Chapter 824 - 824: Deterioration

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

At the Longevity Palace, Consort Wan fed Empress Dowager Zhou the medicine. She took the warm tea from Nanny Gao and helped her rinse her mouth. She carefully wiped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief.

Empress Dowager Zhou looked at her and said, “It’s been hard on you for the past two days. Nanny Gao is here. Go and rest.”

Consort Wan turned around and handed the handkerchief to a palace maid at the side. She said gently, “This is what I should do. As long as Mother can recover, I won’t feel tired.”

“Ahem, alright, I told you to rest. You’re going to fall sick before I even die.

Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should think about Third Brother. He hasn’t gotten married yet.”

“Mother, don’t say such inauspicious words. You still need to take a look at Ming’er’s future wife.”

It was unknown what Empress Dowager Zhou thought of, but a trace of pain flashed across her face. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Forget it. I’m not good at judging people. It’ll cause him harm.”

“Mother.”

Empress Dowager Zhou waved her hand impatiently. “Go, go. Don’t stand here. I heard that many palace maids in the palace have been infected with the plague recently. Don’t approach me if you have nothing to do. Stay in your palace.”

Many red spots had already grown on the back of her hand. If she didn’t control them soon, the red spots would grow into blisters and fester.

Worry flashed across Consort Wan’s eyes. In the end, she did not say anything else. She stood up, bowed, and left.

After they left, Empress Dowager Zhou let out a long sigh. “I’ve never seen someone so honest. To think that she gave birth to a good son.”

Apart from the daughters of aristocratic families who had entered the palace earlier and were lucky enough to survive, the other concubines did not have a high status, including Consort Wan.

Because there was no family clan to rely on, they could only rely on Xuanyuan Qi’s love.

Consort Wan was not outstanding, and she usually did not use any other methods to get close to Xuanyuan Qi. If not for the fact that she was lucky enough to give birth to a son in one fell swoop, no one in the harem would have remembered her.

Nanny Gao forced a smile. “Consort Wan is filial to you.”

“Heh, filial. Look at the women in the harem. Which one of them doesn’t act filial? But when something really happens, who comes to me? She’s just a fool.”

Nanny Gao knew that Empress Dowager Zhou only said it in disdain and continued, “It’s precisely because of this that Consort Wan’s filial piety is rare.”

At this moment, Eunuch Yu came in and reported, “Your Highness, His

Highness is here.”

“Why is he here again? Tell him that I’m resting and let him go back.”

Over the past few days, Xuanyuan Ce would enter the palace every day. He did not say much and only sat at the side, waiting for Empress Dowager Zhou to fall asleep before leaving.

Empress Dowager Zhou knew her son well. He was clearly feeling guilty.

As for the reason, Empress Dowager Zhou had more or less guessed it.

However, neither mother nor son pointed it out.

Eunuch Yu went out to reply.

Xuanyuan Ce frowned and asked, “How’s Mother today?”

Eunuch Yu bowed and replied, “The Empress Dowager looks much more energetic today. She even drank a bowl of porridge in the afternoon.

Xuanyuan Ce heaved a sigh of relief. “In that case, I won’t go in and disturb her rest. When Mother wakes up, tell her that I’ll visit her tomorrow.”

“I’ll definitely deliver Your Highness’s message.”

Xuanyuan Ce nodded and did not stay any longer.

Due to this plague, the once prosperous Phoenix City became lifeless.

As time passed, more and more commoners died of illnesses in unwillingness and pain. It could be seen from the smoke above the crematorium.

Similarly, the atmosphere in the small courtyard became more and more desolate.

Just as Ji Luo had said, Song Jingchen’s condition was worse than that of ordinary patients infected with the plague.

On the third day, his entire body was already covered in festering abscesses.

His condition was starting to worsen.

Song Jingchen knew that in his current situation, he had less time left compared to anyone else.

Apart from that, Song Jingchen also realized that his five senses were gradually degenerating. However, according to what he had previously learned, this situation had never happened to the patients beside him.

However, in order not to worry Shen Yijia, he did not let her know this.

“Hubby, I just learned how to cook this porridge from MO Yuan. Try it.” Shen Yijia held a bowl of porridge in her hand and forced a smile.

In front of her were layers of curtains. Ever since Song Jingchen realized that there were abscesses on his face, he didn’t want Shen Yijia to approach him again.

Song Jingchen still remembered that Shen Yijia stayed behind because of his face.

He was afraid that he would go at any time. What he wanted her to remember was what she liked to look like, not a terrifying version of him.

A cloth-covered hand reached out from the curtains.

Shen Yijia blinked her dry eyes and placed the porridge bowl in his hand.

Song Jingchen didn’t know that she had actually secretly looked at him a few times.

“Has my cooking improved?” she asked.

Song Jingchen scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth and smiled.

“You’ve improved a lot.”

As if to prove that he was telling the truth, he took a few more bites.

Through the curtain, she could vaguely see his movements.

Shen Yijia’s heart skipped a beat, and tears fell.

How could it taste good?

That porridge… she had clearly put a few spoonfuls of salt in it.

She had already realized that something was wrong. From yesterday onwards, as long as she spoke slightly softer, her beautiful husband would ignore her.

There were a few times when she came in with MO Yuan, her beautiful husband would look at MO Yuan and talk to her.

It was a coincidence once or twice. He couldn’t make a mistake every time. As expected.

Song Jingchen suddenly stopped eating porridge and asked, “Are you crying?”

Actually, he couldn’t see clearly. With the curtain covering him, he couldn’t even see a blurry shadow.

Shen Yijia sniffed and quickly wiped her tears. She tried her best to say in a normal voice, “No, I’m thinking about what I’ll cook for you tomorrow.”

Song Jingchen said, “Then let’s have porridge.”

It was simple to make porridge. It wouldn’t tire her out.

“Alright,” Shen Yijia agreed.

After Song Jingchen finished his porridge, Shen Yijia chatted with him for a while longer. Not long after, she heard fatigue in his voice.

In the past, Shen Yijia would not have noticed such a subtle change. “Hubby, rest first. I’ll go and see if MO Yuan’s medicine is ready.” “Get Thirty Thousand to send the medicine over later. You should rest.” “Alright,” Shen Yijia agreed for the first time. She took a bowl and left.

After instructing Thirty Thousand, she went to the pharmacy in the backyard.

Ji Luo had locked herself in the pharmacy for a few days. Seeing her come over,

Ji Luo quickly asked, “Did something happen to Ah Chen?”

Shen Yijia shook her head and told her about Song Jingchen’s degenerated senses.

“Hubby didn’t want me to worry, so he didn’t say anything. I guessed it myself.”

Hearing this, Ji Luo’s expression turned ugly. Afraid that Shen Yijia would think too much, she quickly regained his composure and was about to say something to comfort her.

Shen Yijia said directly, “Mother, tell me, how long can my husband last?”

Ji Luo was stunned and could only bear to say, “At most, he’ll last until he completely loses his five senses.”

With his speed of deterioration, he might not be able to survive tonight.

Shen Yijia nodded in a daze. “Alright, I understand.” “Jiajia.” Ji Luo called out worriedly.

“I’m fine. Mother, you have to take care of your body..”