В погоне за радугами

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I don't think that's the main reason. Actually, Wen Yanbo's talent and style are quite similar to the Empress's. As I understand it, his previous interactions with Consort Zhang were initiated by her, and given the existing family ties, he couldn't refuse. However, considering the two consorts themselves, the magnanimous and wise Empress was more likely to earn his appreciation and respect. Two people with similar intelligence and temperament often appreciate each other, especially when gender differences diminish or eliminate competition.

Furthermore, he didn't initially view the Empress's contact with the future crown prince as treason, perhaps because he also felt it was appropriate to consider the issue of the crown prince at this time, and that the Empress hadn't done anything wrong. Later, rumors circulated in the palace that Minister Wen was also secretly preparing, having already agreed with Minister Fu that if anything happened to the current emperor, the thirteenth militiaman would ascend the throne. He even had the Hanlin Academy scholars draft the edict of accession, which he carried with him at all times, in case of emergency.

This rumor could not be verified later, because the emperor's condition finally improved.

After the princess resumed eating, her health improved day by day, and she was soon able to get out of bed and walk around. Once, after much hesitation, she nervously asked Miao Shuyi if her father would ignore her if she went to pay her respects to him now.

No one told her about the Emperor's illness, because everyone had to obey the Emperor's orders, but also consider the impact that news of the Emperor's misconduct would have on the princess. At that time, the princess herself was also in poor condition, and the Emperor's illness was, in a way, related to her as well.

Seeing that the princess was getting better, Miao Shuyi finally burst into tears, which she had been holding back for a long time, and told her daughter about the emperor's condition while sobbing.

The princess was shocked and heartbroken upon hearing this, and immediately rushed to the Funing Palace to see her father. At that time, the emperor was still asleep with his eyes closed. The princess knelt before his sickbed and gently called to him, "Father."

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly at his daughter for a long time before recognizing her. He reached out a hand to her and murmured, "Huirou..."

The princess held his hands in both of hers and replied gently, "Father, Huirou is here."

The Emperor gripped his daughter's hand tightly, the veins on the back of her withered hand bulging, so forcefully, as if grasping at the only thing that sustained her life. His pale, cracked lips trembled slowly, and his gaze towards the princess was vacant and sorrowful: "Huirou, you are all I have left..."

The princess tilted her head slightly, as if trying to let her tears flow back into her heart, and suppressed her sobs as she tried to smile at her father: "Father, the flowers in Qionglin Garden and Yichun Garden are blooming again. Get well soon and take your daughter to see them."

From then on, the princess spent most of her days by her father's side, serving him with care and attention along with the other concubines and Qiuhe. Later, the emperor's emotions gradually stabilized, but his mental state remained poor, and he would faint from time to time.

Wen Yanbo and several other officials would enter the Fu Ning Hall in the province every day to present their reports to the emperor at his bedside when he was in a state of mental clarity. The emperor had difficulty speaking and could only nod in agreement.

Seeing that the imperial medical treatments were having little effect, Wen Yanbo personally inquired about the details of the treatment and repeatedly discussed prescriptions and therapies with the imperial physicians and eunuchs from the Imperial Pharmacy. On one occasion, he suddenly remembered Mr. Zhang's acupuncture treatment. After inquiring in detail about Mr. Zhang's acupuncture techniques and his views on the emperor's condition, he summoned the imperial physicians to discuss with them the feasibility of continuing to use acupuncture to treat the emperor.

The imperial physicians cautiously stated that acupuncture should be effective, but the acupoints were extremely delicate and could not be mistaken in the slightest; only a skilled practitioner could administer the treatment. They declined to take the lead, but Mr. Zhang volunteered a second time: "If Your Excellency trusts me, I will do my utmost to help Your Majesty recover and return to court as soon as possible."

After careful consideration, Wen Yanbo agreed to his request, but the biggest problem at this moment was whether the emperor was willing to cooperate.

Therefore, Mr. Zhang requested an audience with the princess, explained the situation in detail, and earnestly asked her to persuade the emperor to agree to the treatment.

The princess, already aware that the Emperor was implying the Empress and Zhang Maoze were plotting a "treason," hesitated, unsure of how to persuade him. Understanding her concerns, I suggested, "Every evening after dusk, the Emperor becomes drowsy and disoriented, barely recognizing people. If Mr. Zhang were to enter masked at this time to administer acupuncture, he might not recognize him. During this time, the princess could stay by his side, offering comfort, which might persuade him to accept the treatment."

And so it proceeded. Before Mr. Zhang entered the Emperor's bedchamber, the princess had gently persuaded her father to accept treatment from a folk doctor she had found. She said the doctor used moxibustion, but it required two light pricks on the back of the head, like a mosquito bite, causing some swelling but not much pain. The Emperor, in a daze, casually agreed, and the princess then allowed Mr. Zhang to enter.

Mr. Zhang, his face covered, knelt down to pay his respects. Since his suicide, his voice had not yet recovered; it was low and hoarse. The Emperor probably didn't recognize him, but looked at his covered face and seemed somewhat confused.

The princess immediately explained to him, "Father, this man committed a minor offense in the army many years ago and was branded with a scar on his face. To avoid making you feel uneasy, I had him come in wearing a mask."

