Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 104
"Your Majesty must remember this well: from the day Your Majesty made him Empress, he was merely Your Majesty's husband, and had no connection whatsoever with my Sikou family. While he was alive, he firmly protected Your Majesty, and this old minister naturally had to consider his feelings. Now that he is seriously ill, if... this old minister will only have Le'er as his son from now on. Your Majesty will still be Your Majesty, and this old minister will still be this old minister, with no further connection whatsoever!" The Sikou Prime Minister turned around and said coldly.
"You! How dare you!..."
"Your Majesty, please return my son. I now have only one son in my family, who can take care of me in my old age and see me off in my final days." A glint flashed in the eyes of the Prime Minister Sikou as he reached out to take Sikou Xunle.
"I won't leave. I want to watch over my brother. I want to stay with my brother." Sikou Xunle hugged Empress Yanzai's neck tightly.
"Your Majesty, do you really want my Sikou family to die out?!" The Prime Minister of Sikou stared intently at Empress Yanzai with piercing eyes, his words already revealing his anger.
Empress Yanzai bit her lower lip, took two steps back, and dared not look up at the aggressive look of the Prime Minister Sikou. She lowered her eyes, slowly released her hand, and placed Sikou Xunle on the ground.
The old man behind the Prime Minister, dressed as a servant, stepped forward to take back the Prime Minister Xun Le.
"I won't leave! I won't leave! I want to stay with my brother, I want to watch over him! He'll be alright! He'll be alright! He'll be alright! Tell me... he'll definitely be alright!" Sikou Xunle grabbed the Empress Yanzai, who was about to turn and leave, and shouted loudly.
Empress Yanzai was startled and quickly reached out to pull Sikou Xunle into a tight embrace. Her hands trembled slightly as she said, "Brother will be alright! Your Excellency should go back soon."
"What does Your Majesty mean? Do you dare to guarantee that my son will be alright? Even the emperor must know that life and death are not in one's own hands!" The Prime Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward abruptly and rebuked him sternly.
Empress Yanzai did not show the same forbearance as before. She stared intently at the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Justice and said, word by word, "I am the Emperor! Therefore, I will definitely protect my brother's safety! My brother will be alright."
The Prime Minister squinted and stared at Empress Yanzai for a long time before looking away: "Le'er, come back with your father."
"No! I want to watch over my brother, I want to wait for my brother!" Sikou Xunle hugged Empress Yanzai's neck tightly and said in a hard voice.
"You!...You wretched creature!" The Prime Minister glared fiercely at Sikou Xunle, then turned and left, with the old servant following closely behind.
After the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Justice had gone far away, Empress Yanzai leaned softly against the door, her hands trembling slightly, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
Sikou Xunle hugged Empress Yanzai tightly around the neck and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid, I'll be alright... I'll be alright... I'll always protect you and won't let Father hurt you. Don't be afraid... I'm still here, and Father won't touch you as long as I'm here. Don't be afraid... Don't be afraid..." Sikou Xunle tried hard to suppress the fear in his heart, repeating the words over and over, not knowing whether he was comforting the Empress or himself.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Empress and the Emperor can no longer drink their medicine."
"What?!" Empress Yanzai was shocked and stood up abruptly, carrying Sikou Xunle as she rushed into the palace.
The Prime Minister and the old man dressed as a servant got into the carriage together.
"How is Xiang'er?" The Prime Minister couldn't help but ask as soon as he sat down.
“The cold is nothing to worry about. He must be heartbroken after witnessing what happened yesterday… This old servant originally intended to forcibly bring the eldest young master back to the palace, but he must figure this out himself. If he wakes up this time, he will have understood everything and will never make the same foolish mistake again,” the old servant said, bowing his head.
The Prime Minister lowered his head slightly and sighed softly, "Xiang'er's personality is just like hers... Of all the women in the world, why did he have to fall for this immature girl... Isn't he just asking for trouble? It's a good thing he knows now, and I believe he won't be so stubborn in the future. It's just a pity that my Xiang'er has suffered so much because of her. Seeing Le'er crying like that, I can't imagine that Xiang'er is in no better shape."
"Rest assured, sir, I have used my inner energy to protect the young master's heart... The three imperial physicians are loyal to you and will obey your orders. This serious illness has also given her a chance to repay the young master's kindness. Without his genuine protection, she might already be... If she and the young master can consummate their marriage because of this illness, then all your efforts will have been worthwhile..."
