CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 67: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

There’s no need for Lady’s spies to investigate. After the Emperor issued the decree, perceptive Palace Attendants quickly went to Yanxi Palace to curry favor and indeed received generous rewards.

"Congratulations, Lady, you’ve gained palace power effortlessly! Truly an unexpected joy!"

The Chief Palace Maid beamed as she spoke flatteringly.

Consort Ji, who was attending nearby, heard that the Emperor went to rescue Consort Xi. She sighed with relief, yet her emotions were complex. She too was a concubine, yearning for the Emperor’s favor, but in her two times of crisis, it was Consort Xi who came to her aid. Compared to the lofty Emperor, she involuntarily cared for Consort Xi’s situation. With these thoughts in mind, she gently congratulated, "Congratulations, Lady. The Emperor specifically ordered palace affairs to be led by you, showing your significance in his heart."

Lady’s lips curled slightly.

Before Consort Ji entered the palace, Yanxi Palace housed only her. When the Emperor conferred the title of Lady upon her, he simultaneously ordered the refurbishment of her palace. Her demands were more exacting than those of other masters. She didn’t want the usual bright lighting of the palace; she desired the light to be gentle when it entered. A slightly darker inner chamber was no issue; when the Emperor visited and preferred brightness, they could simply light more candles.

The craftsmen were troubled, but ultimately, she was a favored concubine. After expending considerable manpower and resources, they met her demands.

At this moment, the misty light fell upon her face, as if veiled by a layer of white gauze, making her incredibly beautiful.

"An unexpected joy, isn’t it just unexpected?"

Lady was blending fragrances.

Holding a slender, petal-shaped gold spoon, she casually mixed expensive spices—valued in grams by ordinary people—into a small golden jar, creating a unique and subtly fragrant blend. Except for those very close to her, no one knew Lady Shufei was a born master of perfumery. She could precisely detect subtle scent differences and applied her wild imagination to the spices.

"How could I have anticipated that she would anger the Emperor to such an extent, leading him to strip her of palace power to distribute among others?"

"The Empress loves to accuse concubines of arrogance due to favoritism, yet she is the most arrogant due to favoritism in the palace."

A strange fragrance wafted out, sweet with a hint of spiciness.

Unfortunately, this master perfumer’s status was even more distinguished than the tribute spices, ensuring this exotic fragrance that could mesmerize the streets of the capital would always remain buried in the harem: "Here, it’s for you."

After finishing the fragrance, Lady lost interest in it and turned to distribute the mixed spices to the nearby palace maids. When serving, palace maids and eunuchs must not have any peculiar odor, nor overly strong scents, but every spice used by Lady while blending was exceptionally precious... Anyway, they always found ways to profit: "Thank you, Lady, for your reward!"

"This Consort position for the Yun Family was truly rightfully granted, wasn’t she just my and Concubine Wei’s benefactor?"

Lady smiled knowingly.

...

Xianfu Palace.

Xie Zhixing carried Yun Jiao all the way back to the western room. Wherever the Emperor was traced, a vast number of people were kneeling, resembling a scene straight out of an ancient idol drama. Yun Jiao buried her face in his arms, pondering when it would be appropriate to wake up.

Things were awkwardly stalled here!

Xie Zhixing lowered his eyes, noticing her occasionally peeking around. Thanks to the fact that palace maids and eunuchs had to kneel and couldn’t directly gaze upon the Emperor’s face, she wasn’t caught feigning unconsciousness. Their skin was separated by only a layer of clothing. Through her breath and heart rate, Xie Zhixing knew not only that she had awoken but also her general mood at each moment.

Once inside, Xie Zhixing set her down and drank a pot of tea nearby. Only then did Consort Xi slowly awaken: "Where... is this place? Am I dreaming?"

"Little mistress, you’re not dreaming. The Emperor brought you back to Xianfu Palace."

"The Emperor?"

Yun Jiao’s pale face made her eyes appear even more bright and moist. She turned her head, incredulous, towards Xie Zhixing...

Reenacting the most pleasing beautiful weeping scenario.

The pearl-sized tears filled her eyes, rolling slowly from the left corner, sliding down her cheek to form a drop, and finally falling to the ground.

