Song Zhao timidly raised her eyes to look at Xiao Jingheng, and asked in confusion:
"Are you my husband?"
Xiao Jingheng's hand that was resting on the back of Song Zhao's hand was about to clasp it, but as his fingertips had just moved a little, Song Zhao immediately pulled her hand back.
Xiao Jingheng could not conceal his loss. Just as he was about to speak, Little Yinzi came to report:
"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have arrived."
Song Zhao watched as a group of unfamiliar faces walked into her palace quarters, respectfully greeting her and Xiao Jingheng:
"This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty, Noble Consort."
"No need for formalities," Xiao Jingheng said anxiously, "Hurry and see what is going on with the Noble Consort."
After several imperial physicians had consulted, Guo, the head physician, responded to Xiao Jingheng:
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has lost her memories from before, likely caused by the violent blow to her head that day. This is known as soul-loss syndrome. The symptoms are absentmindedness, inability to remember past events. The soul resides in the liver, so if there is liver deficiency..."
"Don't try to confuse Us with jargon," Xiao Jingheng coldly cut him off. "Just say how to treat it."
At this question, the physicians were left speechless.
Finally, Zhang the imperial physician reluctantly said:
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Daoists say a person has three hun souls and seven po souls. So-called soul-loss means one hun soul has left its orifice. Your Majesty, some things, once lost, can never be found again..."
"What you mean is..."
The physicians showed difficulty on their faces. Exchanging glances, they unanimously bowed and said in unison:
"We are incompetent. Please forgive Us, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng was stunned for a moment, before slowly recovering his senses. He turned his gaze back to Song Zhao.
In his reddened eyes was restrained tenderness.
"You really can't remember Us?"
Compared to his deep affection, Song Zhao only numbly shook her head.
Xiao Jingheng heaved a long sigh, and with difficulty squeezed out a smile to Song Zhao,
"It doesn't matter, don't be afraid. Even if you can't remember, it's alright. As long as you're safe and sound, as long as you're still by Our side, we can start over again."
His words were brief but heartfelt, yet Song Zhao didn't take in a single word.
She only watched as the physicians trembled in fear before Xiao Jingheng, bowing to him as if nailed to the ground, not daring to move at all, seemingly very afraid of him.
So she pulled at the quilt and timidly said:
"Are you always so fierce? They...seem to be very afraid of you."
Xiao Jingheng said: "They are not afraid, they are reverent. And you need not behave like them before Us."
Song Zhao evaded Xiao Jingheng's burning gaze, tightly pursed her tempting lips, and didn't speak again.
Zhang the imperial physician stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has only just awakened, it is inevitable she would be emotionally disturbed. To avoid startling the Consort, it is best not to have too many people gathered here."
In a lower voice, he reminded Xiao Jingheng:
"Your Majesty, many matters must be taken slowly."
Only then did Xiao Jingheng say: "Then Zhao'er, you rest well. We will come see you later."
Song Zhao watched as his tall figure gradually disappeared into the bright open space outside. Only then did she heave a long sigh of relief.
Soon after, she saw a palace servant with a formal hat walk in.
His eyes were moist as he knelt down ten feet away from Song Zhao's couch, giving her a fright.
"This slave greets the Noble Consort," he said.
Song Zhao frowned and sized him up for a moment. She then instinctively looked to Yun Shan.
Yun Shan understood, and quickly said: "I am Yun Shan, Consort's personal servant girl who grew up by your side since childhood. He is Xiao Fuzi, assigned to serve you after you entered the palace. And you..."
She looked at Song Zhao with tearful eyes: "Consort's personal name is Song Zhao, daughter of Duke of Protector Song."
"Song Zhao." Song Zhao softly murmured the name, then asked: "What about my parents?"
Yun Shan's expression fell for a moment. "There was upheaval in the household, Consort's parents passed away early on."
Perhaps because she had lost her memories, upon hearing of her parents' deaths, Song Zhao did not show grief.
Yun Shan quickly went on: "But His Majesty treats Consort extremely well. In the four years since entering the palace, Consort and His Majesty have been loving and harmonious, the envy of others."
Seeing Song Zhao in a daze, Xiao Fuzi said: "Consort has only just woken up, it's best to go slowly in telling her of many matters."
In the days that followed, no matter how busy state affairs were, Xiao Jingheng made time every day to accompany Song Zhao.
Gifts from the Imperial Household Department continuously streamed into Chang Le Palace, a dazzling array of pearls and jewels. It was hard to pick out the best ones.
By Xiao Jingheng's decree, until Song Zhao's emotions stabilized, no other consorts were permitted to bother her at Chang Le Palace.
So Song Zhao had not yet seen any other consorts in the palace.
One day while appreciating flowers in the Imperial Garden, she encountered Concubine He and Concubine Li.
They quickly came to greet her: "This concubine pays respects to the Noble Consort, may Consort have endless blessings and peace."
Yun Shan whispered in Song Zhao's ear: "Consort, it is Concubine He and Concubine Li."
Seeing them smile at her, Song Zhao also nodded slightly and returned them a faint smile.
After parting, she asked Yun Shan: "Did I have a good relationship with them before?"
Yun Shan said: "The consorts in the rear palace live in harmony, Consort gets along extremely well with them."
"They are also Xiao Jingheng's women, but why do they..."
"Consort, choose your words carefully!" Yun Shan was frightened, and quickly stopped Song Zhao's recklessness. "You must address His Majesty as 'His Majesty', not directly by name."
"Oh..." Song Zhao responded vaguely, still puzzled. "They are also His Majesty's women, but why do they go out alone while I have so many people following me?"
Yun Shan said: "You are the Noble Consort, they are only concubines, naturally they cannot compare to your nobility."
