“My husband, compared to what you have done for me before, what is this little bit of suffering? It’s just a bowl of medicine, I’ll finish it in a few sips.”
As if to comfort Xiao Xuan, Ning Yin patted the man's hand, took the medicine bowl, and drank the bitter and unpleasant medicine in a few gulps.
Xiao Xuan hurriedly took a few pieces of candied fruit from the plate and fed them to her. Looking at the woman's tightly furrowed brows, he felt a little uncomfortable.
During this period, under pressure from the emperor and Empress Dowager Zhang, he ordered Qingying to guard the Eastern Palace like an ironclad fortress, just in case Empress Dowager Zhang had any wicked intentions.
Even though she swore with her life that the child was hers, Empress Dowager Zhang was still relentless and determined to get rid of Ningyin as soon as possible.
The emperor, believing Empress Dowager Zhang's words, was also furious and said he would drag Ningyin over to offer sacrifices to Heaven in order to appease the gods' wrath.
However, he couldn't expose the fake abbot yet, so Xiao Xuan came up with a new plan.
After Ning Yin finished eating at several fruit stalls, she suddenly remembered Bai Meng's matter. She had to quickly manufacture this snow skin cream, otherwise Empress Dowager Zhang would get impatient, which would be troublesome.
Empress Dowager Zhang already disliked her, and if she failed to hand over the skin-whitening cream in time, the old lady would probably have something to say.
Thinking it over, Ning Yin sent a eunuch to the Imperial Hospital after Xiao Xuan left to see what was going on.
However, when the young eunuch returned, he seemed a bit off. He stammered for a long time before finally saying that Physician Bai had recently been sent outside the palace by Physician Chen to provide disaster relief.
Although Ning Yin had some doubts, she didn't think too much about it. The disaster was severe recently, and many people had fallen ill, so there was indeed a great need for medical personnel.
If she weren't currently pregnant, she would also like to do her part for the people.
In a secluded courtyard, Granny Guan brought Wang Yuan gorgeous palace attire and expensive headdresses, and also added several palace maids to her room.
Wang Yuan has changed into palace attire, styled her hair in the same updo as Ning Yin, and even her makeup is exactly the same.
Because Granny Guan told her that His Highness was very fond of the Crown Princess, so she should learn from Ning Yin's example. Perhaps His Highness would be pleased and make her a concubine.
Wang Yuan raised her hand and touched the valuable kingfisher feather headdress on her head. Her joy was evident. Her face was already delicate, but now that she had applied makeup, she was even more charming.
Looking at herself in the mirror again and again, Wang Yuan's heart was filled with a thousand waves of emotions, already imagining how glorious she would be after becoming a concubine.
In time, those lowly maids who have humiliated me will not have a good end.
Especially Granny Guan, that old hag dared to treat me like this, she was determined to skin her alive to vent her anger.
Chu Mo is currently out of favor and will likely be expelled from the palace soon. Without the protection of his motherland, Chu Mo is nothing. As for Ning Yin, she is already like a grasshopper in autumn, and won't be able to jump around for long.
Wang Yuan was happily imagining the future when she suddenly met the gaze of Granny Guan in the mirror, which seemed to be a complex and unfathomable expression.
Immediately afterwards, she heard Granny Guan tell her that she must learn the Crown Princess's every smile and gesture, as well as her walking posture, today.
Wang Yuan knew that Xiao Xuan wouldn't forget Ning Yin so quickly, so she did whatever Guan Mama asked her to learn. As long as it could help her rise to a high position, what harm was there in learning from that vile woman?
During this time, Granny Guan always held a rattan cane in her hand, and whenever Wang Yuan made the slightest mistake, Granny Guan would whip her buttocks vigorously.
There's plenty of flesh in that spot, so you don't have to worry about it when you're fighting, and nobody will see the wounds.
After all, His Highness the Crown Prince instructed this morning that Wang Yuan's face must not have any injuries.
That afternoon, Wang Yuan was whipped more than a hundred times, and her buttocks were already numb with pain.
After a long day of studying, Wang Yuan was finally able to sit down and rest.
"Miss Junzhu, your learning ability is indeed very strong. In just one day, this old servant can hardly tell whether you are the Crown Princess or Miss Junzhu. His Highness will be very happy with your hard work. This old servant congratulates you in advance."
Granny Guan opened and closed her mouth, uttering flattering words, her slanted eyes slightly raised, as if there was something hidden in her words, but Wang Yuan did not notice anything unusual.
She simply nodded, then, clutching her bottom, limped to the bedside, took out several sachets from under her pillow, and handed them to Granny Guan.
"Granny, this is a sachet I made. Could you please help me deliver it to His Highness?"
Wang Yuan knew she couldn't leave the courtyard and didn't know when His Highness would come. She wanted to feel noticed, so she couldn't wait to finish embroidering the sachet.
Granny Guan took the exquisitely crafted sachets from Wang Yuan's hands, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
"Is this embroidered for His Highness, young lady? You are truly skillful. Don't worry, this old servant will definitely deliver it to him for you."
Granny Guan tucked the sachet into her sleeve, patted Wang Yuan on the shoulder, and turned to leave.
As Granny Guan said, after she came out of that side courtyard, she did indeed head towards Changxin Palace.
At this moment, Xiao Xuan was reviewing memorials at his desk when several reckless officials joined forces to attack him, saying that his concubine, A Ning, was a wicked concubine who brought disaster to the country.
Xiao Xuan's sinister eyes narrowed slightly, his face filled with a strong murderous aura. Among these officials was none other than Minister Li from before.
Back then, in order to save his own life, he personally wrote down Xiao Xuan's henchmen. Now that old man has turned against him again, it seems it's time to uproot Xiao Ling and his cronies.
At this moment, Chen Dechang came in from outside the door to announce that Granny Guan was requesting an audience.
Xiao Xuan responded and let her in. Granny Guan knelt on the ground and bowed to Xiao Xuan.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
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