Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Inquiry

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Within Luoyang, a great many nobles had gathered at the city gates, awaiting the emperor’s return.

The day’s events had been far too significant to be concealed; as soon as the palace received word, so too did they. At present, the princess had already been found and would soon be brought back.

Before long, under the watchful eyes of the assembled crowd, two squads of Imperial Guards flanked the emperor as he galloped back on horseback.

The streets had long since been cleared to ensure his passage was entirely unhindered. The skies had not yet fully darkened, and from afar, many could see Li Yuechen cradled in the emperor’s arms.

There was little surprise in the emperor carrying her, but what drew all eyes was that he himself wore only a thin undergarment, while his imperial robe, the dragon-embroidered mantle, was wrapped around Li Yuechen.

Witnessing this, many could not help but gasp in astonishment—this alone spoke volumes of the princess’s place in the emperor’s heart. One could even say, were this princess born a son, the crown prince Li Hong’s position would be most precarious indeed.

As the emperor charged through the city gates, the people lining the roads bowed their heads in reverence.

Li Zhi rode as if oblivious to their presence, not slowing for an instant as he sped past them, heading straight for the palace.

Arriving at the palace gates, he did not stop but rode directly to the doors of the Hall of Longevity.

Seeing Li Zhi carrying Li Yuechen, Empress Wu hurried forward with quickened steps. “Your Majesty, how is our daughter?”

“It’s not clear yet. Has Divine Physician Liu arrived?” Li Zhi asked.

“Not yet, but someone has already been sent to fetch him.”

Li Zhi was about to dispatch another messenger when suddenly a carriage entered the palace and stopped before the hall. The Imperial Guards moved to a ready stance as Liu Shenwei leapt down from the carriage. “Your servant—”

“No need for formalities, come quickly and see how my daughter fares!” Li Zhi urged.

“At once.” Liu Shenwei approached, taking the unconscious Li Yuechen from Li Zhi’s arms. He first took her pulse, then raised his head. “Your Majesty, it would be best to lay the princess on the bed first.”

Li Zhi waved his hand. “Into my inner chambers.”

With that, he led Liu Shenwei inside.

The siblings wished to follow, but Empress Wu raised her hand. “There’s no need for you to enter. I will inform you as soon as there is news.”

With that, she, too, followed after Li Zhi.

Li Hong and the others remained uneasy. Though Li Yuechen had returned, her condition was clearly poor, so they resolved to stay and wait.

A gurgling sound broke the silence—Li Xian’s stomach protested, and he looked up sheepishly with a smile.

“If you’re hungry, go and eat something,” Li Hong said, turning to him. “Since we’ve decided to wait here for news, we can’t let ourselves fall ill as well.”

“Indeed,” Princess Yiyang nodded. “Yuechen wouldn’t want us to neglect our own health on her account. Go and eat.”

Li Xian nodded, still a little embarrassed, but went into the main hall to find something to fill his stomach.

Within the inner chambers, Liu Shenwei gently laid the unconscious Li Yuechen on the bed, checked her pulse with care, and felt her forehead for fever.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu watched anxiously, dreading any bad news from Liu Shenwei.

During his examination, perhaps due to her high fever, Li Yuechen, still unaware, began to mutter under her breath.

“Yuechen!” Li Zhi rushed to her bedside, crouching to listen.

But Li Yuechen was completely unconscious, speaking as if in a dream—her words were barely discernible.

After consulting Liu Shenwei, Li Zhi pressed his ear close to his daughter’s lips, straining to catch her words.

“Father, don’t worry about me… Be careful… your illness…”

Hearing her faint murmur, Li Zhi’s eyes reddened. He clasped his daughter’s hand and patted it gently. “Don’t worry, Father is fine, I won’t fall ill!”

Empress Wu, watching from behind, wore a look of deep concern. She asked quietly, “Physician Liu, how is she?”

Liu Shenwei’s face was reassuring. “Your Majesties, do not worry. Her Highness has trained in martial arts since childhood; her energy and blood are strong. It is but a chill that has entered her body. She will recover within two or three days!”

As he spoke, he turned to Zhang Chengxin, the chief eunuch. “Would you please fetch a towel and a basin of cold water?”

Zhang Chengxin hurried to comply and soon returned with the requested items.

Liu Shenwei soaked the towel in cold water and placed it on Li Yuechen’s forehead to help reduce her fever.

