Chapter 63 : Was Huo Tan in danger of his life at that time?

Cui Yunzhao sat up in bed, breathing heavily for several moments before finally calming herself down completely. She didn’t understand why her whole body felt cold, a chill rising from deep within her heart, causing her to shiver.

She instinctively glanced at the bedside and saw that the space beside her was empty, which made her sigh in relief. Huo Tan must have left for the camp early in the morning and wouldn’t return until noon.

Cui Yunzhao reached out, lightly touching her chest, feeling the strong heartbeat within. She sighed softly. This dream left her feeling disoriented.

She could hardly distinguish whether it had been a dream or a memory. Everything in the dream had felt so real, the faces of the two physicians, the layout of the garden, the flowers and trees, all so clear and vivid, without a hint of falsehood. This was different from her usual dreams.

Cui Yunzhao even felt as though she was looking back into the past. What was even more startling were the words spoken by the two physicians in her dream.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her eyes and looked at her palms. At that moment, she recalled the earlier dream in which she clearly heard palace attendants discussing that the physicians had all been summoned back to the palace and would no longer be attending to her in the (Bieyuan).

At the time, she thought the palace didn’t want the physicians to discover she had been poisoned, which was why they recalled them, but now it seemed there was more to the story.

If the dream were true, then the events it depicted would have taken place after the two physicians were recalled.

Cui Yunzhao closed her eyes and carefully remembered everything from the dream.

After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes.

Yes, it was indeed the winter of the fourth year of Jianyuan, the very month she had passed away.

She had a deep memory of Xiao Qinghe, not only because he was young and handsome but also because he had been quite skilled in treating her.

She had fallen into icy water during her menstrual cycle, leaving her with lingering issues, each month brought her unbearable pain and a cold sensation throughout her body, and despite taking many medications, her condition hadn’t improved.

Later, Xiao Qinghe had found a medical book and specifically sought a type of flint stone, which he heated and had her place on her abdomen for warmth. After three months, her menstrual pain had greatly improved.

However, the flint stones needed careful temperature testing, and Cui Yunzhao remembered how Xiao Qinghe’s hand had been burned in the process.

In the recent dream, Xiao Qinghe still bore that burn on the back of his hand.

In the fourth year of Jianyuan, winter arrived a bit later than in previous years.

It wasn’t until early November that the first snow fell in Bianjing.

But the initial snow was light and didn’t blanket Bianjing in white, quickly melting under the warm sun. After that, no more snow fell until early December, which was now.

The snow that had fallen during that time lasted for several days, and by the day Cui Yunzhao died, the heavy snow still hadn’t ceased.

From the dream’s Four Seasons Garden scene, the fallen snow was pristine and fluffy, indicating that everything in the dream occurred right after the snow had fallen, or perhaps during a brief pause in the snowfall, certainly sometime in early December.

Cui Yunzhao recalled that she had seen Xiao Qinghe in Changle Bieyuan at the beginning of November.

The timeframe in the dream likely aligned with the days surrounding her death, but Cui Yunzhao couldn’t discern whether it was before or after her passing.

Understanding this made her feel increasingly anxious.

If it were true, it meant Cui Yunzhao had witnessed events from her past life that she shouldn’t have seen, as she hadn’t been in Lingxiao Palace at that time. If it was merely a dream, then everything within it felt terrifyingly real.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her eyes and quietly recalled for a moment, trying to calm her emotions.

But what if it was real?

After all, in the dream, she had simply been drifting through space, and the people in the dream couldn’t see her. Perhaps, after her past life ended, she had truly become a spirit, wandering the world, impulsively going to Lingxiao Palace to question Huo Tan about how he had treated her.

And so, she had witnessed that scene.

Yet, upon her rebirth, all memories from her time as a spirit were forgotten. Only through these recurring dreams, as her memories gradually resurfaced, was she beginning to see the stories from her past life that she had never known.

She had died without understanding the tales of Lingxiao Palace.

Cui Yunzhao could be reborn and now recalled the events of her previous life through dreams without feeling worried or afraid. Instead, it gradually allowed her to see the truth of the situation.

This was quite good.

Cui Yunzhao thought that what she most wanted to know now was what had truly happened at that time.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, clenched her fists tightly, and gritted her teeth, urging herself to settle her mind.

She closed her eyes and slowly returned to the dream.

At this moment, she suddenly realized that something monumental must have occurred in Lingxiao Palace at that time.

