Chapter 68: Forcing Medicine
After Xue Sui rested in the inner room for a while, when she went out again, she saw that Hua Yi Palace was brightly lit, as bright as day.
Li Zhao sat on the pear blossom wood chair on the left, covered with brocade, his posture languid.
She looked over through a Xiang Fei bamboo curtain.
The lamplight flickered, casting shadows on his face, revealing deep contours, but his eyes and brows were not clearly visible.
She was still unaware of what was happening outside.
Walking around the large screen painted with landscapes, she saw Xue Yuechen stand up, her face full of concern, as if wanting to help her, her eyes filled with worry.
“Sixth Sister, are you feeling any better?”
Xue Sui’s face was as pale as paper, completely devoid of color.
It was clear at a glance that she was not well.
But her gaze was gentle and smiling.
“Princess Consort, please rest assured, I am not seriously injured.”
She clutched a plain white handkerchief embroidered with orchids in her hand, holding it to her chest. There seemed to be a faint bloodstain on it, slightly spreading. Her back was no longer as straight as before, and she was slightly hunched. Her figure was slender, with two maids on either side supporting her, and she walked much slower…
Consort Xiao quickly ordered someone to offer a seat.
“Where is the Imperial Physician? Why haven’t you called for one quickly?”
Li Zhao looked up, a faint, cold smile appearing at the corner of his eye: “Sixth Miss Xue’s injury is at Tanzhong, how can an Imperial Physician examine it?”
Consort Xiao was speechless.
Xue Sui raised her eyes and glanced at him.
She mused that Li Zhao had seen what the Imperial Physician could not.
During the fight at the Bamboo Forest Elegant Pavilion, his hands were tightly clasped around her waist, fierce as if he wanted to devour her alive. At that time, their clothes had slipped, revealing intimate scenes. And the time at You Huang Ju, he had also seen her scars.
She thought that her body, in Li Zhao’s eyes, should not be very attractive…
Who wouldn’t be put off by those scars?
The corners of her lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Ladyship. The Female Physician has already carefully treated the wound, and Sixth Miss Xue is fine now. I dare not trouble Your Ladyship further…”
Consort Xiao followed the steps down, saying with concern: “I will have someone pick out some good medicinal materials from the Imperial Hospital and send them to your residence. You are still young, do not harm your qi and blood, it will be difficult to bear children in the future.”
Worried she wouldn’t be able to give Li Huan a healthy son?
The smile on Li Zhao’s lips disappeared, and he appeared indifferent.
Although he had said a word for Xue Sui just now, it seemed he only wanted to annoy Consort Xiao, not genuinely care about her injury.
The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat stagnant.
The air seemed to become heavy.
The most difficult person to endure was Xue Yuechen…
When childbirth was mentioned, an awkward expression appeared on her face. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing that Consort Xiao had already turned to instruct the palace maids, she swallowed her words and sat quietly, waiting for Imperial Physician Hu to return.
Imperial Physician Hu at this moment was having a much harder time than them.
Princess Ping Le’s temperament, how could he dare to truly give her the medicine made with Xue Liu’s heart’s blood?
Once she found out later, wouldn’t she skin him alive?
He wanted to pour away the bowl of blood silently, but Eunuch Lai Fu was like a shadow, following him closely, not leaving his side. He smiled, his eyes sharper than a dog’s, not daring to blink, staring at him intently…
Fortunately, Lai Fu was an amateur and couldn’t understand what he was fiddling with.
Imperial Physician Hu could only secretly stall for time.
The sleeping potion Princess Ping Le took did not require an antidote. When the time came and the effect wore off, she would naturally wake up and slowly recover her health…
“Imperial Physician Hu?”
“Imperial Physician Hu!”
“Imperial Physician Hu!!!”
Lai Fu suddenly raised his voice to call him.
Imperial Physician Hu, who was lost in thought, was startled and almost dropped the pestle in his hand.
He quickly looked up, forcing a smile.
“Oh, Eunuch Lai, your shout really scared me.”
Lai Fu crossed his arms, stretched his neck, and peered into the mortar.
“What guilty conscience are you hiding? Look at you trembling! You’re so scared.”
He squinted his eyes again and asked with a half-smile.
“I called you several times and you didn’t respond… What good thing were you thinking about?”