He then said, “Tonight, it’s best to have someone stand watch by her side, cooling her head with cold compresses. But be sure to keep her body well covered. I will prepare a prescription—after taking one dose, she should wake by morning.”

“Good, good…” Li Zhi nodded, his tense expression finally relaxing. “As long as she’s alright, as long as she’s alright… Ha, ha, ha…”

Empress Wu, hearing this, at last let out a breath of relief. Her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, Li Zhi reacted quickly, catching her around the waist before she could fall.

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“Meiniang, what’s wrong?” Li Zhi asked with concern. His daughter was just out of danger, and now his wife seemed unwell.

Without delay, Liu Shenwei took her wrist to check her pulse, then grinned. “No need to worry, Your Majesty. The Empress is fine—she was simply holding her breath for too long, and now that she’s relaxed, she just lost her balance.”

“That’s a relief…” Li Zhi chuckled.

Soon after, Liu Shenwei wrote the prescription, instructed the pharmacy to prepare the medicine, and carefully fed it to Li Yuechen himself.

He observed her for a while longer before taking his leave.

As soon as he emerged, Li Hong and the others crowded around.

“Physician Liu, how is Yuechen’s condition?”

“Rest assured, Your Highnesses. The princess is unharmed—she’ll recover within two or three days,” Liu Shenwei replied.

“I knew Yuechen would be fine!” Li Xian exclaimed, throwing his arms around his elder brother in a hug.

Having spent much time with Li Yuechen, he had grown used to such gestures.

Normally, Li Hong might have scolded him, but this time he only smiled and turned to the others. “Yuechen will stay in the Hall of Longevity tonight. Sisters, you should return for now; let’s not disturb her.”

Princess Yiyang nodded. “We’ll pay our respects to Their Majesties before leaving.”

Now that everyone knew Li Yuechen was out of danger, the atmosphere lightened considerably.

Li Xian asked, “By the way, has the assassin been found? If so, I—”

“Don’t bother—they all killed themselves,” Li Xian shook his head. “I’ve already ordered the Court of Judicial Review to investigate thoroughly!”

Li Xian and Li Lun nodded, still wearing expressions of anger.

Only Li Hong remained silent. He knew well that with all the assassins dead, there would be little to uncover—there could be no testimony from the grave.

But… whether their father would let this rest was another matter. If the emperor truly wished to execute someone, evidence was hardly needed.

Yet Li Hong hoped he would not do so, for such an act would not win the support of the people; it would brand him a tyrant in the annals of history and might even threaten the foundations of the realm.

…

Elsewhere, at the residence of Liu Rengui—

Liu Huang rushed home, brimming with excitement. “Father, Her Highness has been found! The emperor himself brought her back just now—”

“I have already heard,” Liu Rengui replied with a wave of his hand.

“Why didn’t Father go to inquire after her?” Liu Huang asked.

Liu Rengui suddenly opened his eyes and fixed his son with a sidelong stare, saying nothing.

Liu Huang felt uneasy under his gaze and unconsciously retreated a step. “Why are you looking at me like that, Father?”

“Do not harbor thoughts you ought not to have concerning Her Highness,” Liu Rengui warned coldly.

“Uh…” Liu Huang turned his head awkwardly. “Father, I think you misunderstand. I was only worried for her—why do you say such things?”

Liu Rengui said nothing further, simply waving him away and closing his eyes once more.

He, too, worried for his disciple, but the palace must be in chaos at the moment. News would surely come by tomorrow.

…

Before long, Li Zhi and Empress Wu emerged from the inner chambers.

Seeing their children still waiting for news, Li Zhi silently nodded in approval.

“There’s no need to worry—Yuechen is fine,” he said lightly. “It’s late—go and rest.”

“Father, may we see Yuechen?” Princess Yiyang asked.

Li Hong and the others looked on expectantly.

Li Zhi shook his head. “Wait till she wakes tomorrow—go back for now.”

“Yes!” the children replied, bowing before departing.

After their children had left, the emperor and empress returned to the inner chambers, checked on Li Yuechen, and, after instructing several palace maids to attend her, went to the main hall.

Seated at the table, they brewed a pot of tea, their earlier smiles now gone.

“These people grow bolder by the day!” Li Zhi said darkly. “Do they truly think I am old, or that I dare not have them executed?”

Empress Wu added some spices to the tea. “What does Your Majesty intend? Now that the assassins are all dead, there’s no evidence. Without proof…”

“Hmph! I am the Son of Heaven—must I have evidence to kill?” Li Zhi retorted.

