The order was decidedly strange. Though Wang Cheng'en was puzzled, he dared not ask questions and left to carry it out.
While they waited for the clothes, Lu Xiangsheng thought of those in the Imperial Prison who had pleaded on his behalf. "Your Majesty, Senior Grand Secretary Fan, Elder Huang, and the others have suffered greatly over my affair. Once I leave, perhaps Your Majesty could..."
"Release them?" Zhu Youjian glanced outside and gave a soft snort.
"Yes... yes... their loyalty to Your Majesty is plain for all to see. Besides, wasn't this all a misunderstanding?"
Zhu Youjian took a few steps toward Lu Xiangsheng and sighed. "Yes, a misunderstanding. It was because I used to keep thinking of negotiating peace that they refused to trust me today." He looked outside the cell again. "But as my subjects, how could they kneel at the palace gates at the slightest provocation? Where does such behavior leave me? Am I some benighted ruler?"
Lu Xiangsheng hastily knelt. "Your Majesty is wise and mighty. They simply failed to understand your actions this time. I believe that after this, they will never act so rashly again. Your Majesty, please spare them severe punishment for my sake."
"Lu Xiangsheng..." Zhu Youjian addressed him by his name rather than his courtesy name. That sudden, solemn authority made the kneeling Lu Xiangsheng straighten his back at once.
"You are a military commander, and they are civil officials. They plead for you, and you speak for them. Aren't you afraid I might think you are colluding across the court and army, and punish you all?"
After speaking, Zhu Youjian stared fixedly at Lu Xiangsheng on the floor, not even noticing when Luo Yangxing returned with the clothes.
Lu Xiangsheng's expression was resolute, his bearing frank and open. "Your Majesty can discern the finest autumn hair, understands men, and appoints them wisely. How could you be a benighted ruler? How could you believe we formed a faction to pursue private gain?"
He glanced at the emperor, then continued in a ringing voice, "Should I ever betray the convictions I began with, Your Majesty need only punish me. Whether by a thousand cuts or by tearing me apart with chariots, I would utter no complaint!"
In the dim cell, Lu Xiangsheng's eyes shone like stars. Zhu Youjian knew his words were sincere. He nodded and raised a hand. "Jiandou, remember what you said today. I... do not wish to lose a loyal subject and worthy commander!"
Lu Xiangsheng clasped his hands in acknowledgment and rose.
Only then did Luo Yangxing enter. "Your Majesty, the clothes are here!"
Luo Yangxing glanced at Lu Xiangsheng. His eyes were slightly red, but his complexion was healthy. An indescribable vigor radiated from him; he seemed an entirely different man from when he had first arrived.
"Put them on!" Zhu Youjian tipped his chin toward Lu Xiangsheng, signaling Luo Yangxing to take the clothes over.
Lu Xiangsheng thanked him, took the clothes, and turned away to change.
Curiosity was written all over Luo Yangxing's face. Zhu Youjian gave him a sidelong glance. "Whom did I come to see today?"
Luo Yangxing froze, then answered plainly, "Lu Xiangsheng?"
"Where is Lu Xiangsheng?"
"Leaving with Your Majesty..." As he spoke, Luo Yangxing's heart suddenly jolted. Meeting Zhu Youjian's cold, stern gaze, he understood at once and hurriedly corrected himself. "Your Majesty personally interrogated Lu Xiangsheng today, then returned to the palace afterward. Lu Xiangsheng is naturally still confined in the Imperial Prison, awaiting sentence."
"If I hear so much as a word about this, even half a sentence, even a suspicion, even an unfounded rumor-"
At the emperor's low words, Luo Yangxing bowed his head still farther. His heart seemed about to leap out of his throat. He swallowed involuntarily. "If that happens, I... let me suffer every torture in the Imperial Prison and die a wretched death..."
Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze toward Wang Cheng'en behind Luo Yangxing.
Wang Cheng'en shuddered and dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, even if I died ten thousand deaths, I would not reveal the slightest thing!"
"Enough. Get up!" Zhu Youjian turned back and saw that Lu Xiangsheng had finished changing. He nodded to him. "Let's go!"
Luo Yangxing and Wang Cheng'en followed behind Zhu Youjian. Lu Xiangsheng brought up the rear with his head lowered, concealed by the darkness. Once they left the Imperial Prison, Luo Yangxing made a show of ordering him, "Go!"
Lu Xiangsheng clasped his hands. "Your subordinate obeys!" He gave the emperor another glance, then turned and left without lingering.
With the matter settled, the emperor boarded his carriage and departed. Luo Yangxing watched him leave, his heart full of conflicting feelings.
He had me arrest the man with such fanfare, only to let him go in secret now. What was all this about?
Luo Yangxing sighed, then wondered whether he had misunderstood His Majesty somewhere along the way.
Could it be... His Majesty never intended to negotiate peace?
The carriage slowly set off toward the palace gates. Zhu Youjian sat inside, its rocking lulling him toward sleep. It was almost midnight, time for bed, and there was morning court tomorrow. Day after day of this. What an ordeal.