Imperial Physician Hu dared not look at Lai Fu’s half-smiling, bun-like face. He lowered his head, grinding the powdered medicine in the mortar with the pestle, and pretended to be calm:
“You don’t need to ask about this, Eunuch. Pharmacology is something that cannot be explained in a short time…”
Lai Fu pouted and remained silent, but his eyes were full of suspicion: “Then Imperial Physician Hu, tell us, how much longer will it take to prepare this medicine?”
Imperial Physician Hu pondered for a moment, and before he could answer, Lai Fu added:
“The Crown Prince has plenty of patience to wait, but I really need to use the restroom right now, and I’m holding it in…”
Imperial Physician Hu’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, “Eunuch, please feel free. I still have a while to go.”
Lai Fu tugged at his waistband and snorted.
“That won’t do. My head is living well on my shoulders, and I don’t want to move it tomorrow…”
“Then you…”
Lai Fu spoke quickly: “I’ll just relieve myself right here…”
“Absolutely not, absolutely not!”
Imperial Physician Hu saw that he was not joking and was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. As if in a raging fire, he gritted his teeth, poured all the powdered medicine into the boiled medicinal soup, and mixed in the “heart’s blood” from the porcelain bowl. When the medicine pot began to boil, he stirred it evenly.
“Let’s go, let’s go, it’s almost time for the Princess to drink it.”
It was also time for Princess Ping Le to wake up.
–
Imperial Physician Hu came out with Eunuch Fu, who was like a shadow, and ran into Consort Xiao, who had sent a palace maid to urge him.
When they returned to the hall, the atmosphere felt somewhat tense.
The Crown Prince leisurely sipped his tea, while Sixth Miss Xue leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed, pretending to doze. One was moving, the other still, like black and white chess pieces on a chessboard, sitting opposite each other, ignoring each other.
Consort Xiao, on the other hand, was anxious and impatient.
“Why is it taking so long to prepare medicine? I’ve been waiting!”
Imperial Physician Hu bowed repeatedly.
“Replying to Your Ladyship, the medicine has been prepared.”
Consort Xiao’s eyebrows shot up: “Then hurry and take it in for the Princess to drink!”
Imperial Physician Hu reluctantly agreed.
Li Zhao slightly raised his eyelids, slowly put down his teacup, adjusted the corner of his robe, and stood up.
“Since the medicine is ready, I will go and watch my Imperial Sister drink it, so I can be at ease.”
It was clear that he would keep his word and watch Princess Ping Le drink the medicine.
Consort Xiao detested Li Zhao, but she was helpless.
Never mind! The Princess was seriously ill, and the Emperor was extremely anxious. If he appeared before the Emperor like this, he would only be disliked and annoy the Emperor…
If he wanted to embarrass himself, then so be it.
Li Zhao walked away quickly, without looking at Xue Sui again, his demeanor cold and unrestrained.
Xue Yuechen instructed the palace servants to take good care of Sixth Miss, and then followed Consort Xiao inside.
Xue Sui watched them head towards the inner hall, smiled faintly, and then silently closed her eyes.
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi watched, their eyes reddening with heartache.
Their young lady had always been strong.
No matter how bitter, difficult, or painful, she would endure it, always saying she was fine.
But how could it not hurt, how could she be fine, with such a long and thick needle inserted into Tanzhong and so much blood lost.
The outer hall was quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of candlelight.
In the inner hall, Emperor Chong Zhao quietly guarded the Princess’s sickbed, his brows furrowed.
He was only forty-eight years old, in his prime. As he aged, he practiced a lifestyle of rest and recuperation, and was extremely restrained in his indulgence of women. Unlike the monarchs of the previous dynasties who were addicted to wine and women and lived dissolute lives, in the eyes of the court officials and the common people, he was a good emperor who was diligent in governing and loved his people.
The only point he was criticized for.
He doted on Princess Ping Le too much.
When Ping Le wanted to establish her own residence and appoint officials, it caused quite a stir in the imperial court.
The court officials felt it was against the rules, but in the end, they could not defy the Emperor and eventually agreed to her request.
It could be said that the Emperor had many princesses, and Ping Le was not the only one who was beautiful. However, other princesses were rarely seen by the Emperor throughout the year and were not taken to heart by him.
Only Ping Le, who had gained the Emperor’s favor, who could argue with that?
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician has brought the medicine.”
The Head Eunuch Wang Chengxi walked with extremely light steps, for fear of disturbing His Majesty.
Emperor Chong Zhao turned his head and nodded slightly:
“Bring it in.”
