"Jiaojiao, do you think I would hold a grudge against you for the sake of such a servant?" Xiao Huaijin's eyes darkened. "That Granny Qin has served Grandmother for many years, but I have heard about her previous methods. Such a person is not worth the pain of death!"

"But what if I hadn't arrived in time?"

Xiao Huaijin looked down at her, his face expressionless, but his tone contained a hint of heartache.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have had Zhu Ye keep an eye on you at all times!"

Seeing the thin layer of anger on Xiao Huaijin's handsome face, Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.

Xiao Huaijin always felt sorry for her, and she knew that.

Shen Yunjiao gently took Xiao Huaijin's wrist and shook it, whispering, "Huaijin, don't be angry..."

Huaijin?

Xiao Huaijin was taken aback.

This was the first time Shen Yunjiao had not called herself by her full name.

Seeing Shen Yunjiao's very obedient appearance, he maintained his solemn expression, but the tips of his ears turned red.

Seeing how easily he was flirted with, Shen Yunjiao secretly smiled.

She squeezed her five fingers between Xiao Huaijin's fingers, holding them intimately and seamlessly, before looking up and saying, "Everyone has self-respect and privacy. I don't want to be watched by your guards all day long like a prisoner. Do you understand?"

Xiao Huaijin pursed his lips and remained silent. He knew that Shen Yunjiao hated the feeling of being followed, and he would feel the same way if he were in her shoes.

Seeing that Xiao Huaijin did not refute, Shen Yunjiao continued, "Moreover, when I went to see your grandmother today, I knew that if anything happened to me, your cousin would inform you immediately."

Xiao Huaijin was surprised. Seeing Shen Yunjiao's adorable, sly expression, he couldn't help but sit down and pull her into his arms. "Why are you so sure?"

He remembered that Chu Xiyue had once tried to harm Shen Yunjiao, so why would she be so kind as to want to save her?

Nestled in her familiar embrace, Shen Yun said lazily, "I poisoned her, so naturally she won't let me suffer if she wants the antidote."

Hearing this, Xiao Huaijin was not angry. Instead, his usually cold tone was tinged with helplessness. "You have planned it perfectly, but Jiaojiao, have you considered my feelings?"

Xiao Huaijin lowered his head, lifted Shen Yunjiao's upper body slightly with one hand, and leaned in to touch her nose to hers.

"If something happens to you, what will I do alone?"

Shen Yunjiao raised her eyes to look at the aloof yet gentle man before her. His eyes were slightly red, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

Shen Yunjiao felt as if she had been pricked by a needle in her heart.

His face immediately showed deep apology.

"Xiao Huaijin, I apologize to you." Shen Yunjiao grabbed his collar and whispered, "Please forgive me."

Seeing the person in his arms acting so softly and coquettishly, Xiao Huaijin sighed softly and then lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

"Little Linzi," Xiao Huaijin called out.

"Your Majesty, this servant is here." Xiao Linzi entered the inner palace upon hearing the voice. "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Invite Physician Jiang over," Xiao Huaijin ordered calmly.

Seeing the abnormal flush on Shen Yun's delicate face, he feared that she might be feeling unwell again after what happened that morning, so he quickly summoned the imperial physician from the palace.

"Jiaojiao, let Physician Jiang take a look at you later. He's a famous doctor in Dayong, and I can introduce you to him." Xiao Huaijin tightened his embrace. "Didn't you open a clinic? If you need anything in the future, you can consult Physician Jiang."

Xiao Huaijin patiently explained, but what he didn't tell Shen Yunjiao was that Imperial Physician Jiang had actually resigned from his position as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and had been traveling around. He was the one who insisted on bringing him back.

He actually had a son who was also a physician in the palace, but he lost his life at the hands of Consort Shu during that palace coup.

This caused Imperial Physician Jiang to remain melancholy and have an unpredictable temperament, but he was still concerned about His Majesty's headaches and ultimately chose to return to the palace, a place of sorrow.

