CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143 SHAME

Mrs. Wang was as touched as she had just been, now she felt just as frustrated.

Every medicine has its side effects.

Even foot soak herbs can be mistaken for something edible—

How unreliable the Eldest Young Madam’s maid must be.

Mrs. Wang felt the medicine in her hand was heavy.

Her feet had smelled for years, occasionally itchy, washing them two or three times a day was a bit troublesome, but otherwise it wasn’t a problem. However, if it led to any mishap, it would be too late for regrets.

She still wanted to live a few more years.

Seeing Mrs. Wang silent, Xingxing said, "Remember to soak your feet."

Mrs. Wang, "... ."

"Is it really for soaking feet?" Her voice was a little shaky.

"It really is, I wouldn’t lie to you," Xingxing nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Mrs. Wang was exhausted.

After thanking Xingxing, she happily left.

Mrs. Wang stood there, and Hongxiu approached, saying, "Does Mrs. Wang want to soak her feet?"

"Let’s give it a try," Mrs. Wang said.

"I’ll help you simmer the medicine," Hongxiu offered eagerly.

These days, Hongxiu had been accompanying Mrs. Wang to the Agarwood Pavilion every day, and their relationship had grown much closer.

Mrs. Wang praised Hongxiu in front of the Old Madam, and Hongxiu was now evidently the most capable maid beside the Old Madam.

Having received kindness, Hongxiu was even more devoted to Mrs. Wang.

Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat on the Phoenix Chair, her expression inscrutable.

A palace maid brought over bird’s nest soup and said, "Empress Dowager, please have some bird’s nest soup."

"Take it away," the Empress Dowager waved her hand.

The palace maid looked towards Nanny Li.

Nanny Li picked up the bird’s nest soup and said to the Empress Dowager, "You haven’t eaten anything for days, how can your body withstand this? You’re worried about the Emperor, but you also need to take care of yourself."

In just a few days, not only the Empress Dowager, but Nanny Li had lost quite a bit of weight too.

These past days were filled with restlessness, unable to eat or sleep.

The Emperor had been continuously going against Duke Chong, and no official dared to oppose him, but the Emperor hadn’t declared that once he dealt with Duke Chong, it would be over.

Sticking one’s neck out is asking for trouble, and retreating is the same. This feeling of having a knife hanging over one’s neck was truly unnerving.

The Empress Dowager was her amulet, and now she could only hope the Empress Dowager would save her.

Seeing Nanny Li’s pleading look, the Empress Dowager couldn’t bear it, as Nanny Li had been with her most of her life and was her most trusted person.

This mistake wasn’t her wish either.

The Empress Dowager took the bowl and began to eat.

Just after taking a couple of bites, a little eunuch rushed in from outside.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Has the Imperial Hospital found a way to reduce the Emperor’s swelling?"

The little eunuch quickly replied, "Doctor Zhao obtained a secret ointment recipe from the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, but the doctors at the Imperial Hospital examined it for a long time and still didn’t prescribe any medicine for the Emperor... ."

The Empress Dowager’s heart sank.

Nanny Li’s face turned ashen.

If a prescription could be given, the Imperial Hospital would have done so long ago and not waited until now. What could be done?

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Xie Jingchen was soaking in a medicinal bath.

Su Jin and Xingxing sat by the stove grilling fish.

The aroma of grilled fish seeped into Xie Jingchen’s nose, causing his mouth to twitch repeatedly.

Over there, a little maid ran over and said, "Eldest Young Madam, Doctor Zhao is here again."

Su Jin stood up.

The little maid looked at the grilled fish in her hand and then glanced at the steaming Eldest Young Master, feeling increasingly like it was steaming the Eldest Young Master.

The Eldest Young Master was so unruly that he would surely be tormented to death by the Eldest Young Madam sooner or later.

Su Jin put down the grilled fish, washed her hands, and went to the front courtyard.

Doctor Zhao was waiting in the room, pacing anxiously.

Su Jin saw him and said, "Doctor Zhao, why so uneasy?"

Doctor Zhao was almost in tears.

He wasn’t the only worried physician.

"The Emperor has ordered that if he isn’t cured soon, the entire Imperial Hospital will be extinguished," Doctor Zhao’s voice trembled.

"Then why haven’t you packed up and fled for your life yet?" Xingxing asked.

"... ."

