Su Muyao was unaware that an important segment was missing from the memories of Guaerjia she had inherited. At the moment, she was contemplating choosing a day to pay respects to her direct superior—the Empress Dowager.
She hadn’t been in a hurry to pay her respects earlier because she was new to the Qing court and unfamiliar with everything around her. Although she had the original host’s memories, they were all related to her convalescence in the inner chambers and were of little help.
Therefore, for the sake of caution, it was better to observe for a while first.
Moreover, the fact that Guaerjia had fallen ill was well-known throughout the harem, so not paying respects was understandable under the circumstances.
But now things were different.
Su Muyao had recuperated for over half a month and was completely recovered. If she still didn’t pay her respects and word got out, it would be inexcusable.
Besides, humans are social creatures. She couldn’t avoid paying respects forever by claiming illness, shutting herself away in Qianxi Sisuo, never stepping outside.
Since she would have to pay respects to the Empress Dowager sooner or later, it was better to do it sooner rather than later.
Su Muyao had planned everything perfectly, intending to send Yun Mo to the Imperial Hospital the next day to fetch an Imperial Physician. After the examination, she would go to pay her respects.
Unexpectedly, before she could send for the Imperial Physician, one arrived uninvited.
There were six people in total: one Imperial Physician, one medical assistant carrying a box, one senior eunuch, and two junior eunuchs.
During the pulse diagnosis, although it wasn’t as exaggerated as the folk tales of pulse-taking through a suspended thread, there were many rules to avoid direct contact between the Imperial Physician and the consorts.
First, it could only be conducted in the outer hall, not in the inner chamber.
The two junior eunuchs set up a curtain at the entrance of the hall. The Imperial Physician sat outside the door, while Su Muyao sat inside. She placed a handkerchief over her wrist and extended it through the curtain. After the Imperial Physician finished taking her pulse, she withdrew her hand.
Under such circumstances, anything untoward was absolutely impossible.
After the pulse diagnosis, the Imperial Physician was invited to a side room to write the prescription.
A short while later, the senior eunuch entered with the prescription, knelt, and presented it to Yun Mo. Yun Mo then handed it to Su Muyao. After Su Muyao finished reading it, the senior eunuch replied with a smile, “The Imperial Physician said your illness has completely healed, but your body is still somewhat weak. It’s always good to recuperate further, so the prescription is filled with nourishing herbs.”
“Understood.”
Su Muyao gestured with her chin toward Yun Mo, who took a pouch from her sleeve and handed it over.
“This servant doesn’t need a reward,” the senior eunuch said with a smile, waving his hand and bowing. “It’s just that there’s something… I’d like to ask Taichangzai.”
His tone grew cautious and careful as he spoke the last sentence.
Su Muyao asked in surprise, “What is it?”
It was strange that a senior eunuch from the Imperial Hospital would come to ask her, a reclusive former emperor’s concubine, about something.
The senior eunuch smiled and replied, “When this servant was leaving earlier, the supervisor from the Falconry Office suddenly came over. He said that recently, a Haidongqing has been returning past its exercise time. Since someone saw the Haidongqing flying toward the palace but wasn’t certain, he asked this servant to inquire while visiting each palace for routine pulse checks. He wanted to know which palace it frequently flies to and the reason, so they can rest assured.”
Su Muyao put away the prescription and casually asked, “Are you talking about a Haidongqing with a white base and black spots?”
“How does Taichangzai know? Could it be…”
Su Muyao smiled and said, "Over ten days ago, I was eating barbecue in the palace when it was drawn by the aroma. Since the Haidongqing is a noble creature, we couldn’t just drive it away, so we fed it a few pieces of meat. Who would have thought it would remember and often fly over right at mealtime? I had originally planned to have Yun Mo inquire at the Falconry Office, but she’s busy attending to me and forgot for a moment…"
"Now it’s just right—you can inform the Falconry Office. I have no way to stop it. If nothing else works, they can just lock up that Haidongqing, and it naturally won’t be able to come anymore."
The senior eunuch replied, "Yes, thank you, Taichangzai."
Su Muyao asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"
"This servant is named Anda."
Su Muyao said, "Mm, I know now. You may go."
After everyone from the Imperial Medical Academy had left, Su Muyao thought for a moment and turned to ask Yun Mo, "Have you heard of this senior eunuch named Anda?"
Yun Mo thought for a while and shook her head.
The Imperial Medical Academy was vast, with many departments under its jurisdiction.
