The Empress Dowager’s comfort and instructions brought a rare look of relief and childlike shyness to the Emperor’s face.
“Mother is right. Your son will heed your teachings and will always honor you in the future. By the way, Mother, I’ve always had a question. In your heart, between me and my late younger brother, Prince An, if it had been me who died back then, would you have hated him?”
The Emperor, with a shy and respectful expression, looked at the Empress Dowager. Seeing her remain silent with a faint smile, he suddenly thought of something else and asked her.
“My child, why would you ask such a thing? In my heart, both of you are my children, born from my own womb. If anything happened to either of you, I would be heartbroken. Fifteen years ago, on that battlefield, swords and arrows knew no mercy. No matter which of you had been lost, a mother’s grief would be the same. Your younger brother, Prince An, though stubborn and unruly from childhood, was still my flesh and blood, just like you. So let’s not speak of this again. No more. By the way, the anniversary of your brother’s passing is approaching. On that day, I hope you can spare some time to accompany me to pay our respects. What do you think…?”
The Empress Dowager, puzzled by his sudden question, paused before gently chiding him. Seeing the Emperor remain silent, she thought of the bond between mother and son and looked at him with sorrow. Then, recalling her other deceased child, Prince An—also known as Leng Yinghao, the younger brother of the current Emperor—she suddenly asked him.
“Of course, I will do my best to clear my schedule that day and accompany you to pay respects. Mother, please don’t be so sad. If my younger brother knew of your grief in the afterlife, he would be uneasy as well.”
The Emperor responded to her request and comforted her.
“Hmm.” The Empress Dowager, still sorrowful, nodded silently.
After leaving the Empress Dowager’s quarters, the Emperor returned to his own palace.
Reflecting on their conversation, he dismissed Eunuch Xu and the other attendants, sitting down alone.
“Fifteen years… fifteen whole years. Because of my past recklessness and immaturity, you never once visited my grave. And now, after offering me pastries, you speak of paying respects. In your heart, has there ever been room for your younger son, or was it always just your eldest? Mother, why? Why did you treat him so well while neglecting me? Why? Why?”
His expression darkened with despair and resentment. The Emperor, clad in his bright yellow dragon robe, looked utterly broken, tears welling in his eyes as he clutched his head and muttered bitterly. Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open, rising in a frenzy and sweeping everything off the table in a fit of rage.
Then, like a wounded child, the mighty Emperor of Daqi collapsed onto the floor, hugging his knees, his hair disheveled as he choked back sobs. Though he buried his head in his hands, the polished glass floor before him reflected the droplets of tears falling one by one.
“No… I can’t go on like this. Otherwise…”
Abruptly, as if struck by an idea, he stood up, pacing back and forth like a man facing a crisis, muttering under his breath.
“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent word. She says your birthday is approaching and has sent you a gift.” Just as he was lost in his tormented pacing, a knock came at the door, followed by Eunuch Xu’s voice.
“My birthday?”
The Emperor stopped his muttering and looked up in confusion.
“Yes, Your Majesty…” Eunuch Xu, unaware of the situation, replied from outside.
“Very well. I understand. Accept the gift for now.” The Emperor sighed, then whispered to himself, “Elder Brother… Elder Brother, should I envy you or pity you? Why is it that even after all these years, though you’re long dead and I live under your name, she still dotes on you? Even though she knows I’ve distanced myself from her, she remembers your birthday and mourns you. But me? Just because of one mistake in my youth, because I schemed for power, I’ve been ‘dead’ for fifteen years, and only now do you finally spare me a glance. We’re both your sons—why the favoritism? Why the injustice? Why?”
After hearing Eunuch Xu’s confirmation, the Emperor spoke to the door, then listened as the eunuch and his attendants withdrew. Alone again, he clutched his head in despair, whispering tearfully.
The next day passed in a blur. The Emperor rose from his bed.
“All of you, leave. Prepare my attire. I shall join the Empress Dowager for breakfast.” He dismissed the attendants who had gathered to serve him and gave his orders.
That morning, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager shared a rare meal together. Afterward, they even took a walk in the gardens.
Later, the Emperor returned to his quarters, but the Empress Dowager suddenly collapsed, falling into a deep coma.
Wanqing also woke up late that day, having spent the previous night studying the Emperor’s illness, searching for an antidote and prescription. But the Emperor’s strange behavior, his relationship with Leng Mingye, and even his dealings with Yemei puzzled her.
Though the Emperor claimed that even Yemei was helpless against his poison, Wanqing, familiar with Yemei’s skills, knew the antidote wasn’t difficult to prepare. The only explanation was that there was conflict between them.
Unable to unravel the tangled motives of these people, Wanqing abandoned her efforts to refine the medicine and overslept.
While having breakfast, she was interrupted by Wanchun’s urgent report.
“The Empress Dowager has fallen ill and is unconscious? How…?”
Hearing the messenger’s news, Wanqing set down her bowl of porridge, bewildered. Just the day before, she and Prince Ning had visited the palace to treat the Empress Dowager’s headache, and the elderly woman had seemed much improved. This sudden turn of events was alarming.
“Yes, it’s baffling. Her Majesty was in good spirits yesterday, but after breakfast with the Emperor this morning and a walk in the gardens, she collapsed upon returning to her chambers. Miss Wanqing…”
The eunuch nodded anxiously as he relayed the details.
“Very well. Let me prepare, and I’ll go at once. Please wait a moment, Eunuch.”
Thinking of the kind old woman who had granted her the title of County Mistress—news she and Prince Ning had received upon returning to the manor—Wanqing immediately set aside her meal and instructed Honglian to gather her things for the trip to the palace.
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