As night fell, all the palaces were lit with candles and lanterns, but Jinghe Palace remained dark.
Liu Feng stood beside the emperor. Seeing that the emperor had put down his chopsticks, he knew that the emperor had finished eating, so he asked:
"Your Majesty, shall we summon the concubines tonight?"
The emperor wiped his mouth, his expression indifferent: "No need."
"yes."
Liu Feng waited to the side until the palace maids had unloaded the dishes before speaking again:
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager says she misses the Eldest Princess and the Young Prince and wishes to invite them to the palace for a chat."
The emperor's eyes darkened, a hint of annoyance flashing in his indifferent gaze. After a moment's pause, he said:
"If the Empress Dowager wishes to see them, then let them come."
"yes."
Before long, the Imperial Medical Academy staff delivered today's medicine.
Liu Feng received the two bowls of dark medicine from outside the door, recalling Consort Chen's words.
She said His Majesty will take his medicine today, but I don't know if it's true.
While thinking about it, he delivered the medicine to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, the medicine is ready."
After speaking, Liu Feng looked at the emperor with a nervous expression.
Seeing the emperor's expression, he suddenly felt that what Consort Chen had said was possible.
In the past, His Majesty would always show a look of disgust when he saw the medicine at this time.
But not today.
He held his breath and waited.
The emperor stared at the two bowls of medicine for a long time, then seemed to sigh, picked up the left bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.
Before he could react, the emperor picked up the other bowl and, as if drinking wine with gusto, finished both bowls of medicine in an instant.
Liu Feng looked up in surprise, finding everything he saw unbelievable.
Just as Consort Chen had said, His Majesty drank it all!
Liu Feng stood there, stunned, unable to come to his senses for a long time.
The emperor frowned and spoke up, "Is there anything else?"
Liu Feng hurriedly retreated, stammering, "No, Your Majesty, please rest. This servant will take his leave."
After saying that, he hurriedly left with two empty bowls in his hands.
Outside the palace.
Several imperial physicians also waited for a long time.
Seeing the two empty bowls, everyone looked surprised. "His Majesty drank them all today?"
"He drank it all. His Majesty is willing to take the medicine, so he will gradually get better!" Liu Feng couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, and then turned to the little eunuch beside him and said, "Xiao Anzi, go to Delan Palace quickly and tell Consort Chen this good news."
Xiao Anzi, who was only fourteen or fifteen years old, immediately accepted the order and ran outside.
Liu Feng's actions caused the other two imperial physicians to go from excitement to confusion.
"Eunuch Liu, shouldn't His Majesty's willingness to take medicine be reported to the Empress Dowager first? Why do we need to inform Consort Chen first?"
Liu Feng's gaze was long and unfathomable as he spoke:
"You two may not know this, but His Majesty's willingness to take medicine is entirely thanks to Consort Chen. If she hadn't persuaded him, His Majesty would probably be no different from usual today."
"Since Consort Chen's advice has had an effect, it's natural that she should be the first to know."
The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
Despite repeated attempts by Eunuch Liu, the emperor's closest and most trusted eunuch, to persuade His Majesty, the emperor did not change his mind.
Those of them who were imperial physicians had tried to advise His Majesty, even at the risk of great disrespect, but to no avail.
How come Consort Chen's persuasion was so effective?
The two imperial physicians sensed each other's surprise but neither spoke.
Liu Feng continued with a sigh, "As for the Empress Dowager..." He didn't finish his sentence, and his words came to an abrupt end.
He was unwilling to say much about the Empress Dowager in front of the two imperial physicians.
Over the years, has the Empress Dowager, as His Majesty's birth mother, ever truly cared about His Majesty's health?
She probably doesn't even know that His Majesty hasn't taken his medicine in a long time.
If that's the case, why is there any need to tell her?
Liu Feng changed the subject, "The Empress Dowager will find out about this sooner or later. As servants, it's not appropriate for us to say anything more."
————
The Hall of Delan.
Gu Jiangli has not stepped out of the palace gate for two days in a row.
The emperor did not seek her out.
The only news she received about the emperor was from Xiao Anzi, who told her that the emperor was willing to drink the medicine.
There is nothing else.
She felt much relieved. Although the emperor had not explicitly accepted her deal at the time, he had actually kept his promise.
It would be good if the emperor's body could last for two more years.
During her long night of contemplation, she realized that she still needed to do something to open the emperor's heart.
At least she should make the emperor happy to welcome his child, instead of being so averse to offspring as he is now.
After two days of hard work, she barely managed to finish a gift for the emperor, and she was just waiting to present it to him in person at their next meeting.
As she was putting the gifts into boxes, Lotus ran in from outside the palace.
"Your Majesty, the Princess is heading this way. I heard she came specifically to see you. Her intentions are not good. Should we prepare for this?"
"The Princess has arrived?"
Gu Jiangli was not surprised at all.
As the emperor's younger sister and the empress dowager's favored daughter, the eldest princess naturally held a noble position and became arrogant due to her favor.
She had previously upset the Empress Dowager, so it was understandable that the Empress Dowager, not wanting to confront her directly, asked the Eldest Princess to vent her anger.
The eldest princess could freely enter and leave the inner palace, and was a rank higher than ordinary concubines, so it was incredibly easy for her to do whatever she wanted.
Legend has it that this eldest princess was notoriously arrogant and domineering, even more so than Consort Lan. While Consort Lan still had to be mindful of the Empress Dowager, the eldest princess had no such scruples.
Her arrival will likely disrupt the peace of the harem.
"No rush, Lotus, help me dress up a bit so we can properly welcome this princess."
It was bound to come sooner or later; she'd seen plenty of bad people, so she had nothing to fear for the time being.
Lotus kept her brows furrowed and looked worried while she did her hair.
"Lotus, no matter how powerful the princess is, she is still human. There's no need to be so afraid of her."
Lotus nodded casually and said, "I've heard that even His Majesty can't do anything about this younger sister, and the Empress Dowager always gives in to her."
"There was a palace maid who met the Princess for the first time. She didn't recognize her and greeted her incorrectly. The Princess dragged her out and beat her dozens of times with a cane, which literally killed her."
"When the Empress Dowager found out about this, she simply gave the maid's family some money, and that was the end of it."
"Your Highness, someone as unreasonable and powerful as the Eldest Princess would be very difficult to deal with if she came looking for trouble. I can't help but worry..."
Lotus's words were filled with fear of that princess.
Gu Jiangli comforted her, "Lotus, we have never provoked anyone. If the Princess really wants to oppose us, it is something we cannot control."
"But I will definitely protect you from her."
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