Song Zhao timidly raised her eyes to look at Xiao Jingheng, and asked in confusion:
"Are you my husband?"
Xiao Jingheng's hand that was resting on the back of Song Zhao's hand was about to clasp it, but as his fingertips had just moved a little, Song Zhao immediately pulled her hand back.
Xiao Jingheng could not conceal his loss. Just as he was about to speak, Little Yinzi came to report:
"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have arrived."
Song Zhao watched as a group of unfamiliar faces walked into her palace quarters, respectfully greeting her and Xiao Jingheng:
"This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty, Noble Consort."
"No need for formalities," Xiao Jingheng said anxiously, "Hurry and see what is going on with the Noble Consort."
After several imperial physicians had consulted, Guo, the head physician, responded to Xiao Jingheng:
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has lost her memories from before, likely caused by the violent blow to her head that day. This is known as soul-loss syndrome. The symptoms are absentmindedness, inability to remember past events. The soul resides in the liver, so if there is liver deficiency..."
"Don't try to confuse Us with jargon," Xiao Jingheng coldly cut him off. "Just say how to treat it."
At this question, the physicians were left speechless.
Finally, Zhang the imperial physician reluctantly said:
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Daoists say a person has three hun souls and seven po souls. So-called soul-loss means one hun soul has left its orifice. Your Majesty, some things, once lost, can never be found again..."
"What you mean is..."
The physicians showed difficulty on their faces. Exchanging glances, they unanimously bowed and said in unison:
"We are incompetent. Please forgive Us, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng was stunned for a moment, before slowly recovering his senses. He turned his gaze back to Song Zhao.
In his reddened eyes was restrained tenderness.
"You really can't remember Us?"
Compared to his deep affection, Song Zhao only numbly shook her head.
Xiao Jingheng heaved a long sigh, and with difficulty squeezed out a smile to Song Zhao,
"It doesn't matter, don't be afraid. Even if you can't remember, it's alright. As long as you're safe and sound, as long as you're still by Our side, we can start over again."
His words were brief but heartfelt, yet Song Zhao didn't take in a single word.
She only watched as the physicians trembled in fear before Xiao Jingheng, bowing to him as if nailed to the ground, not daring to move at all, seemingly very afraid of him.
So she pulled at the quilt and timidly said:
"Are you always so fierce? They...seem to be very afraid of you."
Xiao Jingheng said: "They are not afraid, they are reverent. And you need not behave like them before Us."
Song Zhao evaded Xiao Jingheng's burning gaze, tightly pursed her tempting lips, and didn't speak again.
Zhang the imperial physician stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has only just awakened, it is inevitable she would be emotionally disturbed. To avoid startling the Consort, it is best not to have too many people gathered here."
In a lower voice, he reminded Xiao Jingheng:
"Your Majesty, many matters must be taken slowly."
Only then did Xiao Jingheng say: "Then Zhao'er, you rest well. We will come see you later."
Song Zhao watched as his tall figure gradually disappeared into the bright open space outside. Only then did she heave a long sigh of relief.
Soon after, she saw a palace servant with a formal hat walk in.
His eyes were moist as he knelt down ten feet away from Song Zhao's couch, giving her a fright.
"This slave greets the Noble Consort," he said.
Song Zhao frowned and sized him up for a moment. She then instinctively looked to Yun Shan.
Yun Shan understood, and quickly said: "I am Yun Shan, Consort's personal servant girl who grew up by your side since childhood. He is Xiao Fuzi, assigned to serve you after you entered the palace. And you..."
She looked at Song Zhao with tearful eyes: "Consort's personal name is Song Zhao, daughter of Duke of Protector Song."
"Song Zhao." Song Zhao softly murmured the name, then asked: "What about my parents?"
Yun Shan's expression fell for a moment. "There was upheaval in the household, Consort's parents passed away early on."
Perhaps because she had lost her memories, upon hearing of her parents' deaths, Song Zhao did not show grief.
Yun Shan quickly went on: "But His Majesty treats Consort extremely well. In the four years since entering the palace, Consort and His Majesty have been loving and harmonious, the envy of others."
Seeing Song Zhao in a daze, Xiao Fuzi said: "Consort has only just woken up, it's best to go slowly in telling her of many matters."
In the days that followed, no matter how busy state affairs were, Xiao Jingheng made time every day to accompany Song Zhao.
Gifts from the Imperial Household Department continuously streamed into Chang Le Palace, a dazzling array of pearls and jewels. It was hard to pick out the best ones.
By Xiao Jingheng's decree, until Song Zhao's emotions stabilized, no other consorts were permitted to bother her at Chang Le Palace.
So Song Zhao had not yet seen any other consorts in the palace.
One day while appreciating flowers in the Imperial Garden, she encountered Concubine He and Concubine Li.
They quickly came to greet her: "This concubine pays respects to the Noble Consort, may Consort have endless blessings and peace."
Yun Shan whispered in Song Zhao's ear: "Consort, it is Concubine He and Concubine Li."
Seeing them smile at her, Song Zhao also nodded slightly and returned them a faint smile.
After parting, she asked Yun Shan: "Did I have a good relationship with them before?"
Yun Shan said: "The consorts in the rear palace live in harmony, Consort gets along extremely well with them."
"They are also Xiao Jingheng's women, but why do they..."
"Consort, choose your words carefully!" Yun Shan was frightened, and quickly stopped Song Zhao's recklessness. "You must address His Majesty as 'His Majesty', not directly by name."
"Oh..." Song Zhao responded vaguely, still puzzled. "They are also His Majesty's women, but why do they go out alone while I have so many people following me?"
Yun Shan said: "You are the Noble Consort, they are only concubines, naturally they cannot compare to your nobility."
