"To answer Your Highness, the Noble Consort, about the Prince's condition... sigh!" Imperial Physician Zhang let out a heavy sigh.
"Forgive this humble official for his lack of medical skill. I have no good method to cure His Highness's legs."
"His Highness is blessed with profound fortune. Perhaps one day he will encounter a divine physician who can surely cure his legs."
Hearing this, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Noble Consort Li's eyes.
However, her face appeared full of rage.
"You imperial physicians cannot even cure a leg injury! What use is there in keeping you useless servants?"
"Hurry up and get out of my sight!"
Noble Consort Li scolded, and Imperial Physician Zhang bowed and retreated to the side.
Noble Consort Li then turned to comfort Xiao Yi, who had his head lowered. "Prince of Pingyang, rest assured. I will have notices posted among the people to search far and wide for a divine physician."
"Imperial Physician Zhang is right. There are many capable and extraordinary people among the common folk. Someone will definitely be able to heal your legs."
Xiao Yi raised his head and looked at Noble Consort Li expressionlessly.
"There is no need for the trouble. I feel that being like this right now is quite fine."
Noble Consort Li wanted to say more, but the Empress Dowager spoke up.
"Didn't you just say that Prince Ling needs to rest quietly? Why haven't you hurried back to your estate?"
"The Prince of Pingyang has already ended up like this. Could it be that Prince Ling also wants to sit in a wheelchair?"
Noble Consort Li's goal had already been achieved, so naturally, she would not stay.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is right. Prince Ling, hurry back and rest."
"Imperial Physician Zhang, you will follow Prince Ling out of the palace. You are not to return to the Imperial Hospital until Prince Ling's illness is cured!"
Imperial Physician Zhang bowed in great trepidation.
Noble Consort Li's words were clear: if Prince Ling did not recover, he could forget about ever returning to the Imperial Hospital.
"Grandmother, your grandson will return to the estate first. When I am better, I will come back to pay my respects to you."
Prince Ling bid farewell to the Empress Dowager with an expression of forbearance and obedience.
"Go back and rest well," the Empress Dowager merely instructed.
Prince Ling left with his children, shedding tears of gratitude. Noble Consort Li also left, using the excuse of seeing Prince Ling off.
Duoduo noticed that the expression on her father's face had relaxed a lot.
Soon, the Emperor also learned of the results of Imperial Physician Zhang's diagnosis of Xiao Yi.
The Emperor stared at the memorial in his hands, dazed for a long time.
In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, Xiao Yi looked up at the Empress Dowager seated above.
"Grandmother, it is rare for your grandson to enter the palace. I would like to ask for a midday meal here with you."
The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Yi and shook her head slightly.
"I only have vegetarian food here, and Changle is still growing. You should take the child and go back."
"You have traveled thousands of miles to return, it has been hard on you."
"Go back early to rest and recover. Only when you are well will your grandmother stop worrying."
Xiao Yi pursed his lips. "Alright, your grandson will listen to Grandmother."
"Then your grandson will take his leave now and come to pay his respects to Grandmother another day."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand.
"I have always preferred quiet. Just come and kowtow to me on your Imperial Father's birthday."
Xiao Yi's eyes darkened slightly. "Yes. Then your grandson will take his leave."
Su Xian and Duoduo bowed to the Empress Dowager and pushed the wheelchair out of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Duoduo found it a bit strange; the Empress Dowager's attitude seemed to have changed drastically from before.
It seemed that ever since Imperial Physician Zhang diagnosed her father, the Empress Dowager's attitude had become completely different.
However, Duoduo was still very happy to be able to leave the palace quickly.
Because the anesthetic would lose its effect after two hours.
When that time came, the acupuncture would have to continue.
Duoduo did not want her father to suffer again.
Besides, the palace was too oppressive. One had to be cautious in word and deed, which was not comfortable at all.
As they walked, Duoduo secretly peeked at her father's face.
Xiao Yi's expression had not changed in the slightest.
He remained expressionless, looking as if he cared about nothing.
The group soon exited the palace and boarded the princely estate's carriage.
Duoduo leaned close to Xiao Yi and gently squeezed his leg.
"Father, are you alright?"
Xiao Yi glanced at Duoduo and said coldly,
"I don't have to walk on my own, so it's quite fine."
Duoduo was stunned. She looked at Xiao Yi, just in time to meet his icy gaze.
Duoduo blinked.
They were already out of the palace, could they still not speak freely?
Duoduo lowered her eyes and stopped talking.
The carriage suddenly fell quiet, with only the sounds of the wheels and horse hooves echoing.
After a while, Duoduo heard what sounded like something cutting through the air, flying over the top of the carriage.
Duoduo rushed to the window and saw a black figure moving away rapidly.
Xiao Yi saw it too, and a cold sneer curled the corners of his lips.
"Father, how did you notice him?" Duoduo turned her head, her face full of astonishment.
"I taught you to always be vigilant!" Xiao Yi smoothed the hem of his clothes.
"Father, you are so amazing!" Duoduo looked at Xiao Yi with adoration.
Xiao Yi pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
"Since we are out, let's go to a restaurant to eat before heading back."
Xiao Yi ordered toward the outside of the carriage, "Yun Xiao, to the restaurant."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Yun Xiao replied from outside.
Su Xian looked pleasantly surprised.
"Your Highness, after we eat, I would like to go buy some fabric."
"For His Majesty's birthday next month, our clothes haven't been made yet!"
Xiao Yi looked at the clothes he was wearing.
"Aren't these newly made?"
Su Xian smiled gently. "It wouldn't do for Your Highness to wear these clothes to His Majesty's birthday banquet."
Duoduo also nodded.
"That's right, Mother. Make Father a beautiful new outfit. We absolutely cannot let others look down on Father!"
Xiao Yi let out a cold laugh.
"It's just an outward appearance, what is there to fear?"
"As long as you have power, even if you wear rags, people will still respect you!"
Duoduo pouted.
"But that Prince Ling looks down on Father!"
"Hmph, he isn't as good-looking as Father, nor as capable. What right does he have to look down on Father?"
"Because his mother is Noble Consort Li!" Xiao Yi answered coldly.
"But Father's mother was the Empress!" Duoduo said, unconvinced.
Su Xian hurriedly tugged at Duoduo.
The late Empress was an untouchable reverse scale in Xiao Yi's heart.
Su Xian worried that Xiao Yi would take his anger out on Duoduo, so she hastily explained.
"Your Highness, Duoduo was just defending you. She didn't mean any harm."
Xiao Yi glanced at the cautious Su Xian. He did not lose his temper, but instead looked at Duoduo.
"Remember this: when a person leaves, the tea grows cold. No matter how good a relationship is, it only exists in the present."
Duoduo looked at Xiao Yi thoughtfully.
The carriage soon came to a stop, and Yun Xiao lifted the curtain.
Duoduo held Su Xian's hand and stepped down from the carriage.
The place where the carriage stopped was in front of a restaurant.
The restaurant was very large, standing a full three stories high.
Three large characters were written on the signboard over the door: "Laifu Restaurant."
"This is a time-honored establishment in the capital. Its dishes are very famous and delicious."
Seeing Duoduo's curiosity, Su Xian softly introduced it to her.
The group walked into the restaurant, and the shopkeeper hurried out to greet them.
Upon seeing Xiao Yi, the shopkeeper unexpectedly fell to his knees with a loud thud.
