OBS Chapter 291 Nightmare
Chapter 291 Nightmare
That night, the dim hall was pitch dark, and beneath the heavy veil, the emperor was breathing heavily.
"No! Don't kill me!"
"Do not kill me……"
He struggled to shout out these words in his nightmare, with beads of sweat already appearing on his face.
It was the same dream. Ever since the last one, it had haunted him like a ghost. He had been hunted countless times in his dreams, but the only thing that remained constant was Yongqi's hideous face.
Yanwan called softly from the side.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, please wake up! Your Majesty..."
The emperor suddenly woke up, his eyes wide open as he sat up abruptly, gasping for breath in shock.
"Your Majesty, did you have a nightmare just now? Do you want to ask the imperial physician to see you?" Yan Wan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The emperor had not yet recovered from his shock when he took her handkerchief and started wiping himself.
Seeing this, Yan Wan turned her head and shouted.
"Chunchan? Jinzhong?"
The two were waiting in the hall. When they heard the sound, they lit candles and walked in from behind the screen.
"The Emperor is having a nightmare. Light some calming incense and get him a glass of water."
"Whoo."
"Yes."
The two of them lit the candles on the bedside and did as Yanwan instructed.
Seeing that the emperor had almost recovered, Yan Wan comforted him, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Dreams are the opposite of reality. Perhaps you are tired during the day. Why don't you ask the imperial physician to take your pulse tomorrow?"
Heart disease cannot be solved by just taking the pulse.
The emperor sighed, took the water handed to him by Jinzhong and drank it, then waved his hand to drive everyone out of the hall, and then held Yanwan's hand and spoke slowly.
"I dreamt someone wanted to kill me. Ever since the fire that night, I've been feeling restless. Imperial Concubine, do you think someone deliberately set the fire? They wanted to kill me, to take my throne..."
He murmured, as if he was talking to Yan Wan, but also as if he was talking to himself.
"Your Majesty, you worry too much. You rule with kindness and are a wise ruler. Everyone admires you enough... Besides, haven't you already asked Master Fu Heng to investigate? Apart from anything else, don't you still not believe in Master Fu Heng's abilities? Perhaps you're frightened. I've been researching some soothing medicinal foods for you to try."
Even after listening to her advice, the emperor was still uneasy.
"It's different. You don't understand because you haven't sat on this throne. I watched my father fight his way out among his brothers. From ancient times to the present, there have been many cases of brothers fighting each other and fathers and sons killing each other."
He lowered his head and spoke, looking at the five-clawed golden dragon on his pajamas, his mind full of complicated thoughts.
"Then the Emperor is suspicious?"
Yan Wan looked a little sleepy, but she still forced herself to ask.
"Let's not talk about that. You've always been good friends with Yongqi. Who do you think Yongqi is?"
"Yongqi? He's incredibly talented, friendly and respectful to the children, and especially filial to the Emperor. Yongqi is the most flawless person I've ever met, aside from the Emperor. Keliyete is truly blessed to have such a fine son. If Yongyan can learn even half as much as Yongqi in the future, I'll be completely satisfied."
When mentioning Yongqi, Yanwan pretended to be envious.
The news that Yongqi used the merit of protecting his master to exchange for Hailan's return to the capital has spread among the concubines in the harem.
After hearing this, the emperor felt even more complicated.
No matter the ministers of the former dynasty or the concubines in the harem, they all praised Yongqi highly. They all felt that he was the most suitable candidate to inherit the throne, but he was still in this position and it was not the turn of others to take over and "help" him choose the prince.
Seeing that the emperor's face looked a little strange, Yan Wan said in a low voice.
"Your Majesty? But what did I say that was wrong?"
The emperor shook his head. "It's all right, Yongqi... he's a good boy indeed. His leg is badly injured. After I go on the autumn hunt, I'll trouble you to take good care of him."
After saying this, he lay down. Although he was lying down, he kept looking at the dim tent ceiling.
"It's just a small matter. There are doctors to treat you and servants to take care of you. I am just talking to you. It doesn't take much effort..."
Seeing him like this, Yan Wan simply extinguished the candle she had just lit and whispered to comfort him, "Your Majesty, don't worry about those things. They are all fabricated. No matter what, I and the sisters in the harem are with you..."
"Only you are willing to bother with me. They either ignore me and try to avoid me, or they are too flattering..."
As an emperor, he knew all the thoughts of the concubines in the harem.
After Yan Wan lay down, he put his arm around her and spoke with a hint of melancholy.
Yanwan smiled but said nothing.
The harem contained dozens of concubines, most of whom had been forced into the palace. If it weren't for the glory of their families and a way out for themselves, not to mention that the emperor was already over fifty, how many women would be willing to confine themselves to this small world for the rest of their lives?
He is still too greedy, wanting both people and love.
But people are not plants or trees, so how can we force it?
The summer moonlight shone into the hall, but the emperor could not see her face clearly under the heavy veils.
Hearing that she was silent, the emperor asked, "Royal Concubine, why don't you say anything?"
"I was thinking about how to answer Your Majesty. First, I am willing to follow Your Majesty. Second, I spend every day with the sisters in the harem and can understand their difficulties. This statement is too embarrassing for me..."
He knew that she had a good relationship with the concubines in the harem.
Ever since she took control of the harem, the atmosphere in the palace has been very harmonious, and no concubine, whether of noble or ordinary birth, has been excluded or suppressed.
It is true that he felt at ease when Ruyi was in charge of the harem.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this. I'm very satisfied to have you accompany me. Let's go to sleep. I'm really a little sleepy..."
The emperor didn't want to say anything more, so he just hugged her and fell asleep. Calming incense was lit in the hall, and with someone to accompany him in his arms, the emperor quickly fell asleep.
For a month, the emperor stayed at Tiandi Yijiachun. In mid-August, he and his entourage set out for the autumn hunt.
Without the emperor and the empress dowager, the days in the Old Summer Palace became much more comfortable.
Yongqi's injuries worsened over the next few days, and he suffered several bouts of high fever, nearly failing to recover. Over the course of a month, the threshold of the side hall was practically broken down by the imperial physicians.
Fortunately, he was mentally strong and managed to get through it all. Plus, he was young and recovered quickly. After a month of bed rest, he was able to walk a few steps with the help of a cane.
When they heard that he was able to walk, several children clamored to see him.
Yan Wan gave careful instructions and personally took the two children there.