Chapter 25.1
Zhao Heng was startled awake, flipping off the bed in a hurry without even putting on her clothes, grabbing Lian Zhou and asking, "What's going on?"
"He has been attacked," Lian Zhou looked at Zhao Heng and repeated, "The Crown Prince was attacked on his way back."
Zhao Heng jerked her head up, unable to believe it.
"As soon as he entered the palace gates, General Jian Ning sent someone back to report it."
Just then, the sound of footsteps, occasionally accompanied by commotion, could be heard outside the hall.
Feeling weak in her limbs, Zhao Heng immediately got up, dressed quickly, and ran outside the hall. Holding up her skirt, she ran on the empty palace path, with the palace walls on both sides quickly receding.
Reaching the front of the Chengming Hall, she immediately spotted Li Wenjian amidst the bustling figures. Jian Ning and Jing Lin were helping him into the hall, his steps unsteady as if he were drunk. But a distinct arrow was sticking out of his back, blood dripping from the wound.
The bright red bloodstains spread from the steps all the way into the hall.
Trembling, Zhao Heng covered her mouth with shaking hands, trying to hold back any sounds.
She followed into the Chengming Hall, where people were coming and going, and she mechanically followed the crowd towards Li Wenjian's sleeping quarters, seeing him being carried onto the bed.
"Physician!" Jian Ning called out loudly, "Hurry, His Highness has passed out."
Upon hearing those words, a flash of white light crossed Zhao Heng's mind, her nails involuntarily digging into her palm, sharp pain gradually waking her up, then her fingers suddenly released.
Surveying the surroundings, she called Jing Lin over and instructed, "Prepare more lamps, get some fine linen ropes, strong alcohol... "
Her voice trembled slightly, pausing before continuing, "And also some stupefying incense."
Jing Lin was momentarily stunned.
"Quickly!" Zhao Heng said in a low voice.
This firm and decisive command made Jing Lin see a glimpse of the Crown Prince issuing orders, immediately straightening his back and acknowledging with a "yes" before going out to prepare the items she had mentioned.
The physicians, who had been waiting outside the door after receiving the news, crowded in, and Zhao Heng followed them inside, seeing Li Wenjian lying on the bed.
"Bring the lamps!" one of the physicians called out loudly.
Jing Lin happened to come in with several lamps and, upon hearing the physician's voice, he glanced at Zhao Heng in surprise, appearing to greatly admire her foresight.
The dim sleeping quarters were illuminated as bright as day.
The physician carefully cut open Li Wenjian's clothing, removed his shirt, and the arrow was still lodged in his back, a large blood hole continuously bleeding, staining his back a glaring red.
"We must remove the arrow tip immediately." The physician stood up straight, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said to Jing Lin, "Quick, go to the medical center and get stupefying incense, fine linen ropes..."
He mentioned several items in a row, exactly the same as what Zhao Heng had said, and Jing Lin again looked admiringly at her. However, she was only seen kneeling by the bed, frowning as she looked at the Crown Prince's wound.
After careful observation, Zhao Heng finally relaxed. The arrow had missed his vital organs, and the blood flowing out was bright red, indicating that the arrowhead was not poisoned.
His shock was due to excessive blood loss.
Zhao Heng's tightly knotted heart finally loosened.
"Zhaoxun, could you help place the stupefying incense near His Highness's nose?" The physician asked Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng nodded in agreement.
The physician continued, "Do not cover it too tightly. His Highness has lost a lot of blood, and if he inhales too much stupefying incense, it may be difficult for him to wake up. Just give him a little to alleviate the pain when we remove the arrow later."
"I understand," Zhao Heng nodded in agreement.
She moved to the head of the bed, holding the stupefying incense packet near Li Wenjian's face.
His face was covered in sweat, eyes tightly shut, facial muscles twitching from the pain. Zhao Heng's heart softened, and she reached out her delicate hand, gently holding his hand.
The moment she touched him, he furrowed his brows, slowly opening his eyes.
As Zhao Heng was about to call out to him, the physician gestured at her. Understanding, she placed the stupefying incense near his nose, softly saying, "Your Highness, just rest for a while."
With the effects of the medicine taking hold, he slowly closed his eyes again.
The physician forcefully pulled out the arrow, blood splattering, with a few drops landing on Zhao Heng's face. Her legs went weak, taking a while to recover, before she let out a long breath and asked, "Is he in danger?"
"The arrow is not poisoned and is far from the heart, so it should be safe," the physician replied while looking up from stitching the wound, "You can release the stupefying incense now."
Even though she had already guessed most of it, hearing the words from the physician made her completely relieved. She released the hand covering his nose and mouth, intending to withdraw her other hand when she realized he was tightly holding onto it.
Lowering her head, she saw his red hand tightly gripping hers, squeezing her fingertips until they turned white.
His thin lips tightly pressed together, desperately grasping for something to alleviate the pain.
In Zhao Heng's eyes, he had always been noble and gentle, almost like an exiled immortal, even when he was angry it carried an oppressive sense of superiority, but she had never seen him so fragile.
She lifted her hand to his forehead, gently smoothing out the furrowed brows with her fingertip. It wasn't until he fell into a deep sleep under the influence of the medicine, breathing long and steady, that Zhao Heng gently eased apart his fingers.
In the middle of the night, the East Palace suddenly came alive, with lamps lighting up one by one.
Zhao Heng went to change into fresh clothes and returned to find out that the Empress was on her way. Shortly, the Empress arrived, and the palace attendants all knelt with their heads bowed as she and the Emperor entered.