And the clues lay within the dream.

In the dream, the physician had said the illness was difficult to treat, and later mentioned they could do nothing about it, which implied that someone in Lingxiao Palace was seriously ill.

And that illness had already reached a critical stage.

Who could that patient be?

The only one who could leave the two physicians so silent and cautious would have to be the master of Lingxiao Palace.

Cui Yunzhao closed her eyes again.

At that time, Lin Xiu Gu had already passed away, and Huo Xinliu had gone missing during the chaos of war. In the palace, aside from Emperor Huo Tan, there were only the Empress Dowager Gu, Huo Tan’s brothers Huo Chenzhang and Huo Chengpu, and the Grand Princess Huo Xinzhi.

After Huo Tan ascended the throne, due to the ongoing turmoil and pressing state affairs, he hadn’t selected a consort and hadn’t expanded the harem. In reality, the vast Lingxiao Palace housed only the emperor and four royal relatives.

However, by then, Huo Chenzhang had been named the Prince of Jin and was usually living in the Prince’s residence, only returning to the palace occasionally when state affairs became overwhelming.

Huo Chengpu, due to his frail health, remained in the palace under the care of Huo Tan and Huo Xinzhi.

Although Huo Xinzhi was titled the Grand Princess, with her fief in Fulu, she had not gone to her territory, remaining in the palace to care for her grandmother and younger brother.

Lastly, there was the Empress Dowager.

Old Madam Gu had always been in good health; Lin Xiu Gu had passed away before her, and she had remained healthy, but for some unknown reason, she had grown distant from both Huo Tan and Huo Xinzhi, spending her days in the palace eating vegetarian meals and practicing Buddhism, rarely making an appearance.

She wasn’t as troublesome as she was now, which had become annoying.

Thinking of this, Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but think of Huo Tan again.

In January of the fourth year of Jianyuan, she hadn’t entered the palace to see him due to her illness, but she had visited in the third year.

Although she and Huo Tan had already divorced, creating an awkward situation, there was no resentment or conflict between them when they met. Every encounter was merely a sit-down to chat and inquire about each other’s well-being, simple and harmonious.

Cui Yunzhao remembered that in the third year of Jianyuan, Huo Tan had been full of vigor.

He had just become emperor, resolved many conflicts and difficulties in the court, and even dealt with several challenging issues. The territory of the new dynasty was continuously expanding, surpassing what had existed during the Northern Zhou era by the fourth year of Jianyuan.

As emperor, he was indeed full of energy.

Young and strong, he was in the prime of his life, with a bright future ahead.

Thus, Cui Yunzhao instinctively didn’t believe that the patient the physicians referred to was him.

The most likely patients were either Huo Chengpu or the elderly Empress Dowager.

Yet, Cui Yunzhao still felt a sense of unease in her heart.

The indescribable fear spread within her, causing her to tense up again. What if it was Huo Tan? If he truly was gravely ill, with no hope of recovery, then her eventual poisoning would make sense, because Huo Tan himself would also be beyond saving. He might be completely unaware of what had happened in Changle Bieyuan.

Cui Yunzhao took a deep breath and followed this line of thought. But why would Huo Tan be sick? He was so young and strong, she couldn’t believe he would be the one unwell.

Huo Tan couldn’t die—or rather, the founding emperor of Da Chu couldn’t die. If he were to pass away, the entire Da Chu would plunge back into irreparable chaos.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze to her tightly clenched hands. Last night, Huo Tan had just held her hand and gently stayed with her until she fell asleep. This dream was something Cui Yunzhao had never expected.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, whether her analysis was right or wrong, and regardless of who was actually ill, something significant must have happened in Lingxiao Palace during the winter of the fourth year of Jianyuan.

As a result, Huo Tan would be unable to reach her, unaware of the danger Cui Yunzhao faced in Changle Bieyuan.

With this in mind, the second question in Cui Yunzhao’s heart also found its answer. Yet, a new question arose, who was truly gravely ill? Did Huo Tan’s life hang in the balance?

Cui Yunzhao sat quietly for a while, then finally drew back the curtains. A beam of light sliced through the darkness, illuminating the dimly lit bed.

The light danced with dust particles, carving traces of time on the back of her hand. Life cycles through past and present, yet time remains eternal.

As she looked at the faint morning light outside, Cui Yunzhao let out a long sigh. No matter what had happened then, nothing had happened now. As long as nothing had occurred, everything remained possible.

