Chapter Forty-Six: In A State of Infatuation

  The closure of the Yanxi Palace was attributed to the Empress Dowager's illness and need for recuperation, prohibiting entry and visits, but the upper and lower echelons of the palace had already sensed tension in the unusual atmosphere.

  Yin Guifei showed her uniqueness at this time, assisting the Emperor in intimidating the harem with a combination of kindness and severity. Her exceptional skills made the three palaces and six courtyards appear harmonious. It's no wonder that even with his favoritism towards the 3,000 beauties, the Emperor couldn't shake Yin Guifei from her actual position as the first lady of the six palaces. This was because she was the woman the Emperor needed - using her noble-born pride and elegance, beauty and cunning, she captured the Emperor's heart, making him unable to leave her side.

  The court's political affairs were proceeding as usual, with only a few trusted ministers and princes knowing the truth. The Emperor, due to the epidemic in both capitals, issued five imperial edicts within one day, personally overseeing the prevention efforts. The Imperial Hospital and Relief Agency were repeatedly demoted, yet still had no effective method to prevent the epidemic, causing everyone to be on edge, with their heads wrapped in bandages.

  Imperial Physician Song Defang and Imperial Physician He Ruyi followed the order to accompany Princess Qingping into Yanxi Palace that night. As the palace gates slowly closed, Yanxi Palace became a completely different world from the outside, with no one knowing if they would be able to leave alive.

  Panic and unease quietly filled every corner, that kind of unknown fear, a vague sense of danger, would slowly breed and spread in people's hearts, just like being completely trapped in darkness knowing that there was mortal danger somewhere, but unable to find or touch any light, only waiting for the possible arrival of death at any moment.

  Waiting for death, isn't it the most frightening thing?

  On the second day of your entry into the palace, at noon, order all those who stayed in the Yanxi Palace to gather in the central square of the front hall, and publicly announce the current situation of the Yanxi Palace in detail without hiding anything. Rather than letting them live in vain speculation, it's better to speak clearly. At that time, some timid palace maids were so frightened that they fainted, hugging each other and crying out loud.

  You secretly sigh with worry, perhaps everyone thinks they are not afraid of death, but when the shadow of death looms over, how many people can remain calm and composed?

  She stood at the highest point of the white jade corridor, and said in a slow and clear voice: "I know you're afraid, but now, no one can leave the Yanxi Palace, including me. Whoever takes a step out of the palace gate privately will be beaten to death, and die even more miserably. Now we have no choice but to advance and retreat together, unite as one, and work together to escape this disaster. I'm also afraid of death, but Feng Qicun will never abandon everyone, man can conquer nature, even if heaven wants us to perish, we might as well fight against it!"

  As the conversation reached this point, the originally panicked crowd seemed to calm down a bit. Everyone in the Yanxi Palace knew that the Qingping Junzhu was skilled in medicine, and at this moment, she was like a lifeline for everyone, with all eyes on her and listening to her. However, a small eunuch suddenly exclaimed: "Plague! Plague! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" and actually shouted as he ran wildly towards the palace gate, causing the remaining palace maids and eunuchs to fall into chaos once again.

  Your Excellency was startled and shouted: "Wang Zhao!"

  Inside the Yanxi Palace, the eunuch Wang Zhao immediately gave an order: "Quick! Bring him back!" Several executioners had already taken action. The little eunuch was caught and struggled in their grasp: "I don't want to die! Don't! Don't!" His face was covered with tears, his mind almost deranged.

  You dust looked at the increasingly chaotic surroundings, many people seemed to have fled in disorder, and he clenched his teeth slightly, saying coldly: "Execute by clubbing!"

  Those two words were sharp and piercing, cutting into the center like a ruthless blade. As the executioner placed the long bench for flogging "thud" in front of the stage, the entire scene suddenly fell silent.

  The executioner pinched open the small inner attendant's mouth, stuffed in a wooden stick, and pulled the rope at both ends to tie up his hands and feet. The rod rose and fell, making a dull thud on the person's body. A blood bead flew out in front, and a thick dark red splashed into the thick white snow, leaving a shocking mark.

  That little palace maid initially struggled and cried out, but gradually fell silent. Qing Chen stood there, quietly gazing at her, each blow seemingly striking deep within her heart, yet she stood firm, not budging in the slightest.

