"This is Imperial Physician Gao. He has always taken care of my illness. I was thinking that after returning to the capital, it would be inconvenient for you to live outside the palace. If Imperial Physician Gao can learn your acupuncture technique, it will save you from having to run back and forth between the palace and outside the palace in the future." The Empress Dowager said this with great confidence, and her tone was entirely for Ji Fengyao's benefit.

Ji Fengyao sneered inwardly: You old hag, you're still sick, and you're already thinking of kicking me while I'm down!

Do you think my acupuncture techniques are so easy to learn?

If someone else does it, it'll hurt you to death!

"Then Imperial Physician Gao must examine me carefully," Ji Fengyao said with an extremely warm and innocent smile to Imperial Physician Gao.

Having spent many years in the palace, Imperial Physician Gao knew that the Ninth Princess's smile, though seemingly bright and sunny, actually concealed a hidden danger.

So he focused intently, staring intently without blinking, memorizing the order and depth of Ji Fengyao's needle insertions.

Ji Fengyao even slowed down to cooperate, and occasionally asked him very considerately and gently, "Can you remember it? Do you want me to go slower?"

This deeply moved Imperial Physician Gao.

The Ninth Princess Consort is not some terrifying bandit at all; she is clearly a kind-hearted and adorable person!

The previous claims about "a smile concealing danger" were definitely not his idea.

Princess Zhaoping stood there for a while, then turned around and saw Shang Xiye's figure outside the screen. Seeing that no one inside was paying attention to her, she quietly walked out.

“Brother Xiye…” Princess Zhaoping came to Shang Xiye, bowed awkwardly, and called out timidly in a low voice.

"Hmm," Shang Xiye replied coldly and stiffly, without looking to the side or raising his head.

Princess Zhaoping was already used to his demeanor in public, but when she thought of his completely different attitude towards the bandit, her heart ached: "Brother Xiye, I'm sorry, Zhaoping really didn't mean it last time. Please don't be angry with Zhaoping, Brother Xiye. If you still feel unsatisfied, then you can hit Zhaoping again."

Although Ji Fengyao was inside, she was already a first-level Spirit Gathering cultivator, and could easily hear the sounds outside even though she was only separated by a screen.

Hearing Princess Zhaoping's humble and weak words, he was immediately filled with anger.

He glanced up at the magpie and silently gave it a few instructions using telepathy.

Xique was also furious. She stormed out and shouted, "Princess Zhaoping, my lady asked if you deserved a beating and even came out to ask the Prince to beat you again? If so, my lady said that the Prince doesn't know his own strength and can let me do it for you so that you don't hurt the princess!"

Are you asking for a beating?

Shang Xiye couldn't help but raise her hand and press the corners of her upturned lips down with the back of her hand.

This little thing has quite a clever way of choosing words.

Princess Zhaoping had suffered many mishaps at the hands of magpies in the lake, and now, seeing a magpie and recalling the terrible taste of choking on water, she trembled all over.

Furthermore, there is a difference between men and women. She had sneaked out to see the Ninth Prince, which was against the rules.

Now that the magpie had caught them, and they had spoken so softly yet were overheard by the people inside, she was both ashamed and embarrassed, her face turning bright red: "I...I didn't..."

Hearing the commotion outside, the Empress Dowager frowned deeply in displeasure and glanced at Aunt Sun.

Aunt Sun then came out and said to the embarrassed Princess Zhaoping, "Princess, the Empress Dowager ate very little today. She may have some appetite after the acupuncture treatment. You are the Empress Dowager's most trusted person and know her preferences best. Would you please prepare some soup for her?"