The Empress Dowager's leg ailment had not yet healed, but Ji Fengyao had temporarily relieved her pain with an acupuncture needle.

After yesterday's arduous work, I started feeling a slight ache last night.

When I woke up early, the pain had already intensified.

They summoned the imperial physicians who accompanied them, and they performed acupuncture as usual, but it had no effect whatsoever; on the contrary, it made the pain even worse.

Princess Zhaoping was already able to get up. She was also extremely unwilling to let Ji Fengyao please the Empress Dowager, but seeing that the Empress Dowager was in so much pain and was so agitated that no one could comfort her, she could only suppress her resentment and pretend to be magnanimous to persuade her: "Empress Dowager, why don't you summon the Ninth Prince's Consort to attend to you? Seeing you in pain, and Zhaoping being unable to share your burden, makes me even more upset."

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince's Consort is also thinking of you. She sent someone to inquire about your condition yesterday," Aunt Sun added from the side.

"She sent someone to inquire about my illness?" The Empress Dowager was slightly surprised.

Zhaoping was also displeased upon hearing this.

Those damned bandits stole her brother Xi Ye, and now they want to share her aunt's affection?

"Yes, Your Majesty," Aunt Sun nodded.

She didn't say that it was just a polite inquiry made by two maids who knew each other, on behalf of their mistress.

In her opinion, the most important thing at this moment was who could cure the Empress Dowager's leg pain.

With Aunt Sun as a way out, the Empress Dowager was able to put aside her airs in front of Zhaoping and the others, and said indifferently, "Then let her come, and let Imperial Physician Gao serve her as well."

"Yes," Aunt Sun replied, turning around to send someone to invite Ji Fengyao.

Princess Zhaoping was very unhappy when the Empress Dowager agreed.

Later, when I heard the Empress Dowager say that Imperial Physician Gao should also be present to serve me, all my displeasure vanished instantly.

Imperial Physician Gao was also famous in the palace for his superb silver needle technique. The Empress Dowager must have had him serve her secretly so that she could observe and learn the bandit's acupuncture techniques.

Once Gao Yu's medical skills are perfected, the Empress Dowager will no longer need those crude bandits when she falls ill.

"Aunt, you truly love Zhaoping the most in this world." Princess Zhaoping was so moved that she knelt down in front of the bed and affectionately took the Empress Dowager's hand.

"Good child, you are the only remaining bloodline of the Sun family, and the only bloodline left by my own sister. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well?" The Empress Dowager held Zhaoping's soft hand in return, her face full of affection.

When Ji Fengyao and Shang Xiye arrived together, the Empress Dowager and Princess Zhaoping, aunt and niece, were still holding hands intimately.

Seeing Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao enter hand in hand, Princess Zhaoping felt as if her heart had been stabbed.

The kindness on the Empress Dowager's face gradually faded, and she returned to normal.

Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao briefly greeted the Empress Dowager, and then went to the outer room behind the screen with Wuying.

Xi Que followed Ji Fengyao closely to the Empress Dowager's bedside, staring intently at Princess Zhaoping nearby with wide, wary eyes.

Princess Zhaoping trembled with fear at the sight of the magpie's glare. In addition, since Ji Fengyao needed acupuncture, she couldn't stay there any longer and get in the way, so she got up and retreated to the side.

Ji Fengyao took out her needle kit and looked up at the Imperial Physician Gao, who stood nearby like a pillar.

When Imperial Physician Gao saw Ji Fengyao looking at him, he quickly bowed and greeted her.

Ji Fengyao continued to stare at him, giving him a smile with her eyes crinkling, without saying a word.

The imperial physician knew she was trying to get rid of him, and looked at the Empress Dowager with a troubled expression.

Seeing that this crude and stingy bandit was hiding and mocking others, the Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly displeased.