Chapter 72 The Emperor is Jealous
The next morning, Xuemei collapsed in front of the Qianqing Palace, covered in wounds.
"Your Majesty! This servant has been wronged! This servant wishes to denounce Consort Yi!"
Her shrill voice echoed throughout the palace, "Consort Yi's madness in the Cold Palace... she took medicine herself! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng was furious and summoned Xuemei into the palace for a detailed interrogation.
The news spread quickly throughout the six palaces, and naturally reached the ears of Shui Xian, who was already waiting quietly in Yongle Palace.
"Did Xue Mei accuse Yi Guichun of taking madness drugs in front of the Qianqing Palace?"
Shui Xian put down her teacup, but Xue Mei's movements were even faster than she had expected.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yinzhu's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I heard she shouted herself hoarse, which alarmed quite a few people."
"She's really gone all out," Narcissus said calmly. "But she did say, who gave her that medicine...?"
Yinzhu shook her head: "No, Xuemei insisted that it was Consort Yi who took it. No matter how she was interrogated, or even tortured, she refused to mention the source of the medicine."
Narcissus nodded knowingly.
Xuemei wasn't trying to report them; she just wanted a way to survive.
She doesn't need to offend anyone, otherwise she'll only die faster.
Soon after, an imperial edict was issued from the Qianqing Palace: the palace maid Xuemei had falsely accused the emperor and was to be immediately imprisoned in the Shenxing Division for severe interrogation!
At the same time, another imperial decree was delivered to Yongle Palace, announcing the release of Xiao Chuanzi.
Narcissus's anxious heart finally settled down.
If the Emperor believes that Yi Guichun took the medicine himself, then Xiao Chuanzi, the biggest suspect, will be cleared of most of the suspicion!
Not long after, people from the Imperial Household Department carried a simple stretcher and, surrounded by several imperial physicians, quickly entered the gates of Yongle Palace.
Narcissus and Silver Pearl were already waiting at the door.
The midday sun was intense and blinding, shining directly on the stretcher without any obstruction.
Even though Shui Xian was mentally prepared, her heart still clenched when she saw Xiao Chuanzi on the stretcher!
He was almost completely covered in blood and filth, his hair was matted and stuck together, and his face was swollen and bluish-purple, making his features unrecognizable. Some wounds were so deep that the bone was visible, and some flesh was charred and rolled up by the hot iron.
A strong, nauseating stench of blood permeated the surroundings.
"Quick! Carry him into the side hall!"
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Shui Xian said calmly, "Imperial Physician, you must do everything in your power to save her!"
The door to the side hall was tightly closed, and soon Xiao Chuanzi's occasional, uncontrollable groans of pain could be heard from inside.
Narcissus did not return to the main hall.
She and Yinzhu stood silently under the eaves not far from the side hall door, waiting.
Sunlight streamed through the eaves, casting a clear line of light and shadow along the hem of her skirt.
She watched as the palace maids and eunuchs carried out basins of murky, bloody water and then carried in basins of clean, warm water.
"Your Majesty, the blood and qi here are too strong, which is not good for you and the imperial fetus. Why don't you return to the main hall and wait?"
When the head imperial physician came out, he couldn't help but whisper a word of advice.
Narcissus's gaze remained fixed on the tightly closed door: "It's alright, I'm right here. He suffered this calamity because of me, how could I possibly avoid him? Imperial Physician, how is he?"
The imperial physician sighed, his face showing relief: "Your Majesty, his injuries look extremely frightening, but fortunately, they haven't actually damaged any vital organs."
"The bones and tendons are not broken, and the internal organs are not seriously damaged. It's just that the pain in the flesh and skin is really too severe, with excessive blood loss and a great loss of vital energy."
Narcissus pressed further, "Will it leave...serious aftereffects?"
The imperial physician slowly shook his head, his tone tinged with the pessimism of a healer: "Your Majesty, the Censorate... it's a miracle if anyone who goes in comes out unharmed. To be unharmed is an immense blessing."
"As for the aftereffects... we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. We'll observe and recuperate him carefully after he wakes up."
Narcissus's heart sank. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded slightly.
After an unknown amount of time, the door to the side hall finally opened again.
The imperial physicians and palace servants filed out, all looking exhausted.
The stench of blood in the hall had faded considerably, replaced by a strong, bitter smell of herbs.
"Your Majesty, the wound has been initially treated and bandaged, and the patient is temporarily stable. However, due to excessive blood loss, she will need to rest for some time to fully recover."
The head physician bowed and reported back.
Narcissus nodded: "Thank you for your help, imperial physicians."
Then she gestured for Yinzhu to escort the imperial physician and the others away.
After the imperial physicians and others had all left, Shui Xian, supported by Yin Zhu, gently pushed open the door and went inside.
The windows inside the hall were slightly ajar, and the air was filled with the smell of medicine.
Ogawa had changed into clean undergarments and was lying quietly on the bed.
His exposed neck and arms were wrapped in thick gauze, and his breathing was weak and rapid.
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Chuanzi weakly turned his head and saw that it was Shui Xian. He struggled to sit up and bow.
"Don't move!" Narcissus's voice was unusually stern. "Lie still!"
She picked up a bowl of warm water and a small white porcelain bowl from the low table next to her, scooped up a little warm water with a porcelain spoon, and carefully brought it close to Xiao Chuanzi's chapped lips.
Warm water moistened his lips, and Narcissus gently fed him several spoonfuls of water.
