Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After coughing up that mouthful of blood, I lost consciousness under the veranda.

When I woke again, I had already been returned to the Star-Gazing Pavilion.

The sky outside the window was a dull gray, but the hall was filled with the faint, distinct scent of ambergris. I knew that fragrance all too well; I could recognize it even with my eyes closed.

Just as I was about to sit up, I heard a cold, detached voice: “Don’t move.”

Pei Yuheng was sitting by the bed, holding a prescription from the imperial physician. His expression was terrifyingly dark.

“The physician said your heart’s energy has been depleted for quite some time. Why did no one report this?”

I leaned against the soft pillows, my voice raspy. “Has Your Majesty not always looked forward to my early death? Now that you know, shouldn’t you be happy?”

His brow twitched violently as he slammed the prescription onto the side table.

“Ye Wentang, must you speak to me this way?”

I lowered my eyes and did not respond.

He stared at me for a long time, as if trying to find a trace of familiar weakness or grievance on my face. But I had long since learned how to hide those things. After a while, he suddenly reached out and touched the dried bloodstain at the corner of my mouth.

His movement was very gentle.

So gentle it seemed subconscious.

Both of us froze for a moment.

As if startled by his own actions, he abruptly withdrew his hand, his expression turning even colder.

“Starting tomorrow, you no longer need to go to the Fengtian Terrace for night duty. Stay in the Star-Gazing Pavilion to recover.”

I looked up at him. “What about the Heaven Worship Ceremony?”

“It will proceed as planned.”

That tiny, ridiculous spark of hope in my heart shattered completely.

I lowered my head and gave a small smile. “I understand.”

He didn’t leave, looking as though he still had something to say. In the end, however, he simply sat there, silently watching the charcoal burn down to ash.

The hall was deathly quiet.

After an unknown amount of time, an urgent report arrived from outside. There was trouble at the West Market Plague Ward; the infected citizens had broken through the barricades and nearly injured the Patrol Army. Pei Yuheng stood up immediately. He took one step toward the door, then turned back to look at me.

“Stay here.”

I gave no answer.

Half an hour later, the sky outside the Star-Gazing Pavilion was lit by a towering inferno.

The plague ward was on fire.

My heart sank. Ignoring the pain in my chest, I threw on a robe and hurried out. The old palace servants couldn’t stop me and could only follow behind, weeping. By the time I reached the West Market, the streets were in total chaos. Infected citizens, driven by the smoke and screams, were rushing in all directions. The Patrol Army didn’t dare get close and could only keep them back with long spears. Pei Yuheng stood at the very front, clearly intending to stabilize the situation personally.

But when I looked up, I saw the wind-vanes on the city tower reversing.

That wasn’t just a fire.

That was a Sha aimed directly at the Imperial Star.

My expression shifted drastically. Almost by instinct, I rushed toward Pei Yuheng.

“Your Majesty, get back!”

Just as he turned his head, a charred crossbeam fell straight toward him. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, I lunged forward and shoved him away with all my might. The wooden beam grazed my back as it crashed down, sparks searing into my flesh. The pain made my vision go black.

Pei Yuheng caught me in his arms, his voice losing its composure for the first time.

“Ye Wentang!”

I didn’t have the strength to answer him. Staring at the darkening clouds on the horizon, I bit the tip of my tongue and drew a blood sigil in his palm.

It was the most crude form of the Disaster Suppression Technique.

It would harm me.

But it was the fastest way to take effect.

Pei Yuheng tightened his grip on my arms as if he had been burned. “What are you doing?”

“Saving you.”

I spoke only those two words before pushing him away and turning to walk into the fire.

By the time the people from the Fengtian Department arrived to set up the array, I was already standing in the center of the plague ward, holding the Soul-Calming Bell. As the bell began to ring, the rioting crowd slowly calmed down, as if caught in an invisible net. The firelight illuminated the entire street in crimson. Pei Yuheng stood outside the perimeter, his eyes fixed on me, his emotions churning violently.

I didn’t dare look at him for too long.

One more look, and my heart would falter.

Once the Sha was suppressed, I could no longer stand. Zhuo Yu’an rushed into the array to support me, cursing under his breath, “You really don’t care about your life.”

Before I could reply, I heard Pei Yuheng’s cold command from outside.

“Send Lady Fate-Scribe back to the palace.”

He spoke calmly, as if the man who had just held me and lost control while shouting my name wasn’t him.

As I was being helped into the carriage, Pei Yuheng suddenly approached. He raised his hand to brush the ash off my shoulder. The movement was so practiced it was as if he had done it a thousand times, yet he seemed entirely unaware of it.

“Why did you rush over?” he asked, staring at me.

I looked at him and, after a long silence, gave a soft smile.

“Did I not say? It was my duty.”

His expression instantly became hideous.

Before the carriage curtain fell, I heard him say through gritted teeth, “Ye Wentang, one day, I will make you speak the truth.”

I leaned against the carriage wall and closed my eyes with a bitter smile.

I’m afraid that by the time you truly want to hear it, it will already be too late.