Upon entering, Li Qin saw that the bed where Qingqing lay had the green tasseled curtains drawn, and there were strange sounds coming from inside. Several maids were standing with their backs to the door, holding hot water and cloths, and there was a faint smell of white wine in the air. In the center stood a slender, elegantly dressed young woman, actually, Yuzhen. “Yuzhen?” Li Qin was surprised as Yuzhen turned around; he had thought he was seeing things. “Why are you here?” Yuzhen and the maids had been so focused that they didn’t notice Li Qin and Yafu’s entry until he called out her name, startling her into a quick curtsey. The strange sounds from the curtain resumed, barely audible unless one listened closely. Yuzhen, her face pale, forced a smile, “Your Highness… weren’t you… having a meal?” Li Qin, noticing her panic, which was identical to the physician’s earlier expression, suspected something was being kept from him regarding Qingqing. He devised a plan, smiling, “I’m asking why you are here, why are you asking about me instead?” “This… this…” As Yuzhen stuttered, Li Qin silently moved to the bedside, and without waiting for anyone to react, he threw open the curtains—
On the bed, Qingqing lay completely naked, her undeveloped breasts proudly standing, a smear of red on them as if declaring something. Her waist was too slender, as if from lack of nourishment. Her skin, like snow, had a porcelain-like glow, contrasting with her dark hair, creating a mysterious and eerie beauty. Next to her sat the Fourth Prince, his hand on her chest between her breasts, and beside the bed was a rough wine bottle. Seeing a woman’s body for the first time, Li Qin was embarrassed, but seeing the Fourth Prince in such a manner, he felt insulted. Without a word, he grabbed the Fourth Prince and started punching him, muttering, “You call me a beast? You are the beast… you beast…” The people outside didn’t dare to enter, and inside were only women, unable to stop the fight. Yuzhen suddenly shouted, “Stop! The Fourth Prince is saving Qingqing.” Li Qin paused, looking at Yuzhen with Yafu, puzzled. Yuzhen burst into tears, sobbing, “The Fourth Prince, to save Qingqing, first had someone buy this white wine at a high price, then sat in cold water for four hours to give himself a fever to save her…”
No wonder he was so hot, so weak, like a soft persimmon being dragged down by Li Qin. He remembered the physician mentioning that if someone with a high fever used this wine repeatedly, it could lower the fever, but if a normal person used it, the alcohol would be absorbed into the body and dissolve the blood. Thus, without sacrificing a normal person and still saving Qingqing, this was the method. Li Qin’s emotions were a mix of shame and self-reproach, cursing himself for not thinking of such a good method and for mistakenly beating the Fourth Prince. By then, the maids had helped Qingqing dress, her complexion had calmed, and her breathing was much quieter. The imperial physician entered, intending to check Qingqing’s pulse, but was startled to see the Fourth Prince lying on the ground, his face ashen. Seeing Li Qin standing by, clenching his fists in confusion, the physician quickly understood the situation. He instructed the palace maids to help the Fourth Prince up, and while taking his pulse, he remarked, “By the time, the Fourth Prince should have rescued Miss Lin, but he has injured himself in the process.” Li Qin, no longer concerned about appearances, anxiously watched the unconscious Fourth Prince, his tone both urgent and caring, “Is he seriously hurt?” Before the physician could respond, the Emperor, who had entered unnoticed, coldly remarked, “Can you even care for others?”
The Empress, who had also come, sensed trouble and, ignoring the presence of juniors and servants, knelt before the Emperor and spoke earnestly, “Since this woman entered the palace, these two brothers have fought three times. Though they weren’t particularly close before, they always respected each other. If Your Majesty wishes to punish someone, I have nothing to say. But right now, the most important thing is to wait for the Fourth Prince and Miss Lin to wake up!” Her words were heartfelt, and both Yafu and Yuzhen also knelt down, followed by all the servants and the physician in the room.
Once Yuzhen clearly explained the sequence of events, the Emperor’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He said, “His beating of the Fourth Prince might be excusable, but if Qingqing blames the Crown Prince upon waking, I will not spare him lightly.”
In the following days, as described in chapters 76 to 85, Li Qin felt a peculiar thought arise, as if Qingqing was truly the Emperor’s child. The Fourth Prince woke up, and the physician noted that his robust physique made his recovery much simpler since he wasn’t exposed to cold water like Qingqing, and his injuries were mostly superficial. It appeared Li Qin had held back, showing he still cared for his brother and wasn’t as impulsive as one might think.
Three days later, the physician confirmed Qingqing was out of danger but needed rest. That morning, as Qingqing awoke, the Emperor dismissed everyone except for Mr. Lin. The Emperor did this because he feared Qingqing might not tell the truth, knowing she was always intimidated by Mr. Lin. Helping Qingqing to sit up, the Emperor asked gently, “Qingqing, tell me, why were you and the Crown Prince at the lotus pond that day?”
Qingqing, still in pain, took a while to recall, “I was chasing the Crown Prince to the pond.”
“Did he push you into the water?” the Emperor asked.
Qingqing, shocked, turned even paler, “Why would Your Majesty think that? The Crown Prince was helping me retrieve something from the pond!”
Mr. Lin, with a stern face, chided, “You dare to make the Crown Prince fetch things for you?”
The Emperor signaled Mr. Lin to be silent and continued to ask Qingqing, who then explained the situation in detail, “Your Majesty, I heard the Crown Prince pulled me out of the water that day.”
The Emperor nodded, seeing Qingqing’s sincerity and knowing she wouldn’t lie in front of Mr. Lin. Yet, he felt a pang of sadness. After dismissing Mr. Lin, he spoke to Qingqing alone, “Qingqing, I know you are kind, but the Crown Prince… he’s somewhat playful.”
After Mr. Lin left, the Emperor, looking like an ordinary father concerned for his child, shared his worries with Qingqing. Qingqing suddenly envied Li Qin for having such an attentive father. She looked at the shadows on the floor, her eyes brimming with sadness, “With Your Majesty’s care, the Crown Prince will surely understand your intentions one day.”
The Emperor sighed heavily, “I am old; I don’t know when that day will come…”
Qingqing felt sympathy for this lonely old man but held back her words until the Emperor urged her to speak freely. She then suggested, “Perhaps Your Majesty’s attention feels like a towering mountain to the Crown Prince, too grand to approach, and his playful nature might just be a way to catch your attention.”
The Emperor’s expression shifted from confusion to deep thought. After a long silence, he leaned back, sighed, and murmured, “I have been negligent… What should I do?”
Qingqing, quick-witted, asked, “Does Your Majesty believe the Crown Prince has the talent to shoulder great responsibilities?”
The Emperor confirmed, “Of course, despite the Fourth Prince’s misunderstanding, I trust him. I’ve always known he’s a good child…”
Qingqing then quoted, “Have you heard of the saying, ‘The softest things in the world overcome the hardest’?”
The Emperor, after a moment of reflection, laughed heartily, “I understand now, ‘Why the iron, once forged, bends at the touch of a finger.’ I truly appreciate your insight, Qingqing. Do you know why I favor you among the younger generation?”