Doctor Wang was always by Xiao Tianchi's side. Sensing that Xiao Tianchi was in an abnormal state, he quickly felt his pulse.
Carefully examining his pulse, Doctor Wang looked solemn. "It was ultimately affected by today's sudden downpour. The cold air invaded his body, aggravating his old injuries, and he has a fever again."
Eunuch Wang was extremely anxious. "Oh, this servant knew that this rain was aimed at Your Majesty! Doctor Wang, you must treat His Majesty well!"
Each breath Xiao Tianchi exhaled was scalding hot. He felt as if he were in a furnace.
He smiled indifferently and said, "I'll have to trouble Doctor Wang again. Oh, by the way, don't let Lingji know about this. Although..."
He seemed to think of something, and his voice gradually faded. "Although, she may not worry about me."
Doctor Wang sneered coldly. "I've never seen someone like you who likes to torture yourself. You could have lived another thirty or forty years, but you insisted on becoming the emperor. Don't you know that emperors usually have short lives? Do you think just anyone can sit on this throne?"
Eunuch Wang was almost furious. "Doctor Wang, what are you talking nonsense about? His Majesty will surely live a long life!"
Xiao Tianchi laughed, his chest vibrating slightly, and then he coughed violently. "Wang Zhi, he's angry with me. He's angry that I didn't tell him immediately last night when I got the news that Cangzhou was flooded, which made him worried."
Doctor Wang readily admitted. "I've lived most of my life to get such a smart and well - behaved disciple. I originally hoped that she would inherit my mantle. Because of you, I was forced to separate from her. Now that she's in danger, how can I not be worried?"
"If it were Shen Lingyun, I wonder if you'd be in a hurry?"
As Doctor Wang said, he mercilessly inserted the acupuncture needles into Xiao Tianchi's acupoints. "Concentrate. I'm going to start the acupuncture."
Xiao Tianchi had no time to think about other things. Due to the pain, he arched his whole body, and his face showed a painful expression.
In the side hall of the Jiaofang Palace, Biwu served a bowl of mung bean and lotus seed soup to relieve the summer heat. Shen Lingyun frowned. Although she had no appetite, she forced herself to take a couple of mouthfuls, but her brow was tightly knitted, looking preoccupied.
There were footsteps outside. Soon, Zixi rushed in from outside and came to Shen Lingyun.
Shen Lingyun immediately pushed away the mung bean and lotus seed soup in her hand and asked, "Well, what did you find out?"
After Zixi saluted, she stood up and replied, "Madam's prediction was correct. Something really happened when His Majesty set off for the Altar of Heaven today..."
Shen Lingyun was shocked. Without her urging, Zixi told her what had happened outside today.
Learning that the clear sky suddenly became overcast with dark clouds, flying sand and a sudden downpour, Shen Lingyun's face changed.
"Someone in the crowd mentioned the flood in Cangzhou and insinuated that the continuous rain and the overflowing flood in Cangzhou were all because His Majesty had defied the heavens and forcefully seized the throne, causing great suffering to the people."
Zixi said, "The common people were incited and intended to drive His Majesty off the imperial carriage. However, the sudden downpour stopped soon, and His Majesty then..."
Zixi carefully glanced at Shen Lingyun and said, "He made public the fact that Prince Xuan had murdered the crown prince. He also announced to the outside world that the late emperor had favored his concubine and neglected his wife, abandoning Madam. The queen had committed suicide in the Cold Palace and was already dead."
Biwu couldn't help gasping and subconsciously looked at Shen Lingyun.
Xiao Tianchi had actually announced to the outside world that Shen Lingyun was dead. That meant there would be no more Shen Lingyun in this world?
After hearing this, Shen Lingyun first felt angry.
She was still alive, but he said she was dead. What would Xiao Jingcheng think if this news reached his ears?
Then she reacted.
No, she and Xiao Tianchi had made a bet on whether Xiao Jingcheng would return to the capital. If Xiao Jingcheng learned that she was dead, what was the point of his returning to the capital?
How could he abandon his father and come back to submit to his uncle, the current lord of the Sheng Kingdom?
Didn't that mean she had won this bet?
Coming back to her senses from her anger, Shen Lingyun's expression became complicated.
She couldn't help but recall what Xiao Tianchi had said to her.
He had said, "Lingji, don't you trust me?"
It wasn't that she didn't want to trust him, but she couldn't get over the hurdle in her heart. She had been Xiao Tianye's wife for more than twenty years. Now that she was old, her youth was gone. She had experienced betrayal, neglect, and suspicion. She no longer believed in love and didn't want to tie herself down anymore.
Since he had announced that she was dead, she no longer had to be Shen Lingyun in the future, nor be restricted by the identity of the daughter of the Shen family in Hexi.
After all...
He still thought about her.
"What happened next?" Shen Lingyun asked.
Zixi paused for a moment and continued, "After that, His Majesty successfully went to the Altar of Heaven without any other accidents. However, perhaps because he was caught in the rain during the day, His Majesty had a high fever at night. He also ordered that the news not be passed on to the Jiaofang Palace and that... Madam not be informed."
Shen Lingyun clenched her fists tightly. She nodded expressionlessly. "Okay, I see."
She picked up the bowl of mung bean and lotus seed soup and continued to eat with her head down.
The spoon clinked against the white porcelain bowl again and again. Zixi, who had stepped aside, couldn't help but look at Shen Lingyun.
She had thought that Shen Lingyun would rush to the Zichen Palace to visit Xiao Tianchi after learning this news, but unexpectedly, she remained unmoved. It seemed that the relationship between the two was not as others had thought.
After finishing the mung bean and lotus seed soup, Shen Lingyun walked around the room for a while to digest, and then she picked up a book and leaned on the couch to read.
The sky gradually darkened, and the temperature became a bit cooler. When the night completely enveloped the imperial city, Shen Lingyun put down the book in her hand, stood up, and called Biwu and the sisters Zixi and Ziyan.
"Come with me to the Zichen Palace."
There was a hint of joy in Zixi's eyes. She exchanged a look with Ziyan and replied, "Yes."
Although Doctor Wang had performed acupuncture and administered medicine, Xiao Tianchi's fever persisted. He was sometimes unconscious and sometimes awake, completely muddled, and his memories in his mind were in a complete mess.
He was already used to his body having problems from time to time, so he had developed extraordinary endurance. Although his whole body seemed to be about to shatter, he didn't let out a single groan of pain.
However, when he opened his eyes hazily again and saw Shen Lingyun sitting by his bedside, he was a bit dazed. The pain suddenly became more sensitive, and it was so painful that it was difficult for him to even breathe.
Was he so sick that he was having hallucinations again?
How could Lingji come to his bedside to see him?
She was the most stubborn person. If she said she would draw a clear line from him, she would surely do it.
He closed his eyes again, trying to fall asleep, but when the cold touch of the white porcelain touched his lips and he heard Shen Lingyun's cold and calm voice in his ear, "Xiao Tianchi, stop pretending to sleep. I know you're awake. Open your mouth and drink the medicine."