Chapter 16 The lights were turned off. In the darkness, Xiao Heng lifted Gu Xi's chin...
Xiao Heng curled his lips, then suddenly got up and sat on the couch where she had just been reading, his slender fingers flicking the only remaining small oil lamp in the room.
Gu Xi was somewhat confused.
The light flickered as he manipulated it, highlighting his handsome features even more clearly.
Gu Xi thought to herself, "Such a beautiful face, how come her temperament is so...sigh, what a pity."
"Come here." Xiao Heng pointed to the spot next to him.
Gu Xi hesitated for a moment, but finally obeyed and went over to sit on the couch.
Xiao Heng stared at Gu Xi's face for a while, seemingly pondering something, before suddenly saying slowly, "You look... a little different today than last night."
Gu Xi's heart skipped a beat. What was different about him? Did he really see it last night?
Gu Xiqiang tried to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty is joking. I have always been like this. There was no lamp lit last night, so Your Majesty may have mistaken me for someone else."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng smiled enigmatically and said unhurriedly, "What you say makes sense... Then turn off the light, and I'll take another look."
After saying that, Xiao Heng extinguished the oil lamp in the room, and the whole room suddenly became dark, with only the faint moonlight from outside the window shining into the room.
In the darkness, Xiao Heng lifted Gu Xi's chin and stared intently at her face, his dark eyes, as deep as a pool, seemed to want to suck her in.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and fear threatened to overwhelm her.
Xiao Heng suddenly chuckled in a cryptic tone.
When Xiao Heng smiled, Gu Xi's heart skipped a beat, her breathing became erratic, and her palms were sweaty.
She pursed her lips, trying her best to remain calm and composed.
After a long while, Xiao Heng finally released Gu Xi, regained his usual demeanor, and said in a calm tone, "Looking at it this way, there really is no difference."
Gu Xi breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally at ease.
Xiao Heng suddenly stood up and walked towards the side hall: "It's getting late, I should go back. Tomorrow..." But Xiao Heng's words stopped abruptly at the crucial point.
"Will His Majesty come again tomorrow?" Gu Xi asked softly from behind.
"Do you want me to come?" Xiao Heng paused, turning his back to Gu Xi as he asked.
Gu Xi was taken aback. Did she want him to come?
No, she didn't want that.
In this palace, she only wanted to keep to herself. She didn't provoke others, nor did she want others to provoke her, especially not the Emperor.
Over time, Gu Xi could sense that Xiao Heng seemed to have some interest in her. Although she didn't know if he was simply interested in her as a person or had other motives, she knew that either way, it wouldn't last. If she accepted and became infatuated, she would face endless trouble or pain once he withdrew.
These are things she cannot bear.
Her only consolation was that she had no feelings for Xiao Heng now, and it was still not too late to distance herself.
"His Majesty's wound needs treatment." Gu Xi did not directly answer Xiao Heng's question, but the answer was self-evident.
After a long silence, Xiao Heng only said one sentence: "I understand." Then he disappeared from Gu Xi's sight.
After that night, Xiao Heng never came to Weiyang Palace again.
Gu Xi's life in the palace returned to peace. She spent her days reading or playing the zither behind closed doors. She also planted some medicinal herbs in the courtyard, and her life was quite pleasant.
She would occasionally think of Xiao Heng's injury, wondering if it had healed. As a doctor, she was always uneasy until she saw her patient fully recovered.
A few days ago, she heard from Huayue that Xiao Heng had been busy dealing with court affairs and had not summoned any concubines for nearly half a month. He only occasionally visited the palaces during the day to sit for a while or to give them some gifts.
Gu Xi thought to herself that he must have done this because he was afraid of his injuries being discovered.
In any case, his injury should be fine now.
She has been reading medical books recently. Before entering the palace, she was developing a medicine that could quickly stop external bleeding. She wanted to give the formula to her brother when he returned so that he could take it to the battlefield for the soldiers to use.
The day Xiao Heng was injured, she thought that it would be great if she could use it on him.
However, the medicine she developed, while effective, contained several ingredients that were too expensive for the military to afford.
She had intended to write to her master and senior brother to ask, but she unexpectedly entered the palace and could no longer ask them.
She searched through all the books in the palace library but couldn't find a suitable alternative. A young eunuch in the library told her that most of the palace's medical books were in the Imperial Medical Academy, some of them rare copies, and they wouldn't be lent out easily unless the Emperor, a concubine, or the Empress Dowager specifically requested it.
Gu Xizheng was worried about this.
She decided to go to the Imperial Hospital herself and try her luck.
Inside the Imperial Medical Academy's library.
"Your Highness, it's not that I'm unwilling to lend them, but these medical books are truly precious. If they were lost or damaged, I couldn't bear the responsibility," Zhao Youdao, who was in charge of the Imperial Medical Academy's archives, said with a troubled expression.
After a moment's thought, Gu Xi continued, "If I don't take the books out of the Imperial Hospital, can I read them here in the library?" Gu Xi understood the difficulties faced by the Imperial Hospital and came up with a compromise.
"Well...forgive my bluntness, but the Imperial Hospital is entirely staffed by men. It might not be appropriate for Your Majesty to remain here..."
"I..." Gu Xi wanted to try again, but Zhao Youdao was interrupted as soon as she opened her mouth.
"If Your Majesty is feeling unwell, please do not hesitate to order the Imperial Hospital to do your best... I'm afraid this medical book is of no help."
As Zhao Youdao spoke, he grew impatient. Throughout history, it was always men who studied medicine. How could a woman like her possibly read medical books? These medical books were not something an ordinary woman could understand. If she weren't the emperor's concubine, he would have been much more rude to her long ago.
