My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 128 Autumn Examination
Fengkun Palace, night.

Rong Shuang was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound beside her. When she got up, she saw Emperor Huiyuan rubbing his temples.

Rong Shuang then reached out and gently massaged Emperor Huiyuan's head, saying, "Your headache seems to be getting worse."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "I am getting old after all. I am now forty-four years old... I have been on the throne for thirty years."

"You're still in your prime, how can you be old?"

Emperor Huiyuan said, "I have finally made you empress, and my only wish has been fulfilled."

Rong Shuang rubbed Emperor Huiyuan's head and said, "After Xiao Qi passes the imperial examination, you can entrust more of the affairs of the court to him."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "That is my intention. I just want to hold on for two more years so that Xiao Qi can gain a foothold in the court... that's enough."

Rong Shuang felt somewhat saddened upon hearing Emperor Huiyuan's words, but she could also sense that His Majesty's health seemed to be deteriorating in the past few days.

Emperor Huiyuan was often awakened by headaches at night, which made Rong Shuang very uneasy.

Rong Shuang said, "Your Majesty, why don't you post an imperial edict and see if there are any skilled doctors among the common people who can cure your headache?"

Emperor Huiyuan said, "My headache is a chronic ailment, and I suppose it cannot be cured."
-
July's heat has subsided, and Xiao Zhang'er's birthday has passed; the weather is no longer hot.

Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi were even busier, as the autumn imperial examination in Chang'an was only half a month away.

In the past few days, Lu Jinshi has hardly had any rest. Besides grading papers, he has been giving individual pointers on their essays.

On the second day of the eighth lunar month, the day of the exam, Dean Lin, who was bedridden, also got up to see the students off into the examination hall.

As Lu Jinshi escorted Rong Yi inside, he helped Rong Yi straighten his clothes and said, "During the three days in the examination hall, write your essays well. You must be the top scholar in this autumn examination. My two previous fiancés were both top scholars, so you can't fall behind..."

Rong Yi frowned and said, "Although they are both top scholars, one is unlucky and the other is stupid."

Seeing that Rong Yi seemed jealous, Lu Jinshi chuckled and whispered in Rong Yi's ear, "If you can win over the top scholar, I'll give you my wish..."

Rong Yi's eyes darkened. "Did you say that?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Go in quickly and take the exam well. I'll wait for you to come out."

Rong Yi covered his face with his sleeve, kissed Lu Jinshi's cheek, and then entered the examination hall.

After the examination hall doors were closed, Lu Jinshi returned to the palace.

Upon learning that Xiao Zhang'er was in Fengkun Palace, Lu Jinshi went there.

"Mother."

Rong Shuang, holding Zhang'er, asked, "Has Yi'er already entered the examination hall?"

"Yes, he's already inside." Lu Jinshi smiled faintly. "Mother, just wait for the Seventh Prince's good news."

Rong Shuang said, "I am not worried about Yi'er's talent. It is good that he has passed the imperial examination. He can enter the court sooner and share the burden with His Majesty. His Majesty's headache has become more and more severe these days."

Lu Jinshi had heard that His Majesty was unwell these past few days, but he thought that His Majesty was in his prime and it was nothing to worry about. However, judging from Rong Shuang's worried expression, it seemed that His Majesty's illness was not serious.

Lu Jinshi asked, "Is Your Majesty's headache severe?"

Rong Shuang sighed softly, "Yes, I always have trouble sleeping at night, and the imperial physicians are helpless."

Lu Jinshi said, "I have read about the method of using gua sha to treat headaches in ancient medical books. The old people in Shanyin City also use gua sha to treat headaches, but..."

Rong Shuang asked, "But what?"

Lu Jinshi said, "But this cupping method is quite painful. Your Majesty is of imperial health, so I dare not perform cupping for you." Rong Shuang smiled and said, "If it can cure Your Majesty's headache, then the temporary pain is not a problem. Come with me to the Zichen Palace."

Lu Jinshi and Rong Shuang met outside the Zichen Palace.

Inside the palace, the Prince of Yan was delivering medicine to Emperor Huiyuan.

"Father, it is all my fault for being unfilial, causing you to fall ill. I have found a miraculous medicine from India that can cure headaches. I have personally tested it, so you can use it with peace of mind."

As he spoke, the Prince of Yan took a pill from the medicine box and put it in his mouth. "This medicine is remarkably effective in treating stubborn headaches."

"You've shown your kindness. Please put down the medication and leave."

"Yes, Father."

After the Prince of Yan came out, Lu Jinshi and Empress Rong entered the palace.

"His Majesty."

"Father."

Emperor Huiyuan chuckled and said, "Why are you here? Has Yi'er already entered the examination hall? He really is something else. He could have gone directly to the court to become an official, but he insisted on going to the examination hall... Isn't that taking up someone else's spot for nothing?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Therefore, I request Your Majesty to grant one more place in this year's Chang'an Autumn Examination."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Yes, that's natural. I've already given the order. But if Yi'er doesn't pass the imperial examination, there won't be many more spots available."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "I believe the Seventh Prince will definitely be among the top students."

Empress Rong chuckled and said, "Yi'er has studied for so many years, surely he wouldn't fail the imperial examination?"

Emperor Huiyuan said, "The autumn examinations in Chang'an are different from those in other places. The autumn examinations in Chang'an are full of talented people. If Yi'er wants to pass the examinations, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Seventh Prince's talent makes it easy for him to pass the imperial examination, but it is indeed quite difficult for him to become the top scholar in the provincial examination."

Emperor Huiyuan couldn't help but smile and said, "Your standards are quite high. If Yi'er can truly become the top scholar, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Empress Rong walked to Emperor Huiyuan's side and said, "Is this the elixir that the third prince brought just now?"

Emperor Huiyuan nodded and said, "Just throw it away. I don't take any medicine from outside the palace."

Empress Rong said, "Your Majesty, your headache is getting worse. Let the imperial physician take a look. If this medicine is effective, then you can take it."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "I really dare not take the medicine that the third prince sent. Although the headache is very painful, I can endure it. Even if this medicine can cure the headache, I will not take it."

Empress Rong couldn't help but say, "Prince Yan wouldn't be so bold as to send you poison. I just saw him take one himself, so the medicine shouldn't be a big problem."

Emperor Huiyuan, however, remained wary and said, "It's better not to take this medicine."

Lu Jinshi looked up at Emperor Huiyuan and said, “Your Majesty, I once read a medical book that recorded a method of treating headaches by twisting the skin. Your headache started during the hot summer and autumn, so twisting the skin may be able to treat it... This method is also commonly used by the people of Shanyin to treat headaches.”

Emperor Huiyuan asked, "Gua Sha? What is Gua Sha?"

Lu Jinshi reported: "Twisting sha is similar to scraping sha, except that twisting sha involves bending the index and middle fingers and twisting hard on the neck and between the eyebrows to pull out sha, but it is very painful."

Emperor Huiyuan asked, "Do you know how?"

Lu Jinshi said in a low voice, "I know how, but this method is quite painful... I dare not use this method on His Majesty..."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "A short pain is worse than a long one. I've been suffering from this headache for two or three months now. It would be best if it could be cured."