"puff--!"
Just then, the Empress Dowager suddenly spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, startling Zhao Xi and the palace maids present into a panic.
Xu Yuehuai coldly watched all this and said indifferently, "See? This is the consequence of your so-called elixir."
Zhao Xi trembled as she looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief: "How could this be? This is clearly a miraculous medicine from Lingyin Temple, how could something have gone wrong?"
"Some minerals have been added to this medicine, so of course it can't be taken directly. You've really gone to great lengths to please the Empress Dowager, little do you know this is poison!" Xu Yuehuai sneered.
Du Juan, another of the Empress Dowager's personal maids, rushed forward and used a silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of the Empress Dowager's mouth.
"Lady Shen, you must save me!" The Empress Dowager looked at Xu Yuehuai, her eyes filled with pleading.
Xu Yuehuai sighed and said, "I had prepared medicine for the Empress Dowager, but now that you have taken Zhao Xi's elixir, your body has suffered even more serious damage, and the medicine I prepared is no longer of any use."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager turned pale and angrily pointed at Zhao Xi: "It's all because of you, you wicked woman! Guards, drag her out and give her twenty lashes!"
Zhao Xi pleaded in terror, "No, Your Majesty, I really don't know why this is happening! Maybe the medicine has been switched!"
But the Empress Dowager had lost her patience and waved for Zhao Xi to be dragged away. Du Juan dared not linger either, bowing to the Empress Dowager before hastily departing.
Only Xu Yuehuai and the Empress Dowager's personal maid remained in the room.
The Empress Dowager gripped Xu Yuehuai's hand tightly and said urgently, "Lady Shen, I misunderstood you just now. You must find a way to save me!"
Xu Yuehuai pondered for a moment and said, "I have another idea that we can try, but Your Majesty must completely trust me and not listen to the instigation of others."
"Don't worry, I will definitely listen to you this time." The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly.
Afterwards, Xu Yuehuai got busy. She took out some medicinal herbs and tools that she carried with her and began to prepare new medicines for the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, please take this." She handed the new medicine to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager glanced at it warily, then slowly took a sip. After confirming that nothing unusual happened in her body, she drank it all in one gulp.
How are you feeling now?
"Good, the burning sensation has finally subsided."
"Further treatment will be needed at that time."
"It's all thanks to you, Lady Shen," the Empress Dowager said gratefully.
"It's nothing, it's all part of my duty. I just hope Her Majesty the Empress Dowager can recover soon." Xu Yuehuai smiled faintly.
Subsequently, under Xu Yuehuai's meticulous treatment, the Empress Dowager's condition gradually improved.
Zhao Xi, however, paid a heavy price for her stupidity and greed.
"Shen Yiyi! I will never let her get away with this!" Zhao Xi lay on the bed, her hind legs and buttocks already badly beaten.
Du Juan sighed and shook her head, feeling utterly helpless.
...
On this day, Xu Yuehuai carefully carried a bowl of steaming medicine and slowly entered the magnificent palace.
Inside the palace, the Empress Dowager sat regally on the magnificent dragon throne, her face slightly haggard, but her eyes still revealed an imposing aura.
Xu Yuehuai walked up to the Empress Dowager, knelt down on both knees, and respectfully presented the medicine: "Your Majesty, this is a medicine that I have carefully prepared for you. Please take it."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over Xu Yuehuai before she slowly spoke: "Lady Shen, I have heard of your superb medical skills. After your recent treatment, I can confirm that you truly live up to your reputation."
"Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely doing my best to contribute to Your Majesty's health," Xu Yuehuai replied, bowing his head.
The Empress Dowager smiled gently, took the medicine, and drank it all in one gulp. The medicine was warm and slightly bitter, but the Empress Dowager seemed to taste a long-lost sweetness.
"Hmm, this medicine is good." The Empress Dowager praised. "Lady Shen, please prepare some other medicines for me later to help me improve my health."
Xu Yuehuai nodded in agreement, secretly relieved. He knew that gaining the Empress Dowager's approval this time was no easy feat.
After all, in the depths of the palace, to gain the Empress Dowager's favor, one not only needs superb medical skills, but also needs to be extremely careful and cautious, without making the slightest mistake.
Next, Xu Yuehuai began to busy herself. She moved through every corner of the palace, searching for various rare medicinal herbs. Her figure flickered in the candlelight, like a messenger seeking light in the darkness.
"Lady Shen, here is a thousand-year-old ginseng. Would you like to see if it is suitable for you?" A palace maid walked over carrying a ginseng.
Xu Yuehuai took the ginseng, examined it carefully, and a hint of joy flashed in her eyes: "This ginseng is old and has strong medicinal effects, just what Your Majesty needs."
She carefully placed the ginseng into the medicine pot and began to brew a new decoction.
As time went by, the aroma of the medicine gradually spread throughout the palace.
The Empress Dowager smelled the fragrance and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. She knew that she had made the right choice in seeking Xu Yuehuai's help to treat her illness.
In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai delivered medicine to the Empress Dowager on time every day.
She not only adjusted the prescriptions according to the Empress Dowager's health condition, but also chatted with the Empress Dowager to relieve her boredom while delivering the medicine. Her humor and extensive knowledge made the Empress Dowager like her more and more.
However, the inner palace is always rife with intrigue and power struggles. Xu Yuehuai's rise to power naturally aroused jealousy and resentment among some.
One day, while Xu Yuehuai was preparing medicinal liquid for the Empress Dowager, a group of palace maids suddenly barged in. They were aggressive and clearly had ill intentions.
"Lady Shen, someone has reported you for misappropriating palace medicinal herbs. We are now searching your residence!" a leading palace maid announced loudly.
Xu Yuehuai was startled, but remained outwardly calm. She knew someone was deliberately framing her. However, she also understood that arguing was useless at this point, and she could only allow them to search her.
So she nodded, indicating that they could search.
The palace maids began ransacking his residence, searching for so-called "evidence."
However, after searching, they found nothing!
The leading palace maid looked embarrassed, but she refused to give up.
She glared at Xu Yuehuai and said fiercely, "You're good at understanding things; the Empress Dowager's kindness towards you hasn't been wasted. Let's go!"
After saying this, she left angrily with a group of palace maids.
Xu Yuehuai watched their retreating figures, a cold smile creeping onto her face. She knew that although the storm had temporarily subsided, the undercurrents were still surging beneath the surface.
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