Chapter 5 The Visitor
The imperial physicians knelt down in a row. Liu Yan, who was inside the hall, had probably heard the commotion outside. He had lost his previous vigor and didn't dare to breathe loudly.
"The Imperial Medical Bureau has committed serious crimes, including neglecting the prince and arguing with the princess, which are punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family."
"I will spare your lives because of your merit in treating the Fifth Prince, but every single one of you I saw today will be stripped of your clothes and expelled from the palace!"
The Empress Dowager stepped forward, helped Liu Xi up with both hands, and patted the back of her hand with satisfaction.
"Xi'er is sensible and reasonable, and I am very satisfied with her."
The group entered the hall in a grand procession. At this moment, Liu Yan was lying on the bed pretending to be asleep.
The emperor was furious. When he entered the room and saw that everyone was asleep, he lost all interest and turned to leave.
His gaze lingered on Liu Xi for a while, as if he suddenly remembered something, and a complex emotion inexplicably flashed in his eyes.
"Why…"
"Since that's the case, I'll also return to the palace to worship Buddha. Xi'er, thank you for your hard work."
The Imperial Medical Bureau suddenly felt desolate, as if everyone had left, but Liu Xi was in high spirits.
Not only did it disrupt His Majesty and Empress Dowager's opportunity to show concern for Liu Yan, but it also brought unexpected gains to Liu Xi by a twist of fate.
Taking advantage of the current opportunity, Liu Xi has ample time to select suitable people and arrange for them to work for her in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Liu Xi intended to leave immediately, but Liu Yan called out at an inopportune moment.
"Guards! I need water!"
There was no one else in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Liu Yan simply wanted her, as his older sister, to come to him and be bossed around.
Liu Xi gave a cold laugh and walked into the hall.
"Your Highness is awake? Why didn't you speak when Father was here?"
"It's a real pity that we missed the perfect opportunity to ask for a reward."
Hearing Liu Xi say this, Liu Yan was furious, but he had no way to argue.
He swung the medicine bowl from the bedside onto the ground, and shards flew to Liu Xi's feet.
"If you hadn't been so talkative today, would Father have dismissed all the imperial physicians on duty?"
"You've certainly made a good impression on Father, but you've left me without anyone to serve me!"
"If Mother knew how selfish you were, how could she rest in peace in the afterlife!"
Mother Consort, Mother Consort, again Mother Consort.
In her past life, Liu Yan had similarly bound her to his will, making her give him everything.
But whether it was her mother or her brother, everyone used the name of family to exploit, take advantage of, and even threaten her!
"Little brother, what you said hurts your sister deeply."
"Do you know who begged the Empress Dowager to let the Imperial Physician Wang treat you personally, and who told the Emperor about your hardships so that he could come and visit you in person?"
"If this is also selfish, then from now on, I will never do this thankless task again!"
Liu Xi feigned a sob, wiping away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yan appeared slightly flustered.
He didn't want to lose the support Liu Xi had given him behind the scenes.
Normally, Liu Xi would have been very attentive, serving him tea and water, and begging him to forgive her for her lack of consideration.
How come today, Liu Yan has become the passive party?
"That's not what I meant."
"You are just a mere princess. Even if you win the Emperor's favor, what good will it do? In the future, you will still have to rely on my influence for wealth and glory."
"Pah!" Liu Xi couldn't help but roll her eyes.
With a brain like yours that's barely sized, you dare to call yourself a talent?
"Fine, I won't argue with you. Go get me something to eat, I'm starving."
After saying that, Liu Yan lay back on the bed and leisurely closed his eyes to rest.
At the Imperial Medical Bureau, the eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen were kneeling at the door delivering food. Liu Xi opened the food box and peeked inside. Although it wasn't particularly lavish, it was delicious and visually appealing, made with nourishing ingredients prepared specifically for those recovering from serious illnesses.
"The Fifth Prince has been unconscious for many days. How could he have an appetite for these messy dishes?"
"Go and prepare some thin porridge for His Highness. Make the rice water a little thinner so it's easier for him to eat."
"By the way, His Highness dislikes being disturbed. You may leave the food box on the table and then depart."
Having arranged everything, Liu Xi turned and left.
Eat, eat, eat! I'll make sure you starve!
For several days in a row, Liu Xi insisted that the imperial kitchen should only send Liu Yan rice porridge for three meals a day, claiming that "a light diet is beneficial to physical recovery."
He made a huge scene at the Imperial Medical Bureau, as if he was afraid that his unpleasant words wouldn't reach His Majesty and the Empress Dowager's ears.
The Imperial Concubine was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. If Liu Yan acted so recklessly and the merit she had earned in saving the Emperor's heart was completely erased, all her efforts would have been in vain.
"Quickly, find an excuse to bring the Fifth Prince into Jinle Palace."
"What a nuisance! I can't even have a single day of peace!"
Xiangying, standing to the side, added fuel to the fire, defending the Imperial Concubine.
"This Fifth Prince is really something, he doesn't care at all about the hard work the Consort has put into his plans. Does he really think that you, Consort, can't control him?"
Upon hearing the word "control," the Imperial Concubine clenched her fist and slammed it hard on the table.
"It's one thing for that little slut to be unruly, but I never expected the Fifth Prince to be just as troublesome."
“If I don’t have any leverage over him, I’m afraid he won’t obediently follow my arrangements.”
