Zhang Wanrou touched her injured forehead, her gaze deep and meaningful, and asked indifferently, "Imperial Physician Hu, is the injury on my head serious? Will it leave a scar?"
Hu Yong felt fearful and uneasy in his heart, and quickly replied, "Lady Jieyu, please rest assured, the wound on your forehead is not deep. As long as it is well cared for, it should not leave a scar."
Zhang Wanrou nodded and added, "Since it is nothing major, just leave me a bottle of ointment later, Imperial Physician. If the Noble Consort asks you to go over for questioning, do not say too much. It is a trivial matter anyway, so as not to cause the Noble Consort to worry."
Hu Yong was stunned for a moment, pondering the meaning of these words, when suddenly, he heard an announcement from outside.
"Is Lady Jieyu in the hall? The Emperor has sent me to deliver medicine to Lady Jieyu!"
"Eunuch Sanxi!" The palace maids and servants outside, who had spent many years in the Imperial Palace, recognized the visitor at a glance.
Qing Ning heard this and hurried out to welcome him.
It was a young, delicate-looking eunuch with a friendly smile on his face.
"Is this Miss Qing Ning?" Seeing Qing Ning come out from the room, the smile on Sanxi's face faded by half.
Although Qing Ning did not know Sanxi, seeing how respectfully the others outside treated the visitor, she knew this person's status was not simple.
She quickly bowed to the visitor, "Qing Ning greets the young eunuch!"
"This girl's face is..." Sanxi had some guesses in his heart, but he was very puzzled.
It was not uncommon for a palace maid to be slapped in the face in the Imperial Palace, but it was rare for someone like Qing Ning, whose mistress had just received great favor, to still be disciplined.
However, once he thought about where this was, he understood a little more.
"I am fine, I just spoke the wrong words..." Qing Ning lowered her head and asked cautiously, "What did the eunuch say just now?"
Sanxi held a white jade bottle in his hand, handed it to Qing Ning, and said, "My name is Sanxi, and I serve the Emperor. Just now, the Emperor saw that the swelling on Lady Jieyu's forehead had not yet subsided, so he sent me to deliver medicine to Lady Jieyu."
Qing Ning looked up slightly, paused, and said, "Please wait a moment, Eunuch. My Lady Jieyu has been injured, and the Imperial Physician is currently treating her..."
"Lady Jieyu is injured? Is it serious? Quickly take me inside to see!" Sanxi was surprised and hurriedly asked about the situation.
After all, the Emperor had also said that he would summon Lady Jieyu to dine with him at dinner!
Qing Ning stepped aside, "Eunuch Sanxi, please come in!"
Inside, Hu Yong had heard the entire conversation outside, and he was astonished at the extent of Consort Zhang's favor.
There were very few people for whom the Emperor would personally order medicine to be delivered!
Seeing Hu Yong, Sanxi raised his voice slightly and bowed, "I am Sanxi, greetings to Imperial Physician Hu."
Hu Yong nodded in return, "Eunuch Sanxi."
Sanxi happened to be one of the few eunuchs who could speak to the Emperor.
"Imperial Physician Hu, is Lady Jieyu's injury serious? The Emperor also said he would summon Lady Jieyu for dinner; will it affect her dining?"
Hu Yong stepped aside and replied, "Please rest assured, Eunuch. Lady Jieyu's injury is not heavy, but the wound on her palm needs careful care, and she should try to avoid getting it wet."
Sanxi nodded, "That is good!"
He breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Zhang Wanrou, "Lady Jieyu, this is the Jade Beauty Ointment the Emperor ordered me to deliver to apply to the swelling on your forehead."
However, since the skin there was now broken, it probably could not be used with the Jade Beauty Ointment, right?
Zhang Wanrou got out of bed with pleasant surprise and took the ointment with her bandaged hands, "The Emperor is so kind to your subject! Eunuch, please thank the Emperor for me, and tell the Emperor that Wanrou will cherish it well!"
Sanxi looked at her bandaged hands, his brows slightly furrowed.
