usatvline Chapter 47 She is the Imperial Concubine!
Chapter 47 She is the Imperial Concubine!
Taiji Palace, located south of the imperial palace, was originally used by the late emperor for alchemy, but has been abandoned since Pei Yuanling ascended the throne.
However, at this moment, all the windows of the palace were tightly sealed with white cloth, and the airtight interior was illuminated only by oil lamps, making the entire hall appear even more solemn and desolate.
Pei Yuanling and Lu Zhiheng both silently watched the great monk in front of them. He had wrinkled skin and white hair, wore a purple kasaya, and sat upright on the futon for nearly an hour without moving.
This person was Master Jingyuan, whom Lu Zhiheng had invited to summon the soul of the Imperial Concubine.
Because Master Jingyuan had informed them in advance that they should not be disturbed during the soul-summoning process, no one dared to make a sound at this moment.
Suddenly a gust of wind swept in, and the prayer flags in the hall fluttered violently. Even the flames in the oil lamps seemed to sense the strong wind, swaying and flickering, making the entire room even colder and darker.
The incense burning in the censer seemed to spread with the wind, and the strong sandalwood scent, neither pleasant nor unpleasant, instantly filled the entire inner hall.
As Pei Yuanling smelled the intoxicating fragrance, he seemed to slowly conjure up the image of a bright and beautiful woman before him.
She leaned closer, smiling and talking to him, her voice and appearance seeming so real they could almost touch him.
But just as he reached out to grab it, it vanished instantly like a phantom.
Pei Yuanling immediately came to his senses with a slightly wistful expression.
Lu Zhiheng, standing beside him, was in the same state, his vision both real and illusory, captivating yet sobering.
This inevitably brings to mind the Buddhist saying: "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; thus should they be viewed."
My mind seems to have calmed down again.
Just then, Master Jingyuan, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
Pei Yuanlingheng immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Master, what happened? I think I saw the Imperial Concubine just now, but it was only for a moment, and then she disappeared... Has she returned?"
Master Jingyuan slowly rose, about to speak, when Chen Zhongliang rushed in from outside, "Your Majesty..."
The word "down" was still on his lips when he suddenly remembered the emperor's previous instructions and dared not speak rashly. He just looked at Pei Yuanling with a look of anxiety on his face.
Pei Yuanling frowned, looked at Master Jingyuan, and seeing that he did not say a word, he finally spoke up: "What is the matter that has caused such a panic?"
"Your Majesty, a maid from Consort Qiao's palace just came to report that Consort Qiao has suddenly fainted and they wish to summon the imperial physician. What do you think—"
"What did you say?" Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling's eyes flashed with surprise and doubt. "Consort Qiao has fainted?"
Chen Zhongliang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I don't know what happened, I suddenly fainted."
Pei Yuanling's thick eyebrows furrowed, but then he suddenly remembered something, and the surprise in his eyes was quickly replaced by delight.
Yinyin, is that you back?
It really was you who possessed Qiao Qingyin's body and came back to see me, right?
Thinking of this, Pei Yuanling could no longer suppress his emotions and led Chen Zhongliang toward Diecui Pavilion.
Watching the emperor's departing figure, Lu Zhiheng's eyes flickered slightly.
Having served the emperor for many years, this was the first time he had ever seen the emperor so panicked and disoriented.
It seems he truly has some affection for Consort Chu.
Then, thinking back to Consort Chu, Lu Zhiheng looked at Master Jingyuan, his heart filled with doubts.
Could it be that the concubine who perished in the fire truly possessed the body of the eldest daughter of the Qiao family?
"Master, could it be that the soul of the Imperial Concubine has truly returned?" Lu Zhiheng couldn't help but ask.
Master Jingyuan gazed at him for a long time, then clasped his hands together in front of his chest and said, "Amitabha, cause and effect are nothing more than this, and it all depends on one's own destiny. Why must Lord Lu be so attached to the true meaning?"
Lu Zhiheng understood the comfort in the master's words, but the hidden thoughts in his heart made him want a clear answer: "I humbly request the master to guide me through my confusion."
