Chapter 269 Entering the Palace (Second Update)

News of Empress Dowager Zhuang's inability to eat quickly reached the Zhuang family.

Grand Tutor Zhuang was worried that the Empress Dowager was unwell, so he hurriedly invited the imperial physician to take her pulse. However, the Empress Dowager's pulse was fine, and the imperial physician guessed that it was a psychological problem.

"Perhaps... the Empress Dowager has been away from the palace for too long, and is not used to her sudden return."

Grand Tutor Zhuang said coldly, "She has lived in the deep palace her whole life. It would be strange if she were to go out and not adapt."

She's home now, what's bothering her?

"Perhaps... we can let her family spend more time with her," the imperial physician suggested.

Grand Tutor Zhuang considered this feasible and sent Zhuang Yuexi and Zhuang Mengdie to the palace overnight.

When Empress Dowager Zhuang saw Zhuang Mengdie, she was not particularly comforted, but when she saw Zhuang Yuexi behind Zhuang Mengdie, her expression froze.

Zhuang Yuexi's clothes were still her usual gorgeous dress, except that a red peony had appeared on her left cheek.

This is the most popular makeup style in the capital at the moment. Ever since the top scholar paraded through the streets, the girls in the capital have started to apply cinnabar to their faces. Zhuang Yuexi initially disliked this rustic makeup style, but that day the Empress Dowager touched her left cheek and said something was missing.

She wondered if it was because the current trend of vermilion makeup was missing?

So she drew it herself.

It looks like it's working well, and I really like the results.

Empress Dowager Zhuang waved to Zhuang Yuexi.

Zhuang Yuexi obediently sat down next to the Empress Dowager. She could sense that the Empress Dowager's attitude towards her was different from before after her return. She had never been one to act spoiled since childhood. Despite her excellence in everything, she was the most pampered and useless younger sister at home.

Even when the eldest brother took his younger sister to Jiangnan for a trip, he brought along the good-for-nothing Zhuang Mengdie.

"What did you have for dinner?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked, holding her hand.

Zhuang Yuexi was flattered and said, "I had some multigrain porridge for dinner."

Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "That won't do, it's too little. You're at the age where you're growing, you should eat more. Someone, bring the meal!"

The palace servants were overjoyed. It was all thanks to Grand Tutor Zhuang that the Empress Dowager had such a clever idea: sending the two young ladies into the palace immediately whetted her appetite.

A table full of a dazzling array of dishes was served.

Empress Dowager Zhuang did not have the palace servants serve her, but personally served Zhuang Yuexi a large bowl full of food: "Eat more, you are too thin, you will not be able to give me a grandson in the future."

Zhuang Yuexi blushed: "Empress Dowager..."

She's not married yet.

Zhuang Mengdie asked in surprise, "Empress Dowager, are you going to arrange a marriage for my sister?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang frowned and looked at Zhuang Yuexi: "Arranged marriage? Aren't you already married?"

"Huh?" Zhuang Yuexi was taken aback. "Your Majesty, I didn't."

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked dazed.

Who got married?

Where is her little grandson?

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Zhuang Yuexi asked with concern, taking the Empress Dowager's hand.

Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn't remember. She shook her head and said, "It's alright, I might have misremembered. Anyway, you're sixteen this year, and you'll be seventeen in six months. It's time to arrange a marriage for you."

Zhuang Yuexi said in a low voice, "Yuexi doesn't want to get married. Yuexi wants to stay at home to serve her parents and also wants to come and keep the Empress Dowager company often."

Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "You can return to your parents' home after you get married. No one will dare to mistreat a daughter of the Zhuang family."

Zhuang Yuexi picked up her chopsticks again and remained silent.

Empress Dowager Zhuang still didn't eat much at this meal. The joy that Zhuang Yuexi brought to the Empress Dowager when she entered the palace seemed to have faded when Zhuang Yuexi said that she was not married.

Zhuang Yuexi didn't understand what was going on, and neither did Empress Dowager Zhuang herself.

The following day, Empress Dowager Zhuang attended court and ruled from behind a curtain.

The emperor publicly issued an imperial edict appointing the old Chancellor as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

"Does Your Majesty have any objections?" The Emperor turned to look at Empress Dowager Zhuang behind the beaded curtain.

Empress Dowager Zhuang smiled faintly: "He's an old friend of mine. I haven't seen him for years, and I've missed him terribly. The Emperor's appointment is excellent; the Imperial Academy will now be entrusted to Lord Huo."

