What kind of pulse it was, Fang Moyan refused to say. He mysteriously instructed Chang Le himself to go to the Imperial Hospital every day to get medicine and not let anyone else handle it.

He gave specific instructions, such as:

Paid attention to his diet, and avoid spicy and greasy foods, even hawthorn and jujube are not allowed.

No intense physical activity for nearly a month, especially horseback riding, which is strictly forbidden, and minimize walking.

When riding in a sedan chair, ensure stableness, cover the seat with soft cushions, and avoid bumps.

In short, it was all quite peculiar, as if Duan Changchuan suddenly became a fragile being.

Chang Le was worried and kept asking while on the way sending Fang Moyan away, “What kind of illness did His Majesty have? My mother fell seriously ill last year and was unable to make it, but there were no such precautions… Imperial Physician Fang, if you really can’t say, can you give me a hint? My heart is pounding, I am afraid…”

“Le Gonggong, no need to worry too much. It’s not a serious illness…”

“Not a serious illness, why can’t he walk too much? His Majesty had just turned eighteen, and now he can’t ride a horse… Waaah… it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“Uh… Gonggong, don’t cry. It’s really not that serious…”

“…”

Chang Le and Yun Xie were both worried, while Duan Changchuan, as the patient, didn’t seem to care about anything, he turned around to the bed and fell asleep. After waking up, he didn’t remember anything.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Chang Le coming over with a bitter medicine soup. His eyes widened, “I just got a little drunk, not completely wasted. And I’ve already had sobering soup, why do I need to take medicine?”

Chang Le softly explained, “… It was Imperial Physician Fang who personally made this medicine. This servant watched him boil it for four hours. He insisted that you must drink it…”

Duan Changchuan, “…”

“Do I have some illness that requires medication?”

Not mentioning ‘caught illnesses’ was fine, but once it was brought up, the little eunuch’s eyes turned red again.

Suppressing his crying, he whispered, “Imperial Physician Fang said he is not sure yet, so he made some medicine that is harmless to your body… He has already sent a letter to his master, and will come as soon as possible, probably in seven or eight days.”

It’s not surprising that Chang Le is afraid. Fang Mo Yan’s master is a famous immortal physician in Shengjing. However, he left Shengjing seven years ago to wander around.

Before the late emperor passed away, he entrusted Duan Changchuan, to him. However, this immortal physician had always been a playful character and couldn’t sit still.

So, he spent every day teaching his little disciple, who was none other than Fang Moyan. After teaching him for five years, he finally turned his little disciple into a talented one, leaving behind a few essential medical books, and then ran away overnight.

Before leaving, the troublemaker left a letter for Zuo Wuya, saying, “Don’t underestimate my disciple. I’ve taught him everything I’ve learned in my lifetime. If my disciple can’t handle it, no one in the Imperial Hospital can.”

Though arrogant in tone, his words were true.

So when Fang Moyan mentioned inviting his master from the mountain, in Chang Le’s mind, it sounded like a terminal illness.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t get any information through questioning, making him even more distressed.

Listening to the whole story, Duan Changchuan looked at Chang Le who was about to cry, took the medicine bowl, and drank it in one go.

“If I fell sick, I will follow the physician’s advice. No need to worry. Imperial Physician Fang will never lie. If he says it’s not a serious illness, then it’s not. Just rest and recover,” Duan Changchuan comforted.

“Yes, this servant will follow Your Majesty’s instructions. Your Majesty will surely be fine.”

The young man touched his stomach and softly agreed, “Hmm.”

–

February was about to end. The Regent and Duan Changchuan together prepared a list of people to investigate the situation with Rong Wu and enemy spies, and secretly sent them on their way.

Just as they dealt with these matters, the Spring Imperial Examination in March was about to begin, and the reports from the Ministry of Rites started to come one by one.

Duan Changchuan stayed up late every day, and the dark circles under his eyes deepened day by day.

On the last day of February, as night fell, the young man sitting by the table was going through the list of participants in the imperial examination. When he reached the last page, he was stunned.

“Lin Qing, a poor scholar, ranked 307th in the imperial examination last year, failed.”

After the name, only a few words were written. He looked at it quickly, but Duan Changchuan stared at it for a while.

Lin Qing…

He was the scholar who promised to marry Bai Su if he became the Zhuang Yuan^[1]状元 – Top scorer in the palace examination.

Yun Xie said he didn’t even participate in the court exam four years ago and was not a remarkable figure among scholars. But Duan Changchuan knew that Yun Xie said these words just to comfort him.

Four years ago, Lin Qing had just turned eighteen and was at the peak of his youth. He was a well-known figure among scholars in Shengjing.

Coincidentally, on the day of the imperial examination, he fell ill and fainted in the examination room before completing the exam. Even so, he still managed to get the good rank of 307. Just one more step forward, and he could have become a Gongshi ^[2]贡士 – A candidate who has successfully passed the first grades of the examination system, but not yet the palace examination, entering the palace for the court examination.

And then…

Propose to the girl he wanted.

“Your Majesty, General Rong’s people have brought news.”

His thoughts were interrupted by Chang Le’s voice…

Duan Changchuan returned to his senses, quickly closed the book, and took the note that was handed to him.

He opened the letter, and the few lines read:

“Mass graves discovered in Huai Nan, with an unusually large number of buried bodies. To avoid alerting the enemy, secured evidence has been sent to Shengjing. Request assistance from the Supreme Court.”

“The counties and towns are being exploited layer by layer, Chen’s tyranny is confirmed, more evidence needs to be searched.”

As expected… it was as anticipated.

