Chapter Ninety-Seven: A Turn of Fortune

Banxia’s head throbbed violently. Who was Gansui? The name felt so familiar. Who was she herself? Her head hurt so much. All she saw before her was a dense, impenetrable darkness.

“Banxia, please wake up. Banxia... Liuguang and Yuhua are both crying... Banxia, wake up…” Gansui, who had never believed in gods or spirits, held Banxia’s clothes and circled the meadow, calling for her soul all night.

Banxia opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Gansui’s bloodshot gaze. She was dazed, staring blankly for a long while. Gansui let her look as long as she wished. After a good while, Banxia finally spoke: “Gansui, I’m so hungry.”

The heavy stone in Gansui’s heart finally settled. Banxia had survived.

The meal had long been prepared. Banxia had not suffered injuries for years; this time, the wound left her dizzy and faint. Gansui carefully helped her sit up, propping her waist with soft cushions, gently cooling the porridge, and bringing it to Banxia’s lips. One fed, one ate. Banxia finished half a bowl and felt full, sensing a warm flow below. “Is it my time of the month? Last month was irregular, but this time seems more punctual.”

Gansui’s hand froze for a moment, then he replied nonchalantly, “You’re always fond of cold things; this time you’ve learned your lesson. You never take care of yourself, so now you must rest properly. You’re not allowed outside for a whole month.”

“A whole month? If anyone heard, they’d think I’d just given birth,” Banxia retorted.

Gansui’s heart ached unbearably, but he could not let Banxia know. He forced a smile. “This is your punishment for worrying me. I’ll have Xiangyu and the others keep an eye on you. You’ll stay in the room.”

Banxia was about to protest when Gansui suddenly changed his expression, looking pitiful. “You promised to grow old with me, but now you’re reckless. Have you thought how much it hurts me…” He seemed unable to continue.

Banxia had never seen Gansui like this. She surrendered at once, agreeing to rest for a month. Gansui embraced her. “Nothing matters more than you. Don’t scare me again.”

“There won’t be a next time. How is Anzi? Before I was hurt, the child wanted to save me. This must have targeted him as well. Is there any news from the Emperor?”

Gansui gently flicked her forehead. “You’ve just woken up; no need to worry about so much. Taking care of yourself is the best help.”

“Alright, I’ll sleep then.” Banxia, newly awakened, soon felt dizzy again and drifted off. Gansui arranged for someone to watch her and stepped out to wash up. He had not eaten or drunk for a day and night, only now, with Banxia awake, did he realize his own hunger.

Just as he stepped outside, he met the Imperial Physician. “I heard Lady Banxia awoke. I came to check on her.”

“Thank you, Physician Deng, but my wife just fell asleep. If you enter now, I fear she won’t rest well. Could you wait a while, until she’s sleeping deeply?”

“Certainly, certainly. I haven’t had breakfast yet myself. Would Lord Gansui care to join me?” This Physician Deng was a disciple of Director Li at the Imperial Medical Institute. Young and witty, he was highly skilled. The Emperor had assigned him to care for Banxia lately.

“Please, Physician Deng…” Gansui turned. Deng Hai’s gaze suddenly fixed. He reached to pluck a small flower from the back of Gansui’s neck. “This flower?”

Gansui looked back. “Perhaps it got caught in the forest yesterday.”

“This flower looks like the Seven Apertures Exquisite.”

Before Gansui could react, Deng Hai ran off, calling out, “This is important. We’ll eat together next time.”

Was there hope after all? Gansui dared not expect too much; even if so, the flower bloomed for forty-nine days, and who knew if it would bear fruit.

Gansui turned toward the hall, where Anzi played with the two children, but his spirit was low. Hearing footsteps, his eyes brightened for a moment, then quickly dropped again. The child was sensitive, feeling Banxia was wounded because of him. Now that Banxia was awake, he dared not look at her, afraid she would not want to see him.

“Your sister awoke and asked after you. She’s very worried.”

Anzi burst into tears. “I’m ashamed to see her. I brought her this trouble. If not for me… Brother-in-law, that child… that child!”

“What is meant to be will be; what is not cannot be forced. Perhaps we were not fated for that child. Look, we already have Yuhua and Liuguang. Anything more is a blessing, but life must move forward. Take good care of Yuhua and Liuguang from now on.”

“Brother-in-law, rest assured. As long as I live, I will protect them, ensure their peace and prosperity forever.” Anzi spoke as if making an oath.

“I haven’t told your sister she lost the child. Help me keep it from her, will you?”

“Alright.” If his sister knew, how heartbroken she would be.

“We’ll burn some paper tonight, to send that child off.”

“Okay.”

Deng Hai, after repeated confirmation, went to find his teacher. Li Haoyu, exhausted by the poison, had been losing handfuls of hair; now, hearing this news, the two hurried into the forest. Gansui sent a female physician as well.

