The imperial concubine suddenly fell seriously ill, which quickly alarmed the entire Imperial Hospital.
The imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital couldn't figure it out and could only prescribe some ointments for facial application.
However, the ointment takes a long time to work; it takes at least five or six days for it to be effective.
Throughout the day, the sound of porcelain shattering could be heard intermittently from Yongshou Palace.
The entire Yongshou Palace fell silent.
Inside Yanxi Palace, Consort Shu listened to the report from the palace maid below and slapped her thigh, laughing heartily.
"Serves her right! She cares most about her face, hahaha!"
Consort Shu's personal maid couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, who could have done this?"
"I don't care who did it. As long as I see someone surnamed Shu in trouble, I'll be happy and I can eat two more bowls of rice."
Consort Shu leaned back on the couch, swinging her legs, looking quite content.
A palace maid reminded her, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is waiting for you to have lunch together!"
Consort Shu frowned, reluctantly stood up, changed her clothes, and went out.
When Consort Shu arrived at Qianqing Palace, she was told that the Emperor had other business to attend to and could not see her.
Consort Shu, twirling her handkerchief, asked Chen Dafu's godson listlessly, "Who's in here?"
"Your Highness, it is a physician surnamed Song."
Consort Shu paused for a moment, then quickly pretended nothing was wrong and asked about other things.
Inside the palace, the emperor looked at Song Siyuan, who was dressed in plain clothes, and sighed.
"Minister Song has suffered... Do you resent me for what happened back then?"
Song Siyuan knelt on the ground: "This humble subject dares not. It was indeed this humble subject who failed to notice the unusual illness of the Consort Zhaorong. It was due to the lack of skill of this humble subject. The Emperor still remembers this humble subject, for this humble subject is deeply grateful. This humble subject truly did not expect that there would be a day when I could return to the capital."
The emperor relaxed his brow slightly and beckoned to him.
"Rise and answer! There's no need for such formalities. Starting tomorrow, return to your duties at the Imperial Hospital! I've been feeling unwell lately, and I'll need Minister Song to take care of me from now on."
Song Siyuan raised his head and looked at the emperor with a worried expression.
"Your Majesty, may I have my pulse taken?"
The emperor nodded and extended his left hand.
Song Siyuan bent over and stepped forward, wiped his hands, and then carefully placed his fingers on it.
After a while, he withdrew his hand.
"I wonder which colleague from the Imperial Medical Academy treated His Majesty?"
The emperor announced two names: "What? Is there a problem with this prescription?"
Song Siyuan shook his head: "The prescription is fine and it's effective, but your two colleagues overlooked the weather. It seems that it hasn't rained in the capital for a long time, the climate is dry, and with the charcoal burning in the palace, the heat is accumulating in the Emperor's body and can't dissipate. They only focused on treating the cold, but ignored the fact that the cold was accompanied by heat..."
Song Siyuan started spouting off his erudition, which gave the emperor a headache. He stopped him at the right moment and called out to the outside.
"Chen Dafu, bring me pen and ink. Song Aiqing, just write the prescription here!"
Chen Dafu chuckled and brought over the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, personally grinding them for Song Siyuan. Song Siyuan apologized before picking up the brush and quickly writing down a prescription.
Chen Dafu presented the prescription to the emperor and, seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, offered a reminder.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has been waiting outside for a long time. Also, Consort Gui sent someone to invite Your Majesty, but Consort Shu blocked them."
The emperor raised an eyebrow: "What are the Imperial Concubine's people doing here?"
"Her Imperial Concubine is unwell and would like to request that you come and see her."
The emperor recalled the face of the imperial concubine he had seen that morning, and his expression turned to disgust.
"Let her rest and recover properly, why make things so complicated?! Didn't the imperial physicians say that her face will be fine after a few days of applying medicine?"
Chen Dafu didn't dare to reply.
The emperor glanced around and saw Song Siyuan standing to the side, then suddenly pointed at him.
"Minister Song's medical skills are exceptional. Why don't you go to Yongshou Palace now and treat the Imperial Concubine?"
Song Siyuan looked up in surprise.
Once the emperor spoke, there was no room for refusal, so Song Siyuan had no choice but to agree and follow the eunuch to Yongshou Palace.
Fortunately, Chen Dafu had considered things carefully and had someone notify the Imperial Pharmacy in advance. When Song Siyuan arrived at Yongshou Palace, two physicians were already waiting for him with medicine boxes.
The group entered the main hall of Yongshou Palace. Along the way, Song Siyuan did not dare to raise his head and silently stared at his toes.
Upon seeing the Imperial Concubine whose face was covered by a thick veil, Song Siyuan paid his respects before stepping forward to take her pulse.
But as soon as his finger touched her, a strange look flashed in Song Siyuan's eyes.
The imperial concubine urged him impatiently.
"Why does it take so long to take your pulse? Are you done yet?"
Song Siyuan came to his senses and lowered his head to reply, "Your Majesty's face must have been stained with peach blossom powder or juice to cause the hives."
A head palace maid couldn't help but interject, "But we don't have any peach trees planted in Yongshou Palace!"
"Perhaps Her Majesty bumped into it by accident while she was out."
The Imperial Concubine looked suspicious: "It is true that I get rashes whenever I come into contact with peach blossoms, but it has never been this severe before."
“Your Majesty’s constitution is different from before, so it’s understandable that you’re experiencing different symptoms.” Song Siyuan cupped his hands in greeting. “Please continue using the ointment prescribed by the Imperial Physician. In addition, Your Majesty, when washing your face and hands daily, please remember not to use any flower petals or perfumes; just use warm water…”
When Song Siyuan came out of Yongshou Palace, it was already late, and he hurried out of the palace.
Just as he stepped out of the palace gate, he saw a strange man walking towards him.
"Imperial Physician Song, my master has sent me to escort you home."
Song Siyuan was taken aback.
"Who is your master?"
The man didn't speak, but simply gestured for them to proceed.
Song Siyuan followed him for a few steps, turned the corner, and saw an inconspicuous oilcloth horse-drawn carriage.
He boarded the carriage, his heart pounding with anxiety as it swayed.
After a long while, he heard a voice outside say "We've arrived," and then the car door was opened.
Song Siyuan climbed out of the carriage, looked up, saw the familiar front door of his home, and froze.
"This...this..."
Isn't this their former home?
Even the orchids in front of the door are exactly the same as before.
With trembling hands, Song Siyuan squatted down and touched the clump of orchids.
Without being urged, Song Siyuan hurriedly ran into the gate of the Song residence.
He was running so fast that he almost tripped over the threshold, but the man pulled him back.
After passing the screen wall, Song Siyuan saw a group of people standing under the corridor of the main courtyard.
His gaze immediately fell upon his daughter, who was standing in the very center.
"Xixi..."
"father!"
Song Xibai called out and ran to Song Siyuan in a few steps. Looking at his much older face, she couldn't help but hug him and cry.
"father……"
Song Siyuan patted her back, comforting her just like when she was a child.
"Stop crying. You're so old and you're still crying like that. It's so embarrassing! Daddy's standing right here, isn't he?"
"You've suffered so much, Dad. You've become so thin you look like a clothes hanger."
Song Xibai pinched Song Siyuan's arm through her sleeve, feeling the thin, bony arm, and felt extremely distressed.
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