Chapter 16: Sleepless and Restless
Tongzhou was not far from Yong’an, but the mountain roads were rugged and winding, taking time to traverse.
As Han Min traveled north, he hadn’t heard anyone discussing the events in Yong’an City, nor had he heard any edict about the new emperor’s ascension. He could only assume that things had gone badly.
The system had sent messages to the control center, asking about the situation, but no reply had yet come.
By evening, light snow fell over Yong’an City. Wind seeped into his robes, chilling him to the bone—almost painfully so.
He entered the city just before the gates closed, intending to first glance at the palace gate, then seek out his former teachers or other friends to find another way to gather information.
Exhausted from days of travel without much sleep, his vision blurred, and he fell off his horse.
Han Min thought to himself: This is it… if it’s the Duke of Gong inside the palace, I’m dead in my dreams.
Yet, he didn’t really want to die.
Fifth Prince Fu Rang, leaving the palace, saw him and ran forward, pushing away an attendant trying to follow.
“Why are you following me? Go tell the emperor.”
Fu Rang pulled Han Min from the snow, rubbing his face. “Han Min?”
Han Min didn’t respond, not even a flutter of his eyelashes.
Fu Rang grew anxious, called his name twice more, then hoisted him onto his back and headed back.
He instructed the attendants: “Send someone to Liang’s house to fetch the old physician. Prepare Qingshun Hall, light the stove, and arrange a few more beds and blankets.”
Even Fu Rang felt a bit afraid.
After only one stretch of palace path, he could no longer resist and put a finger under Han Min’s nose to check for breath.
Before he could confirm, rounding the corner of the palace wall, they collided with someone.
Fu Xun hurried by, without a cloak, wearing only light clothes.
Fu Rang called out, “Your Majesty?”
Fu Xun didn’t respond, not looking at him, but at Han Min lying across Fu Rang’s back.
He took the cloak handed by a palace attendant and draped it over Han Min. “Give him to me.”
“Yes.”
Fu Xun didn’t go to Qingshun Hall, as Fu Rang had arranged. He carried Han Min in another direction.
Fu Rang paused.
The solidly built Prince Yue ran alongside, helping him catch his breath. “Where is Han Min?”
Fu Rang pointed ahead. “The emperor has taken him back to the inner palace.”
—
Inside Funing Hall, all was quiet, save for hurried footsteps and the rustle of clothes.
Servants came and went. Han Min lay on the couch, eyes tightly closed, his face pale.
Fu Xun sat at the edge of the couch, hands folded, motionless.
He knew that ever since the last raid on Han Min’s family, his health had never been good.
From Tongzhou to Yong’an, traveling without sleep or rest, it would have taken at least five or six days. He wondered how Han Min had managed it.
Fu Xun lowered his gaze, seeing Han Min’s frail state, his mind filled with thoughts.
He recalled their parting in Liuzhou. Han Min had said, “Your Highness, be careful in all things. If things go wrong, come to Tongzhou and find me. I’ve already planned an escape route—we can take you along…”
That was why he had come.
Liang, the old imperial physician, took Han Min’s pulse, then placed his hand back under the covers.
“Let him sleep peacefully for a while. I’ll prepare a prescription and supervise the medicine.”
Fu Xun waved the attendants away.
Physician Liang wanted Han Min to sleep soundly, but he did not.
He frowned, as if trying to wake but unable.
Fu Xun didn’t understand this, so he reached to touch his forehead.
It wasn’t hot—rather, cool.
Strangely, when Fu Xun’s hand touched him, Han Min seemed to relax slightly, his expression softening.
So Fu Xun placed his hand on Han Min’s forehead and sat quietly for a while.
Soon after, Physician Liang approached with a bowl of medicine.
“Your Majesty.”
Fu Xun helped Han Min sit up, supporting him from behind, holding his shoulders, letting Physician Liang feed him the medicine.
The decoction was black and bitter.
Han Min refused, sipping and then turning his head to spit it onto Fu Xun.
Fu Xun frowned, held his chin: “Take another sip.”
He spat again.
Physician Liang lowered his head, pretending not to notice.
Fu Xun said, “Feed him a few more times. Later, make it into pills for him.”
“Yes.”
After a bowl, Han Min had vomited most of it. Fu Xun pressed his thumb to his lips, wiping off the residue, and set him down.
Physician Liang, still bowing his head, said: “Your Majesty, change your clothes. I’ll watch him here.”
Fu Xun went out to change, only to have a guard report: “Your Majesty, Prince Yue and Fifth Prince are still waiting in the side hall.”
He draped the new clothes over a hanger, put another on, and said: “Let them return first. Han Min stays in the palace to recuperate. Instruct them not to let anyone know he’s back.”
“Yes.”
“And check the eagle loft. Find out where the messenger eagle that brought Han Min his letter went. He probably didn’t get the reply, which is why he came.”
“Yes.”
He was about to say more when Physician Liang ran out from inside.
“Your Majesty!”
Fu Xun rushed back and lifted the curtain—Han Min was not well.
Cold accumulated in his body, now manifesting as heat. Combined with poor sleep, he appeared to be suffering from a night terror.
Night terror.
Fu Xun suddenly realized something unpleasant.
In Liuzhou, Han Min had still been writing late at night.
In Tongzhou, sharing a room, it was the same—Han Min tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Fu Xun, thinking he was cold, covered him with his cloak. Only at dawn did Han Min gradually fall asleep.
Now, thinking carefully, Fu Xun realized Han Min had never slept well at night—ever since the family raid two years ago, he suffered nightly nightmares.
Author’s Notes:
Before Chapter 16, Min Min had never slept a full night.
Liuzhou and Tongzhou had hinted at this. His brother had also asked: “Unable to sleep all night outside? Another nightmare?”
