Chapter 6 Lively
"There's no need to write what you told me into the medical records."
"Since the Fifth Prince is so eager to recover, you may prescribe the medicine according to his wishes."
"But if you continue to supplement at this rate, not only will it fail to fill the internal deficiencies, it will also damage your liver."
Liu Xi used the lid of her teacup to scrape the tea leaves floating on the water's surface, smiling calmly.
"That's even better, so that I won't have to trouble you to add some incompatible ingredients to his medicine without you noticing."
Zhu Zheng was taken aback, but dared not ask any more questions and could only bow his head and agree.
Liu Xi was very satisfied with this kind of person who asked few questions and did a lot. With Huo Lin as her guarantor, she felt at ease using him.
"Now that the Imperial Medical Bureau has changed, there is no one His Majesty can take notice of for the time being."
"Imperial Physician Zhu often visits the Imperial Study. The Imperial Medical Bureau needs someone who can shoulder the heavy responsibility."
Zhu Zheng bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Princess."
On the palace path, Xiangying was followed by an old woman who was peeking around. Her steps were unsteady and her every move was rude, not at all like someone who had lived in the palace for a long time.
A person who tries to pass off inferior goods as superior ones cannot hide the baseness in their bones.
"Once you enter Jinle Palace, remember to be careful with your words and actions in front of the Imperial Concubine."
"Yes, yes, don't worry, Auntie."
The old woman readily agreed, but her head still couldn't help but dart around.
Xiangying couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she watched her act.
Driven by a desire to join in the fun, Liu Xi made a special trip today to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine, just to witness the chaotic scene unfolding in Jinle Palace.
She specially moved a few snow ginsengs from the storeroom and asked Zhixiang to take them with her. The two of them then headed towards the Imperial Concubine.
Inside the palace, the Imperial Concubine rested her hand on her forehead, her face showing the weariness of an old woman in her sixties.
"Go, take the wet nurse to see His Highness."
She waved her hand in front of her eyes, wishing that all these people in front of her would disappear into thin air.
Unexpectedly, Liu Xi suddenly appeared and gloated as she stopped the person.
The old woman opened her mouth, and her booming voice resonated throughout the hall.
"Princess! Oh my, Princess! You've grown so much!"
"I'm not exaggerating, but all the children I breastfed are incredibly healthy and strong!"
Xiangying stood to the side and spoke softly.
"Once you enter the palace, you must change your address to 'servant'."
This was the fourth time she had repeated this sentence.
Xiao Zhiwen kept talking, making Liu Xi's eardrums ring painfully.
She quickly interrupted, gesturing for Zhixiang to come forward.
"I was unable to repay Xiao Niang's kindness in raising me when I was young, I never thought we would meet again."
Just as Liu Xi had predicted, Xiao Zhiwen immediately spotted the snow ginseng in Zhixiang's hand. Her eyes lit up, and she rushed forward in three steps.
"Your Highness is too kind! You've prepared such a precious gift!"
"Then I won't be polite, uh..."
Xiao Zhiwen tried to pull it a few times but failed, so he stubbornly continued to exert force.
Zhi Xiang could only grip the tray in her hands with all her might, her face filled with terror.
"Princess, this, this."
"Hey? Why are you so slow to understand? Hurry up and give it to me."
"No, no..."
“This is a tonic that our princess specially prepared for the Fifth Prince to help him recover. How could you possibly take it, nanny?”
Liu Xi also looked troubled.
"Could it be that Xiao Niang intends to ask the Imperial Concubine for a reward?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhiwen stammered and loudly defended himself, looking no different from a shrew haggling over a vegetable stall with her hands on her hips.
"Enough!"
The imperial concubine finally lost her temper and slammed her hand on the table.
"What do you take my Jinle Palace for! A marketplace!"
"Guards! Take Nurse Xiao away and teach her a lesson for her vulgar ways!"
Even as Xiao Zhiwen was dragged away by several people, she kept muttering to herself.
The sound followed her figure far away, echoing in the air.
Liu Xi rubbed her ears, wondering if she would have a good time with the imperial concubine from now on.
The imperial concubine's chest heaved dramatically, clearly indicating that she was extremely angry.
She looked up, her expression completely unfriendly when she faced Liu Xi.
"You refused my invitation before, but chose to come to Jinle Palace today, just to see me make a fool of myself!"
Liu Xi looked innocent. "Your Majesty, what are you saying?"
"Putting aside the fact that I only just learned that the wet nurse had been brought into the palace, Xiao Niang has forgotten all the palace rules after being away from the palace for only a few years. How could I have known this beforehand?"
The Imperial Concubine snorted coldly, "The princess is now sharp-tongued and doesn't resemble the docile girl she used to be when she needed something from me."
Liu Xi neither confirmed nor denied this. Times had changed, and she admitted that her attitude had indeed become somewhat arrogant.
But so what? Having to ask the Imperial Concubine for help is something from a past life.
"Your Majesty should be happy that your son has grown up."
Liu Xi gave Zhi Xiang a look, and she immediately stepped forward and placed the snow ginseng in her hand on the table.
"Since Your Highness is in a bad mood today, I will not stay here and get in your way. I will take my leave now."
Behind him, the imperial concubine's expression was ferocious, and she was hoarse and exhausted.
"Without me, you and the Fifth Prince would never have a chance to turn things around!"
Liu Xi paused, and when she turned around, her eyes were sharp and cold.
"Your Majesty can say this to the Fifth Prince."