The old chief priest, holding his imperial tablet, knelt on the throne in the Golden Palace. Though it was only a dozen or so steps, it felt as if a vast distance stretched between them: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang smiled faintly: "I also have an imperial edict to announce."

They've arrived.

The emperor clenched his fingers.

Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "The position of Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces has remained vacant in our dynasty for a long time. After discussing with the ministers, I feel it is more appropriate to appoint one. The General of the Cavalry is brave and skilled in battle, possesses extraordinary courage and strategy, is well-versed in military strategy, has unparalleled wisdom, and is loyal to Your Majesty. He is worthy of being the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of our Zhao Kingdom. What does Your Majesty think?"

The Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm—wouldn't that put him above Marquis Xuanping?

Empress Dowager Zhuang did not object to his appointment as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, giving him ample face. If he were to reject the Empress Dowager's decree at this time, she would have a way to prevent the old Chancellor from taking office.

There was originally a delicate balance between them, but the Empress Dowager has really gone too far this time!

Grand Marshal of the Army? Why doesn't she just depose him and become emperor herself!

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "If Your Majesty has any objections, we can discuss it another day."

The emperor's fingernails dug into his palms: "I have no objection. The Empress Dowager's will is my will."

After the court session ended, the emperor returned to the palace with a livid face.

Empress Dowager Zhuang also returned to Renshou Palace.

Everyone thought Empress Dowager Zhuang had won, but only she herself knew that she was not happy.

The moment she entered Renshou Palace, the arrogance and swagger on her face vanished, and she was plunged into endless loneliness once more.

Zhuang Mengdie used to be closest to the Empress Dowager, and she actually noticed something was wrong with the Empress Dowager. She had only been there for two days, but the Empress Dowager had already lost weight.

She still remembered the scene of the Empress Dowager arriving at the Zhuang family's house on a stormy night, with her injuries. At that time, the Empress Dowager's face was rosy, but in the past few days, as long as no one was around, her eyes would lose their luster and light.

This kind of empress dowager really makes her feel sorry for her.

After returning to Huaqing Palace in a huff, the emperor locked himself in his bedchamber and sulked.

Anyone who heard about the affairs of the court dared not step forward to offend the emperor, but there was one person who had not heard about the bloodshed and turmoil in the court.

Qin Chuyu.

Qin Chuyu had been trying to fulfill his promise to his little classmate for the past few days, but neither his elder brother, the Crown Prince, nor his sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, had time to pay attention to him. He had no choice but to beg his father, the Emperor.

"Father, Father, Xiao Qi misses you!"

One of Xiao Jingkong's cute tricks is to say nothing first, but then use a few sweet words!

The emperor's expression softened slightly as he looked at his chubby youngest son and asked, "Why are you here? Don't you have school today?"

"The Imperial Academy is closed today!" Qin Chuyu sat down next to his father, the Emperor.

He was still young, and the emperor didn't restrict him too much with rules. However, he wasn't like this before. He only started to imitate Xiao Jingkong after seeing how he interacted with his family.

Apart from the eldest prince, no other son had ever been so close to the emperor, just like an ordinary father and son.

Qin Chuyu held his father's hand: "Father, can I ask you for a favor?"

Emperor: "Speak."

Qin Chuyu: "Can I bring my classmates to the palace to play?"

The emperor would not usually forbid such a trivial matter, but today he had suffered too much in front of the Empress Dowager. He said, "Your grandmother has returned to the palace. You know she is afraid of noise and does not like people making a ruckus in the palace. If you children offend her, your father will not be able to bear the consequences for you."

Qin Chuyu said softly, "Oh, Father, you can even shoulder the responsibility of the country, so what is it that you can't bear the responsibility for the trouble we cause?"

That's some serious flattery!

The emperor, both amused and exasperated, said, "So you know you always cause trouble, huh?"

Qin Chuyu hugged his arm and pleaded sweetly, "Please, Father, Little Seven loves you!"

The emperor got goosebumps!

You're eight years old already! Do you really think you're only four?

The emperor could not agree to this; at this critical juncture, the empress dowager could not be allowed to seize any leverage against him.

Qin Chuyu didn't understand these scheming and backstabbing matters; he only knew that he had promised his friends, and he had to keep his word.

He clung to the emperor like a little tail, following him everywhere. When the emperor went to the imperial study, he went to the imperial study too; when the emperor went to the imperial garden, he went to the imperial garden too; and finally, when the emperor went to the outhouse...

