The news that the Empress had fallen ill spread like wildfire throughout the entire palace.
Of course, if it were just ordinary news, it might cause some trouble if it came out of the Phoenix Palace.
This was all thanks to the departing concubines, who quickly spread the news with a few quick glances.
The others had no intention of hiding it either; they were all hoping the matter would escalate, and they all added fuel to the fire.
No sooner had the imperial physician finished packing his medicine chest than Cui'er urged him to rush to Fengyi Palace.
Shortly after, the Hall of Mental Cultivation received the news.
...
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Upon hearing the eunuch's report, Bai Qing went straight into the palace to report without hesitation.
"Your Majesty, we have received word that the Empress's headaches have flared up again. The imperial physician has been summoned, and the cause seems to be related to the concubines in the harem."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Sheng Jin put down his pen, placed the memorial in front of him, sat up straight, and frowned.
He didn't take the Empress's illness seriously, mainly because the Empress was usually healthy and her minor headache should pass quickly.
He had seen the Empress at noon; how come his illness, which hadn't fully healed, has relapsed?
Thinking of this, Sheng Jin frowned slightly, his dragon eyes darkened, and his aura exuded an imposing presence.
He looked at Bai Qing, and although there was no anger in his voice, it made people inexplicably nervous.
"What happened? Is it related to those concubines?"
"Your Majesty, what I've received is that... it's said that all the ladies of the palaces know that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have moved to the Yangxin Hall, and they've all gone to the Fengyi Palace."
Presumably... you wanted Her Majesty the Empress to persuade you to change your mind. When Her Majesty first heard this news, for some reason, she suffered a headache and has already summoned the imperial physician.
Bai Qing dared not say that the Empress had fallen ill because she was angry with the Emperor, so he had to change his story.
His Chunhua was a senior palace maid in the Empress's palace, and his heart was inclined towards the Empress.
Therefore, he naturally had to say a few good words for the Empress, and thus used some embellishment in his language.
After Bai Qing finished speaking, he lowered his head.
He thought that even if the Emperor did not have romantic feelings for the Empress, there should still be a mutual support between them, which was much stronger than ordinary romantic feelings.
The Emperor will probably go to see the Empress.
The Empress remains the center of the harem, and no one can undermine the Emperor's affection for her, not even the Crown Princess in the West Warm Pavilion.
Bai Qing's mind raced, but his expression remained respectful.
Sure enough, after listening to Bai Qing's words, Sheng Jin pondered for a moment and decided to visit the Empress.
He did this on a whim, without consulting the Empress beforehand; he was the one who acted improperly first.
But he believed the Queen would understand.
After all these years, the Empress has always supported and understood his every decision, stabilizing the rear for him, which made his ascension to the throne smoother.
Moreover, this matter was never a big deal to begin with.
He wouldn't force himself on the Crown Princess; he would simply keep her under his watchful eye and protect her well.
Sheng Jin thought that he had already restrained his feelings for the Crown Princess so much. As an emperor, he was so frustrated, only indulging in small indulgences occasionally.
I believe the Empress is sensible and will not voice her opposition.
His visit this time was also to reassure the Empress, so that she wouldn't be constantly angry and unable to recover properly.
"Let's go. I haven't visited the Empress in a long time. Let's ask the imperial physician what's wrong."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will prepare the carriage immediately."
After bowing respectfully, Bai Qing hurriedly withdrew.
After everyone left, Sheng Jin looked at the empty hall, smelled the pleasant fragrance of peach blossoms, and sighed inwardly.
The Empress is still too petty and has too much of a temper.
Once the imperial carriage was ready, Sheng Jin went straight to Fengyi Palace without stopping, keeping her eyes closed the whole way, seemingly lost in thought.
...
Phoenix Palace.
It was Zhang Nian, the imperial physician whom the empress was used to, who was taking her pulse at this moment.
He knelt beside the empress's soft couch, feeling the woman's pulse, and gradually began to furrow his brow.
Seeing the state of Physician Zhang, Granny Jiang knew that the Empress's health was probably in serious trouble, and she was so nervous that she almost scratched her fingers until they bled.
But she dared not interrupt Physician Zhang's pulse diagnosis, for fear that her actions might worsen the Empress's condition.
Finally, Physician Zhang withdrew his hand.
He knelt down, about to inform the Empress of her illness, when a voice announced his arrival from outside the door—
"The Emperor has arrived!"
"This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
The people inside the room also realized what was happening and knelt down sparsely to pay their respects to the Emperor.
Despite her illness, the Empress insisted on having Jiang Mama help her up so she could pay her respects to the Emperor.
Unfortunately, before Granny Jiang could make a move, the Emperor strode in, moving so fast that he seemed to create a gust of wind.
"I heard that the Empress's headaches have flared up again. Didn't we just say she was better today? Why has she fallen ill again?"
The man's voice was deep and powerful, and his tall stature and natural imperial aura inspired awe.
When the Empress saw the majestic and powerful Emperor, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes. She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she felt much lighter.
In particular, Sheng Jin's words of concern touched her deeply, and even brought tears to her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I have been impolite. I pay my respects—"
"Your Majesty, you need not stand on ceremony. You are bedridden and I see that Your Majesty does not look well, so I will waive the formalities. However, I do not think this quack doctor deserves to live."
Although his questioning at this moment was not angry at all, his words successfully frightened the imperial physician Zhang into trembling.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I have been examined by the Empress every day. Her Majesty's pulse was originally normal, and her pent-up emotions were relieved, which was a very good sign, but..."
Physician Zhang dared not continue speaking at this point, and began to stammer, fearing that the Emperor would punish him for incompetence in medical practice.
Sheng Jin had no interest in playing games with him. He disliked people who lacked skill but were always busy cultivating connections.
Zhang Nian treated the Empress for a month but failed to cure her, and instead left her with a chronic illness. Isn't this a sign of poor medical skills?
"What is it? Why are you speaking so awkwardly? Don't you want your tongue anymore?"
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! Judging from the Empress's pulse, this is a sign of anger attacking her heart!"
This illness is one that cannot be aggravated by anger. Her Majesty the Empress has not yet fully recovered, and this has caused her further distress. Even if my deceased grandfather were to come, there is no guarantee that Her Majesty the Empress would fully recover!
Furious?
Could the news of bringing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to the Hall of Mental Cultivation have really made the Empress so angry?
Sheng Jin originally didn't want to suspect anything, but emperors are inherently suspicious, and how could he possibly not remember something so obvious?
The Empress's hostility towards the Crown Princess is far too great...
Could it be that you've found out something?
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