"The effort you have put into your son is not as great as the hardship I have endured by humbly bowing and scraping and working like a horse."
At this point, Liu Xi narrowed her eyes and revealed a malicious smile.
"Your Highness, you must learn to be content."
"You dare threaten me? Are you insane?"
hehe.
Liu Xi raised a finger to her lips, a simple gesture that sent a chill down the back of the Consort's neck.
The fourth princess is not even sixteen years old this year.
The sudden imposing aura emanating from her seemed incongruous with her youthful appearance.
The imperial concubine doubted that she had seen wrong; at this moment, only one sentence kept repeating in her mind.
"This person cannot be allowed to live."
Liu Xi felt a sense of satisfaction after leaving Jinle Palace, having completely broken ties with the Imperial Concubine.
She was tired of those hypocritical days. If she couldn't find joy even in a second life, what was the point of this rebirth?
"Princess, Xiazi has already made arrangements for the kitchen. From now on, he will be secretly overseeing the Fifth Prince's daily meals, so you can rest assured."
Arguing may provide temporary satisfaction, but it's best not to let it interfere with getting things done.
Liu Xi pinched Zhi Xiang's cheek lightly.
"Well done, I'll reward you handsomely when we get back to the palace."
They joked and teased their way back to Yihuai Pavilion, where the Seventh Prince Liu Yu had been waiting for an unknown amount of time at the palace gate.
Liu Xi was somewhat surprised. It seemed that the Seventh Prince had run away from the palace before he had fully recovered, after only a few days.
"Seventh brother, why are you standing at the door?"
The moment Liu Yu saw Liu Xi, his eyes lit up instantly.
"Royal Sister!"
He barely managed to suppress his excitement and lunge at Liu Xi without losing his composure.
"I thought my elder sister wouldn't see me."
Liu Xi touched his hand with its distinct knuckles, and the icy touch made her shiver.
“My brother has just recovered from a serious illness. It’s not good for him to stand in the wind for too long. Come on, come inside with me.”
Liu Yu moved somewhat awkwardly, especially when maids or eunuchs passed by to serve him tea and snacks.
He must have gotten so used to being alone that he's almost forgotten what it feels like to have someone serving him.
Liu Xi dismissed everyone and patiently inquired about the purpose of Liu Yu's visit today.
"Please don't misunderstand, elder sister. I don't want you to do anything for me. I just want to say a few words to you."
Liu Yu looked at Liu Xi with unreserved sincerity in his eyes. He was younger, and his innocence had not yet been completely devoured by the struggle for imperial power.
Liu Xi wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. To be honest, she was a little disappointed in Liu Yu's foolishness.
"Seventh Brother, please don't misunderstand. Wanting to establish yourself in the palace and fight for your own future is not a bad thing."
"In this palace, not fighting or grabbing is not kindness, but incompetence."
Liu Yu lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers with a slightly uneasy expression.
Liu Xi suddenly seemed to lose her senses and waved her hands repeatedly.
"Your sister didn't mean to force you."
Having learned from Liu Yan's experience in her previous life, Liu Xi didn't want to be misunderstood again and accused of imposing her ideas on others.
Liu Yu laughed heartily a few times, "I'm so happy that my sister is so good to me."
Liu Yu laughed a little too much and coughed a few times. He raised his hand to cover his lips, revealing his wrists and forearms, which were so thin that they were almost bony, and looked rather shocking.
"If Seventh Brother has no plans for later, why not stay and have a meal with your sister?"
Liu Xi suppressed her heartache and put on a polite smile.
She didn't want Liu Yu to think that she was actually pitying him.
The maid named Yao'er beside Liu Yu spoke politely.
"Your Highness, our prince has already..."
"Cough cough cough!"
Liu Yu swallowed the half-sentence that Yao'er hadn't said.
"Great! I couldn't be happier to have such a great opportunity."
Yao'er was stunned for a moment, "But Your Highness..."
"Don't talk nonsense about 'what's permissible or not' in front of your elder sister."
It seems that Liu Yu deliberately concealed something important.
Liu Xi didn't want to ask directly, so she gave Zhi Xiang a look, and Zhi Xiang quickly understood.
"Miss Yao'er, come with me to the small kitchen."
With Liu Yu's tacit approval, Zhi Xiang led Yao'er away from the inner hall.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet, making Liu Xi feel a little awkward.
Although the person sitting in front of them was a younger brother, it was a stranger whom they had never met in ten years. It was already quite remarkable that the two of them could strike up a conversation so naturally.
Liu Yu, who has been neglected since birth, has a strong interest in everything in Liuxi Palace.
Without hesitation, Liu Xi called out to him.
"Would you like to take a stroll in the garden, sister?"
Liu Yu immediately nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling as if stars had fallen into them.
As evening approached, the temperature outside was already quite cold.
Liu Xi took out a pink robe from the closet and gave it to Liu Yu to wear. The boy looked exactly like a porcelain doll, which was both funny and cute.
"Looking at it from a distance, you'd think that the palace had gained a new little princess sometime during the day."
Although Liu Yu was shy, he was still very generous and charming when he joked around.
"Sister, please stop joking with me."
Having experienced a past life, Liu Xi shouldn't have believed that there were still truly sincere and innocent people in this world.
She tried hard to treat everything Liu Yu was doing as a disguise, attempting to tear away the disguise and see the truth.
Liu Xi, however, only saw one person standing openly in front of him.
That was Liu Xi herself.
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