Using a living person as a medicinal catalyst?
Director Zhang had practiced medicine for many years, yet when had he ever heard of such a method that so blatantly violated human morality?
Even if he had heard of it… his youngest daughter would be reaching the age of her hairpin ceremony in another two years.
As both a father and a physician, how could he possibly bear to do such a thing? How could he ever bring himself to carry it out?
With a thud, Director Zhang dropped to his knees.
His voice trembled as he pleaded, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Since ancient times, medical books and records have been countless, but most such secret accounts are utterly absurd. They cannot be taken seriously…”
Emperor Yongzhao’s eyes darkened further.
Medical texts and records dated back countless years. It was indeed difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Moreover, finding a second person in this world for repeated testing would be nearly impossible.
If that method wouldn’t work, then what if… instead of using her body as medicine, he had her bear children?
“Then, in your opinion, my esteemed physician,” Emperor Yongzhao suddenly changed the subject, “if she were not used as a medicinal catalyst, but instead allowed to reproduce and pass down her bloodline, would that method prove effective?”
How would Director Zhang dare guarantee such a thing?
The emperor’s health concerned the very foundation of the nation.
If he dared utter a single “yes” and the method proved ineffective in the future, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor!
He didn’t dare say much more.
Instead, he repeatedly knocked his forehead against the golden floor tiles.
“R-reporting to Your Majesty! The inheritance of traits through bloodlines… is an exceedingly mysterious matter, far beyond human control. This minister… this minister is foolish and truly dares not make any baseless claims! I beg Your Majesty to judge wisely!”
His hopes dashed once again, Emperor Yongzhao looked coldly at Director Zhang, who was trembling like a leaf.
The irritation in his heart surged ever more violently, almost overwhelming his reason!
They couldn’t guarantee this, and they didn’t dare make a judgment about that.
What exactly was the point of keeping all these imperial physicians around?!
“Useless!”
His voice suddenly turned icy, thick with disgust.
“Get out!”
The moment those words left his mouth, Director Zhang felt as though he had been granted a pardon.
He immediately scrambled to kowtow in gratitude before crawling away.
Inside the hall, Emperor Yongzhao paced back and forth alone.
That woman was like a sword hanging over his head.
As long as she remained alive, he would never be able to eat or sleep in peace.
But if he destroyed her now…
Once she was destroyed, there would be no chance of turning back.
The temptation of something so unique and irreplaceable was simply too great.
Emperor Yongzhao paced several more steps, torn between his choices.
Kill her, or keep her alive?
Suddenly, his footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
Of course!
Since killing her would be a waste, yet keeping her alive was dangerous, why not make that sword serve its greatest possible purpose?
Rather than constantly guarding against his enemies, wouldn’t it be far more satisfying to use her as bait, lure them out, and kill them all at once?!
With that thought, Emperor Yongzhao made his decision and called out.
“Runde, pass down my decree. The woman of the Song family shall reside in the eastern side hall for the time being.”
*
Song Ying had been kneeling in the western side hall for ages, silently cursing Emperor Yongzhao from head to toe at least eight hundred times.
She hadn’t managed to see the man himself.
Instead, an entire group of imperial physicians had arrived.
The moment they entered, they surrounded her completely.
The scene was so intimidating that it looked as though they were about to dissect her on the spot.
Song Ying felt like a fish on a chopping board, completely at someone else’s mercy.
She held out both hands.
One physician checked her pulse, then another took his turn.
“Ah—open your mouth.”
There were even people examining the coating on her tongue.
After that, her eyelids were lifted several times for inspection.
Amid all the chaos, a young imperial physician holding a notebook was also asking after her health and daily habits.
“Miss, may I ask what kinds of food you usually enjoy? Do you prefer sweet dishes or savory ones?”
“Either is fine, I suppose… I’m not a picky eater.”
“Really? You have quite a good appetite, miss. Then, what time do you usually go to bed, and when do you wake up?”
“I sleep when I’m tired. And once I’m asleep… I absolutely have to sleep until I wake up naturally.”
“Wake up naturally?” the young imperial physician exclaimed, looking envious. “Then may I ask whether you’re suffering from any discomfort or illness?”
Song Ying: …
She was feeling uncomfortable right now!
Extremely uncomfortable!
She was practically starving to death!
She hadn’t suffered like this in either of her two lifetimes!
After being put through one ordeal after another since morning, she hadn’t even been given a sip of hot tea.
Paper characters, paper characters…
Could it be that the people in books didn’t need to eat, and that was why they were all as thin as paper?!
Meanwhile, the young imperial physician continued observing her and taking notes, muttering to himself as he wrote.
“Hmm… Judging by her complexion, she appears somewhat listless. Her facial color is rather poor…”
Song Ying couldn’t listen to any more of this.
She raised a hand and gently patted his arm, offering a tactful explanation.
