Imperial Physician Li was the leading authority of the Imperial Medical Academy, having studied medicine since childhood and earning the title of “Little Miracle Healer” at a young age.
And now, Imperial Physician Li actually wanted to consult with Princess Changle!
The Emperor studied Imperial Physician Li with suspicion.
If he hadn’t known Imperial Physician Li so well, he might have suspected the physician was speaking on Princess Changle’s behalf.
After a moment’s deliberation, the Emperor asked:
“Where is Princess Changle now?”
Eunuch Li replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, because you suddenly collapsed, Consort Li ordered that Princess Changle be sent to the Ministry of Punishment.”
Startled, the Emperor looked at Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li understood the unspoken question in the Emperor’s eyes.
“I heard that after Princess Changle arrived at the Ministry of Punishment, she produced the jade pendant you gave her.”
“Now, the ministry can only detain them; they dare not harm her.”
The Emperor relaxed, leaning back against his soft pillow.
“Imperial Physician Li, not a word of my condition must leave this room.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Your servant obeys!” Imperial Physician Li bowed.
The Emperor waved his hand, and Imperial Physician Li withdrew.
“Xiao Lizi, what happened after I fainted?”
Eunuch Li bowed his waist. “Your Majesty, I went to fetch the account books and returned to find you collapsed.”
“I rushed over in panic. Fortunately, Princess Changle had caught your head and supported your body as you fell.”
“When I arrived, I wanted to help you up, but Princess Changle forbade me from moving you.”
“She then took out silver needles and quickly inserted them into your hands.”
Eunuch Li paused.
“At that moment, Consort Li became frantic and struck Princess Changle.”
“Consort Li claimed that Princess Changle had harmed your sacred body and must have been acting on someone’s orders.”
“Thus, Consort Li ordered that Princess Changle and her maids be sent to the Ministry of Punishment.”
“Your Majesty, Prince Ling, Prince Rui, and the Prince of Pingyang all came to see you,” Eunuch Li added.
After hearing this account, the Emperor finally understood how dire the situation had been.
He looked at the silver needles on the bedding, picked one up curiously, and watched it gleam in the candlelight.
A strange feeling stirred in the Emperor’s heart.
“Xiao Lizi, if Princess Changle truly knows acupuncture, might the Prince of Pingyang’s legs be saved?”
Eunuch Li hesitated, recalling how the Prince of Pingyang had arrived in his wheelchair earlier.
“Your Majesty, the Prince of Pingyang’s legs were diagnosed by all the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy.”
Hearing this, the Emperor placed the needle back into its cloth pouch.
Yes, Princess Changle was just a child.
How could she surpass those physicians who had steeped in medicinal herbs since childhood?
“I am tired. I wish to rest.”
Eunuch Li helped the Emperor lie down, covered him with the quilt, and ventured cautiously, “Your Majesty, as for Princess Changle, what should I do?”
The Emperor closed his eyes, seeming to have fallen asleep.
Eunuch Li was about to tiptoe away when he heard the Emperor speak:
“She has the life-exempting jade pendant I gave her. No one dare touch her.”
“No one is to approach the Hall of Supreme Harmony.”
Eunuch Li’s heart jolted. He bowed. “Yes, Your servant obeys.”
Eunuch Li withdrew from the Hall of Supreme Harmony and stood guard outside.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi had already arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
The Empress Dowager had just finished her noon prayers and was surprised to see him.
“Yi’er, why have you entered the palace?”
Seeing her expression, Xiao Yi realized she still knew nothing.
He pressed his lips together.
“Grandmother, Father Emperor is unwell, so I came to see him.”
The Empress Dowager turned in surprise to her personal attendant.
“Madam, His Majesty suddenly collapsed today at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.”
The Empress Dowager rose in shock.
“What happened? Why didn’t you tell me?”
The attendant quickly explained, “Madam, you ordered that no one disturb you during your noon prayers.”
“Fool! Such a grave matter as His Majesty collapsing, and you didn’t speak sooner?”
“Yi’er, how is your father?”
“No, I must see him myself!”
With that, the Empress Dowager hurried out.
“Grandmother, I won’t accompany you. I’ll wait for you in the palace.”
“Mm.” The Empress Dowager answered and was soon out of sight.
“Yunxiao, find out what truly happened in the palace today.”
“Hurry!” Xiao Yi urged.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Yunxiao raced away.
Xiao Yi sat in his chair, pondering.
Duoduo had not left the palace, nor was she at the Hall of Supreme Harmony or the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Where could she be?
A sense of dread grew in Xiao Yi’s heart.
Sure enough, Yunxiao soon returned, breathless.
“Your Highness, this is bad!”
Yunxiao recounted everything he had learned.
Xiao Yi slammed his hand on the armrest.
“Outrageous!”
Yunxiao quickly lowered his head. “Your Highness, what should we do now?”
Xiao Yi’s interlaced fingers whitened at the knuckles as he forced himself to stay calm.
“You said the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince have not left the palace?”
“Yes,” Yunxiao nodded.
“I learned that Prince Rui’s men are lying in ambush outside the Xuanwu Gate.”
“Prince Ling, however, shows no activity.”
Xiao Yi recalled the earlier scene at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, heavily guarded. An intruder would find it very difficult.
If he were Prince Ling and wished to seize the opportunity, he would most likely tamper with the Emperor’s food.
Xiao Yi walked to a nearby table and quickly wrote a few characters.
Yunxiao, standing beside him, saw them clearly: “Poison in the food.”
“Yunxiao, find a way to drop this note into Consort Xian’s palace.”
Yunxiao took the note and darted off.
Xiao Yi looked down and saw his hand trembling slightly.
When he had heard that Duoduo had been taken to the Ministry of Punishment, his impulse was to rush there and rescue her.
But learning that she had produced the life-exempting jade pendant made his chest loosen.
Thank heaven.
His daughter was no longer a delicate flower in a warm room.
Now that Duoduo was safe, he could focus on dealing with those who had wronged her.
Today’s scheme was surely orchestrated by Consort Li.
As for why—Xiao Yi had no interest in knowing.
All he knew was that Consort Li had bullied his daughter.
Inside the Ministry of Punishment, Duoduo, Lüdou, and Nanny Li were awakened by the clanking of chains.
Duoduo opened her eyes.
She saw the chief warden standing at the entrance with a grim face.
“Get up! All of you, come out!” The warden barked.
Lüdou, still dazed, quickly helped Duoduo stand.
“Princess, are we being released?” Lüdou asked, tears streaming with excitement.
Duoduo, too, was stirred.
“Let’s go! We’re going home!” Duoduo pulled Lüdou and Nanny Li and walked out of the water dungeon.
They took only a few steps before being stopped.
