Chapter 4: Chapter 2: A Fire in the Backyard

Chapter 2: Fire in the Backyard

Soon, she boarded the carriage alongside Jun Lanfeng.

Among the people of the world, the affection between the Emperor and Empress was as clear as the sun and moon, a fact that had become common dinner-table gossip. At an event of this magnitude, there were inevitably many comments to be heard in the streets.

This was the first time since Jing Yue'er became Empress that she had traveled so ostentatiously through the streets in the imperial carriage alongside Jun Lanfeng in her capacity as Empress. Today, she wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with lifelike phoenixes. Her high, sweeping hair buns had shed her former playful air, replaced by a rare sense of dignified elegance. It was an extreme form of beauty, one that could only be described as shaming the Heavenly Empress of the immortal realms.

As a corner of the phoenix robe lifted, the noble ladies and men who had been kneeling on the ground watching with rapt attention could not help but gasp.

"No wonder an immortal-like man such as the Emperor would dote on her so much."

A man looking like a fair-faced scholar couldn't help but shake his head. "We traveled thousands of miles to this capital just to scrape together a minor official post. If my future wife could be even a tenth as beautiful as her, I would be satisfied."

"True. With a lovely wife like that, I'd be willing to keep her enshrined in my home every day," another man couldn't help but say with envy.

"Is that so? But men marry to look upon such flower-like beauties. Don't forget, they've been married for two and a half years, and there isn't a single concubine in the palace. Yet, we haven't seen any sign of movement from the Empress's belly."

An extremely ugly woman couldn't help but laugh. "I say, it's better to marry a practical woman. If I were the Empress, I would have already given His Majesty a brood of little princes."

"Heh... I say, sister, someone like you wouldn't even be wanted to lick the Emperor's feet, let alone bear a brood of princes. And could those little princes even be looked at? If they grew up to look like you, I'd have become a monk long ago if I were the Emperor."

"Hahahaha..."

A burst of laughter followed as the carriage passed. Some were even laughing so hard their faces turned red.

"But it is true. Why has the Empress remained childless? If the Empress has no heir and the Emperor is unwilling to remarry, the situation could become quite bad," someone sighed. "What a pity. She possesses a beauty that can topple nations and a talent that rivals gods and demons, yet she cannot share the blessing of multiple wives..."

"I heard there was a concubine before. She monopolized the Emperor's favor for a month or two, but there was still no news from her belly," someone commented quietly. "Actually, it might not necessarily be the Empress's responsibility."

"Sigh, our Empress is so wonderful. It shouldn't be her fault." The voice was very small, as if the speaker was extremely unwilling to admit it might be the Emperor's fault.

"If... this union of two peerless beauties were to produce a child, I wonder how beautiful and intelligent they would be." An older woman couldn't help but sigh. "Why is the Heavens so unfair to such a good person as the Empress!"

"If the Empress had a little Crown Prince or a little Princess, it would be perfect. Then, when the Emperor and Empress are happy, our people's welfare would increase even more."

Consequently, the streets fell silent for a long time. For a while, no more discussions could be heard.

The carriage gradually drove up the mountain, the long procession stretching for ten miles. However, ever since leaving the capital, Jing Yue'er had turned around and lay on a soft couch, sleeping soundly. Jun Lanfeng read a book beside her, not wanting to disturb her, occasionally turning to glance at her.

While Jing Yue'er remained deep in sleep on the couch, her primordial spirit had flown off to an unknown place.

***

In the dream.

She held a Green Maple precious sword, standing at the edge of a cliff. On the other side of the cliff, a man stood against the wind. His handsome face was as exquisite as if carved by a knife, standing before her with his hands behind his back.

"Kill him."

Jing Yue'er felt a voice calling around her, calling incessantly.

Suddenly, the precious sword in her hand became uncontrollable, carrying her body closer and closer to the man.

"Lanfeng, no... stop!" In the dream, she screamed. Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, yet the blade in her hand seemed to have a mind of its own, stabbing into his body. "Lanfeng!"

As blood poured out like a torrent, the hem of the man's night-black robe fluttered slightly. His smile was like a breeze, seemingly able to blow away the heartache in her soul. "Yue'er, my life is yours. You can take it at any time!"

"No!! I want you to live!"

