The first day was actually not bad, Jiajing Emperor sometimes regretted when he thought, "What if Li Changzhou was killed, or if Li Changzhou thought the Imperial Palace was dangerous and never returned."
This emotion could be suppressed and then it passed.
At night, vigorous as a dragon and lively as a tiger, he favored Honored Concubine Yan, Honored Concubine Wen, Honored Concubine Zhang, and Honored Concubine Bao, and he forgot all about it.
The next day, waking up early, as he walked out of his sleeping quarters, the moon still hanging in the sky, he felt that whether Li Changzhou was the Divine Sect Emperor or not, wasn't so important.
When he returned, he planned to change the title of Heavenly Emperor and demote the rank of Immortal Marquis to that of Immortal Earl, and then it would be behind him.
On the second day of the new year, besides granting a banquet to the royal dukes, Jiajing Emperor was continuously practicing the art of Breathing and Exhaling.
Only after his meal, did a faint sense of clarity pass through his body.
That night, he favored Honored Concubine Ma and Honored Concubine Chen, and took pleasure with a Palace Maid, experiencing some swelling and pain while urinating.
The title of Heavenly Emperor was first adopted by the Divine Sect's initial traitor; what fault was there of Li Changzhou? The demotion was unnecessary; let him remain as Immortal Marquis.
On the third day of the new year, at the Imperial Gate, he called for a tea banquet with prominent scholars and academics from the Inner Court, spending the rest of the time cultivating.
That night, he favored Honored Concubine Cao, feeling better than yesterday, and additionally commanded Honored Concubine Wang Li and Wang Ningpin to attend him.
In the morning, he sent people to inquire about the news of the Immortal Marquis.
On the fourth day of the new year, at the Huiji Gate, he granted a banquet to the royal family, as well as envoys from Korea, Annan (Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), and Gurkha (present-day Nepal), each received gifts.
That night, he favored Honored Concubine Fu and Honored Concubine Zhang, relishing the Innate Elixir after a long absence.
In the morning, he awoke feeling somewhat vague; he felt slightly invigorated only after his meal and another session of Breathing and Exhaling.
On the fifth day of the new year, he granted a banquet in the West Garden to princes and princesses, watched a play for a while, and thrice inquired about the news of the Immortal Marquis.
That night, he continued to take the Innate Elixir and favored Honored Concubine Chen, Honored Concubine Wang, and Honored Concubine He.
In the morning, he got up with a shaky stride, slipped in front of his sleeping quarters, and fell, breaking his leg, and consequently, three eunuchs were beaten to death.
"The leg injury is just a trifle; it will heal with a few months' rest. What is most worrisome is Your Majesty's health; these days, daily exertions and consuming the Elixir have weakened the body, worse than before the new year," Li Shizhen, having taken his pulse, spoke while stroking his beard.
Jiajing Emperor sat in his chair, though his figure was emaciated, he still maintained the dignity of managing the world's affairs.
After hearing what Li Shizhen said, his expression remained unchanged.
Li Changzhou was once misdiagnosed by a mediocre doctor for indulgence, and he felt ashamed and annoyed because he was an ordinary person.
As an Emperor, where everyone wipes for him and his feces are daily inspected by the Imperial Physician, he faces no such shame.
Huang Jin said, "Li Imperial Physician, even if it was a loss, it wouldn't be so rapid, right? Could it be... was the strong constitution in the previous days an illusion?"
Li Shizhen frowned, pondering for a while.
Since Huang Jin was the personal attendant eunuch who often voiced queries that Jiajing Emperor found unsuitable to ask directly, Li Shizhen had to consider his response carefully, as Jiajing Emperor would hear the answer.
That Jiajing Emperor's body was strong did indeed carry an oddity.
Placed on a commoner, not to mention becoming strong within a day, even possessing Herculean strength would be a minor occurrence, but it's impossible for an Emperor, invulnerable to all.
After a long thought, Li Shizhen still shook his head, "Your Majesty, your strong body in the past few days had no issues. If there really were an issue, it would be due to my inadequate medical skills, failing to understand the profound mystery within."
Huang Jin discreetly looked towards Jiajing Emperor.
Jiajing Emperor was silent.
Li Shizhen often advised Jiajing Emperor not to consume the "Innate Elixir," hence he was not favored, and it was precisely for this reason that even after Li Shizhen left his official post, he was still called by nobles to attend to medical affairs.
After a long time, Jiajing Emperor said, "From today until the fourteenth, cancel all inside banquets; I will see no one."
"Yes," Huang Jin bowed his head to receive the order.
"You may leave," Jiajing Emperor closed his eyes.
Huang Jin and Li Shizhen bowed and exited, followed by eunuchs and Palace Maids.
Jiajing Emperor was left alone in the hall, the blue smoke from the reviving incense curling up, he stood up, limped over to the Incense Cauldron, leaning entirely on it, for a good while, the body of the cauldron remained unsteadied.
The straight blue smoke from the reviving incense was blown askew by his breath.
On the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth days, Jiajing Emperor's condition worsened each day, and intimate relations became a significant issue; only by taking the Innate Elixir could he barely manage.
On the night of the tenth day.
"Your Majesty, be careful not to catch cold," Huang Jin walked to the window, intending to close it.
"Get away!" Jiajing Emperor yelled angrily.
Huang Jin's body trembled, but he was not very afraid; he knew that doing so would certainly provoke a scolding, but some scoldings must be endured, such is blind loyalty.
On the tenth day of the first month, the moon was already full, and in five days, it would be the Lantern Festival. Jiajing Emperor was soaking his feet while gazing out of the window.
At that moment, a duty eunuch hurriedly entered from outside the door, kneeling outside the Nuan Pavilion.
Huang Jin went out to listen to the report and after dismissing the duty eunuch, he came back in.
"Your Majesty, there's news of the Immortal Marquis!"
Jiajing Emperor continued looking at the bright moon outside the window.
"Just received the news, on the second day, the Immortal Marquis, above the Bohai Sea, subjected four of the five Heavenly Monarchs of the Divine Sect to the law! He also killed the leader of the White Lotus Sect, the Fire Residence Daoist, and the villains of the Spirit Treasure Sect!"
Jiajing Emperor remained silent, Huang Jin's initially excited expression gradually turned to unease.
"Huang Jin."
"This servant is here!" Huang Jin responded softly yet firmly.