The next day at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), as soon as the palace gates opened, a young eunuch hurriedly walked out and got into a carriage that had been waiting at the palace gates, heading straight for the Zhao residence.
When the gatekeeper of the Zhao residence heard the urgent knocking, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and went to open the door.
He thought it was his master, Zhao Shouzhen, who had returned.
To his surprise, when he peeked through the crack in the door, he saw that the person who came in was a palace eunuch. Instantly, his drowsiness vanished, and he became wide awake.
He scrambled to Zhang Wan's courtyard and told her that someone from the palace had arrived.
Zhang Wan glanced at the dark sky and a bad feeling crept into her heart.
As she got up and dressed, she asked the gatekeeper to invite the eunuch who had delivered the message in to have some tea and rest.
It turned out that the Empress Dowager had suddenly fallen ill and urgently summoned Zhang Wan to the palace to attend to her. She specifically mentioned that she should bring her second daughter, Zhao Zhi, with her to the palace.
The lights in the mansion were lit one by one.
In Baoqing Courtyard, Hui was sleeping with Zhao Rou in his arms when he suddenly saw all the lights in the mansion turn on. He thought that the mistress had sent people to arrest him.
He jumped out of bed in a flash, not even having time to put on his clothes, and leaped out of the window to escape.
Everyone in the main courtyard was suddenly awakened.
Everyone in the Zhao household knew that Empress Dowager Zhang of this dynasty was the aunt of the matriarch of the household.
The last time Zhao Yun suggested going to Qinglian Temple to pray for blessings, it was because Empress Dowager Zhang was unwell and summoned Zhang Wan to the palace to attend to her.
Therefore, when the palace eunuchs came to invite Zhang Wan, they all became extremely attentive and listened attentively to the mistress's instructions regarding household affairs.
On the other side, when Zhang Wan sent Baozhu to wake Zhao Zhi, Zhao Zhi was still asleep.
Upon learning that their young mistress was about to accompany her to the palace to attend to her illness, Asagao and Nanying immediately busied themselves with preparations.
Entering the palace to care for an ailing person is no small matter, so Asagao took extra care when choosing clothes for Zhao Zhi.
She took out an elegant dress from the wardrobe. The color was light mauve, which was both gentle and refreshing, and suited Zhao Zhi's young and dignified temperament.
The dress has a simple and elegant design, with a loose and flowing hem. The collar and cuffs are embroidered with delicate orchid patterns, adding a touch of elegance to the whole garment.
The fabric is made of the finest Yun brocade, which is silky and soft to the touch, making it both comfortable and elegant to wear.
Meanwhile, Nan Ying was busy giving Zhao Zhi a quick wash.
She washed Zhao Zhi's hands and face with warm water, and then gently dried them with a soft towel.
Next, she took out a comb and styled Zhao Zhi's hair into a simple bun. There were no elaborate hair ornaments on the bun, only a small orchid beaded flower, which was both appropriate for the solemn occasion of entering the palace to attend to Zhao Zhi's illness and showcased Zhao Zhi's elegant temperament.
After Asagao and Nan Ying finished dressing Zhao Zhi, she was still in a daze.
The two men helped her into the carriage to the palace, and back to the courtyard, where she fell asleep as soon as she was exhausted.
The young lady wasn't home; the two of them were the most important people in the courtyard.
Zhao Zhi was unaware of what had happened.
As the carriage jolted along, she felt dizzy and unconsciously leaned on her mother's shoulder, her voice tinged with a hint of coquetry and dissatisfaction, "Mother, where are we going? I'm still half asleep, I'm not fully awake yet."
Zhang Wan sighed and said, "Your great-aunt is seriously ill, and I need to go to the palace to take care of her."
Zhao Zhi grunted in response, belatedly realizing the seriousness of the situation, and suddenly became alert.
“I remember you visited the palace not long ago.”
She glanced at the young eunuch driving the carriage outside and lowered her voice, "Mother, you never took Zhizhi with you when you went to the palace to care for me when I was ill. Could it be that this time..."
Is it that the Empress Dowager is not going to make it?
Zhao Zhi dared not utter such disrespectful words.
Zhang Wan nodded. "It was your great-aunt who specifically asked you to go. You know, when you were little, your great-aunt loved you the most."
Zhao Zhi was heartbroken and choked up as she said, "Mother, of course I know. Not long after you gave birth to me, my great-aunt took me to the palace to be raised. It wasn't until I was three years old that I returned to your side."
The mother and daughter exchanged a worried look.
Before dawn, the outline of the palace was faintly visible in the dim light.
There were few pedestrians on the road, and occasionally the sound of carriages carrying ministers rushing to the morning court could be heard as they passed by.
Upon arriving at the palace, the young eunuch who led the way guided Zhang Wan and Zhao Zhi through a side gate, heading straight for the Kangning Palace where the Empress Dowager resided.
As the sun rises, the outline of Kangning Palace gradually becomes clear under the glow of the morning sun, and the golden sunlight shines on the glazed tiles of Kangning Palace, reflecting a dazzling light.
As Zhao Zhi gazed at the rising sun, the image of the Empress Dowager's kind yet dignified face appeared before her eyes.
She held her mother's hand tightly, feeling extremely nervous.
She was afraid that the Empress Dowager's state of mind was the opposite of the vibrant life brought by the rising sun, and that the sun was setting in the west.
Looking around, one could see the palace bustling with activity, with imperial physicians coming and going, and palace maids and eunuchs also hurrying about.
The two arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace and saw several imperial physicians standing at the entrance, all with solemn expressions.
Zhang Wan stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "How is the Empress Dowager's condition?"
One of the imperial physicians sighed, "The Empress Dowager is quite old, and her condition is rather serious this time. I'm afraid..."
Zhang Wan's heart sank, knowing that her aunt's summons to the palace this time was probably not as simple as just taking care of someone who was ill.
She glanced at Zhao Zhi beside her subconsciously.
She took a deep breath and waited quietly outside, waiting for someone to announce her arrival.
A moment later, Aunt Lanru, who was by the Empress Dowager's side, came out with red eyes. When she saw Zhang Wan, she knelt down with a thud and said while suppressing her sobs, "This servant knows that Miss's medical skills are miraculous. I beg Miss to save Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
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