“I can walk,” Ji Xuan’s voice was a little weak, “I’m just a little cold, but it’s nothing serious.”

As an emperor, one must always maintain dignity; this is a pride ingrained in one's very being.

“Alright,” Han Yi nodded, “I’ll help you.”

In the main hall, Liu Zhiyuan, who was about 80% full, finally shifted his attention elsewhere. "Guests have arrived? Why at this time?"

It's raining so early in the morning, this person is so inconsiderate.

Liu Zhiyuan felt speechless.

Jiang Nuan was also very puzzled, "There might be something important."

If it really happened, why didn't you say so yesterday?

strangeness!

"We have guests," Doctor Gu put down his chopsticks and asked earnestly, "Would I need to leave?"

“No need,” Jiang Nuan shook her head. “The Han family in the county town should be familiar to Doctor Gu.”

“So it was them,” Doctor Gu nodded. “I’ve heard about them.”

“Master,” Liu Zhiyuan started eating again, “this isn’t the imperial palace, what’s there to talk about…”

Liu Zhiyuan looked up and saw the person approaching. Before he could finish speaking, he was so frightened that he choked and kept coughing, unable to utter a word.

"Holy..." Doctor Gu stood up tremblingly, and after receiving a suggestive look from Qi Yong, he asked vaguely, "Why have you come?"

“Liu…Gu…” Ji Xuan looked at the two of them in shock, “What are you doing here?”

"So you know each other," Jiang Nuan said with surprise, and asked considerately, "Doctor Gu, Young Master Wang, would you like me to find a place for you to catch up?"

After drinking a cup of tea, Liu Zhiyuan quickly replied, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam Jiang. It doesn't need to be fancy, just clean and quiet will do."

Liu Zhiyuan was terrified.

He never expected that a casual remark he made would actually attract the true emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

This is even harder to believe than what's sung in a play.

"It's alright, it takes a little time to tidy up the room, please wait a moment."

"Also," Qi Yong said with a smile, "my master has caught a cold, please make a bowl of ginger soup."

"Let's brew the medicine, I'll write the prescription," Liu Zhiyuan said, then turned to Qi Yong and explained, "I brought some medicine in the medicine box, in case I encountered other patients."

"In that case, thank you for your help, Doctor Liu." Qi Yong nodded and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Jiang Nuan became curious about the relationship between the two. "Doctor Liu, are you the physician of the Wang family?"

She knew that some wealthy families liked to have a personal physician in their household.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan froze, then forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Yes, I am the Wang family's physician. It's quite a coincidence that I run into my master here."

The last sentence was practically squeezed out through clenched teeth.

He never dreamed that such a bizarre thing would happen.

If it weren't for the incredulous looks on the Emperor's and Qi Yong's faces, he would have suspected that the two of them had come specifically to capture him.

“I see,” Jiang Nuan nodded. “It seems I was overthinking it.”

She always felt there was something strange about the relationship between the three of them.

But I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong with it.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately and tactfully asked the guest to leave, saying, "Madam Jiang, please continue with your work. I'll write a prescription."

"I won't bother Dr. Liu any longer."

After setting up tables and chairs in Xiao Si's room and adding tea and pastries, they led the person inside.

In the simple room, Qi Yong diligently took care of his master.

Across from him, Doctor Gu was in a state of confusion. He wasn't prepared when Ji Xuan suddenly appeared, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

Having weathered many storms, the old man took a deep breath to compose himself and bowed to Ji Xuan, saying, "This humble subject greets Your Majesty."

"Gu Qing, how have you been?"

Sitting in the chair, Ji Xuan's gaze was sharp and her demeanor dignified and composed, a stark contrast to the naive and easily bullied appearance that Han Yi had seen.

Every move he made exuded the majesty of an emperor.

"This humble subject has long since retired from officialdom and is unworthy of Your Majesty's title of 'ancient minister'."

"Imperial Physician Gu," Qi Yong said, displeased, "are you expressing dissatisfaction with the Emperor?"

Thunder and rain are both acts of imperial grace. The emperor spared his life back then, yet he was still not satisfied.

Instantly, Qi Yong's gaze towards Doctor Gu was filled with displeasure.

"This humble subject dares not. Thunder and rain are all the emperor's grace. If the emperor commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die."

That incident back then dealt such a heavy blow to Doctor Gu that he became disheartened and left for distant lands.

How could there be no dissatisfaction!

He believed he had fulfilled his duty as a doctor, yet he was dismissed from office, and his aged heart sank into an icy abyss.

He could understand the emperor's shame and anger at having his secret exposed, but he could not accept his own miserable fate of being banished.

“Gu Qing,” Ji Xuan said slowly, “you should understand that knowing such secrets, it is already very difficult for me to spare your life.”

Throughout history, only he was allowed to return to the mountains despite being caught with such a crucial weakness.

"This humble subject understands!"

“But you still harbor resentment,” Ji Xuan stood up, looking down at Doctor Gu, “Do you think I shouldn’t have treated you this way?”

"That's not what I thought!"

“Gu Qing, you should know that on my shoulders lie the legacy of our ancestors, the fate of our nation, and the well-being of all the people!”

If you had a solution back then, you should have spoken up. But alas, you were helpless.

Therefore, the fact that I haven't killed you is already an extraordinary act of kindness.

"This humble subject understands!"

"If that's the case, why complain?"

"Nothing more than injustice."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan closed her eyes and after a long while, she finally spoke, "Gu Qing, in this world, fairness is secondary; weighing interests is more important."

There are far too many injustices in the world, even the gods are helpless. Not only you, but even I can only accept it.

"This humble subject understands!"

He understood all these principles, but he still felt resentful.

Seeing this, Ji Xuan waved her hand helplessly, "Never mind, there's no point in saying anything now."

What does it matter whether you resent it or not?

As long as he is a citizen of the Great Zhou Dynasty, even if he harbors immense resentment, he will still try to find a way to save his broken body.

This is the duty of a person who serves the people, a minister, and a doctor.

Doctor Gu did not respond to these words. He remained kneeling on one knee, his trembling back straight, like an unyielding mountain.

“Imperial Physician Gu,” Qi Yong said with a smile as he helped Ji Xuan up after receiving Ji Xuan’s hint, “His Majesty will not hold these words against you. You should return the favor.”

"Rest assured, Eunuch Qi, no matter what, I will do my best to cure His Majesty's illness."

“That’s excellent,” Qi Yong said, taking the medical kit that his master and apprentice had brought. “Thank you for your help, Physician Gu.”

He deftly picked up the handkerchief from the box and placed it on Ji Xuan's wrist. "Your Majesty, I have offended you."

"It's alright."

“Master,” Qi Yong frowned, “why don’t we try pulse diagnosis by threading a needle?”

How could His Majesty's body be so easily offended!

"Eunuch Qi, you may not know this, but His Majesty's pulse is very strange, weak and subtle. Pulse diagnosis by threading a needle can lead to errors, which is very inappropriate."