In the dream, she wept with broken heart and gut. However, the man drifted down with the wind. She tried to save him, but she could never grasp his hand. She screamed heart-wrenchingly, "Lanfeng!"

"Yue'er..."

A soul-stirring call made Jing Yue'er's tears soak her entire pillow. "Yue'er, wake up."

As if grasping a life-saving straw, Jing Yue'er suddenly touched Jun Lanfeng's hand. Opening her tear-blurred eyes, she saw that the man who had fallen off the cliff in her dream was still sitting before her just as before, calling her anxiously, loving her, and doting on her.

"Lanfeng, I dreamed you fell off a cliff. Are you hurt..."

She checked Jun Lanfeng's body like a fool. Had that dream not been so realistic, had the pain in her heart not been so bone-deep, she would never have acted this way.

"I am fine..."

Jun Lanfeng held her tightly in his arms. "It was just a dream. No one can do anything to me, and no one can do anything to Yue'er. Do you understand?"

She leaned foolishly against Jun Lanfeng's chest, her clear gaze looking at the antique-style room before her. For a moment, she even forgot where she was. "Lanfeng, why am I here?"

This question gave Jun Lanfeng quite a fright. "We are on the mountain. Have you forgotten you said you would accompany me to the mountain for the sacrifices?"

"I..."

Jing Yue'er suddenly felt a chill. "Lanfeng, I feel so cold. Hold me tighter."

"Alright, hold you tighter." Anxious, Jun Lanfeng took a cloak from the side and covered her with it. He just held her, holding her continuously.

"Someone, go call the imperial physician!"

As he shouted, he held her petite body in his arms, looking like an old father holding his child. The only difference was that they were only five years apart in age.

About fifteen minutes later, after Jun Lanfeng had tucked Jing Yue'er under the quilt on the bed, he paced the room seven or eight times. "Damn imperial physician, so slow."

"I'm here, I'm here! Oh, Your Majesty. This humble official just arrived at the temple and hasn't even rested yet. What is it now?"

Imperial Physician Gongsun had just caught his breath when, as soon as he spoke, Jun Lanfeng lifted him up by his body. "You just finished speaking and now you have a fever, your whole body is scalding. You want to rest? If you cannot cure the Empress, I will let you sleep eternally."

It could be said that while Jun Lanfeng usually treated Jing Yue'er and the common people quite well, at critical moments, he was nothing but a tyrant. Especially when something happened to Jing Yue'er, he was a blatant tyrant.

"Your... Your Majesty, if you don't let me down, how can I examine the Empress?"

Imperial Physician Gongsun looked at Jun Lanfeng with a face full of grievance and pulled out a handkerchief. "Achoo..."

Jun Lanfeng immediately threw Gongsun aside as if disgusted, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his face and hands, using one after another. "You've grown bold, daring to produce filth in front of me. If it weren't for the fact that you are still useful, I would have you dragged out and beaten until your skin is torn."

"Your Majesty, you can't blame me. It is indeed a bit cold around the temple; this humble official caught a cold while still in the palace. If it weren't for Your Majesty..." Gongsun said aggrievedly.

"Treat her!"

With a pair of cold, piercing eyes from Jun Lanfeng, Gongsun dared not say another word and hurriedly crawled to Jing Yue'er's side. Cui'er moved Jing Yue'er's hand aside and then covered it with a silk cloth. Only then did Imperial Physician Gongsun dare to approach and take her pulse.

While taking the pulse, Gongsun couldn't help but look at Jing Yue'er's complexion, then at Jun Lanfeng's face, checking the pulse of her right hand and then her left.

"How is it?" Jun Lanfeng asked irritably.

"Your Majesty, can we go outside to speak?" Gongsun requested.

In the courtyard, ancient trees towered overhead. There were rockeries and streams; though somewhat simple, they were indeed worthy of imperial dignity.

Looking at the sunlight filtering through the sparse leaves of the ancient trees onto the ground, Jun Lanfeng sighed. "Speak. I won't blame you."

"Your Majesty, this humble official told you two years ago. The poison in Her Majesty's body has always been maintained by her internal strength. It has not changed for all these years. However, when I checked Her Majesty's pulse just now, I discovered that her constitution seems to be weakening bit by bit. The fever itself is nothing; one or two doses of medicine can solve it. But if this continues, if Her Majesty's constitution keeps declining like this, I fear..."

