What It Means to Bear a Grudge
Every time that Zhang Yuan spoke with Xuan Tian Ming, he felt a bit on the edge of mental collapse. Saying “serves him right” and “reaping what he sows” to describe the Emperor, in this world, this was something that only the ninth prince of hell dared to do.
“Then what happened after? Concubine Liu’s family made some movements, right?” Feng Yu Heng hurriedly changed the topic, not wanting to let Xuan Tian Ming speak.
Zhang Yuan felt more and more that Feng Yu Heng really was great. She truly was a savior! Thus he quickly said: “There definitely were movements. Concubine Liu’s father was the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, a standard second rank official. Because this matter occurred, Minister Liu was very unhappy. At that time, he had been the one leading the group that had caused a loud scene accusing Imperial Concubine Yun of exclusively dominating the imperial harem. I heard that a number of commotions were started! But His Majesty was entirely biased toward Imperial Concubine Yun. No matter how much of a scene they caused, it would not have a single good result. Seeing that Concubine Liu was losing influence in the palace and that other members of the imperial harem were losing influence, Minister Liu was so angry that he fell ill and died. It was only then that His Majesty felt that things were a little hard to accept, thus he broke the rules once more and promoted Concubine Liu’s eldest brother to the position of assistant minister in the Ministry of Civil Personnel, which is a standard third rank position.”
“Those people that are occupying positions in the court without doing their jobs were promoted in this manner.” Xuan Tian Ming spoke up and caused Zhang Yuan to tremble with fear once more. He hoped that they would quickly arrive at the Imperial Palace. In any case, the old emperor in the palace would be able to support him and continue the conversation with the ninth prince. His little heart was about to give out.
But what Xuan Tian Ming had said was not completely unreasonable. Over the years, the Emperor had felt quite apologetic to the women of the imperial harem. That was why he did anything possible to make amends in regards to power. If an official’s position could be arranged, it would be arranged. This would also serve as a way of comforting himself. But it was also because of these assigned officials that these people with hatred in their hearts could gather together and support the eighth prince’s side.
Zhang Yuan thought for a bit and felt that he needed to say a bit more, thus he added: “That Concubine Liu is severely ill, and we don’t know how long she had been sick for. Either way, His Majesty feels unreconciled about the imperial harem. The imperial harem sends many reports, but these reports never reach the Emperor. It was only yesterday that the imperial physicians in the palace announced that they were powerless and allowed for funeral arrangements to begin. It was only at this point that His Majesty received word of this and went to take a look. Princess also knows that His Majesty is getting old. When people get old, it’s easy for them to feel nostalgic. When seeing Concubine Liu sick like that, he felt a bit troubled. Concubine Liu’s eldest brother, Assistant Minister Liu, had also made a special trip to the palace. Having Princess come into the palace was a request made by Assistant Minister Liu.”
“Oh?” Feng Yu Heng was startled: “It was brought up by Assistant Minister Liu?” Her eyes then squinted, “Then that makes it a bit more fun!”
Xuan Tian Ming also put on a sly smile, freely saying: “That’s right! One of old eighth’s people took the initiative to invite this prince’s wife into the palace to examine his younger sister’s illness. This really does need a bit of attention.”
Zhang Yuan was not a fool. Back when Assistant Minister Liu had made this request, he had felt extremely awkward. He had even quickly said to the Emperor that there was definitely some sort of plot at hand. Who knew if the Emperor had not heard him or if the sorrow of Concubine Liu being on her deathbed made him not want to hear about the underlying situation, but his reminder was unable to change the Emperor’s mind. He was still chased out of the palace to personally invite them from the Yu Palace. Zhang Yuan was extremely divided on this matter, but when he saw Xuan Tian Ming’s ghastly expression and Feng Yu Heng’s pensive look, he became a bit worried. Although the Emperor was irresponsible in his usage of eunuchs, what if the ninth prince and the old emperor began arguing as a result of this? The Emperor was already so old. Could he handle such a thing?
