Since Concubine Li and others were exposed for their conspiracy and banished to the Cold Palace, the Chang'an Imperial Palace seemed to have regained its former tranquility. However, for Empress Lin Yue, the soul-stirring frame-up still haunted her like a nightmare, lingering inescapably.
Lin Yue was still trembling with fear, refusing to step out of her palace for days after the incident. Every night, when she closed her eyes, she would see Concubine Li's venomous gaze and hear their sinister sneers ringing in her ears. Those slanderous words and vicious schemes were like icy waves drowning her repeatedly. She would startle awake from her dreams, her clothes soaked in cold sweat, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, with fear clinging to her like a shadow.
Such repeated torture quickly drained Lin Yue's spirit. Finally, on a silent night, she developed a high fever, her burning forehead seemingly about to consume her consciousness. She babbled in her coma, sometimes shouting in terror, sometimes moaning in pain, yet unable to escape the darkness like an abyss.
The maids around her were panic-stricken, never having seen the Empress in such a state. Her personal maid, Xiao Cui, had red eyes and a sobbing voice: "What shall we do? Her Majesty has always been kind—why did such a disaster befall her, and now she's so gravely ill…"
Another young maid added anxiously: "We must act quickly—we can't just stand by and watch Her Majesty suffer!"
After discussing, they knew the matter was of great importance and that only seeking help from the Emperor might offer a glimmer of hope.
Thus, Xiao Cui hurried to the Imperial Study. The Emperor was handling official business and frowned upon seeing Xiao Cui burst in frantically: "What has you so flustered?"
Xiao Cui knelt with a *thump* and wept, "Your Majesty, the Empress… she has a high fever and is unconscious!"
The Emperor's face paled, and his vermilion brush *snapped* to the floor. He rose and strode toward the Empress's chambers, his heart filled with worry and self-blame.
The Empress's quarters were deathly silent, broken only by her faint breathing and occasional babbling. The Emperor sat by her bed, holding her burning hand, and said tenderly, "Yue'er, you must recover. I cannot live without you."
He turned to the imperial physicians beside him and thundered, "You must do everything to cure the Empress. If there is any mistake, you will pay with your heads!" The physicians trembled, knelt to accept the order, and immediately began working nervously—taking pulses, writing prescriptions, and decocting medicine without a moment's rest.
Beneath this surface of tranquility, a dark current was silently surging in the harem. Some concubines who had been close to Concubine Li and others publicly expressed concern for Lin Yue's illness but secretly began to scheme. Concubine Yuan was one of them, pacing restlessly in her chambers with a flicker of resentment and ambition in her eyes.
"Sister, why take such a risk? The Empress is gravely ill—shouldn't we lie low?" Concubine Yuan's personal maid ventured cautiously. Concubine Yuan snorted, "Lie low? Why? Just because Lin Yue was lucky enough to gain the Emperor's favor, she thinks she can rule the harem as she pleases? Now that she's fallen ill, this is our chance."
"But… if the Emperor finds out, we'll be in trouble," the maid fretted.
"Fear not," Concubine Yuan's eyes hardened, "As long as we're careful, no one will suspect us. I'll make sure the Emperor knows that in this harem, besides Lin Yue, there is me—someone who can accompany him and share his burdens."
Meanwhile, upon hearing of Lin Yue's serious illness, Concubine Hui was overcome with anxiety. She rushed to the Empress's chambers, tears streaming down her face at the sight of the unconscious Lin Yue: "Sister, wake up! Your sister cannot live without you."
Turning to the Emperor, she said, "Your Majesty, I will surely find the cause of Sister's illness and help her recover soon."
The Emperor looked at Concubine Hui with gratitude: "With you here, I am much reassured. If you cure the Empress, you will be handsomely rewarded."
Knowing the gravity of her responsibility, Concubine Hui began searching everywhere for a cure. She consulted every imperial physician, pored over countless medical texts, and even sent people outside the palace to seek folk healers. In the process, she also detected something amiss in the harem.
"Cuier, have you noticed that Concubine Yuan and others have been acting strangely recently?" Concubine Hui asked her maid. Cuier nodded, "I've sensed it too. Concubine Yuan has been sneaky lately, as if plotting something."
