Everyone panicked, and Eunuch Chang rushed to call the imperial physician.
When Consort Qin and Chu Xingyun arrived, Emperor Ye Yao was still burning with fever. The two could only take turns attending to him by his bedside.
Chu Xingyun asked Eunuch Chang about the situation. Eunuch Chang did not mention anything about Emperor Ye Yao's visit to the cold palace that day, only saying that the Emperor's condition was due to exhaustion.
Since Emperor Ye Yao had fainted from exhaustion once before, and this happened at the beginning of the year, no one thought much of it.
In the latter half of the night, Emperor Ye Yao's fever subsided slightly, and the two retreated to the back hall to rest for a while.
Consort Qin instructed the palace maids and servants to strengthen the palace's defenses for the next two days. She also urged the imperial physician to pay close attention to Emperor Ye Yao's health, to check his pulse three times a day, and to report to her each time.
Seeing her so busy, Chu Xingyun pulled her aside during a moment of respite.
"Sister, His Majesty is deeply troubled, and I am also uneasy. I just thought of a way that might help His Majesty recover quickly."
Consort Qin was also very worried about Emperor Ye Yao's health. Hearing this, she immediately asked, "What way?"
"This..." Chu Xingyun lowered her voice. "This method is easy to say and not difficult to do, but... I am a little afraid to say it, for fear of being gossiped about."
"There is no one else here now, so just say it. If it's not right, I'll pretend I didn't hear it," Consort Qin said, not caring and encouraging her to speak boldly.
Chu Xingyun's eyes flashed, and she leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear.
Consort Qin was surprised. "A 'chongxi' (marriage to ward off evil)? Can this work?"
Chu Xingyun replied, "Sister, haven't you heard? In the common folk, if a family's male head is sick or in trouble, as long as they have a happy event to ward it off, the illness immediately disappears."
"His Majesty has been like this more than once or twice. I suspect it's some deity..."
Chu Xingyun swallowed the rest of her words, not daring to say them, but Consort Qin had already guessed.
However, Consort Qin did not immediately agree, seeming somewhat conflicted.
Seeing this, Chu Xingyun changed the subject. "This is just my humble opinion, sister. If you think it's inappropriate, then just pretend I didn't say it."
"It's not that it's inappropriate." Consort Qin glanced towards the inner chamber.
Emperor Ye Yao was still lying in bed. Although his fever had subsided, there were still no signs of him waking up.
Moreover, according to the imperial physician, his illness would take at least ten days to recover.
It was the beginning of the year, and state affairs were gradually increasing. With His Majesty's nature, he would naturally not rest. The fatigue would only accumulate more and more.
In that case, His Majesty's health might worsen. In this situation, relying solely on the imperial physicians would not suffice. They had to try anything.
"It's just that I don't know which young lady would be suitable, so I dare not make the decision myself."
Such matters as 'chongxi' could be discussed privately, but publicly, a proper reason was needed.
Furthermore, this could not be a grand selection like choosing concubines. It was necessary to find a suitable young lady from the families of court officials and send her to the palace, which was indeed somewhat difficult.
Chu Xingyun chuckled, "That's easy. If you don't mind, sister, I can recommend someone to you."
"This young lady is the legitimate daughter of the newly appointed Minister of War. She is sixteen years old, very beautiful, and I've heard she is not yet betrothed."
Chu Xingyun was not very familiar with the daughters of the Ministry of War officials, but she knew something about this particular official, Wang Yi.
Wang Yi was promoted by Luo Yinfeng. This person was also highly appreciated by His Majesty. If it were his daughter, perhaps His Majesty would look upon her favorably.
"Good, I will discuss this matter with His Majesty," Consort Qin agreed to the task.
Chu Xingyun felt a slight relief. "Then His Majesty's health is entirely in your hands, sister."
Consort Qin nodded. Seeing that it was almost dawn outside, she instructed Chu Xingyun to go back and rest.
Chu Xingyun knew that she wanted to wait for Emperor Ye Yao to wake up and discuss this matter with him, so she did not refuse and returned to her own chambers.
Emperor Ye Yao woke up after dawn. His spirits were still very low. He could only speak a few words after reluctantly taking the medicinal soup.
Consort Qin took this opportunity to tell him about the matter.
She did not mention anything about 'chongxi.' She only said that there were few sisters in the palace now and hoped His Majesty would select two to enter the palace to accompany the other sisters.
Perhaps Emperor Ye Yao was groggy and did not think too much about it, or perhaps for some other reason, he did not refuse and agreed directly.
Chu Xingyun, having received his command, immediately had someone draft an imperial decree to handle the matter.
By noon the next day, the decree was issued to the Wang family.
Wang Xiting was very happy upon learning of this matter and pestered Wang Yi to prepare a banquet to invite friends to celebrate.
Wang Yi, fearing it would be too ostentatious, did not agree.
However, Wang Xiting disregarded this and secretly went outside the mansion, intending to rent a tavern to invite friends to join the festivity.
There was a newly opened tavern in the capital called 'Jiu Lan Yuan,' famous for a wine called 'Qing Lan.'
Although it was a new establishment, its decoration was grand and unique, and the wine was excellent, attracting many dignitaries.
Inside Jiu Lan Yuan at this moment.
Su Yunmo rubbed her temples, listening to Uncle Dong report on Jiu Lan Yuan's income over the past few months.
Finally, the little dumpling could not stand it anymore.
She raised her hand and called out to stop him, "Uncle Dong, I came here today to be happy. Can you not tell me these things?"
Such matters should be handled by themselves. She had always hated looking at account books since she was young.
When she was in the Blood Alliance, these matters were always handled by Zi Yuan.
Uncle Dong closed the ledger. "Little master, although I am the visible manager of Jiu Lan Yuan, you are the boss behind the scenes. How can you not know the internal information of our tavern?"
Su Yunmo sighed often, looking up at the sky with a look of despair. "Fine, then continue."
She regretted coming a little.
It was all Zi Yuan's fault. Early this morning, she insisted on telling her that the 'wild teahouse' had completely changed, and there were many more delicious foods.
She came here to try new things, but it turned out they had dragged her here to be labor.
Uncle Dong saw Su Yunmo's dejection but paid no attention to it and continued his report.
When he was halfway through the report, Xiao Zuo knocked and entered. "Uncle Dong, please go and see. A young lady has come and insists on booking the entire place."
Because this was a new establishment, it was initially intended to build connections and form a new intelligence network in the capital in the future.
Therefore, from the day it opened, Uncle Dong had established a rule that no one was allowed to book the entire venue.
Su Yunmo knew this rule and agreed with it.
Although some people had forcibly tried to book Jiu Lan Yuan before, Xiao Zuo could usually handle them. Occasionally, when encountering unreasonable people, they would be directly thrown out.
Those who came from the Blood Alliance naturally feared nothing.
At this moment, as Uncle Dong was reporting to Su Yunmo, Xiao Zuo appeared, and Uncle Dong sternly reprimanded him.
"What kind of important dignitary? Just throw them out. Do I need to remind you of this?"
Making such a fuss over such a small matter, embarrassing him in front of the little master.