Chapter 62
XIAO CHENG’S INCAPACITATION forced the emperor to manage the government’s affairs, despite his own sickness. his migraines worsened, and only Lin Qingyu’s acupuncture treatments could relieve his pain slightly. Not only did Lin Qingyu have to wait on standby at the emperor’s bedchambers while on duty, but he’d occasionally be called to the palace on his days off.
The emperor saw Lin Qingyu as a gentle soul who rarely spoke unless necessary and always smelled faintly of medicine—pleasantly so, unlike Chu Zhengde, on whom the smell was a pungent odor. Lin Qingyu looked especially beautiful as he silently massaged and pressed the acupuncture points on the emperor’s head, his gaze downcast and his flawless skin glowing faintly under the palace lamplight.
Now that the emperor saw Lin Qingyu often, the palace’s other beauties seemed bland in comparison. It was a pity that the emperor was unwell and listless, without the wherewithal to summon his own lust, especially in the wake of the devastating disaster in the Eastern Palace. On occasions when Lin Qingyu’s beauty captivated him, he could do nothing but appreciate it and sigh.
For the sake of his peace and quiet, the emperor no longer had consorts or concubines tend to him, leaving only Xue Ying and Lin Qingyu by his side.
One day, Lin Qingyu arrived at the emperor’s bedchambers as ordered, only for Xue Ying to stop him at the entrance. “Please wait here, Imperial Physician Lin. His Majesty is in the middle of a meeting.”
“Is it with the prime minister?” The prime minister, who now oversaw all state affairs, relayed any important matters to the emperor on the other officials’ behalf.
After jointly attending the emperor for months, Xue Ying and Lin Qingyu were well-acquainted with each other, so Xue Ying readily divulged the visitor’s identity: “He’s meeting with Lord Xie, the leader of the Tianji Guard.”
“I see,” Lin Qingyu replied mildly.
Lord Xie must’ve come to discuss the attempt on Xiao Cheng’s life. Shen Huaishi had vanished right after Xiao Cheng was injured, something the Tianji Guard had surely investigated. Lin Qingyu wondered what they’d found.
Lin Qingyu waited until Lord Xie left to enter the emperor’s bedchambers. The emperor sat behind his desk, looking solemn—it seemed the Tianji Guard hadn’t brought him good news.
The emperor told Lin Qingyu to forgo the formalities. “My headache is acting up again. Come over and give me a massage,” he ordered feebly.
Lin Qingyu went to stand behind the emperor and massaged his temples. The emperor relaxed and shut his eyes, enjoying the sensation. “You’re good at this.”
“I learned it all from my father,” Lin Qingyu replied. “His technique is miles better than mine.”
“Lin Rushan?” The emperor was reminded of the ex-head imperial physician who had been demoted. “He’s talented but a bit too outspoken. The crown prince wasn’t wrong to punish him, but forbidding him to treat patients was indeed a waste of his talent. And the Department of Imperial Physicians now requires capable hands… So be it. Give out this command: Lin Rushan is to be reinstated as head imperial physician.”
When Lin Qingyu was about to prostrate himself in gratitude on his father’s behalf, the emperor grasped his hand. “At ease. You may proceed with your ministrations.”
The emperor could not die before Xiao Cheng, so Lin Qingyu repressed his disgust and put on a show of demure subservience. Once the emperor’s migraine had eased, the man opened a memorial and slowly began to peruse it.
“You’re unwell, Your Majesty,” Lin Qingyu said. “Worrying does you no good.”
The emperor sighed. “Now that the crown prince has also fallen ill, who can worry in my stead?”
“The crown prince isn’t your only son, Your Majesty.”
The emperor narrowed his eyes dangerously. “What did you just say?”
Lin Qingyu fell to his knees, feigning panic. “Please punish this humble official for such an inappropriate remark, Your Majesty!”
Seeing Lin Qingyu’s distressed expression, the emperor figured that he’d been too paranoid. What could a mere imperial physician possibly be up to?
“Rise,” he said. “You’re not wrong. Unfortunately, my other two sons…” His head throbbed when he thought about them. The text of the memorial even gradually blurred.
Noticing the emperor’s pained look, Lin Qingyu said, “Your health should come first, Your Majesty. I suggest that you take a break.”
“All right.” The emperor nodded. “Sleep with me tonight, then.”
Lin Qingyu stared at the man’s throat. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He helped the emperor up. As they made their way to the bed, Lin Qingyu said abruptly, “I would like to seek forgiveness for something, Your Majesty.”
“Oh? For what?”
“My mother felt unwell recently, so my godbrother Great General Gu and I prayed for her together at Changsheng Temple. We met Deputy Censor-in-Chief Yang Geng at the entrance,” Lin Qingyu said. “Lord Yang said that male wives are bringers of misfortune, and that I shouldn’t be overly close to other men, since I’m still in mourning. If I wound up bringing Great General Gu bad luck, even dying ten thousand times couldn’t atone for my sins.”
The emperor’s heart stuttered in his chest. The devastation that had befallen the marquess of Nan’an’s household was still vivid in his mind, and the marquess had only begun to recover from his illness once Lin Qingyu left his manor.
When it came to the bad luck Lin Qingyu allegedly caused, the emperor preferred to believe it was real over suffering the consequences of not believing it. Thus, he told Lin Qingyu, “You can take your leave. Have Xue Ying come attend to me.”
When Lin Qingyu walked out of the emperor’s bedchambers, Xue Ying rushed over.
“Why the rush, Eunuch Xue?”
“It’s the crown prince! He’s woken up from his coma!” Xue Ying announced joyously.
Lin Qingyu chuckled. “That…is indeed good news.”
Back at the Department of Imperial Physicians, Hu Ji told Lin Qingyu that although the crown prince had regained consciousness, his condition was debilitating. The degree to which he recovered would depend on the quality of his rehabilitative treatment.
Xiao Cheng’s temper had become even more volatile, Hu Ji added. Quick to anger, he had banished a concubine attending him to the Cold Palace—where Lady Lu had been sent—for no reason but her slight clumsiness.