After much contemplation upon waking, Cui Yunzhao waited until she had sorted her thoughts before calling for Li Qing to help her wash up. Because she was sweating coldly, she also asked Li Qing to find her a set of undergarments.

Li Qing looked a bit surprised. “Miss, did you feel too warm last night?”

Cui Yunzhao shook her head and merely said she hadn’t slept well. She then asked, “What about the young master?”

Li Qing replied, “Ninth Master went to the camp. He said he would return at noon to take Miss to visit Uncle Yin.”

Cui Yunzhao acknowledged this. She had little appetite today, only eating a few bites of porridge before setting it down.

Perhaps due to the dream, Cui Yunzhao kept replaying thoughts in her mind. She decided not to do anything else and instead meticulously recorded everything from her dream.

The last time she had a dream, she hadn’t taken it seriously, thinking it was just a dream. But with the two dreams combined, she began to pay more attention.

Once she finished documenting today’s dream, she noticed Bau Xiaochuan’s prescription beside her. When Wang Huzii had copied the prescription, Cui Yunzhao had asked Tao Fei to inquire about what it was meant to treat, and Tao Fei returned to explain it to her in detail.

Bau Xiaochuan’s prescription was meant to alleviate pain, relieve congestion, and calm the mind. The most important part was the pain relief.

The dosage seemed quite substantial and indicated it had been used for a long time. Since several of the pain-relieving herbs were uncommon, the doctor who had shown the prescription to Tao Fei had commented, “If his usual pain medications were ineffective, he would indeed look for some unconventional ones. This prescription appears to be such.”

Cui Yunzhao had many things on her mind back then and hadn’t thought much of it, but now, considering what Huo Tan had said, perhaps Bau Xiaochuan’s burn from the incident in Quanshui Village had yet to heal.

This prescription might be for him.

As she pondered, Huo Tan’s voice came from outside “My lady, I’m back.”

Cui Yunzhao’s hand trembled, causing the lightweight paper to fall to the ground. She was surprised that she could feel flustered. However, thinking back to last night’s dream, her reaction was understandable.

After tidying up her study, she stepped out and immediately saw Huo Tan washing his face. After a busy morning, he was dusty and was now carefully cleaning himself.

“I’ll change into a different outfit soon. Does My lady think I should wear my military uniform or my official robes?”

The military uniform had narrow sleeves and was more streamlined than the civil officials’ attire. Although Huo Tan didn’t hold an official military title yet, in Boling, he was a proper seventh-rank officer.

Cui Yunzhao stood by the door, looking at Huo Tan’s broad and strong back. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t connect it to the words from her dream.

She hoped that the gravely ill person in her dream wasn’t him.

This wasn’t out of selfishness, but because Huo Tan had newly established Da Chu, implementing reforms throughout the nation. Ten years from now, Da Chu would offer the people of the Central Plains the best and most peaceful future.

If Huo Tan were to suddenly pass away, the Central Plains would once again descend into chaos.

It would likely be even worse than now.

Cui Yunzhao sighed softly in her heart, stepped forward a couple of steps, and looked at Huo Tan seriously. “You should wear the military uniform.”

Huo Tan really suited wearing military attire.

The uniform was sharp and fitted, accentuating his powerful physique, especially his lean waist and long legs, making a lasting impression.

“Alright, I’ll do as My lady says,” he replied.

He seemed to take this meeting seriously, not only changing into a new bamboo-green narrow-sleeved military uniform but also putting on a new pair of deer-hide boots.

He replaced his belt with a jade one, and standing in the sunlight, he looked impressive and striking.

Huo Tan also needed to style his hair again.

Cui Yunzhao stepped forward, placing her hand on Huo Tan’s.

She took the sandalwood comb from his hands and slowly began to comb his long, dark hair.

Huo Tan’s hair was thick and, as he was usually quite neat, his long locks fell smoothly and darkly, contrasting sharply with his character. Cui Yunzhao gently brushed his hair, and through the mirror, Huo Tan watched her side profile as she looked down.

The shadows in the mirror were blurred, yet they enhanced Cui Yunzhao’s beauty by a third. Suddenly, Huo Tan spoke up, “Is my wife troubled by something?”

Cui Yunzhao paused for a moment but continued brushing his hair slowly. In the mirror, her brows and eyes were bright and graceful.

