Chapter 12 A Kind Person in the Palace of the Dowager Consort
As Zhao Liangxu and An He walked along the palace path, palace servants inevitably passed by.
Almost every palace servant who saw the tall, thin figure holding a whisk from afar would stand still, not daring to look up, and wait for the two to pass by.
Some even dropped what they were holding, knelt down, and trembled violently.
People in the He Palace are terrified of Anhe.
This was quite different from Zhang Sheng's imposing manner.
Zhao Liangxu was almost convinced that Anhe would drag the palace servants who spoke out of turn and behead them.
With his unpredictable temper, he could very well do something like that.
After the two arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace, Anhe gave a few instructions, then flicked his whisk and left, leaving Zhao Liangxu and the Empress Dowager and the others looking at each other in bewilderment.
This Dowager Consort was exactly the image of the old woman from the previous dynasty that Zhao Liangxu had in mind. She was about fifty years old, with white hair creeping up her ears and fine lines at the corners of her eyes, but she still couldn't hide her former charm. She was simple and peaceful, unlike the unease that permeated the Empress Dowager's palace. This Dowager Consort seemed to have truly lived in seclusion.
Several younger palace maids hid inside the hall, too afraid to come out, but a few pairs of eyes peeked out and looked at the Empress Dowager and Zhao Liangxu.
"May the Empress Dowager enjoy good health."
When you live under someone else's roof, you should be polite to them.
The Empress Dowager looked at Zhao Liangxu with a complicated expression, and after a long while sighed: "Child, I heard that you came from the Empress Dowager's place. Did His Majesty and the Empress Dowager make things difficult for you?"
She didn't care whether Zhao Liangxu answered or not, but instead extended her hand to Zhao Liangxu like the Empress Dowager and gently took Zhao Liangxu's hand.
"Your hands are too cold. Are you still not fully recovered? I'll have the lady-in-waiting come and take another look at you."
The Empress Dowager's hands were warm and soft.
She pulled Zhao Liangxu into the inner room and told the hidden palace maid to tidy up the room.
Listening to the Dowager Consort's rambling, Zhao Liangxu asked her, "Your Highness, what is your name?"
The Dowager was taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected Zhao Liangxu's first question to be about her name. After a moment's thought, she shook her head and smiled, "You're the first person in all these years to ask me my name. I almost forgot."
"My name is... Xu Huayue."
Zhao Liangxu smiled in response: "It's a very nice name, Your Highness. You make me feel much closer to you than the Empress Dowager. I think I should know your name."
"You're a special child; you're quite different from what people say about you."
Xu Huayue was amused.
Rumors circulated, and Zhao Liangxu felt somewhat troubled.
Everyone hates the old her.
Is the original owner of this body sad?
"Your Highness, if I were the same as before, I would be quite annoying."
Xu Huayue patted Zhao Liangxu's hand and said, "How could that be? If I had been sent to another country since I was a child, anyone would have no choice. Separated from my parents..."
She stopped. The Northern Zhou Dynasty had fallen, and Zhao Liangxu was now completely alone.
Although Xu Huayue only said a few words, the dull pain in Zhao Liangxu's heart gradually disappeared. That lonely, naughty child only hoped to receive comfort from others.
Xu Huayue stopped asking questions, even though she had a lot to say.
She simply touched Zhao Liangxu's wrist, so thin that you could feel the bones, and kept stroking it.
What can I ask?
Good child, how did you escape? You were all alone on the road, how did you manage to trek thousands of miles back?
Are the rumors circulating outside true?
How did you manage to stay peacefully at Eunuch An's place?
Every question feels like a slander.
She was afraid of hurting Zhao Liangxu.
When the female official came over, Xu Huayue released Zhao Liangxu's hand and let the official make the diagnosis.
