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As dawn broke, the Qin stepped out and asked the maidservant, "Has the Chancellor risen yet?" The maidservant replied softly, "Not yet." The Qin then stood quietly outside the tent, watching as the morning sun streamed through the window, filling the room with golden light. Breakfast was already prepared, yet the Chancellor showed no signs of moving, only occasionally emitting a few pained groans. The Qin felt a surge of worry and asked, "Is the Chancellor unwell?" Unexpectedly, upon hearing her voice, the Chancellor suddenly opened his eyes wide, staring blankly ahead as if he did not recognize her, mumbling incoherently. The Qin was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Why are you speaking such nonsense?" The Chancellor appeared flustered and confused for a moment before suddenly asking, "Who are you?" The Qin gently replied, "Does my lord not recognize me? I am Qin Shuren." To her surprise, the Chancellor retorted, "Who is Qin Shuren?" Seeing his condition, the Qin felt a deep sorrow and did not respond. Instead, she reached out to touch his forehead and said, "Your head is burning hot; it seems you have caught a chill. But this illness came on strangely; how could it become so severe overnight?" The Chancellor muttered to himself, "I spoke with Zheng all night; how could my body be at ease?" The Qin pressed for details, but the Chancellor remained silent and turned away from her.
The Qin was extremely anxious and quickly ordered the maidservant to summon the two princesses: "The Chancellor has suddenly fallen ill; please ask the princesses to come quickly." Upon hearing this, Yingyang Princess scoffed dismissively and said, "Yesterday he was drinking and having fun; today he claims to be too ill to rise. Is he trying to force us sisters to visit him?" The Qin had no choice but to enter the inner chamber and tell the two princesses, "The Chancellor is delirious and cannot recognize anyone; he is speaking nonsense to thin air. Please inform His Majesty immediately and summon the most skilled physician from the Imperial Medical Department!"
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager summoned the two princesses and scolded them: "You should stop deceiving the Chancellor! Now that we hear he is gravely ill, why won't you go visit him? Quickly go to his chamber and inquire about his health! If his condition is critical, summon the most skilled physician at once!" Yingyang Princess and Princess Lanyang had no choice but to brace themselves and go to the Chancellor's bedroom. However, Yingyang Princess stayed in the hall while Princess Lanyang and the Qin entered first. When the Chancellor saw Princess Lanyang, at first he seemed not to recognize her at all; he either waved his hands or stared wide-eyed in anger. After a while, he managed to rasp out, "I have not long to live; I just want to see Yingyang once. Why won't she come?" Princess Lanyang comforted him, saying, "My lord is not seriously ill; why speak such ominous words?" But the Chancellor replied, "Last night I was in a daze between dream and reality; I vaguely saw Zheng come to me, questioning why I broke my promise. In a fit of rage, she stuffed a handful of pearls into my mouth which I swallowed whole. Surely this is an ominous sign! Now when I close my eyes, I feel Zheng pressing down on me; when I open my eyes, I see her standing before me. It must be that Zheng resents me for being unfaithful and has come to take my life! I fear I will not survive; I just want to see Yingyang once more before I die...”
After saying this, the Chancellor fell back into a stupor with weak breaths, turning towards the wall while mumbling incoherently again. Princess Lanyang saw his condition and felt heartbroken; she became worried and said to Yingyang Princess: "The Chancellor's illness seems like a matter of the heart that only you can heal!" She then described in detail the Chancellor's symptoms. Yingyang Princess was skeptical and hesitated to enter. Princess Lanyang took her hand and urged her into the inner chamber. Inside they found the Chancellor still rambling on about Zheng. Princess Lanyang raised her voice and called out: "Chancellor! Chancellor! Yingyang is here; open your eyes and look!"
Upon hearing this, the Chancellor suddenly lifted his head and waved his hands as if trying to get up. The Qin quickly stepped forward to support him against the headboard of the bed. The Chancellor looked at both princesses and said: "What virtue do I Chen Shaoyou possess that allows me to be connected with both esteemed ladies in such a way? I was thinking of growing old together with you both and resting in one grave after a hundred years! But now that black-and-white impermanence is on its way; my time is short."
Yingyang Princess felt displeased upon hearing this and said: "My lord is a sensible person; why speak such absurd words? Even if Zheng has some lingering spirit left behind, this palace is heavily guarded by divine beings—how could she dare intrude?"
Princess Lanyang saw that he was so stubbornly deluded and explained: "In ancient times people became paranoid over shadows cast by bows thinking they were snakes; ultimately leading them to serious illness. Could it be that my lord has also mistaken an illusion for a real threat?"
The Chancellor did not respond but weakly shook his head and turned his face towards the wall again without speaking further.
