Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 110

Wei Xiu’s constitution was weak, and she was quite sensitive to the cold. Every winter, she would clutch a hand stove and huddle by a charcoal brazier, soaking in a bit of warmth. But even so, she could not fend off the pervasive, biting chill.

When Puyang received the report, it was already dusk. Without a moment’s delay, she immediately dispatched her forces along two routes. One group was sent to the Imperial Medical Academy to summon Imperial Physician Zhou to accompany her, while the other was ordered to have the Palace Attendants’ Office prepare horses. With a dozen or so Feathered Forest Guards in tow, she galloped toward Mount Mang.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, night had fallen. Not a speck of light could be seen in the sky. The cold wind lashed at their faces like a knife. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, their faces grew numb, no longer feeling the pain or the cold.

Puyang ordered her attendants to light some torches and ascended the mountain through the night.

The mountain path was difficult to traverse, but she paid it no mind, following the narrow, winding trail straight toward the thatched hermitage at the summit.

Someone inside the hermitage was waiting to receive them. Seeing a fiery dragon formed by the line of torches on the mountainside from afar, a person opened the gates. The moment Puyang arrived, three servants knelt on either side of the door to welcome her.

Wei Xiu lived in deep seclusion in the mountains and had dismissed all her old subordinates. Puyang, naturally, was worried, so she had gone to some trouble to win over the three servants in her hermitage. It was unclear whether Wei Xiu had not noticed or simply did not wish to make an issue of it, as she had never exposed the matter.

Puyang now strode quickly through the wide-open gates.

As she walked forward, she instructed her attendants to extinguish the torches and stand guard in the courtyard.

She had lived in this hermitage for a considerable time, and its layout was still etched in her memory. She headed straight for Wei Xiu’s bedchamber. Reaching the door, she took a deep breath, instructed Imperial Physician Zhou to wait outside, and pushed the door open herself to enter.

The room was silent; no one made a sound. On a desk not far from the bed, an oil lamp was left burning, its flame no bigger than a soybean. When the door opened, a cold draft rushed in, causing the flame to flicker like a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished.

Puyang closed the door behind her and followed the faint light to the bedside.

Wei Xiu was lying there.

She had not seen her for two years. In those two years, not a day had passed when she did not think of her, not a night when she did not fall asleep thinking of her. She had dreamed of Wei Xiu’s return.

But she had not returned.

Puyang’s eyes burned, but at this moment, she had no time for sorrow.

She bent down, found Wei Xiu’s hand beneath the cotton quilt, and placed her fingers on her pulse.

Puyang had studied under Wei Xiu for a time and could discern simple conditions from the pulse. Although she had brought the imperial physician with her, she preferred not to use him if she could avoid it.

Puyang carefully checked the pulse and accurately identified it as just a common cold. Her anxious heart finally settled. But then she touched Wei Xiu’s forehead. It was burning hot; she still had a fever. Puyang’s heart was once again suspended in worry.

It had been the same last time. It began as a minor ailment but gradually developed into a serious illness.

She caressed Wei Xiu’s face, then took her right hand in both of hers and called out softly, “A Xiu…”

Wei Xiu was completely unresponsive.

She was likely delirious with fever, lost in a deep, heavy sleep.

Puyang checked the pulse once more, memorized it carefully, and walked out of the inner chamber.

Imperial Physician Zhou was waiting at the door. Puyang relayed the pulse reading and said, “The Prince Consort is still unconscious, so it is difficult to ask about her condition. In your view, is a pulse like this a cause for major concern?”

Imperial Physician Zhou considered it for a moment before replying, “This servant requests to see the prescription.”

The few servants in the hermitage were all awake now, properly dressed and standing to one side. Hearing this, Puyang’s gaze swept over them, landing on A Ye. She asked, “Where is the Prince Consort’s prescription?”

How could A Ye dare to look at her directly? She stepped forward, trembling, knelt, and replied, “The prescription is on my person.” As she spoke, she took a piece of paper from her sleeve.

An attendant at the side, quick-witted and nimble, immediately took it and presented it to Her Majesty. Puyang tilted her head slightly in a gesture, and the attendant turned to present it to the imperial physician.

The courtyard was brightly lit by torches, filled with attendants and servants, yet it was utterly silent.

Imperial Physician Zhou examined the prescription by the light, pondered it carefully, and reported, “This prescription is perfectly suitable. After taking it for a few days, the patient should be fine.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “However, not having seen the patient in person is ultimately not ideal. If Your Majesty permits, when the Prince Consort awakens tomorrow, this servant wishes to conduct a personal diagnosis.”