The Prime Minister gave a bitter smile: "Forget it, that girl is so ungrateful. I can only pity Xiang'er's infatuation. I only hope that after this, my poor Xiang'er can get what he wants... I schemed and plotted all this time, how come I never thought that Xiang'er would be so devoted to her?"
The servant lowered his head and whispered comfortingly, "Master, there's no need to blame yourself. Your words today have cornered that person. She must already understand that the eldest young master is the only one who can give her support and security. After this... whether it's true or not, she will definitely treat the eldest young master well in the future."
"Now, all I can do for Xiang'er as his father is this. I only hope that my son can come to his senses soon... Don't tell Le'er's father about this."
"This old servant understands."
Three days have passed, and this year's snowfall is exceptionally heavy and long-lasting. The night is deep, and fine snowflakes are still falling outside the window. Inside Weiyang Palace, six braziers burn incessantly, and all the imperial physicians wait in the freezing cold, having not left Weiyang Palace for three days and two nights.
Empress Yanzai had removed her outer robes and sat silently beside the Emperor and Empress's bed. Her eyes were red and swollen, and faint tear tracks still clung to her face as she stared blankly at the Emperor and Empress's restless sleeping face. Sikou Xunle, whom she held in her arms, had already fallen into a peaceful sleep.
"Your Majesty, please give the young prince to this servant." Eunuch Zhongxi lowered his head.
Empress Yanzai raised her head and blankly handed over Sikou Xunle: "You may all leave. I will stay with my brother for a while."
Eunuch Zhongxi took the Sikou Xunle and ordered all the palace servants to quickly leave, closing the door behind him.
Empress Yanzai reached out and gently smoothed the Emperor and Empress's brows: "Brother... you've been asleep for three days... why haven't you woken up yet?"
"Jin'er can't live without her brother... she can't live without her brother. Please wake up, brother! I promise I won't make you angry anymore. They lied to me. They said you probably won't make it through the night... I don't believe them. They're all quacks, they're all useless. Please wake up, brother! If you don't wake up, I'll make the entire Weiyang Palace and the entire Imperial Hospital pay for your death... Aren't you afraid I'll kill someone? Then please wake up... wake up... stop me!" Empress Yanzai gripped the Empress's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. A void seemed to fill her heart, and an unprecedented sense of panic arose within her.
Why do I feel so helpless? Why am I so panicked? Why is there still a faint fear gathering in my heart?
The Empress asked herself again and again, was she afraid he would just leave like this? Was she afraid he would really just leave like this? ...Is that so?
If he really leaves like this, what will become of me? Who will protect me so silently like he did? Who will let me have whatever I want like he did? Who will help me conquer the world?
But why? Why is there another burning pain in my heart? I can't say what part of my heart this intense pain has burned, causing tears to flow continuously, leaving me weak and powerless, heartbroken and devastated.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Su, the head of the Imperial Hospital, requests an audience." A low voice came from outside the door from Eunuch Zhongxi.
Empress Yeonjae quickly wiped away her tears and lowered her voice, "Come in."
Imperial Physician Su stood shakily in the outer room: "I have something to report, Your Majesty, may I have a moment to spare..."
Empress Yanzai hurriedly put on her outer robe and released her grip on the Empress's hand. Unexpectedly, the unconscious Empress gently tugged at the Empress's hand. The Empress was overjoyed and quickly sat down, leaning close to the Empress's ear to comfort her, "Brother, don't be afraid. Jin'er won't leave. Jin'er will be right back."
The Empress's long, feathery eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Imperial Physician Su, what urgent matter is it?" Empress Yanzai hurriedly came out and asked anxiously.
Imperial Physician Su bowed his head and remained silent.
"Does Imperial Physician Su have some unspeakable secret?" Empress Yanzai squinted her red and swollen phoenix eyes as she looked at the wrinkled old man opposite her.
"Your Majesty...I don't know whether I should speak or not."
A hint of anxiety flashed in Empress Yanzai's eyes: "Since the imperial physician is already standing here, he must have thought it through whether he wants to speak or not. Speak."
Imperial Physician Su stood there trembling, thinking for a long time before finally speaking: "Her Highnesses have been suffering from a persistent high fever. One reason is the cold... another is emotional distress... Her heart fire is too strong, and medication is only an aid..."
"Get to the point!" Empress Yanzai slammed her hand on the table and said sternly.