Empress Wu nodded. “True, yet if you act thus, it may be hard to win the people’s support.”

She knew her husband spoke out of anger and that at such moments, he needed a way to save face.

Though she was furious that her daughter had been attacked, as empress, she could not act on impulse.

Otherwise, she would not be empress.

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“No,” Li Zhi shook his head, his expression contorting with rage. “All the court knows how dearly I love Yuechen. If I let this matter drop, where would that leave my dignity?”

Empress Wu nodded; this was indeed a problem. The imperial family’s honor could not be trampled without consequence, or others would be emboldened to do the same.

But as for how to proceed, a solution must be found.

After some thought, she suggested, “There’s no need to rush. Why not wait until Yuechen wakes tomorrow and ask her exactly what happened?”

Li Zhi fell silent, his face still twisted with anger and indecision.

Empress Wu understood her husband well—she knew he longed to act immediately, but as emperor, he was forced to weigh many considerations, which only compounded his frustration.

In the end, Li Zhi nodded. “Very well, we’ll decide tomorrow.”

…

Elsewhere, in the Hall of Peace, Shangguan Wan’er tossed restlessly in bed, unable to sleep.

Lady Zheng lay beside her, gently patting her back. “Don’t worry—didn’t Their Highnesses just say all is well?”

“I’m just worried. I don’t know how Her Highness is faring,” Shangguan Wan’er replied. “Why would someone want to assassinate her?”

Lady Zheng sighed. “There are hidden reasons behind all this—you’ll understand one day…”

Consoled by her mother’s words, Shangguan Wan’er tugged the quilt around herself, curled up, and closed her eyes, falling silent.

Lady Zheng continued to softly stroke her back, coaxing her toward sleep.

Of course, it was not just Shangguan Wan’er who lay awake that night—many in the capital found sleep elusive.

The news of the day had spread throughout the court; many had expected action before dawn, but the palace remained quiet until midnight.

However, word had spread that the princess was unharmed, and many breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet everyone knew this was but the calm before the storm—the emperor would never let this pass.

The only question was to what extent he would respond.

…

When Li Yuechen slowly opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar ceiling—this was not the Hall of Peace.

She felt a dampness on her head and reached out from under the covers to find a wet towel.

“Your Highness is awake?” The attending palace maid quickly knelt beside her. “How are you feeling?”

“Where am I?” Li Yuechen asked quietly.

The maid hurried to change the towel. “This is the Hall of Longevity, Your Highness.”

Li Yuechen’s head still felt somewhat foggy, but she was much improved from the previous day.

She let the maid place a freshly soaked towel on her forehead and spoke softly. “Bring me some water. Also, where are my father and mother?”

“The Emperor and Empress spent the night in the main hall,” the maid replied. “I’m not sure if they’ve awakened yet.”

Hearing that her parents had slept on the floor for her sake, Li Yuechen felt a surge of emotion and nodded slightly. “I’m a bit hungry—bring me some porridge.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please wait a moment,” the maid replied, hurrying off.

Not long after, Li Zhi and Empress Wu entered, likely informed by the maid that she had awoken.

“Yuechen, how are you feeling?” Li Zhi asked, approaching the bed.

Empress Wu reached out to touch her face, checking her temperature.

“I’m fine, just still a little dizzy. Thank you, Father and Mother, for your concern,” Li Yuechen replied with a smile. “I heard you both slept in the main hall last night, I…”

“Hush, there’s no need to mention it,” Li Zhi interrupted, tucking her arm back under the covers. “Take your medicine again today—Physician Liu said you’ll be well in two or three days.”

Li Yuechen smiled. “Thank you for worrying about me.”

Empress Wu stroked her cheek. “Who else would we worry about, if not you?”

“Then give me a hug,” Li Yuechen said, stretching her arms from under the covers.

“When you’re better,” Empress Wu chided, tucking her arms back in.

Seeing their daughter’s cheerful spirit, clearly undaunted by her ordeal, Li Zhi allowed himself a trace of relief.

Soon, the maid brought a bowl of porridge. Li Zhi had Li Yuechen lean against him and personally fed her with a spoon.

After eating, Li Yuechen’s stomach felt warm, and she was much more comfortable.

Seeing her spirits high, Li Zhi sat at her bedside and began to turn his health balls. “Yuechen, tell me exactly what happened yesterday.”