Doctor Zhao was dumbfounded by the question.

Surely, it was the words of bandits.

The whole world is the Emperor’s land, and the subjects can’t escape the Emperor’s reach.

If the sovereign demands the subject’s death, the subject cannot refuse to die.

As for fleeing—

Where could one escape to?

Moreover, it hadn’t reached the final step yet.

Doctor Zhao looked at Su Jin and presented the ointment he had brought, "This is the ointment the Emperor is using."

Su Jin took the ointment.

Doctor Zhao said, "Since the Emperor hasn’t been cured, and we don’t know where the doctor who made this ointment is, could he be invited into the palace to treat the Emperor?"

Xingxing held back from speaking.

She also wished the girl could enter the palace to save the Emperor.

But the Hidden Guard of the son-in-law said the Emperor’s injury was on his buttocks, and the girl couldn’t help, advising her to avoid saying such things.

She was a bit confused.

Everyone has a butt, and even if the Emperor’s is called a Dragon Rear, it’s still a butt, right? There was no reason not to speak about it. Surely, they couldn’t watch the Emperor die in pain without saving him.

Saving the Emperor once would make him very fond of her.

Save the Emperor again, and he would probably pamper her to the skies.

Su Jin said, "The doctor has a peculiar nature, doesn’t like interacting with people, and doesn’t usually live in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion. I will have someone send the ointment. The Emperor treats me well, and I won’t let him suffer unnecessarily."

Doctor Zhao believed these words.

After all, it’s rare to find an Emperor who treats bandits with such kindness as he does, almost impossible to find a second one.

The Dongxiang Marquis was brought to the Capital by the Emperor, and the Eldest Young Madam has a life-saving grace towards the Emperor.

Even when she had a conflict with Princess Shouning, the Emperor sided with her as much as possible.

If another Emperor succeeded the throne, wouldn’t Dongxiang Marquis be annihilated to the bone?

They should hope more than anyone else for the Emperor to live long.

"Then I’ll trouble the Eldest Young Madam," Doctor Zhao quickly said.

After Doctor Zhao left, Su Jin sniffed the ointment, then dabbed a bit on the back of her hand.

After a quarter of an hour, the back of her hand swelled, but it wasn’t very painful.

Su Jin went to the bamboo house.

The sound of grinding medicine gradually spread.

Su Jin was busy all night preparing the ointment.

The next day, during breakfast.

Su Jin handed the ointment to Xie Jingchen, "After breakfast, take the ointment into the palace for the Emperor."

"You’re not delivering it personally?" Xie Jingchen raised a brow.

"I’m not in a rush to get stared at," Su Jin sighed.

"Miss, don’t forget, we still have to go to the palace to select the Imperial Chef," Xingxing reminded.

"It’s not too late to go in a couple of days," Su Jin said.

"... ."

"Oh, don’t forget to get me a reward."

"... ."

Even Xie Jingchen had nothing to say about the Emperor’s favoritism towards Su Jin.

After eating, Xie Jingchen headed to the palace.

Taihe Palace.

The Emperor lay on the Dragon Couch, as furious as could be.

Eunuch Fu served beside him, trembling with fear.

Previously, there was still Duke Chong to vent the Emperor’s anger, but now no one presented any memorials. Who knew who the Emperor would lash out at in his fury?

A little eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has brought medicine, saying it can relieve Your Majesty’s pain."

"Quickly summon!" the Emperor ordered.

The little eunuch quickly retreated.

Xie Jingchen entered the inner hall, presenting the ointment.

The Imperial Physician took the ointment, examined it carefully and said, "Your Majesty, this medicine is good."

The Emperor said nothing.

After applying the ointment, within less than a quarter of an hour, the swelling began to reduce.

The Imperial Physicians were overjoyed, their lives were spared.

Eunuch Fu said the Emperor was blessed with great fortune.

The Emperor showed no anger.

The Imperial Physicians echoed the sentiment.

Then—

The Emperor erupted in rage.

"I’m blessed with great fortune? I’m indebted to the bandits of Qingyun Mountain!" The Emperor was furious beyond measure.

"Aren’t you all ashamed?!"

"I’ve nurtured a group of Imperial Physicians, and yet they can’t compare to a bandit doctor from Qingyun Mountain!"

"What use do I have for you all?!"

The Imperial Physicians, "... ."