Wang Chengxi added: “The Crown Prince has also come to visit the Princess…”
He did not continue, only because he saw the Emperor’s brows furrowed into a “Chuan” character, showing displeasure.
Every time the Crown Prince requested an audience, His Majesty had this expression. Wang Chengxi was already accustomed to it.
But Emperor Chong Zhao did not refuse.
Although he had his favorites among his children, he also valued royal etiquette.
“It is rare for the Crown Prince to have such thoughtfulness. Let him come in.”
Wang Chengxi bowed and retreated, “Yes.”
Li Zhao strode in, followed by Imperial Physician Hu, who was trembling and tense, walking awkwardly. The nervousness on his face was obvious.
But no one was suspicious.
The Princess was unconscious, and it was natural for the Imperial Physician to be nervous.
Imperial Physician Hu stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and placed the medicinal soup on the low table by the sickbed.
“Your Majesty, this humble minister has prepared the medicine according to the ancient methods of Ling Shu.”
He said this, but in his heart, he was silently praying that the Princess would wake up quickly and absolutely not drink this medicine.
However, Princess Ping Le on the sickbed was pale, her beautiful face as lifeless as wood, showing no signs of waking.
Imperial Physician Hu watched, his heart growing more uneasy, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
Emperor Chong Zhao, however, was somewhat impatient. He gestured to the palace maids.
“Help the Princess up and give her the medicine…”
The palace maid knelt: “Yes.”
The two palace maids quickly responded, stepped forward, and helped Princess Ping Le’s limp body up, leaning her against the soft pillow at the head of the bed. Then, looking at the bowl of medicinal soup, they began to worry, not knowing how to give the unconscious Princess the medicine.
It was at this moment that Ping Le woke up.
She did not feel well after taking the sleeping potion.
But at the Bamboo Forest Elegant Pavilion, she had no other choice.
She had made a big fuss to catch the Crown Prince in a scandal, but was outmaneuvered by the Crown Prince. If she angered the Emperor, it would end badly. It was better to “punish herself” by taking medicine and falling unconscious. Her Imperial Father would only pity her and not blame her.
From childhood to adulthood, this trick had always worked for her…
Moreover, she could use this opportunity to humiliate Xue Liu.
Taking her heart’s blood was to let her know that even after ten years, she would still be an ant beneath her feet, her life and death at her whim.
This was the law of heaven and the principles of etiquette.
A lowly person is a lowly person, and will never rise.
The strong medicinal smell in her nostrils brought a moment of clarity to Ping Le’s groggy mind. She instinctively wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she couldn’t open them at all.
Then, she heard Li Zhao’s voice.
“Medicine made with heart’s blood cannot be wasted. Father Emperor, when I was young and refused to take medicine, Imperial Mother would use silver chopsticks to pry open my teeth. This way, it could be poured down without a single drop left.”
Ping Le was greatly alarmed.
Why was Li Zhao here?
What did his words mean?
Could that dog Imperial Physician Hu have really mixed Xue Liu’s heart’s blood into the medicine?
No! Impossible!
Who dared to force her to drink it…
Ping Le thought of Xue Liu’s face, and thought of her drinking wine mixed with aphrodisiacs. Although she didn’t know if it was detoxified by being with Li Zhao, how could her blood be drunk?
Ping Le’s originally chaotic mind became clearer, but the effect of the medicine had not yet worn off. Her whole body was limp, and she couldn’t exert any strength, not even lifting her hand to open her eyes.
Emperor Chong Zhao pondered for a moment and sighed.
“Give it to her, the Princess’s health is important.”
“Father Emperor… no…”
“Imperial Mother… save me…”
Princess Ping Le cried out desperately in her heart, but her throat felt blocked, and she couldn’t make a sound. She could only tremble her lips slightly.
In order to deceive the other Imperial Physicians in the Imperial Hospital and to gain the Emperor’s pity and forgiveness for her transgression, the sleeping potion Imperial Physician Hu prepared for Ping Le was very potent.
At this moment, although Ping Le’s mind had regained clarity, her body did not obey her commands, and she could not immediately recover to a healthy state…
At this moment, she had the will but not the strength. She was so angry that she wanted to kill someone, but she could only be like a cloth doll, at the mercy of others…
Silver chopsticks were shoved into her mouth, and Ping Le’s tightly clenched teeth were forcibly pried open.
Li Zhao: “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour!”
Please wait for the second update, everyone can come back after dinner~~
