In the early morning shrouded in thick fog, the gate of the Xu Mansion was closed, and there was silence in the courtyard. On the ancient stone pavement, a few dead leaves are gently blown by the wind, as if telling an unknown secret. In Xu Fuzhong, Xu Zhihu, who was in the prime of life, was lying on her gorgeous bed, her face was pale, but her eyes revealed a trace of imperceptible perseverance. Her fate seems to have been firmly bound by mysterious forces that make her fire of life sway in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
Xu Zhihu's illness is not only a physical disease, but also an entanglement of fate. Everyone around her, from faithful servants to experienced healers, was doing their best to heal. However, there seems to be an invisible force that is quietly influencing Xu Zhihu's fate. This power is closely related to her relative, Xu Fengnian, the reincarnation of Emperor Zhenwu.
1. A weak constitution that has not been trained in martial arts
Xu Zhihu was physically weak due to a lack of martial arts training in his prime. In the mansion where she lived, although she was cared for by healers and servants, her constitution was still weak. Whenever he saw the guards and servants in the mansion in good health, Xu Zhihu couldn't help but feel a trace of envy in his heart. She often walks in the gardens of the house, trying to strengthen her physique through this gentle exercise.
Early one morning, the doctors in the palace came to Xu Zhihu's residence to check her pulse. The healer's face was solemn, and he whispered to her, "Madam, your pulse is weak, and you must rest more. Xu Zhihu nodded, but he was powerless to say more. The doctor then instructed, "I will prepare a tonic for you, I hope it can help." ”
In the afternoon, Xu Zhihu walked slowly in the garden, her steps soft and slow. The servants on the side cautiously followed her, ready to help. The flowers in the garden are in full bloom, but Xu Zhihu's eyes don't seem to have the brilliance of the past.
That night, Xu Zhihu sat in front of the window, quietly looking at the night sky. The moonlight sprinkled on her face, making her look extraordinarily pale. A breeze blew, and she couldn't help but shiver. The servant hurriedly stepped forward, put on a warm shawl, and comforted softly: "Madam, the weather is cold, don't catch a cold. ”
As the seasons change, Xu's health seems to be becoming more and more precarious. One day, she felt unusually heavy and had some difficulty breathing. The servants hurriedly called the healer. After the doctor's examination, his face became more serious, and he told the servant: "Madame's condition has worsened, and she must be strictly bedridden. ”
Since then, Xu Zhihu's life has been almost confined to her bedroom. Medicine bowls and hot water are placed next to the bed, and the smell of medicinal herbs fills the air. Whenever she took her medicine, she always needed the help of her servants. Her body became more and more uncontrollable, and even the simplest movements became difficult.
2. The association between psychological burden and physical health
Xu's health deteriorated under the influence of her psychological state. In her room, although well-equipped and exquisitely furnished, she often lies listlessly on the bed. Her face looked haggard, and her skin had lost its former luster. Even the best efforts of the doctors and servants in the palace could not change the situation.
Whenever the doctor treated her, she always accepted it silently, with few words. Her diet also became less and less, often moving only a few bites and not being able to eat again. The servants saw it in their eyes and were anxious in their hearts, but they could not do anything about it.
An old servant in the mansion saw that Xu Zhihu was getting thinner and thinner, so he tried to use various methods to arouse her interest. He would place fresh flowers in her room or quietly replace them with new curtains, trying to liven up the atmosphere with these subtle changes. However, none of these efforts seem to have touched Xu's heartstrings.
After a single medication, Xu Zhihu suddenly felt a tight pain in his chest and had difficulty breathing. The servants immediately panicked and hurriedly summoned the healer. The healer hurried in, and after careful examination, a serious expression appeared on his face. He whispered to the servant beside him, "Madame's condition has reached a critical juncture, and she needs to be taken care of more carefully. ”
Xu's physical condition has attracted the attention of other members of the family. Her husband, though he had a lot of opportunities, would come to her room whenever he had free time and sit quietly on the edge of the bed. He would carefully take her hand and stroke it gently, but rarely spoke.
In the middle of the night, Xu Zhihu suddenly had a high fever and trembled all over. The servants immediately got busy, applying cold compresses and boiling medicine for her. The healer stayed by her bedside all night, constantly adjusting the prescription for her. The room was filled with the smell of medicine and tension.
Day after day, Xu Zhihu's condition was good and bad. The servants took turns waiting outside her room, always ready. They rejoice at the slightest improvement, and worry at every deterioration.
3. The fatal effects of disease
Xu Zhihu's body is also related to the long-term wind and cold, which was especially dangerous for people like her who were already weak in ancient times when medical conditions were backward. The healers in the palace were helpless, even though they had exhausted all known treatments, including herbal decoctions, hot compresses, and even ancient cupping remedies.
