The West Side Hall was still lit as Emperor Zhaoheng pushed the door open.
Just as he had expected, Shuixian was not resting. She sat alone before her dressing table, visibly shaken.
Hearing the door, she looked up. The candlelight outlined her pale profile, her lips so colorless they appeared almost translucent.
As Shuixian rose to pay respects, Emperor Zhaoheng stepped forward to stop her.
“Don’t move.”
He supported her slender arm, studying her face carefully in the candlelight. “Why do you still look so pale? Didn’t the imperial physician say you were fine?”
Shuixian lowered her head slightly, forcing a fragile smile at the corners of her mouth.
“Your Majesty worries too much. I’m truly alright, it’s just… just feeling somewhat empty inside, unable to sleep.”
Her downcast eyelashes made her appear even more pitiable. “Your Majesty needn’t concern yourself with me. You must be tired too and should rest early.”
The more Shuixian pretended to be strong, the more her strained vulnerability tugged at Emperor Zhaoheng’s heart.
Without another word, he slid his arm beneath her knees and lifted her lightweight form effortlessly.
Shuixian gasped softly, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, her upper body leaning limply against his chest.
Emperor Zhaoheng carried her to the bed, carefully laying her down before sitting beside her and drawing her into his embrace.
His deep voice sounded above her head, comforting her: “With me here, what is there to fear? What happened to Song Shi was merely an accident, it’s over now. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you in the slightest.”
Nestled in his warm embrace, Shuixian’s tense body seemed to finally relax.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt her bury her face deeper into his chest. Soon, the warmth of her tears seeped through his robes, clearly transmitting to his skin.
“Your Majesty…” her voice carried the nasal tone of someone who had been crying. “Just days ago… just days ago Attendant Song came to the West Side Hall entrance, pointing at me and shouting… Though I resented her, I… I never imagined she would… would suddenly be gone like this… It’s terrifying…”
Emperor Zhaoheng tightened his embrace, resting his chin gently atop her head in silent comfort.
“The world is ever-changing, life and death are predetermined by fate.”
He sighed softly, attempting to console her. “Accidents cannot be predicted by human means. Xian’er, don’t dwell on it anymore, you’ll only increase your fear.”
Shuixian raised her tear-streaked face, speaking with lingering fear: “I just feel that… recently, Attendant Song kept visiting the main hall, growing so close to Sister Consort Yi… This evening, I still saw her hurrying to the main hall to speak with Sister Consort Yi… Who would have thought… in just a few hours, she would…”
Her words sounded like innocent reflection.
Yet, if one carefully considered their implications… Emperor Zhaoheng couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Had Attendant Song and Consort Yi been particularly close recently?
Shuixian seemed unaware of the subtlety in her words. She sniffled and continued softly:
“Speaking of which… a few days ago, Sister Consort Yi specifically suggested we try drinking Tranquility Decoction to calm our nerves. Sister Consort Yi meant well, saying the formula was gentle and effective…”
Her voice choked with emotion: “I thought all medicine has some toxicity, and since my health was fairly good, I politely declined. Attendant Song… however, followed Sister Consort Yi’s advice and kept drinking it… Now that I think back…”
Shuixian seemed frightened by her own imagination, her face draining of color: “If I had been drinking it these past days too… tonight… would I also have…”
By the end, as if seized by overwhelming fear, she instinctively shrank closer into Emperor Zhaoheng’s embrace.
Emperor Zhaoheng’s deep eyes narrowed sharply: “Tranquility Decoction… was it Consort Yi who suggested Attendant Song drink it?”
Shuixian avoided it out of caution, while Attendant Song drank it and soon died from drug-food incompatibility?
Was this… merely coincidence?
Shuixian seemed to suddenly realize what she had implied, hurriedly shaking her head: “No! Your Majesty! I… I didn’t mean that! Sister Consort Yi treated Attendant Song so well, often summoning her to the main hall. How… how could she have any reason to harm Attendant Song? This must all be coincidence!”
Observing her terrified expression, afraid of wrongfully accusing Consort Yi.
Emperor Zhaoheng gently patted her back, his fingers unconsciously stroking her spine.
