Yuehua Palace, inside the main hall.
After returning, Qin Shu casually reclined on the rocking chair, took the fragrant tea offered by Xin Lian, sipped it delicately, then set down the teacup. Her tone was indifferent, without the slightest fluctuation, as she said, “Since her face is already injured, let it be completely ruined. Without a face, I suppose she won’t come out again to gossip recklessly outside.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi stood attentively on either side. The two exchanged glances, understanding in their hearts, and responded in unison, “Yes, we understand.”
Just as Qin Shu was about to close her eyes for a short rest, Cao Chang entered from outside. He bowed respectfully and reported to Qin Shu, “Your Highness, Doctor Liu from the Imperial Hospital has arrived. He says he is here on the Empress’s orders to check your pulse of safety.”
Qin Shu gave a soft “Hmm” and said, “Let him in.”
Cao Chang replied, “Yes.”
Immediately, Cao Chang went outside to escort Doctor Liu inside.
Upon entering the hall, Doctor Liu bowed to Qin Shu. “Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Chen. The Empress has ordered me to come and check Your Highness’s pulse.” At the same time, his gaze quickly swept over the person before him. Even without checking the pulse, he could tell that this person was extremely frail.
Qin Shu coughed lightly and said, “Thank you for the Empress’s concern. Then I’ll trouble you, Doctor.”
Doctor Liu replied, “This is merely my duty.”
As he spoke, Qin Shu had already rested her hand on the arm of the rocking chair. Xin Lian placed a silk handkerchief over Qin Shu’s wrist.
Doctor Liu stepped forward, knelt beside her, and began taking her pulse. The pulse was faint and weak, unlike a normal person’s steady, even, calm, and strong rhythm.
Regarding Qin Shu’s condition, Doctor Liu had long heard of it. Moreover, many years ago, a physician from the Imperial Hospital had treated Qin Shu, and her medical records from childhood were still kept in the Imperial Hospital. Today, after personally checking her pulse, all the conditions completely matched what was already known.
Qin Shu observed this Doctor Liu. The Empress had sent him merely to verify whether her physical condition was suitable for serving the Emperor in bed. The Empress didn’t want her to serve and gain favor, but she herself was more than happy to avoid it. Through this doctor’s words, she could be excused from future morning greetings and even exempted from serving the Emperor.
She and that damned Emperor who forced her into the palace were completely unfamiliar. Who the hell wanted to serve him ‘sleeping’!
At that moment, she coughed twice again, letting out a weak voice, and asked, “Doctor, how is my health?”
Doctor Liu withdrew his hand and bowed his head. “Consort Chen, this is a congenital weakness. Only by resting calmly and taking good care of yourself can it be managed in the long term. In Sun City, the capital, winters are long. Your Highness must always keep warm and must not catch a cold. If a cold is added on top, Your Highness’s body would likely suffer greatly.”
Qin Shu frowned slightly, sighed, and said, “I will remember the doctor’s advice.”
Doctor Liu stood up, bowed again, and said, “It is already mid-autumn now, and the wind and dew are heavy in the morning and evening. It’s easy to catch a chill if one is not careful. Given Your Highness’s condition, you need more rest and less activity. I will report truthfully to the Empress. Later, when I return to the Imperial Hospital, I will prepare a prescription for Your Highness. Afterwards, I will have someone prepare the medicine daily according to the prescription, brew it, and deliver it to Your Highness’s palace.”
Qin Shu thought to herself that this way, using Doctor Liu’s words, it would proceed smoothly and without issue. She said, “Very well, then I’ll trouble Doctor Liu to take care of it.”
Doctor Liu said earnestly, “It’s no trouble at all. This is my duty. I still need to report back to Her Majesty the Empress. Consort Chen, I shall take my leave now.”
Qin Shu instructed, “Eunuch Cao, please escort Doctor Liu out properly.”
Cao Chang replied, “Yes.”