The Emperor and Empress were a young couple deeply in love, with the Empress having supported the Emperor wholeheartedly in his earlier struggles. Since ascending the throne, the Emperor had been diligent in governing the court, spending most of his time in the Empress's palace within the harem.
Everyone said that the Emperor was a sincere and devoted ruler. Having been married for over thirty years, his love for the Empress remained unwavering.
When the Empress arrived at the East Palace, she went straight into the inner chamber.
The Empress's luxurious robes briefly flashed before Zhao Heng's eyes, and then she heard a command to "rise."
The physicians, sweating profusely, anxiously reported on Li Wenjian's condition. Upon hearing that his life was not in danger and he only needed rest, the Emperor fiddled with his sleeves and instructed, "The rest of you retreat to the front hall and wait. Jian Ning, come up here to report."
Soon after, most of the people in the hall had left.
Zhao Heng hesitated, as the Empress was likely to inquire about the attack on the Crown Prince, which was a matter of state affairs. She felt she shouldn't be present. Just as she was about to leave, the Empress, through the crowd, suddenly asked, "Are you Zhao Heng?"
With lowered eyes, Zhao Heng replied in a gentle tone, "I have seen the Empress, I am indeed Zhao Heng."
The Empress nodded, giving Zhao Heng a deep look, and said nothing more.
Zhao Heng bowed and retreated.
After all the commotion, it was late at night. Li Wenjian's medicine was still being prepared, and Zhao Heng stayed, waiting in the corridor.
Before long, the palace servants informed that Concubine Mei and Lady An with several princesses and princes had also arrived.
Ignoring the numerous scrutinizing looks, Zhao Heng walked up to Concubine Mei and Lady An, bowing respectfully and gracefully.
"Are you the newly appointed Zhaoxun for the Crown Prince? Is your name Zhao Heng? I remember this name," Concubine Mei asked.
With lowered eyes, Zhao Heng confirmed.
"What happened tonight? Is the Crown Prince really injured?" Lady An inquired.
Zhao Heng simply replied, "The Empress and His Majesty are already inside. Would you like to go in and see?"
Lady An nodded and, holding Concubine Mei's hand, crossed the threshold.
Suddenly, the sound of breaking porcelain came from inside the room, prompting everyone to exclaim, "Your Majesty."
Listening intently, Zhao Heng heard the Emperor slam the table and angrily declare, "Back in Yangzhou, the rebels of the late Crown Prince have long been eradicated. Who dares to injure my son under the banner of the remnants of the past dynasty? Take him away and execute him publicly."
Jian Ning interjected, "Your Highness had previously instructed not to touch him before he wakes up. Let's wait and decide after that."
The Empress also whispered to him, but her voice was too low for Zhao Heng to hear clearly.
Gradually, the noise in the hall died down.
The late-night breeze was chilly, catching Zhao Heng off guard as she had forgotten to wear a cloak and now felt a bit cold. The events of the night had given her a clearer understanding of the situation in the palace.
With the Crown Prince injured, the entire palace was restless.
Naturally, the first child of the Emperor and Empress, a promising heir apparent, was dearly cherished. With such a vital asset of the nation harmed, who in the palace could rest peacefully?
The Emperor and Empress emerged from the bedchamber, followed by Concubine Mei and Lady An.
The Empress took a quick glance at Zhao Heng, noticing her slender figure trembling slightly in the night wind. She instructed a palace maid, "Get Zhaoxun a cloak."
With a gracious nod of thanks, Zhao Heng kneeled and watched them leave.
Soon enough, a cloak was brought to her. She draped it over herself, clutching the soft fabric and slowly tying the strings.
Before long, a physician emerged from the room and bowed to Zhao Heng, saying, "The bleeding of His Highness has temporarily stopped, but he will need constant care in the coming days."
"I will stay by his side," Zhao Heng replied.
"I will be in the side chamber. If there is any change, have the palace maids inform me promptly," the physician added.
Zhao Heng deeply nodded in acknowledgment.
Only Zhao Heng and Li Wenjian remained in the chamber.
She slowly moved to sit beside him.
The brows she had just smoothed out furrowed again.
Following his movements, Zhao Heng couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, her gaze scanning his face. Suddenly, she noticed a slight redness behind his ear, thinking it was a trace of unwashed blood. Leaning closer, she carefully examined his ear.
After a moment, she realized it was a small wound left by a blade.
The wound was tiny, almost imperceptible without close inspection. But its location was dangerously close to a major blood vessel in the neck, just two inches down.
A slight alarm rang in Zhao Heng's mind, unable to fathom what he might have gone through on his way back.
It was only at that moment that she understood the meaning behind his words, "The path may not always be smooth."
She sighed and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, gently wiping away the bloodstain behind his ear. A strand of hair fell onto his face.
Little did she know, as the hair brushed against his eye socket, the tickling sensation woke Li Wenjian up.
As Li Wenjian opened his eyes, he found Zhao Heng close by, her jaw tense and lips pressed together, tending to the wound behind his ear.
The faint scent of some unknown fragrance filled the air.
After wiping his ear, Zhao Heng turned to see him staring at her intently, his eyes like warm winter sunshine.
"Your Highness, you're awake?" Her voice carried a hint of joy.
Feeling his throat parched, Li Wenjian hoarsely requested, "Water."
"Have some medicine first. The medicine is ready, drinking water will dilute its effectiveness," Zhao Heng said softly. "Let me check on the medicine."
As she reached the door, she coincidentally met Lian Zhou, who was delivering the medicine. Taking the bowl, Zhao Heng returned to Li Wenjian's side.
Instinctively reaching out to take the bowl, Li Wenjian's movement tugged at the wound on his back, causing him to wince. Zhao Heng quickly stopped his hand and said, "I'll do it."