However, anticipating it and facing the facts were still heart-wrenching.

The young emperor, holding the paper with black ink on white, exhaled a trembling breath.

He crumpled the note fiercely, holding the crumpled paper in his hand, veins popping on his clenched fist.

“Shadow Guards.”

A person immediately appeared from the rafters, kneeling respectfully before him, saying, “Your Majesty.”

“Has General Rong’s things arrived?”

“Answering You Majesty, they have been delivered, and the location is secure.”

Duan Changchuan took a small piece of jade from a small drawer and handed it over, “Take this to find Chen Sheng. Choose an inconspicuous time and bring him over to inspection.”

The shadow guard received the communication jade, nodded, and said, “Yes.”

Then, he disappeared without a trace.

It was already very late, in the distance, the patrol’s rhythmic drumming echoed from the front hall.

Unbeknownst to him, it was already past midnight.

“Your Majesty, it’s too late, you should rest…” Chang Le heard the drumming and hurriedly approached, urging, “It’s already midnight, and you have morning court tomorrow. Be careful not to strain yourself. Imperial Physician Fang advised this servant to take care of your health, and not let you exhaust yourself.”

The young emperor blinked with a bitter expression and quietly burned the note. After that, he stood up and said, “I’ll take a walk outside. I’ll come back and sleep.”

With that, he pushed the door open and walked out, not even bothering to put on an outer robe.

Outside wasn’t as cold as he imagined. It will be March after midnight. The weather had already warmed up, and apricot and pear blossoms were blooming quietly, even at night.

“Your Majesty… Your Majesty! Put on some clothes!”

Chang Le hurriedly brought a padded coat, running towards him while calling out.

Duan Changchuan resisted him but casually draped it over himself.

As the month changed, only a slender crescent moon remained in the sky. Stars surrounded the night, and the Milky Way shone brightly. The stars of the cowherd and the weaver girl^[3]牛郎织女 – Characters in Chinese folk story twinkled brightly on both sides.

“It has been a long time, since I haven’t seen such a clear and beautiful night sky…”

Such feelings suddenly popped up in Duan Changchuan’s heart.

Fragmented images flashed through his mind…

Tall buildings, large houses… He seemed to be standing in a very high place, and the world beneath him was brightly lit, reflecting countless layers of heaven.

“Your Majesty, do you want to visit the Empress? At this hour… The Empress may have already gone to bed. Should I go in and inform her, wake her up to attend to you?” Chang Le asked.

Duan Changchuan raised his head, only to realize that he had unknowingly walked to Bai Su’s Qing Lu Palace. Similar in appearance to the Ming Sheng Palace, it was just a smaller courtyard.

Looking up, he could still see a few branches of small peach blossoms extending from the red palace walls.

“No need to announce it. I’ll just go in for a walk.” The young man said, climbing the stone steps of the palace gate.

With a gentle push, the door opened.

The entrance’s guard, seeing the brightly dressed figure, quickly knelt, “Your Majesty…”

Chang Le quickly stepped forward, saying, “Your Majesty is just coming in for a walk, no need to announce it.”

The guard nodded understandingly, “The Empress is practicing in the backyard… uh, her body. Your Majesty can see her when you reach the backyard.”

The guard then stood back in his place, keeping quiet and not making any more remarks.

Duan Changchuan didn’t expect midnight had pass, and Bai Su had not yet slept.

Not only hadn’t she slept, but she was also practicing at this hour?!

For a moment, he hesitated, should he go and take a look?

It was already midnight, and never mind if he had just taken a stroll to Qing Lu Palace. He had even entered…

No matter how you thought about it, it felt a bit… ambiguous.

“Maybe it’s better to forget it…?”

“But, since I’m already here…”

Moreover, he was curious why Bai Su wasn’t sleeping at midnight and what kind of practice she was doing.

“Your Majesty, shall we go over?” Seeing him hesitating, Chang Le couldn’t help but ask.

“How about…” he spoke softly.

Thinking of giving up… suddenly, he smelled a faint peony fragrance.

Very fragrant, mixed with…

Mixed with an indescribable scent.

There was some restlessness, urgency… and a sense of being needed.

When he smelled, Duan Changchuan even felt like she was calling out to him with this fragrance.

He said, “Forget it, let’s go and take a look.”

–

From the front hall to the backyard, they had to pass through a large hall and side rooms on both sides, making the journey a bit long.

Duan Changchuan walked slowly along the paved bluestone path. The closer he got, the stronger the fragrance of peonies became.

An indescribable palpitation arose in his chest…

This feeling was like the second day of the royal wedding. He was slightly intoxicated, standing behind Bai Su, smelling the fragrance emanating from her neck… and experiencing some strange reactions in his body.

“Could it be that I… have feelings for her?”

He silently thought in his heart, pushed open the crimson door, and the sounds of sword practicing in the courtyard suddenly halted…

The next moment, the aggressive peony fragrance rushed towards him.

“Who is it?” Accompanied by Bai Su’s voice, the usually gentle fragrance of peonies suddenly became so oppressive that made people difficult to breathe.

Duan Changchuan’s face turned pale.

“Duan Changchuan?!”

At the sight of him, Bai Su’s voice trembled.

She hurriedly restrained her pheromones, rushing to him.

“How are you? Did you get hurt?” She subconsciously asked.

She completely forgot that Duan Changchuan was not an Omega. He couldn’t smell even the strongest Alpha pheromones.

But right after she finished speaking, the young man pushed her away.

In his watery eyes, there was an accusation, “You… Cough… Stay away! Your scent, I have wanted to tell you for a long time!”