Huo Tan gazed deeply at her reflection and suddenly said, “No matter why your uncle and aunt have come, don’t take it too much to heart.”

It seemed Huo Tan had misunderstood. Cui Yunzhao pressed her lips together but smiled faintly. This smile made her features bloom, adding to her beauty and charm.

“I just haven’t seen my uncle and aunt for a long time and am unsure of what to say,” she replied.

Huo Tan reassured her, “They’re all family, just be genuine with them.”

He was always like this, valuing family and being considerate towards them. No matter how sharp and alert he was outside, he was relaxed at home.

This ease was enviable, and Cui Yunzhao was gradually learning to adopt it.

She tied Huo Tan’s long hair neatly with a hairband, shaping it into a tidy bun, and then smiled, saying, “I understand, you don’t need to worry.”

Huo Tan patted her hand gently before standing up and smiling as he took Cui Yunzhao’s hand. “Let’s go.”

The Yin family’s private residence in Boling was located on Tanhua Lane. Years ago, when Cui Yunzhao’s mother was set to marry into Boling, the Yins had prepared a house here for the convenience of visiting her.

However, fate played its hand, Cui Yunzhao’s mother had passed away early, and her grandparents had also long since died, leading to a diminishing of ties between the two families.

During festivals, they only exchanged letters, nothing more.

As Cui Yunzhao stood beneath the entrance of the Yin residence, looking up at the slightly worn plaque, she couldn’t help but smile. “It’s been a long time, it seems just the same.”

Huo Tan didn’t look around, he calmly gazed at the middle-aged man waiting in front of the door.

The man had a warm smile, appearing quite friendly, but he did not approach, remaining by the door to wait for the guests.

Cui Yunzhao squinted, recalling that this man seemed to be her uncle’s steward.

Today was a visit to see her uncle, so she didn’t say much and walked directly into the Yin residence with Huo Tan.

The steward, Sun, was meticulous in his duties. He followed the couple closely and said to Cui Yunzhao, “Second Miss, Fifth Miss and Third Young Master have already arrived and are speaking with the master and madam.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, acknowledging the information.

Sun glanced at Huo Tan, noticing he remained silent, so he didn’t say more.

The Yin residence in Boling consisted of a three-courtyard layout. The front courtyard was spacious, featuring rock gardens and two guest rooms, giving off an air of scholarly elegance.

After passing through the flower-laden gate, they moved toward the back courtyard.

The layout of the back courtyard was similar to the Cui family’s, but it was about sixty percent smaller, with only three or four buildings and a small garden, completing the inner residence.

Due to years of neglect, the garden was overgrown and barren. Yin Changfeng disliked extravagance, so he hadn’t kept the servants cleaning this area, resulting in a desolate and somewhat cold atmosphere.

Knowing Yin Changfeng’s character, Cui Yunzhao didn’t comment but quietly followed Sun to the main courtyard, Youxingzhai.

As she approached, a soft female voice floated out from within, “Is that Jiao Jiao who has come?”

Cui Yunzhao immediately recognized the speaker. She quickened her steps and soon stood before the main room of Youxingzhai.

The doors were wide open, and a warm incense burner was placed in the hall, gently releasing steam.

Seated at the main table were two individuals. On the left was her uncle, Yin Changfeng, and on the right sat her aunt, Lady Zhou.

This Aunt Zhou was not from a prominent family in Tonglu but rather of ordinary descent, so she tended to be somewhat petty. When Cui Yunzhao’s mother passed away, she disagreed with Yin Changfeng’s suggestions, leading to some unpleasantness.

However, many years had passed, and Cui Yunzhao was no longer the young girl she used to be. Upon reaching Youxingzhai’s entrance, she confidently greeted her relatives.

“Jiao Jiao pays her respects to Uncle and Aunt.”

With a smile, she presented herself gracefully and elegantly.

As she waved her hand, Huo Tan stepped forward and also respectfully bowed to the two. “Your humble nephew-in-law pays his respects to Uncle and Aunt.”

Yin Changfeng responded with a casual acknowledgment.

He resembled Cui Yunzhao’s mother quite a bit, although in middle age, he had become somewhat plump, giving him a prosperous appearance. If one looked closely, they could see the clarity of his youthful features.

Aunt Zhou feigned annoyance at him but then smiled brightly at Cui Yunzhao, saying, “Good, good, good! We’re all family, let’s sit down and talk.”

