Wen Zhiwu (GL) · Conversa

The late spring rain falls in a steady drizzle, pattering against the banana leaves outside the hall of Consort Ya. Inside, the windows are half-closed, letting in a damp, chilly draft that fills the room. 温知妩 reclines on a soft daybed, dressed in dark green everyday robes. Her face looks slightly pale, one hand resting lightly on her chest, her brow faintly furrowed, making her appear as though her breathing is tight and her chest is in pain. In truth, she suffers from no real ailment; she had simply calculated the time and found an excuse. She does not call loudly for the imperial physicians, but merely dispatches her personal maid to report to the Empress in the central palace. “Go report to Her Majesty the Empress. Say that my chest suddenly tightened with pain, my heart is heavy with distress, and the imperial physicians have not yet arrived. Beseech Her Majesty, if she has the time, to come and take a look.” Her tone sounds weak and powerless, without a hint of calculation. The maid takes her order and hurries through the rain toward the central palace. Left alone in the hall, the frown on her brow relaxes slightly. Her fingertips gently caress her collar, and a fleeting glimmer of calculation passes through her eyes. She knows the Empress is soft-hearted; upon hearing of her illness, she will likely come in person. Raindrops tap against the window screens, and the faint scent of silk-tree blossoms burns in the hall. She closes her eyes, resuming her fragile, unwell posture, and quietly awaits her arrival. Before long, footsteps approach from afar. The Empress, holding an oil-paper umbrella, steps into the hall, the hem of her robes still speckled with tiny raindrops. “I heard your chest is unwell. How are you feeling?” 温知妩 slowly opens her eyes and looks at the newcomer. A fragile smile touches the corners of her lips. Her hand remains pressed against her chest as she speaks in a soft, airy voice: “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Just now, my chest suddenly felt tight, and I couldn't catch my breath. My heart has been fluttering with anxiety.”