Chapter 12 - His Majesty feels a bit uncomfortable (1/2)

With the guard protecting the Emperor, they managed to reach the gates of the Xue Mansion before the rain started falling.

The concierge was about to ask who the pedestrian was. He glanced quickly at the dragon jade pendant on Gu Yuanbai’s waist, and then his heart jumped, his legs went soft and he kneeled on the ground. “I, um, this peasant…”1

The news spread like wildfire across Xue Mansion, and the General’s quiet household blew up like water in boiling oil. General Xue, with some young servants, hurried from the study to the mansion’s gates. On the way, he met with Madam Xue, who looked flustered and had her hairpins askew. “General, is the Emperor really here?”

General Xue nodded without slowing down. “I’ll go to the gates to welcome the Emperor. Hurry up and fix your appearance, and go with mother to greet the Emperor’s carriage. Messy people and things must not appear before the emperor!”

Madam Xue nodded hurriedly and walked at a quick pace towards the inner courtyard, with a maid supporting her hand. The maid struggled to keep up. Where was the madam who walked so lightly on regular days?2 Did she still need her support at all now? She didn’t walk with this madam’s speed!

Madam Xue got to the inner courtyard quickly. Elder Madam Xue had already received the news, and the people around her were helping her change into garments appropriate for a titled lady.3 Layer after layer of gold embroidery covered the red robe on her upper body, and the servant girls weren’t being as loud as usual.

The old Madam Xue looked rosy as if she had instantly become a teenager. When she saw Madam Xue coming, she smiled and gestured for her daughter-in-law to come to her side. “Huiniang,4 I heard a magpie chirping in a tree this morning. I was wondering what sort of good event might be coming, but I didn’t expect it’d be so great! Isn’t it such an honor to have the Emperor come to our residence in person?”5

Madam Xue, seeing her so energetic, also seemed to find her inner strength. “Madam, how should we organize our household? The Emperor is probably here to hide from the rain. If the rain doesn’t stop, won’t His Majesty end up staying in the residence?”

Elder Madam’s face suddenly went blank and she clutched Madam Xue’s hand, admonishing her energetically: “Whether or not the Emperor stays, Huiniang, you must keep an eye on the people in our household. Don’t let anyone with twisted thoughts appear before the Emperor’s sight! Don’t think I’m not aware of how many maids here think loftily of themselves. If they dare wander and appear in the Emperor’s presence, this old woman will show them how fierce she can be!”

Madam Xue understood what she meant and nodded her head, asking her anxiously: “Madam, should Lin-ger6 and the concubines also greet the Emperor?”

Elder Madam Xue’s tone darkened. “No! Only Yuan-ger can greet him. Huiniang, don’t waste time. Go change your clothes and make yourself presentable, and then follow me to go greet His Majesty.”

Madam Xue nodded, only saying: “Yes,” and sent someone to inform Xue Yuan.

While Madam and Elder Madam Xue were busy, General Xue had already rushed to the mansion’s gates, accompanied by many servants. The rain fell heavily, and General Xue had his heart stuck in his throat.

He only breathed a sigh of relief once he saw the Emperor in the distance, surrounded by his people, in a corridor where the rain couldn’t reach him. General Xue quickly walked up to him, lifted his robe and knelt down. “Your servant greets the Emperor.”7

The Emperor said gently: “Officer Xue, get up.”

Only then did General Xue and his many servants get up. When he looked up, he noticed that the Emperor wasn’t able to endure the cold. Even though not a drop of rain had fallen on him, the wind chill had made his lips go white, and his face didn’t look good. General Xue felt anxious, and a clever servant boy behind him quickly handed him a big cape.8

Tian Fusheng put the cape over Gu Yuanbai. Gu Yuanbai coughed a few times. His hands and feet felt a bit cold. “Today we went out of the palace incognito. I didn’t expect to encounter a torrential rain. Xue Mansion happened to be nearby, so We ended up bothering Officer Xue.”

General Xue said quickly: “It’s a blessing for a minister to receive a visit from the Emperor himself. How could it be called a bother?”

Having said that, General Xue cupped his hands and looked at He Qinwang, saying respectfully: “Blessings to you, He Qinwang.”9

He Qinwang nodded with a blank expression. “General Xue.”

Gu Yuanbai turned his head to cough a few more times. There was cold air rising from the soles of his feet, and a faint fever showed on his face. It felt pretty bad, like a symptom before the onset of an illness. Tian Fusheng, who was always paying attention to him, said hurriedly: “General Xue, let’s not talk too much, the Emperor still needs to enter the house and get away from the cold.”

General Xue stepped aside hurriedly, leading the Emperor down the hall. Gu Yuanbai pulled the cape close to his body, following after. His previously pale face was now dyed an unusual red color.

His head felt a little muddled.

Gu Yuanbai hadn’t forgotten how, a month ago, he’d nearly died from the cold. This time he had a really bad feeling, and he feared that this might be another deadly wind chill.

There was a frown on his face, and, after being led to sit in a preferential seat, the first words out of his mouth were: “Do you have a doctor in Xue Mansion?”

General Xue had been thinking that the Emperor’s complexion had improved, and he was startled by the question. Forcing himself to calm down, he asked the servant next to him to hurry and bring the doctor, and ordered others to bring medicinal soup and hot water to chase away the cold without delay.

Tian Fusheng wiped Gu Yuanbai’s face with a napkin. He could feel the heat rising through the silk handkerchief on his hand. Tian Fusheng’s face turned pale, and his hands trembled slightly. “Emperor…”

Gu Yuanbai’s breathing sped up slightly, and he suddenly smiled. “Looking at the rain outside, it seems like it won’t stop tonight. We fear We will have to stay in Officer Xue’s mansion.”