The day after tomorrow would be the tenth of the third lunar month. Because time was short, the wedding garments for the Prince and his consort needed to be hand-stitched. The embroidery threads alone required hundreds of different colors, and with the addition of rare bird feathers and various beaded studs, a half-month turnaround time was already the absolute limit. Today was the day the finished garments were to be delivered.
The two of them were supposed to try on their wedding attire today, leaving the afternoon open for any minor adjustments. However, just as the garments arrived, Xie Zhengming abruptly received an imperial decree summoning him to the palace immediately.
Ordinarily, the Emperor would not summon Xie Zhengming unless it was an urgent matter, but given the current situation, he truly had no other alternative.
Watching Zi Ying lying on the bed in a state of suspended animation, just as he had been the last time, the Emperor was consumed with frantic anxiety.
He had summoned all the imperial physicians who had ever treated Zi Ying in the military camps, hoping to figure out what was wrong with him. He demanded that each of them recall every detail of treating Zi Ying and report to him without omitting a single thing. Yet, after questioning them for a long time, he still had no leads. However, one imperial physician who had previously followed the rebel army brought up a peculiar incident.
During that campaign when the insurgent army led by Prince Ding reached Huaizhou, they were suddenly caught in a pincer attack from front and rear. Grand Eunuch Zi Ying went to the rescue and sustained an arrow wound. At that time, it was this physician who bandaged General Zi Ying’s wound, but right in the middle of the bandaging, General Zi Ying suddenly began acting strangely, abruptly halting him and ordering everyone to leave the tent.
Later, Prince Ding, who had returned after cutting off the enemy’s rear flank, was worried about General Zi Ying’s injuries and insisted on entering the tent. Yet, after just a brief moment, he too walked out and gave strict instructions that no one was to disturb General Zi Ying’s rest.
The Emperor thought about it over and over again, feeling convinced there was something fishy about that incident. Why had Zi Ying stopped the physician midway through bandaging his wound, stayed alone in the tent, and forbidden anyone from disturbing him? And what had Xie Zhengming seen when he entered the tent afterward?
Now certain that Zi Ying was hiding something from him, the Emperor was determined to find out what was wrong with Zi Ying’s body.
While secretly dispatching people to search for renowned physicians, the Emperor simultaneously issued an imperial decree summoning Xie Zhengming into the palace.
Xie Zhengming had just received his wedding robes that morning and was preparing to try them on with Qin Duan when an imperial decree dragged him into the palace. Frustrated and harboring quiet anger, his expression was far from pleasant as he entered.
He walked forward steadily and offered his respects to the Emperor.
Naturally aware of Xie Zhengming’s temper, Li Chong, though somewhat uncomprehending as to why Xie Zhengming suddenly wanted to give formal status to the sworn brother by his side, knew that given how much importance Xie Zhengming had attached to the wedding preparations these past few days, pulling him into the palace at this hour was indeed rather unreasonable.
Therefore, the Emperor spoke in a gentle, slightly apologetic tone:
“The Prince is busy with his wedding affairs, and normally I shouldn’t disturb you at a time like this. But this matter is of the utmost urgency to me as well, so I must ask for the Prince’s understanding.”
Xie Zhengming raised an eyebrow imperceptibly, adopting an expression of apprehensive respect as he replied:
“Your Majesty exaggerates. As a subject, it is naturally my duty to share in Your Majesty’s urgent concerns. I wonder what important matter brings Your Majesty to summon me into the palace today?”
The subtext was: If you have something to say, spit it out; if you have farts to release, release them quickly. Since you know you’ve interrupted my precious time, why bother with this fake politeness?
Nodding, Li Chong said with a solemn expression:
“It concerns Zi Ying.”
Seated upon the dragon throne, the Emperor let out a soft sigh.
“To speak without concealment, Zi Ying’s health has been somewhat abnormal lately. I know the two of you were brothers who went through life and death together during wartime. Zi Ying has a cold disposition; among all the civil and military officials in this court, you are likely the only one he would call a brother.”
Xie Zhengming didn’t dare casually accept such a statement. Throughout the civil and military court, including the Empress Dowager in the inner palace, who didn’t know the relationship between the Emperor and Zi Ying? Now that the Emperor was claiming he and Zi Ying were close, was he testing him, or was he getting jealous? Making the Emperor jealous was no small matter.
