Inside Kunning Palace,
Yun Xiaoran obediently supported the Empress Dowager. Although her energy and spirit had recovered, her face was still very pale, and she had lost a lot of weight, with her cheeks sunken in.
She wore light makeup and a milky white brocade dress, adorned with pink jewels in her hair. Among the flowers, she appeared even more delicate and pitiful.
The Empress Dowager tightened her grip on her small hand, her voice soft.
"The flowers in the palace are blooming beautifully this year, Madam Song. I remember that the flowers in the backyard of the Ninth Prince's residence were of even more varieties than those in the palace. I wonder how they are blooming?"
Song Yushu, who was on the other side of the Empress Dowager, was startled and quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, you know that I come from a military background and have no interest in flowers and plants."
The Empress Dowager gave her a cold glance.
"You are the mistress of the royal palace. Whether you are interested or not, the backyard is under your jurisdiction. If you neglect it, those weeds and wildflowers will start to have inappropriate thoughts."
Song Yushu knew what she was pointing at, but he could only pretend he knew nothing.
He curtsied and bowed his head in response.
"The Empress Dowager is right. When I return to my residence, I will definitely go and take a good look."
Inside the pavilion, Granny Gui had already set out teacups and snacks.
A light blue curtain was lifted by a gentle breeze. The Empress Dowager, with her arm around Granny Gui, lay half-reclined on the soft couch and pointed to the guqin beside her.
"It's been a long time since I've heard Xiaoran play the zither. Play a tune of Phoenix Seeking Its Mate for me."
Yun Xiaoran's eyes flickered, and she immediately understood. She shyly agreed, lifted her skirt, and sat gracefully in front of the piano stand.
Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Doctor Zhong had just removed the silver needles from the Emperor Emeritus and put them back in their box when he knelt down on the ground.
"This humble subject is guilty, and begs the Emperor Emeritus for forgiveness."
The retired emperor glanced at him.
"Spit it out if you have something to say, stop pretending in front of me."
With the changing of the guard, apart from a few veteran officials, few people knew that Zhong Yuan had been the retired emperor's military physician, accompanying him on his campaigns for many years and sharing a life-or-death bond.
He refused to enter the Imperial Medical Academy, and after the retired emperor retired from his military post, he opened Huichuntang in the capital.
I wholeheartedly believe that everyone is equal before doctors, regardless of status, and I despise those in power who bully others.
A prince once took a liking to his medical skills and tried to forcibly take him into his mansion to serve his concubines. When the prince refused, the prince ordered his men to smash up Huichun Hall. The next day, the prince obediently went to apologize and personally led people to rebuild Huichun Hall.
Since then, all the powerful and influential people in the capital have been warned by their families, and even the princes dare not act recklessly at Huichuntang anymore.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Yuan raised his head, his eyes red.
"I cannot cure your illness."
The old eunuch said urgently, "Doctor Zhong, please don't talk nonsense. The Emperor Emeritus will surely live to be a hundred years old."
The retired emperor glared at the old eunuch with disdain.
"Don't try to fool me. I know how long I can live. No one in the entire palace dares to tell me the truth, and those useless people in the Imperial Hospital only know how to say nice things. Zhong Yuan is the one I like the most."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but cough softly again, and quickly covered his mouth with a handkerchief. When he removed it again, there were beads of blood on it.
Zhong Yuan wanted to take the pulse again, but the Emperor Emeritus avoided him.
"Alright, everyone dies, I'm not a god."
A glint of light flashed in Zhong Yuan's eyes.
"A deity? If we can find that deity, there is surely a way to save you."
The old eunuch was extremely anxious.
"Does Doctor Zhong have any news about the immortal? I've heard that he rarely appears in public, has the ability to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded, and seems to come from the mysterious Zhuge School."
The retired emperor did not believe it at all, and a dark and ambiguous light flashed in his eyes.
"There is no such thing as bringing the dead back to life in this world. Even if someone were to witness the dead coming back to life, it would only be a fleeting illusion. What is the point of indulging in it?"
The atmosphere froze for a moment, then the retired emperor beckoned to the old eunuch.
"Go and send a message to the Ninth Prince, saying that I am terminally ill and will soon pass away. Tell him to come see me and bring over all the portraits that the court officials sent earlier. We will choose the princess consort today."
"Zhong Yuan, you stay here. Watch my signals and act accordingly. If necessary, make me vomit blood, the more painful the better."
The old eunuch's lips twitched violently, feeling both heartache and helplessness.
At this moment, a young eunuch who was guarding the courtyard hurriedly walked in, knelt down at the door, and bowed.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has sent a memorial for your perusal."
"What document? I'm not reading it, throw it back at him."
The Emperor Emeritus waved his hand dismissively, and the young eunuch quickly explained, "It's a petition to apologize."
Upon hearing this, the retired emperor's eyes widened. "Apologize? What has he done behind my back this time? Bring it here."
The document was delivered to him very quickly, and when he opened it, he immediately flew into a rage.
It was thrown hard onto the ground with a "thud".
"You bastard! Bring that bastard over here! My Xiao Jiu, what right does he have to bestow this marriage upon us? Who gave him that right? I don't think he wants the imperial seal and the dragon throne anymore."
The old eunuch was so frightened that he quickly waved for the young eunuch to leave. He then bent down to pick up the folded document, glanced at its contents, and was so terrified that he almost knelt down.
Could this Jiang Qingwan be that...?
The Emperor Emeritus snatched the memorial from her hand, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Whose daughter is this Jiang Qingwan? If she's below the second rank, her whole family should be kicked out of the capital."
Zhong Yuan was also stunned.
Jiang Qingwan?
Is it the Jiang Qingwan he knows?
The old eunuch stammered, "Your Majesty, this Miss Jiang... is not the daughter of a court official."
"No? Didn't he dare to bestow a marriage upon my little Jiu? Help me up, grab the tiger tally, and have the Imperial Guards surround Zhaoyang Palace. I want to see what this emperor is up to."
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