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Inside the hall, the incense of Su Huang He burned faintly, its fragrance dissipating with the slightest breeze.
At this time of year, gold lamp incense would usually be lit, but a few days ago, the Emperor remarked that it was difficult to produce and time-consuming, so he instructed Naiwu Fu to discontinue its offering.
Recently, Great Yan had been plagued by frequent warfare. The Three Feudal Kings of Huai Song had rebelled; although the conflict had been quelled, it had nonetheless drained the nation's vitality. The court's finances were strained, and even the Emperor had become more frugal with his own meals.
A palace maid entered to serve tea and noticed the Emperor finally straightening his back, rubbing his neck.
Chang Xi quickly leaned in and whispered, “It’s late, Your Majesty. You should rest. The Empress’s maid just reported that the Empress caught a chill last night and has not been feeling well this morning. She hardly ate anything all day. Shouldn’t you go check on her?”
The Emperor paused for a moment in silence before replying, “I still have some memorials to attend to. Have the Imperial Physician take good care of the Empress, and tell her to rest well. I will visit her when I have time.”
“Understood,” Chang Xi replied softly, falling silent thereafter.
The hall was enveloped in a long silence, as if it were devoid of life. The only sound was the cold wind rustling through the fiery red maple leaves outside. The Emperor remained engrossed in his documents, showing no signs of wanting to rest or retire for the night.
Chang Xi had served during the previous dynasty, and from that perspective, he found the Emperor strikingly similar to the Former Emperor—shrouded in layers of light, his features blurred.
The hall door creaked open slightly as a young eunuch named Fu Zi crept in stealthily and whispered something to Chang Xi.
Chang Xi waved him away and stepped forward to speak quietly, “Your Majesty, the Empress has sent Imperial Physician He to check her pulse.”
The Emperor did not even lift his head, as if he hadn’t heard at all.
Chang Xi boldly said, "Your Majesty, the wound on your neck needs treatment. If it is left untreated, it may leave a scar."
Moonlight filtered through the gauzy window, faintly carrying a chill.
The tea cup gradually cooled, and a palace maid stepped forward to replace it with a fresh one.
As Chang Xi exited Yangxin Hall, Imperial Physician He was still waiting in the corridor.
This old physician had served the Former Emperor and had quite a stubborn temperament; even Chang Xi, the head eunuch of Yangxin Hall, dared not offend him. It was already past midnight when he was finally dismissed, and the darkness outside was as thick as ink.
The Emperor finally rose, stating his intention to visit the Empress's palace.
Chang Xi wanted to say it was too late and that the Empress would likely be asleep, but then thought that even if awakened, she would still be willing to see His Majesty. So he held his tongue.
Palanquin walked through the narrow alley, the palace lanterns swaying and casting flickering shadows.
The tree shadows on either side appeared somewhat menacing, and the Cold Crow of Night Rest was startled into flight, flapping away into the distance.
The night had deepened, and the surroundings grew increasingly quiet. Halfway along the path, the Emperor suddenly called for a stop. The guards, eunuchs, and palace maids all stood in place, yet there were no further instructions from Palanquin.
Chang Xi looked up and saw that just beyond a palace wall to the northwest lay a vast complex of palaces. The buildings were staggered and resplendent, but unfortunately devoid of any light; it was as quiet as a grand tomb, lacking any sign of life.
That was Cui Xin Palace, formerly known as Chulan Palace during the previous dynasty, which served as the residence of the Former Emperor's favored concubine, Virtuous Consort Chu.
In this dynasty, only Noble Consort Rong has ever lived here. Both Virtuous Consort Chu and Noble Consort Rong were favored consorts of the Emperor, but unfortunately, their fates did not end well.
The newly appointed concubines found this place ominous, and no one was willing to reside here. The Emperor and the Empress did not mention how to deal with it, so the Palace Maids had no choice but to seal it off temporarily. Little did they expect that in just two months, it would fall into such disrepair.
"Your Majesty, are we still going to the Empress's palace?" Chang Xi asked.
After a moment of silence, the Emperor replied softly, "No, let's return."
The moonlight broke through the clouds, casting a pale glow. From afar, a faint melody drifted from Yingge Courtyard, like a wisp of smoke, gently echoing across the surface of the lake.
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