Through the beaded curtain, Song Xibai naturally couldn't receive the Empress Dowager's gaze, but since she had spoken so bluntly, the Emperor would have to find a more reasonable reason to refuse.

But after thinking for a moment, the emperor couldn't come up with a reason to refuse.

He could only raise his questions with a straight face.

"Nonsense! How much skill could this lowly palace maid possibly possess? The Empress Dowager's health is of utmost importance; how could she entrust it to such a lowly palace maid?"

Song Xibai had long anticipated that he would not compromise easily, and said calmly.

“Dingxiang is no ordinary palace maid. Her grandfather was a famous doctor in the capital, and her family has practiced medicine for generations. Besides, with three imperial physicians guiding her, she only needs to find the acupoints and apply the needles according to their instructions. What else does Your Majesty have to worry about?”

The emperor's gaze turned slightly cold as he glanced at the crown prince beside him and pointed with his finger.

"Is this how you discipline the women in your household? A concubine who isn't even a proper lady-in-waiting dares to speak to me like that? It's utterly disrespectful!"

The Crown Prince's heart tightened, and he pulled Song Xibai behind him.

"Father, please don't be so harsh. It's all my fault. But if you want to punish me, please wait until my grandmother's illness is cured."

For the first time, the Crown Prince looked directly at the Emperor with his head held high. The awe and reverence he once had in his eyes were gone, replaced only by determination and coldness.

Song Xibai felt a warmth in her heart and quietly squeezed the Crown Prince's hand.

Then, she peeked out from behind the prince and raised her voice to remind him.

"I've heard that strokes occur very quickly, and not a moment can be wasted. If we talk here and delay the Empress Dowager's treatment, wouldn't that be extremely unfilial?"

The words "unfilial piety" struck the emperor's Achilles' heel precisely.

That's his concern.

He wasn't the Empress Dowager's biological son to begin with, and half the credit for his ascension to the throne went to the Empress Dowager. So even if he had to pretend, he had to act like a dutiful son, otherwise the memorials of remonstrance from the censors outside would pile up on his desk like snowflakes.

The emperor didn't want the empress dowager to die now either, because if she died, he would have to observe mourning, and the national funeral arrangements would cost a lot of money...

However, the emperor was extremely displeased whenever he saw the crown prince.

The image of Empress Yuan's disdainful eyes before her death involuntarily surfaced in my mind.

The emperor's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists several times before suppressing his anger. He turned his head away and beckoned the imperial physician outside to come in.

Just as the Imperial Secretary was about to get up, someone suddenly tugged at his robe, nearly causing him to fall.

Even with his good temper, he couldn't help but turn around and glare angrily at Song Siyuan.

"what are you up to?"

Song Siyuan withdrew his hand somewhat embarrassedly.

"Your Excellency, I was thinking that I have some experience in acupuncture, so why not let me go in? Besides, the Emperor's anger has not yet subsided..."

The academy director calmed down instantly. He realized that Song Siyuan's acupuncture skills were indeed the best in the Imperial Hospital, so he didn't hold it against him for his two sabotage attempts. He waved his hand and told him to go in.

Song Siyuan got up from the ground, ran into the hall, and kept his head down the whole time, pretending not to know anyone.

If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, Song Xibai would have almost burst out laughing.

Song Siyuan was not without nervousness.

But the academy magistrate knows Song Xibai. If he is allowed to come in, the secret will definitely be exposed. I have no choice but to come myself.

Song Siyuan silently apologized to the Imperial Academy Minister twice, then composed himself and walked to the Emperor to curtsy.

The emperor raised his chin.

"Minister Song, please quickly treat the Empress Dowager!"

Song Siyuan apologized and then said to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, "Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince, please rest in the side hall! It is not appropriate to have too many people in the room, and please ask the eunuchs to leave as well."

The emperor still trusted Song Siyuan's medical skills, and with a flick of his sleeve, he took the lead and walked out.

The crown prince turned to leave, but found that he couldn't hold her hand. He looked at Song Xibai in confusion.

Song Xibai gave him a reassuring look, cleared her throat, and said something in a pretentious manner.

"I will stay and help, so that Your Highness can keep an eye on things."

The Crown Prince was not entirely in favor, but Song Xibai's eyes were resolute, and in the end, the Crown Prince had no choice but to let go of her hand and leave first.

After everyone left, the bedchamber became much emptier.

But there were still servants from Renshou Palace inside the palace who served the Empress Dowager!

Song Siyuan continues to act.

"Please trouble Miss Ding to go in and take the Empress Dowager's pulse."

Then, he turned his gaze to several old women who had gotten up from the ground and told them to prepare hot water, candles, strong liquor, and other items.

After sending everyone away, Song Xibai followed Dingxiang and lifted the beaded curtain to walk to the bedside.

To their surprise, the two men were startled when they saw the Empress Dowager on the bed.

The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with tears and pleading.

"Your Majesty, do not be afraid."

Song Xibai spoke in a low voice, took a handkerchief to wipe the Empress Dowager's eyes, gestured for Dingxiang to take her pulse, and at the same time quietly touched the Empress Dowager's wrist.

Half an hour later, the two let go at almost the same time.

Dingxiang described the pulse in detail, and Song Siyuan, who was outside the beaded curtain, knew that the situation was very bad and became extremely anxious.

"We must administer acupuncture immediately; we can't delay for even a moment. Let's start with the top of the head."

Song Xibai took a deep breath, thankful that she had come along; Dingxiang couldn't have handled this situation alone!

The Empress Dowager was lying on the bed, and there wasn't enough space above her head, so two maids had to work together to help her sit up.

After calling the two maids out, Song Xibai gently rubbed the Empress Dowager's temples, which were taut with tension, and said softly.

"Your Majesty, please don't be nervous. Relax, close your eyes, and think about something that will make you feel relaxed and happy."

But the Empress Dowager had no mind to think about such things at the moment.

Song Xibai continued talking to her: "His Highness the Crown Prince and I stayed at a manor in the suburbs for a few days. Spring is in full bloom now, and everywhere is full of flowers and green willows, a truly beautiful sight. We even went fishing. You don't know, His Highness is skilled in both literature and martial arts, but he can't fish, so I let him have his way. We also went to Longevity Hill. Doesn't the Empress Dowager often go there to worship Buddha? The peach and plum blossoms on the mountain are all in bloom, a sea of ​​flowers covering the entire hillside, it's simply like a fairyland..."

Song Xibai's fragmented words kept reaching the Empress Dowager's ears.

The images she had described involuntarily surfaced in the Empress Dowager's mind: the sea of ​​flowers on Longevity Hill, the streams flowing through the woods, and the people working in the fields...

Her brows gradually relaxed, and her whole body became less tense.

Meanwhile, Dingxiang had already treated the needle.

Inside the needle case was a set of gold needles of varying lengths and thicknesses.

Song Xibai held his breath, pulled out the finest acupuncture needle, pressed one hand against the Empress Dowager's scalp, and accurately inserted the needle with the other hand.

Soon, one golden needle after another entered the acupoints. Song Xibai's hands moved swiftly, twisting and lifting, the speed was fast but there was no sign of being flustered.

Gradually, the number of gold needles increased, spreading from the top of the head to the neck.

Song Xibai's forehead gradually became covered in sweat.

Dingxiang didn't dare wipe her sweat, for fear of disrupting her rhythm.