Thus Zhang Yuan began to work from Feng Yu Heng’s side, advising her: “Princess, don’t blame His Majesty. Although this was brought up by Assistant Minister Liu, and His Majesty also agreed, but Concubine Liu is indeed quite severely ill. The imperial physicians have said that she will not be able to survive until the end of this month. In the end, she is someone whom His Majesty had favored before. Although that was 20 years earlier, it’s possible that His Majesty also feels saddened upon seeing this. You must not blame His Majesty.” While speaking, he sneakily pointed in Xuan Tian Ming’s direction, meaning for Feng Yu Heng to try and advise him a bit.
Feng Yu Heng did not pick up on this matter, only asking: “Then what symptoms does Concubine Liu have? What outcome did the imperial physicians have?”
Zhang Yuan quickly said: “The people in An Ju Palace said that Concubine Liu has been feeling weak for almost an entire year. She will frequently be unable to continue walking while strolling around her own courtyard. She would need to rely on the imperial physicians pushing her back on a soft sedan. This sort of weakening progressed further and further until she could not even get out of bed these past two months. The imperial physicians also said that they were unable to discover anything. The report said that her body had deteriorated, and there were some that said that Concubine Liu fell ill from yearning for His Majesty, which made His Majesty blame himself even more.”
“Only having one month left to live, what is Heng Heng being called in for?” Arriving at the palace gates, Xuan Tian Ming spat out this line then personally helped Feng Yu Heng out of the carriage.
Zhang Yuan said: “it seemed that an imperial physician had suggested it to the Liu family, saying that Princess Yu would be able to treat this illness.”
“Which imperial physician has grown tired of living?” Xuan Tian Ming’s words were not polite in the slightest. From beginning to end, he never had a good expression.
Zhang Yuan did not want to reply any further. They had already entered the Imperial Palace, thus he quickly led them forward until they reached An Ju Palace. It was then that they heard a palace maid say: “Eunuch Zhang has finally returned. His Majesty has urgently asked for you many times!” After saying this, she looked up and saw Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng, thus she quickly kneeled to salute and pay respects.
Xuan Tian Ming ignored her and looked at An Ju Palace with a frown. Feng Yu Heng tugged his sleeve and said: “Go and sit with Imperial Concubine Mother for a bit. It will be fine for me to go in on my own. If Father Emperor has been over here the entire time, I fear that he has not gone to Winter Moon Palace. I worry that Imperial Concubine Mother will be unhappy. Go and keep her company.”
Xuan Tian Ming felt that his wife really was quite understanding of human emotions. Where could such a good and understanding wife be found?! Thus he nodded and advised her: “Don’t tire yourself too much. Either way, it’s just someone with a month to live. Whether or not you treat them does not really matter. Back when the Liu family sent their daughter into the palace, they had prepared themselves for if she became favored or lost favor; moreover, a daughter that got married is like water that has been spilled. Even if she dies, she will not enter the Liu family’s burial ground. What is the point of this worthless effort?” After saying this, he turned around and left.
Feng Yu Heng helplessly shook her head. To a doctor, regardless of whether a patient had one month left to live or one day, she wanted to do her best to try and treat them. But she could understand Xuan Tian Ming’s attitude. After all, this was someone of the eighth prince’s faction, and the Liu family had taken the initiative to have her come and provide treatment at a time like this. Who knew if there was something fishy waiting for her. She would need to go in to take a look first.
She stepped forward and crossed the threshold of An Ju Palace. Turning her head, she saw a square-jawed man standing beneath a large tree. He looked to be in his 40s and had a gloomy aura surrounding him. His expression was so ugly that it was as though someone in his family had died.
She did not have much of an impression of most of the officials in court. Reasoning that for this man to be allowed into the inner palace, this one was most likely Concubine Liu’s eldest brother, right? At this time, she heard that person suddenly say very impolitely: “His Highness the ninth prince and Imperial Daughter Ji An are all too eager for everyone in the imperial harem to die, right? With everyone dead, Her Highness Imperial Concubine Yun will finally be able to come out of Winter Moon Palace, and you will be able to live more freely.”
Once these words came out, Feng Yu Heng immediately stopped in her tracks. In just an instant, she became enveloped in a cold aura that even caused Zhang Yuan to shiver.
Seeing that things were not going well, Zhang Yuan quickly stepped forward and said to the square-jawed man in a shrill voice: “Assistant Minister Liu! How can you speak like that to Princess Yu? It was given your sibling relationship that His Majesty allowed you to come to An Ju Palace and invited Princess Yu to come and examine Concubine Liu. Why is it that Assistant Minister Liu does not feel grateful and instead says such vile things?”
