AYM Chapter 70

Sun Zhicheng happened to not be on duty in the palace today, so he was able to be summoned to Ming Zhang’s residence late at night. After a round of examination and treatment, Yan Yihuan finally quieted down and fell into a deep sleep. Ming Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead, then invited Sun Zhicheng to the outer room before asking,

 

“Imperial Physician Sun, what is wrong with Grand Historian Yan?”

 

Compared to his earlier ease, Sun Zhicheng now had his brows tightly knit, his expression troubled.

 

“Lord Ming, I can only use acupuncture first to reduce the fever, but this illness…” He shook his head. “I cannot discern the cause at all.”

 

Ming Zhang had summoned Sun Zhicheng not only because he had treated Yan Yihuan before, but more importantly because he had been to Linjing.

 

“Then do you have a solution?”

 

Sun Zhicheng knew that Yan Yihuan’s illness was probably the same as in his childhood, something that could not be resolved with medicine at all. Yet he had only spoken of this matter with the Emperor. He hesitated, uncertain whether he should speak frankly to Ming Zhang.

 

“I…”

 

His hesitant manner only made Ming Zhang more certain that he knew something. Compared to Sun Zhicheng’s nervousness, Ming Zhang’s smile was gentle and easygoing, calming without effort.

 

“His Majesty has been very busy of late, so Grand Historian Yan is entrusted to my care. Otherwise, how could I have brought him back to my own residence? If even Imperial Physician Sun cannot diagnose this illness and something were to happen because of a delay, neither of us could bear the responsibility.”

 

Sun Zhicheng had originally intended to report to the Emperor first, but hearing Ming Zhang speak this way made him uneasy as well. Considering the close relationship between Ming Zhang and the Emperor, he figured there shouldn’t be any problem.

 

“While I was in Linjing, I learned that Grand Historian Yan’s illness does not originate from his physical constitution but is caused by his fate.” Sun Zhicheng said with a bow, “Last time, when Grand Historian Yan merely caught a chill, I was still able to treat it, but this time I truly cannot find the cause. If the rumors are true, perhaps a Daoist from Qingxiao Temple could be invited to try.”

 

Fate. So it really was about fate again.

 

Ming Zhang thought to himself that the key point was indeed here, though he showed surprise on his face, as if hearing this for the first time.

 

“Noted, Imperial Physician Sun. I will send someone to invite the Daoist from Qingxiao Temple. It’s already late. I will have someone escort you back to your residence.”

 

After seeing Sun Zhicheng off, Ming Zhang returned to the bedside. He bent down and gently placed a hand on Yan Yihuan’s forehead. It was still a little warm, but much better than before. He was sleeping soundly. He should be fine for the time being.

 

“I’ve heard it’s been a long time since your illness flared up. Was it fear that triggered it this time?” Ming Zhang’s voice now was like leaves settling upon a still pond, soft yet stirring delicate ripples that spread through the silence. “It is said that King Yan is very strict. His discipline of his sons could even be described as harsh, yet he indulged you to the extreme. Was it also because of your special fate?”

 

“But they not only indulged you excessively, they also protected you excessively. Even after losing the shelter of the Residence of King Yan, the Emperor still kept you by his side, guarding you at all times.” Ming Zhang, like an elder brother scolding his disappointing younger sibling, showed a look of reproach as he extended his finger and lightly tapped Yan Yihuan’s forehead, “Tell me, how is your fate so good?”

 

“Still, being protected too well is not a good thing.” Seeing Yan Yihuan frown slightly from the light tap, Ming Zhang revealed a smile that even carried a hint of fondness, “Everyone has to grow up. Let me help you.”

 

With that, Ming Zhang let down the bed curtains, instructed others to keep watch over Yan Yihuan, then changed into his official robes and entered the palace at night.

 

Recently, matters had been far too chaotic. Li Xuanming had noticed that something was off about Yan Yihuan, but with the countless affairs of state demanding his attention, he simply could not spare the time for him. So he went along with Yan Yihuan’s wishes and allowed him to leave the palace for a few days. With Ming Zhang watching over him, he could rest at ease.

 

What he had not expected was that Ming Zhang would enter the palace that very night.

