Chapter 85: Surprise or Delight?

Ever since Zhao Youchen sent the message, Xiao Qing has felt a bit cocky.

It's just that her lips will involuntarily curl up slightly, and then when she realizes it herself, she quickly tidies herself up, wondering if it's too obvious.

Originally, she just wanted to wait peacefully for the Grand Tutor to return. Once he came back, many problems would be easily solved.

Once the Grand Tutor enters Dingzhou, he will soon reach Nanhua City.

But fate seems to hate to see her have it easy; whenever she tries to relax, it finds something to cause her trouble.

At this moment, she had just relaxed, holding Xiao Xiao in her arms and stroking its ears. She even refused Wang Xiang and Yu Zaiting's requests to see her—she could see that the teacher and student were not getting along now, and the student was cooperating with the teacher's desire to send the student away.

However, Mingxiu rushed in, looking flustered, and said, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened."

Xiao Qing's heart skipped a beat.

"What's wrong?"

"Attendant Mei, she developed a high fever last night. If she isn't taken to the hospital soon, I'm afraid..."

Xiao Qing exclaimed in surprise, "Then quickly send him to the Imperial Hospital... no, let the imperial physicians take a look?"

Mingxiu's face was somewhat unpleasant. "Originally, medicine would have sufficed. I left the prescription with Steward Huang yesterday, and he readily agreed to get the medicine. But when I went to check this morning, Consort Mei hadn't taken the medicine at all. The guards on duty said they didn't see anyone bring the medicine in."

Xiao Qing frowned. "Go take a look." She tried to put Xiao Xiao down as she walked down the stairs, but Xiao Xiao clung tightly to her sleeve and refused to get down.

Xiao Qing was helpless. She thought about what would happen to her cats if the Grand Tutor came back, and whether she would be able to hold them again was another matter. So, her heart softened and she carried the cat forward.

"That place is dark and gloomy, don't wander off, okay?"

She asked Mingxiu, "Why didn't Steward Huang fetch the medicine? Have you asked him? How is Mei Shu now?"

Mingxiu followed beside her, "This servant went to look for Steward Huang but couldn't find him. Attendant Mei's condition is not good. This servant thinks we can't let her stay in the cell any longer, but this servant's words have no effect. They definitely won't release her."

Xiao Qing went out the door and called Ma Hong and Liu Yi to come with her.

"Mei Shu can't be harmed until the matter is fully investigated." She thought for a moment, "Ma Hong, if you intervene, can the palace prison release her?"

Ma Hong shook his head. "We are all under the jurisdiction of the Inner Palace Bureau. Although we have some influence in the palace and bureau because we serve His Majesty, the palace prison is no ordinary place. Chief Eunuch Huang is always strict. If he wants to take someone away, I don't have enough influence to make him comply."

Xiao Qing nodded, "Then I will go."

This matter cannot be delayed; it concerns human lives.

Xiao Qing quickly led the three to the palace prison. Huang Rui, perhaps having heard rumors, was already kneeling in front of the prison to greet them.

"Get up, all of you." Xiao Qing said expressionlessly. "Tell me what happened."

Huang Rui followed after him in frustration, “It’s all my fault. I was careless. Yesterday, Chief Steward Ming left a prescription, which I remembered. I even went to the Imperial Hospital myself, but I was stupid and remembered the name of one of the herbs wrong. I only realized the mistake after checking it when I got back.”

“This servant naturally dared not give such medicine to Attendant Mei, so I went to the Imperial Hospital again. This back and forth delayed me. I didn’t expect that when I went to see him this morning, Attendant Mei had already fallen ill.” Huang Rui quickly followed.

“Since Consort Mei has a special status and there are no conditions for her to recuperate in prison, Your Majesty, if you are willing to take her back to recuperate, it will not be too late to ask about the case after she recovers.”

Xiao paused in her tracks upon hearing him do this, feeling a bit strange.