He had just grumbled inwardly when the carriage gave a violent jolt, pitching him forward. Had Wang Cheng'en not reacted swiftly and caught him, he would probably have fallen.
Letting the emperor fall would be a grave matter. Wang Cheng'en hurriedly lifted the curtain and shouted, "Are you blind? What's going on?"
"Someone... is blocking the road!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a young eunuch appeared in front of the carriage in a panic, then crawled over beside it. "Brush-holder Wang, I'm from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. I beg an audience with His Majesty. Her Majesty..."
"What's happened to the empress?" Zhu Youjian hastily leaned out and questioned the man on the ground.
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty has fallen ill."
"Have you summoned an imperial physician?"
"Yes, but Her Majesty won't let the physicians in. She told me to find Your Majesty."
Empress Zhou knew proper etiquette. Why would she refuse medical treatment when ill and send for him instead? Zhu Youjian was puzzled. Remembering the few palace-intrigue dramas he had watched, he wondered whether she was using an excuse to draw him over.
No, Empress Zhou isn't an ordinary consort. It isn't difficult for her to see me. Besides, we were intimate just last night. Even if she missed me today, she wouldn't use an excuse like this.
"To the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!" Zhu Youjian ordered, already unable to keep his anxiety at bay.
At the emperor's command, the carriage picked up considerable speed. Upon reaching the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, Zhu Youjian stepped down and hurried toward the Eastern Warm Pavilion.
Outside the Eastern Warm Pavilion, several imperial physicians paced anxiously in circles. They wanted to enter, but the empress's command barred them from doing so.
"Her Majesty's precious health must not come to harm. Please let me in!" Wu Youguang, director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, called through the doorway.
Faint moans came from inside, but no order permitting an examination followed. The physicians were helpless, unable to understand why the usually gentle empress would refuse treatment.
Sighs rose one after another. None of them knew what to do.
"His Majesty is here!" Spotting the emperor, Wu Youguang hurried forward. "Your Majesty, Her Majesty is unwell, but she won't let me enter. This..."
Zhu Youjian pushed Wu Youguang aside, lifted the curtain, and went in.
After being pushed aside by the emperor, Wu Youguang exchanged bewildered looks with the other physicians. "What do we do? Can we go in?"
Zhu Youjian headed straight into the inner chamber, where he saw Qiu Mei seated beside the empress's bed, continually wiping away her sweat with a damp cloth.
"What's happened?" Zhu Youjian approached. The empress's face was flushed, her eyes tightly shut, and her lashes trembled incessantly. Whimpering sounds escaped her lips, like weeping, yet not quite.
Zhu Youjian laid a hand against her cheek. "You're so hot. A fever?"
At his touch, Empress Zhou let out a sigh and slowly opened her eyes. "Your... Your Majesty..."
"If you're ill, you need a physician. Why won't you let them in? Where do you feel unwell?"
Empress Zhou seemed to be struggling to endure something. She waved a hand at Qiu Mei, who immediately curtsied and withdrew.
"Where exactly does it hurt? Shall we let a physician come in and examine you?" Zhu Youjian's tone was rather like someone coaxing a child. At that moment, he had entirely forgotten he was an emperor.
Seeing the emperor coax her in such a soft, gentle voice delighted the empress all the more. Her half-open eyes shimmered like rippling water. She reached out, wrapped her arms around Zhu Youjian, and pressed herself against him.
"I want Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
Zhu Youjian froze completely. What was going on?
No matter how I look at her, she seems to be asking for intimacy. But why would the ever-dignified empress behave like this?
Had she been drugged? But she's the empress! Who would dare? Did they have a death wish?
The soft, delicate body in his arms was still twisting restlessly. Only then did Zhu Youjian understand why she had refused to let the physicians enter. He knew no other way to restore her clarity, so he could only...
Half an hour later, Empress Zhou nestled in Zhu Youjian's arms, her senses gradually clearing. Then she remembered something. Panic flooded her face as she rolled away and knelt on the bed. "I have behaved improperly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Empress Zhou was frightened. His Majesty had always been solemn and restrained. Given the way she had behaved just now, he would have grounds even to depose her.
Looking at Empress Zhou's frightened face, Zhu Youjian felt nothing but tenderness and pity. He hurriedly gathered her into his arms to soothe her.
"Don't be afraid. How could I blame you? But this is strange indeed. Do you know what caused it? Has someone tampered with your food or the things you use? If anyone in the inner palace has dared do such a thing, I will punish them without mercy!"
To Zhu Youjian, the empress might well have been the victim of a plot. If he had not arrived in time, or if a physician had entered the chamber then, what would have become of her?
The empress knitted her brows and thought for a moment. Though the women of the inner palace could hardly be called loving sisters, surely none would harbor such a filthy scheme against her. Even if someone had the inclination, they would not have the nerve.
Besides, was the Palace of Earthly Tranquility somewhere people could come and go as they pleased?
As the empress pondered, her eyes swept over the furnishings and objects in the chamber. Suddenly, her gaze stopped. "I know!" she said softly.
Before you continue