Yaran led Song Chaoyu forward and gently knocked on the chamber door. "Your Ladyship, the Princess of Chang has come to see you!"
No sound came from within the chamber.
The silence was so profound that Song Chaoyu almost doubted if the Noble Consort was truly inside.
Yaran sighed and shook her head at Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu understood her meaning and stepped forward to knock on the chamber door herself. "Mother Consort, it is I, your daughter-in-law, come to see you. The Prince and I are both very worried about you. Regardless, I must see you today. Please open the door, won't you?"
"Ai—"
Song Chaoyu could almost hear a barely audible sigh from within the chamber.
It was the Noble Consort's voice.
Song Chaoyu finally heard the Noble Consort's footsteps approaching the door.
Her steps were slow, seeming somewhat hesitant.
She stopped at the door and said in a low voice to Song Chaoyu standing outside, "Princess, you are kind. But I am fine. This illness can be transmitted to others, so Princess, please return quickly. You need not worry about me. Jingran is here to care for me, and I am well."
At least, listening to the Noble Consort speak, Song Chaoyu felt she seemed all right.
Since Song Chaoyu had come this far, she was not about to leave.
She gently knocked on the door again and said softly, "Mother Consort, the Prince and I are truly worried about you. Please let me in? Even just to see you for a moment would be enough. Please, allow me in. As soon as I see you are well, I will leave immediately. Mother Consort... although I don't know what has happened, I truly hope you can be well."
Song Chaoyu's words were filled with sincerity.
"Ai—"
The Noble Consort within sighed once more and said, "I knew you and Chang'er would be like this. Very well, I will open the door for you. Have Yaran outside give you a veil, and then sprinkle some medicinal powder on yourself before coming in."
Although Song Chaoyu felt something was amiss, believing the illness might not be contagious, she did as the Noble Consort asked.
Even Yaran, as she helped Song Chaoyu put on the veil, couldn't help but murmur, "Actually, Your Maidservant thinks this illness might not be contagious. We have served Her Ladyship for so long, and only Sister Jingran is like Her Ladyship, which is why she was confined to the chamber with Her Ladyship."
She smiled slightly and sprinkled the medicinal powder prepared by the imperial physicians all over Song Chaoyu. "However, Her Ladyship has always doted on the Princess. This powder is the best from the Imperial Hospital. I only hope that after the Princess enters, she can persuade Her Ladyship more!"
"I will."
Song Chaoyu would certainly do so, and believed she could.
The medicinal powder had a somewhat pungent smell, which Song Chaoyu endured as she entered the Noble Consort's chamber—
At first glance, the chamber looked as it always did.
Except for the pervasive scent of medicinal herbs, there seemed to be no other distinguishing features.
The Noble Consort was sitting on a couch before the sealed bed, her face also veiled.
The one who opened the door for Song Chaoyu was also wearing a veil, but the two of them seemed to be as usual, without any particular discomfort.
"Mother Consort."
Song Chaoyu's heart finally settled a little, but she became even more confused. "What exactly is going on?"
"Ai—"
The Noble Consort sighed and shook her head. "I naturally do not wish to keep you all outside. But this illness is peculiar, and I must be cautious."
Knowing Song Chaoyu's purpose, she added, "Since you are here today, you naturally deserve to know the entire reason. Please sit and listen to me."
The Noble Consort understood Song Chaoyu's intention. Since she had finally allowed her in, she would not hide anything further.
The Noble Consort said that it all began with her "illness"—
At first, everyone thought the Noble Consort had merely caught a cold, as the symptoms were so similar. Besides the cold symptoms, the Noble Consort felt no other discomfort.
But later, the Noble Consort discovered that she had begun to develop many small red rashes on her body.
These small rashes were initially neither painful nor itchy, so the Noble Consort paid them no mind, thinking she would summon an imperial physician after her cold had passed.
However, her "cold" worsened.
After taking the imperial physicians' medicine, not only did the cold not improve, but the rashes on her body also became more severe.
Only then did the Noble Consort realize something was wrong and summoned more imperial physicians.
To everyone's surprise, the imperial physicians could not discern anything.
Moreover, all of the Noble Consort's symptoms corresponded entirely to those of a cold.
At the same time, Jingran, who served by the Noble Consort's side, also began to exhibit similar symptoms.
Her condition was even worse than the Noble Consort's.
But even after hearing this, Song Chaoyu still did not understand. "Actually... even if that were the case, Mother Consort, you wouldn't need to avoid seeing people. No matter what illness it is, if the Imperial Hospital cannot cure it, then bring in doctors from outside. There is always a way to solve it, isn't there?"
"Ai..."
The Noble Consort sighed again and then nodded at Jingran. "Jingran, remove your veil and let the Princess see your appearance."
Jingran stepped forward and removed her veil before Song Chaoyu—
"Hiss—"
Seeing Jingran's appearance, Song Chaoyu couldn't help but gasp.
Jingran's face was disfigured!
It was evident that her face had previously broken out in many small rashes, and then, for some reason, those rashes had ruptured.
They had festered and become suppurated on her face, and some severely damaged rashes had even begun to grow new flesh!
In those damaged areas, the marks of medicinal treatment were clearly visible.
But it was evident that no medicine could halt the worsening of her condition.
Her face was completely ruined! It was no wonder she had to wear a veil.
If Jingran was like this, then the Noble Consort's situation was likely even worse.
Song Chaoyu looked at the Noble Consort and suddenly understood. "No wonder Mother Consort did not allow the Emperor and Empress to see your appearance."
"A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her."
The Noble Consort's tone was filled with helplessness. "Although the Emperor is devoted to me, there are many things more important than me in the court. If this face is gone, how long can his affection for me last?"
The Noble Consort gave a bitter smile. "I have a rough idea of what is happening. Perhaps... that person has returned. I had thought it would be good to die and atone. But I cannot rest easy about you and Chang'er. Since you are here today, I want you to know. Go back and tell Chang'er not to worry about me anymore. I fear I may not make it. But I am willing. As long as your future days are good, my heart will be at peace."