The female official's name was Qiu Cheng. She was considered a top-notch female physician in the palace. Female physicians did not have a specific official title. Because the late emperor favored eunuchs, the six bureaus in the palace had gradually declined. Nowadays, all women who served as officials in the palace were collectively referred to as female officials.
If a woman's illness was not suitable for the imperial physician to examine, Qiu Cheng would be called in to take a look.
Zhao Liangxu observed that she had an ordinary appearance, a blank expression, and a slightly aloof demeanor, unlike many others in the palace, which made her feel comfortable.
Qiu Cheng placed his hand on Zhao Liangxu's pulse, his brows furrowing repeatedly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What's wrong? I think I'm recovering pretty well."
Zhao Liangxu asked in confusion. She really thought her physical condition was pretty good. Most of the small wounds on her body had healed, and the more serious wounds had already scabbed over. The only problem was that her body was prone to fatigue.
"It's okay, hurry up and tell me."
Qiu Cheng nodded and said, "Princess Zhao's scratches are not serious and are recovering very well. However, her pulse is weak. Has she been staying up late lately? Is she experiencing excessive sleepiness or fatigue?"
"Yes." These past few days, Anhe has been keeping her in the study practicing calligraphy until very late, and she thought it was just that she was being lazy.
"Princess Zhao, would you be so kind as to lift your skirt so I can prescribe the appropriate medicine?"
Zhao Liangxu had nothing to be shy about and readily cooperated with Qiu Cheng.
Xu Huayue then dismissed the palace maids.
After examining Zhao Liangxu, Qiu Cheng frowned and looked at her a few more times. He said with some surprise and annoyance, "Why is she so badly injured, yet she hasn't received any proper treatment!"
It is a doctor's anger at a patient's lack of self-control.
She pondered for a moment, then took out paper and pen. While writing a prescription, she instructed, "Princess Zhao's external injuries have indeed healed well due to her natural constitution, but the prolonged lack of nutrition has caused significant depletion, leaving her internally deficient. Her drowsiness and fatigue are signs of this. Although it's not apparent now, it will definitely not last. She needs a gentle prescription to replenish her nutrients over a long period. Also, your injury… is truly serious! You…"
Qiu Cheng spoke of Zhao Liangxu's illness in a tone that sounded like a reprimand, then looked up at Zhao Liangxu, but hesitated.
"Does Princess Zhao still have plans to have children?"
Zhao Liangxu choked on her saliva and coughed.
"No."
Who wants to have children?
"Furthermore," Qiu Cheng paused and continued, "I don't know what your situation is with the Ninth Prince, so I can't say anything, but you must take your medicine and apply it on time. I can tell you're not a pedantic or shy person, so remember to apply the medicine properly."
Qiu Cheng, with an expression that said "I've said my piece, whether you listen or not is up to you," handed over the written prescription.
Zhao Liangxu opened her eyes wide, still processing Qiu Cheng's words.
What do you mean by her relationship with the Ninth Prince?
Qiu Cheng emphasized another point:
"Remember to take your medication on time."
The Empress Dowager looked at her with concern.
Zhao Liangxu felt that she might not be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.
Indeed, no one would believe that the Ninth Prince is currently just a madman who likes to preach.
Zhao Liangxu looked back at the Empress Dowager with a helpless expression and tried to explain, "Your Highness, don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."
The explanation is weak.
The Empress Dowager instructed Jing Shu to accompany Qiu Cheng to fetch the medicine, while she personally led Zhao Liangxu to the side hall that had already been prepared.
After settling her in the side hall, Xu Huayue suddenly said, "Liangxu, I believe you. Eunuch An served in my palace for a period of time. In my opinion, although he has changed a lot now, he is still obedient. If you can't persuade him, I will speak on your behalf."
Zhao Liangxu quickly waved her hand and said no need.
But what did she hear?
Anhe once served in the palace of the Dowager Consort.
Zhao Liangxu expressed her desire to learn about this part of the story.
Xu Huayue didn't say much, but told Zhao Liangxu to rest for a while and that she would call her for lunch later.