  The crowd was frightened and silent, but no one noticed that the originally closed gate of Yanxi Palace suddenly opened, and two people stepped in. The crimson gate slowly closed behind them.

  The scene was dead silent, with no one daring to make a move. Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke coldly: "Alright! Take it away and bury it. If there's another offender, they'll meet the same fate!" Qing Chen looked up, shocked, and saw that it was Ye Tianling, wearing a cloud-patterned blue robe and a white cloak, walking towards them with his hands behind his back, treading on the gradually melting snow and ice. Behind him followed Yan Yu, carefully holding something wrapped in black cloth.

  The crowd woke up with a start, and a sea of black figures bowed their heads. Ye Tianling waved his hand: "Everyone get up." He stepped onto the high platform in front of the main hall.

  "Fourth... Your Highness, Yanxi Palace has been sealed off and no one is allowed to enter or leave. This place is very dangerous, please hurry back!" He also scolded Yan Yu: "What's going on here? How could you let His Highness enter this dangerous place?"

  Yan Yu said, "The princess, after the prince went to the emperor early in the morning to ask for orders and serve the empress dowager, he sat in Yanxi Palace and asked for two hours in Zhifang Hall. The emperor actually agreed, who can stop him?"

  You've been anxious since last night, and now you truly know what it means to be worried. You say to Ye Tianling: "What are you doing?!" So-called calmness is only because things haven't touched your weak spot yet.

  Ye Tian Ling stepped onto the last step, paused for a moment, and said in a soft voice that only Qing Chen could hear: "Since I know it's a dangerous situation, how can I let you face it alone?" After speaking, he turned around and stood shoulder to shoulder with her, looking at the crowd in front of Yanxi Palace: "Although the Emperor has sealed off Yanxi Palace, he is still very worried. The imperial carriage cannot come in person, so I, the prince, will take my father's place, show filial piety, and dispel the plague. The words spoken by the Princess of Qingping just now were all heard clearly, everyone should do their duty, be cautious, and not let me know that someone is taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble, otherwise, it would set a bad precedent."

  It was unclear whether it was due to the shocking punishment before their eyes or the arrival of Ye Tianling, but the large crowd finally fell silent. However, Qing Chen's mind was disturbed by Ye Tianling's previous words, and he didn't want to argue with him in front of so many people. He furrowed his brow slightly and ordered the crowd: "You all should know what to do, disperse and go about your duties. If there's anything, come to the You Chun Pavilion." The crowd, still shaken, dispersed as instructed, each attending to their tasks in an orderly manner.

  Qingchen and Yeting went to the distant Spring Pavilion, Yan Yu knew it was interesting, so he temporarily disappeared and didn't follow them anymore.

  The distant spring pavilion is very close to the Zhichun Pavilion where Luanfei lives. Before the palace was sealed, Qingchen took this opportunity to give Luanfei another dose of the heartbreak grass. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital personally examined her and said that after a few days had passed, she would be beyond saving. The Heavenly Emperor was worried and distracted, and didn't have the heart to deal with Luanfei's affairs, so he ordered her body to be returned to the Feng family for burial immediately. Meanwhile, Qingchen found a way to deliver a sealed letter to Feng Xian, falsely claiming that Luanfei had died of an epidemic in the Yanxi Palace and telling the Feng family to bury her quickly without delay or fanfare. The matter of Luanfei was already a taboo subject for the Feng family, and the mention of an epidemic made people even more terrified. Feng Xian received Qingchen's secret letter and buried Luanfei that same day, while Qingchen had already arranged for someone to bring the antidote to save her, but it is unknown whether they have already brought her out.

  From then on, there was no one in the world who could match him.

  At this time, Qing Chen didn't have the leisure to think about Luan's life or death. He entered the distant spring pavilion and saw that there was no one around, so he hastily asked Ye Tianling: "You came in like this, can you still get out? There are others who will guard the Yanxi Palace, what kind of show are you trying to put on? Besides, why does the Yanxi Palace need someone to guard it anyway? The more people that come in, the more likely they are to die. Didn't I report to the Emperor that no one should come and no one should interfere?"

  Ye Tian Ling had never seen Qing Chen look so anxious, and instead looked at her with a hint of curiosity. Qing Chen saw that he wasn't speaking, and continued: "The Yan Xi Palace has recently broken out in some kind of illness again, and no one can cure it right now... if you're not careful and get infected while you're here, what will happen..."