His voice lowered, carrying world-weary insight: “Xian’er, you’re still too naive. In this world… human hearts are inscrutable.”
Unlike the innocent Shuixian.
His thoughts ran much deeper… Were there hidden conflicts between the family factions represented by Consort Yi and Attendant Song? Did the Yi family gain anything from the Song family’s downfall? Was Attendant Song’s death truly accidental, or… a carefully planned silencing?
Once the seed of doubt was planted, even if it didn’t immediately sprout, it remained lodged in the Emperor’s suspicious heart, impossible to erase.
They held each other in silence, the hall filled only with the crackling of candle flames.
“Knock knock knock!”
The palace doors rattled as Xuemei from Consort Yi’s quarters came pleading: “Your Majesty! Please come see Consort Yi! Frightened by tonight’s events, her palpitations have returned! Worse than ever—convulsing all over, drenched in cold sweat! She keeps calling for Your Majesty…”
Emperor Zhaoheng felt he had only just left the main hall, having spent but a short while with Shuixian, yet Consort Yi was already sending summons!
“Enough!” Emperor Zhaoheng snapped his head up, shouting toward the doors: “If she has palpitations, send for the imperial physician! Can I cure her by going?! If you dare disturb Changzai Shuixian’s rest again, I’ll have your hide!”
Instant dead silence fell beyond the doors.
Xuemei clearly didn’t dare persist, her departing footsteps fading into utter quiet.
Leaning against Emperor Zhaoheng’s chest, Shuixian felt the slight heaving of his anger.
She lifted her head at just the right moment, tear stains still wet on her face, but forcing an understanding smile: “Your Majesty… don’t be angry. Xuemei was just worried about her mistress. Consort Yi must be truly suffering right now. Perhaps you should go see her? I… I really am much better now.”
Her voice was soft, her gaze clear, as if she bore no grudge over the earlier disturbance caused by Consort Yi’s attendants.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at her pale face, which still managed to force a smile, and thought of Consort Yi’s attempt to vie for his favor earlier. The scales in his heart had already tipped.
He lowered his head and pressed a soothing kiss to her forehead. “Rest well. I’ll go check on things.”
Though he claimed to be checking on the situation, his tone lacked genuine concern, sounding more like an obligation he had to fulfill.
“Yes, I respectfully bid Your Majesty farewell.”
Shuixian nodded obediently and rose to see him off.
The palace doors opened and closed, letting in a gust of cold air that was quickly shut out again.
The fragility on Shuixian’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a calm as chilling as the heavy snow outside the window.
She walked to the window and watched Emperor Zhaoheng’s bright yellow figure, illuminated by palace lanterns, hurry across the snow-covered courtyard toward the brightly lit main hall of Changxin Palace.
A satisfied smile curled at the corners of Shuixian’s lips.
The seed of suspicion had been deeply planted in the Emperor’s heart.
What did it matter if he still held some affection for the past?
Once doubt took root, it would quietly grow.
Yi Guichun, how much longer can you keep wearing that mask of gentleness and magnanimity?
…
The next morning, the sky cleared after the snowfall.
Using the excuse of being frightened the night before, Shuixian took Yinzhu with her and walked along the cleared palace path toward the Inner Medicine Bureau.
The Inner Medicine Bureau was located in a remote corner of the palace, consisting of several low, tiled buildings.
This was the place where palace maids and eunuchs went for minor ailments when they weren’t important enough to trouble the imperial physicians. It was staffed by apprentices sent from the Imperial Medical Institute, while the assistants who prepared and dispensed medicine were mostly young eunuchs with some knowledge of herbal remedies.
Shuixian, dressed in an elegant long gown and a silver fox-fur-trimmed cloak, stood out starkly as she stepped into the room filled with the strong scent of medicine.
The eunuch in charge, who had been dozing behind the counter, jolted awake. Recognizing the visitor, he nearly fell off his chair in fright. Scrambling to his feet, he rushed forward, bowing and scraping, his voice trembling:
“Oh, dear! Your Ladyship! How could you lower yourself to come to a place like this? It’s… it’s so humble here—I wouldn’t want you to be offended! If you’re feeling unwell, this humble servant will go fetch an imperial physician for you at once!”