"This concubine greets the Emperor."

Yun Jiao trembled as she tried to sit up and pay homage to the Emperor.

Every move of hers was meticulously designed, drawn from many palace intrigue dramas.

"Alright, just lie down. Now that you’re awake, let me see your knee."

Xie Zhixing pressed her down.

Compared to other concubines, Yun Jiao’s acting skills really weren’t remarkable, even clumsy, yet her extremely beautiful face made everything she did pleasing to the eye. She feigned shyness, lifting her skirt to reveal her knee.

Seeing her still in the mood to reenact past moments and make faces, Xie Zhixing calculated the hour, realizing he’d arrived relatively early, concluding she should have only suffered superficial wounds. However, what was revealed to him was a knee covered in bruises and slightly swollen.

Her legs were snowy white and slender, recalling the frail way they’d been held in his hands during the showering of favor, Xie Zhixing felt incredibly sympathetic.

"Does it hurt?"

He asked softly, for the first time feeling he had asked a foolish question.

How could it not hurt?

"This concubine doesn’t hurt. Lady is nobler than I am; it’s only right to suffer some punishment."

Yet after saying this, she looked at him brightly.

Xie Zhixing was taken aback, and she displayed a troubled expression, replaying time and changing her words: "This concubine hurts, but I won’t make a fuss."

This time, Xie Zhixing realized she was actually trying different replies to see which could earn his pity!

He was both amused and exasperated.

Seeing Yun Jiao attempting a third time, he leaned forward, pulling her into his arms: "Whether you fuss or not, I’m still worried for you."

No need to try any more, just seeing those bruises, Xie Zhixing couldn’t bear it.

Of course, he classified it as a monarch’s benevolence towards his people.

"Having the Emperor worried about this concubine is enough."

Unexpectedly pulled into his arms, Yun Jiao was greatly shocked—her acting skills were apparently so good that they deeply stirred the Emperor’s compassion! Did she have a talent for being a femme fatale! She was delighted in her heart, not moved by the romantic hero saving the beauty scenario, only feeling proud of herself. If the Emperor was enchanted by her three-legged cat acting skills, that was what she deserved.

At this moment, a Palace Attendant outside reported that Doctor Zhang had arrived.

"Let him in."

The news hadn’t reached the Imperial Hospital yet. Doctor Zhang was summoned urgently, and with sweat on his forehead, he respectfully knelt to greet. After Xie Zhixing told him to rise, he urged him to examine Consort Xi’s condition.

Doctor Zhang checked Consort Xi’s complexion, felt her pulse, and instructed the palace maid to describe the affected area to him before reaching a conclusion: "In response to the Emperor, the little mistress has blood stasis due to prolonged kneeling, and an unstable pulse due to shock. Fortunately, there are no major issues. With two days of quiet rest and avoiding movement that might worsen the injury, she will be fine."

The eunuch who came to deliver the message from the Imperial Hospital spoke hastily, mentioning the Emperor had returned to the palace because of this.

Given the situation, Doctor Zhang had initially thought Consort Xi’s legs were severed.

In the end, it was just some bruises!

If one can breathe in and out, it’s not a major issue.

"Emperor..."

Yun Jiao tugged at the Emperor’s robe, her eyes anxious.

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask Doctor Zhang."

"Doctor Zhang, I’ve just been injured, there’s some inefficiency in my blood and energy. Shouldn’t I supplement my diet to recover?"

Yun Jiao hadn’t forgotten she was supposed to have a bland diet for a week!

Unfortunately, Doctor Zhang, who was keeping his head down, didn’t align with her thinking. He only assumed the little mistress felt her injury wasn’t serious enough to gain the Emperor’s pity, and in this regard, he could.

He chuckled to himself knowingly.

After all these years, he hadn’t lingered in the Imperial Hospital for nothing; he thoroughly understood social intricacies. Therefore, he hurriedly added, "I had indeed omitted something earlier. Fortunately, the little mistress was attentive. This bruise isn’t easy to heal and requires dietary restrictions. Avoid consuming fish, shrimp, chili, and garlic. A bland diet would be best."

Heh heh, surely this would earn him great favor in the favored concubine’s eyes!