Read Novel Full Chapter 1100 - 132: Real Illness or Feigned Illness?
Chapter 1100: Chapter 132: Real Illness or Feigned Illness?
Noble Princess Consort Rong has fallen ill, and the illness is very severe. This matter has caused quite a stir both in the previous dynasty and the harem.
There’s widespread speculation among the populace about whether her illness is real or feigned.
Many people suspect that Noble Princess Consort Rong is pretending to be ill because she fell ill right after Marquis Xuanping was demoted to a commoner. This illness appeared too coincidentally, making it hard not to suspect that it is feigned.
Pretending to be ill is a ploy commonly used in the harem. Most concubines have faked illness at some point. A concubine who has never pretended to be ill to gain favor is not a good concubine. Moreover, Noble Princess Consort Rong has faked illness more than once or twice. When the other concubines in the harem heard she was ill, their first reaction was that she was pretending again to gain the Emperor’s pity and affection.
Noble Princess Consort Rong’s trick of feigning illness was infallible, which made the other concubines very jealous. They could only pretend to be ill once or twice; doing it more would become ineffective. But Noble Princess Consort Rong’s act worked no matter how many times she did it. This was the difference.
After Noble Princess Consort Rong fell ill, the Emperor immediately decreed Prince Dai, who was far away in the northern border, to return to the capital, naturally causing jealousy among the other concubines. However, what slightly reassured them was that the Emperor did not immediately restore Noble Princess Consort Rong’s brother’s title. Yet, they all knew that sooner or later, the Emperor would issue an edict to restore Marquis Xuanping’s title.
Everyone believed Noble Princess Consort Rong was pretending to be ill and was waiting to see her act, but this time her performance was exceptionally realistic.
At this time, in Zhao Yang Palace, Empress Xie had just consumed half of a Divine Pill. Nowadays, when she took the Divine Pill, she took only half at a time. Although the effect wasn’t as good as taking a whole pill, it barely sufficed to maintain her youthful and beautiful appearance.
After consuming half of the Divine Pill, Empress Xie felt much more comfortable. In recent days, her chronic headache had recurred, though not as severely as before. She firmly believed that if she did not continue taking the Divine Pill, her chronic headache would recur, possibly worse than before.
This Divine Pill not only treated her chronic headache but also eased her anxiety. Recently, in addition to headaches, she had been feeling anxious. Previously, she never experienced anxiety unless something happened.
Jiang Chuan carefully observed Empress Xie’s complexion and saw her brows relaxing, her face no longer showing signs of irritation and suffering. He let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. These days, the Empress’s chronic headache had recurred, although not as severely as before, but he had remained on edge.
"Empress, do you feel somewhat better now?"
"After taking the Divine Pill, I immediately felt better," Empress Xie smiled and said, "If there were no Divine Pills in the future, how could I endure my days?"
"Your Highness, didn’t His Highness Prince Jing find a substitute medicine for the Divine Pill for you? You needn’t worry about not having any Divine Pills in the future."
"But it’s not really the Divine Pill."
"Your Highness, with no more Divine Pills, having a substitute is already very fortunate."
"You’re right," Empress Xie said, supporting her forehead with her right hand, her expression languid, "Something is better than nothing."
"Your Highness, may I speak freely?"
Empress Xie glanced up at Jiang Chuan, "Speak."
"Your Highness, Noble Princess Consort Rong feigns illness to garner the Emperor’s pity, but you are genuinely ill. Why not have the Imperial Physician diagnose you?" Jiang Chuan continued, "If the Emperor knew you were sick, he would surely come to see you. Then you could plead for the Duke, and perhaps the Emperor would restore the Duke’s title."
Empress Xie’s lips curled into a mocking smile, "I disdain using the same lowly tactics as that wretch to gain the Emperor’s pity." She sat up and continued, "If I really called the Imperial Physician to diagnose me, everyone would think I was pretending to be ill like that wretch, Noble Princess Consort Rong."
"Your Highness, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s trick of feigning illness is very effective. You see, the Emperor even called Prince Dai back," Jiang Chuan said anxiously, "Prince Dai has achieved a great victory in the northern border, and he will surely plead for Marquis Xuanping. Then the Emperor will restore Marquis Xuanping’s title. Everyone is saying that the Emperor called Prince Dai back, both for Noble Princess Consort Rong and to have a rightful reason to restore Marquis Xuanping’s title."
"The Emperor will not restore Marquis Xuanping’s title so quickly."
"Your Highness, if Prince Dai uses his military merits to exchange for the restoration of Marquis Xuanping’s title, the Emperor is certain to agree." Since the Emperor decreed Prince Dai to return to the capital, Jiang Chuan has heard numerous rumors in the palace, "Your Highness, Prince Dai already has glorious military achievements. This time, he has achieved another great victory in the northern border against the Xiongnu, which may be disadvantageous to His Highness Prince Jing."
Due to her frequent headaches that left her mind muddled, Empress Xie had not considered this. Now, after hearing Jiang Chuan speak, she realized that Prince Dai’s return to the capital was not necessarily a good thing.