At this point, Cui Yunting and Cui Yunlan had already arrived, both children sitting quietly, leaving two spots empty in front of them.

Once Aunt Zhou invited them to sit, Cui Yunzhao took a seat beside Cui Yunlan, while Huo Tan sat to the left of Cui Yunting.

When everyone was settled, Aunt Zhou smiled, “Oh dear, I’m so happy I forgot to serve tea.”

“Sun, quickly bring out the old tree phoenix dancong for brewing, and prepare tea for our young lady and young master,” she instructed, suppressing a smile. “I also brought along some Eight Treasures Cake from Tonglu, since I’m unsure what good snacks are available in Boling. Please try them.”

Soon, the compliant maids began serving tea and snacks.

Cui Yunzhao glanced over and saw that the Eight Treasures Cake was made of eight different types of pastries arranged beautifully on a white porcelain peony dish, exquisite and lovely.

With the fragrant phoenix dancong tea, it was clear that her uncle and aunt had put thought into their hospitality.

After the maids retreated, Yin Changfeng stroked his beard and spoke up.

“nephew-in-law,” he squinted at Huo Tan, “are you currently under General Lu’s command?”

Huo Tan stood to respond, “That is correct.”

Before Huo Tan could sit down, Yin Changfeng leisurely continued, “You’re a military envoy?”

Huo Tan maintained a calm demeanor, his tone even. “Yes.”

Yin Changfeng grunted but remained silent for a while.

Aunt Zhou then tried to ease the tension, saying, “Oh, nephew-in-law, please sit down and try the Eight Treasures Cake. Boling doesn’t have such flavors.”

Huo Tan returned a respectful gesture and promptly took his seat.

He sat upright, exuding an impressive presence in both his movements and demeanor. If he weren’t so young and handsome, others would find it hard to dismiss him.

Yin Changfeng’s questions had all been covered in the letter from Cui Xu, yet he insisted on asking again, which felt dismissive.

After the exchange, the atmosphere in the hall grew a bit tense, with no one speaking.

Yin Changfeng frowned slightly, about to speak when Aunt Zhou chimed in, “I see that Lan’er looks much better, and tinglang has grown taller, how delightful!”

She shouldn’t have mentioned it, her words provoked Yin Changfeng’s irritation.

However, he shot a glance at Huo Tan, snorted, and managed to suppress his anger.

In Yin Changfeng’s eyes, Huo Tan was merely an outsider, and family matters should not be discussed in front of him.

He endured it for a moment but couldn’t resist, changing the subject to Huo Tan. “nephew-in-law, I hear your literary talent is quite remarkable. You’ve read and studied since childhood, why not let General Lu recommend you for a civil position? I could also put in a good word. Life would be much more stable.”

If it were another relative, Cui Yunzhao might think this was for her benefit, but coming from Yin Changfeng, it felt decidedly condescending.

Yin Changfeng held military officials in contempt, believing they only knew how to fight. Although he wasn’t foolish enough to be rude to generals, with Huo Tan, who wasn’t a general and was his junior, he felt no reservations.

As Yin Changfeng spoke, even the youngest, Cui Yunting, clenched his fists in tension. He could detect the underlying meaning in Yin Changfeng’s words, and Huo Tan was even more likely to catch on.

There was a moment of silence in the hall before Huo Tan smiled faintly.

Looking at Yin Changfeng, his face bore a subtle smile, yet his aura exuded the kind of intimidating presence forged through countless battles, startling Yin Changfeng.

Huo Tan had been on the battlefield since he was fifteen, what kind of people hadn’t he faced? What situations hadn’t he encountered?

His temperament was mature, and he would never be easily angered by the casual remarks of others.

Especially since the person who spoke was Cui Yunzhao’s elder, it was even less likely for him to turn against him.

Just when Aunt Zhou was nervous, Huo Tan said calmly “Uncle, my liberal arts are just mediocre, not as good as the foundation of the aristocratic families who have been teaching me for many years. If I become a civil servant, I am afraid I will not live up to the official uniform on my body.”

Huo Tan’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of deterrence in his tone. “Uncle, in this chaotic world, if you want to make a living, you still need a knife in your hand.”

“I have to protect my family, my wife, my brother and sister-in-law…”

Huo Tan raised his eyes and looked deeply at Yin Changfeng.

“Of course, I also have to protect my uncle and aunt.”