After Doctor Liu departed, with only Xin Lian and Xin Yi remaining in the hall and no outsiders present, Qin Shu’s feigned weakness completely vanished.
Xin Lian and Xin Yi observed this calmly. They were well aware their mistress possessed remarkable techniques to control her pulse. Their medical skills were limited, and even the renowned military physicians invited by the Duke couldn’t see through it, let alone the imperial physicians.
Qin Shu glanced at Xin Lian and Xin Yi and said, “From now on, simply discard any medicinal soups sent from the Imperial Hospital.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi responded, “Yes.”
…
After leaving Yuehua Palace, Doctor Liu went straight to Phoenix Sun Palace.
At Phoenix Sun Palace, Doctor Liu reported everything he had learned from examining Consort Chen’s pulse to the Empress.
After listening, Wang Wan Ning looked at Doctor Liu and asked, “According to your diagnosis, Consort Chen is currently unfit to serve the Emperor, correct?”
Doctor Liu replied, “Consort Chen is physically weak and fatigued. It would indeed be inappropriate for her to serve the Emperor at this time.”
Wang Wan Ning said sternly, “I understand. The Imperial Hospital must properly tend to Consort Chen’s health. As head of the Imperial Hospital, you must arrange everything meticulously regarding medications and treatments.”
Doctor Liu affirmed firmly, “Your Majesty may rest assured. I will handle this with utmost dedication.”
Wang Wan Ning nodded in satisfaction and waved her hand dismissively. “You may leave.”
Doctor Liu said, “Yes, I take my leave.”
Subsequently, Wang Wan Ning instructed her maid, “Ling Qian, go to Yuehua Palace and inform Consort Chen to follow the physician’s orders, rest properly, and not concern herself with other matters. Regaining her health is the priority.”
Ling Qian responded, “Yes.”
…
Time passed swiftly as the sun set behind the western hills and night fell.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the bright moon in the sky grew increasingly luminous.
Imperial Study, inner chamber.
Wang Wan Ning sat beside the Emperor, speaking softly and gently, “Your Majesty has been tirelessly handling state affairs for days. Recently, you’ve been summoning Noble Consort Lan to accompany you. Since the newly entered consorts can now serve you, will Your Majesty still summon Noble Consort Lan tonight?”
Xuan Yuan Che showed no expression, his tone cold. “Does the Empress see a problem with that?”
Wang Wan Ning smiled gently. “I wouldn’t dare. Your Majesty should still choose from the consort tablets.”
Following this, a eunuch from the Office of Imperial Consort Affairs entered, carrying the green-headed tablets of the various palace consorts.
Xuan Yuan Che glanced over them but didn’t see Qin Shu’s tablet. He asked, “Where is Consort Chen’s tablet?”
Wang Wan Ning explained carefully, “Consort Chen is physically weak. She was unwell when she came to pay respects this morning. I sent a physician to examine her, and he said she is currently unfit to serve Your Majesty. The weather is turning cooler mornings and evenings, and it will grow colder still. The physician advised that Consort Chen should avoid going out to prevent catching cold. Considering her poor health, I’ve exempted her from morning and evening courtesies, allowing the physicians to focus on her recovery.”
“Since she’s unwell, let her rest properly.” Xuan Yuan Che looked at the green-headed tablets and remarked, “Weren’t there eight new consorts entered this time?”
“Beauty Wei spoke without restraint and offended Sister Consort Chen with her words. Noble Consort Lan publicly punished her with fifty slaps across the face. As Beauty Wei’s face became swollen, her green placard has been temporarily suspended.”
Xuan Yuan Che glanced over those green placards. Among the new consorts, Yang Jieyu was the daughter of Minister of Rites Yang Shen and belonged to the Empress’s faction. Looking at the Empress, he casually flipped Yang Jieyu’s placard.
Seeing that the Emperor had chosen Yang Jieyu’s placard, Wang Wan Ning was naturally pleased that this first honor among the new consorts went to someone from her faction rather than Noble Consort Lan’s.