Xiao Chuanzi felt a bit better, and her throat wasn't so dry anymore.
He weakly opened his mouth, uttering a breathy sound: "Your Majesty..."
Narcissus put down her bowl and asked him softly, "How are you feeling?"
Ogawa managed a weak smile that looked more like a grimace, his voice barely audible: "This...this servant is alright..."
He breathed a sigh of relief, a look of relief at surviving a close call flashing in his eyes. "Fortunately, Her Majesty instructed me... to prepare wound medicine and those... life-saving pills in advance..."
Sensing the impending storm in the harem, the vigilant Narcissus secretly instructed Ogawa to prepare some wound medicine and even a few life-saving ginseng pills.
She had left it as the last line of defense for herself and the child in her womb, but she never expected that the innocent Xiao Chuanzi would suffer in the end!
Xiao Chuanzi was weak, so Shui Xian didn't ask him in detail how he managed to evade the strict body search by the Shenxing Division and bring the medicine in.
She looked at the weakened Xiaochuanzi with guilt: "Xiaochuanzi... I'm so sorry. If you hadn't been with me, you wouldn't have suffered such a disaster..."
"No," Xiao Chuanzi shook his head forcefully, aggravating his wound and causing him to wince in pain, "No, no, Your Majesty... this servant was already... beaten to death by Li San and the others..."
"Your Majesty... is my mentor..."
He gasped for breath, weak yet resolute, and said, "Talented horses are common... but discerning judges are rare. This servant will do his utmost for Your Majesty, and even in death... I will have no regrets..."
These words came from the bottom of my heart and carried immense weight.
Looking into the pure loyalty in his eyes, Narcissus felt as if something had struck her heart hard.
She made a clear and firm promise, word by word: "I don't want you to die, I want you to live! From now on, your life doesn't just belong to you!"
——
That night, Emperor Zhaoheng, carrying a bright yellow imperial edict lifting Shui Xian's confinement, once again arrived at Yongle Palace under the cover of night.
The dinner atmosphere was warm and cozy. Emperor Zhaoheng was quite pleased to see that Shui Xian's complexion had improved.
Shui Xian placed a plate of food on his plate and said softly, "Your Majesty, Xiao Chuanzi has been brought back today."
Emperor Zhaoheng's smile faded slightly, and his tone carried a barely perceptible hint of bitterness: "Xian'er, ever since Xiao Chuanzi entered the Shenxing Division, all you've been talking about and thinking about is him."
"I lifted your confinement today, yet you show no sign of joy?"
Narcissus looked up, meeting his slightly scrutinizing gaze, and said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty's words are truly an injustice to me. My concern for Xiao Chuanzi is not because he is my person."
"Oh?" Emperor Zhaoheng raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then why?"
Shui Xian put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "What I care about is Your Majesty's reputation."
What do you mean?
"Although Xiao Chuanzi is a palace attendant, he is so engrossed in studying medicine that he forgets to eat and sleep. I have seen a medical book he compiled and wrote by hand over many years, and the insights in it are quite unique."
"Such a dedicated and hardworking talent should not be buried simply because of his status as a eunuch. Wouldn't that be a pity?"
She paused, looking at Emperor Zhaoheng's thoughtful expression, and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty is thinking that if Your Majesty could make an exception and grant Xiao Chuanzi permission to study at the Imperial Medical Academy, firstly, it would give him an opportunity to display his talents and serve the court. Secondly, it would demonstrate Your Majesty's wisdom in recruiting talent without being bound by convention!"
"As long as Xiao Chuanzi can achieve something in the Imperial Hospital, future historical records will record Your Majesty's wise judgment in recognizing talent! This meritorious act of exceptionally recruiting a worthy person will be remembered for generations to come!"
Her words struck a chord with the emperor.
All emperors seek is lasting achievements and a place in history.
As expected, Emperor Zhaoheng chuckled and said loudly, "Why shouldn't I set this precedent?"
He was in high spirits and immediately decided: "Let's go! Come with me to see this little river!"
The smell of medicine was still strong inside the side hall.
Xiao Chuanzi was drowsy when he was startled awake by the sound of footsteps.
When he struggled to open his eyes and saw the bright yellow dragon robe in front of him, he was so shocked that his soul almost left his body!
He struggled to roll off the bed and kowtow.
"No need for formalities!" Emperor Zhaoheng said with a rare gentle tone, raising his hand to stop him. "Your injuries have not yet healed, so there is no need for formalities."
Xiao Chuanzi was filled with fear and unease, not knowing why the emperor had come to visit.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze fell on his body covered in bandages, his tone carrying a hint of approval:
"Xiao Chuanzi, you have diligently studied medicine and made meritorious contributions in protecting the imperial fetus. Although you have been wronged, your will is commendable. Considering your sincere heart and rare talent, I hereby make an exception and promote you to the position of apprentice in the Imperial Medical Academy!"
"Effective immediately. Once you have fully recovered from your injuries, report to the Imperial Medical Academy and begin your studies diligently!"
Xiao Chuanzi was completely stunned.
Imperial Medical Academy...apprentice?
How could a lowly eunuch like him be allowed into the Imperial Hospital?!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, he temporarily forgot his pain. He didn't know where the strength came from, but he struggled to get off the bed and, ignoring the excruciating pain of his wounds reopening, kowtowed three times heavily in the direction of Emperor Zhaoheng and Shuixian!
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!"
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