From the day of the grand wedding, several highly respected imperial physicians stayed in the Eastern Palace, along with attendants sent by the Empress to care for the Crown Prince.
The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace was solemn. Even though Xiao Hanyan knew Shen Qingchen would eventually wake, she couldn’t help feeling nervous. As usual, she personally attended to the Crown Prince’s washing. After carefully wiping his hands, she softly whispered gentle words. Her delicate, boneless hand held the Crown Prince’s slightly calloused one, and she murmured: “Your Highness… I have waited for you for three days. Please wake up soon. The Emperor needs you, the Empress needs you, and I need you too.”
The matron sent by the Empress stood nearby, surprised at Liangdi Xiao’s devotion.
Liangdi Xiao had served the Crown Prince tirelessly, hardly leaving the main hall during the day. When the physicians came to check his pulse, she listened attentively and asked how best to care for him.
“Your Highness…”
As Xiao Hanyan continued speaking in fragments, she suddenly felt Shen Qingchen’s fingertips move. In disbelief, she looked at his hand and cried out excitedly: “Physician, physician! His Highness moved his hand! It moved!”
The physician rushed over, checked his pulse carefully, and stared at Shen Qingchen’s hand—but saw no further reaction.
“Liangdi, His Highness has been unconscious for many days. I know you are anxious, but…” The physician hesitated. He knew Xiao Liangdi had entered the palace to bring joy and fortune to the Crown Prince.
No one wished more than she did for him to awaken.
“No, I truly felt his hand move. Please check again.”
Madam Qin, the Empress’s attendant, also felt pity and stepped forward to comfort her: “Liangdi, His Highness will wake. Don’t worry.”
“I understand.” Xiao Hanyan knew Shen Qingchen would soon awaken. If nothing went wrong, according to the original story, today would be the day.
“Liangdi, allow me to help you rest for a while,” Qingdai urged, distressed at how worn out she had become these past days.
Xiao Hanyan frowned slightly and shook her head: “No, I will stay with His Highness.”
Madam Qin and the physician had no choice but to withdraw. Qingdai hesitated, then left as well.
Xiao Hanyan tucked the brocade quilt around Shen Qingchen and remained by his side. She did this not only out of care, but also to win favor. Even if Shen Qingchen did not know of her devotion, the people of the Eastern Palace did—and so did those sent by the Empress.
She served the Crown Prince with such devotion that, once he awoke, he would surely hear a few words of her efforts from others.
Seeing with one’s own eyes was important, but sometimes what people said carried even greater weight.
From the day she entered the Eastern Palace, she had slept in the main hall at night. If not for the faint warmth still lingering in Shen Qingchen’s body, Xiao Hanyan would have thought she was guarding a corpse.
In recent days, she deliberately allowed herself to grow haggard. In the original story, Shen Qingchen was to awaken soon, so Xiao Hanyan thought: it’s only a few days, I can endure it.
She stayed by Shen Qingchen’s side all day, even having her meals brought to the main hall, eating only a few hurried bites before returning to her vigil. Even Madam Qin could not help but advise her: if His Highness did not wake soon, Liangdi Xiao herself would collapse first.
But Xiao Hanyan insisted, unmoved by anyone’s persuasion. By evening, the imperial physicians once again came to check his pulse.
Since the moment Xiao Hanyan had seen Shen Qingchen’s hand move during the day, there had been no further sign.
“Liangdi, please take care of your health. His Highness’s condition has not worsened. Do not be too anxious.”
The physician was, in truth, the one who most wished for the Crown Prince to awaken. His Highness had returned gravely injured, and they were powerless. The Emperor nearly wished to bury the entire Imperial Medical Bureau with him. In the end, all hope rested on a frail young woman. But wasn’t this no different from relying on the gods? They could only redouble their efforts to save the Crown Prince—for their own sake as well as Xiao Liangdi’s.
“Thank you, physician. I understand.” Xiao Hanyan nodded, her expression weary. “You may all withdraw.”
“Yes, I take my leave.”
Qingdai came in carrying hot water, worry in her eyes. “Liangdi, let me keep watch tonight. Please rest a while. If this continues, your body will not endure.”
Xiao Hanyan allowed Qingdai to help her wash, murmuring softly: “I am not tired. Since I entered the Eastern Palace, I belong to His Highness. Serving him is my duty. I will keep watch.”
“My lady…”
“Be good, go now.” Xiao Hanyan lifted the corners of her lips in a weary smile.
Qingdai had no choice but to withdraw.
Candles burned within the hall. Because of Shen Qingchen’s injuries, the lights were never extinguished at night.
Xiao Hanyan slipped off her outer garments, leaving only a soft inner robe. Her long black hair spilled across her back as she gently lay down on the outer side of the bed, nestling close to Shen Qingchen.
“Your Highness… please wake up soon, won’t you?” The young woman whispered, sounding both aggrieved and forlorn, before closing her eyes.
Much later, as the candles burned low, Shen Qingchen—who had been unconscious for many days—slowly opened his eyes. After such a long sleep, he was momentarily disoriented. Discomfort spread through his body, and a dull ache began in his head. His handsome brows furrowed deeply. The last memory he had was on the battlefield—the spear thrusting toward him.
After a while, Shen Qingchen regained his senses. He remembered his left shoulder had been wounded. Turning his head, he was startled to find a woman resting against his arm.
As soon as he moved his shoulder, the figure beside him stirred awake. Drowsily, she lifted her head. At first, she was confused, then suddenly her eyes widened: “Your Highness… you’re awake?”
Shen Qingchen’s brows knit tighter. What was going on? Who was this woman…?
“Someone… physician… His Highness has awakened!” Overcome with excitement, Xiao Hanyan could only shout toward the door: “Attend!”
The imperial physicians, always on standby in the Eastern Palace, rushed in. Hearing that the Crown Prince had awakened, they too could hardly believe it.
Qingdai hurried in as well. Seeing Xiao Hanyan so excited that she had forgotten to put on her outer robe, she quickly helped her dress.
Fortunately, everyone’s attention was fixed on the Crown Prince, and no one noticed.
The physician’s hands trembled with excitement as he checked the pulse. “Your Highness, you have finally awakened. I need not…” He nearly said “need not die,” but quickly corrected himself: “The Emperor and the Empress will be overjoyed to hear of this.”
“Physician, how is His Highness?” Xiao Hanyan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice choked.
The physician withdrew his hand. “Liangdi, rest assured. As long as His Highness has awakened, nothing else is a problem. After such a long coma, his body is weak. I will immediately prepare medicine to restore his strength. With proper care, there will be no further issues.”
“Thank you, physician.” The heavy stone in Xiao Hanyan’s heart finally lifted.
“Liangdi, you are too kind.” The heavy burden in the physician’s heart was finally lifted. In truth, he and Xiao Liangdi were the same kind of people—both striving to save His Highness.
Now, at last, things were better: Liangdi Xiao would not have to die, and neither would they.