"What?"

Jun Lanfeng turned around, his deep, dark eyes suddenly filled with bloodshot veins. Terrified, Imperial Physician Gongsun trembled and knelt directly. "Your Majesty, you said yourself you wouldn't blame me! This humble official has no way; how could I have known her constitution would weaken like this? There were no signs at all!"

He let out a long sigh, somewhat helpless. "I want you to find a way to nip this in the bud."

"Oh, I don't know what exactly is causing Her Majesty's constitution to suddenly decline. How about this: I will prescribe a few doses of medicine for Her Majesty to take. Once she feels better, you can ask Her Majesty yourself what the cause is."

Imperial Physician Gongsun's face was covered in tears. "Her Majesty is far more professional than I am."

These words almost made Jun Lanfeng faint from anger. He stood with his hands behind his back, nearly striking Gongsun dead with a palm strike. But seeing the man trembling under his hand, he finally couldn't help but give him a kick before turning to walk into the room.

A short while later, after Jun Lanfeng had finished handling some matters, he walked into the room, only to see Cui'er and the others holding medicine, looking at him expectantly.

"Your Majesty, this servant tries to feed the medicine to Her Majesty, but after she swallows it, she vomits it all up a moment later. What should we do?" Cui'er held a bowl of steaming medicine, looking at Jun Lanfeng anxiously.

"Everyone, get out!"

Rarely did Jun Lanfeng not lose his temper. He took the bowl of medicine and instructed them.

Looking at her pale face, it seemed she hadn't eaten a single grain since falling asleep in the carriage. Now that night had fallen, her high fever still had not subsided, and he seemed to have no way to seek help.

"Yue'er, if the empire could be exchanged for your well-being, I would give it to anyone!"

He sat down, blowing on the medicine in his hand to cool it bit by bit. He drank it, and then slowly pried her mouth open to pour it in.

"Or rather, if my life could be exchanged for yours, I would do that too!"

He smiled, repeating the action of blowing on the medicine, and then repeating the action of feeding her with his mouth. "Tell me, if I had known you were this difficult to serve, with such a temper, and that you would give me little scares every three days and big scares every five days, would I have traveled so far to Wan Yue to marry you back?"

Jing Yue'er did not answer him, but he continued to talk to himself.

"Perhaps if time could turn back, I would still do the same," Jun Lanfeng chuckled softly. "After all, you are such a proud and mischievous girl. No one but me could ever stand you."

Jing Yue'er's brow furrowed slightly, perhaps wanting to argue, but she had no strength in her body and could only remain silent.

"Get up and hit me. See how much I'm asking for it." Jun Lanfeng frowned, speaking seriously.

"Sigh, do you even remember what day it is today?" Jun Lanfeng's heart suddenly ached. "Don't you want to know what day it is? If you get up, I'll tell you."

Jing Yue'er remained motionless. The only consolation was that after Jun Lanfeng fed her the medicine, she did not vomit again. She lay there quietly.

"Or perhaps, if I tell you, you'll get up, alright? Do you know that tonight is almost over?" Jun Lanfeng spoke earnestly. "I'll tell you, two years ago today, we held our grand ceremony in the Chaohua Hall. On that day, I swore that if I did not take care of you for a lifetime, heaven and earth would punish me!"

The surroundings were terrifyingly silent; he was talking all by himself.

"I have never forgotten, yet you have. What should I say to you?" Jun Lanfeng shook his head helplessly, a hint of resentment appearing in his eyes for a moment. "Yue'er, we missed it a year ago. Are we going to miss it again this year?"

Jing Yue'er still did not wake.

Jun Lanfeng pressed his hand to his forehead, looking helplessly at the dark sky. "Our wedding anniversary, Yue'er. Are we going to spend it this way again this year?"

In truth, he had kept watch by her bedside all night. Jing Yue'er did not wake, so the so-called wedding anniversary and everything he had prepared were rendered void.

Only on the trees of the ancient temple, a flickering silhouette quietly observed everything within the large room, silent throughout the night.

***

After being told to get out by Jun Lanfeng, Imperial Physician Gongsun was called back.