“Your Excellency… the only reason I seem so listless is that I’m hungry.”
The young physician’s brush paused.
He raised his eyes and studied her for quite some time.
Song Ying met his gaze and blinked hopefully, wishing he would understand what she meant and have someone bring her something to eat.
The young imperial physician nodded in sudden understanding.
Then he immediately resumed writing furiously.
“Excellent spleen and stomach function. Digestive capabilities surpass those of ordinary people…”
Song Ying: ………
She gave up.
Why did everyone in this entire imperial palace have such bizarre ways of thinking, just like that villain?!
Song Ying sighed.
These people were merely carrying out orders from above.
She was nothing more than a test subject.
As for whether she was hungry or thirsty, those matters clearly weren’t included in their examination criteria.
Resigning herself to her fate, she lowered her head obediently and allowed them to continue their research.
Finally, after a round of hushed discussions and rustling noises, that entire group of troublesome old men left.
Song Ying collapsed face-first onto the table in front of her, feeling as though she had been chewed up and swallowed, leaving behind nothing but a few scraps of bone.
Her entire body was drained of strength.
She lay sprawled across the table and closed her eyes to rest, hoping she could escape the sensation of hunger by falling asleep.
Song Ying was just about to hypnotize herself into becoming a floating cloud when a few soft chuckles suddenly sounded above her head.
“Miss Song Ying, don’t sleep anymore. Wake yourself up and come with this old servant.”
It was Eunuch Runde!
Song Ying abruptly raised her head and immediately grabbed Eunuch Runde’s sleeve.
In a low, pleading voice, she begged, “Eunuch Runde, please, I’m begging you. Could you… could you give me something to eat first? Anything will do. Even some water would be fine!”
Eunuch Runde turned his head.
Seeing those pitiful, pleading eyes, he chuckled a few more times.
He beckoned with one hand.
A young eunuch standing not far away immediately hurried over.
Eunuch Runde whispered a few words into his ear.
The young eunuch accepted the instructions and quickly withdrew, hurrying away.
Then Eunuch Runde turned back to Song Ying, his expression still gentle and smiling.
“All right, Miss Song Ying. Come along. Let this old servant show you the residence His Majesty has arranged for you.”
“After all, you are now a Palace Medicine Attendant of Wanchun Hall.”
Hearing this, Song Ying’s eyes immediately lit up.
She sprang to her feet and eagerly followed him.
Had she successfully gotten the job offer?
Could it be that those imperial physicians earlier had actually been conducting her pre-employment medical examination, and Eunuch Runde had now come to give her some orientation training?
After winding through several corridors and making numerous turns, she realized they had returned to the very first room she’d been taken to…
Stepping inside, Song Ying couldn’t help widening her eyes.
Earlier, a thin layer of dust had covered the furniture.
Now, the entire room had been cleaned until it was spotless.
The folding screen decorated with landscapes, flowers, and birds had also been replaced by a Suzhou-embroidered screen depicting hundreds of flowers in full bloom.
“Eunuch, th-this is…”
Song Ying stared at the completely transformed room in astonishment.
Was she actually going to live right next door to the main villain?!
“Miss Song Ying, Wanchun Hall is unlike other places. Its rules are particularly strict. When attending to your duties in the future, you must be cautious in both your words and actions. Unless His Majesty speaks to you, you must not open your mouth without permission.”
Eunuch Runde paused before continuing.
“If His Majesty gives you an instruction, simply obey it. If there is nothing else, you need not say anything more. Just bow and take your leave.”
“Remember, observe more, listen more, and speak less.”
Eunuch Runde had officially begun her first lesson in workplace survival.
Song Ying stood beside him with her head lowered, listening attentively.
From the sound of things, she would be serving directly in the emperor’s presence from now on.
But then, where did the “Medicine Attendant” part of her title come into play?
“His Majesty follows an established daily routine, so there’s no need for you to concern yourself with that. Starting tomorrow, you need only stand nearby and attend to him. Unless instructed otherwise, you must not wander around at will, much less touch any of the furnishings inside the hall without permission.”
“As for your daily necessities, including food and clothing, the Inner Court will arrange for everything to be delivered. You need only focus on your duties without worrying about such matters.”
Song Ying silently committed these rules to memory.
From the sound of it, her main responsibility was simply to serve as part of the background.
At most, she would be nothing more than a decorative ornament in Wanchun Hall.
Being a human ornament sounded wonderful!
She was too lazy to move around anyway.
The job came with free food and accommodation.
There was a certain risk to her life, but… perhaps it was still acceptable?
While they were speaking, the young eunuch from earlier returned, carrying a tray as he entered the room.
Song Ying turned her head toward the delicious aroma.
On the tray sat a bowl of rice soaked in chicken broth, with a few droplets of oil floating on the surface.
