Zhaoyuan Palace
"Your Majesty, Madam Li has hanged herself." Xue Yan hurried to Xue Zining's side and whispered.
Xue Zining was startled and looked up at Xue Yan, frowning and asking, "What did you say?"
"Madam Li has hanged herself," Xue Yan repeated.
"How is Madam Li now?" Xue Zining continued to ask.
Xue Yan said, "She was discovered by servants in the mansion and rescued, but her condition is critical."
Xue Zining's gaze tightened, and she slowly said, "Send the thousand-year-old ginseng from my private treasury over."
Xue Yan was stunned and said, "Your Majesty, that is the only ginseng you have left now."
"Ginseng is dead, people are alive. Send it over!" Xue Zining said.
Xue Yan sighed. In the past, when Lin Yanzhi and Hua Yunjin were ill, His Majesty had already sent out a lot of ginseng. Now, the last remaining piece was also sent away. She only hoped that this Madam Li would not repay kindness with enmity.
"Accompany me to have a look," Xue Zining said, getting up.
Xue Yan followed.
Halfway, Xue Zining stopped and said to Xue Yan, "Go and invite Imperial Physician Jiang here."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xue Yan left.
Madam Li's Residence
"Doctor, how is Madam?" Xiu'er asked anxiously, standing by.
The doctor examined her for a while, then came to Li Chenxuan and bowed, saying, "Master Li, I am of shallow knowledge and cannot treat Madam. Please find a more skilled physician!"
The doctor shook his head.
Upon hearing this, Li Chenxuan clenched his fists tightly.
Xiu'er heard this and collapsed onto the ground. Looking at the silent Madam on the bed, she burst into tears.
"What are you crying for? Madam is not dead yet," Li Chenxuan said coldly.
Xiu'er trembled and turned around, only to see Li Chenxuan's eyes were red.
"The Emperor has arrived!" a voice called from outside the door.
Li Chenxuan looked at Xiu'er and said, "You take care of Madam."
With that, he walked out.
In the moonlight, a slender figure slowly appeared. The maiden, dressed in a flowing gown the color of sky and water, walked towards him.
Her pure and beautiful face had eyes as clear as water. He lowered his gaze, "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"
The maiden offered a gesture of support, "Master Li need not be so formal."
Li Chenxuan trembled all over. "Master Li..." His heart twitched. Finally, after all the twists and turns, her address for him had changed. Wasn't this what he wanted to see? Yet, why did his heart ache?
"Xue Yan, take Imperial Physician Jiang in to examine Madam Li," the maiden said indifferently.
Li Chenxuan was stunned, then quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Master Li, you are welcome. Speaking of which, this matter was caused by me, and I also bear responsibility."
Li Chenxuan was stunned. He looked up and met the maiden's clear yet cold gaze, which instantly chilled him to the bone.
He lowered his gaze, enduring the pain in his heart, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, the fault lies with your subject. It is my negligence."
"Yes, it is your negligence. You failed to appease your Madam in the mansion and you have failed to live up to my trust in you in court. Master Li, I hope this matter can be put to rest. Let such incidents not occur again, otherwise, I will not forgive lightly."
The maiden's voice was as cold as the winter night, chilling to the bone.
But colder still was his heart, frozen into a block of ice, unable to melt.
Xue Yan walked out and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Madam Li is out of danger."
Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Have Imperial Physician Jiang come for three consecutive days to treat Madam Li. Ensure she recovers."
Xue Yan said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will inform Imperial Physician Jiang immediately."
"Since Madam Li is out of danger, I shall return to the palace."
With that, Xue Zining turned and walked towards the door without looking back.
Li Chenxuan knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty!"
Li Chenxuan, from this day forward, you and I are truly sovereign and subject.
It was not until a long time later that Li Chenxuan raised his head. His eyes were filled with a dead ash. He knew all his delusions had to be severed. From now on, the only thing he could do for her was to be a loyal minister and not disappoint her.
That emotion would forever be buried in the deepest part of his heart, sealed away.
"Master, Madam has woken up," Xue Yan said to Li Chenxuan as she walked out.
Li Chenxuan looked up at Xue Yan and bowed, "Thank you, Miss Xue Yan, for all your hard work."
Xue Yan glanced at Li Chenxuan indifferently and said coldly, "Master Li, I hope you can keep a close eye on your Madam. Some words can be spoken, and some actions can be taken, but some words cannot be spoken, and some actions cannot be taken. Otherwise, even if Your Majesty spares Madam out of consideration for you, who knows if Madam will do something even more outrageous?"
Li Chenxuan's gaze tightened slightly. He bowed and said, "Miss Xue Yan is right. I will pay attention."
Xue Yan looked at Li Chenxuan and said faintly, "Master Li, please take care of yourself!"
All she could say was this. She hoped Li Chenxuan would not disappoint His Majesty.
After all, there were not many people His Majesty could use. She did not want Li Chenxuan to leave His Majesty as well.
Xue Yan left. Xiu'er came out and curtsied, "Master, Madam wishes to see you."
"Tell Madam to rest well. Xiu'er, I entrust Madam to you."
With that, Li Chenxuan turned and left.
Xiu'er returned to the room and looked at her Madam, who was eagerly awaiting. She whispered, "Madam, Master has some matters to attend to. He asked you to rest well and he will come to see you tomorrow."
The latter part was added by Xiu'er herself. She knew Madam's temperament well. If she knew Master was so indifferent, she might do something extreme again.
"It's alright. Master is busy with official duties, and I have made him worry. It is all my fault," Jiang Xinqin said, lowering her gaze in self-reproach.
Xiu'er was slightly taken aback, then said, "Madam, please don't think so negatively. Although Master is busy with official duties, he cares about you. He invited the imperial physician for you; otherwise, you wouldn't have woken up so quickly."
Jiang Xinqin did not expose Xiu'er. Although she was unconscious then, her mind was clear. She had heard the conversation between Master and the Empress. The imperial physician was brought by the Empress.
"Xiu'er, I am hungry," Jiang Xinqin said.
Xiu'er said, "Madam, this servant will go and instruct the kitchen to make something for you."
"Xiu'er, I want to eat the noodles you made," Jiang Xinqin said, looking up.
Xiu'er was stunned. "Madam, may this servant make them for you tomorrow?"
"I want to eat them now. Don't worry, I've thought it through. I won't do anything foolish." Jiang Xinqin said.
Xiu'er nodded and instructed, "Then please rest well. This servant will go and make them for you now."
Xiu'er left.
Jiang Xinqin looked towards the door and after a long while, slowly said, "Come out!"
A figure slowly walked out. Jiang Xinqin looked at the person who appeared on the bed and was startled, "You... aren't you Miss Nangong..."
"Nangong Yue still has things to do for me..."
"Who are you?" Jiang Xinqin looked at the person in front of her, feeling a sense of danger.
"You don't need to know who I am. Just know that our goals are the same."