The kitchen in the house was instructed to prepare a special tonic decoction for her, hoping to strengthen her body. Every day, the kitchen is filled with the smell of various medicinal herbs. The servants carefully brought hot potions to her room, hoping that they would bring her some improvement.
However, even the most carefully simmered medicinal soup seems to be difficult to resist the onslaught of disease. Xu Zhihu's physical condition has been good and bad, often changing overnight. Her body temperature fluctuated, sometimes with a high fever, sometimes with chills. The healers and servants in the palace were anxious about this, and they took care of her day and night, but often felt overwhelmed.
In this case, the healer began to try more traditional remedies, including applying special herbal ointments to her chest and back to relieve her breathlessness. Every morning and evening, the servants would carefully apply the ointment to her and gently massage her to promote blood circulation.
At night, Xu Zhihu's room is often brightly lit, and doctors and servants take turns waiting by her bedside. Whenever she rolls over or coughs lightly, someone will immediately approach her, ask how she is feeling, and adjust the bedding or hand her warm water as needed.
The gardener in the house was even instructed to plant some fragrant herbs and flowers under her window, hoping that these natural scents would make her feel some comfort. Whenever the weather was fine, the servants would carefully move her couch to the window, so that she could see the garden outside and feel the warmth of the sun.
Despite the best care and treatment, Xu Zhihu was still extremely weak.
4. A double blow to the body and a shock
After Yuan Tingshan's assassination, Xu's health deteriorated significantly. Although she did not suffer any direct physical damage, the mental impact of this incident was huge for her. The people of the mansion were silent about the matter, but the tension had spread throughout the mansion.
The servants in the mansion became more cautious after the incident, and they patrolled around Xu Zhihu's room at all times, just in case a similar incident happened again. At night, there are a few more lanterns in the corridors of the mansion to add light and a sense of security.
In Xu Zhihu's room, the doctors and servants were busy. They took turns keeping vigil in order to keep an eye on her condition at all times. Whenever she needed it, someone was there to help her position her body or hand her a potion.
Despite this, Xu Zhihu's physical condition is still deteriorating. Her face grew paler, and her breathing became rapid and light. The doctor kept adjusting the prescription in the hope of finding a way to relieve her pain.
After a diagnosis, the doctor in the palace said to the servants: "Madame's health is extremely weak, and this incident has had a great impact on her. We must take more care of her. The servants nodded in response, their eyes full of worry.
In order to alleviate Xu Zhihu's discomfort, the maids in the house began to play soft music in her room, hoping to bring her some comfort. Whenever the music plays, the whole room will seem more peaceful and peaceful.
In addition to music, the room is also decorated with a variety of fragrant flowers, as well as her favorite embroideries and paintings. These careful arrangements are all made to create a more comfortable environment and help her relax.
5. The implication and helplessness of fate
In Xu Zhihu's fate, it is inevitably closely linked to Xu Fengnian's life. In ancient societies, people believed in the influence of fate and the stars, and regarded the fate of the individual as intertwined with the fate of those around them. Xu Fengnian, known as the "reincarnation of the Zhenwu Emperor", has a strong and determined fate, but this special destiny can also have an adverse effect on the people around him.
In Xu Zhihu's mansion, this fateful implication is talked about by many. Servants often whispered about the fate of their master's family as they cleaned their rooms or prepared food. They believed that Xu Fengnian's fate was so powerful that it might bring bad luck to those close to him.
The elders of the palace even began to seek the help of Taoist priests and astrologers, hoping to explain or change this fate through rituals and divination. They held several small ceremonies in the mansion, burning incense and praying, hoping to bring good luck and recovery to Xu Zhihu.
During one such ceremony, an elderly Taoist priest slowly walked into Xu Zhihu's room, holding a long peachwood sword, and began to swing it around the room, chanting words in his mouth. The servants stood silently and watched reverently.
As the ceremony progressed, the Taoist priest placed several charms and amulets beside Xu Zhihu's bedside. He said to the elders in the house: "This charm will keep you safe, and I hope to alleviate the pain of my wife." The elders nodded in acknowledgment and carefully hung the charms around the room.
In addition to the ceremony, the elders of the mansion also invited several astrologers, hoping to understand the fate of Xu Zhihu by observing the astrological signs. Astrologers observe the stars at night and then report their findings to the elders of the family the next day.
At Xu's bedside, doctors and servants continued their care. They tried to give her the best possible support on a physical and spiritual level. Despite knowing that fate may not be able to change, they work hard to create a comfortable and peaceful environment for her.
Over time, Xu's condition has been up and down, but overall it doesn't seem to be getting much better. The people in the house began to accept that it might be fate, but still did not give up any chance that might help her recover.
Against this backdrop, Xu's room became a special place. This is not only the battlefield of her struggle against the disease, but also the focus of the intertwined fate of the family, and Xu Zhihu also died early in this situation.
"Knives in the Snow"