Luo Zhiwan had just stepped out, looking lost and dejected, when Jiawang rushed over.
"Big sister, Yiming is back."
Upon hearing this, she suddenly burst into tears.
"Where did he go? He scared me to death."
"Yiming went to the street to buy you osmanthus cakes; he knows you love them."
Jiawang's words brought tears to Zhiwan's eyes. Although Yiming's departure made her angry, his heart was good, and he still cared about what she, as his mother, liked to eat.
"Let's go home and have dinner."
She was holding Jiawang's hand, about to leave, when Leng Chuchen followed her out.
“Zhiwan…”
She felt very uncomfortable with him calling her that.
"Call me Doctor Luo."
Leng Chuchen frowned slightly and took two steps forward.
"I'm sorry, you're never happy when you come to my house, it's my fault."
Seeing that they seemed to have something to say, Jiawang waved to Zhiwan.
"Big sister, I'll go back and tell Mother first, so she won't worry. You should hurry too."
After Zhiwan nodded, Jiawang quickly ran towards home.
Leng Chuchen came to her at this moment.
"What happened last time caused you a lot of trouble. It's all my fault. I was too impulsive at the time. I apologize to you."
She lowered her head and gave a bitter smile.
"It's alright. I've always had a bad reputation. Now that you know, stay away from me in the future to avoid being implicated."
"So... will you come again tomorrow?"
"I won't come. My clinic is very busy lately, and I don't have time to travel back and forth. Besides, your grandmother's health has almost recovered. Why don't you bring her to my clinic to get a prescription and medicine?"
Clearly, she didn't want to set foot in the Chu family home again, a place that made her unhappy.
Leng Chuchen's gaze faltered, and she nodded with a melancholy expression.
"Okay, I'll settle the consultation and medication fees for this month when I go tomorrow."
“Okay, I’ll travel back and forth every day, so the consultation fee will be higher.”
Leaving those words behind, she coldly walked past him and headed straight home.
Watching her retreating figure, Leng Chuchen clenched her fists, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe.
He was the crown prince, and she was an ordinary woman with a bad reputation. It was impossible for him to be with her. Just like his mother said, it was impossible for her to become his concubine.
Even though he understood everything, he still inexplicably felt a fondness for her, and even had an unspeakable desire to conquer her.
To be more precise, he liked this woman, and even though he knew there was no future for them, he still couldn't control his feelings for her.
This was the first time in his life he had ever felt this way about a woman.
Every time Luo Zhiwan appeared, Yue Xiaoyue would cry and make a scene.
Now that the Empress Dowager's condition has basically stabilized, Yue Xiaoyue couldn't help but remind her...
“Aunt, look at the way Brother Chen looks at Luo Zhiwan. It’s completely different from how he looks at me. That child even calls him ‘father.’ I’m so afraid… I’m so afraid that after Luo Zhiwan cures the Empress Dowager’s illness, she will take the opportunity to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree. What will I do then?”
At this point, she raised the handkerchief in her hand, wiping away her tears as she continued to mutter.
"If I can't marry Brother Chen, I might as well die."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Empress Qi frowned deeply, and at that moment, she slammed the teacup down heavily in her hand.
"She's just a countrywoman abandoned by her husband, and she has a bastard child with her. Even if she asks the emperor for a marriage decree, he won't agree."
"Aunt, don't forget, the Emperor mentioned in the imperial edict that whoever can cure the Empress Dowager's illness will not only be granted an official position and a reward, but will also have one request granted. If this woman surnamed Luo really makes this request to the Emperor, and Brother Chen readily agrees, the Emperor's word might just be issued, and in that case, Luo Yiming will become the eldest son of the Crown Prince's residence, and in the future..."
At this point, she raised her hand to cover her mouth, looking terrified.
"Auntie, this absolutely cannot happen!"
Empress Qi held the teacup she had just put down, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.
Because the Empress Dowager was her aunt, she entered the palace at the age of thirteen, just like Yue Xiaoyue, and accompanied the Emperor when he was still the Crown Prince.
At the age of sixteen, the emperor officially ascended the throne, and she was made empress. In the same year, the emperor also bestowed titles upon several other imperial concubines and consorts, truly realizing the concept of a harem of three palaces and six courtyards...
A year later, her son Leng Chuchen was born, and two years later, her younger son Leng Chuyang was born. After that, she gave birth to two more princesses.
During this period, in order to eliminate dissidents and prevent any potential threat to her son, she spent three years banishing three favored concubines to the cold palace and causing five concubines who had served her to die mysteriously.
From then on, she tried her best to prevent any woman who had been favored by the emperor from getting pregnant. Even if they did get pregnant, she would not let those children be born safely. Even if a child was born by chance, she would keep the girl and discard the boy.
Therefore, even today, she still holds absolute power in the harem of the Celestial Empire. Although two imperial concubines are favored because they gave birth to two princesses, they are usually very respectful to her and pose no threat to her position, so she turns a blind eye to it.
Yue Xiaoyue is the child of her younger sister. Her father, Yue Yunshan, is a second-rank general of the Celestial Empire. Her grandfather, Yue Ji, is a veteran of three reigns. When the previous emperor was alive, he assisted the emperor and made great contributions.
The Yue family is a true family of military generals. Leng Chuchen's marriage to Yue Xiaoyue will not only solidify his position in the court, but also allow his niece to rise to become a woman like her, in charge of the harem. In that case, the harem will still be the domain of the mother and daughter.
Therefore, no one can shake Yue Xiaoyue's position as Crown Princess.
In this matter, she can act as she did during the turmoil in the imperial harem, killing anyone who gets in her way and vanquishing any demon who stands in her way.
...
After more than a month of recuperation, the Empress Dowager's condition has improved significantly compared to before.
When Leng Chuchen suggested that she personally go to the Luo family's medical clinic for a consultation, she was neither unhappy nor hesitant, and immediately nodded in agreement.
"Doctor Luo's medical skills are truly superb! I've had this illness for two or three years. I thought I would starve to death, but she actually cured me in just one month. Compared to her medical skills, even the imperial physicians in the palace are probably inferior!"
Seeing her grandmother praise Zhiwan, Leng Chuchen was also happy for her.
However, upon learning that the Empress Dowager intended to personally visit the Luo family's medical clinic for a consultation, Empress Qi rushed over immediately, furiously trying to stop her.
"Mother, this is absolutely not allowed. Your health is precious. How can you go to such a place? Chen'er, go and invite Physician Luo. If she is unwilling, bring her here by binding her."
Leng Chuchen never expected that her mother would disagree with what her grandmother had already agreed to.
"Doctor Luo doesn't make house calls. It was only after I invited her many times that she came to treat my grandmother. But every time she comes, you and Xiaoyue make her leave disappointed. Now that she refuses to come, so you won't suspect that she has ulterior motives towards me, you want to kidnap her. What kind of logic is that?"
"Hmph! I sent her here to treat the Empress Dowager, not to seduce you. Besides, the Empress Dowager is delicate; how could she go to her filthy little clinic? If she doesn't want to come, then punish her for disobeying the imperial decree."
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