When the Empress Dowager sent someone to bring over the Emperors edict, it was already an hour later. Yan Xikun had long been frozen into a daze, her whole body stiff and numb. Although she had put on Xue Lians outer garment, it hadnt had much warming effect at all.
When Yan Huanghous people arrived, Yan Xikun happened to be unable to hold on and fainted directly into Xue Lians arms.
After returning to the Cixi Palace, she fell seriously ill and had a high fever that wouldnt subside. The imperial physician diagnosed her condition as a severe cold caused by catching a chill from falling into the lake, which kept Yan Xisheng bedridden for a whole month and a half.
Its not that the imperial physicians medical skills are not superb, nor is it that the illness is particularly severe. Its just that Yan Xijun herself doesnt want to recover so soon. Every day, she pours out the medicinal soup without drinking it, hoping that this illness will drag on until the end of the selection process, and then her sister can let her leave the palace.
Unfortunately, Yan Xijun encountered the Empress Dowager Yan, and her plan was soon discovered by the Empress Dowager. As a result, the Empress Dowager sent someone to monitor her taking medicine every day, and also ordered the imperial kitchen to stew ginseng supplements for her to nourish her body. After this treatment, her body recovered particularly quickly, and she even became plumper.
In a few days, Yan Xijuns body had also recovered, and the day of selecting the imperial concubine was just a few days later. In the end, she couldnt avoid this selection, and the selection was just a formality anyway. With her sister secretly manipulating things behind the scenes, even if she didnt participate in the selection, her sister would still make her an imperial concubine.
Deep in the night, Yan Xijun was suddenly woken up by a terrifying nightmare. In his dream, he seemed to be being chased and killed by a madwoman. He couldnt see her face clearly, but he could only hear her sharp, maniacal laughter and resentful voice, repeatedly saying "I want to kill you! I want to kill you!"
Yan Xijuns heart still had lingering fear as she patted her chest, recalling the dream where the woman was holding a dagger and was about to stab it into her chest before she woke up.
Yan Xijun deeply exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, raised her eyes to gaze out the window, and at the dark edge of the sky, a clear and cold moon quietly hung in the high altitude, emitting a faint and soft glow.
She let out a soft sigh, got out of bed under the moonlight, put on a cloak and walked out of the room. As soon as she left, a shadow flashed by behind her and followed her out.
Yan Xijun walked aimlessly, at this moment she just wanted to come out and get some fresh air, being cooped up in the house would probably make her unable to sleep. She knew someone was following behind her and also knew who that person was. She didnt mind others following her because she wasnt doing anything shameful.
Unconsciously, they arrived at the Changqiu Palace. Yan Xikun stood still in the place where he had fallen into the water before, gazing out at the distant horizon where the sky and water merged into one line, with no end in sight.
After a moments gaze, Yan Xijun slowly withdrew her eyes and suddenly caught sight of a small wooden boat moored by the lake not far away. Due to the weeds on the shore, if one didnt look carefully, they wouldnt notice that there was this small boat. It was strange, why would there be boats anchored in this lake? If it were for the imperial concubines to take a pleasure cruise, there would be no need to hide them away. Moreover, this place was the most secluded spot, who would come here to play?
A gust of evening wind came, Yan Xikun wrapped her cloak tightly around her body. There was a faint rustling sound from the grass behind her, but she didnt even turn her head back. She was still thinking about why this boat would appear here. A moment later, she couldnt think of any reason and simply stopped thinking about it.
