"Why don't you just find a professional craftsman to carve one?" Mu Tiantian didn't understand his thought process.

"Miss Mu is unwilling to help me with this favor?" Long Xinghuang suddenly became serious, as if she would be punished if she refused.

It's not that I'm unwilling...

"That means you're willing."

Mu Tiantian: "......"

"I'll arrange accommodations for you, so you can focus on carving the wooden figure. The imperial physician should be arriving soon; let him examine your wounds, and then you can get some rest." Long Xinghuang didn't give her a chance to refuse.

It was obvious they wanted to confirm whether she was Lin Miao.

Long Xinghuang placed her in a side hall, where the imperial physician treated her.

Qi Tong told her that this same old doctor had treated her when she was injured and stayed at the Prince's Mansion.

After learning about her condition, the imperial physician simply told her to rest more, take her medicine on time, and avoid certain foods, without saying anything more.

But she could clearly sense that the old doctor was very surprised by her recovery.

Based on his previous diagnosis, neither her arrow wounds nor her throat could have healed so quickly, but he left without saying anything.

Mu Tiantian asked Qi Tong to keep an eye on things.

The old imperial physician went to the imperial study to report on Mu Tiantian's condition.

"So, this Miss Mu's medical skills are quite remarkable?" Long Xinghuang asked casually, holding up a portrait. "More remarkable than yours?"

The old imperial physician hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty... it is my incompetence, but I think that only Xiao Yan has such medical skills."

"That legendary medical sage?"

"yes."

Long Xinghuang asked, "It is said that this person has superb medical skills, like a god descended to earth, and can bring people back to life. However, he has an eccentric temperament and will not save just anyone. Moreover, his whereabouts are unpredictable. How can you be so sure?"

The old imperial physician said confidently, "In this world, there is only one person whose medical skills can surpass mine. If it is indeed him, then there may be hope for the Emperor's body to be cured of the poison."

Long Xinghuang remained silent for a while before finally saying, "You may leave."

After the old imperial physician left, Zhao Ping said, "Your Majesty, this servant will immediately send more men to search for Xiao Yan."

"No need. If I could find it, I wouldn't have had to wait until now." Long Xinghuang placed the portrait on the table and asked him, "Zhao Ping, who do you think the woman in this painting resembles?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ping stepped forward and took a look, blurting out, "Isn't this Miss Mu? How come the goddess statue sent by the Imperial Advisor looks exactly like Miss Mu?"

Long Xinghuang had seen this portrait by chance at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, and then asked Xin Liangmu to paint a new one and send it to the palace. However, due to his injury, it was delayed for some time and was only delivered today.

Upon closer inspection, she does indeed look exactly like Mu Tiantian.

"Summon the Imperial Advisor to the palace tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

...

Mu Tiantian settled down in the palace.

Unexpectedly, Long Xinghuang actually found her a craftsman to carve wooden figures to teach her.

If she cannot carve it, or if the wooden figure she carves does not meet his expectations, she cannot leave this side hall.

Mu Tiantian was also ready to give up and let herself be recognized.

Perhaps Long Fantian had already guessed this outcome, which is why he proposed to her.

Anyway, he has to protect her.

Qi Tong thought for a moment and said, "Actually, Long Xinghuang has treasured these wooden statues all these years. Even if he's certain you're Lin Miao, he probably wouldn't want to kill you."

Mu Tiantian: [I've figured it out. Whatever happens, happens. At worst... at worst, I'll just give up my points in this world.]

She gave up and told Long Xinghuang that she didn't need a master to teach her; she could carve it herself.

She finished carving it in just over a day.

Long Xinghuang said he would come back to pick it up the next day.

So she would have to stay in this side hall for another day and couldn't go anywhere else.

Upon hearing this, Mu Tiantian drew a big mess on the wooden statue to vent her anger, complaining as she drew, "If you don't have time to send it over, why don't you find someone to deliver it? You made me wait another day. I'll give you a makeover."

"Miss Mu, these are some pastries sent by His Majesty." A palace maid walked in carrying a plate of exquisite pastries.

Mu Tiantian lost her grip on the wooden figure and it fell to the ground.

Just as the palace maid was about to help her pick it up, Mu Tiantian shouted, "Rat!"

"Ah!" The palace maid scurried around in fright, "Rat! Rat!"

Mu Tiantian quickly hid the wooden figure and smiled sheepishly, "I think I misjudged it."

The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, "Miss Mu, you scared me to death."

"Consort Jing, His Majesty has said that no one is allowed to disturb Miss Mu." A troubled voice came from outside the door.

An elegant and noble woman barged in, saying matter-of-factly, "I heard screams and naturally had to come in to check. If something happens to Miss Mu because of your obstruction, can you take responsibility?"

The young eunuch dared not speak again and secretly sent someone to find the emperor.

"This servant greets Consort Jing." The palace maids all bowed to her.

Qi Tong: [She is Jing Huaxiong's daughter, Jing Xi.]

Jingxi is Jing Huaxiong's daughter and the Empress Dowager's niece.

However, Long Xinghuang was not the Empress Dowager's biological son.

According to records, Long Xinghuang's mother was poisoned while pregnant with him and died in childbirth, so he was born with poison in his body.

Later, he was adopted by the Imperial Noble Consort, who is now the Empress Dowager.

Although he was the emperor, he actually had little real power. He was preceded by the powerful regent Long Fantian and followed by the ruthless and capable empress dowager.

In addition, his body was born with poison, which destined him to die young, so it is not an exaggeration to call him a puppet emperor.

He couldn't even decide who to choose as his concubine.

Even if he disliked it, he had no choice but to obey the Empress Dowager's arrangements.

Jingxi is two years older than Long Xinghuang. She is beautiful and gentle.

According to Qi Tong, she initially liked Long Fantian, but Long Fantian didn't have any impression of her. Later, due to family reasons, she was arranged to enter the palace.

Long Fantian and the late emperor were born of the same mother. Although they did not look exactly alike, they were about 70% similar.

Long Xinghuang almost inherited the appearance of the former emperor and resembled Long Fantian.

Jingxi looked at him as if he were Long Fantian.

That's why Long Xinghuang loathed her.

In Jingxi's words, these events became: she and Long Fantian fell in love but could not be together, and then Long Xinghuang forcibly married her into the palace. The uncle and nephew turned against each other because of her, making it a three-way tragic love story comparable to a novel plot.

Looking at Jing Xi, who had the pure and innocent look of a white flower, Mu Tiantian was impressed by her vivid storytelling. She vividly portrayed the heartbreak of being unable to win someone's heart and being forced to enter the palace to be separated from her lover. She could lie without even stuttering.

If he went to tell stories, he could definitely earn a lot of money.