Yuwen Lan still remembered that four years ago, after leading his army to a great victory against the Xiongrong and returning to the capital, he received news from the palace just as he was approaching the metropolitan area. The message said that the Former Emperor was gravely ill.
Without taking any rest, he immediately rode hard through the night to return to the palace. When he arrived at Qianming Palace, he witnessed that scene—
The Former Emperor, who had just coughed up blood, still had bloodstains on his robes, but had already stopped breathing—
At that time, everyone said the Former Emperor had died from weakness due to excessive Taoist cultivation and alchemy practices, neglecting food and drink until he lost control of his spiritual energy.
Could it be...
No, that possibility had barely surfaced before he immediately dismissed it.
This matter could not possibly involve the Empress Dowager!
It must be that bastard Zhang Shengkang harboring hatred, deliberately trying to drive a wedge between mother and son.
Indeed, how malicious were his intentions? Producing this letter before death—if Xun Lan had seen it, he would have been burdened with such a heavy weight, whether he spoke of it or not, it would have been a sin.
He would never have been able to live peacefully afterward.
Or as now, letting him see it, planning to sow discord between mother and son.
That dog!
Yuwen Lan silently gritted his teeth, but maintained a normal expression as he said to Xun the Imperial Physician, "It's fine now, you may go. The Empress Dowager has half a month left in her treatment course. Take good care of her and ensure nothing goes wrong."
Xun the Imperial Physician, who remained unaware of what had transpired, quickly bowed his head in acknowledgment and retreated from the hall with his medicine box.
Yuwen Lan threw the letter into the incense burner, then summoned Fu Hai inside and ordered, "Issue an imperial decree: Zhang Shengkang's crimes are heinous. His corpse shall be whipped for three days and thrown in the mass grave, with no one allowed to collect it."
Fu Hai quickly acknowledged the order and went to make arrangements, wondering to himself what evil deeds of Zhang Shengkang had been discovered to prompt such an order from the emperor.
In Ganlu Palace.
Yuwen Lan came late tonight; Yanshu was almost asleep when she heard the door.
Before she could get up, he had already climbed into bed and embraced her without a word.
Yanshu was still somewhat confused and mumbled, "Your subject waited until the night watch but didn't see Your Majesty. I thought you weren't coming."
Yuwen Lan spoke in a low, deep voice, "I was busy until late, that's why I've only come now."
After a pause, he asked her, "How was your day?"
Yanshu, still half-asleep, replied, "Very good."
Heh, sending that dog Zhang to meet his maker today was truly satisfying. If she weren't pregnant, she would have loved to drink three hundred cups in celebration!
Yuwen Lan silently listened, then said, "Sleep now."
Yanshu made a sound of agreement, shifted her position to find a comfortable spot in his embrace, and finally closed her eyes, quickly falling into dreamland.
Yuwen Lan lowered his gaze and reached out to stroke her hair.
If something were wrong, she would have known already, wouldn't she?
And just now, he hadn't detected anything unusual in Yanshu's thoughts.
So, Zhang Shengkang must have been slandering after all.
In the darkness, he too closed his eyes and fell asleep.
That night's sleep was very light, and Yuwen Lan woke before dawn.
Although there was no morning court session today, he didn't want to sleep anymore, so he got up, dressed, and went to Qianming Palace.
The cold wind along the way was sobering. After reading memorials for half a watch in the imperial study, the sky outside gradually began to show its first light.
Fu Hai had been attending nearby, just thinking about arranging the emperor's meal, when before he could move, an Imperial Guard came to report, "Your Majesty, news just arrived from the Min Yue Region that they've captured a Taoist who appears to be the Baihe Taoist."
Yuwen Lan made a sound and immediately asked, "Is he alive?"
The Imperial Guard replied, "The Min Yue people say they chased him into the mountains, and when he found no escape route, he jumped off a cliff. His fate is currently unknown."
Jumped off a cliff?
Yuwen Lan frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "This person is full of tricks, we cannot trust this easily. Have them find the body first and confirm whether it's truly the Baihe Taoist before anything else. Also, we must not let our guard down against the Red Lotus Cult."
The Imperial Guard acknowledged and withdrew from the hall.
Yuwen Lan thought for a moment, then picked up the memorials again.
With so many important matters to handle, why dwell on something that happened four years ago?
Moreover, he didn't believe it.
As days passed, the capital entered the eleventh month.
The first snow had already fallen, and the weather grew increasingly cold.
Fortunately, the palace had floor heating, especially the Palace of Benevolent Peace. Fearing the Empress Dowager might catch cold, the palace servants kept the floor heating particularly warm.
