When Ye An stepped into the Empress Mother's private chambers, the bittersweet smell of herbal medicine pierced down her airways. The lingering smell was so pungent that she could even taste it in her throat.
The royal physician who was tending to the Empress Mother turned towards the door when he heard it opening and quickly stood up to bow when he realized that it was the emperor. "Your Imperial Majesty."
"At ease." Ye An ordered as she inched closer to the Empress Mother's bedside. "What happened? I was told that she fainted when she disembarked from the chariot?"
"Yes, I believe that was what had happened."
"Why did she suddenly faint?" Ye An inquired stoically.
"Your Imperial Majesty, this is anything but sudden. But it is indeed the first time that she had fainted outdoors."
Ye An furrowed her brows. "What do you mean? Has she been having these fainting spells for some time?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Her Majesty has been unwell for almost a year now and her condition is getting worse in recent months."
The planes on Ye An's face suddenly hardened. "Why was I not informed of this? Did anyone else know about it?"
"Her Majesty didn't want anyone to know of it, but I'm not sure if she ever confided in anyone."
Ye An pursed her lips. "What exactly is her condition?"
The royal physician paused before answering. "Her Majesty has always had a condition with her heart and lungs. But it is the rare illness where the body's immunity attacks the body that is doing most of the harm."
Ye An gripped both of her hands into tight fists as she sat down at the small round table in the corner of the room. She relaxed one of her fists just enough to bury her eyes in it and massaged her temples as she took the information in. "Is there a cure? For all of the illnesses that she has."
The royal physician shook his head dejectedly. "I've been curbing the symptoms of the condition with her heart and lungs with herbal concoctions, but her own immunity is counteracting the effects of the medication. The only thing that I could do now is to brew medicine that relieves her pain."
Ye An was silent for a moment. Even though she wasn't well-versed in the study of medicine, Ye An knew what the royal physician meant when he said that the only thing he could do now was to alleviate the Empress Mother's pain. "Is she- How long does she have?"
"I'd say two months, provided that she stays in and rests. And that there are no other contributing factors to accelerate her condition."
Ye An finally looked at the Empress Mother's face and gave out a long sigh.
It was as if the Empress Mother could sense Ye An's eyes on her because her eyes slowly fluttered open. Their eyes made contact and the Empress Mother turned to the royal physician weakly. "Leave us."
YOU ARE READING
THE NIGHT EMPEROR: 夜安王 【The Night Emperor Book 1】| ✔️
Historical Fiction☑ COMPLETED "There are enough bad things in life, hold on to whatever it is that gives you joy." For the past 22 years, the Empress Mother has held onto the Dragon Throne that was rightfully Ye An's. Now, Ye An has finally ascended to the throne. Bu...
