"Fulu, I've discovered that the people my imperial sister favors are all exceptionally righteous individuals."
Except for the one she favored most.
Fulu bowed repeatedly, nodding. "Naturally, Your Majesty. The Divine Maiden is a chosen one, blessed with auspiciousness. Those around her must surely be filled with noble righteousness."
"You are quite eloquent."
"Your servant speaks from the heart."
Emperor Mingde nodded. He trusted Fulu's character.
Of Eunuch Bai Xi's many god-sons, only this one still secretly visited him after his downfall. He hadn't joined others in kicking him while he was down or currying favor with villains.
"There are few masters in the palace, and the Imperial Hospital does not need so many idlers. We should recruit more individuals of good character. These useless ones should make way."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Mingde strolled away from the Imperial Hospital, continuing his leisurely wander.
As he neared Fanghua Palace, he remembered, "Oh, right. Bring that letter to Princess Yongfu."
Fulu signaled to a young eunuch behind him.
It was a letter from the Turks, received a few days prior, written by Ashina Tulu. One was addressed to the Emperor, and the other to Princess Yongfu.
Emperor Mingde entered Fanghua Palace. Qinghe was somewhat surprised and quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Your Majesty, may you be blessed."
"No need for formalities. I've come to deliver a letter for you."
Fulu handed the letter over. With just a glance at the handwriting, Qinghe knew who had written it. That person's Chinese characters were not good. He had shamelessly asked her to teach him before, and later he had copied her script, so his handwriting now bore some resemblance to hers.
Qinghe did not take the letter, her tone devoid of emotion. "From now on, if there are any more letters, Your Majesty may handle them yourself."
Fulu had no choice but to place the letter on a nearby table.
Emperor Mingde sighed. "I have read the letter. The Great Prince does seem to have some affection for you. However, the Turks have been adversaries of our Great Jing for many years, and I must adhere to protocol..."
"Your Majesty is right. I spent a year in the Turkic lands and understand the situation there. The Turkic King has five sons, all brave and skilled in battle, and ambitious. The Turkic King is old, and the kingdom is unstable. They are willing to submit to our Jing. Once the old king dies and a new one ascends, who knows what will happen? Jing must not let down its guard."
"What I just said is the most sincere. If any more letters arrive, Your Majesty may deal with them as you see fit. I will not read them."
"Very well, I understand." Emperor Mingde's expression was gentle, and he smiled. "Your temper hasn't changed since you were a child. Except when smiling at my imperial sister, you are cold to everyone else. If I recall correctly, I am also your childhood friend, am I not?"
Qinghe frowned. "Your Majesty, please be mindful of your words. Qinghe is merely a servant."
"Do not belittle yourself. Just for replacing the Divine Maiden in the Turkic lands, your position in Jing is unassailable."
After speaking, Emperor Mingde strolled to the table, picked up the letter, and handed it to Fulu. "Since the Princess has spoken, then take it and destroy it!"
Fulu lowered his head and accepted it. "Yes, Your Majesty."
There was a stack of papers on the table with some notes. He casually picked one up. "What is this?"
"These are all the possible situations that might occur during the Princess's labor, and the necessary preparations."
"So many?" Emperor Mingde flipped through them, growing more anxious with each page. "Will there be danger?"
"No, it's just a precaution. After all, twins are more dangerous than a single birth, and the Princess's health has always been a bit delicate since childhood."
"That is true." Emperor Mingde seemed to recall his childhood and remained silent for a while, then smiled again. "My little sister is still the most important in your heart. I wonder who will have the fortune to stand shoulder to shoulder with her in the future."
Qinghe frowned again.
"Qinghe, tell me, can I become a wise ruler?"
"As long as Your Majesty desires it, you certainly will." Qinghe felt that the Emperor was very strange today.
If one were looking for someone to chat with, she was hardly a good candidate.
There wasn't much to discuss with the Emperor.
Emperor Mingde sighed wistfully. "But sometimes I feel truly overwhelmed! Perhaps the imperial palace is too vast, too empty."
To be a wise ruler, doesn't one have to endure these things?
Why is the Emperor coming here to confide in me? She didn't want to listen.
Qinghe grew impatient.
Wasn't he so busy with state affairs that Fulu had to feed him? Now, the Emperor seemed to be exhibiting the "well-fed and lustful" disposition!
She thought he was foolish when he was young, and he hadn't changed even after becoming Emperor.
"It's good that the palace is large. You can walk around after eating to aid digestion."
"That's true." Emperor Mingde agreed, then felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what. Qinghe had always spoken this way.
Simple and direct.
"Princess, Princess—"
Yuliu ran into Fanghua Palace. Seeing the Emperor's attendants there, she disregarded etiquette and cried out in a panic, "Princess, the Princess has a stomach ache!"
Qinghe's expression changed. She pushed aside the Emperor, who was blocking her way, and ran out.
"Oh dear! Your Majesty, be careful!"
Emperor Mingde, having been pushed, nearly stumbled into the corner of a table. Fulu quickly went to support him.
"What's wrong with my imperial sister?" Emperor Mingde no longer cared about anything else. He straightened his crown, his pale jade face etched with urgency.
Qinghe inquired of Yuliu, then rushed back into the house, grabbed the already prepared medicine chest, and ran out again.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault! I stole a few storybooks from Ling'er, thinking to give them to the Princess to pass the time. Who knew the Princess would get angry? I even laughed at how the author could write such nonsense. Could it be true?"
"I deserve to die! The Princess must have been unable to bear it. Her face suddenly turned pale, and then she clutched her stomach, gasping for breath."
"I've truly harmed the Princess!"
All the way, Yuliu slapped her own face and stammered, almost resorting to suicide to atone.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Qinghe was exasperated. Yuliu usually seemed bold and meticulous, so why was she speaking such gibberish at this critical juncture?
Qu Linglong and Qinghe arrived at Fengque Tower together. The moment they saw Lingyao, they realized the situation was even more serious than they had imagined.
"This is not right! Why is the Princess so weak? What exactly happened?"
She had taken the Princess's pulse daily these past few days, and her health had been robust. How could she suddenly become like this?
"Imperial Physician Qu, please administer acupuncture to the Princess first! I will prepare the medicine!"
Although Qinghe was cool-mannered, she was not arrogant. In the art of acupuncture, Qu Linglong was far more skilled than her.
Lingyao was still conscious, but her brow was furrowed as if in great pain. Her hands clutched her chest, her knuckles turning white.
Qu Linglong knew the gravity of the situation and immediately began needling.
Yuliu knelt on the ground, her lips trembling. Seeing their solemn expressions, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed, unable to breathe. "I, I was just reading about the Divine Martial General stealing a peek at a widow bathing when he was eight years old..."
Qu Linglong: "......"
Well, it seemed everyone knew.
Yushan glared at Yuliu with disappointment. "Alright, Yuliu, quickly have someone add more fire to the stove. The Princess is feeling a bit cold."
Then she whispered to Qinghe, "It's not that. The Princess was smiling originally, then suddenly it was as if she had heart palpitations. She even called out the General's name, and then this happened. I think, perhaps, there is some connection between the Princess and the General... The General did not return last night."
Qinghe knitted her brows. The Princess's physical changes were too abrupt and did not fall within the scope of normal illness. It was highly likely that...