AUBTN -Chapter 359 Yu Qing’s Critical Illness

Yuyuan Residence.

“Lu Yan… Lu Yan…”

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Yu Qing’s entire body went limp and collapsed into Su Hewan’s arms.

“Qingqing! Qingqing, what’s wrong with you!”

Su Hewan’s face turned deathly pale as she cried out in panic, but Yu Qing had already lost consciousness completely.

Only now, seeing her sudden illness, did Su Hewan realize something—Yu Qing had been under immense psychological pressure all along. From the very first day they transmigrated into this world, she had kept herself tightly wound, never allowing even the slightest trace of vulnerability to show.

And now, Lu Yan had become the final straw that broke her.

Half an hour later.

An elderly imperial physician from the Medical Bureau arrived in a hurry, carrying his medicine box. After taking her pulse, he frowned deeply and slowly shook his head.

“Physician, what exactly is wrong with her? Why did she suddenly faint, and why is her body so hot?” Su Hewan’s eyes were red with urgency.

The old physician sighed.

“Replying to Your Highness, the Princess Consort of Jingwang has suffered from an overload of emotions—anger rising to the heart, causing stagnation of qi and blood in the chest. Her internal organs have been severely shaken. On top of that, excessive fear has damaged her spirit and mind, which has led to a persistent high fever and loss of consciousness.”

“If the fever is not brought down quickly and the emotional blockage is not relieved… I’m afraid, I’m afraid her life may be in danger.”

A loud “buzz” rang in Su Hewan’s mind, as if she had been struck by a heavy blow.

“I’ll prescribe a few formulas first. Let her take them and observe for now. As for this illness of the heart… only a cure for the heart can truly heal it.” The old physician left the prescription behind and departed helplessly.

Night fell, deep and suffocating.

In the Wutong Courtyard, candlelight flickered.

Su Hewan sat by Yu Qing’s bedside, keeping watch the entire night without sleep.

“Qingqing… you drama queen… weren’t you always the strongest little cockroach, the one who never died no matter what? Weren’t you always the best at acting? Wake up…”

“If you’re gone, I’ll really be scared all alone…”

“Didn’t you say you were waiting for Lu Yan to come back? If he returns and sees you like this, how heartbroken will he be…”

She whispered through tears as she repeatedly soaked a cloth in cold water, wrung it out, and gently placed it on Yu Qing’s burning forehead.

Each time, the cloth quickly turned hot again, and she would rinse it and repeat the process.

Over and over.

Su Hewan’s heart ached unbearably.

She considered herself a rational person—she understood history’s cruelty, the schemes of court politics, and every move made by Shen Jue and Lu Yan.

But when cold political machinations harmed her only best friend, her reason collapsed instantly.

Meanwhile, in Shen Jue’s study at Yuyuan.

Only a single lamp burned inside the room.

Shen Jue sat in a wide chair of purple sandalwood, his expression hidden in the flickering candlelight.

Execution officer Zhao Zhou silently entered, knelt on one knee, and reported, “My lord, a message from Wutong Courtyard. The Princess Consort of Jingwang suffered from emotional shock and has a persistent high fever. The imperial physician says… her life may be in danger.”

Shen Jue’s fingers, which were idly turning a jade pendant, paused slightly.

“How did it become this serious?”

Shen Jue’s eyes were filled with urgency. “Go to the storeroom and bring out the thousand-year ginseng and the snow lotus from Tianshan that His Majesty once bestowed. Tell the imperial physicians that no matter what method they use, they must keep her alive for me!”

Zhao Zhou looked solemn. “Yes, sir!”

Shen Jue let out a faint sigh. If Lu Yan found out that his woman had died in the Yu Garden, who knew what kind of chaos he would unleash.

More importantly, Yu Qing could not die—because he remembered what Su Hewan had once said: her life was tied to Yu Qing’s.

At that moment, an urgent voice suddenly came from outside the door—housekeeper Zhao Bo.