"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. I have only one piece of advice for Lord Lu: Whether it is fate or misfortune, it all depends on careful consideration."
As everyone knows, Master Jingyuan never gives advice lightly, so what profound meaning does his statement today, "Whether it is fate or misfortune, it all depends on a single thought," contain?
If there is truly a connection, then it should be between Pei Yuanling and Chu Qingyin. What does it have to do with him?
Let alone a disaster?
Lu Zhiheng wanted to ask more, but Master Jingyuan had already put his palms together and bowed again before turning and leaving, leaving him alone in the hall filled with incense smoke and the low chanting of Buddhist scriptures.
***
Inside the Diecui Pavilion, it was so quiet that even time seemed to stand still.
The imperial physician had already examined Chu Qingyin hastily and determined that her sudden fainting was due to deficiency of qi and blood, and that she was not in any danger of death.
Even so, Pei Yuanling sat nervously beside the bed, gazing quietly at Chu Qingyin, who was still asleep, his eyes filled with the joy of having regained what he had lost.
On his way from Zichen Palace to Diecui Pavilion, Pei Yuanling kept thinking back on everything that had happened during this time.
His interactions with Qiao Qingyin, her familiar habits and actions, and the scene of him sleeping peacefully beside her all confirmed his suspicions.
Qiao Qingyin is the same person as Consort Chu Qingyin.
Thinking of this, Pei Yuanling's gaze towards Chu Qingyin became even more tender: "Yinyin, this time I will never let you leave again. I will definitely protect you and ensure you live a carefree life."
Unfortunately, Chu Qingyin, who was immersed in a nightmare, was completely unaware of this.
At this moment, she felt as if she were in a cloud of white mist, her body suspended in mid-air, a strong sense of weightlessness washing over her. Her senses were more sensitive than ever before, and even the sound of the wind made her tremble.
She struggled desperately, trying to take control of her body and escape this feeling of being lost. But the more she struggled, the more her fear intensified, and the suffocating feeling grew stronger.
"No, help, help me, help me..."
Chu Qingyin murmured, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die..."
Pei Yuanling frowned and grabbed her hand. "Yinyin, what's wrong?"
Chu Qingyin's delicate face was furrowed, her eyes tightly closed, as if she were experiencing some unbearable and frightening nightmare. In an instant, her smooth forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
Pei Yuanling felt a pang of heartache, as if he were back in the day the palace servants reported that she had committed suicide by poison.
When he rushed to the cold palace in a frenzy, it was already too late.
He stood blankly at the doorway, his gaze fixed on the cold ground not far away. There she lay there quietly, motionless, like a withered flower, devoid of all life and vitality.
Her thin, embroidered robe was disheveled and loosely draped over her, offering no concealment of her frail body. Her eyes were tightly closed, her face as pale as paper, devoid of any color, and her lips slightly bluish. The magnificent garment now seemed ironic, highlighting only her helplessness and desolation.
Looking at her lifeless face, Pei Yuanling felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost making it hard to breathe.
She used to be so bright and beautiful, but now she looks like this, like a soulless doll that can be manipulated by others.
He couldn't understand why Chu Qingyin, who was so proud and beautiful and who paid so much attention to her appearance and demeanor, would choose such an undignified way to die.
Could it be that she really resents him to such an extent?
They won't even give him a chance to explain?
At this moment, that scene seemed to overlap with the figure in front of him.
Pei Yuanling suddenly seemed possessed, forcefully pulling Chu Qingyin into his arms. The young emperor's usually cold and stern face was now filled with panic and fear: "Yinyin, don't leave me again..."
No matter how he called out, Chu Qingyin, who was fast asleep, did not respond at all.
"Yinyin, don't be afraid. This time, I will definitely not let you leave me again."
Pei Yuanling had no more patience to wait. After he finished speaking, he put Chu Qingyin down, turned around and shouted sternly outside, "Immediately call everyone from the Imperial Hospital over here!"