Entering the Palace

"What? The Emperor wants me to come to the palace?!"

Xu Ruoyan seemed to have heard something incredible, and instantly felt dizzy and unsteady on her feet.

Pei An was also extremely anxious. His elder brother had told him to take good care of his sister-in-law before he left, but now that such a big thing had happened, he couldn't think of a good solution, which was utterly shameful.

Xu Ruoyan gulped down a mouthful of tea, trying to calm herself down.

“We’ve just settled down in the capital and haven’t done anything big, so the Emperor shouldn’t notice us,” she patted Pei An on the shoulder to ease his tension. “Relax, maybe he just admires my medical skills.”

Pei An bit her lower lip hard, her head hanging low, utterly helpless.

Xu Ruoyan couldn't bear to see him so helpless any longer, so she gently pinched his cheek and said, "It's okay. Since he wants me to go, I'll go and meet him. Your sister-in-law can handle it, don't worry."

Although she was at a loss when she first heard the news, seeing Pei An's anxious expression calmed her down.

Whether Pei Jue is there or not, she has to support this family. Since there is a challenge, she must step up.

Moreover, what if it's another new opportunity?

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice unusually firm, as if she had made up her mind. “Let’s go see what he’s up to.”

The palace gatekeepers had probably received advance notice, so Pei An led Xu Ruoyan in without any obstacles.

Upon arriving at the Daqing Hall, a young eunuch at the gate quickly announced, speaking in a low voice, "Doctor Xu, His Majesty requests your presence."

"If I don't come out for a long time, you can go back first and don't wait for me."

Xu Ruoyan and Pei An exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The doors of the main hall closed behind her, and the long imperial road stretched out beneath her feet. Xu Ruoyan stared calmly at the road beneath her feet and walked forward with her head down.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

She collapsed at the foot of the steps, her forehead pressed tightly against her folded hands, and closed her eyes briefly.

"No need for formalities, get up." A young and casual voice rang out above her head, which matched Xu Ruoyan's image of Pei Huai.

Xu Ruoyan slowly stood up, but she didn't dare to look around. She kept her head down respectfully.

"I heard that you cured Lady Guo Yuan's illness?"

Xu Ruoyan answered simply, "Yes."

Pei Huai lazily raised his voice and said "Oh," then asked, "Doctor Xu's medical skills are so superb. I have a long-standing illness that I can't cure, and those old useless people in the Imperial Hospital are incompetent. I wonder if I could trouble Doctor Xu to take a look at me?"

Xu Ruoyan cried out in her heart: Can I say no?

Fortunately, she had prepared herself mentally before coming, and was quite calm at the moment, bowing slowly and saying, "Your humble servant obeys."

Qi Feng, who was standing to the side, immediately took small steps forward and stood next to Xu Ruoyan, extending his hand towards the dragon throne: "Doctor Xu, please."

As she moved, Xu Ruoyan glanced at Qi Feng. Sagging skin, short stature, and a semi-permanent, seductive smile…

He truly lived up to his reputation as a high-ranking official who had served two dynasties.

She walked cautiously to Pei Huai, keeping her head down, as if afraid that if Pei Huai disliked her at any moment, he would have her dragged out and beheaded.

Pei Huai glanced at her disdainfully, then lazily stretched out his hand and placed it in front of her: "Come on."

In truth, he didn't believe that this young physician who had appeared out of nowhere had any great abilities. However, Qi Feng had told him to pay close attention to this young physician, and no matter how impatient he was, he had to listen.

Moreover, after looking at her a few times, he couldn't see anything different about this woman. He really didn't know what Qi Feng was thinking.

Xu Ruoyan had no idea what Pei Huai was thinking. She listened to Pei Huai's pulse and concluded that his high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol were just caused by his unrestrained lifestyle. She then withdrew her hand, stepped back, and bowed: "Your Majesty, I believe that as long as you pay attention to your rest and diet and exercise a little restraint, your health will soon be much better."

Pei Huai didn't reply immediately, but instead looked at Qi Feng standing to the side.

Having her take the Emperor's pulse wasn't Qi Feng's main purpose. After all, Qi Feng didn't care if Pei Huai had any minor health problems, as long as it wasn't a fatal illness. After all, such an obedient puppet emperor was hard to find. So he nodded slightly to Pei Huai, indicating that it was time to stop.

Xu Ruoyan didn't even need to look up; she could tell with her toes who Pei Huai had been flirting with while he was silent. After all, given Pei Huai's intelligence, he probably wouldn't have noticed anything. What they were truly worried about was Qi Feng, that old fox who had lived through two dynasties. She had come here resolutely to see if this Ninth Prince was truly as perceptive and aware as Pei Jue had claimed, and had already detected their presence.

Xu Ruoyan waited quietly below the steps, her expression calm and composed, seemingly in no hurry to know her fate.

Qi Feng's deep gaze fell on the woman bending over not far away. After a long while, he subtly shifted his gaze, cleared his throat, and said, "Doctor Xu, His Majesty intends for you to take up a position in the Imperial Medical Academy. Would you be willing?"

Xu Ruoyan frowned. This outcome was indeed unexpected, yet also quite reasonable. If they truly believed in her exceptional medical skills, then wanting to win her over was normal; she just didn't know if their motives were truly as simple as they seemed.