Zhang Wanrou handed the ointment to Qing Ning and instructed, "Qing Ning, help me put it in my sachet!"
In Sanxi's view, Zhang Wanrou had handed the item to Qing Ning because her hands were inconvenient to use.
"Lady Jieyu, your hands..."
Zhang Wanrou looked at her hands, her expression momentarily stunned, but she quickly raised a happy smile again.
"Eunuch, I just accidentally fell and scraped my palms. Please do not tell the Emperor that I am injured, so as not to make him worry."
"The Emperor carries the burden of the nation; I must not let my trivial matters affect his mood!"
Sanxi: "..."
After Sanxi left, Hu Yong also left the medicine and took his leave.
Just as he exited the side hall, he saw Chun Liu, who served the Noble Consort, waiting not far away.
"Your subordinate official Hu Yong greets Miss Chun Liu!"
Chun Liu was another second-rank maid beside Zhang Wanyin and was also highly valued.
"Imperial Physician Hu, the Noble Consort requests your presence."
Hu Yong nodded in agreement, his mind quickly calculating how to respond later.
Consort Zhang appeared innocent and harmless, but the things she said, as well as the pulse he felt after she had consumed Zigenji and yellow wine, made him feel uneasy.
Qing Ning stood at the doorway and happened to see the scene of Hu Yong and Chun Liu leaving.
She returned to the room, unable to hide her nervousness and fear: "Lady Jieyu, the Imperial Physician went to the Noble Consort's place!"
Zhang Wanrou looked calm and unhurriedly at the bandages on her hands, "Let him go. She is his master anyway."
"Lady Jieyu, are you not worried at all? That thing you drank this morning... will the Imperial Physician find out? Will he tell the Noble Consort?"
"If the Noble Consort finds out you are secretly avoiding pregnancy, then we..." Is there any way to survive?
She was truly terrified.
The swelling on her face was still burning, which made her deeply realize that this place was not like the Marquis's Estate!
This place was a man-eating existence; if one was not careful, one might end up with no place to be buried!
Zhang Wanrou stuffed the external medicine the Imperial Physician had left into Qing Ning's hand and gave her a gentle smile, "Set your heart at ease, the Imperial Physician will not say anything! We will be fine!"
She had already intimidated Hu Yong twice, and Sanxi's arrival had helped her stabilize Hu Yong's heart. Therefore, she was certain that Hu Yong would not say anything to Zhang Wanyin!
"R-really?" Qing Ning clutched the ointment, her heart still hanging in the air.
Zhang Wanrou nodded earnestly, then her gaze fell on her swollen mouth, and a coldness radiated from the depths of her eyes.
"As for the slaps you received... just wait! Your mistress will definitely get them back for you!"
Mistress?
Qing Ning looked up in a daze. Ever since they entered the palace, she had not let her call her "Mistress" again, so why now...
She suddenly discovered that Zhang Wanrou had changed her face again! The current her made her feel very strange, but it also gave her an inexplicable sense of peace.
"Mistress..." She sniffed, her eyes unable to help but sting.
Zhang Wanrou patted her head gently and coaxed, "Be good, go apply the medicine. After you finish, have those people outside prepare water; I want to bathe."
Tonight, she still had to see the Emperor.
She still had to settle today's accounts properly!
✦✦✦
In the Imperial Study, Cheng Fang had just served a cup of hot tea to Xiao Wenyi when he saw Sanxi return and give him a look.
Cheng Fang did not disturb Xiao Wenyi and silently retreated.
When he reached Sanxi, Cheng Fang's brows furrowed, revealing obvious displeasure, "What is it?"
Sanxi whispered, "Godfather, your son just returned from Consort Zhang's place. Consort Zhang is injured..."
Cheng Fang listened to all of Sanxi's report, his brows raised, and a trace of gravity flashed in his eyes.
Seeing him silent, Sanxi asked, "Godfather, should I tell the Emperor?"
Cheng Fang looked at him, then at the Emperor who was hunched over his desk reviewing memorials, and waved his hand, "You go down first."
✦✦✦