Today was the final day of the Empress Dowager's last treatment course. Although Yanshu's belly was now as big as a ball, she still made a special effort to accompany the Empress Dowager for Xun the Imperial Physician's pulse-taking.
At this moment, watching Xun the Imperial Physician remove his fingers from the pulse point, she quickly asked, "How is it?"
Xun the Imperial Physician hastily replied, "Please be at ease, Your Grace. The Empress Dowager's illness has been completely cured, and there's no need to worry about a relapse. However, she still needs to be careful about keeping warm and avoiding drafts during cold weather to prevent catching a cold."
Hearing this, Yanshu finally felt completely relieved and quickly said to the Empress Dowager, "Congratulations, Your Grace. There's no need to worry anymore."
The Empress Dowager nodded and said to Xun the Imperial Physician, "You have done well in treating this illness. I should reward you."
Xun the Imperial Physician quickly knelt and said, "Treating patients is a doctor's heavenly duty. Moreover, Your Graces have already shown me great kindness. I dare not ask for rewards."
But the Empress Dowager said, "Your not asking for rewards is your business, my giving rewards is mine. Don't be modest."
She then instructed the palace servants, "Award Xun the Imperial Physician fifty taels of gold, plus a pair of deerskin gloves and a pair of cloud boots. The weather is cold now, and you need to keep warm when coming and going."
Hearing this, Xun the Imperial Physician could only hurriedly kowtow in thanks, his face full of trepidation.
Yanshu was so excited she almost stood up to clap—
Hmph, her boss was just this generous! When she liked someone, she'd shower them with gold and silver, how domineering!
Just then, the Empress Dowager said to her, "Next, I'm just waiting for your child to be born. Counting the days, it should be about a month from now, right?"
Before Yanshu could answer, Xun the Imperial Physician quickly said, "The Empress Dowager is correct. In another half month, the royal heir will be full-term, and birth would be normal any day after that."
The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "We'll have to trouble you to take extra care and look after the Imperial Consort well."
Xun the Imperial Physician hurriedly agreed.
Just then, they saw the cotton curtain at the hall entrance being lifted, and a tall figure wearing a crane-patterned robe entered.
Everyone in the hall quickly bowed, while the Empress Dowager said, "Why has Your Majesty come at this time?"
Yuwen Lan said, "I remembered today was Mother's last day of treatment, so I came to see how things were going."
Yanshu quickly said, "Your Majesty need not worry, the Empress Dowager's illness has been cured."
Yuwen Lan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "That's good."
Then Yanshu asked him, "Why is Your Majesty's shoulder wet?"
Yuwen Lan made a sound and said, "It's snowing outside."
It's snowing again? Yanshu's eyes lit up.
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Your Majesty is still like when you were young, not liking to use an umbrella in the snow. What if you catch a cold?"
Yuwen Lan smiled and said, "I came by palanquin, Mother. I only got a few snowflakes on me while walking the few steps after getting out, don't worry."
The Empress Dowager finally said nothing more.
Then Yanshu said with a grin, "Snowy days are perfect for hotpot. Why don't we have lamb hotpot for dinner?"
Ahem, since everyone present knew she was a foodie, she didn't bother pretending anymore. Besides, they should celebrate the boss's recovery today!
However, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You two go ahead and eat. I'm not very fond of that taste."
Yuwen Lan added, "Mother indeed doesn't care much for lamb."
Yanshu could only agree; if the boss didn't like it, she couldn't force it. She would just have to eat with the emperor.
Then the Empress Dowager instructed her, "The snow makes it cold, and tomorrow will likely be icy. You needn't come over; stay in your palace. We can't have anything go wrong at this crucial time."
Yanshu quickly agreed.
Then she took her leave with the emperor.
Outside the hall, snow was indeed falling. They boarded the imperial palanquin together and headed for Ganlu Palace.
Yanshu was already hungry, her mind full of the delicious hot pot lamb. She couldn't help saying, "We should have the imperial kitchen prepare six plates of lamb."
Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow, "That much? I only need two plates."
She paused in surprise and said, "Oh right, there's Your Majesty too. Then let's make it eight plates."
Yuwen Lan: "..."
So those six plates she mentioned earlier hadn't even included his portion?
After finishing their hotpot meal and taking a bath, they both climbed onto the bed.
Without the covering of her cotton robe, Yanshu's belly was even more prominent now, round like a watermelon.
Yuwen Lan looked at it with concern and couldn't help but ask, "It's so big, does it hurt?"
