Chapter Ninety: Into the Water

The moonlight was bright and clear. Hua Rong, supported by the palace maid, swayed unsteadily, her whole being on the verge of collapse. The maid’s impatience was evident. “Your Grace, can you please walk properly? If you keep stumbling about, I might end up dropping you.”

“I would if I could, but my strength won’t allow it…” Hua Rong pouted. In this moment, the world spun endlessly around her, as though she had fallen into a black whirlpool. Walking was out of the question—merely staying conscious felt like a blessing bestowed by the heavens.

Noticing the maid’s annoyance, Hua Rong casually pulled something from her waist and handed it over as a reward. “Don’t blame me for being stingy. Take this, and just be careful as you help me back. I don’t want to fall again.”

That earlier tumble had nearly cost her half her life; she had no wish to endure such pain a second time.

The maid received the gift with a flicker of surprise, but upon seeing it was only a small sachet, dissatisfaction stirred within her.

“A lady of the harem, and yet she offers such a shabby thing? Last time, she truly underestimated me!” The maid pursed her lips, but suddenly a glimmer of light caught her eye from afar.

Stretching her neck to peer ahead, she realized they were approaching the lotus pond. It was midsummer, the night air cool and gentle, yet the lotus blossoms shone dazzlingly under the moonlight.

Just then, Hua Rong felt her stomach churn violently, a wave of nausea rising within her. Clutching her chest, she seemed on the verge of vomiting, alarming the maid. “Your Grace, please don’t vomit here! This is not the place!”

“If I feel worse, I have to vomit. If I don’t, I might suffocate!” Hua Rong had no patience for her, but even so, the urge wouldn’t come.

The maid fretted in silence, then an idea struck her. “Your Grace, perhaps we can go to the pond. No one will notice there.”

After all, palace rules were strict. If traces of vomit were found in the morning, blame would surely follow.

Dragging Hua Rong to the edge of the lotus pond, the shimmering water brought a sense of ease. Hua Rong gripped the rail, her urge to vomit gradually subsiding, as the maid watched quietly by her side.

Seeing Hua Rong hunched over, the maid’s gaze flashed with malice. “You seductive vixen, you’ve caused such harm to our noble lady. Tonight, you’ll learn a lesson!”

It was, after all, insulting to be dismissed with such a paltry purse.

A chilly breeze swept by, carrying a hint of cold. The maid suddenly reached out and shoved Hua Rong’s back with all her strength.

“Who pushed me!” The sudden force was keenly felt; Hua Rong struggled to steady herself but failed.

With a splash, she fell into the water, sending ripples across the pond.

“Help! Help…” The maid watched coldly, arms folded, scoffing at Hua Rong’s desperate cries. “It’s just a shallow pond, not even as tall as your legs. Stop pretending—it’s disgusting!”

She only meant to teach Hua Rong a lesson, not truly harm her.

But the maid did not know that beneath the lotus pond lay thick mud. The more Hua Rong struggled, the deeper her feet sank, now trapped and unable to move. Only the top of her head remained exposed, in danger of being submerged at any moment.

Realizing something was wrong, the maid was taken aback. “What’s happening? Why is she sinking deeper? I remember the pond wasn’t this deep…”

Had she overestimated Hua Rong’s height?

Confused, the maid grew anxious as the situation worsened. “This is bad—if it goes on, someone could really die!”

Just as panic set in, hurried footsteps echoed from afar, and a figure clad in black sprinted over.

With a deft movement, he grabbed Hua Rong’s flailing arm and pulled her from the water.

As she emerged, she felt as though a lotus had blossomed—her body light, the burden lifted.

“Consort Rong, are you alright? Are you hurt?” An urgent voice sounded by her ear, but Hua Rong's eyelids, heavy as if weighed with lead, refused to open. She had no strength left to resist.

“Who is it…” She tried to speak, but her lips would not part.

The maid, witnessing this, gasped in shock. “The Emperor is here!”

Her legs trembled, her body weakened. “This is terrible! If the Emperor finds me here, he’ll trace everything back to me. I must leave at once!”

Fortunately, everyone else was at the opera, and the spot was secluded. Seizing the opportunity, the maid gathered her skirts and fled in a panic.

Seeing that Hua Rong remained unconscious, Jun Yeli grew anxious. He took a deep breath, pinched her nose, and pressed his lips to hers, imparting breath again and again, yet to no effect.

After a long, futile effort, watching Hua Rong’s breath grow weaker, Jun Yeli felt for the first time a profound loneliness and helplessness. He struck the ground in frustration. “Damn it!”

His eyes searched, but no one passed by. He could only lift Hua Rong in his arms, running as he called out, “Someone, summon the imperial physician!”

Above, clouds shifted, the full moon shrouded in mist, its gentle light falling upon the roof of the Xuanji Palace—but unable to rival the flames burning inside.

In the silent chamber, all maintained solemn postures, anxiously watching the physician’s diagnosis.

When he finally rose, Jun Yeli’s heart leapt with expectation. “Physician Zhang, how is she?”

The physician clasped his hands in respect. “Her Grace has escaped death, but water in her lungs, combined with alcohol and exposure to cold, has brought on a high fever. Her condition is still critical…”

At these words, some rejoiced, others fretted.

Seeing Jun Yeli’s deep concern, Noble Consort Wen stepped forward to comfort him. “Your Majesty, please do not worry. Consort Rong is favored by fortune—she will come to no harm.”

Though she spoke so, self-deception was easy for anyone.

“That’s enough. You all may leave. I’ll keep watch alone.” Jun Yeli dismissed the others, and the room grew quiet once more.

He sat by the bedside, gazing at the pale, sleeping face, a deep and indescribable tenderness filling his heart.