CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 146: RESPECT

After Eunuch Fu left.

The Imperial Physicians thought the prescription was more remarkable the more they pondered over it.

They quickly wrote down the prescription and presented it to the Empress Dowager.

Upon seeing it, Nanny Li remarked, "The Empress Dowager doesn’t understand prescriptions, just prepare the medicine and send it over."

The Imperial Physicians replied, "This prescription doesn’t require decocting the medicine."

Nanny Li furrowed her brows.

A prescription that doesn’t need medicine to be decocted?

She definitely needed to take a look then.

Nanny Li took the prescription, opened it, and looked inside.

Copy Buddhist Scriptures—

The three words immediately caught her eye.

Followed by the number of Chapters.

Six hundred and sixty-six Chapters.

Almost instantly, Nanny Li exploded in anger, "Nonsense! The Empress Dowager is ill, and after discussing for so long, this is the prescription you come up with?!"

The Empress Dowager’s face turned livid.

This band of quacks wanted to drive her to fury until she was no longer alive?!

The Empress Dowager’s anger was expected by the Imperial Physicians.

But they weren’t afraid because they had a safeguard.

Afraid the Empress Dowager might faint again from anger, the Imperial Physicians quickly said, "Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. After much deliberation, we were at a loss on how to prescribe medicine for you. This prescription is a folk remedy that Eunuch Fu came across elsewhere."

When the words "elsewhere" were mentioned, the Imperial Physicians enunciated them particularly clearly.

Empress Dowager, without us having to say it plainly, you should guess who this person is—it must be the Emperor, right?

The Empress Dowager had someone tamper with the medicinal ointment intended for the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion given to Eunuch Fu, causing the Emperor to lie on the Dragon Couch for three days.

Although the Emperor used Duke Chong as a proxy to vent his anger, he only ended up breaking one of Duke Chong’s ribs.

The Emperor wasn’t so easily pacified.

However, if this matter were exposed, it would be an embarrassment for the Emperor and tarnish the Empress Dowager’s reputation.

Since the Emperor hadn’t made this matter public, everyone dared not openly discuss it, although many were aware.

This prescription was purportedly to treat illness, but in reality, it was a punishment.

Letting the Empress Dowager copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for Daqi, to pray for the Emperor, was giving the Empress Dowager a chance to redeem her faults.

The prescription was made by the Imperial Physicians. The Empress Dowager would definitely make them pay dearly.

But since they claimed it came from the Emperor—

What could the Empress Dowager say?

This time, her blunder was significant.

The Emperor was saving her face, so after copying the Buddhist scriptures, this matter would be considered resolved.

"You all may rise; this prescription is well-crafted, and I am very satisfied," the Empress Dowager said through gritted teeth.

The Imperial Physicians breathed a collective sigh of relief.

This hurdle was overcome without much incident.

Taihe Palace.

After returning, Eunuch Fu reported the events at Yongning Palace to the Emperor.

Eunuch Fu gave a detailed account of the prescription he provided to the Empress Dowager.

Because he knew the Emperor enjoyed hearing about it.

The Emperor was troubled with how to quell his anger, given the Empress Dowager’s esteemed status, and since Duke Chong was controlling the court, Eunuch Fu did indeed help the Emperor teach the Empress Dowager a lesson.

Of course, he was thinking more about himself.

Had the Emperor not been implicated this time, he would only have been left to die after using that ointment.

This time, he was also avenging a personal grudge.

After exacting his revenge, he came to the Emperor to claim credit and seek a reward.

Reflecting on it—

Eunuch Fu’s mood was elated.

The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Fu and said, "You prescribed well, learned it from the doctor at Qingyun Mountain, didn’t you?"

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Ahem!

He admitted he was influenced by the mistress and maid duo at Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Especially that rogue little maid, who didn’t give the Empress Dowager any regard, making him feel as if the Empress Dowager wasn’t as daunting as perceived.

Having no fear of the Empress Dowager in his heart, he acted without restraint.

In this short existence, one should live freely and happily to not have lived in vain.