Yanshu made a soft sound and replied, "It doesn't hurt now, but I wonder how painful it will be during delivery."
Just as she finished speaking, a bump appeared on her belly.
Her eyes lit up as she smiled, stroking her belly while talking to the little one inside, "Baby, are you trying to tell Mommy that you'll be good and won't make Mommy hurt for too long, right?"
After she spoke, the bump rolled to another direction.
As the birth drew near, the baby's movements became more varied and obvious, with bumps rolling around and even stretches of hands and feet, making them increasingly eager to see what the baby would look like.
Yuwen Lan couldn't resist placing his hand on her belly and smiled, "Baby will definitely listen to Mommy."
As soon as he finished speaking, the baby made another bump, as if responding.
Yuwen Lan's heart melted, and he added, "Baby is a good child. It's late now, go to sleep early so your Mommy can get a good rest too."
Surprisingly, as if understanding their words, the little one in the belly gradually stopped moving.
Yanshu's eyes brightened, "It seems our baby can really recognize Your Majesty's voice. Such an obedient child."
Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow and said, "Of course, my child will certainly be as clever as I am."
He kissed her forehead and said, "Let's sleep now."
Yanshu made a sound of agreement and closed her eyes in his embrace, falling fast asleep.
That night, as snow fell silently outside the window, Yuwen Lan dreamed of the baby's birth a month later.
In his dream, he held his child, who kicked and waved, constantly smiling at him, and even called him "Father."
In the dream, he thought, truly his own child, speaking earlier than others - how clever indeed!
The next day there was a court session, and Yuwen Lan rose early as usual to go to Qianming Palace.
Last night's snow had stopped, and the weather was indeed very cold.
In court, as various ministers presented their reports, Yuwen Lan asked with concern, "Did last night's snow cause any disasters? Are there any citizens suffering from the cold?"
The Assistant Minister of Revenue quickly replied, "Please be assured, Your Majesty. Last night's snow wasn't heavy, so there was no disaster. This morning, the Capital Official has already set up three porridge stations and warming shelters in the city, which should address any issues."
Yuwen Lan nodded and said, "Not just the capital, but all areas affected by snow should follow this example. If there's a shortage of funds, you may apply to the Ministry of Revenue, but strict oversight is necessary to prevent corruption. The court's money must benefit the common people."
The Assistant Minister of Revenue quickly agreed.
Then the Minister of Justice stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I received a report from the Capital Official this morning. Recently, there have been cases of pregnant women miscarrying in the capital. Some physicians found it suspicious and reported it to the Capital Official."
This news surprised everyone.
Someone suggested, "Could it be due to the cold weather causing ice, making pregnant women slip and fall?"
The Minister of Justice replied, "This may not be the main reason. According to the Capital Official's statistics, there have only been two snowfalls recently, neither particularly heavy, so there hasn't been much ice on the roads. Moreover, most pregnant women have been staying indoors to avoid the cold, rarely venturing out, yet they still mysteriously miscarried. This matter seems quite suspicious."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Lan furrowed his brow and asked, "How many such cases have there been?"
The Minister of Justice quickly responded, "According to the Capital Official's report, there have been more than ten cases in the past half month."
More than ten cases in half a month?
That meant almost one case every day or two?
Yuwen Lan thought of someone.
He remembered Yanshu mentioning the Baihe Taoist using human placentas for alchemy...
Plus, a few days ago, the Imperial Guard reported that the Baihe Taoist had fallen off a cliff, and after he ordered an investigation, there had been no further news.
He paused, about to give orders.
However, the Minister of Justice continued, "I recall that about four years ago, similar incidents occurred in the capital, with numerous pregnant women miscarrying within a short period. However, that was during summer, not in severe winter like now."
This statement startled Yuwen Lan again.
Summer four years ago...
That was around the time before the Former Emperor passed away.
At that time, the Baihe Taoist was still in the palace, spending his days accompanying the Former Emperor in his pursuit of immortality...
Could it be that he had already started using this method for alchemy back then?
Then... did the Former Emperor know about it?
While lost in thought, he heard the Minister of Justice continue, "Your Majesty, I believe someone must be causing these evil acts behind the scenes. We should investigate thoroughly to prevent more pregnant women from becoming victims."
Yuwen Lan snapped back to attention and immediately ordered, "Indeed. Command the Capital Official, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Punishment to investigate this matter immediately. The Capital Guard should deploy men to thoroughly search the capital. If any suspicious Taoist priests are found, arrest them immediately. I suspect the Baihe Taoist has already arrived in the capital."
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed, not daring to be negligent.
