Jin Suting was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. She sighed softly and got up and went downstairs.

She has always been a girl who can heal herself, otherwise she would have been angered to death by Jing Ruizi over the years.

There are very few guests downstairs today, and there is an eerie sense of silence.

There are about a hundred tables on the first floor, but only a few of them have one or two people sitting at them. There are more cleaning boys than guests, which is a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the past.

The storyteller I saw a few days ago was no longer in the stands. Wasn't he a regular guest at Zuixianlou? Why wasn't he here today? Was the restaurant closing down?

Jin Suting grabbed a waiter and asked, "Why are there so few customers today?"

The waiter looked dejected and listless. He sighed and lowered his voice to Jin Suting, "You may not know this yet, but our restaurant's owner has fired the storyteller and said he won't allow him to tell stories here anymore. He's one of our restaurant's signature dishes. Many people love to listen to him and even come here to eat just for his stories! Isn't it a disgrace to our reputation to kick him out?"

Jin Suting was a little surprised. Could it be that the owner of Zuixianlou had lost his mind? He abandoned such a lucrative opportunity. Wouldn't that cut off his own source of income?

"Then why did the boss remove the storyteller?"

When the waiter heard this question, his expression became even more helpless, with a hint of resentment. "You'll have to ask the boss about this. I see, young lady, you're a regular at Zuixianlou. Let me tell you an inside scoop. Our boss said that the folk tales the boss heard the storyteller tell were all rumors. Spreading rumors! If the higher-ups find out, you'll be beheaded! He insisted on removing the storyteller. Hey, you say, this storyteller is just telling some romantic stories, and everyone just laughs it off. It's not worth beheading, is it? It's really scary!"

Jin Suting nodded in agreement. She vaguely remembered that she and Qin'er had come out to Zuixianlou two days ago, and the storyteller seemed to be spreading rumors about her.

The story of the eldest daughter of the general's mansion murdering her own sister and blaming her half-sister is simply too far-fetched, but it is just the gossip of the bored common people.

They always try to self-righteously comprehend some "truth" from those corrupted rumors, and then pass it on to those around them, telling them not to be as vicious as someone else or they'll be jailed! Or, they say, "Don't be as vicious as someone else or you'll be punished by heaven's thunder in the future!"

Jin Suting had long been immune to all poisons. When Jing Ruizi repeatedly threw dirty water on her, she remembered the Buddhist principles of "the more you explain, the worse it gets" and "the more upright you are, the more you fear no shadow, and God will always be fair."

She said she was Buddhist, but in fact it was just that she was unable to change.

"I think your boss did the right thing. People who spread rumors should be beheaded!" Jin Suting agreed with the boss's approach.

"Hey, girl, why is your brain so...abnormal?" The waiter looked at Jin Suting with disdain.

"Because I am the eldest daughter of the general's mansion that your storyteller mentioned!" Jin Suting roared out these words with great pride.

The waiter burst out laughing, looked at Jin Suting, and pointed at her, "Girl, stop joking. How could you be that ugly young lady from the general's mansion when you are so pretty?"

That storyteller also said she was ugly?!

"Today I will tell you that the eldest lady of the general's mansion is not only as beautiful as me, but also has sharp eyes and ears, a charming look, and a kind heart. She is not afraid of anyone who comes to her!" After Jin Suting finished speaking, the few guests who were sitting there looked at her as if they saw a monster, and rushed out of the restaurant at lightning speed.

In the entire Chang'an City, the only person who can praise Jin Suting like this is herself. Run for your life now that the real boss is coming!

The waiter who had just been standing next to her ran out to chase the customer, shouting as he ran, "Don't run! The bill hasn't been settled yet! If you run again, Miss Ugly will catch you!"

Jin Suting's image has been demonized by the storyteller in just a few days. In the eyes of ordinary people, she is a vicious and ugly young lady who does all kinds of evil and will definitely try to murder you when she sees you. The mastermind behind the scenes is really good at it.

——

The Queen's bedroom.

A golden curtain shrouded a huge round bed with a golden thread border and patterns of dragons and phoenixes. On the bed lay the Queen Mother, with a pale face and her eyes slightly open.

A royal physician placed a silk cloth gently on the Queen Mother's wrist and carefully felt her pulse.

The wrinkles on his brows deepened, becoming tighter and tighter until they were twisted into a ball.

Beside the bed was Shi Qingmiao, dressed in purple. Her eyes were slightly red, and it looked like she had just cried.

The steps leading to the bed were filled with kneeling eunuchs and palace maids.

At the end of the stairs, Crown Prince Helan Ruizhe stood there.

"Doctor Mo, how is grandma?"

"The Queen Mother's pulse is very weak, even weaker than before..." Imperial Physician Mo was afraid that the master in front of him would get angry, so he paused, glanced at the prince's face, and continued, "The Queen Mother seems to be poisoned, but it is not a severe poison. I have seen this kind of poison when I was young. It will not be a problem if consumed once or twice, but long-term use may be life-threatening!" Imperial Physician Mo said in a trembling voice.

"Is there any solution to this problem?"

"Please forgive me, Crown Prince. I have not yet found a cure for the Queen Mother's illness."

"Then call other doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau! They've been treating for so many days, but there's no solution. What's the point of keeping you bunch of old quacks?" The prince was angry, and the eunuchs and palace maids lowered their heads even lower. Doctor Mo, who was criticized by name, even put his head directly to the ground.

Helan Ruizhe rubbed his brows tiredly, his tone extremely suppressed and impatient, "Three days! I only give you, the Imperial Hospital, three days. If you can't find a solution, you will all be beheaded! Get out!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Doctor Mo picked up the medicine box and crawled down from beside Helan Ruizhe.

"Yuan Jing, pass the order down and post notices throughout the city to recruit talented people. Whoever can cure the Queen's illness will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!" He said to the entourage around him with a gloomy look on his face.

"As you command," Yuan was shocked by the order and bowed and retreated.

From behind the bed curtains came the weak voice of the Queen Mother: "Our A'rui is becoming more and more majestic as an emperor."

Helan Ruizhe was silent when he heard this. He walked up the steps and knelt in front of the curtain. "Grandma, I will definitely find someone to cure you."

The Queen Mother smiled, but her laughter sounded a little pale. "Don't try to coax me. I don't know how my body is. Cough cough cough cough cough cough..." The Queen Mother didn't finish her words before she started coughing violently.