  She also wanted to say that she was suddenly held in his arms by Ling Yi, and she instinctively struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free from his arm.

  The unique masculine aura that clung to Ling's body immediately enveloped her, and the winter sun at noon cast a gentle glow, reflecting off the ice and snow with a subtle, dazzling light. The surroundings were quiet, almost to the point where one could hear the sound of sunlight flowing, soft and faint, occasionally punctuated by the melting of ice on the eaves, which fell with a faint "ting" sound, making the peacefulness of the distant spring pavilion even more pronounced.

  You felt Ling's arms wrap around her, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head. The familiar voice that couldn't be more familiar carried a complex and inexplicable meaning as he slowly said: "You also know what it means to be anxious, to compare hearts, don't I have anxiety too?"

  Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, her mind went blank. She never thought that Ye Tianling would say something like that. Her head tilted slightly, leaning against Ye Tianling's chest, where she could hear his heartbeat pounding strongly, feeling him holding her tightly, and suddenly understood his intentions.

  But exchange your heart for mine. When was it that a calm and unruffled state of mind also became entangled with worries, and an indifferent appearance frequently changed expression? Was it a chance encounter like floating duckweed, or a familiarity as if from several lifetimes, or a silent gaze at each other?

  Only because I am in this mountain, the clouds are deep and unknown. But who would say that it is already on my eyebrows and forehead, with no way to turn back and avoid.

  She gently moved, burying her face in his chest, and suddenly tears fell uncontrollably. Perhaps this day and night of anxiety and fear, actually every moment thinking about seeing him, even just looking at those forever calm and clear eyes, would bring the desired peace.

  The night sky was far away, looking at the clear snow, she raised her hand to stroke her fragrant shoulder and a head of beautiful hair: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

  You wrapped your arms around his waist with a bit of a pout and asked, "Why did you have to come?" though it was a rhetorical question.

  "Nothing," Ye Tian Ling replied, but it was clear he was avoiding the subject.

  You grasped his collar fiercely, your silver teeth biting down lightly, and said in a cold tone, "Eleventh brother was right, you never make things easy for people."

  You haven't even wiped away your tears, and you're already refuting me with a tone of discontent: "That's him, not me."

  The night sky was thin and pale, a faint smile played on his lips as he lifted her dusty face, his fingers gently sliding across her cheek to wipe away the unshed tears. The shadows of the two people were reflected in each other's eyes, one was delicate and intricate, the other was clear and cold, but they both carved out this tender and subtle emotion, flowing and connecting.

  "Even if it were you, I'd still acknowledge it," Ye Tian Ling said in a low voice. His words carried three parts gentleness, three parts faint smile, and three parts overbearingness, tightly wrapping around the person. The depths of his eyes seemed to have transformed into rippling waves, carrying a profound and shallow, intoxicating magic, like a low, hypnotic curse that bewildered the heart. Qing Chen's cheeks flushed slightly as she hastily turned her head away.

  Ye Tianling smiled faintly, his expression solemn: "How is the situation in Yanxi Palace?" As soon as this matter was brought up, both of them suppressed their smiles. The current state of Yanxi Palace was indeed not optimistic. Qingchen fell silent for a moment before speaking: "Fourth brother, since you've come, you can't leave now. If you do, I won't be able to keep things under control in Yanxi Palace. However, there's one thing - you absolutely cannot enter the Empress Dowager's chambers, not even a single step."

  "Tell me the truth," Ye Tianling asked in a low voice, "what is the Queen Mother's condition?"

  You can't utter deceitful words in front of him, his eyes are empty now, just a deep black that draws her in deeply, unable to float out, not daring, nor willing to deceive. What he is willing to face is thousands of wounds and scars, even the most humiliating and filthy truth, all he wants is the truth.

  She bit her lip and said softly: "Give me some time, perhaps the Empress Dowager's luck is great and she can survive this disaster."

  Ye Tian Ling slowly closed his eyes, and Qing Chen saw that the corners of his lips were pursed tightly, knowing that he only had this expression when he was in extreme pain but didn't want to show it. He hastily said: "It will definitely be alright, Fourth Brother, I'll think of a way."

  Yè Tiān Líng stabilized his mind and said: "What do you want those white mice for? I've brought them for you."

  "You want to use it for experimentation, to find a cure for the epidemic disease."