The Empress Dowager’s eyes were tightly closed, forcing back the pain in her heart. She made this choice out of helplessness.
How could she bear to let her own flesh and blood, whom she had carefully raised for so long, suffer?
“Does the Empress Dowager truly intend to proceed?”
Feng Jin asked again. After all, Emperor Xuanwen’s status was extraordinary, and she truly dared not.
“Go. I am here; you need not worry.”
With the Empress Dowager’s permission, Feng Jin’s courage grew. She twirled a silver needle between her fingers and inserted it directly into an acupuncture point. With a flash of silver light, dozens of needles pierced Emperor Xuanwen’s body.
After the procedure, Feng Jin was utterly exhausted, her forehead slick with cold sweat, her breathing rapid.
“Your Majesty, His Majesty will awaken soon.”
“Good… you may rest now. If anyone asks about His Majesty’s condition, simply state that he is well.”
“This concubine understands.”
Having watched countless palace intrigue dramas, Feng Jin knew full well the gravity and significance of this matter. The Empress Dowager allowing her to leave this room was already the greatest favor.
She knew what to say and what not to say, and her mind was clear.
Feng Jin walked out of the palace gates with trepidation. Countless eyes were fixed on her, yet no one dared to approach and inquire.
Ling Mohan stepped forward, took Feng Jin’s hand, and pulled her into his embrace. His concerned gaze fell upon her. “What’s wrong? Your complexion is so pale.”
“It’s nothing. Perhaps… I’m just a bit too tired. I’ll be fine after some rest.”
Not wishing to invite trouble upon herself, Feng Jin did not volunteer any information.
Although the princes and princesses were eager to know Emperor Xuanwen’s condition, they dared not approach and inquire, as Ling Mohan stood beside Feng Jin.
After seeing Ling Mohan and Feng Jin leave, Chu Chenyi followed closely behind, catching up to their pace.
“How is Father Emperor?”
Feng Jin’s expression faltered slightly. She glanced at Chu Chenyi, remembering her promise to the Empress Dowager. “His Majesty is in good health. His unconsciousness is merely due to overexertion. He will awaken soon after taking his medicine.”
After a brief pause, Feng Jin’s concern seemed to deepen as she subtly reminded him, “Your Highness, when His Majesty is ill, it is even more crucial for his children to be by his side to show filial piety. This is an excellent opportunity, Your Highness. Do not let it slip away to others. You should hasten to His Majesty’s bedside to attend to him.”
Feng Jin had never shown such concern for him before. Her words now sounded exceedingly strange. Chu Chenyi immediately sensed something was amiss.
“I understand. Thank you for your concern, Young Madam Ling. I shall return now.”
As Chu Chenyi’s figure disappeared from view, Feng Jin’s expression darkened. Her gaze fell upon Ling Mohan beside her. “Let’s go back.”
“Alright.”
With the Empress Dowager’s grace permitting her to leave the palace, the current situation within the palace felt like a wolf’s den and a tiger’s lair. She did not wish to remain there for another moment. She yearned to return to the Ling manor and guard her children; only then would her heart feel at ease.
Upon returning to the manor, Feng Jin ordered everyone to maintain strict vigilance, allowing no strange bird to enter.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re so flustered. What exactly happened?”
Since returning from the palace, Feng Jin had been acting strangely, exhibiting excessive nervousness.
It made him even more curious as to what could have happened to make Feng Jin so uncharacteristically agitated. It was truly peculiar.
Feng Jin closed the study door, then, still feeling uneasy, pulled Ling Mohan into a secret chamber.
“You can tell me now. This place is the safest.”
“Actually… to speak of it, it’s not a difficult matter, yet… yet it’s quite serious. I think I… I seem to have caused a great disaster…”
The more she recalled what had just happened, the more worried she became.
“Don’t be nervous. What is it? Just tell me truthfully. If the sky falls, I’ll bear it for you.”
“Actually… actually, His Majesty is not merely unconscious. His Majesty’s body… is like a lamp running out of oil. It’s a matter of days. However… however, the Empress Dowager intends to keep it a secret and continue to announce to the outside world that His Majesty is in good health. And now, besides the Empress Dowager, I… I am the only one who knows the true state of His Majesty’s health…”
“I… I am truly worried that someone… someone might try to harm me… in order to find out His Majesty’s current condition…”
Ultimately, her greatest worry was for her own head. She had not lived long enough. If she were to die so unjustly, wouldn’t that be terribly unlucky?
Ling Mohan had not expected that the matter causing Feng Jin such distress would be this. The woman who was usually fearless was now worried about her own life, which was truly a rare sight.
“Why are you laughing? I’m so worried, and you can still laugh. Do you have any conscience at all!”
Noticing the faint smile on Ling Mohan’s lips, Feng Jin’s anger flared. She glared at Ling Mohan with resentment.
“I apologize… I couldn’t help myself for a moment.”
Indeed, Feng Jin’s current appearance was so amusing that it was understandable he couldn’t restrain himself.
“I think you’re deliberately mocking me. Laugh all you want. We’re in this together. If something happens to me, you won’t be able to escape any blame either. You should think about it yourself.”
She had also come to realize that if something were to happen to her, Ling Mohan would not be able to remain unaffected.
Therefore, she decided to stop worrying about it and let Ling Mohan figure out a solution himself.
“Since it has already happened, and you have the Empress Dowager as your backing, what do you have to worry about? Don’t worry, your head is firmly attached. It’s not easy for ordinary people to take it.”
Ling Mohan reached out and stroked Feng Jin’s hair. He wondered why he had never noticed this adorable side of Feng Jin before. It was truly a rare sight.
“Hmph… you just know how to say comforting words. Don’t touch my hair; you’ll mess up my hairstyle.”
She dismissively swatted away the man’s hand that was on her head. She especially disliked the gesture of him touching her hair, feeling a different sort of meaning behind it, as if it implied something else.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
Ling Mohan’s words were meant to soothe Feng Jin’s anxious emotions. He seemed to understand the true reason behind the Empress Dowager’s actions.
After all, His Majesty’s current situation was identical to that of the late Emperor.
The late Emperor had also suddenly fallen unconscious and passed away without leaving a single decree…