When Elder Mo arrived, he saw Su Yunzhao performing acupuncture on Xiao Jinyao once again.
"Consort of the Heir Apparent, what is this?" he asked humbly, filled with curiosity.
"The Huayang Five Needles technique. My husband was momentarily distressed, which aggravated his old injury, but it is not serious—nothing like the danger of that day. To reassure the Empress Dowager, The Emperor, and Prince An, I must trouble you, Elder Mo, to examine him once more."
Su Yunzhao’s application of this acupuncture technique was remarkably effective in promoting the flow of qi and blood and expelling impurities.
Elder Mo, with his extensive knowledge, had naturally heard of this long-lost technique.
He only regretted not arriving earlier to witness Su Yunzhao’s skill firsthand.
He carefully took Xiao Jinyao’s pulse and indeed noticed that it was much steadier than before, with smoother circulation of qi and blood.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Empress, and Prince An, please rest assured. The heir apparent’s pulse is much more stable now, which shows that the Consort of the Heir Apparent’s medical skills are precisely what he needs…"
His words were tactful, and everyone present understood their meaning. Xiao Jinyao’s condition had been stabilized entirely by Su Yunzhao.
The Emperor’s eyes brightened considerably upon hearing Elder Mo’s words, and he even grew somewhat anxious.
Elder Mo also noticed The Emperor’s reaction and gave him a subtle nod.
The Empress Dowager and Prince An naturally had nothing more to say. If they continued to target Su Yunzhao, it would truly appear as though they were prioritizing the side consort and the lowly servants in the manor over the life of the esteemed heir apparent.
"Mother, since Yao’er is in frail health, perhaps I should take him to a quiet place so as not to disturb you and Prince An’s family time…"
The Emperor rose and instructed the Empress, who wished to accompany them, to remain behind.
The Empress glanced at Su Yunzhao, who was putting away the Silver Needles in her medicine chest, a faint glint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
She already knew why The Emperor had summoned them.
After The Emperor led them away from the Empress Dowager’s palace, he finally called Su Yunzhao to his side.
"How did the Marquis of Weibei treat you?"
Su Yunzhao did not mince words: "Like discarded shoes."
Eunuch Huang gasped softly upon hearing this. This Consort of the Heir Apparent had already spoken disrespectfully of the Su family in front of the Empress Dowager, but he never expected her to use such icy words in front of The Emperor.
The Emperor, however, showed little reaction.
From the moment he learned that Prince An and the Marquis of Weibei had arranged these two marriages simultaneously, he knew that this obscure and illegitimate daughter must have lived a difficult life in her household.
Even Elder Mo had been unable to treat Xiao Jinyao’s condition, and The Emperor had long prepared himself to approve Prince An’s request to appoint Xiao Luofan as the Shizi after Xiao Jinyao’s passing.
Unexpectedly, this obscure and illegitimate daughter, whom no one had ever paid attention to, had become the unexpected piece that revitalized the entire game.
"Do you know why I summoned you to the palace?" The Emperor asked.
"Most likely because there is a difficult patient whose condition cannot be treated by conventional methods and requires acupuncture… Moreover, this person is likely a woman…"
Based on the original host’s memories, she knew that there was a Consort Ru in the palace who, at the height of her favor, had suddenly retreated into seclusion and had not been seen for a long time. Around that time, a group of female physicians had entered the palace, and those outside the palace likely guessed the situation.
Displaying her medical skills in front of Elder Mo was also a gamble on this possibility.
Su Yunzhao knew that with Prince An and Xiao Luofan by the Empress Dowager's side, no matter how much she flattered or curried favor, she would not win her support.
Only by securing the Emperor's backing would her life truly improve.
The Emperor had already witnessed her straightforwardness in the Empress Dowager's palace earlier, so he was not surprised by it.
"You've guessed somewhat correctly. Did you bring the medicine chest because you anticipated this?"
Su Yunzhao wanted to say, "If I didn't bring the medicine chest and just conjured things out of thin air, wouldn't that scare you all?"
"Mainly for my husband…"
Xiao Jinyao, seated in the soft sedan chair, felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing these words.
The Emperor, not wanting to trouble Xiao Jinyao further, had someone take him to eat first. Then, he instructed Eunuch Huang to continue leading the way directly toward another palace chamber.
This was clearly the residence of a favored imperial consort. From the scale of the hall to its decorations and furnishings, it was evident that great care had been taken.
"Greetings, Your Majesty…"
The palace servants knelt in rows. The bedchamber was filled with the heavy scent of medicine, so thick it was almost oppressive.
"Rise. Has Consort Ru gotten up?" The Emperor waved his hand and asked.
One of the palace servants, looking worried, replied, "Your Majesty, Her Ladyship was awakened by pain early this morning and had no appetite for breakfast…"
"Have the imperial physicians been summoned?" The Emperor's tone changed.
"The imperial physicians and medical maids have arrived. They prescribed a dose of medicine, and the medical maids are inside helping Her Ladyship alleviate the pain…"
"Take me to see her…" The Emperor could not wait any longer.
At this moment, Elder Mo whispered to Su Yunzhao, "Consort of the Heir Apparent, Consort Ru's illness is not something ordinary people can examine. The imperial physicians are all men, making it even more inconvenient for them to inspect her. Although based on the descriptions from the palace servants, even I have prescribed several doses of medicine, the results have been minimal. Her Ladyship's condition has not only failed to improve but has worsened. In my opinion, acupuncture might offer a solution…"
After hearing this, Su Yunzhao felt somewhat prepared.
She followed the Emperor directly inside but heard a sorrowful yet resilient female voice from behind the curtains: "Please, Your Majesty, do not come any closer. I do not wish to appear before you in such a state…"
The Emperor halted his steps and said, "I have brought another woman skilled in medicine for you. You may let her examine you."
The voice inside hesitated, "Is she a newly arrived medical maid?"
The Emperor felt somewhat awkward and worried that directly identifying her as the Consort of the Heir Apparent from An Wangfu would undermine Consort Ru's confidence.
"Her medical skills are recognized even by Elder Mo. You may rest assured…"
There was a moment of silence inside, followed by a sigh.
"Very well. Since Your Majesty has already brought her, how can I refuse…"
Su Yunzhao understood that this meant she was permitted to enter, so she calmly stepped forward.
Inside the curtains, there was another layer of gauze. Several medical maids around stopped what they were doing and stood respectfully to the side.
Su Yunzhao saw that they had been massaging the woman's chest inside.
"Your Ladyship, may I perform a pulse diagnosis?" Su Yunzhao's voice was gentle, devoid of the sarcasm she had shown in the Empress Dowager's palace.
Consort Ru slowly extended her hand and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
After feeling the pulse, Su Yunzhao gently pressed several areas on Consort Ru's body. Based on the feedback of where it hurt, she confirmed that Consort Ru had a rather severe case of mastitis, with some hyperplasia. Additionally, due to the embarrassing location of the ailment and the prolonged lack of recovery, liver qi stagnation had worsened the pain.
With the illness in such a location, it was indeed impossible in this era to have a royal physician examine it, nor could it be described in too much detail. As a result, treatment was delayed, and the condition grew more complicated the longer it was neglected.
"Is my condition very serious?" Consort Ru asked anxiously.
Su Yunzhao nodded. "It is indeed quite serious, but it is not untreatable. If Your Highness trusts me, I will begin acupuncture treatment right away…"