The Emperor nodded, and at the princess's request, he lay down and closed his eyes.

When Mr. Zhang's golden needle pierced the back of his head, the emperor suddenly shuddered, his wide eyes filled with fear, and he moved as if trying to turn over and get up.

The princess quickly stopped him, patting his back with one hand and holding his hand with the other, gently comforting him: "Father, your daughter is here, your daughter is here..."

The Emperor's breathing gradually calmed down under her gentle words of comfort, and the princess continued softly, "It's alright, it will be fine in a little while, Father will be better soon..."

In the peaceful atmosphere created by the princess's voice, the emperor closed his eyes again, lying quietly, cooperating with Mr. Zhang's treatment in the best possible state that a patient could present.

Then, time seemed to freeze in the bedchamber. Almost everyone remained still, including the emperor on his sickbed and his attendants, as well as the prime minister and empress sitting not far away behind the beaded curtain. The onlookers' eyes were all fixed on the emperor. Only Mr. Zhang's faint light from his needle and his undulating gestures continued to flow in this silent space.

After the last needle was removed, Mr. Zhang stepped back and gestured for the princess to help the emperor turn over onto his back. However, the emperor immediately opened his eyes and sat up on his own.

The shadows that had initially clouded his eyes had dissipated, and he appeared to have clear, bright eyes. After surveying the room, he smiled and said to the princess, "How lovely."

This refers to having sharp eyes and ears and a clear mind. Everyone inside and outside the beaded curtain was overjoyed upon hearing this and bowed to offer their congratulations. Only Mr. Zhang remained silent and quietly slipped out amidst the laughter and chatter of the crowd.

The following day, His Majesty was in good health and could get up and move around without assistance. When the prime ministers came to see him, he was able to speak and respond calmly, as if his serious illness of the past few days had been greatly reduced.

In the days that followed, the princess continued to serve her father. One morning, after the emperor drank the medicine offered by the princess, he suddenly asked her, "Where is the tattooed soldier who treated me that day? Why don't you summon him? I want to reward him with something."

The princess hesitated, then said, "He is no longer in the palace..."

"Oh, where is he?" the Emperor pressed, adding, "Wherever he is, we must find him. He has performed such a great service; we cannot neglect him."

"Yes..." the princess agreed, but perhaps thinking about how to deal with her father's request, her expression was rather unnatural.

The Emperor, who had been observing her, couldn't help but chuckle: "That person, is it Mao Ze?"

The princess was taken aback, unsure how to respond. But the Emperor wasn't truly waiting for her answer; he continued, "When he pierced the back of my head with the needle, I immediately realized it was him, because I'll never forget the feeling of that same acupuncture point. I was terrified and almost resisted again, but, Huirou, you told me you were by my side… You are my only daughter, you would never harm your father… Thinking of this, I felt somewhat relieved…"

At this point, he chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Actually, I had a question back then that seems ridiculous now: What if you were working with Zhang Maoze to harm me? But then I thought again, if you're plotting to harm me, what's the point of me living? Why bother with anything, good or bad? I might as well just let you do as you please. So, in the end, I didn't resist at all..."

He spoke these words with a smile, but the princess was very sad. At this moment, she couldn't help but call out "Father" as if she wanted to explain something. However, the Emperor pointed to his lips, signaling her not to speak, and then smiled and said, "You don't need to say anything. Father knows everything you want to say."

The princess moved closer to her father, hugged his right arm, and rested her head on his shoulder with a serene smile.

The Emperor, smiling and enjoying this peaceful moment, turned to look at me and gently instructed, "Huaiji, go and invite Maoze over."

After Mr. Zhang entered, the Emperor said to him, "Yanbo praised you to me for attending to me when I was ill, and you also cured my serious illness with acupuncture. I should reward you for your merits. I hereby promote you to the position of Attendant of the Inner Palace Attendants. From now on, when the Emperor and officials come to pay their respects, you will be by my side at all times. You may present your case to the Emperor in the palace..."

Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Zhang bowed deeply and said, “Your Majesty, serving and protecting you is my duty. To administer acupuncture without Your Majesty’s permission is a grave offense. Your Majesty’s magnanimity in not pursuing my crime has moved me to tears. How could I dare to seek further credit or reward? I am content to remain in this important position! I have served the imperial family for over thirty years, yet I have accomplished nothing, while receiving the nation’s great favor and repeated promotions. I am truly ashamed. Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to appoint me to a minor post outside the capital. I will be grateful for Your Majesty’s grace and will faithfully perform my duties in this remote prefecture, striving to share some of the burdens of my sovereign and father.”

The Lonely City Closes (The Princess Who Fell in Love with a Eunuch) Falling Flowers and Wind in the Clear Autumn Rain 55. Broken Wings

Chapter word count: 2704 Update time: 08-09-13 15:39

Broken Wings

The Emperor did try to persuade Mr. Zhang to stay, but Mr. Zhang insisted. After considering it for two days, the Emperor granted his request and issued an edict: Zhang Maoze, the Inner Western Head Attendant and Director of the Imperial Pharmacy, was transferred to the position of Palace Garden Commissioner and Guozhou Militia Commissioner, and appointed as the Military Commander of Yongxing Road.

"When will you return, sir?" I asked him privately.

He simply smiled and did not answer.