According to what Ma Hong heard, Huang Rui and Mei Shu probably knew each other long ago, and might even have had some past conflicts.

But he seemed exceptionally generous.

She couldn't think of anything for a moment, but feeling that the situation was urgent and there was no time to think, she nodded and said, "That's very good. Ma Hong, go and inform General Zhao that Liu Yi will come with me."

Upon arriving at Mei Shu's cell, Xiao Qing immediately saw Mei Shu lying on the cold stone bed.

Only a few days later, Mei Shu's face turned sallow, her figure became thin, and she lay there all alone, her body trembling slightly.

Xiao Qing hurriedly went inside, "Mei Shu, how are you?"

She was about to speak when she noticed that Mei Shu kept moving her mouth, as if she was saying something.

She leaned closer and it took her a while to understand.

She seemed to be calling someone's name: something like Lang.

Is this the person who wrote "lonely white rabbit"?

She whispered, "Attendant Mei, we'll take you out."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Mei Shu shook her head and whispered, "Go away, go away!"

this……

We can't control this anymore, let's take the people and leave first.

Just as Xiao Qing was about to give instructions to Liu Yi and Ming Xiu, Xiao Xiao in her arms suddenly jumped down, pounced on Mei Shu's ear, and grabbed her hair with her little paws.

Xiao Qing was startled and quickly reached out to grab Xiao Xiao.

But when she lowered her head, a glimmer of light flashed in the corner of her eye, coming from the spot where Xiao Xiao was grabbing Mei Shu's hair.

Xiao Qing was startled and quickly reached out to brush her hair aside, only to discover that there was a soft needle stuck in her scalp. If you didn't look closely, you would think it was just an inconspicuous white hair!

"Mingxiu." She quickly called out to Mingxiu.

Mingxiu was puzzled, but when she got closer and saw what was going on, she was also shocked.

"This is……"

Xiao Qing grabbed her hand, "Let's not worry about this for now, let's take the person away first."

Liu Yi quickly stepped forward and carried the person on his back.

Xiao Qing grabbed Xiao Xiao and tried to leave, but Xiao Xiao refused to go and dodged her hand as she pounced out.

"Xiao Xiao!" Xiao Qing was about to give it a serious reprimand, but it started digging on the ground.

Xiao Qing's heart stirred, and she went over to take a look. There, a patch of light was cast by the skylight, and within the dim light, tiny specks of dust seemed to float.

Milky white, mixed with gray.

"Xiaoxiao, you've done a great job."

Xiao Qing calmly squatted down, wiped some dust off the ground with her sleeve, and then picked up Xiao Xiao and left.

Huang Rui watched them leave from the prison gate, a cold smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

Mei Shu, Mei Changshi.

Mingxiu quickly prepared the tools to remove the needle from Meishu, but as soon as it was pulled out a little, Meishu was in so much pain that she broke out in a sweat.

Mingxiu was a little nervous; it was the first time she had ever seen something like this, and her hands were trembling slightly.

Xiao Qing said, "You are destined to be a great doctor, so be bold and give it a try."

"What doctor?"

Xiao Qing tried to explain, "It's just..."

Zhao Youchen's voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

The surprise in his voice was so obvious that Xiao Qing was stunned for a moment, then abandoned the group of people surrounding Mei Shu and turned to run outside.

"Take a look..."

Xiao Qing ran outside quickly, her smile as radiant as the rising sun in the morning.

"Is it the Grand Tutor...?"

Behind Zhao Youchen, a man walked unhurriedly. He had lost weight, his facial features were slightly taut, and he looked weary from his travels, but this could not conceal his innate noble and gentle demeanor.

His steps were steady, his gaze unwavering; the place seemed to brighten instantly just by him standing there.

Xiao Qing walked up quickly with delight, "Grand Tutor!"

"Grand Tutor." A child's voice rang out softly.

Xiao Qing slowly turned her gaze, only to feel that the soft voice was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.