So Xie Zhengming hastily interjected:
“Your Majesty, although Grand Eunuch Zi Ying’s disposition is cold, during wartime he saved and cared for his subordinates on countless occasions. If we speak of his brothers, I am certainly not the only one. However, Your Majesty mentioned that Grand Eunuch Zi Ying’s health has run into trouble, what is this about?”
What does this have to do with me being summoned here? Even if there is a problem, it’s your problem! Excessive indulgence!
Nodding, the Emperor continued:
“I called you here today to ask you about something.
“I heard that during the battle of Huaizhou back then, when Zi Ying was injured, he requested to stay alone in his tent. During that time, you were the only one who entered. Did the Prince notice anything unusual about Zi Ying back then?”
At this question, Xie Zhengming frowned as he recalled the past. Hearing that Zi Ying was injured and fearing that Li Chong might place blame, he had rushed anxiously into the tent, only to find Zi Ying covered in cold sweat. At that time.
“At the time, worried about Zi Ying’s injuries, I entered the tent. Once inside, I saw that Zi Ying’s expression appeared pained, presumably caused by his wounds. I recall he seemed to be swallowing some kind of small pill; perhaps it was a painkiller he carried with him. Zi Ying told me to leave so he could rest, and I departed the tent. Why does Your Majesty ask about this?”
Upon hearing this, the Emperor seemed to drift off into his own thoughts, muttering inwardly:
Pill.
Suddenly, he stood up, walked down the steps, and asked:
“Do you remember what that pill looked like? Why, why didn’t you ask him what he was taking!”
Startled, Xie Zhengming cast a profound, meaningful glance at the Emperor.
Ever since ascending the dragon throne, Li Chong had always remained calm, poised, and seemingly unshakable even if the heavens were to collapse. Yet at this moment, the young Emperor’s mask of maturity had been shattered completely into pieces when it came to matters concerning Zi Ying.
Realizing he had lost his composure, Li Chong reined in his ferocious expression, restoring his usual calm demeanor, though his sharp, eagle-like eyes awaited Xie Zhengming’s answer.
Faced with such oppressive imperial presence, Xie Zhengming couldn’t help but feel a twinge of nervousness. He recalled carefully and said:
“It was a small gourd containing black pills, which appeared somewhat smaller than the pills typically prepared by military physicians. I only stepped inside for a fleeting moment and only saw this much. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
With that, Xie Zhengming looked neither servile nor overbearing back at the Emperor.
Pondering for a moment, the Emperor lowered his shoulders and said:
“Tomorrow is the Prince’s joyous day; return to your estate early to prepare.”
“Yes.”
Exiting the grand hall where the Emperor resided, Xie Zhengming felt a bit perplexed. The Emperor’s behavior today had been overly frantic; could something truly serious have happened to Zi Ying?
Xie Zhengming felt a pang of worry, but the Floating Light Palace where Zi Ying resided was located within the inner court, a place he had no right to enter. He figured he could only send palace attendants to convey his regards. He wondered if Zi Ying would even be able to attend the wedding tomorrow.
When Xie Zhengming returned to the Prince’s estate, Qin Duan had already tried on his wedding robes.
“Why did His Majesty summon you into the palace?”
Xie Zhengming sighed.
“It was regarding Zi Ying. Zi Ying seems to have fallen ill, and the Emperor asked me about the situation back when Zi Ying was injured in Huaizhou. It looked as though he had driven himself to the end of his wits.”
Qin Duan felt a deep sense of concern as well. Zi Ying could be considered a confidant to him. Back in the military camp, many people had treated him merely as the general’s kept concubine, and even Old Xu and the others viewed him simply as Xie Zhengming’s appendage. Only Zi Ying treated him like a friend, inviting him for drinks and chatting with him.
Zi Ying had once told him: So what if you fall in love with a man? If the two of you share genuine affection, there is nothing to regret.
Genuine affection… Only Zi Ying could see clearly that genuine affection existed between him and Xie Zhengming.
At the time, he had guessed that Zi Ying might be someone like him, yet he hadn’t expected that Zi Ying’s despair likely ran far deeper than his own. After all, the person he loved was the Emperor.