Su Shunhe's gaze turned cold. He quickly pulled a gleaming dagger from his boot and stabbed it towards Jiang Ling.
Everything happened too fast for Jiang Ling to react. The extremely sharp dagger pierced Jiang Ling's chest. Jiang Ling only felt a heat in her chest. When she looked down, she saw that bright red blood had already soaked through her clothes.
"No...something's wrong! Someone, come here..."
These were the last words Jiang Ling heard before she closed her eyes. Darkness descended upon her.
"Go back quickly, go back quickly, don't linger here, leave now!" Suddenly, a sharp voice scraped against Jiang Ling's eardrums.
Jiang Ling felt exhausted and powerless, especially her legs, which felt like they were filled with lead. But she seemed unable to control herself and could only run desperately.
After running for an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ling felt her feet suddenly give way, followed by a feeling of weightlessness.
She struggled violently, her taut body like a broken string.
With a scream, Jiang Ling suddenly opened her eyes. The surrounding decor was both unfamiliar and luxurious.
When the girl who was taking care of her saw that she was awake, she picked up the bowl and ran towards the door, shouting as she ran, "Doctor Hu! Doctor Hu! An'an is awake!"
The dizzying sensation returned, and Jiang Ling's stomach churned violently. At that moment, she felt as if someone had stuffed her into a washing machine and started the spin cycle.
"An'an, where do you feel unwell?" A slightly aged voice reached Jiang Ling's ears.
Jiang Ling struggled to open her eyes and saw an old man with a white beard and a flower-feathered headdress sitting next to her, asking questions with a slight frown.
Just as she was about to speak, a wave of nausea washed over her, and Jiang Ling immediately braced herself on the bed, tilted her head, and began to dry heave.
After a long while, Jiang Ling sniffed, wiped away her tears, and said weakly and disheveledly, "I...I feel really uncomfortable!"
Physician Hu nodded, gently placed a handkerchief on Jiang Ling's wrist, and began to take her pulse.
"Yes, you are deficient in both qi and blood. You need to recuperate for a while. Madam, please rest well here. I'll take my leave now!" Physician Hu said, stroking his white beard and shaking his head.
After the girl quickly helped Physician Hu pack his medicine box, she personally saw him out the door.
“An’an, my name is Yingxue. Just tell me what you need!” Yingxue said to Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling frowned. Now, even the slightest movement caused excruciating pain in her chest. Lying on the bed, she could only ask, "Where...where am I? What happened?"
Two seemingly simple questions put Yingxue in a difficult position. She bit her lip and bowed to Jiang Ling, saying, "Please lie down here for a while, Madam!"
After saying that, he left the room.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived!" A few minutes after Yingxue left, a high-pitched voice came from outside the door.
As soon as the door opened, the Empress Dowager's majestic figure appeared before Jiang Ling. Ignoring the injury on her chest, Jiang Ling hurriedly got up and tried to get out of bed to pay her respects.
However, she underestimated Su Shunhe's ruthlessness. As soon as she got up, the intense pain made her gasp for breath, and she lost her balance and fell heavily off the bed.
Jiang Ling grimaced as she slammed her fist into the hard ground.
"Be careful, Anren!" Yingxue quickly ran to Jiang Ling's side and gently helped her up.
"Madam Jiang, you are injured, so I will excuse you from the formalities and grant you permission to lie down while you answer!" The Empress Dowager said to Jiang Ling with a hint of helplessness.
After thanking her, Jiang Ling was helped back to bed by Yingxue. Although the Empress Dowager allowed Jiang Ling to lie down and reply, Jiang Ling still chose a semi-reclining position, with her back gently pressed against the wall.
"Jiang, you must be very curious about what happened before, right?" The Empress Dowager said expressionlessly from the chair next to her.
Jiang Ling was about to nod, but after shaking her head slightly, she quickly shook her head in denial. Although Jiang Ling had never experienced imperial power and the harem, she had watched countless palace dramas in modern times and was well aware of the unspoken rules behind them.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling quickly shook her head and replied, "Your Majesty, I only want to know how long I was unconscious? My child in Lujia Village is still unattended!"
Upon hearing Jiang Ling's answer, the Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback, then smiled meaningfully at Jiang Ling and nodded, saying, "The injury is quite serious. You have been unconscious for three days and three nights. If it weren't for the Emperor's protection, you would probably be dead!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ling felt a chill run through her body, and she couldn't help but shiver.
The Empress Dowager seemed quite pleased that Jiang Ling was in this state. She sat up straight and continued, "Those who survive a great calamity are bound to have good fortune. Since you have been spared, you are truly blessed. Stay here for three to seven days to recover before returning home!"
After saying this, the Empress Dowager got up to leave, and Jiang Ling opened her mouth but ultimately did not ask the question.
However, the Empress Dowager seemed to have thought of something. She turned to look at Jiang Ling and said calmly, "I have already sent people to Lu Family Village to bring that child back in three to five days! I told you this so that you would be mentally prepared. Don't blame me, this child's status is different!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy. She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and an extreme chill ran from her head to her toes.
Jiang Ling gave a bitter smile and whispered to the departing Empress Dowager, "This humble woman understands!"
The moment the door closed, Jiang Ling burst into tears, but she could only bite her lip tightly and cover her mouth with her hand, trying to suppress her sobs.
...
In Qirong Palace, the Empress Dowager sat on her phoenix throne, her face contorted with rage, staring at Su Shunhe before her.
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