After pondering for a moment, the imperial concubine suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"I've heard that the wet nurse who was responsible for feeding the Fifth Prince is no longer in the palace?"
"Perfect timing. The Fifth Prince needs someone to serve him wholeheartedly. Let's have the wet nurse brought into the palace as well."
Elsewhere, Liu Xi almost couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of tea.
"Wet nurse? The Imperial Concubine intends to bring Liu Yan's wet nurse into the palace?"
Liu Xi had a headache. She never expected that the madwoman would return to the palace in this way.
"The Imperial Concubine really does have a penchant for taking unconventional approaches..."
Although it was unexpected by Liu Xi, the addition of this piece would only add some chaos to the battle and would not pose a substantial threat.
"Alright, let them do what they want. It's much more interesting to deal with things as they come than to take the initiative."
Later that evening, a guest suddenly arrived at Yihuai Pavilion.
Liu Xi recognized her at a glance; she was the maid who had cried and begged the imperial physician to treat the Seventh Prince that day.
Upon seeing Liu Xi emerge from the house, she suddenly kowtowed twice.
"This servant has come today only to thank the princess for speaking up for justice that day. You are the savior of our Seventh Prince!"
In the previous life's struggle for the crown prince position, Liu Xi did not see the seventh prince, Liu Yu, participate in anything.
Just like his name, he was regarded by the emperor as a superfluous presence in the palace.
Liu Yu's background seemed to be a taboo subject in the palace. The emperor forbade anyone to mention it and prohibited any rumors from circulating within the palace.
"Is Your Highness fully recovered?"
The maidservant, with tears in her eyes, looked up and replied.
"Although not fully recovered, Your Highness is already able to get out of bed and walk around."
"His Highness said that once he is better, he will personally come to thank the princess!"
As she spoke, the maid held a wooden box high in the air with both hands.
“Princess, our Highness is of humble status and is used to a frugal lifestyle, so we don’t have any presents that we can offer.”
"His Highness said that what is in this box is a gift from the late Emperor. He has no way to repay the life-saving grace, so His Highness can only repay the princess's kindness by borrowing the late Emperor's sentiments."
Liu Xi could not hide her surprise and solemnly took the wooden box from the maid.
A mere, ineffective reprimand of the imperial physician is hardly worthy of such a valuable reward.
Is this the difference between people? Some people take your efforts for granted, while others would give their all to repay even the smallest kindness.
"Please pass on a message to your Seventh Prince on my behalf."
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. If he wants to change his current situation, I may be able to help him try."
The maidservant wished she could bang her head against the ground until it was a bloody mess.
"This servant understands, thank you Your Highness, thank you Your Highness!"
After everyone left, Zhixiang couldn't help but ask.
"Princess, I have a few offensive questions to ask."
"The Seventh Prince has little influence in the palace, a complicated background, and no powerful forces to win him over. Why would you help him?"
Liu Xi sighed and said earnestly.
"In this life, we don't have to seek something with every step we take."
"Who wouldn't want to be a person of character, to be kind to someone simply because they feel that person deserves such kindness?"
Zhi Xiang gently squeezed Liu Xi's hand, "Princess, you've been heartbroken by the Fifth Prince."
Heartbroken? Liu Xi shook her head violently.
It should be hatred, because feeling heartbroken over the betrayal of an ingrate is more foolish and useless than talking to a brick wall.
"Let's not think about these things anymore, Zhixiang. Has General Huo sent a message?"
He Qing went to great lengths to get Liu Yan under the Imperial Concubine's name as quickly as possible.
It is said that the Imperial Concubine has been in the palace for many years and serving the Emperor has not been easy.
He also boasted of his utmost loyalty and the many achievements he had made for His Majesty.
The emperor was so annoyed by the arguing that he finally relented and said he would choose a suitable day to hold the ceremony.
He Qing didn't give His Majesty a chance to make empty promises, and directly proposed to announce the adoption on the occasion of the Consort's birthday.
In his letter, Huo Lin wrote that a trusted confidant of the previous dynasty had reported to His Majesty that the Flying Tiger Army was embezzling military funds and having no troops.
The Flying Tiger Army was a branch of the Dingyuan Army, and its commander was He Qing's nephew.
"I can't wait to see the Consort's timid and hesitant appearance."
"Besides this letter, the general left you something else."
"The general was concerned about the princess's health, but he couldn't visit her in person, so he sent a lot of things over, filling the storeroom to the brim."
As he spoke, Zhixiang smiled meaningfully.
"Now, there are people in the palace who truly care for the princess."
"Get lost, you're such a chatterbox."
Liu Xi lingered her index finger on the words "Princess, are you well?" at the end of the letter for a moment.
Huo Lin, that guy, knows how to make people happy.
Liu Xi lit the letter as usual, as if the heavens had seen through her thoughts, and those four words were finally swallowed by the flames.
About three to five days later, the Imperial Medical Bureau was full again.
As usual, the new imperial physician Zhu Zheng came to check on the princess's health. After closing the door, Liu Xi chatted with him about Liu Yan's medical cases.
"I have observed that the Fifth Prince's inner emptiness is difficult to fill in the short term. Even if he takes in highly nourishing foods, it will only create the illusion of vitality."
"I wonder what your instructions are, Your Highness? I will do my best to fulfill them."
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