"I am asking you, when will she wake up?" Jun Lanfeng tucked her quilt in properly and turned to look at Gongsun. The look of longing in his eyes vanished in an instant.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble official... does not know..." Gongsun had the attitude of a dead pig not fearing boiling water. In truth, in his eyes, if Jing Yue'er were an ordinary person, she would have died a hundred times over. The fact that she was still alive was something he couldn't even comprehend; how could he have the ability to predict when she would wake?

"You..." Jun Lanfeng's eyes were already somewhat red from staying up all night, and now he was so angry at Gongsun that he felt an impulse to kick him away.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty seemed to have woken up after sleeping for three days two days ago. This time, perhaps..." Gongsun broke into a cold sweat and offered a forced smile, "this time she might also sleep for three days."

"Get out!"

Jun Lanfeng was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. Gongsun scurried out again, not daring to say another word.

Jun Lanfeng rubbed his brow and looked at Jing Yue'er again. Her breathing was as steady as if she were merely sleeping. Finally, he sighed. "You girl, just how long are you going to sleep? Didn't we agree to go to the sacrifices together?"

In truth, Jun Lanfeng didn't even know what he was worried about. Looking at Jing Yue'er lying there, his mind was filled with images of her arguing with him and her lively, energetic self. He felt a fear in his heart, a fear that she might just keep sleeping like this. That fear persisted.

A lifetime promised, yet only two years had passed. Too much bitterness, too much that could not be explained or described. The only thing Jun Lanfeng wanted was for Jing Yue'er to stay by his side.

"Your Majesty, the sacrifice ceremony is about to begin. The envoys from all nations are waiting. Please proceed to the sacrificial altar." Eunuch Gui entered to deliver the command.

Jun Lanfeng sighed and turned around. "Change my clothes."

When he stepped out, his face was somewhat pale. With a body of iron, he had to worry about his beloved wife while simultaneously facing so many foreign envoys with their own hidden agendas and the many people of the court.

On the sacrificial altar, Jun Lanfeng led the crowd in the sacrifices. The iron-willed man did not show a single crack in his composure. However, just as the sacrifice was nearing its end, a voice suddenly disrupted everything.

"Your Majesty, a sacrifice to Heaven should involve both the Dragon and the Phoenix. If I am not mistaken, the customs of the Longyan Kingdom are even more so. Why, then, has the Empress not attended?"

The speaker was a person dressed in black. The person wore a mask. Yes, it was the mysterious man who had appeared at Kangyutang last time.

"Regarding the affairs of the Longyan Kingdom, as a foreign envoy, you have no right to question the Emperor directly. You are quite ill-mannered, envoy." This time, the speaker was the General of the Longyan Kingdom, Nangong Yu.

"What are you hiding, General Nangong? Could it be that something has happened to Her Majesty the Empress?"

"What does it have to do with you?" Jun Lanfeng blinked and smiled curtly.

"Hahaha..." The raspy voice suddenly laughed. "I have long heard that your Empress is a person of extremely strong character. Judging by His Majesty's manner, could it be that there is disharmony in your marital life? To the point that the Empress is throwing a tantrum at His Majesty?"

"You seem quite interested in my family matters?" Jun Lanfeng raised an eyebrow, a hint of chilliness beneath his calm words.

"Rumors are not as good as seeing for oneself. I have long heard that His Majesty's abilities are somewhat limited in certain aspects, which is why there are no heirs in the inner palace to this day." The mysterious man's tone was casual yet raspy. "I, on the other hand, had the honor of seeing the Empress once a while ago. Since His Majesty loves the Empress but cannot give her happiness, why not fulfill her by letting her be with someone else?"

*Bang!*

A brick beside the mysterious man exploded into pieces, leaving the surrounding people terrified. They froze in place, not daring to move an inch.

"You small nations seem to be far too arrogant." Jun Lanfeng gave a low laugh, masking the immense fury in his heart. "Do you think you are capable?"

After dodging, the mysterious man laughed coldly. "Naturally, I am more capable than you."

"To say such things, I am almost impressed by you. However, my palace has a room for castrating eunuchs. The eunuchs inside are all very efficient; if you don't mind, you are welcome to go in and take a look." Jun Lanfeng narrowed his eyes and smiled, his words filled with a domineering aura that could shake the heavens. "If you dare repeat those words again, I—will be even more impressed by you!"