“It’s fine.” Feng Yu Heng waved her hand, “For Assistant Minister Liu to have such thoughts, it seems that he is not truly doing it for the sake of his younger sister. Everyone says to show a bit of courtesy to doctors, unless it’s the Emperor, who has no equal and can only inspire fear in the doctor. When it comes to other people, this princess has never heard of anyone saying vile things to the doctor before the patient had even been examined. It seems that in Assistant Minister Liu’s mind, there’s not much difference between him and the Emperor.”
“You wag your tongue too freely!” Assistant Minister Liu knew that Imperial Daughter Ji An had a glib tongue, and he had prepared himself. Originally, he did not want to play heroics when it came to wordplay, but it just so happened that he had heard what Xuan Tian Ming had just said. In a moment of anger, he had said a few words. Who knew that it would see the other side reply with some mockery. “Spouting such nonsense from such a young age. I had heard that the Feng family had not done much of a good job of raising its children. It turns out that it really was the truth.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “Assistant Minister Liu is correct. The Feng family did indeed do a pretty poor job of teaching, but there’s no point telling this to me. How about I recommend you go and bring it up with my father?” After saying this, her expression became stern, as she said to Wang Chuan, who was behind her: “Remember to have the servants go and buy some joss paper after we get back. Have it sent to the Assistant Minister’s manor to make it convenient for Lord Liu to communicate with my father. Buy a bit more. It looks to me like Lord Liu has quite a bit to say to my father!” After she said this, her lips curled up, and she did not pay any further attention to Assistant Minister Liu, as she walked straight into An Ju Palace’s main hall.
Assistant Minister Liu gritted his teeth, but in the end, this was the Imperial Palace. The Emperor was also inside. It truly was not good for him to say anything. Since Feng Yu Heng had already come, it was easy to handle things. She would need to examine this illness. Even if she did not want to, she needed to. As for whether she managed to cure her or not, it would not be up to her.
Thinking of this, Assistant Minister Liu revealed an evil expression. Looking in the direction of the main hall, he snorted coldly! What relationship between siblings? Back then, their father had given his life for the sake of his daughter being favored. Now, it was time for her to repay that. The Liu family had been suppressed for all these years, thus it was now time for this younger sister to contribute to the family. Who cared about any divine doctor. He did not believe it. Someone that sick could be saved? But once they could not be saved, this matter would need to be discussed carefully.
As he thought about it, he also followed her in. Feng Yu Heng had already saluted the Emperor. Although the Emperor might feel a bit sorry for this Concubine Liu, many years had already passed. Any lingering feelings had long since disappeared. For him to sit at this dying woman’s side to comfort her, there were some apologetic feelings; however, he did not appear emotional in the slightest.
Assistant Minister Liu did not speak after entering. He saluted to the Emperor then stood to the side. There was not a single imperial physician in the room, as the Emperor said: “Those failures from the imperial physicians’ group could not figure anything out, thus I simply chose not to have them come back. A-Heng, you take a look. What illness is this exactly? Can it be treated?”
Feng Yu Heng nodded and took a few steps forward to the side of Concubine Liu’s bed. When a favored beauty entered the palace, they would not be older than 17 years of age. Calculating Concubine Liu’s age, she would now be around 40. Unfortunately, the illness had plagued her being. This combined with the lack of love to comfort her during such a long period of time, this person already looked like a 60-year-old granny. Where was there any sign of a concubine’s beauty?
She faintly sighed and reached out for her wrist. At the same time, she faintly said: “Though A-Heng does not have the ability, I can find out what illness is plaguing Her Highness Concubine Liu! Just now, Assistant Minister Liu had said that His Highness the ninth prince and I have been living unseemly lives and said that A-Heng’s mind is disturbed.” After saying this, she let go of the wrist and helplessly said to the Emperor: “Father Emperor, daughter-in-law has been left feeling very uneasy by what Assistant Minister Liu said. I feel very flustered and fear that this… will be hard to diagnose!”
After saying this, she cast an unnoticed glance at Assistant Minister Liu while sneering internally. You thought that matter from just now had already ended? Hmph! This grandaunty will have you experience what it means to bear a grudge.