Gansui had spoken with the physician in advance, and the accompanying maids had been briefed early on. Banxia was completely unaware of the child’s disappearance. The physician left a prescription for medicinal meals; Banxia would need to eat them for more than half a month. When Anzi entered, the scent of medicine made his nose sting.

Banxia looked up, beckoning him over. Anzi hurried to her side. Banxia let him sit on the bed and asked, “Were you frightened?”

“Sister, I’m sorry…”

“Did Anzi do anything wrong? Why apologize?”

“I told you to ride that horse…”

“But Anzi didn’t know the horse was dangerous, right? The fault lies with those villains, not you. Don’t apologize. Even if we take it further, I’m your sister. When danger comes, how could I not protect you?”

At last, Anzi threw himself into Banxia’s arms. “Sister, I’m scared…” The fear of the horse out of control, the fear when Banxia couldn’t wake up, and the fear she’d blame him after waking—all haunted him. After all, he was just a child.

“It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s all over now…”

But it was not. That child would never return; he owed his sister a life. “Sister, I will be good to you, always… and to Yuhua and Liuguang, I will protect them.”

Anzi spent the afternoon with Banxia, finally easing the knot in his heart. Children always have their own worries, and as guardians, all one can do is gradually help them untangle those knots.

The medicinal meals were nourishing, with sleep-inducing herbs. After eating, Banxia played with the children for a while before becoming sleepy. Gansui and Anzi hurried to carry the children away.

“Mother went to bed so early?” Liuguang whispered.

“Will Mother turn into a piggy? She used to tell me stories about piggies who eat and sleep, and sleep and eat. If Mother becomes a piggy, will we be piglets… Oh… I don’t want to be a piglet.”

“Mother is sick and uncomfortable, so she needs to rest,” Gansui comforted, carrying Yuhua. “Your mother is so thin, she could never turn into a pig.”

Sometimes, just dealing with children’s whimsical ideas was headache enough, and their odd thoughts never ceased, popping up like endless questions.

The two children, growing fast, slept early. After settling them, Gansui and Anzi took incense and candles to the meadow’s edge and burned paper for the child who never made it into this world.

Neither spoke. Wisps of blue smoke drifted upward. Gansui held the paper money and silently prayed, “Forgive me, child. Father couldn’t protect you. May you find a good family in your next life, free from suffering.”

After burning the paper, both felt low-spirited and were about to leave when they saw someone emerge from the woods. Gansui looked closely; it was Li Haoyu and Deng Hai. They saw him too. “Good news—it really is the Seven Apertures Exquisite…”

Gansui coughed as if choked by the smoke; Anzi hurried to ask, “Brother-in-law, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just inhaled the smoke and got choked. What did Physician Li just say?”

Li Haoyu immediately realized he’d almost revealed too much, reminded by Gansui’s prompt. He quickly chose his words carefully: “We found a medicinal plant in the woods that’s very beneficial for His Majesty’s health.”

“That’s excellent news. Report it to His Majesty right away.”

Anzi, unaware, said, “I haven’t greeted Father today, so I’ll go with the physicians. Brother-in-law, I’ll visit tomorrow.”

“Go ahead, rest early. You probably didn’t sleep well last night.”

Li Haoyu was a little worried the Crown Prince might have noticed something and gave Gansui a warning look. Gansui signaled him to remain calm. He knew the Emperor well; if secrecy was needed, there would be no slip.

Gansui watched them leave, then turned inside. Just as he was about to wash up, he found Banxia sleeping poorly, most of her body exposed. He sighed and covered her with the blanket.

Banxia, half asleep, sensed someone nearby, squinted. “You’re back?”

Gansui worried she’d wake and be unable to sleep again, so he gently covered her and soothed, “Sleep, it’s alright.”

Banxia murmured drowsily, “Where did you go? You smell like incense.”

Gansui panicked but forced himself calm. “Just trimmed the candles.”

“Oh.” Banxia turned over and fell back asleep.

Gansui finally breathed easier. She must never know.

Anzi entered with the physicians. Qi Nanxing waved him over. “How is the Lady of the Grand Tutor?”

“Not well. She’s been groggy all day, but with the imperial physicians’ medicine, she’ll recover.”

“Alright, you’re tired too. Rest and speak with your father tomorrow. Look at those dark circles under your eyes, almost as bad as Erhei’s. Go on.”

Anzi felt quite worn out, bowed, and left.

Only when Anzi had gone did Qi Nanxing ask, “What’s the matter, reporting so late?”

Li Haoyu was deeply moved. “Your Majesty, Heaven shows mercy. We found a Seven Apertures Exquisite blooming for forty-nine days. It hasn’t borne fruit yet, but with careful tending, it should be fine.”

“Are you certain?”

“Every word is true.”

“Excellent.” He could live on.

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