After Huicairen left, the Queen Mother sat on the couch with a complicated expression, "Cui Yu, when did you see Fan Li yesterday?"
"After you gave the order, I ran into the deputy envoy as soon as I left Zichen Palace."
The Queen Mother hummed, "What do you think of what Huicai just said?"
Nanny Song thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Empress Dowager, since returning from Zichen Palace yesterday, I've had a suspicion in my mind."
"Tell me about it."
"The Emperor is in good health, and the Imperial Physician checks his pulse every day. How could he suddenly fall into a coma?"
Nanny Song paused and continued, "If you say that other people's medical skills are not good, that's understandable, but Imperial Physician Han is the chief judge of the Imperial Hospital. He has handled many difficult and complicated cases with ease in the past. How come he is helpless this time and has no idea what to do? Besides, he has always been the one who took care of the emperor's health."
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that Imperial Physician Han might have lied?"
"I dare not say for sure, but in the final analysis, no matter how this matter ends, the only one who will be hurt is Concubine Yi."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager stopped turning her Buddhist beads and looked at Nanny Song with a fierce look. "Someone is using the Emperor's body to remove the dragon fetus in Concubine Yi's womb?"
"Actually, I've always had a suspicion in my mind. Thinking about it carefully, everything seems too coincidental." Nanny Song's voice was also a little heavy. "But there's something that Huicai said that goes a long way. One person's words can't be fully trusted. Why not summon the official envoy? Perhaps he can solve all the mysteries."
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then called in the eunuch Mao Cheng, who was in charge of Ci'an Palace.
"Go and summon Envoy Dugu to the palace. I have something to ask him."
Mao Cheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know that Lord Dugu has been ill for a few days, and now he can't even get out of bed."
The more this happened, the more suspicious the Queen Mother became. She snorted coldly, "Since you can't get out of bed, you have to be carried here to me."
Mao Cheng did not dare to delay, bowed and agreed, then hurried out of the palace.
Half an hour later, Dugu Yu was carried into the palace in a warm sedan chair, but he had to walk to Ci'an Palace by himself.
By the time he reached Ci'an Palace, he had exhausted all his strength: "Your humble servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May Her Majesty live a thousand years and live a long and healthy life."
The Queen Mother sat at the head of the table, looking at Dugu Yu's pale face and weak appearance, frowning and saying, "You just came to the palace to report the celestial phenomena to the Emperor. How come you've become so ill in just half a month?"
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I had a stomach upset a few days ago. I thought it was just a minor matter, but I didn't expect that even after taking several doses of medicine, it didn't help. However, I feel better today."
Gu Du and Gang were about to bow, but the Queen Mother stopped them and ordered Mao Cheng to bring a chair, "Sit down and talk."
"Thank you for your grace, Queen Mother."
Dugu Yu was helped to sit down and asked respectfully, "I wonder why the Empress Dowager summoned me into the palace?"
"Have you heard about the emperor's coma?"
"Yes, I heard that the imperial doctors are helpless?"
The Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "Deputy Envoy Fan came into the palace yesterday and said that the Emperor was unconscious because of the conflict between him and the child in Concubine Yi's womb. What are your thoughts?"
"What nonsense!"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yu suddenly stood up, his face turning even darker. "When Concubine Yi first became pregnant, the celestial phenomena became abnormal. It was because the Concubine was carrying a child who was too noble. How could it be said that she was incompatible with the Emperor?"
The coldness in the Queen Mother's eyes grew even colder: "Are you sure?"
"I dare not lie," Dugu Yu said solemnly, "I have reported this matter to the Emperor. The Emperor was afraid of causing trouble and ordered me not to make it public. That is why I have remained silent."
The Queen Mother's expression grew increasingly grim. "I understand. Since the Emperor has told you not to spread the news, from now on, you are still not allowed to say a single word."
"Yes, I will obey the Queen Mother's order."
At this point, Dugu Yu already understood a little bit in his heart, but he could tell what should be said and what should not be said.
Coming out of Ci'an Palace, Dugu and Chenchen sighed, "Fan Li, oh Fan Li, since you are an astronomical envoy, don't you know that your death is near?"
After Dugu Yu left, the Queen Mother asked Nanny Song coldly, "You just said that the Imperial Hospital has sent Concubine Yi's labor-inducing medicine?"
"Yes, it was prepared by Imperial Physician Han himself."
"Okay, go to the Imperial Hospital and find a doctor to see what's wrong with this labor-inducing drug."
"I will go immediately."
——
After yesterday, Yingchun has been feeling uneasy, but Jinmei looks relaxed, as if everything is under her control.
The more Yingchun thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. She tried several times to explain the matter to the Queen, but was stopped by Jinmei every time.
"Sister, things haven't reached a point of no return yet. You should hurry up and explain everything to the Empress. If you delay any further, it will be too late."
Jinmei shook off Yingchun's hand and looked at her coldly, "You are wrong. Things have come to this point and there is no way to save it. Now no matter what happens, it will all lead to death. Yingchun, you know my temper."
Seeing Jinmei so stubborn, Yingchun was even more heartbroken and felt that she should not have helped the evil.
Jinmei held Yingchun's hand and smiled affectionately, "My dear sister, we have served the Empress since we were young. As long as it is for the Empress's good, even if it means our lives are in vain, we are willing to do it, right?"
Yingchun looked at Jinmei quietly. At this moment, she felt that Jinmei was really a stranger. But then she thought, if Concubine Yi's child was really gone, who could stop the Empress from achieving glory?
But things did not develop as smoothly as Jinmei expected.
A young maid from Fengqi Palace came in with a basin of water and asked curiously, "It's strange. Master Dugu is so ill that he can't get out of bed, so why is he still in Ci'an Palace today?"
"What did you say?" Jin Mei's eyes shone, and she asked in a deep voice, "The Queen Mother summoned Lord Dugu? Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
The young palace maid was startled and tremblingly said, "Yes, yes, it was Eunuch Maocheng who went to invite the Queen Mother personally."
Jinmei's heart skipped a beat, and she vaguely felt that something was going to happen.
Yingchun sighed, "You think you've done it perfectly, but how could Concubine Yi be so foolish and ignorant as to let you manipulate her? Jinmei, you'd better go to the Empress and explain everything clearly, otherwise even the Great Luo Immortal can't save you!"
Jin Mei gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry, even if the truth comes out, I will never implicate the Empress."
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