After saying that, he left.
Zhao Liangxu, on the other hand, was eager to know the little story that Xu Huayue had just revealed.
What was Anhe like in the past?
As she pondered these thoughts, drowsiness overcame her, and Zhao Liangxu gradually drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up again, it was already dusk.
Zhao Liangxu stared blankly at the dim, setting sun outside.
How did I end up sleeping until this late?
Hearing the commotion inside, the palace maid guarding the door knocked and asked softly, "Princess Zhao..., are you awake?"
Zhao Liangxu responded.
The palace maid opened the door and bowed, saying, "Her Majesty knows that you must not have slept well last night because you came to the palace so early today, so she did not let us wake you. It just so happens that you have just arrived for dinner. Please come to Her Majesty's room for dinner."
Zhao Liangxu then realized she was hungry and followed the palace maid to have her meal.
Xu Huayue was sitting at the table, where dishes had just been laid out.
The dishes were all light and simple, yet plentiful.
"Come sit down and eat," Xu Huayue called to Zhao Liangxu.
Jing Shu smiled and replied, then withdrew.
“There aren’t that many rules in my palace. Usually, Jing Shu and others dine with me. But today, I was worried that you might be shy, so I had them set up a separate table for themselves.”
As she spoke, she used her chopsticks to put some meat into Zhao Liangxu's bowl.
"Eat more meat, you're too thin."
Zhao Liangxu was indeed hungry and quickly devoured a bowl of rice.
She had never experienced such gentle, nurturing care before.
"Your Highness, you are so kind."
Just as Zhao Liangxu finished eating, the little palace maid who had led her there brought her a bowl of medicine.
“Your Highness, I eat quickly, so I asked Granny Jingshu for this task. This is Princess Zhao’s medicine.”
The young palace maid was clever and mischievous. During the day, she was afraid and hid behind the door, but in the end, she couldn't resist her curiosity and wanted to see this "Princess Zhao".
The young palace maid stood watching from the side, standing properly, but her eyes darted around.
"Xiao Qing, you little rascal."
The Empress Dowager scolded her, but let it go.
"Look at me, this old woman's palace is full of mischievous girls. Apart from Jing Shu and me, who have been in the palace for a long time and are more composed, the other young girls are always lively and have no manners at all."
Xu Huayue scolded him for being "unruly," but her tone was full of doting affection.
"I'm practically an old man from the previous dynasty, and now I'm just living a leisurely life in this palace. It's really quite boring. The palace maids keep me company, especially that girl Xiaoqing, she's so much fun. Now that you're staying for a few days, I'm looking for something new to do."
She explained with a smile.
Xiao Qing lowered her head shyly when she heard Xu Huayue's words, which were both blaming and praising her.
As Zhao Liangxu drank her bitter medicine while listening to Xu Huayue's "complaints," she felt that this kind of life was not bad.
Xu Huayue changed the subject: "But you, Liangxu, although I've only known you for a short time, I've spent a long time in the palace and have some ability to judge people. You're a good child, but will you be following Eunuch An from now on?"
Her words inevitably carried a hint of worry.
"Perhaps it's because I'm getting old and tend to worry. If you're willing, Anhe has stayed in my palace before, and he might be willing to listen to me. I suggest you stay in the palace, or if that's not possible, I'd like him to treat you well."
Xiaoqing nodded in agreement.
Zhao Liangxu had never seen anyone like Xu Huayue.
This is a genuine expression of goodwill.
Even though they only met today.
This left Zhao Liangxu speechless for a moment.
She spoke after a long silence.
A note from the author:
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The new author is incredibly unpopular, and has developed a bad habit these past few days: checking the data 800 times a day.
It seems like every chapter has at least one click. I wonder if a reader has been quietly reading it all along (but actually, the only one I added to my favorites was by myself). Let's just pretend there's a reader reading it! At least I still have the motivation to keep writing.
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