Eunuch Runde gestured for the young eunuch to place it on the table.
“It’s not a regular mealtime right now, so this is all the kitchen had prepared. The food served in Wanchun Hall has always been rather light. Please make do with this for now, miss.”
“This old servant won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Thank you, Eunuch! Take care on your way out!”
Song Ying was so moved that she nearly burst into tears.
Just as Eunuch Runde reached the doorway, he leisurely turned around once more.
“His Majesty… occasionally suffers from discomfort. If you can soothe him, miss, it would be considered a great service.”
Song Ying’s heart and mind were already completely occupied by the fragrant bowl of rice and soup.
She nodded repeatedly, like a little chick pecking at grains, without really thinking about what he had said.
Once Eunuch Runde’s footsteps had completely faded away, Song Ying immediately threw herself toward the table.
She scooped up a huge spoonful and stuffed it into her mouth, eating until her cheeks were puffed out.
By the time she could see the bottom of the bowl, she finally let out a long breath.
Ah, she was finally alive again.
After eating, Song Ying was prone to feeling sleepy.
Eunuch Runde had said she wouldn’t begin her duties until tomorrow.
So today should count as paid leave, right?
With that hazy thought in mind, she changed into a comfortable set of nightclothes and prepared to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell completely unconscious.
*
The following day.
Song Ying forced herself to stay alert and stood outside the hall early in the morning, her hands respectfully lowered at her sides.
Just then, Eunuch Runde emerged from Wanchun Hall.
“Go inside. His Majesty has just finished breakfast.”
“Yes, Eunuch Runde.”
She stepped into Wanchun Hall, carefully remembering his instructions.
Not daring to look around recklessly, she quickly found herself a place to stand.
—The corner of the room closest to Emperor Yongzhao.
That was the spot where she was least likely to attract attention.
And if she grew tired from standing, she could even discreetly lean against the wall and slack off a little.
Song Ying quietly pressed herself into the corner, doing her best to minimize her presence.
Now that she had unlocked a new area and a new identity, she had at least managed to get a tiny grip on the powerful thigh she wanted to cling to.
Her survival plan had successfully reached its first milestone.
But simply surviving like a fool wouldn’t be enough.
Even a lazy salted fish needed to possess the wisdom of a salted fish!
If she didn’t make sure her carefree existence was secure enough, things could still go horribly wrong and land her in serious trouble!
On the surface, Song Ying appeared to be standing quietly with her eyes lowered, completely absorbed in minding her own business.
In reality, her eyes were darting around, carefully observing everything.
Emperor Yongzhao sat behind his imperial desk, his head lowered as he reviewed memorials.
His expression was focused, and he occasionally furrowed his brows slightly.
Song Ying swept her peripheral vision around the room.
Although it was broad daylight, not a single window had been opened.
The air was so stuffy that it almost seemed stagnant.
She understood now.
The stronger a Sentinel’s mental power, the more sensitive their five senses became, and the lower their tolerance for external stimulation.
Emperor Yongzhao was sensitive to light.
But this also gave her an opportunity to demonstrate her value.
Judging that the time was about right, Song Ying quietly moved toward a window.
She raised her hand and opened it just a crack.
Emperor Yongzhao abruptly lifted his eyes.
His dark gaze, carrying a piercing chill, shot straight toward Song Ying.
Her body stiffened.
The hand resting on the window frame hadn’t even had time to withdraw.
The emperor’s gaze swept over her for a moment.
His brows shifted slightly before he calmly looked away.
Song Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
She slowly pushed the window open a little wider.
In an instant, the cool autumn breeze flowed freely into the room.
Song Ying noticed that Emperor Yongzhao’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
The oppressive atmosphere surrounding him also seemed to be considerably diluted by the fresh breeze.
There was hope!
It seemed that taking a little initiative was acceptable after all.
Eunuch Runde had taught her the workplace survival tricks of an honest, obedient employee.
But someone like her, who wanted to slack off in the future, would definitely need to be a little more resourceful.
Having tasted success, Song Ying grew somewhat bolder.
A little while later, she noticed Emperor Yongzhao’s vermilion brush pause momentarily as he unconsciously pressed his thin lips together.
There was a cup of tea beside his imperial desk.
It looked as though the tea had grown somewhat cold.
Song Ying, whether you can hold on to this powerful man’s protection depends entirely on you!
She secretly encouraged herself.
Then she tiptoed over to the imperial desk and spoke softly.
“Your Majesty, the tea has gone cold. This servant will replace it with a fresh, hot cup.”
Emperor Yongzhao remained absorbed in the memorials before him.
He said nothing.
No response… meant he was silently giving his permission, right?
She reached out her fingers.
Just as they touched the rim of the teacup, and Song Ying was about to lift it—
A large hand with distinctly defined knuckles suddenly seized her wrist!