At night, after Xia Ruqing had gone to bed and the mosquito netting was drawn, Zi Yue moved the lamp and left.
Once she heard the door close and a while had passed, Xia Ruqing quietly got up.
She opened the window and then partially opened the quilt before lying down and falling back to sleep.
It was a chilly night in early spring.
At first, she was so cold that she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Eventually, as she grew drowsy, she drifted off into a hazy sleep.
Indeed, she had intentionally let herself catch cold for two reasons. First, the Empress and Noble Concubine Shih were currently locked in a rivalry. Even the slightest impact from their clash would be more than she could withstand. And most importantly, she had no choice but to be involved. Second, it would become known to others that her health was indeed poor.
When Xia Ruqing could no longer bear the cold, she felt a twinge of sorrow.
When could she stop relying on these methods? When could she stop using the shell of ’poor health’ to dodge other people’s gazes and seize even the slightest crack at survival? She, too, wanted status, and she wanted others to dare not bully her. But rules were rules; how could they possibly be bent? Without anyone in her family to stand up for her, even if the Emperor raised her rank, others would still find faults and target her everywhere. It was better to properly keep her position as the Honored Lady! At least, the Emperor was willing to protect her and wouldn’t allow her to be bullied easily. She was at least cherished by him, which was far better than many others, wasn’t it?
As Xia Ruqing thought about it, her nose began to feel sour.
From having nothing in the beginning to what she had now, how much effort had she exhausted! It wasn’t that she wasn’t aggrieved, it was simply that there was no choice!
...
The next day, Xia Ruqing woke up early in the morning with a dizzy head, stuffy nose, and a heavy voice.
Zi Yue was startled.
"You were fine last night, how come it’s gotten this severe today..."
As she spoke, she touched Xia Ruqing’s forehead.
"It’s burning hot, my lady, we need to call the Imperial Physician..."
Such a high fever was bound to make her seriously ill!
Xia Ruqing was weak but still firmly held onto her...
"Don’t go, Zi Yue..."
Seeing her pale face, Zi Yue knelt down, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
"My lady, I know what you’re thinking, but I can’t watch you ruin yourself..."
Xia Ruqing’s eyes also turned red.
At this moment, having someone who understood her warmed her heart.
Zi Yue, seeing her touched, couldn’t help but urge again.
"The Emperor is coming back to the palace the day after tomorrow. What if he sees you like this? How would that be good? What would you have the Emperor think?"
Xia Ruqing was slightly startled.
Picturing it, if he found out, his face would probably turn as dark as anything!
After thinking it over for a while, she finally abandoned the notion of swinging by Xifu Palace.
"Alright then, I’ll listen to you. Call for the Imperial Physician, and have Xiao Xizi go to Xifu Palace to say that I caught a chill last night and am seriously ill..."
It just so happened that it was chillingly cold last night, and today the weather was overcast, looking as if it would rain.
In these early spring months, the chill could be quite severe. Her being frail, falling ill was plausible.
After hearing her out, Zi Yue finally smiled.
While sending Xiao Xizi to fetch the Imperial Physician, she also had him make another trip to Xifu Palace.
Meanwhile, she busied herself in and out, first getting a quilt and wrapping Xia Ruqing up tightly.
Her entire person was cocooned like a silkworm, with only her face showing.
Her eyes twinkling, she watched Zi Yue bustling about, looking quite comical.
Zi Yue also brought two charcoal basins into the room and finally went to the small tea room to brew a thick bowl of ginger soup...
Just after drinking the steaming ginger soup, the Imperial Physician arrived, followed by Xiao Xizi and an unfamiliar Little Palace Maid.
As the Imperial Physician approached to take her pulse, the Little Palace Maid also came forward to bow.
"I am Cuicui, a Second Class palace maid of Xifu Palace. The Noble Consort heard that the Honored Lady was ill and specially sent me to check on the Honored Lady..."
As she spoke, the Little Palace Maid handed over a brocade box.
Zi Yue stepped forward to receive it and said, "On behalf of my master, I thank the Noble Consort for her generosity!"
She then smiled awkwardly. "My Honored Lady is severely ill. She cannot come today; when my master recovers, she will certainly visit Xifu Palace in person to apologize..."
Cuicui laughed upon hearing this but did not hurry to leave. She said, "Sister Zi Yue, what are you saying? The Honored Lady is ill. There is absolutely no reason for her to go out in her condition..."
Zi Yue just smiled. "Then I thank the Noble Consort for her understanding!"
After finishing, she did not continue the conversation.
It was tiring to make small talk for the sake of it.
Fortunately, the Imperial Physician had just finished taking the pulse, avoiding any awkwardness.
The Imperial Physician finished taking the pulse and put away the small medicinal pillow, his expression very serious.
"The early spring is cold and cool. The Honored Lady’s body is weak; it’s understandable that she couldn’t withstand it. Now that she has developed a high fever, she certainly must not leave the house..."