Chengqian Palace.

"Imperial Preceptor, please go and check on the Emperor first," Guan Zhiyue said, turning to Liu Shanxian.

Liu Shanxian nodded and walked over to the little eunuch carrying a tray, signaling him to follow.

The tray the little eunuch was carrying contained the small dolls that had been fished out of the Cold Palace.

Two embroidery needles were clearly stuck in it, and the wet needles were now gleaming coldly.

Guan Zhiyue glanced to the side, then looked at Nie Baolin kneeling on the ground, and Zhuang Shufei huddled to the side.

Empress Dowager Xin looked at Guan Zhiyue, her heart filled with complicated emotions. She didn't know how to face this girl. If she believed her, then why had she done this? If she didn't believe her, then why hadn't anything happened to her yet?

And she's right, everything she's done has benefited the country and its people. I've been so confused!

"Mother, why don't you go and rest in the side hall next door?" Guan Zhiyue said to the somewhat listless Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Xin waved her hand, indicating that she was fine.

"Hua Quan, go and bring a chair for the Empress Dowager. The weather is nice outside, so it would be good for her to sit outside for a while!" Guan Zhiyue said to Hua Quan, who was waiting nearby.

Inside the room, Shan Liuxian sat in front of the dragon bed, took out a green porcelain bottle from his bosom, and fed Li Qiji, who was lying on the bed, a black pill.

He carefully put away the porcelain bottle, then reached for the doll on the tray and gently stroked it over the emperor's body.

Finally, the embroidery needle stuck in the heart was removed. The emperor on the bed stirred slightly. Seonryo-seon reached out and felt the emperor's pulse again. There was no other reaction. She then removed the embroidery needle from the doll's head.

Strangely enough, as soon as the embroidery needle was removed from the doll's head, Li Qiji on the bed sat up.

With a loud "Ugh~~", he vomited everything in his mouth.

If Shan Liuxian had known this would happen, she would have kept her distance when she pulled the embroidery needle out of her hair.

Sitting on the bed, Li Qiji vomited violently, feeling as if he was about to throw up his bile, before finally stopping.

Looking at what he vomited, which was all rotten sludge, he was truly speechless; it really stank.

After seeing that everyone was alright, Seonryo-sensei quickly slipped away – it stinked!

When everyone saw Shan Liuxian come out, they all surrounded him and asked all at once, "Imperial Preceptor, how is the Emperor?"

"Are you done?"

Shan Liuxian nodded, and everyone rushed in. As the group surged forward, Shan Liuxian quickly grabbed Guan Zhiyue's hand.

He pulled her into the crowd, and seeing everyone rushing inside, he whispered, "It stinks in there, don't be impulsive!"

As soon as Guan Zhiyue shook off Shan Liuxian's hand, she saw the people who had just rushed in rushing out, covering their noses and making vomiting gestures.

"What the heck? Is it that serious?" Guan Zhiyue looked at these people, patted her chest, and muttered to herself.

Unexpectedly, Seonryo-seon, who was standing to the side, also spoke to her in her mind: "I told you it stinks inside, do you believe me now?"

Guan Zhiyue was startled by the sudden sound and jumped back. "Damn it, who's talking?"

Guan Zhiyue looked around and, seeing that no one spoke, thought she had misheard, so she patted her chest.

"It scared the hell out of me! I thought it was haunted!"

Unexpectedly, the voice came again, "What are you doing in broad daylight? I think you have something to hide. I'm right next to you!" Guan Zhiyue turned her head and glanced at Shan Liuxian.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him, and she asked again in her mind, "Can you hear my thoughts?"

Is that so strange?

Guan Zhiyue was about to explode. What kind of world is this? How can there be such a monster?!

"Mother, are you alright?" Guan Zhiyue went over to support Empress Dowager Xin, who was already vomiting uncontrollably.

"It's alright, it's alright! Yue'er, let's go in later!"

Guan Zhiyue asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Why are you all out here?"

The old nanny Fan, who was supporting Empress Dowager Xin, said, "Oh, Your Majesty, please don't ask. You can just go in later."

"How is the Emperor?" Guan Zhiyue asked.

Granny Jin said, "The Emperor has woken up and is inside. He will come out shortly."

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Hua Quan came out from inside, untied the handkerchief tied to the tip of his nose, took a deep breath of fresh air, and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor requests your presence."

Guan Zhiyue pointed to her nose, then blinked and looked at Hua Quan.

Hua Quan nodded and said, "Your Majesty, please! Everything inside has been prepared."

Guan Zhiyue then felt reassured and boldly walked in. As soon as she stepped into the room and passed through the screen at the door, she smelled a fishy stench.

"What is that smell? It stinks!"

"Did the Emperor soil his pants?"

Guan Zhiyue asked, and Hua Quan, who was walking in front, stumbled, thinking to himself that the Empress really had no scruples about food or drink, and dared to say anything.

"Empress, do you really want me to poop my pants?" Li Qiji's booming voice rang out.

Hearing this voice, Guan Zhiyue felt relieved, but still pouted and said, "Judging from His Majesty's strong voice, he must be feeling better now?"

"Speak up, why did you call me here? You've just recovered from a serious illness, why aren't you resting in bed? What kind of trouble are you trying to cause?"

Li Qiji was overjoyed to see Guan Zhiyue walk in looking refreshed. He had heard her voice on the way here, and he knew she was truly a worthy queen.

I just want to see her, to see her right away.

"It's alright, can't we just let the Empress in?"

Guan Zhiyue retorted, "Since you're alright now, you should clean up this mess!"

"Okay, I understand."

Seeing that Li Qiji had agreed, Guan Zhiyue turned and went out. Seeing that the people at the door were still there, she coldly scolded, "Nie Baolin, come out here for me."

This roar stunned everyone present. What was wrong with the Empress? Why was she so angry as soon as she saw the Emperor?

Nie Ying, who was standing at the back of the crowd, stepped out and looked at Guan Zhiyue with an air of utter indifference.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? I don't think I've offended you at all."

Clearly, this person had forgotten what he had said at the entrance of Chengqian Palace.

"Oh, really? It seems that Nie Baolin not only has a bad brain, but his memory is also like a fish's, lasting only three seconds!"

"Kneel down before me, you ignorant and shrewish woman, you don't even know you're being used as a pawn!" As soon as Guan Zhiyue said this, a eunuch grabbed her and forced her to kneel on the ground.

Zhuang Jie, who was standing to the side, was also so frightened that she retreated repeatedly. Guan Zhiyue glared at her, and Zhuang Jie collapsed to the ground.

"And you idiot, didn't I tell you all to read more books instead of doing these stupid things all the time? Are you here to play around?"

"Utterly stupid! Incredibly stupid! How could there be such stupid people as you? It's a disgrace!" Guan Zhiyue cursed incessantly at the two kneeling on the ground.

Those present looked at each other, not daring to refute Guan Zhiyue's words, because they didn't know why, and besides, Nie Baolin and Zhuang Jie had already done something wrong, so they dared not make any rash moves now.