both hands. Clothes rubbed against each other, nose filled with fragrance. Xie Qianliās muscles tensed instantly.
One had to know the Xie family’s upbringing was strict. Except for enemies, no one had ever gotten close to him. Xie Qianli was astonished, having no time to dodge.
The little girl suddenly raised her eyes and said hurriedly, “Run.”
Almost simultaneouslyā
Shadow guards darted out from all directions of Fanglan Hall, blade lights crisscrossing.
The sound of drawing blades aroused Xie Qianliās instinctive desire to protect. He shielded the little girl behind him, the innocent posture of picking flowers vanishing instantly. Xie Qianli looked at the shadow guards, casting a calm gaze.
How could those shadow guards not recognize Xie Qianli?
Instantly, swords and sabers were sheathed. Kneeling neatly, the shadow guards bowed together: “Young Duke Xie!”
Thunderous force, wind knives and frost swordsāthose shadow guards who troubled Ying Xi, watched and forced Ying Xi, the lackeys of Emperor Yuantaiāall dissolved in an instant under the warning gaze of the young general.
Ying Xi cherished this moment of peace and couldn’t help but grip Xie Qianliās arm a little tighter.
This caused Xie Qianliās heart to tremble lightly. He looked back, thinking this little girl had a slender build and didn’t seem to know martial arts. Just now, she thought he might be in danger and spoke up to warn him; she didn’t seem like a wicked person.
Locked in Fanglan Hall, guarded by Emperor Yuantaiās secret guardsāwhat heinous crime had she committed?
Xie Qianli felt pity and asked the palace servants in the hall. They only answered that no law was broken, but she was not allowed to leave the hall, not allowed to talk to outsiders, and no one dared to speak of her identity.
Splendid as fireworks, treated like a prisoner.
Xie Qianli felt indignation in his heart. First, he dismissed the palace servants, then threatened the shadow guards, insisting on becoming the first outsider to step into Fanglan Hall.
At that time, who in the imperial palace didn’t know Xie Qianli?
Emperor Yuantaiās nephew, Grand Princess Huiningās only son, the sole heir to the Duke of Yingās title.
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