Chapter 516 Isn't this going to force the Crown Princess to her death?
The Empress Dowager's sharp voice echoed throughout the courtyard, and everyone fell silent in fear.
But Xiao Qingxi's stubbornness flared up, and she retorted, "Grandmother, you're punishing me like this! I'm losing face! I won't kneel!"
The Empress Dowager nearly fainted from anger: "What did you say?! You dare not kneel?"
"Why should I kneel? I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't kill my brother. He was spoiled by my mother and was too fragile, which is why he tried to kill himself for a woman! If Grandmother really wants to blame someone, then blame Liu Nanshi! She seduced my brother and killed him!"
"you!!"
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she could barely speak.
She still finds it hard to believe that Prince Ning and Princess Ning were so angered by Xiao Qingxi that they vomited blood and fainted. Even after Granny Quan explained the whole story, she still refused to believe that her son was angered to such an extent. She still believed that it was an outsider, Shen Wantang, who used some means to harm her son.
But now, she finally felt how infuriating Xiao Qingxi was, and finally realized that her son and daughter-in-law might really have been angered by Xiao Qingxi, and even Xiao Qingyuan might have committed suicide because of her!
The thought of this possibility caused the Empress Dowager a sharp pain in her heart.
Xiao Qingyuan was her favorite grandson. He was born with exquisite features and grew up to be so handsome that no one could match him. He was simple-minded and never held grudges. He also liked to be close to his royal grandmother and was more filial and considerate than the crown prince. Whenever he saw something delicious or fun outside, he would send it to her.
Such a wonderful grandson, gone at such a young age! And he was killed by his own sister!
The Empress Dowager's vision blurred, but she forced herself to stay upright and catch her breath before saying, "Guards, take her out of here! If she doesn't leave, I'm afraid I'll faint from anger too!"
Two old women who had accompanied the Empress Dowager out of the palace stepped forward and led Xiao Qingxi away.
Several imperial physicians emerged from the inner chamber, knelt before the Empress Dowager, and said in unison, "We are incompetent!"
The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "A bunch of quacks! All they do is talk about being incompetent, they can't save anyone at all! We're spending money to keep you in the palace, we might as well keep a dog!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The Prince and Princess have suffered severe damage to their heart meridians, and there is indeed no hope of recovery."
"Impossible! My son can still be saved! If you can't revive him, you'll all be buried with him!"
The imperial physicians were trembling with fear, and none of them dared to speak.
After a long while, a royal physician knelt down and whispered, "Your Majesty, why don't you ask the Crown Princess to treat the Prince and Princess? I heard from the Princess that she is incredibly skilled in acupuncture. The previous times when the Princess fainted, it was because she treated her in time that a tragedy was averted."
The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback. Why were they all convinced that Shen Wantang could save people?
Her gaze fell on the imperial physician: "Imperial Physician Qin, I remember you were the one who took the pulse at Prince Ning's residence, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since you are in charge of treating Prince Ning and Princess Ning, how come it's Shen Wantang, a mere young girl, who is treating them? You're not going to tell me that her medical skills are better than yours, are you?"
"Your Majesty is wise. The Princess Consort had been experiencing fainting spells before. She is very prone to fainting when stimulated or when her emotions fluctuate greatly. This illness comes on suddenly and dangerously. Sometimes I am not quick enough to catch it, so it is always the Crown Princess who examines and treats the Princess Consort. I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Although I have studied medicine for decades, I dare not claim that my medical skills are superior to those of the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess is exceptionally talented, well-versed in pharmacology, and her acupuncture skills are even better than mine!"
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but frown: "Is she really that capable? How is that possible? How old is she?"
She had actually heard that Shen Wantang knew some medical skills and had even cured Prince Ning's cough, but she always thought that it was just a lucky accident. She also thought that the imperial physician had almost cured Prince Ning, and that Prince Ning just recovered after Shen Wantang took a dose of medicine.
"If the Empress Dowager wants to know how good the Crown Princess's medical skills are, bring her here and she will know once she tries her out."
The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Someone, bring Shen Wantang to me!"
Shen Wantang arrived shortly after.
When she saw the imperial physicians kneeling on the ground, she knew that Prince Ning and Princess Ning's condition was probably very bad, and that the imperial physicians could not save them.
She lowered her head and knelt behind the imperial physicians: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager's voice remained icy: "Shen Wantang, I heard that you were the one who treated the Princess Consort when she fainted before?"
Shen Wantang's tone was unusually calm: "No, it was all the imperial physicians who treated him; it's all thanks to them."
The Empress Dowager was speechless and stared wide-eyed. She had originally thought that Shen Wantang would take the credit and say that she was the one who cured Princess Ning's illness, but she did not expect that she would deny it directly!
She was somewhat annoyed: "Imperial Physician Qin said that you treated the Princess Consort, how dare you lie?! Deceiving the Empress Dowager, what is the punishment? Believe me or not, I'll chop off your head!"
For the first time, Shen Wantang sincerely hoped that Gu Qianhan could quickly storm into the palace.
She never quite understood how Princess Ning, despite her somewhat strong personality, could raise such arrogant and brainless children as Xiao Qingyuan and Xiao Qingxi.
Now that she saw the Empress Dowager, Shen Wantang understood that Xiao Qingyuan and Xiao Qingxi probably followed in the footsteps of this grandmother.
"I dare not deceive the Empress Dowager. It is true that I have only learned a little about medicine and dare not exaggerate in front of the Empress Dowager. My mother's illness has always been treated by Physician Qin, and my mother's recovery is also thanks to Physician Qin. I am just adding icing on the cake."
Shen Wantang knelt on the ground, her tone fearful yet sincere, as if she were truly afraid that the Empress Dowager would chop off her head.
The Empress Dowager stared at her head, feeling a surge of irritation.
Of course, she couldn't possibly behead Shen Wantang over such a trivial matter. After all, Shen Wantang was a princess consort whom she had married through proper channels, and her name was on the imperial register. She wasn't some palace maid or servant who could be killed at will.
Moreover, Shen Wantang was respectful and courteous from beginning to end, and her manners were impeccable. She couldn't find an excuse to punish her.
"Shen Wantang, come forward and take Granny Fu's pulse! If you make the slightest mistake, I will give you twenty lashes! If you make no mistake, I will give you thirty lashes!"
These words startled everyone below.
Why should she be punished for every mistake, whether she made one or not? Isn't this practically driving the Crown Princess to her death?
It is said that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, but now it seems that serving the Empress Dowager is just as dangerous! A slight misstep could cost you your life.
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