Seeing that his condition was worsening, Yingyang Princess could no longer hide it. She approached him saying: "My lord is perhaps only thinking of Miss Zheng from days past and does not wish to see Miss Zheng who is alive? If my lord truly wishes to see her, I am that Daughter of the Zheng Family—Zheng Qiongbai!" The Chancellor pretended not to believe her and retorted: "What do you mean by that? There has only been one daughter of Zheng Situ who has long since passed away. If you say Zheng is right beside me now—besides the deceased Zheng—who else could there be? It’s either life or death; that's common sense. But for one person—what does it mean for someone who has died? Is it really that deceased Zheng who is true Zheng? Or is it living Zheng who is true Zheng? If living is true then dead must be false; if dead is true then living must be an illusion. Your words do not convince me!"
Seeing this stubbornness from him, Princess Lanyang said: "The Empress Dowager has taken pity on Miss Zheng and adopted her as an adopted daughter named Yingyang Princess who works alongside our lord. Sister Yingyang is indeed that Miss Zheng who once played music with our lord! Otherwise how could she look exactly like Miss Zheng?" Upon hearing this, the Chancellor did not respond but merely groaned softly several times before suddenly lifting his head up deeply inhaling before saying: "Back when I was with the Zheng Family, I was served by Miss Zheng's maid Chun Yun. Now there’s something I wish to ask Chun Yun—does she happen to be here?"
Princess Lanyang quickly replied: "Chun Yun has been asking for Sister Yingyang recently; she’s waiting outside at the palace gate right now. She’s also very concerned about your illness." Saying this she ordered someone to bring Chun Yun in.
Chun Yun entered and first greeted the Chancellor saying: “How are you feeling today?” The Chancellor replied: “Chun Yun stay here; everyone else leave.” Thus both princesses and Gentlewoman stepped outside waiting by the railing. The Chancellor then got up tidying himself up before dressing properly instructing Chun Yun to invite both princesses and Gentlewoman back in.
Chun Yun smiled as she came out saying: “The lord invites you all inside.” All four entered together only to find that now wearing a Huayang crown dressed in palace brocade robes holding a white jade ruyi whip leaning against a low table beside his bed—the Chancellor appeared radiant as if warmed by spring breezes with clear eyes shining like ice—where was any trace of illness?
Madam Zheng finally realized she had been “deceived” by her husband causing her lips to curl into a smile as she no longer mentioned his illness.
Princess Lanyang asked: “How does my lord look now?” The Chancellor replied seriously: “I have recently noticed strange customs where women form cliques among themselves deceiving their husbands boldly! Shao You holds an official position in court responsible for correcting these customs but has yet found any effective means which led me into distress causing illness! Now that I'm well again there's no need for you princesses to worry.”
Princess Lanyang along with Gentlewoman merely covered their mouths smiling without daring to speak further while Madam Zheng remarked: “We sisters were unaware of this matter; if my lord truly wishes remedy for such ailments we must rely on Empress Dowager!”
The Chancellor finally couldn’t help but laugh saying: “My wife and I can only hope for another life together again someday! As for current circumstances—I’m lost in dreams unable even discern whether they’re real or false.”
Zheng responded: “All thanks go towards Empress Dowager’s motherly care along with His Majesty’s compassion towards subjects plus your kindness Princess Lanyang—I can only engrave this gratitude within my heart unable express it adequately!” Then she recounted how Princess Lanyang had painstakingly worked hard restoring favor from heaven while humbly yielding precedence matters explaining everything clearly for him.
Upon listening—the Chancellor thanked Princess Lanyang saying: “Your virtue surpasses anything recorded throughout history! Shao You truly cannot repay such kindness except by respecting you even more forever playing music in joy bringing delight!”
Princess Lanyang quickly humbly replied: “This all comes from sister’s virtuous demeanor moving heaven—it has nothing do with me!”
Just then Empress Dowager summoned palace attendants asking about the Chancellor's health—Qin Shuren entered alongside them revealing details regarding his feigned illness situation. Upon hearing this—the Empress Dowager laughed heartily saying: “I suspected something odd about this matter early on!” Then commanded someone summon forth the Chancellor while both princesses were present.
The Empress Dowager stated: “I’ve heard news about you rekindling ties with deceased Zheng—a joyous occasion indeed! Allow me offer my congratulations!” The Chancellor bowed replying: “Empress Dowager’s kindness resembles vastness of heaven itself—even if I were ground into dust or brains splattered across earth—it would still be impossible repay even one ten-thousandth part!”
The Empress Dowager chuckled saying: “I merely jest—such words shouldn’t carry weight of ‘kindness’. If you remain loyal towards princesses growing old together—that would suffice as repayment for my goodwill.” Immediately—the Chancellor knelt thanking her profusely.
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