Puyang thought for a moment and said, “Very well, we shall see tomorrow.”

With that, she turned and went back inside the room. As for the people in the courtyard, someone would see to their arrangements.

Puyang had summoned Imperial Physician Zhou specifically because she knew that not only was his medical skill profound and his manner tactful, but at his core, he also possessed a physician’s benevolence.

Hearing his assurance that it was not serious, Puyang could finally feel at ease again.

She kept watch by Wei Xiu’s bedside.

Two charcoal braziers had been lit in the room, making it quite warm. Puyang stared at Wei Xiu without blinking. In truth, she could only vaguely make out her silhouette; the lamp was simply too dim.

But even so, Puyang felt content. She found Wei Xiu’s hand under the cotton quilt and held it again. Her heart instantly felt as if it had been filled, bringing an indescribable sense of peace.

She had already lost A Xiu and no longer dared to hope she could see her every day, much less grow old with her. In these two years, her wish had become a very humble one. She only prayed that A Xiu could live well—that they could gaze upon the same moon, drink from the same river, and exist under the same sky. That would be enough.

But seeing her now, Puyang grew discontent again. She still wanted to see her every day, to hear her gentle inquiries about her well-being, to sleep peacefully in her arms, and to exchange smiles with her.

Wei Xiu seemed to be sleeping restlessly; her fingertips twitched.

Startled, Puyang quickly released her hand, tucked it back under the cotton quilt, and smoothed the corner of the blanket, leaving no trace, as if she had never touched it.

When Wei Xiu awoke at dawn, she saw a person leaning by her bedside.

The person was sitting on the floor in front of the bed, leaning against its edge, one hand propping up her head. It must have been an uncomfortable position to sleep in. Her lightly closed eyelids fluttered from time to time, as if she might awaken at any moment.

Wei Xiu was groggy with fever, almost believing her eyes were playing tricks on her. Only after confirming it again and again did she dare to believe that she had come.

Puyang was asleep. Her breathing was light, and her face looked utterly exhausted.

Wei Xiu watched Puyang without blinking, until her eyes began to ache. Only then did she realize how foolish she was being.

An involuntary smile touched her lips, but before it could fully form, her eyes grew moist with tears.

It had been a long time. Seventh Lady was still the same, only much thinner. Wei Xiu reached out, wanting to stroke her hair, but just as she was about to touch it, she feared she would startle her awake and quietly drew her hand back.

The sky was just beginning to stir with light. The oil lamp was still lit, but its glow was growing ever fainter. Wei Xiu’s body was burning up, and her head felt as if it were being crushed by a great stone, threatening to split with pain. Weariness, like warm spring water, soaked her entire being, forcing her toward unconsciousness.

Wei Xiu was extremely reluctant to let go, but her frail body failed her. In the end, darkness overcame her consciousness.

When Wei Xiu awoke again, the sky was bright, but Puyang was gone. She had returned to the capital.

She had deliberately avoided her, leaving only Imperial Physician Zhou and a handwritten letter.

The letter was written very simply, as if fearing it would annoy her. It contained only a few words explaining Imperial Physician Zhou’s purpose. Not a single word mentioned her longing.

A physician cannot heal themself. Puyang had long wanted to arrange for a few doctors for Wei Xiu but had never found a suitable candidate. Now that Wei Xiu had left her and would not be returning to the capital, it was somewhat easier. Imperial Physician Zhou was a sensible man. His entire family was in the capital, and having long served in the palace, he knew what should and should not be said.

Wei Xiu stared at the letter for a while. The short sentence, repeated over and over in her mind, seemed to become etched upon her heart.

Imperial Physician Zhou entered the room.

Wei Xiu put the letter away and looked at him. “I have troubled you to make this trip.”

Imperial Physician Zhou was deferential. “To be able to treat the Prince Consort is this servant’s good fortune.” He glanced up at Wei Xiu and said, “I implore the Prince Consort to allow this servant to check your pulse.”

Wei Xiu shook her head, coughed twice, and said, “There is no need. This illness is not serious. I will recover in a couple of days.”

Imperial Physician Zhou seemed to disagree but had to settle for the next best thing, tactfully inquiring about her symptoms. Seeing his persistence, Wei Xiu described them briefly. Only then did Imperial Physician Zhou feel a bit more confident. He said, “Your Highness the Prince Consort must still prioritize rest and recuperation.”

“The ministers in the capital are currently busy selecting male attendants for Her Majesty. The Prince Consort should recover soon, so you may return to the capital to oversee the situation,” Imperial Physician Zhou remarked casually.

The gentle smile froze on Wei Xiu’s lips.