Xia Niangniang - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The Emperor was in the middle of reading and amending the official documents in his Imperial study. From outside the room, the dense rain was covering like a curtain. He lifted his head to briefly take a look, then shifted his eyes back to the documents.

Someone came in to report, “The occupant of the serving quarter requesting to see Your Majesty, has been held back by the guards. That person refused to leave, still standing in the rain.”

The Emperor creased his brow: “Serving quarter? Is it possible that the person is the sightless one?”

The servant answered: “That wasn’t the person, this person’s eyes are fine.”

The Emperor gulped down a mouthful of tea, then said: “Ask him, what is the matter.”

The Palace’s servant said yes then quickly left, came back again after a while, got closer to the Emperor and whispered something into the Emperor’s ear.

The Emperor’s heart grew cold. “The Blind Concubine is missing?!”

Bowing while answering, the palace’s servant said: “This was exactly what that person had said. Your humble subject conjectures, it is probably he lost his way in this downpour, there is also the probability of him slipping on the wet and slippery ground, not careful enough, he fell into the pond……”

“SHUT UP!!!” The Emperor shouted loudly, “Why have you still not quickly sent people to find him?!”

He suddenly stood up, a few strides had reached him to the outside, in an instant, his shadow had become a blur, covered by the curtain of the rain.

The palace’s servant hurriedly got an umbrella, in a great rush followed behind him and got in the rain.

The Emperor hastened his way to the Imperial garden. The stones on the narrow path have been brushed clean and clear to the point of being glossed by the rain. Only a brief spell of carelessness would cause someone to slip and fall. The usual glamorous flowers, ceased all their activities and hung down their petals in the sprinkle of the rain’s water. Looking all around, all one could see was the vast expanse of whiteness, foggy and misty. Deep in his heart, the anxiousness and worry all the more increased by this sight.

More of the Palace’s servants joined the search party, scattered everywhere in all directions, carefully looked and searched. Suddenly, all the way from the bamboo forest, a voice echoed: “Found him!!”

Following the source of the sound, the Emperor went straight to the bamboo forest, the path under his feet was extremely muddy, each of the steps would create a deep hole.

The Blind Concubine was in the middle of the Bamboo forest, his clothes all soiled by the muddy water, his wet hair glued to his cheek, his eyes closed tightly, he had since long fallen in a state of unconsciousness.

Hastily, the Emperor walked to his place, not even the least bit cared that the Blind Concubine was covered in mud, he took him in his embrace. The body in his bosom was cold, like a block of ice, not even the slightest movement.

Xiao Bao hurriedly ran to come, looking at his master’s current state, he almost broke to cry. “How is my Master?”

The Emperor ordered loudly: “Get back to the serving quarter, summon the Imperial Physician at once!”

They brought the Blind Concubine back to the serving quarter. The palace’s servant took off his wet garments, wiped clean his body, and reclined him on the soft bed. Xiao Bao stayed by his side all along and held tightly the Blind Concubine’s hand, even until when the Imperial Physician came to check the Blind Concubine’s condition, he still refused to move from his side.

The Emperor brow was locked in a tight stitch, pacing back and forth in the room.

The Imperial Physician applied some acupuncture on the Blind Concubine, then removed them. The Emperor immediately stepped forward, “How is he?”

The Imperial Physician reported on the condition: “Fortunately, it is only a mere cold because he was drenched in the rain. There’s nothing harmful. Take the utmost care and look after him for another 2 days, he should get better.”

The Emperor confused: “If only drenched, how come he fainted?”

The Imperial Physician explained: “From the beginning, His Grace’s body is already weak and delicate, he was strongly affected by the rain, and doubled by his heart’s overweight trouble. Falling ill from the rain water, his physical strength is unable to endure, therefore he fainted just now. Even though there isn’t anything serious, he still requires the most care and to carefully take good care of him. It is inadvisable to burden his mind, in order to avoid any mishap.”