“Your Highness, Lord Lu has arrived!”

“Let him in.”

Shen Jue’s calm, cold voice echoed through the dim study.

He casually tossed the jade pendant he had been playing with onto the desk and slowly stood up.

The door was pushed open, and the night wind carrying the chill of deep autumn poured inside.

Lu Zhixing, the current Grand Chancellor, stepped over the threshold. His spine, at this moment, seemed slightly bent with age and exhaustion. He had not even removed his cloak, and his face was full of anxiety and fatigue.

“Your Highness!” The moment he entered, he ignored all formalities and blurted out his question.

“What exactly is going on? Xingzhi has always been cautious—how could he suddenly be implicated in such a fatal case, even being thrown into the imperial prison?!”

Shen Jue quickly stepped forward, lightly supporting him and guiding him to a nearby armchair. He personally poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over.

“Please calm yourself, Your Excellency,” Shen Jue said in a steady, low voice.

“As you know, Xiang Du died in the diplomatic guesthouse of the Honglu Temple. The body was left with a broadsword of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Lu Xiang’s hand holding the teacup trembled violently.

“This is clearly a frame-up! Who is trying to put Xingzhi to death?”

“Who it is doesn’t matter,” Shen Jue said, narrowing his long, phoenix-like eyes as a dark glint flashed within them. “What matters is that this is a trap aimed at both Lu Yan and me.”

“At that time, the Eastern Island vice envoy was pressing us aggressively, even threatening war. If I had not acted decisively and taken Lu Yan away, the officials of the Court of Judicial Review would have intervened. Your Excellency, the Court of Judicial Review is not my East Bureau’s territory. If Lu Yan had fallen into their hands and someone tampered with the case, things would have become truly dangerous.”

“Now that he has been sent to the imperial prison, it may seem perilous—but in reality, it keeps him under my watch and ensures his safety.”

After hearing this, Lu Xiang’s tightly strained body finally relaxed slightly. He let out a long sigh and set down his teacup.

“I was confused. Emotion clouds judgment. Is there still room for turning this situation around?”

Shen Jue nodded slightly. “Tomorrow morning, I will enter the palace to test His Majesty’s intentions. The Eastern Island people are nothing more than jumping clowns—His Majesty sees things clearly. He will not easily let Lu Yan take the blame. Moreover, I will do everything in my power to protect him.”

“Then I must rely entirely on Your Highness this time.” Lu Xiang stood up and actually bowed deeply toward Shen Jue.

Shen Jue shifted aside slightly, his brows faintly furrowed.

But Lu Xiang straightened again and let out a bitter laugh. “This old man has lived most of his life, and today I finally see clearly. My old bones are no longer what they used to be—I cannot compare to you young people. His Majesty… is growing at an astonishing pace.”

Shen Jue keenly sensed that there was something behind Lu Xiang’s words. His gaze flickered.

“What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?”

Lu Xiang turned his head and looked at the thick night outside the window, his voice aged and heavy.

“His Majesty intends to establish a Grand Secretariat.”

“All of us old ministers who cling to high positions and rely on past merit… it seems we are about to be replaced.”

“A Grand Secretariat?” Shen Jue was slightly startled.

During this period, he had been entirely focused on the foreign envoys and had not realized that the young emperor’s intentions had already become so deep and far-reaching.

“Do you still not understand, Your Highness?” Lu Xiang turned back, staring at him intensely.

“His Majesty is using this visit of foreign envoys and the chaos of the sacrificial rites to strike hard at us powerful ministers—especially this old man!”

Lu Xiang took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he suppressed it.

“I hold the position of head of all officials, my disciples and protégés spread throughout the court, and Xingzhi commands the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard while also being a princely noble of a different surname. How can the Lu family produce two people of such high authority? When one’s merits outshine the throne, it has always been a fatal taboo for ministers!”

Shen Jue raised a brow slightly in surprise.

“Are you saying… that today’s entire situation could even have been His Majesty’s intention?”