Shuixian raised a hand to stop his fawning, her voice gentle. “There’s no need to trouble the imperial physicians. I was just a bit frightened last night. The physician has already examined me and said it’s nothing serious.”
She smiled. “But I still feel unsettled in my heart. I thought since the Inner Medicine Bureau keeps common Mind-Soothing herbs in stock, I’d come here myself to get a couple of doses. It’s just to ease my mind and save the physicians another trip.”
Everyone knew that Shuixian, who had recently gained favor, was originally a palace maid, so her visiting the Inner Medicine Bureau wasn’t particularly unusual.
Her explanation was perfectly reasonable. Though the eunuch in charge felt it was improper, given Shuixian’s current favor, he didn’t dare insist on stopping her. Instead, he forced a smile and said:
“If that’s the case, then… please take a seat over here. This humble servant will have the apprentice prepare a prescription and get the Mind-Soothing herbs for you—the finest ones, of course! And be quick about it!”
He led Shuixian to a relatively clean chair to sit, then turned and called into the inner room: “Xiao Anzi! Hurry up! Come out and prepare a prescription and Mind-Soothing herbs for Lady Shuixian! Use the best ingredients, and be quick!”
A young eunuch in a eunuch’s robe, wearing an apron stained with herbal residues, hurried out in response and bowed respectfully to Shuixian.
Shuixian gave a slight nod, but her gaze seemed to drift past the young eunuch’s shoulder, settling on the half-drawn curtain leading to the rear courtyard.
The courtyard was small, lined with dozens of herb racks laden with various medicinal ingredients spread out to dry.
Several young eunuchs in drab, gray uniforms were bent over, carefully turning the herbs.
Among them, one figure stood out—exceptionally thin and frail, as if a gust of wind could knock him over. He caught Shuixian’s attention.
He wore a faded, ill-fitting eunuch’s uniform, his wrists as slender as twigs, his complexion sallow, bearing the marks of chronic malnutrition.
Unlike the other eunuchs who worked mechanically, he handled each herb with intense focus. His bony fingers gently brushed over leaves or roots, his lips moving silently as if reciting something to himself.
Sunlight fell on his gaunt profile, illuminating a pair of unusually bright eyes, filled with an almost obsessive intensity.
Shuixian exchanged a glance with Yinzhu beside her. Seeing Yinzhu’s slight nod, she knew this was the Xiao Chuanzi she had been looking for!
In her past life, she had only heard his name—never imagined he would look like this…
Who would have thought this emaciated youth would one day achieve such astonishing accomplishments?
Xiao Anzi, who was weighing herbs nearby, noticed Shuixian’s gaze fixed on the bustling rear courtyard. Worried that the coarse servants might offend the noble lady, he subtly shifted his position and lowered the curtain, blocking her view.
At the same time, he deftly pulled open a drawer of the medicine cabinet, weighing herbs as he smiled obsequiously and asked, “My lady, what do you think of these herbs… Is the amount sufficient? Do you have any special requests?”
Shuixian withdrew her gaze and calmly listed several common Mind-Soothing herbs and their quantities. The apprentice promptly wrapped two portions and handed them over respectfully.
“Thank you for your trouble.” Shuixian accepted the medicine packages, thanked him gently, and then left the Inner Medicine Bureau with Yinzhu, escorted respectfully by the supervising eunuch.
Once they were beyond the Inner Medicine Bureau’s grounds, the palace pathway grew sparsely populated.
Yinzhu took the medicine packages from Shuixian and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “My lady, since you’ve found Xiao Chuanzi, why didn’t you summon him for questioning earlier?”
Shuixian’s steps did not falter, her gaze calm as she looked ahead at the snow-swept palace pathway. “The helper I seek, regardless of talent, must be cautious and resilient. Most importantly… he must have a pure and kind heart, one I can trust.”
“Whether to choose him or not requires further observation.”
Though Xiao Chuanzi had achieved great things in her past life, if he proved to be cunning or deceitful, she would rather not have him!
After a moment of contemplation, Yinzhu spoke slowly, “If my lady wishes to observe him personally… this servant has an idea…”