In a flash, various considerations raced through her mind. After weighing her options, she bowed deeply again: "Your Majesty, I am naturally willing to enter the Imperial Hospital to share Your Majesty's burdens. However, I also own a pharmacy outside the palace, which I presume Your Majesty is already aware of. Many people prefer to seek treatment at my pharmacy, so I can only stay in the palace for half the month, spending the rest of my time at the pharmacy treating the people. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

Bargaining with the emperor is a risky business that could cost one's head, and someone with an unyielding spirit would certainly not dare to do it. However, the reason for being wholeheartedly devoted to the people is very valid, and any monarch who wants to gain a good reputation among the people would not refuse.

In fact, Xu Ruoyan had her own plans. Treating the people was one aspect, but another was that she couldn't allow herself to be constantly under the surveillance of Pei Huai and Qi Feng. Otherwise, not only would she be unable to continue carrying out her plan, but it would also easily expose the three of them. Joining the Imperial Hospital would bring her closer to Pei Huai, making it easier for her to act, which was a rare and excellent opportunity.

However, she was slightly surprised that Pei Huai agreed without much consideration.

“Very well, it is a good thing that my subject has such a heart for the country and the people, and I naturally cannot stop him,” he said. “As long as you can come to the palace regularly to take care of my health, that will be fine.”

Upon reflection, Xu Ruoyan realized that although she had nominally joined the Imperial Medical Academy, she had actually become his private physician.

Could it be Qi Feng's idea? But I've never met him before, so why is he targeting me like this? Could it be that he really discovered I'm with Pei Jue?

She racked her brains but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation, so she simply gave up.

Anyway, being able to see Pei Huai every few days is a good thing. Even if Qi Feng wants to monitor her, at least it's a two-way monitoring, so she won't lose out.

After explaining the matter, Pei Huai let her go. Knowing it was her first time entering the palace, Pei Huai instructed Qi Feng to escort her out.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a good person. Xu Ruoyan rolled her eyes inwardly.

On the way out, escorted by Qi Feng, Xu Ruoyan remained silent, afraid of saying too much and making a mistake. But Qi Feng spoke first.

"Dr. Xu, I've never seen you in the capital before. When did you come to the capital?"

Xu Ruoyan's nerves, which had just relaxed a little, tensed up again.

Is it a test or a household registration check?

"Oh, I've been staying in my hometown. I only recently came to the capital. It's normal that Lord Qi hasn't seen me before."

Qi Feng gave an "Oh" with an air of importance, and then asked, "Doctor Xu's medical skills are so superb, who did you learn from? You have even surpassed the carefully selected imperial physicians of our Imperial Hospital."

It seems like they're praising her, but they're actually testing her.

Xu Ruoyan had a headache. She had always disliked dealing with people who spoke in roundabout ways, but unfortunately, everyone in the palace was like that.

She chuckled dryly twice: "Lord Qi, you flatter me. My medical skills are nothing more than those of a rural village doctor, not worth mentioning."

Qi Feng said "Oh" again.

"Where does Your Majesty reside now? Your Majesty intends to invite Your Majesty here as well, so that we, the unworthy imperial physicians, can study and improve our medical skills."

Is this never going to end?

Xu Ruoyan's hands, hidden in her sleeves, unconsciously clenched into fists. She sneered inwardly, but her expression remained unchanged, still displaying her submissive demeanor.

"Reporting to Lord Qi. My master has passed away. I am an orphan, raised by my master. After my master's passing, I came to the capital to seek a way out."

I've already said it's a dead person, you can't actually go and check if there's a grave for that person.

Sure enough, Qi Feng sighed in disappointment:

"What a pity. My condolences, Lord Xu."

As they approached the palace gates, Xu Ruoyan gave a forced smile and snorted twice. She then turned to Qi Feng and bowed, saying, "I'm sorry to trouble you to see me out. Lord Qi, you should go back now, or His Majesty will be getting impatient."

Qi Feng also pretended to flick his whisk, exchanged a few polite words with Xu Ruoyan, and then turned and went back.

As the palace gates slowly closed in front of her, Xu Ruoyan was finally able to exhale the pent-up frustration in her chest. She glanced casually to the side and saw Pei An running towards her from not far away.

"Sister-in-law, you're finally out! I was so worried about you!"

He was so excited that he tripped over his own feet and fell with a thud right in front of Xu Ruoyan's toes.

So Xu Ruoyan rushed to help Pei An up without even calming herself down. When she looked at Pei An, she saw that he was pouting and tears were welling up in his eyes, making him look pitiful.

"Oh dear, why are you crying? I'm perfectly fine!"

Xu Ruoyan's attempt to comfort Pei An only made things worse; she started crying immediately.

"If anything happens to you, my brother will definitely kill me!"

Xu Ruoyan was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

"Alright, alright, I'm fine now, your brother won't kill you."

Pei An was incredibly adept at controlling her emotions, quickly suppressing her tears and giving the impression that she hadn't cried at all.

"By the way, sister-in-law, my brother wrote a letter."

Since Pei Jue left, all his letters have been to her; he has never written to Pei An. Xu Ruoyan couldn't help but be curious, so she went over to him.

Pei An looked around warily, and when he found no one was around, he whispered:

“My brother asked me to send him 15,000 taels of silver, and I have already done it.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ruoyan's eyes lit up, and the fatigue from the previous confrontation vanished instantly.

It's done.