"Emperor, there are many good remedies at Qingyun Mountain; surely they can cure Your Majesty’s heart ailment," Eunuch Fu seized the opportunity to say.

"I fear they haven’t cured my ailment, but instead have created a new worry for me," the Emperor said, rubbing his forehead.

"...."

"Why haven’t the people I sent to shadow Marquis Dongxiang reported back in a few days?" the Emperor asked.

Hearing this, Eunuch Fu also remembered.

It had indeed been a few days without news.

Before leaving, he instructed them repeatedly to send a letter back every two days for peace of mind, letting the Emperor know the movement of that batch of grain and grass.

Why had the news suddenly stopped?

Eunuch Fu advised the Emperor, "Your Majesty, you can rest assured, Duke Chong also assigned people to watch over that batch of grain and grass. Since he hasn’t impeached Marquis Dongxiang, it shows there’s no issue with it."

The Emperor felt slightly reassured.

Outside Tianxiang Building, at the tea stand.

Chu Shun and his group were savoring roast chicken, thoroughly enjoying it.

The servant stood aside, swallowing his saliva.

Catching sight of Su Chong riding over, the servant quickly said, "Prince, the Young Master of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is here."

Chu Shun put down the drumstick he was halfway through eating and quickly rose.

Su Chong was just passing by.

Chu Shun intercepted him, asking, "Brother Su, where are you heading to?"

"Going to Duke Zhen’s Mansion to fetch medicine," Su Chong replied.

"Not an urgent, life-saving matter, is it?" Chu Shun asked.

"Just some medicine for exercising the body, not urgent," Su Chong explained.

"If it’s not urgent, then come down; let’s chat," Chu Shun suggested.

Su Chong suspiciously looked at him, then glanced at the roast chicken and felt a bit hungry before dismounting.

Chu Shun, "...."

Roast chicken was more appealing than his presence.

Are all people from Qingyun Mountain so constantly oblivious to one’s feelings?

Su Chong sat down, grabbed a drumstick, and gnawed on it, asking, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Let’s talk about your sister, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion," Prince NanAn said with a gossipy look.

Su Chong glanced at the four of them, "You guys are interested in my sister?"

"Yes!"

The four of them nodded together.

Su Chong furrowed his brows.

The four quickly added, "Not the kind of interest you’re thinking of."

"We’re curious why anyone who crosses her path seems to find themselves unlucky," Chu Shun said.

"Even when outnumbered and outmatched, she can still crush others in a few rounds," Prince NanAn added.

"..."

Such a question indeed stumped Su Chong.

He had never considered this issue.

Back at Qingyun Mountain, with his father as a deterrent, aside from mosquitoes, almost no one dared to provoke his sister.

Here in the Capital, there was no reason for it to be the same.

And how did their master and servant manage to let wasps run rampant in the Imperial Palace?

The more he thought about it, the more bewildering it seemed.

After finishing a drumstick.

Su Chong finally thought of a possibility, "It might be because her way of incense offering is unique, making her stand out in front of the heavens."

"Way of incense offering?" the Heir of Marquis Beining was puzzled.

"Unique?" Prince NanAn was curious.

"Indeed, my sister always burns incense in bundles, saying three sticks aren’t enough to convey her respect," Su Chong explained.

"..."

Chu Shun and his companions exchanged glances.

Stunned by such a method of incense offering.

"Indeed unique!" Chu Shun said.

"Offering incense this way is truly outstanding, making it hard not to stand out; she is truly clever," Prince NanAn admired.

"..."

"I’ve finished eating, I’ll be off now," Su Chong said.

Su Chong rode off.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion said, "Today, I’ve learned a new way of offering incense."

Chu Shun thought for a moment and said, "You guys keep an eye here; I’ll go home and offer a bundle of incense to my ancestors."

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, "...."

"I’ll do it too," the Heir of Marquis Beining responded upon realizing.

"Me too."

"..."

In the end, all four of them left in a hurry.

Leaving the servants dumbfounded.