The mysterious man suddenly laughed. "I wouldn't dare say I am impressed. I was merely playing a joke with Emperor Lan just now. I hope His Majesty won't take offense!"

"Fair enough."

Jun Lanfeng stood tall with his hands behind his back. "If the Wild Wolf General ever becomes interested, His Majesty and you can have a proper talk. The matter of the eunuch room in my palace is guaranteed to leave the Wild Wolf General quite... focused."

Wild Wolf stood there. As a light breeze blew, his deep gaze flickered toward his own lower body, and he shuddered slightly.

Jun Lanfeng did not entangle with him further. He turned and left the sacrificial altar. Most of the people around had dispersed. General Wild Wolf watched Jun Lanfeng, the veins on his hands bulging. A cold wind blew around the altar.

"In a little while, let's see how you dare to be so arrogant with me!" Wild Wolf said through gritted teeth.

In truth, Jun Lanfeng had often wanted to just kill this man called Wild Wolf. But even if he were to kill him, he absolutely could not do it on this sacrificial altar. No matter how much he disliked the man, he had to at least wait until the man had safely left the Longyan Kingdom.

After the sacrifice, Jun Lanfeng returned to the courtyard. However, to his disappointment, Jing Yue'er remained asleep in the same position, without having moved even once.

After feeding her medicine, he went to the Buddhist hall with the highly skilled Master Minghui to participate in the Buddhist teachings along with many court officials.

"Your Majesty, your sincere trust in the Buddha is truly a blessing to the people." Minghui bowed with one hand.

Looking at the Buddha statue that was about three zhang high, Jun Lanfeng suddenly sat cross-legged. He couldn't help but smile. "Besides praying for the protection of the common people today, I only hope..." that his Yue'er could wake up.

In truth, he never believed in Buddha, but at this moment, he felt somewhat helpless regarding the woman lying in the backyard, who had fallen into an inexplicable sleep and had yet to wake. If the Buddha truly had spirit, he only hoped they could suffer less torment and remain together through thick and thin.

"Your Majesty, your heart is not at peace." Master Minghui smiled. Jun Lanfeng couldn't help but open his eyes, and their gazes met.

"If this old monk is not mistaken, Your Majesty has been thinking of someone. The weight of this person exceeds all the common people in the world." Master Minghui said with certainty. "If this old monk is not mistaken, that person should be the Empress?"

"Master's Buddhist wisdom is profound; you have hit the mark." Jun Lanfeng did not intend to hide anything. "Since the Master can guess the person, can you also guess why I am so concerned?"

"Amitabha. There are some things this old monk does not know if he should say, nor if Your Majesty can accept them." Master Minghui let out a long sigh.

Hearing this, Jun Lanfeng was startled, and it took him a moment to react. "Master, please speak freely!"

"This old monk observed the stars at night and found the Phoenix Star to be dim. I fear Her Majesty the Empress is facing a great calamity," Master Minghui said.

Jun Lanfeng fell into a long silence upon hearing this.

"However, the Heavenly Phoenix is what everyone looks to. Its combination with the Heavenly Lan Star naturally has its reasons. The Phoenix Star carries both fortune and misfortune, and they are interdependent. Everything has its destiny." Master Minghui looked at Jun Lanfeng and said earnestly, "The key is whether you can remain steadfast in your will and endure these many trials."

"And if... we can endure them?" Jun Lanfeng asked with a smile.

"Then, in time, you will surely have children surrounding your knees and a harmonious marriage. The interior will be stable and the exterior peaceful, and the people will live in peace and prosperity. At that time, Your Majesty will enjoy the endless blessing of multiple wives. The many beauties of the so-called 'peaceful prosperity' will be known to Your Majesty then."

Master Minghui's tone shifted, and his expression turned from bright to somber. "Only... whether Your Majesty and the Empress can make it through is hard to say!"

Jun Lanfeng fell into silence again. In truth, these words, spoken in circles, were almost equivalent to saying nothing. The only thing they gave Jun Lanfeng was a longing for future life, adding a few more details. Especially the part about children surrounding their knees. Ever since he learned that Jing Yue'er could not bear children, Jun Lanfeng had never thought he would have such a day!

"Fire! There's a fire!"

A commotion broke out outside the Buddhist hall. In the quiet hall, a monk ran in. "Your Majesty, Master! There is a fire in the backyard!"