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The Empress heard someone could cure the Emperor and her tone betrayed her impatience, "Who? As long as they can heal His Majesty, any reward they desire can be granted."

Imperial Doctor Wen replied, "To answer the Empress, the person capable of curing His Majesty is the Crown Princess."

Surprise filled the Empress’s eyes at the news, "The Crown Princess? She knows medical skills?"

Imperial Doctor Wen confirmed, "Indeed, Your Majesty."

Although the Empress was somewhat shocked that the Crown Princess possessed medical skills, Imperial Doctor Wen was not one to speak nonsense.

"Only, the Crown Princess went out with the National Master yesterday and will not return until tomorrow. The Crown Prince, too, has left the palace on affairs and will not be back until three days later."

The Empress turned toward the Emperor lying in bed, whose complexion was slightly flushed, a sign of the high fever. Continual high fever, if persistent, can be unbearable for anyone.

She looked to Imperial Doctor Wen, "Is there really no way to reduce the fever?"

The Imperial Doctor pondered a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, there is a way to reduce the fever. However, it involves a drastic medicine that’s harmful to the body. I do not recommend its use."

Hearing that it was harmful to the body, the Empress naturally did not dare to use it rashly on the Emperor and had to give up the idea.

Imperial Doctor Wen wrote a prescription and had the medicine prepared, which a Eunuch took to decoct.

Once it was ready, Eunuch Li brought it in.

"Your Majesty, the medicinal soup is ready."

The Empress sat unwaveringly beside the Emperor’s bed, but upon seeing the medicine brought in, she got up and woke the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the medicine is ready."

The Emperor, still in the grip of the high fever and feeling groggy, heard someone calling him, as if in a dream, and could not discern it clearly.

"Your Majesty? Please wake up, Your Majesty."

After a while, the Emperor seemed to hear the Empress calling to him and slowly opened his eyes to a blurry scene, only able to see a shadow moving.

Seeing the Emperor open his eyes, the Empress took the bowl from Eunuch Li, stirring the medicinal soup with a spoon to cool it down more quickly.

"Your Majesty, the medicine is ready; let me feed it to you," she said.

The Emperor stared at the figure for a long moment, his features gradually coming into focus. It was a familiar face; though it had aged, its charm remained.

But since when did the Empress speak to him with such tenderness?

Could it be a dream?

As the Emperor thought this, the Empress brought the medicine to his lips. The dark, steaming medicinal soup smelled bitter, and he instinctively clenched his mouth shut.

Thinking the Emperor was delirious from the fever, the Empress softly reminded him, "Your Majesty, it’s time for your medicine."

Even more tender than before, her voice convinced the Emperor he was dreaming.

He turned his head away from the spoon, "No, it’s bitter."

Had it been any other time, the Empress would have long since thrown down the spoon and fed him herself, even if it meant spoiling him.

But with the Emperor so ill, how could the Empress bear to be harsh with him?

"I’ve had the candied fruit prepared. After the medicine, taking some will make it less bitter," she said.

Such a gentle tone from the Empress made it hard for the Emperor to refuse. He turned his head back and obediently opened his mouth, swallowing the spoonful of medicine.

As soon as he ingested it, he frowned deeply, "It’s too bitter."

The Empress glanced at the dark medicinal soup; just smelling it, one could tell its bitterness - the saying goes that a short pain is better than a long pain.

"Then let me help you sit up, Your Majesty; if you drink it swiftly in one go, it will be less painful," she proposed.

The Emperor nodded, and with the support of both the Empress and Eunuch Li, he sat up. His body felt weak and limp, his weight relying entirely on the Empress.

With the medicine bowl in hand, the Empress brought it to the Emperor’s lips, still speaking in a soft and gentle tone, "Your Majesty, please drink it all at once."

Wincing, the Emperor opened his mouth and drank the medicine, fighting the urge to vomit as he quickly finished it.

After he was done, the Empress used a handkerchief to wipe off the medicinal soup that had spilled out of the Emperor’s mouth before he could swallow it.

She commanded, "Bring the candied fruit."

Eunuch Li presented the candied fruit to the Empress with both hands.

Even with the candied fruit in his mouth, the Emperor still felt the bitterness.

It was only then that the Emperor realized that the bitterness of the medicine persisted despite the candied fruit. In the past, he had convinced the Empress that medicine wouldn’t be bitter if taken with candied fruit.

He also suddenly understood that when a person has already lost hope, no amount of sweet words will help.

Over the years, he knew the Empress held grievances, but as someone high in power, there was nothing he could do.

In times of political instability, he had to steady the court and appease the harem.

"Aling."

The Empress paused upon hearing her intimate name. The Emperor would only call her by that name when they were alone. Perhaps he was delirious from the fever now.

"I’m here," she responded.

After a moment, thinking the Emperor had fallen asleep again as he was silent, she laid him back on the bed and was pulling up the covers when she heard him say, "Aling, I’m sorry."