Every wound on Ning Chen was seen to.

The pain had Ning Chen in a cold sweat all over.

Lin Wen had sweated through his own clothes with the work of it.

"My lord prince, this old man will go and decoct your medicine. Outside and inside together will mend it faster."

Ning Chen gave a slight nod. "I am obliged to you, Imperial Physician Lin."

In fact Ning Chen had wounds still untreated.

The insides of his thighs, rubbed to a mess of blood and meat.

But he could hardly take his trousers off in front of these great lords and ministers, the consorts of the inner palace, and the princes and princesses.

So for the moment all he could do was grit his teeth and bear it.

He had a palace maid bring a basin of water. His hands were all dried scabs, and by the time he had washed them the water in the basin had turned red.

The officials civil and military watched the Hall of Cultivated Heart and waited for word, murmuring to one another now and then.

But Ning Chen was blocking the door, and they did not dare come forward at all.

As the first thread of morning sunlight fell on Ning Chen's black, roughened face, the sound of coughing came from inside the Hall of Cultivated Heart.

Every one of them was startled.

Every face there showed something different.

Zisu came out of the great hall, her small face drawn and her manner worn out, but there was gladness in her clear eyes.

"His Majesty is awake!"

Ning Chen had no attention for how the officials civil and military took it. Wild joy came into his face and he was up on his feet in one movement.

He looked at Zisu, shaken with it. "So His Majesty is out of danger?"

Zisu gave a slight nod. "He is awake. That means he is out of danger."

"Thank goodness. Thank goodness..."

Ning Chen was out of his head with joy and headed into the Hall of Cultivated Heart in long strides.

What happened…