The Queen Mother hasn't had a good night's sleep for three consecutive days.
It wasn't because the little princess was making a fuss, but because he was inexplicably awake and couldn't sleep during the day. After repeating this many times, he suddenly felt exhausted.
Aunt Zijin tried changing the calming incense, but it had no effect. She had no choice but to call in the Imperial Hospital, who could only prescribe a calming decoction.
"I don't want to drink anything that doesn't taste right!" The Queen Mother leaned back on the couch, clearly very sleepy. She closed her eyes and listened carefully to the subtle movements nearby. "Should I go to the Buddhist temple to burn incense? Did the Bodhisattva think that I was not sincere and deliberately sent down this divine punishment?"
"Your Highness, this is impossible! You serve the gods day and night, how could they be dissatisfied?"
Zijin was busy trying to comfort her, but he had no way to solve the problem and could only worry.
Seeing this, Yin Zhu took the initiative to suggest, "When Noble Lady Yi came before, didn't she say that her headache and fever were cured by Concubine Xin? Who knows, sometimes folk remedies can cure illnesses that the imperial physician can't?"
"The Empress Dowager's body is precious, how could she allow those people to test drugs on her?" Zi Jin was worried. "The Empress Dowager was just joking that day, why did you take it so seriously?"
Yin Zhu lowered her head in grievance, muttering softly, "But, right now, the Imperial Hospital can't offer a clear solution. I'm also thinking about the Empress Dowager. If we continue like this, she'll be the only one who gets hurt."
"I heard everything the two of them were mumbling." The Queen Mother opened her eyes wearily and rubbed her temples. "If it were a minor, bearable ailment, I might have wanted to continue waiting for the imperial physician's prescription. But now, I simply can't endure it any longer! Quickly call that concubine!"
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zijin personally went to Sangyuxuan to invite someone. Coincidentally, Consort Xin was dining in Sangyuxuan today, and the room was quite lively.
She walked quickly to the outside of the hall and bowed, "Your servant Zijin greets Noble Lady Yi, and is pleased to select you as a servant. The Empress Dowager has urgent matters to attend to, and I beg you to proceed to Shoukang Palace immediately."
"So fast?"
Concubine Xin looked away uncomfortably, almost dropped the spoon, and nervously grasped Wei Shuyi's sleeve.
"Please, Aunt Zijin, run a little. I'll wash up and go see the Queen Mother."
As she said that, she took Consort Xin to the inner room.
"Sister, think about how they laughed at you that day in Fengluan Palace. I've already arranged everything. This is our only chance! If you can't overcome your inner difficulties, I won't be able to help you. This is your only chance to turn things around. Do you really want to give up?"
"No, I'm not..." Concubine Xin twisted her handkerchief, "In the past, I was the one who carefully investigated and then broke the game. Now that the game has been set up in advance and I'm asked to act, I'm really not used to it..."
"Silly girl, in this palace, you will have to act out a lot of things in the future just to survive! The sooner you experience it, the sooner you can understand the rules here."
Concubine Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay! Since the noble sister has already paved the way for me, I can't break the promise at the last minute! Let's go!"
So the two of them went to Shoukang Palace together.
Seeing the empress dowager's bloodshot eyes, Wei Shuyi stepped forward to greet her with a guilty conscience: "Your Majesty, did Zhaohua disturb your sweet dreams? Why are you so tired after not seeing you for a few days?"
"Zhaohua is such a well-behaved child! It's just that I'm too old to bear the pain."
Concubine Xin took the opportunity to come over and asked quietly, "Then...then, Your Majesty, do you need me to feel your pulse?"
"You come."
The Queen Mother did not say much, but stretched out her left arm, closed her eyes again, and waited for the result.
Concubine Xin pretended to feel the patient's pulse, then withdrew according to protocol. She bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, there's no need to panic. It's just that an evil spirit has been in the palace for some time, disturbing Her Royal Highness and affecting you. It hasn't been completely eradicated."
"Then what should we do?!" Aunt Zijin asked hurriedly, "I am really worried about the Queen Mother's health. She is old and can't sleep all night. Her vitality must be damaged."
"Could I borrow the writing brush and ink from Shoukang Palace?"
"please!"
Zijin had heard about the matter of drawing talismans a long time ago, so he ordered people to prepare writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone before going to Lin'an Palace to call for help.
Concubine Xin placed the bright yellow talisman paper she brought on the table, skillfully wrote one talisman after another, and arranged them one by one. Finally, she counted the number before standing up with peace of mind.
She again asked the Queen Mother for her opinion: "Princess Zhaohua is in the inner palace. I am afraid of disturbing her. Why not let this aunt accompany me inside?"
"Okay, go ahead."
Concubine Xin walked in slowly according to the rules, and carefully pasted the prepared talisman paper everywhere. After repeated inspection, she walked out.
"Your Highness, I have prepared the talisman to dispel evil spirits. Tonight, when you are ready to go to bed, simply light a charcoal fire in your room. If you feel hot, do not put out the fire in order to cool down. This is crucial."
"I understand now. Whether I can recover depends on your ability."
Concubine Xin knelt on the ground, her body trembling slightly.
Wei Shuyi quickly took over the conversation: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I have also seen how powerful she is. You will definitely sleep peacefully tonight."
"Alright, now that you say that, I feel much more at ease. It's getting late, haven't you even had lunch? Let's hurry back to the palace!"
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
By the time they walked out of Shoukang Palace, Concubine Xin was sweating all over. "I'm so scared! This is my first time meeting the Empress Dowager, and I have to take her pulse up close. I'm really afraid I'll be exposed..."
"It's okay, you did a great job. I was watching from the side and there was nothing unusual."
"Sister Noble, there shouldn't be any problems with the inner palace, right?"
Wei Shuyi shook his head: "My own daughter is there, of course I will make sure everything is perfectly safe. You, go back and have a good meal, get some sleep, and wait for tomorrow's performance!"
"If this is accomplished, from now on, Sister Noble will be my Godly Sister! I will do whatever you say, without hesitation!"
Concubine Xin stretched out three fingers and swore to the sky with a pious attitude, which made her stunned.
This girl is really simple-minded.
That night.
Following Aunt Zijin's instructions, Yinzhu added a sufficient amount of charcoal and placed it in the inner hall to burn. He then checked the talismans to see if they were firmly affixed, then squatted in the corridor, waiting for any movement from within.
"God bless, I hope the Empress Dowager rests in peace. I hope that Noble Lady Yi and her daughter are safe and that everything goes well. I also pray that the curse of Lin'an Palace will be lifted, the palace gates will be reopened, and that favors will return..."
"What are you mumbling about to yourself?"
Aunt Zijin came over and saw Yinzhu with his hands clasped together, and she became curious.
"Aunt, I'm praying for the Queen Mother! I hope Concubine Xin's talisman will be effective and can drive away all the evil spirits!"
"Do you really believe it? I always feel that it's a little unreal for a woman to be involved in such things. She can solve the problem that even the imperial doctors can't cure by applying talismans?"
Aunt Zijin sighed and quietly walked into the inner room——
Surprisingly, the Queen Mother was already sound asleep on her bed, breathing steadily. Even though I was so close, I didn't wake her up.
Obviously, he was fast asleep.
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