Two hours later, with a fit of coughing, the Xuan Emperor woke.

"Your Majesty...!"

Ning Chen rushed to the bedside, his whole face lit with joy.

"Your Majesty, how do you feel?"

There was a whiteness in the Xuan Emperor's face. He looked at Ning Chen with comfort in his eyes and said, his voice a little hoarse, "This emperor... is all right."

"Zisu, come and look. How is His Majesty?"

Zisu came forward and examined the Xuan Emperor's condition. "As long as he has woken, he is out of danger for now... Give His Majesty a little water. Not too much."

Ning Chen quickly fed the Xuan Emperor a little water.

"Ning Chen, help this emperor up."

Ning Chen helped the Xuan Emperor sit up and settled him against the head of the bed.

"Stinking boy. What are you crying for? This emperor is all right, isn't he?"

"I'm not crying..." Ning Chen said, and as he spoke he wiped the corner of his eye. It was wet. "The wind is strong. I got sand in my eye."

The Xuan Emperor laughed without a sound.

"Father Emperor, how are you?"

The Ninth Princess came forward, her whole face full of worry.

The Xuan Emperor shook his head gently. "None of you worry. This emperor is all right."

"Ning Chen, how do things stand outside?"

"Set your mind at rest, Your Majesty. It is all over."

"And that unfilial wretch?"

Ning Chen said, "Held in the Inspectorate's cells."

"Your Majesty, don't think about anything just now. Your most important task at present is to get your health back. Everything else can wait."

Eunuch Quan said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, my lord marquis is right. Your Majesty's health is what matters."

The Xuan Emperor nodded slightly.

Ning Chen looked at Zisu. "His Majesty has woken. Does that mean he's all right now?"

Zisu hesitated, then said, "His Majesty has been taking the Nourishing the Source Decoction all along, and the foundation of his body is sound enough... He was in a cold, damp cellar long enough that the cold went into his…