CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144 PLUNDER

The Emperor always values face.

The Imperial Physicians in the palace are inferior to the bandit doctor from Qingyun Mountain, how can the Emperor bear this?

Especially as the ointment is effective, and the Imperial Physicians’ relieved expressions further fuel the Emperor’s anger.

If the Qingyun Mountain doctor were mediocre, pointing at this group of second-rate physicians, he might as well go meet the late Emperor.

Already angry, the thought of the Marquis Dongxiang further infuriates the Emperor, what if one day the Marquis Dongxiang said, "Emperor, the Imperial Physicians you have are useless, they can’t even match the makeshift doctors from my Qingyun Mountain."

At that time, where would the face of the Emperor be placed?!

The Imperial Physicians knelt on the ground, their attitude of admitting fault was quite decent, "We admit our skills are lacking, please, Your Majesty, punish us."

"Get out and take twenty strokes! A three-month salary deduction!" the Emperor said angrily.

"...."

The Imperial Physicians were dumbfounded.

Your Majesty, does the law not punish the masses?

"Forgive us, Your Majesty, we know our fault!"

Having just admitted their mistakes, now they beg for mercy.

Xie Jingchen, with a grim expression, looked at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, if all the Imperial Physicians were punished, what if someone needs medical attention, wouldn’t the illness be delayed?"

The Imperial Physicians not only tend to the concubines in the palace but also the ministers outside the palace.

Xie Jingchen had contributed with the medicine, by pleading for mercy, how could the Emperor not give him face, not to mention Xie Jingchen’s reasoning was sound.

The Emperor had just been too angry, now, upon calming down, he also felt that if they were all beaten half to death, if someone were to fall ill, would they have to invite doctors into the palace to treat them?

The Emperor glared at the Imperial Physicians and said, "For the sake of the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion pleading for you, I will spare you the punishment!"

The Imperial Physicians quickly expressed their gratitude.

Upon leaving the Taihe Palace, the Imperial Physicians exchanged glances, filled with resentment yet unsure how to vent it.

The trouble caused by the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion made them worry for several nights, their complaints having no outlet, and now, they owed Eldest Young Master a debt of gratitude.

What is all this, really, was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion bribing the heavens, otherwise why does everything favor her so much?

Inside the bedroom.

The Emperor looked at Xie Jingchen and asked, "Why didn’t Su Jin personally come to the palace to deliver the medicine?"

"She feared hostility from the palace people, so she didn’t come," Xie Jingchen truthfully replied.

"The Eldest Young Madam must know she caused significant trouble this time, fearing the Emperor’s anger, aware of her mistakes, she dared not come," Eunuch Fu said.

"...."

"It’s good that she didn’t come, if she had come, the Imperial Palace might have broken a few ribs," the Emperor remarked.

"Your Majesty, the Eldest Young Madam contributed with the medicine, you must reward her," Eunuch Fu interceded for Su Jin.

The Emperor shot him a glance.

Eunuch Fu remained unfazed.

He couldn’t board the Empress Dowager’s ship, and if he were to be kicked off by the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, there would be no other outcome for him but to drown.

Compared to the Empress Dowager and Duke Chong, the strength of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion and the Marquis Dongxiang was much weaker.

No!

They were several streets behind!

But one couldn’t resist their good fortune.

Say what you will, their doctors are better than the Imperial Physicians, whether you like it or not.

The Emperor withdrew his gaze and looked at Xie Jingchen, "With the temperament of the Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion, it’s unlikely they don’t want a reward."

"Speak, what reward do they want," the Emperor asked generously.

"...."

Cough, cough.

Xie Jingchen coughed twice.

"Just say it," the Emperor said.

"There’s nothing specific she wants, she just said, ’The more valuable, the better,’" Xie Jingchen said with a somewhat drifting tone.

The Emperor, "...."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

In the end—

Xie Jingchen left the Taihe Palace with three large chests of rewards.

Fengyang Pavilion.

Princess Shouning’s bedroom.

Several days passed, the personnel in the palace stung, apart from the Emperor, only Princess Shouning and a few palace maids and eunuchs hadn’t yet deflated, mainly because the stings were too severe.

Princess Shouning’s face was slightly swollen, but if she wasn’t embarrassed, she could still go out.

She sat on the bed, racking her brains to figure out how to regain her momentum.

She’s unwilling to suffer and bow down!

As a princess, adored by all, to repeatedly stumble at the hands of a female bandit, becoming a laughingstock in the palace, that anger is something she cannot swallow even in death!

She and that female bandit are like fire and water!

"Think carefully, all of you!" Princess Shouning gritted her teeth and said.

"...."

The palace maids and eunuchs, touching their swollen faces, didn’t dare to breathe heavily.

They didn’t have the guts to urge Princess Shouning to let it go.

To provide ideas to Princess Shouning, they had even less courage.

Each time more severely injured, the next time, surviving from the hands of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion is a big question.

There were certain things they didn’t dare report, the other princesses had privately nicknamed Princess Shouning as: the Laughingstock Princess.

Outside, a little eunuch came in and said, "Princess, don’t worry, the Emperor’s swelling has subsided."

Princess Shouning’s heart eased slightly.

Thinking of the Emperor favoring the female bandit, Princess Shouning gritted her teeth in hatred.

The Emperor really shouldn’t have his swelling subsided, it should have pained him for at least ten days or half a month!

"Don’t tell me, Father used that female bandit’s ointment to deflate!" Princess Shouning clenched her fists and said.

"...."

It was indeed the ointment of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion that made it deflate.

But Princess Shouning didn’t allow it to be reported, and the little eunuch dared not go against her, he said, "The Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion left the palace with three large chests of rewards."

Princess Shouning almost fainted from anger.

Princess Shouning, young and able to withstand it.

But the Empress Dowager was different.

With the Emperor so blatantly going against her, the Empress Dowager couldn’t catch her breath and fainted.

Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The news of the Empress Dowager fainting reached Duke Chong’s ears.

His face turned very stern.

This time carelessness caused severe losses.

But more than Duke Chong was angered by the Emperor’s attitude.

As a victim, stung by wasps and bedridden for three days, not punishing the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was generous enough, yet he still richly rewarded her.

The Emperor wanted to use this to warn all the officials, he intended to protect the Marquis Dongxiang’s Mansion till the end.

Did the Emperor think a mere Marquis Dongxiang could threaten him?

Crack.

The Purple Sandalwood Wolf Hair Brush in his hand snapped.

Duke Chong sneered.

This time.

He would surely make sure there’s no return!

Duke Chong threw the pen on the ground.

Outside, a man pushed the door open, quickly stepped forward, "Duke, something bad happened! Something has happened in Wangzhou!"

Duke Chong furrowed his brow.

"What could have happened in Wangzhou?" he asked.

"The Marquis Dongxiang led people to raid the Wangzhou government office, looted all the grain and grass, even the money is gone," the man said urgently.

Duke Chong stood up in shock.

His face ashen, he pounded his fist on the table with such force that even the high-grade rosewood desk dented.

The man was anxious.

Three months ago, Wangzhou had a flood disaster.

The Magistrate reported to the government office for provisions—

The Emperor is holding the Empress Dowager’s weakness.

"Quick! Tell me, who else has survived from the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"

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