Chapter 949

However, after a moment of silence, Jin Chen still had someone go summon Jin Xiaomo into the palace; the reason was nothing else, he temporarily didn't want to see that cat.

Let the two protagonists stay together; don't constantly fantasize about his realm.

Yan Fu'an originally thought Your Majesty should be satisfied with this, but seeing the expression, it was clearly not.

He felt terrified inside, and his kneeling body sank even lower.

Jin Chen also had no intention to make things difficult, and casually said, "Recently autumn has arrived, and it's gotten even colder."

Yan Fu'an heard him and thought he wasn't angry, "Exactly, Your Majesty, but yesterday each palace's worthy officials and the Noble Consort's palace all added new coal…"

He shifted his tone, suddenly seemed to recall something, cautiously lifted his head to look, then tentatively spoke, trembling.

"What a pity for the Secluded Moon Palace; that place is inherently remote, the Empress may not survive the autumn and winter."

Finally hearing those words, Jin Chen felt secretly pleased, flicked his sleeve and rose, "Then I'll go see the Empress."

Without waiting for Yan Fu'an to rise after speaking, he strode straight out.

Yan Fu'an grew even more troubled, but the emperor's thoughts were not something he could fathom; he hastily rose and followed.

——

Inside the Secluded Moon Palace.

Upon hearing the emperor's arrival, only a single servant hurried out to pay respects; besides him, there were no palace maids or eunuchs at all.

The kneeling servant was still the personal attendant that Wen Zhiheng himself had brought from his residence; presumably it was the original owner's indication, not allowing anyone else to enter to serve the Empress.

Jin Chen once again despised the original owner in his heart.

"Where is your master?" Jin Chen asked.

Who would have thought that upon hearing this, Shun Ping's tears burst forth like an opened floodgate, as he kowtowed while crying, "Please, Your Majesty, servant begs Your Majesty to go see our master, he… he…"

The more he spoke, the more anxious he became; the more anxious, the less he could speak, his body merely trembling.

Yan Fu'an glanced, secretly looking at Jin Chen's expression, his face instantly turned pale; he lowered his voice to scold, "If you don't answer properly, delaying the time, I'll hold you responsible."

"Yes, yes, my master… no, Empress, the Empress has caught wind-cold again; she hasn't recovered for a long time, the medicine in the Secluded Moon Palace has run out, and I cannot summon an imperial physician; truly… there is nothing left to do."

Jin Chen asked in a low voice, "What do you mean by catching wind-cold again?"

"After the Empress was confined… after you granted her residence in the Secluded Moon Palace, her health has been poor; in just half a year she has already caught wind-cold three times, and this time it is even worse."

Shun Ping seemed to see hope, and kowtowed a few more times; Yan Fu'an hastily kicked him aside, "Go, why aren't you leading the way? Your Majesty has come today to see the Empress—how can I let a servant like you block the path?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Servant deserves death, servant deserves death, Your Majesty, please come in quickly."

As Jin Chen walked inside, he said, "Yan Fu'an, have Li De from the Imperial Medical Bureau take the Empress's pulse."

This…

Yan Fu'an hesitated, lowering his head cautiously, "Your Majesty, you previously said that the head of the bureau is only to attend to the Young Noble…"

"Nonsense! What rubbish are you spouting" Jin Chen roared, "Don't just stand there—get him over here!"

"Yes." Yan Fu'an broke out in a cold sweat, no longer minding the rules he had set; he immediately sent someone to call.

Jin Chen did not lower his voice, and the people inside heard his words loud and clear.

In the damp, cold inner chamber of the hall, Wen Zhiheng lay half-reclined on the bed, his pallid face showing an indifferent expression; upon hearing the emperor's words, there was no change at all.

He thought the emperor's sudden behavior could only mean one of two things.

Thus, waiting for Jin Chen to enter, upon seeing the person on the bed, he only received Wen Zhiheng's weak question.

"Your Majesty, this time, do you have some matter requiring me, or did you have a falling out with the Young Noble and are using me for amusement?"

【Detected that the world's plot villain has triggered Blackening Value. Currently Blackening Value is 85; the task requires Blackening Value to be cleared to zero, altering the villain's tragic ending.】

【Detected that the villain has triggered Heartbeat Value; currently Heartbeat Value is -50, Mommy…】0731 Shocking!

Jin Chen looked at the frail person before him, a face capable of overturning all beings, yet he had a pair of indifferent phoenix eyes, clear and cold, his brows revealing fatigue that could not be concealed.

At this moment, lifting his gaze, there was no emotion in the depths of his eyes; it seemed as if the person before him was not the husband he had known since youth, but a complete stranger.

"Neither," Jin Chen said, already taking off his outer cloak to cover Wen Zhiheng; it was already autumn, yet he was still covered with a summer blanket, and the room's windows were broken—no wonder he caught wind-cold.

"I… came to see you."

His low voice carried a hint of helplessness, as if he didn't know how Wen Zhiheng had become so frail.

As Jin Chen drew near, Wen Zhiheng caught a faint familiar scent, but it vanished instantly; he had no strength to struggle, so he let Jin Chen have his way.

"What is there to see in me, Your Majesty? You had better go back."

Wen Zhiheng turned his head, lowered his gaze and leaned against the headboard, his long lashes shielding his eyes; he seemed tired, or perhaps he simply did not want to see Jin Chen.

"Catching wind-cold is no small matter; first let the imperial physician examine him."

Jin Chen sat beside him, tucked the blanket tighter, and upon touching Wen Zhiheng's hand back, discovered it was icy cold.

Wen Zhiheng quickly pulled back his hand, covered his mouth and coughed softly a few times, "Your Majesty, since you have already summoned the imperial physician, you may leave without worry."

"Not reassured; with Huai Feng this weak, how can I be at ease?"

Jin Chen, however, would not yield; he firmly grasped Wen Zhiheng's two hands, cupping them in his palms to warm them, suddenly feeling an odd sensation.

"Let go." Wen Zhiheng tried to pull his hand away, clenching his fist to prevent Jin Chen from prying his fingers open, but now that he was ill, how could his strength possibly match Jin Chen's?

"Blood…"

Jin Chen exclaimed in a low voice, "How could you be coughing up blood!"

How could it be so serious…

He only felt a sour, aching pity in his heart, "Huai Feng has suffered; being angry with me is understandable, but ultimately his health matters."

Wen Zhiheng could not free his hand, he glanced doubtfully at Jin Chen, his brows knit tight, his voice Calmness, "Your Majesty, what exactly is the purpose of your visit today?"

"No matter how important the matter, you must also tend to your health."

Jin Chen continued to act as a hand warmer, unwilling to move.

Yan Fu'an, guarding the outer hall, grew more alarmed the more he listened; even when facing the greatly favored Young Noble, Your Majesty had never coaxed him like this before.

He dared not listen further, bowed his body and retreated, closing the door of the outer hall.

Shunping and the others outside also heard the conversation crystal clear, feeling both startled and afraid.

What they feared was that His Majesty's attitude had suddenly changed; perhaps he again intended to do something to their master.

Not long after, a palace maid brought the chief of the Imperial Medical Institute, Li De; hearing that the Emperor had come to see him, Li De dared not delay in the slightest.

"Subject greets the Emperor, greets Your Highness."

Li De had originally been responsible for taking the Empress's pulse to pray for her safety, but ever since a Young Pure Noble appeared, he had never again seen this Empress confined to the Cold Palace.

After half a year apart, Li De was startled by Wen Zhiheng's current state; under Jin Chen's angry rebuke, he knelt beside the bed to take the pulse.