Gu Xi originally wanted to say that she could come over when the imperial physicians were all out taking pulses and there was no one else around, but judging from Zhao Youdao's attitude, she probably wouldn't agree.
It seems she won't be able to borrow this book today.
Perhaps it is true, as Hua Yue said, that only the Emperor or the Imperial Concubine can borrow it, but... never mind, it seems we have no choice but to find another way.
"Thank you, Physician Zhao. Then I will not disturb you any longer."
Gu Xi and Zhu Yin had just walked a short distance from the Imperial Hospital when someone called out to them from behind: "Consort Gu, please wait."
Gu Xi looked behind her and saw a handsome man dressed in the robes of an imperial physician walking towards them. He carried a sandalwood medicine chest on his back, and a jade belt around his waist with several small medicine bottles and acupuncture kits hanging from it, indicating that he was from the Imperial Medical Academy.
"May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
"Your Majesty, I am Mu Yunqi, a clerk in the Imperial Hospital. I just overheard Your Majesty's conversation with Physician Zhao. Perhaps I can be of some help to Your Majesty." Mu Yunqi bowed slightly to Gu Xi, his index finger knuckles still covered with some medicine powder that he hadn't had time to clean off. A faint medicinal fragrance wafted from his side as he raised his sleeve.
"So it's Physician Mu. I'm very polite. But... I wonder how you can help me?" Gu Xi then remembered that she seemed to have met this person when she was talking to Zhao Youdao earlier.
"I wonder what book Your Highness is looking for? If you can tell me, I can make a copy for you in my spare time."
Gu Xi's eyes suddenly lit up, her gaze was intense, and a faint smile bloomed on her lips. Mu Yunqi was momentarily dazed.
"Really... is it possible?" Gu Xi asked, her excitement mixed with some hesitation.
Mu Yunqi said solemnly, "Of course, but the Imperial Medical Academy has many books. I would like to ask Your Majesty to tell me which medical book you need so that I can make a copy for you."
"Why is Your Excellency willing to help me?" Gu Xi hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question that was on her mind. She did not know this Physician Mu, and she could not understand why he was willing to help her.
"To be honest, my family has practiced medicine for generations. Seeing Your Majesty so focused on her studies just now reminded me of my younger sister, who, like Your Majesty, is fascinated by medicine and pharmacology..."
Seeing the sincerity in his voice, Gu Xi no longer doubted him. She then explained her purpose to Mu Yunqi and concluded by saying, "I'm not sure if the Imperial Medical Academy has the book I'm looking for."
After hearing what Gu Xi said, Mu Yunqi already had a plan in mind. He promised, "I may know the book Your Highness is looking for. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will find a way to visit Your Highness's palace to take your pulse in ten days and then deliver the copy to Your Highness."
"Then I thank Physician Mu. I will never forget your kindness."
"Your Majesty is too kind."
Ten days later, Mu Yunqi indeed arrived.
“This copy of the Compendium of Materia Medica should contain what Your Majesty is looking for.” Mu Yunqi took out a copy from his medicine chest.
"Thank you, Physician Mu. You have truly helped Gu Xi a great deal this time."
Gu Xi opened the copy that Mu Yunqi handed her. The handwriting inside was very neat and the characters were delicate. She asked with some doubt, "Doctor Mu, this copy... doesn't look like an adult's handwriting. It looks more like... a woman's."
"Your Majesty has discerning eyes. This copy was written by my younger sister. When I mentioned this matter to her that day, she volunteered to take it on. I thought she could also learn more about pharmacology through this, so I let her do it. Please do not take offense, Your Majesty."
When Mu Yunqi talked about his sister, his tone seemed somewhat helpless, but the slight upturn of his lips revealed his undisguised pride, showing that the two siblings had a very good relationship.
Gu Xi suddenly thought of the times she spent with her brother. She wondered how he was doing now, when he would be able to return to the capital, and what his reaction would be if he knew that she had entered the palace.
"How could that be? Please, Physician Mu, be sure to thank your sister for me." Gu Xi was very grateful to the two siblings.
"I will certainly convey your message. I will take my leave now. If Your Majesty needs anything in the future, please do not hesitate to give me your orders." Mu Yunqi said respectfully, showing no disrespect despite Gu Xi's low rank.
To express her gratitude, Gu Xi asked Zhu Yin to give Mu Yunqi a silver ingot. Although expressing her thanks with money was not sincere enough, she had nothing else to offer and couldn't let others work for nothing.
The moment Mu Yunqi saw Zhu Yin take out the silver, his face darkened. "Your Majesty, I did this not for the money." He took a few steps back and refused, his tone distant.
Gu Xi quickly explained, "Physician Mu, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean anything by it. I just feel bad that you and your sister have worked so hard."
Mu Yunqi's expression softened, and he continued, "It's a trivial matter, Your Majesty need not take it to heart."
Gu Xi had no choice but to give up, thinking that she would find another opportunity to thank the brother and sister another day.
In the days that followed, Gu Xi immersed herself in the book every day. After finally finishing it, she asked Mu Yunqi to send over some medicinal herbs.
Gu Xi worked tirelessly in her room day and night, finally finding a substitute. Unable to find anyone to test the medicine, she secretly cut herself. Fortunately, the new medicine worked well, and Gu Xi couldn't wait to tell her brother.
Zhu Yin was heartbroken when she found out.
Mu Yunqi later learned about this matter. He did not expect that Gu Xi would go to such lengths to make medicine. So he lent her the medical books that his family had treasured for generations. Gu Xi read them with great enthusiasm.
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