Concubine Hui furrowed her brow, "It seems the harem is about to be thrown into turmoil again. With the Empress gravely ill, we must be cautious and not let those with ill intentions succeed."
Meanwhile, after much effort, the imperial physicians managed to temporarily stabilize Lin Yue's condition. Her fever subsided slightly, but she remained unconscious. The Emperor stayed by her side, unwilling to leave for a moment. Gazing at her pale face, he silently vowed to uncover the root cause of her suffering and eliminate all hidden dangers in the harem.
In the common world, a divine healer named Su Ran heard of the Empress's illness and voluntarily entered the palace to meet the Emperor. He claimed to have a way to cure her but required the Emperor to grant him one condition.
"Your Majesty, I am Su Ran, a humble commoner. Hearing of the Empress's illness, I have come to help," Su Ran knelt respectfully.
Hope flickered in the Emperor's eyes as he looked at Su Ran, "Can you truly cure the Empress? If so, I will grant you not just one condition but ten."
Su Ran raised his head, "All I ask is that Your Majesty pay heed to the people's sufferings and do more to benefit them."
The Emperor was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily, "Agreed. If you cure the Empress, I will prioritize the people's welfare and bring prosperity to the world."
After accepting the order, Su Ran began diagnosing Lin Yue. He carefully felt her pulse, observed her complexion, and then fell into deep thought.
Finally, he spoke slowly, "The Empress's illness stems from a *heart ailment*. After suffering such a severe shock and grievance, her fear and resentment have festered, causing her condition to worsen. To cure her, she needs not only medicine but also to untangle the knots in her heart."
The Emperor fell silent, knowing Lin Yue's plight was inseparable from his own negligence and the harem's intrigues. He decided that once she recovered, he would thoroughly rectify the harem and give her a peaceful life.
Under Su Ran's meticulous treatment, Lin Yue gradually improved. Her face regained its color, and her breathing grew steady.
At last, on a bright, sunny morning, Lin Yue slowly opened her eyes.
"Your Majesty, you're awake!" Xiao Cui exclaimed through tears of joy.
Lin Yue looked at the familiar surroundings and Xiao Cui's delighted face, feeling a warmth in her heart. She whispered, "How long have I slept? Where is the Emperor?"
"Your Majesty, you've been unconscious for over a month. The Emperor has stayed by your side without a moment's rest," Xiao Cui replied.
Touched, Lin Yue tried to sit up but found herself still weak. Just then, the Emperor saw her awake and rushed to her side, clasping her hand, "Yue'er, you're finally awake. I thought…" His voice choked with emotion, his eyes full of tenderness.
Lin Yue forced a smile, "Your Majesty, I've made you worry. I'm alright now."
The Emperor stroked her hair gently, "As long as you're safe. Yue'er, rest assured—I will restore peace to the harem and never let you be harmed again."
Lin Yue nodded, knowing the Emperor meant well. But she also understood that harem struggles would never cease; she must recover quickly to safeguard her position and dignity.
As Lin Yue recovered, the undercurrents in the harem grew stronger. Concubine Yuan and others did not abandon their schemes; instead, they accelerated their plans. They began spreading rumors that Lin Yue's illness was divine punishment, claiming she had lost heaven's blessing and was unfit to be Empress.
When Concubine Hui learned of these rumors, she was furious. She went to Lin Yue and said, "Sister, those people are too outrageous! They slander you behind your back, trying to undermine your position."
A cold glint flashed in Lin Yue's eyes, "I thought they would learn their lesson after the last incident, but it seems… I cannot stand idly by any longer." Lin Yue decided to strike first and expose Concubine Li and others' conspiracies. After consulting with Concubine Hui, they began gathering evidence secretly. They discovered that Concubine Li had colluded with external forces to pursue greater power.
"Sister, what should we do now?" Concubine Hui asked anxiously.
Lin Yue pondered, "Let's not alert them yet. Keep gathering evidence. Once we have irrefutable proof, we will present their crimes to the Emperor and let him judge."
Thus, Lin Yue and Concubine Hui embarked on a race against time, carefully collecting every piece of evidence as they awaited the right moment. Beneath the harem's serene surface, a new storm was quietly brewing…