When Meng Zhelan came in, Li Xi was gulping down a bowl of bitter and hard-to-swallow medicinal soup.
The smell almost made her vomit.
She frowned and handed the empty bowl to Xia Zhi, who was standing to the side waiting. Xia Zhi quickly took the bowl and then handed her a candied fruit.
"No need, I can still manage," Li Xi thought to herself.
This bitter taste serves as a reminder to myself not to act so impulsively in rescuing people again.
Although she learned from Lan'er that the person she had saved was the Fifth Prince Qi Xuan, upon careful reflection, she felt that she had acted too rashly at the time.
"Alright, how bitter can it be? I haven't even put the bitter melon in yet," Meng Zhelan said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.
"What does His Highness Prince An want to see you about? He wouldn't come to the palace without a reason." Prince An always appears to be gentle and refined, but in reality, he is cunning and extremely shrewd. This sudden visit must have a deeper meaning.
Meng Zhelan pursed her lips slightly and said calmly, "He said that Princess Xuanqing invited me to Xuanyue Kingdom to treat her mother."
"What?" Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was taken aback.
"Why would Princess Xuanqing suddenly invite you to Xuan Yue Kingdom for medical treatment? This news came too suddenly." President Wang asked in confusion, her brows furrowed, clearly also pondering the deeper meaning behind it.
Meng Zhelan shook her head slightly and said, "I don't know either. His Highness Prince An didn't go into details, but only conveyed Princess Xuanqing's invitation. He said he would accompany the Princess to Xuanyue Kingdom in five days."
"You agreed?" Li Xi asked, her brow furrowed.
"No, His Highness just told me to think it over carefully, he didn't force me." Meng Zhelan shook her head. "I'll discuss it with the Empress Dowager later."
"What do you want to discuss with me? Why don't you just tell me now?" The Empress Dowager's hearty laughter suddenly rang out in the room.
Everyone was startled and looked up.
The Empress Dowager was already standing at the door with a smile on her face, followed by several palace maids carrying trays.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Everyone quickly stood up and bowed.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down.
Then he slowly walked to Li Xi's side, gently patted the back of her hand, and said with a hint of annoyance, "You girls, how dare you keep such a big thing from me?"
After saying that, she looked Li Xi up and down carefully and asked with concern, "How are you feeling now? You were so badly injured, why didn't Lan'er send someone to inform me?"
Li Xi quickly bowed her head and apologized, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Lan'er was just worried that I might frighten you."
Moreover… this is probably the Emperor's intention, otherwise, why would no one in the palace have informed the Empress Dowager of this news? Even if Meng Zhelan wanted to send a message in, she probably wouldn't have been able to.
The Empress Dowager knew in her heart that her son must have blocked the news, so she did not really blame these people.
Just thinking about how Li Xi was so badly injured and had saved his grandson, while the Emperor...
She couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and helplessness; even emperors have their considerations.
"Someone, bring up the good things I've selected."
Four trays were placed on the table. The red silk covering them was lifted. They contained rare medicinal herbs.
Ginseng, deer antler, lingzhi, snow lotus, and a set of jade headdress inlaid with gemstones.
Bathed in sunlight, it shimmered with dazzling light, like a brilliant star in the night sky.
"What are you standing there for? These are all from the Emperor's treasury. I'll give you a good nourishing treatment." The Empress Dowager gently patted Li Xi's hand.
Because Li Xi usually appeared in public dressed as a man outside the palace.
According to court rules, it was naturally inappropriate for him to have too much intimate contact with the Empress Dowager.
However, the Empress Dowager genuinely liked Li Xi from the bottom of her heart. If it weren't for Li Xi's selfless help, she would probably have been a cold corpse lying in the street long ago.
"This is far too precious, how can Xi'er possibly bear it!" Li Xi said anxiously and fearfully.
"You deserve it. You've done a great service this time. Consort Shu even asked me to send you this set of jewelry," the Empress Dowager comforted her.
"Then thank you very much, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Li Xi also felt the Empress Dowager's kindness.
"Alright, Lan'er. You just said you had something to discuss with me?"
Meng Zhelan nodded slightly, and said with some difficulty, "I don't know what to do about this either. Please help me analyze it, Your Majesty..."
After drinking half a cup of tea, the Empress Dowager remained silent. She had heard the Emperor mention this matter at breakfast earlier that morning. She hadn't expected Yu'er to tell Lan'er so directly.
"The Emperor did mention this matter. It was during a palace banquet when Xuanqing mentioned that our Jingyuan has a divine physician who can cure difficult and complicated diseases."
Later, the emperor said he would ask Meng Zhelan's opinion first, since he had previously bestowed upon her a jade pendant, granting her the right to practice medicine freely.
Therefore, he couldn't issue a decree directly.
"So that's how it is. I'm at a loss now, so Lan'er wanted to ask Your Highness."
Meng Zhelan was not very familiar with the situation in the imperial court.
“I understand your hesitation. I will discuss it with the Emperor Emeritus. That old man has been very mysterious lately.”
The Empress Dowager seemed to know something, but she didn't say it outright.
Meng Zhelan understood the Empress Dowager's meaning, and she nodded to indicate that she understood.
"Alright, since Xiaoxi is alright, let's go to the kitchen and see what delicious food we can make tonight."
The Empress Dowager took Ling'er's hand and walked out, followed by Chairman Wang and Tian Tian to the kitchen.
Today is a happy day, and Meng Zhelan lets her have her way; it really deserves a proper celebration.
"Xi'er, your maternal grandfather has been staying outside these past few days, refusing to go back to rest. But today, I don't know why, he went back to rest after seeing you were awake. Perhaps you should..."
"Grandfather probably thought of Grandmother when he saw me like this. Lan'er, go and invite him over for me."
Li Xi understood her maternal grandfather's concerns.
Not long after, Wan Yue arrived. Seeing Li Xi's haggard appearance, he felt a pang of heartache.
He asked softly, "Xiaoxi, is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Li Xi shook her head, forced a smile, and said, "Grandfather, I'm fine. I'm very healthy."
Wan Yue sighed, "You child, you must take good care of yourself from now on. The ancient clans are probably all gone now, and I don't know who can help you control that abnormally domineering and fierce energy within you. If it were your grandmother..."
If she were still alive, perhaps this thorny problem could have been solved easily.
At this point, Wan Yue's eyes revealed deep longing and affection.
Li Xi seemed to understand the sorrow and helplessness in her maternal grandfather's eyes.
He quickly comforted him, saying, "Grandfather, there's no need to worry too much. Things will work themselves out. From now on, I will try my best to avoid using that internal energy. That way, I shouldn't suddenly fall into a coma like before."
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