"Yes, yes, Mother, I've memorized the entire Three Character Classic. And also, today the musician taught me a simple tune. Mother, would you like to hear it?"

Xiao Yu smiled at Cen Xi, proudly talking about what she had learned these past few days, and even looked like she was asking for praise, which was really easy to soften one's heart.

Cen Xi smiled and said:

"Little fish is awesome!"

Her eyes flickered, and she fell silent. Some things just don't go as planned. If only her own mother had no ulterior motives.

In that case, she might love her goddaughter even more.

It's a pity that some people don't care about their daughters.

"Your Majesty, Physician Sun has arrived."

"Okay, let him in."

After Cen Xi responded, the woman in red quickly led Physician Sun into the hall, followed by Su Nianniang.

"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress."

"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Upon entering, Physician Sun and Su Nianniang greeted each other at the same time.

"Does Imperial Physician Sun know why I summoned you here today?"

Cen Xi pulled Xiao Yu to sit in the main seat and looked at Physician Sun with a smile.

"Wasn't it to take a pulse, Your Majesty?"

Physician Sun looked at Cen Xi with a kind and benevolent smile.

"I still want to ask if your Imperial Medical Academy wants to move to the Imperial College. There are only two masters in the palace now. It's a waste of your talents to stay in the palace like this."

Cen Xi made no mention of the words that had just ridiculed Qingyi, and instead turned to the main topic.

"Didn't His Majesty make a decision about this three months ago? Why does Your Highness need to bring it up again? It's perfectly reasonable for the palace to reduce its expenditures."

"But the Imperial Medical Academy is a special institution. The Emperor cannot afford to make any mistakes. Only by living in the palace can we be summoned by His Majesty as quickly as possible. Moreover, the Imperial Medical Academy now only has five physicians, which is only one-tenth of the original number. Your Majesty, do you still find us an eyesore this time?"

Physician Sun used to be Shen Jinchen's most trusted person. Now he is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, as well as the dean of the Imperial College, the Imperial Women's College, and the Medical College.

They also need to be needed.

Therefore, he dared to speak the truth in front of Cen Xi without fear of offending her. Moreover, he was also very clear about what Cen Xi meant by asking this question.

Therefore, he fought hard for the rights of himself and the Imperial Medical Academy.

"Sigh! Fine, you're right. Then take my pulse again. I'll take the pulse of all the girls in my palace. I suspect they're all sick and need proper treatment."

Cen Xi chuckled lightly, not pursuing Physician Sun's rebuttal, but instead smilingly told him to take a pulse.

"Your Majesty, I am not sick, I am in good health, I do not need to have my pulse checked."

As soon as Qingyi saw that Cenxi was serious, she was the first to jump out and deny it.

None of the palace maids in Kunde Palace are sick, Your Majesty. What do you mean by this?

"If you're not sick, what's wrong with taking a look? Don't act like you're avoiding medical treatment. Maybe you have some hidden illnesses that haven't been discovered yet. Don't resist, let Physician Sun take a look at you."

Cen Xi raised her eyes and glared at them, and the group of palace maids and women in green who wanted to resist immediately quieted down.

Imperial Physician Sun smiled, glanced at the palace maids in the hall, and spoke to Cen Xi:

"Your Majesty, please go first. I will see them one by one later."

"Very well! Physician Sun, please give me a good look. His Majesty is hoping that I will continue to have offspring."

Cen Xi pulled Xiao Yu to sit next to Physician Sun and offered him her hand.

Physician Sun blinked his fox-like eyes, gently curled the corners of his lips, and began to examine the patient earnestly after putting on a face towel.

Finally, after repeating the same old clichés he'd used before, Cen Xi sent Physician Sun off to see Qingyi and the others.

Su Nianniang was about to follow, but Cen Xi stopped her:

"Nianniang, it's been months since you last saw Xiaoyu, haven't you? Don't you miss her? Back in Lijia Village, didn't you say you loved your son and daughter very much?"

"She's right in front of you, aren't you going to hug her?"

After Cen Xi finished speaking, Xiao Yu, with her keen perception, spoke up:

"Mother, why don't you miss me anymore?"

"It's not that I don't miss you, it's just that there are too many things to do at the Imperial Hospital and I can't get away right now. How have you been lately, Xiaoyu?"

With a polite smile, Su Nianniang glanced at Cen Xi, then squatted down, hugged Xiaoyu, and asked.

“I’m fine. I can recite the Three Character Classic and play the piano. My mother taught me very well, but I miss my mother too.”

Little Fish is always soft and cuddly, with bright eyes, and her voice is as sweet as honey. It's hard not to feel affection for her.

Her words truly moved Su Nianniang.

Su Nianniang couldn't help herself, hugged her, kissed her hard, and shed tears.

"Look at you two, so affectionate with each other, I'm getting jealous. Nianniang, what are you thinking? Why are you so determined to stay in the Imperial Hospital? If you want to study medicine, you can go to the National Women's Academy. After graduating from there, you will have a shop allocated by the Ministry of Revenue. And since you are Xiaoyu's mother, I can help you with anything you want."

"You can start your own household if you don't want to get married. I fought for this opportunity for the benefit of women everywhere, to give them more choices. This is your opportunity too, so why don't you want it?"

What exactly do you want?

Cen Xi had Hongyi summon Su Nianniang today because she wanted a final resolution, and she asked so bluntly. Su Nianniang was still oblivious; then Cen Xi wouldn't be so impolite.

"I…"

Su Nianniang didn't expect Cen Xi to ask this. Her hand holding Xiaoyu stiffened, and she didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Let's be frank. I dislike beating around the bush. If I can help you, I will; if not, I'll have to ask you to leave the palace."

Cen Xi stared intently at her, waiting for her answer.

"I…"

Su Nianniang looked at Cen Xi, about to speak.

At this moment, Shen Jinchen walked into Kunde Hall in the afterglow of the sunset, and Su Nianniang swallowed back the words she wanted to say.

"Didn't you say an hour? I've only been back for half an hour. Why are you here?"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Cen Xi's brows furrowed so deeply they almost formed a deep frown.

That damn man is the one who ruins her plans.

"I was hungry, so I came. Anyway, I've almost finished dealing with the memorials, so it's a good opportunity to have dinner with Her Majesty. What, you don't welcome me with that look?"

As soon as Shen Jinchen entered the hall, he pulled Cen Xi aside as if no one else was there, put his arm around her waist, and breathed sweetly into her ear.

"Are you sure you didn't pull the wrong person? There's another woman here who looks a lot like me."

Cen Xi smiled at Shen Jinchen, teased him, and then glanced at Su Nianniang out of the corner of her eye to observe her actions.

"My Empress is one of a kind, there's no way I could mistake her for anyone else. Ah Xi, you wouldn't be jealous of a woman I wouldn't even glance at, would you? That would be a terrible injustice to me."

Shen Jinchen tightened his grip on her waist, not even glancing at Su Nianniang. What a joke! If he couldn't even admit his mistake to the woman he loved, what kind of love was that?

"Ah! Such sweet words are so pleasant to hear. Go inside and rest for a while. I still have some things to take care of. I'll come find you when I'm done."

Cen Xi chuckled softly, poked Shen Jinchen's chest, and stared at him intently.