The Emperor took note on what the Imperial Physician had said. He strode to the bedside. Waited for a long time, until there was a faint sound from the Blind Concubine, indicating that he had regained his consciousness. 

“…….. Xiao Bao??”

His voice was weak and faint.

The Emperor said: “He went to get your clothes, he will be back very soon.”

The Blind Concubine made an “Mm” sound, and knitted his brow in a frown.

The Emperor asked him: “Feeling unwell??”

The Blind Concubine shut his eyes and gasped for breath, managed with a great effort: “Feel like coughing, but I can’t cough it out……”

The Emperor bent his body and with his soft and reassuring voice he said: “Wait a moment, I will call the Imperial Physician to check.” Stretching out his hand to touch his forehead. His face became heavy and anxious, “Why are you running a fever?”

The Blind Concubine curled up and shivered with cold. He cast his face to face elsewhere: “I feel so cold…..”

At the very same moment, Xiao Bao came back. In several steps, he already arrived at the bedside, “Master, you are awake.”

Hearing Xiao Bao’s voice, the Blind Concubine said in a faint voice: “I’m cold.”

Xiao Bao reached out his hand to exam his forehead, secretly feeling terrible upon the intense fever he felt on his palm.

Flustered, he pleaded the Imperial Physician to check, to write the prescription, herbal medicinal herbs. The crowd of palace servants were busily coming in and out the room while holding the towel and the basin. They served the Blind Concubine to drink his medicine, all the way until the sky had turned to dusk.

In the evening, the Little Prince came to pay a visit, he stood in front of the hall in all his best manner.

Xiao Bao was holding a lacquer tray, raising the screen as he came out: “Master just fall asleep. He’s already fine.”

The Little Prince nodded his head. “It’s good if he’s fine.”

Cast down his eyes, “How come His Grace could be in the Bamboo forest?”

Xiao Bao dumbfounded for a while, “….. it’s still unclear.”

Xiao Bao was so busy and worried for the Blind Concubine, busy to the point his feet were not touching the ground, running like the wind. He still had not the time to ponder about this matter.

Little Prince lifted his head to face upwards, clearly said: “I will come again tomorrow. You must take the best care of him.”

Xiao Bao laughed. His face was rather worn out: “That goes without being said.”

“Make a pinky swear.”

“Huh??”

“Pinky swear to guarantee, you will take good care of him.” His face looked serious and unbending.

Xiao Bao couldn’t help but laugh lightly, squatted on his heels, passing his finger in front of this child.

Rui Ze earnestly tugged their pinky together, saying his pledge, his small face seemed dead serious.

Xiao Bao couldn’t help but think that this child’s disposition was actually very likeable.    

If he was born into an average household, with both parents still alive, he would be a child that was loved by everybody. 

After sending the Little Prince back, supporting his already so exhausted body, he brought a basin of clean water, back to the inner room.

The Emperor was moistening the towel, wrung it dry, then placed it on the Blind Concubine’s forehead.

That sleeping face was still as pallid as before.

The fever had decreased for the moment, but it couldn’t be said that everything would still be as steady at night.

The Emperor said: “Imperial Physician said that he has been shouldering excessive trouble, pent up in his mind… How can it be like that??”

Xiao Bao pursed his mouth, he wanted to say something, but hesitated: “…….. Humble subject doesn’t know…”

“You are with him all the time, how come you don’t know?”

Xiao Bao hung down his head, “What is in my Master’s heart, I am but a lowly subject, how would I know about it?”

The Emperor put on a troubled face, twisted his brows, “Was it because ‘I’ haven’t treated him good enough?”

Xiao Bao hurriedly shook his head: “Your Majesty is very kind towards my Master, Master was also expecting Your Majesty’s visitation.”

“If it is like that, why is he still...” The Emperor abruptly fell silent, he recalled the Blind Concubine’s warning to him. Staying by the Emperor’s side, one must be extremely cautious, to be near the ruler is like being near the tiger. It was as if it was directed to most sovereign, the issue that had been weighed heavily on his mind.

