Rebirth of Poisoned Empress, by 颜若优雅

Chapter 103

In order to ascertain and verify that the Duke of Qingping had indeed regained consciousness, the emperor once again paid another visit to the Duke of Qingping Manor. The chief eunuch Yang An, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department, and three Imperial Physicians, led by the head physician Wu Ci accompanied the emperor. This time, his entourage proceeded with a lower profile. They didn't even bring a guard of honor as only two hundred guards trailed with the entourage. 

"The emperor has arrived!" Yang An called out as the emperor and his entourage entered Pei Yuanxian's courtyard. When they saw Pei Yuanxian, who had been on his last breath the day before sitting up against the bedrest, albeit pale and with little energy, but surely enough, conscious and well, the emperor and those who accompanied him couldn't help but draw to a stop, stunned and in disbelief.

Amongst them, Wu Ci was undoubtedly the most shocked. He had personally taken Pei Yuanxian's pulse the day prior. Afraid that he would be making the wrong diagnosis, he had checked several times to ensure that Pei Yuanxian truly was suffering from blood and qi deficiency. He had affirmed over and over again that Pei Yuanxian truly was dying. Even if the blood was stopped, it shouldn't be that he would be able to wake up and sitting there this soon? Exactly what had went wrong?"

"Your Majesty?" Old Lin, who had led them in counted down the seconds before calling out to them and waking them from their trance.

"En?" Recovering from his stupor, the emperor's eyes flickered as countless thoughts ran through his head. It took a while before he was able to regain his composure and stride forward with a wide smile.

"You Majesty..." Pei Yuanxian, who was leaning against the bedrest made the motion to stand and pay his respects when the emperor hurriedly placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You're still injured. Don't move around. What if the wound tears itself apart again?"

"Many thanks, Your Majesty," Pei Yuanxian, who never planned to actually rise, took advantage of his courteous words to rest back down again. The weakness he feigned was three parts sincere, and seven parts feigned. Adding on his pale features, it was sufficient to pass off as real.

"Yesterday when this emperor came to see you, at that time, your condition... Yuanxian, Great Qin truly suffered from an unprecedented flood this time. If it weren't for you, there's no telling how many of my Great Qin's common people would suffer and die. You're a hero of Great Qin's. Fortunately, your bleeding stopped and have regained consciousness. Otherwise, this emperor wouldn't even know how to explain to the common people." 

Yang An carried a stool over and the emperor took a seat beside Pei Yuanxian's bed. Utilizing the time he was speaking, the emperor's gaze rested on his pale features for a long time, not letting go of the slightest fluctuations in his expressions. However, the emperor was destined to be disappointed. Pei Yuanxian's pale face revealed a faint smile. Besides that, there was nothing else he revealed. Even the emperor's praise won him nothing more than the same wry smile.

"Your Majesty, please stop embarrassing me. If it wasn't because I was horsing around and being too idle, how could I end up like this? However, I heard that Uncle conferred a marriage between me and Liangliang? Even the three books and six ceremonies have been done? I'd be able to marry him in the moment I recover. This could be considered a blessing in disguise," to the emperor's shock, Pei Yuanxian was actually the first between the two of them to bring up the matter about the marriage.

"Yuanxian seems to be very happy? Did the two of you know each other before?" The emperor's smile had faded considerably as his originally small eyes narrowed even further, as though implying something.

As though oblivious, and filled with innocence, Pei Yuanxian nodded: "One may consider it as such. When he returned from the countryside and was chased by the bandits, I was the one who saved him. At that time, I found him to be different from other Gers. He was very brave and courageous. Afterwards, I met him again on two other occasions in the Imperial City, both times in which it only proved to make my impression of him more favorable. Uncle must have also heard about what happened at Aunt's banquet? When I saw him being bullied by others, I wanted to protect him instantly. Afterwards... well, he didn't agree. Otherwise, I would have paid a visit to the Palace and asked Uncle to confer me marriage with him a long time ago." Pei Yuanxian seemed somewhat shy as he spoke, but his tone and attitude were clear and raised no doubts about his favorability. Simply put, he was very satisfied with this marriage.