However, Imperial Physician Jiang is now quite old, and apart from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, no one in the palace dares to call him to make house calls.

As Xiao Huaijin was reminiscing about Physician Jiang, he inadvertently caught a whiff of the familiar grassy scent emanating from Shen Yunjiao, mixed with a hint of sweetness. The fragrance was much stronger than usual.

Xiao Huaijin reached out and touched Shen Yunjiao's forehead.

Sure enough, Shen Yunjiao developed a fever.

Fortunately, at this moment, Physician Jiang, carrying the prescription box, hurriedly followed Xiao Linzi into the bedchamber.

When Xiao Huaijin saw the white-bearded Imperial Physician Jiang arrive, his eyes darkened as he said, "Imperial Physician Jiang, you may dispense with the formalities."

Just as he was about to kneel, Imperial Physician Jiang quickly straightened up. When he saw the woman in Xiao Huaijin's arms, he immediately knew why His Majesty had summoned him.

"Is the young lady feeling unwell?" Physician Jiang asked.

"She has a fever," Xiao Huaijin said before the person in his arms could speak.

Shen Yunjiao felt embarrassed and tried to sit up, but Xiao Huaijin held her down firmly.

"Xiao Huaijin!" Shen Yunjiao hissed angrily.

"Sit down." Xiao Huaijin pressed down on both of her hands without ceremony, then looked up and said, "Jiang Yuan, come and take my pulse."

Upon receiving the order, Physician Jiang slowly walked to Shen Yunjiao and squatted down. He took out a handkerchief, laid it out, and gently placed it on Shen Yunjiao's wrist.

This was the first time in Shen Yunjiao's life that she had been held in someone's arms and had her pulse taken; she felt an indescribable sense of strangeness and shame.

Very embarrassing.

Shen Yunjiao had no choice but to focus her attention on the imperial physician in front of her.

Shen Yunjiao knew that the doctors in Dayong were skilled in surgery.

For example, Li Wei, the top doctor in the capital, and Dr. Xia, whom she invited to her clinic, were both skilled at treating injuries and setting bones.

I wonder how skilled this Physician Jiang is?

The hall was completely silent, with wisps of smoke rising from it.

"The young lady is doing well." Imperial Physician Jiang released Shen Yunjiao's hand and looked at Xiao Huaijin, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured."

A wave of doubt washed over Shen Yunjiao, and she asked, "Imperial Physician, am I really alright?"

From this perspective, Physician Jiang doesn't seem to have any extraordinary medical skills.

Could Xiao Huaijin have been fooled by his cunning and calculating face?

Physician Jiang's cloudy eyes were now fixed on Shen Yunjiao. "Miss, do you think you are sick?"

Shen Yunjiao was taken aback by his retort and didn't know how to respond.

Fortunately, Xiao Huaijin spoke up at this moment, "Director Jiang, she has a fever now. She was exposed to the sun for a while, and a large number of red spots have appeared on her face. Do you have any way to cure her?"

Physician Jiang was extremely respectful to Xiao Huaijin, saying, "Your Majesty, I will immediately go and prescribe the medicine. After the decoction is taken, the young lady's fever will subside."

Xiao Huaijin nodded. "Go ahead."

After bowing, Physician Jiang left without hesitation.

Shen Yunjiao gazed at that swift back, pondered for a moment, and then slowly asked, "Xiao Huaijin, are you sure this doctor is the number one physician in Dayong?"

Don't be fooled by his appearance.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaijin chuckled and said, "Imperial Physician Jiang's medical skills are superb; he has brought many dying people back to life. Jiaojiao, please don't doubt it."

Upon hearing the words "bringing the dead back to life," Shen Yunjiao became even more skeptical.

She needed to find an opportunity to meet this imperial physician privately to see if he was truly a fraudulent barefoot doctor.