The Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill, which shocked the entire palace. After all, since Emperor Chu ascended the throne, this most esteed woman has been well-nourished and taken care of, only occasionally catching a cold or having digestive issues, but rarely suffering from any major illnesses.
There was no choice; the physicians of the Imperial Hospital inquired several tis a day about the Empress Dowager’s well-being—how much she ate, how much soup and water she drank, and even how many tis she turned in her sleep. All of this was naturally the duties of the palace maids and eunuchs who served closely at Cining Palace. They ticulously rembered every detail.
And the doctors, they prescribed supplents according to the Empress Dowager’s mood each day. In spring, moisture must be avoided; in sumr, heat must be prevented; in autumn, dryness must be prevented; and in winter, cold must be avoided. Needless to say, within a year, and even in each season, prescriptions were adjusted daily based on the Empress Dowager’s state to ensure she was served comfortably.
Now, the Empress Dowager suddenly fainted, and not only did all the serving staff at Cining Palace feel their necks turning cold with anxiety, but even the physicians at the Imperial Hospital were tense, feeling death’s scythe was close at hand.
How could soone with no worries faint out of the blue?
When Emperor Chu arrived with a gloomy face at Cining Palace, the Empress and several concubines had already arrived, and a few timid ones, or perhaps those putting on an act, began to cry.
"Mother is fine; who is crying there? Empress, haven’t you sent them away yet?" Emperor Chu paused and shot a hawk-like sharp gaze in the direction of the sobbing.
The crying imdiately halted, and Empress Gongsun signaled to a nanny next to her, who quickly dragged the few away. The pleadings resud and gradually faded into the distance.
Everyone knew that those concubines would probably spend their days in the Cold Palace. The rest withheld their sorrow, leaving only concern and anxiety.
The Empress Dowager rely fainted, not passed away; it’s not yet ti to cry.
When Emperor Chu entered the sleeping quarters of Cining Palace, Master Physician Lu was leading a group of physicians in consultation and discussion over the Empress Dowager’s condition. Upon seeing the Emperor enter, they knelt on the ground in a flurry.
Emperor Chu did not prompt them to rise, and directly approached the phoenix bed, seeing Empress Dowager Wang, usually rosy-cheeked, now pale-faced and lying with closed eyes. If not for her chest rising and falling slightly, he would have thought she was gone.
Emperor Chu felt a surge of intense panic, a fear greater than his own ailnts.
He recalled the difficulties faced by mother and son when they fell on hard tis. During the year of famine, they nearly starved to death, yet his mother let him drink the last bit of watery porridge while she fainted from hunger, her breath as weak as it is now.
"Mother, please wake up," Emperor Chu took Empress Dowager Wang’s hand, feeling its warmth, and gently caressed it.
He inexplicably thought of Song Zhiyuan’s recent question: How does one feel when knowing their parents are unwell?
Emperor Chu forcefully suppressed the bitterness in his heart and glared at Master Physician Lu, "What’s going on? You know the Empress Dowager’s condition well. Why did she faint, why hasn’t she awoken yet? Is it poisoning?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, we have not yet identified the cause of illness. The preliminary diagnosis indicates Lady was not poisoned, but further treatnt is required."
Emperor Chu’s face grew more severe as he commanded, "You have one hour to revive the Empress Dowager, or heads will roll."
"By your command," Master Physician Lu prostrated himself on the ground, trembling.
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