Besides the eleven divisions—general medicine, pediatrics, cold damage, gynecology, sores and ulcers, acupuncture, ophthalmology, oral and dental, throat, orthopedics, and smallpox and measles—there was also the Yuyiaofang responsible for dispensing and decocting medicine, the Anle Hall dedicated to treating palace attendants, and the Medical Hall for researching traditional Chinese medicinal materials…
With so many departments, the number of people inside was even greater. How could a maid who had only been in the palace for a little over two months possibly know them all?
Moreover, Guaerjia’s rank was low. The monthly health checkup was a privilege reserved for consorts of the rank of Guiren and above.
This was Yun Mo’s first time experiencing it as well.
Su Muyao clearly thought of this too. Propping her chin on her hand, she wondered, "The Emperor hasn’t held an Xiuanxiu, so why has the health checkup system been changed out of the blue?"
All of Yongzheng’s current consorts had followed him since his days at Qian Di. Even the lowest-ranking bedchamber maids had now been promoted to the rank of Pin.
Could it be that this was another benefit for those of them who were low-ranking consorts of the late emperor?
Su Muyao couldn’t figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, it wasn’t a bad thing.
Meanwhile, the senior eunuch Anda, whom Su Muyao had just mentioned, had left Qianxi Sisuo. Not long after, he turned his steps, parted ways with the Imperial Physician who had conducted the health checkup, and headed alone toward Yangxin Hall.
Arriving at the side hall, Su Peisheng was waiting anxiously there, holding a horsetail whisk.
Anda stepped forward and bowed, calling out, "Godfather."
Su Peisheng asked, "Is the matter settled?"
Anda nodded and recounted his experience at Qianxi Sisuo, including the results of the Imperial Physician’s diagnosis and what Su Muyao had said.
After finishing, he scratched his head and said, "Godfather, I don’t understand. If His Majesty wants to know why Batur flew to Qianxi Sisuo, why not just summon the mistress there and ask? Why go through all this trouble of having you investigate?"
A single word from those above can make those below run their legs off.
Su Peisheng sighed, crossing his arms. "His Majesty doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it."
Now that His Majesty has just ascended the throne, the situation is unstable. The influence of the Eighth Prince, Ninth Prince, and Tenth Prince still lingers, and the Fourteenth Prince is causing a fuss at Jingling, demanding to return.
Inside and outside the palace, countless eyes are watching.
Not to mention matters related to the late emperor’s consorts—even a trivial matter as small as a sesame seed or a mung bean could be blown out of proportion by those with ulterior motives.
Anda chuckled, "Godfather, I understand the reasoning, but this roundabout way is just too convoluted."
In reality, as long as he went to Qianxi Sisuo, he could simply say that the Emperor wanted to know why his Haidongqing had flown there for no apparent reason.
Would Guaerjia dare not answer?
But then there would be the need to request a wellness check, find excuses, and casually bring up the Haidongqing without alarming Guaerjia.
Too exhausting!
“Foolish thing!” Su Peisheng scolded, saying, “Just ask directly in the Emperor’s name. Even if the answer is truthful, it will still be tainted with three parts falsehood.”
He had risen to the position of Chief Eunuch by the Emperor’s side, and whether it was reading expressions or handling matters, he was far beyond ordinary people.
Anda quickly replied, “Godfather, I understand now.”
“You still have much to learn,” Su Peisheng did not wish to be too harsh on him, glancing at him before saying, “Come, follow me to report to the Emperor.”
Yongzheng set down the dossier in his hand and said, “You’re saying that Baturu goes to Qianxi Sisuo every day just for some food?”
Anda knelt and replied, “This servant would never dare deceive Your Majesty.”
Yongzheng neither expressed belief nor disbelief, only commenting lightly, “Pathetic.”
Seeing that Yongzheng was not particularly angry, Su Peisheng seized the opportunity to ask, “Your Majesty, should we have the Falconry Office confine Baturu?”
Yongzheng said, “No need.”
A falcon is a falcon—it soars and glides through the skies. Confining it would make it no different from pet birds like parrots or song thrushes.
Moreover, Baturu had followed him all the way from Qian Di and had tasted countless delicacies without ever being swayed.
How could it possibly be so easily tempted by roasted meat from a consort’s palace?
These subordinates were incompetent; there was likely more to the matter.
Yongzheng remained expressionless, slowly turning the white jade thumb ring on his finger, a cold, sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
What could it be?
He was well aware of the schemes and tactics of women in the harem.
At most, this Guaerjia was trying to use Baturu to lure him.
If that were truly the case, as a former emperor’s concubine, she was far too audacious and lawless!