 

“He saw Xu Xinyao’s corpse?!” Li Xuanming hurled the memorial in his hand onto the desk, “How could you let him see that!”

 

“This was indeed my oversight,” Ming Zhang bowed deeply, “The residence was already very near. I thought nothing would happen and had Ling Chen escort him back. I did not expect that Xu Xinyao’s body would be deliberately placed there.”

 

“Yihuan left the palace on a whim. How could the corpse have been placed in front of the residence in advance?” Although the imperial study was brightly lit at this moment, the light still could not penetrate the deep darkness in Li Xuanming’s eyes, “Could it be that someone had already predicted his movements?”

 

“I suspect there is an inside accomplice within the palace,” Ming Zhang raised his head, his eyes filled with nothing but concern. “Grand Historian Yan seems to have been stimulated by Xu Xinyao’s death. Once he arrived at my residence, he developed a high fever.”

 

Ming Zhang reported Yan Yihuan’s condition in detail. Li Xuanming was clearly no longer able to sit still on the dragon throne, yet he forced himself to remain steady. He appeared even more composed than usual. Only the hand gripping the armrest beneath the desk was clenched so tightly that it had turned pale.

 

“Is that what Sun Zhicheng said?”

 

“Yes. At present, Grand Historian Yan’s condition is relatively stable, but I fear there may be complications, so I entered the palace overnight to request an edict, hoping to invite a Daoist to my residence.”

 

Qingxiao Temple was a royal Daoist temple, not a place from which one could summon people at will. Ming Zhang’s late-night entry into the palace was precisely for this reason.

 

“Draft the edict yourself.”

 

Ming Zhang nodded and drafted the edict at the very desk where Yan Yihuan usually sat. Li Xuanming silently watched him, noting his focused yet slightly anxious movements, then suddenly said,

 

“Zhen has long known that this palace is not clean. Have the people from the Youluo Jian investigate thoroughly.” The sudden pause in his words plunged the imperial study into silence, but soon Li Xuanming broke the tension, “Start with the imperial study.”

 

“This minister obeys the edict.” Ming Zhang answered, though his brush never stopped. After a moment, he finished the final stroke and presented it before the throne. Li Xuanming studied the edict in silence for a short while, then, to Ming Zhang’s surprise, took up the brush himself and added a line at the end.

 

Speak to no one. Proceed directly into the palace for an audience.

 

This line was clearly not in Ming Zhang’s handwriting. A flicker passed through his eyes, but without showing it, he watched as Li Xuanming pressed down the jade seal and then respectfully accepted the edict.

 

“Go quickly.” Li Xuanming raised a hand to dismiss him. Once the vast imperial study was empty again, the anxiety filling his heart finally showed on his face, no longer needing to be concealed.

 

So Yan Yihuan’s strange state today had been because someone told him about Xu Xinyao. Li Xuanming pressed his fingers to the space between his brows, easing the swelling ache in his head.

 

Indeed, he was aware of Xu Xinyao’s death. Ming Zhang had mentioned it during his(MZ) audience with him(LXM) earlier that day. But in the face of the many complicated affairs of state, this matter was utterly insignificant.

 

What he had not expected was that someone would seize this chance to deliberately provoke Yan Yihuan, even to the point of triggering his illness.

 

He must have been terrified. The thought of Yan Yihuan lying alone in an unfamiliar place, without even a single familiar face by his side, threw Li Xuanming into restless agitation. He wished he could leave the palace at once.

 

Yet, he couldn’t. In a short while, he still had to review the troops on the parade ground and dispatch the newly appointed General Huaiyuan, Du Cheng’en, north to lead the army into battle.

 

After a moment’s thought, Li Xuanming suppressed his anxiety and summoned Shen Zhaoquan.

 

“Send Huai De to Ming Zhang’s residence. Yihuan is familiar with him.”

 

Shen Zhaoquan accepted the imperial decree and was just about to withdraw when Li Xuanming called him back again. “Although I have already made it clear in the edict, still have Huaide keep a close eye on it. No matter what the people from Qingxiao Temple discover, they are not to speak of it and are to come directly into the palace.”