Qin Chuyu quickly followed him in.

emperor:"……"

Once the emperor has made up his mind, it is basically impossible to change it. Qin Chuyu tried everything he could to persuade his father to give in.

"Go back now, you need to get up early for school tomorrow."

Qin Chuyu walked forward listlessly. Just then, he happened to be by the Taiye Pool. He wasn't paying attention and slipped, falling into the pool.

The emperor reacted quickly and grabbed him, but Qin Chuyu crouched down and hid with his head in his hands. The emperor, however, missed and fell over Qin Chuyu's head, landing in the water with a splash.

Qin Chuyu: "..."

emperor:"……"

That son of a disgrace!

Eunuch Wei was greatly alarmed: "Your Majesty—"

Although the emperor was quickly rescued, he had swallowed a lot of water and was frightened. He began to feel unwell that night, first with high fever, night sweats, and persistent coughing, followed by dizziness, nausea, and dry heaving.

Eunuch Wei went to invite Imperial Physician Liang, but was told that Imperial Physician Liang had left the city.

"Imperial Physician Zhang!" the emperor said with difficulty.

Eunuch Wei sent someone to the Zhang family, but Imperial Physician Zhang was not at home.

All of this seems too coincidental!

Eunuch Wei said, "Your Majesty, perhaps... we should go and invite Imperial Physician Li?"

The emperor, his face pale, said, "Imperial Physician Li is the Empress Dowager's man. Do you think I would entrust myself to him?"

Eunuch Wei said worriedly, "Then, what should we do? Perhaps Imperial Physician Chen should..."

"Don't seek out the imperial physician." The emperor's eyes turned cold. "Go to the Miracle Hands Hall and invite the young miracle doctor over. Remember, don't make a big fuss. Go in person."

"……yes!"

It's so late, I wonder if the little miracle doctor is still at the clinic.

Eunuch Wei left the palace without stopping and headed to the Miaoshou Hall.

Miaoshoutang is closed, but there are doctors on duty there. You can ring the bell outside for nighttime emergency cases.

Eunuch Wei rang the bell.

The door was opened by Doctor Song, who yawned and asked, "Where do you feel unwell?"

Eunuch Wei hurriedly said, "It's not that I'm feeling unwell, it's my... master! Is Miss Gu here?"

Doctor Song had met Eunuch Wei and knew that he was a servant of an official, and that the two of them seemed to know Gu Jiao.

Doctor Song said, "Miss Gu, you should rest now. I'll accompany you on your house call."

"No, it has to be Miss Gu!" Eunuch Wei insisted.

Doctor Song explained, "Miss Gu is injured, and it's the middle of the night, so she can't make house calls..."

"What happened?"

It was Xiao Liulang's voice.

Doctor Song looked at Xiao Liulang and said, "His master is ill and he would like to ask Miss Gu to make a house call."

When Eunuch Wei saw Xiao Liulang, he paused, "Xiao... Scholar Xiao? What are you doing here?"

Doctor Song was surprised that the other party knew Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao, but did not know that they were husband and wife. He said, "He is Miss Gu's husband!"

Eunuch Wei was dumbfounded.

Xiao, the top scholar, is actually Miss Gu's husband? Miss Gu's husband is the newly appointed top scholar, Xiao Liulang?

Xiao Liulang glanced at Eunuch Wei and said, "I understand. I'll go tell her."

As Wei Gonggong regained his senses, he didn't bother to consider the relationship between the two and bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you! Thank you, Scholar Xiao!"

The commotion outside had already woken Gu Jiao up, and she had already opened her eyes when Xiao Liulang entered the room.

"Are you making house calls?" she asked.

Xiao Liulang paused for a moment, then said, "The emperor is ill."

When the emperor is ill, he should consult the imperial physician; this is a principle that everyone understands. Since he hasn't, it means that he has reached the point where Gu Jiao is the only one who can help.

“Okay, I’ll go.” Gu Jiao nodded.

This trip will inevitably lead to trouble.

If the emperor couldn't find a trusted imperial physician, there was only one possibility—the empress dowager wanted to take advantage of his illness to kill him.

Xiao Liulang's mind raced, but he didn't stop her decision. He simply asked, "Your injury..."

"It's just a superficial injury, it's all fine now." She really thought it was nothing serious.

Xiao Liulang took her outer garment and said, "I'll go with you."

Gu Jiao thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

(End of this chapter)