His face was unable to hide the gloomy and darkened expression.

Xiao Bao looked at the Emperor’s unusual expression, then quickly averted his eyes.

After a long while of silence, the Emperor said: “You take a good care of him.”

Big steps strode out the room.

Upon seeing the Emperor’s shadow disappearing behind the door, Xiao Bao finally could relax for a bit and heaved a relieved sigh.

These days were unlike the previously peaceful days.

He felt this fear most of the time.

Especially when he unexpectedly caught a sight of the soundless Emperor, standing behind the Blind Concubine and observing him in silence.

He was afraid to the point that his blood, from head to toe, became cold.

The Blind Concubine might not have known this, but Xiao Bao knew, yet willfully pretended that he didn’t know, playing along with the Emperor to put on a play.

Every time he told the Blind Concubine “No problem” “Very good” “Master, please be at ease” all this time, he was being terrified in his heart.

He still didn’t know what would happen in the future, he was confused, moreover, he was always in fear. He didn’t have anything, but that person was the monarch of the country, all the rivers and mountains on the land were his possession.

If by any chance, he wanted to take away anything, how could he compete with that person? How could he protect the Blind Concubine?

Xiao Bao didn’t know.

He didn’t have anything, what belonged to him was his only dear life.

The next day, on the first glimmer of dawn, the Blind Concubine woke up.

Xiao Bao did not dare to sleep. He kept watch by the bedside all the time. Seeing that his master was waking up, he busily ordered the palace’s maid to cook millet porridge.

The Blind Concubine stretched out his thin and slender hand, to stop him, and barely said: “I am not hungry.”

Xiao Bao said: “Even though you are not hungry, you still have to eat a little. Yesterday you only had medicine, you didn’t have your meal at all. You can ruin your stomach.”

The Blind Concubine stubbornly shook his head, deadly grabbed Xiao Bao’s hand, “You don’t go. Stay here to accompany me.”

There wasn’t a shred of strength in his voice.

Xiao Bao’s heart hurt to see him like that: “Okay.”

The Blind Concubine pulled the corner of his mouth to grin, barely enough to be counted as a smile.

Xiao Bao held his hand firmly, “Master, how come you entered the Bamboo forest? Did you lose your way? You gave us a hard time searching for you.”

The Blind Concubine closed his eyes, did not answer.

Xiao Bao waited for a long time, he thought that his Master wouldn’t answer him.

“I didn’t lose my way.”  The Blind Concubine’s voice was extremely light, “….. I went there, to the Bamboo forest by myself.”

Xiao Bao surprised, lifted up his head: “How come…..”

“I was suffocated, thought about taking a breather in the Bamboo forest to let out the stuffy feeling, got drenched in the heavy rain, from head to toe, thoroughly got wet by the rain, so that my heart could be at ease.”

The corner of Xiao Bao’s eyes became red, “Why….”

The Blind Concubine let out a laugh, “Because I know that person is the Emperor.”

Xiao Bao’s heart froze and stunned, innumerable thoughts and feelings overwhelming his mind.

The Blind Concubine coughed in a low voice for several times, he was still in his poor health, even only to speak had already consumed most of his energy.

Xiao Bao muttered: “Master…Why did you do this?”

The Blind Concubine already closed his eyes again, knitted his brows, as if he was so tired, unwilling to speak any words.

Xiao Bao held his hand, his face was in deep grief, “Master… Is it worth the bother??”

It was not like he said that for The Blind Concubine to hear, seemingly he spoke to himself.

“Master has Master’s consideration, but I only wish for Master to cherish yourself more. Don’t burden yourself.”

The Blind Concubine who closed his eyes all this while, as if he was sleeping, shook his head at this moment.

“As your master, I owe you so many things. I am thinking about how to pay you back, everything, entirely, what I have owed you…”

End of TBC chapter 13.