【Even though you are really my father, this sentence is honestly very annoying.】
Emperor Shangguan Lin directly ignored the treasonous thought he had just heard and continued smiling warmly at Shangguan Sui.
Although she was complaining inwardly, Shangguan Sui still called out crisply,
“Daddy!”
“Ah!”
Shangguan Lin was extremely satisfied and immediately pulled Shangguan Sui into his arms, rubbing her little cheeks.
That “Daddy” really sounded too sweet!
“It seems Feng Aici’s medical skills are indeed excellent,” Shangguan Lin praised.
To actually cure his precious Sui Sui’s throat—this was a great merit!
“Eunuch Chen, pass on my decree: reward Feng Aici, daughter of Minister Feng, with a thousand taels of gold as a commendation.”
Eunuch Chen immediately nodded and turned to carry out the order.
But Consort Chen stopped him at that moment.
“Wait.”
Shangguan Lin turned to her. “What is it?”
Consort Chen slightly bowed. “I ask Your Majesty to add another decree: tomorrow, summon Feng Aici and Madam Feng into the palace together.”
“Summon Madam Feng as well? Is Sui Sui’s illness not fully healed?” Shangguan Lin asked in confusion.
Consort Chen smiled faintly. “I just wish to speak with her.”
Shangguan Sui, nestled in Shangguan Lin’s arms, secretly giggled.
【Hehe, this is a little secret between Mommy and me—I won’t tell you~】
Shangguan Lin, who had just been convinced: “……”
Slightly jealous—his daughter actually already had secrets with Consort Chen.
But then he quickly reacted.
So what if they had secrets?
He could still hear Sui Sui’s thoughts!
He knew everything she was thinking!
With that thought, Shangguan Lin calmed down.
He glanced at the dazed Eunuch Chen. “Didn’t you hear what Consort Chen said? Why are you still standing there?”
Eunuch Chen quickly replied, “This servant will go at once.”
..
Shangguan Lin was in an excellent mood and spent the entire afternoon playing with Shangguan Sui in Bihua Palace.
He even had dinner there.
After the meal, Shangguan Lin happily drank the sweet soup personally made by Consort Chen when Eunuch Chen suddenly entered.
“Your Majesty, Consort Xian has sent a letter.”
Shangguan Sui swung her little legs and complained inwardly:
【Tch, what letter? It’s just pretending to be pitiful so my father will soften!】
【Men always fall for this trick! My father will definitely give in to that bad woman!】
【Sigh~ my poor poisoned eldest brother~】
【Sigh~ my poor mother who was almost framed~】
Shangguan Lin: “……”
He hadn’t forgotten! He really hadn’t!
His expression turned cold.
“Take it away. I won’t read it.”
【As expected, my father knows he’ll soften if he reads it, so he just doesn’t read it.】
【Men really are pigs.】
Shangguan Lin: “……”
He is NOT! He is NOT a pig!
To show his determination, he cleared his throat and said sternly:
“Tell Consort Xian to properly reflect during her confinement. Stop sending these meaningless things!”
【Oh? My father is quite clear-headed~】
Shangguan Lin’s lips had just begun to curl in satisfaction—
【But that’s probably because Consort Xian isn’t pretty. If it were a beautiful consort, he definitely wouldn’t act like this.】
【Hah, men really are pigs.】
Shangguan Lin: “……”
WHAT pigs?!
Why again?!
From now on, no one in the entire palace is allowed to eat pig trotters!
..
Qinglin Hall
Consort Xian sat in silence on her chair.
Seeing Hongyu return, she forced herself to stay composed and asked urgently,
“Did His Majesty read the letter? What did he say? Did he agree to release me?”
Hongyu lowered her head, her voice trembling.
“The Emperor… the Emperor did not read the letter, and he also said…”
Consort Xian snapped, “What else did he say?!”
Hongyu immediately knelt.
“He said… he told Your Highness to reflect properly and not send such things again.”
Consort Xian let out a bitter smile.
“So the Emperor truly has no regard for old feelings anymore…”
She had only framed Consort Chen once—yet he treated her so cruelly!
She was about to go insane being confined here!
Hongyu looked at her pale face with pity.
“Your Highness, there is news from Xiao Yun: the carriage of Master Yunxing will arrive in the capital tomorrow night.”
Consort Xian’s attention was immediately drawn.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Tell my father. Prepare everything. Tomorrow night, we must kill Yunxing outside the city!”
Hongyu nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. Don’t worry. The eldest prince is already poisoned and without Master Yunxing, he won’t live much longer!”
Consort Xian smiled with satisfaction.
Once the eldest prince died, her Huai’er would become the eldest son!
And she would make the Lü family the most powerful clan in the Great Yue Empire!
..
The next day
A luxurious carriage stopped at the palace gates.
Feng Aici helped Madam Feng down.
Madam Feng looked at the vast, imposing palace with worry.
“Ci’er, do you know why Consort Chen summoned us?”
Feng Aici shook her head. “I don’t.”
She was also confused.
She had only entered the palace yesterday—why was she summoned again today?
Was the princess ill again?
But why bring her mother as well?
With full of doubts, the two entered Bihua Palace.
Inside, Consort Chen was already waiting, with a delicately beautiful little girl sitting beside her.
The two immediately bowed.
“We greet Consort Chen and the Fifth Princess.”
“Rise. No need to be so formal. Please sit.”
Consort Chen smiled gently. “Madam Feng, this time we truly have to thank Miss Feng. Thanks to her, Sui Sui was able to speak again so quickly.”
Madam Feng was flattered. “Your Highness is too kind.”
Shangguan Sui blinked and added,
“Big Sister Feng is really amazing! Even more amazing than the imperial physicians!”
Her childish words made Madam Feng chuckle.
“Your Highness flatters her. My daughter only knows a little about medicine—how could she compare to the imperial physicians?”
Shangguan Sui shook her head and walked over.
“How can she not compare? Before, I couldn’t speak at all, and even Chief Physician Xu from the Imperial Medical Bureau couldn’t find the cause.”
“In the end, it was Sister Feng who helped me recover!”
“And she figured out the cause with just one pulse check and cured me with a single acupuncture session. Isn’t that amazing?”
Madam Feng froze.
She had always known her daughter studied medicine under the old matriarch.
But she had thought it was just a pastime and never took it seriously.
She never expected her daughter’s medical skill to be this extraordinary…
Shangguan Sui continued earnestly,
“Madam Feng, since Sister Feng is so skilled, if she opens a clinic, wouldn’t she be able to save many more people?”
Madam Feng frowned deeply, her expression resistant.
“A princess should not joke like this. How could a woman open a clinic? That would be disgraceful!”
Feng Aici lowered her long eyelashes at those words.
She had already expected this—her mother would never agree…
Shangguan Sui was not in a hurry.
She steadied her small steps and continued slowly—