After the carriage entered the palace gates, it stopped at the entrance of the Qianqing Palace. The eunuch lifted the carriage curtain, respectfully bowed his head, and said to Song Jinzhao, "County Princess, beyond the Qianqing Palace is the Inner Court. The carriage can only stop here."
After stepping down from the carriage, Song Jinzhao looked around. The last time she entered the palace was for the Emperor's birthday banquet, but her vision had been obscured by the night, and everything in the distance had been pitch black.
Looking at it now, the towering vermilion walls and the cold bluestone pavement felt empty and devoid of human warmth.
Setting aside the imperial majesty, it truly resembled a cage.
"There are servants in the palace, so this momo does not need to enter. She can simply wait here."
Song Jinzhao looked at the eunuch in surprise. "I can't even bring a single maid inside?"
It wasn't a major occasion like a sacrifice or a grand celebration. According to the rules, she should be allowed to bring one or two maids when visiting the Empress in the inner palace.
The eunuch bowed and said, "Her Majesty the Empress is feeling unwell and does not wish to see too many strangers. Please forgive us, County Princess."
Song Jinzhao lowered her eyes, feeling a bit strange. "Since that is the case, Qingshuang, you stay here."
Qingshuang nodded and handed the medical box to Song Jinzhao.
"This servant will wait here for you, Miss."
Walking to the entrance of the Kunning Palace, a palace maid immediately welcomed Song Jinzhao inside.
"This servant greets County Princess Linghui. Her Majesty the Empress has been waiting for the County Princess for quite some time."
Upon entering the main hall of the Kunning Palace, a warm heat accompanied by a thick scent of sandalwood washed over her. The fragrance was so strong that it made Song Jinzhao feel uncomfortable.
"Your subject Song Jinzhao pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May the Empress be blessed with ten thousand fortunes and golden peace."
"Rise, and be seated." The Empress wore a faint smile on her lips. Her voice, settled by time and authority, sounded like the low toll of a temple bell, giving off a feeling that was both gentle and inviolable.
Song Jinzhao stood up and raised her head.
The woman sitting upright on the phoenix chair possessed a luxurious aura. She wore a nine-tailed phoenix pearl-tassel hairpin on her head, and her dark blue kesi silk phoenix robe gave her a sense of stability and grace.
The current Empress of the Dongzhao Kingdom was Emperor Xiao Chengjing's first wife. Being only two years younger than him, she was considered relatively old in the flower-filled inner palace.
She had an excellent reputation outside, with her only flaw being her lack of children. Both princes were born to concubines. However, it was said that the imperial couple had a good relationship and treated each other with mutual respect.
The Empress looked at Song Jinzhao with a gentle expression and exchanged pleasantries. "The last time I saw the County Princess was at the Emperor's birthday banquet. I had long wanted to summon you into the palace for a casual chat, but unfortunately, my health has been poor, and I haven't had much energy."
Song Jinzhao politely curved her lips. "I heard that Your Majesty suffered from a severe headache last night and was in pain all night. Your complexion looks quite good now; presumably, the palace physicians have treated you well."
She was a County Princess with a different surname, not of imperial bloodline. She shouldn't have any family matters to chat about with the royal family.
The corners of the Empress's lips curled up, revealing a happy smile.
"My headaches have been occurring for many years; it's an old ailment. When it flared up last night, the pain was unbearable. It was the Emperor who took pity on me. Knowing that the County Princess has superb medical skills, far surpassing the palace physicians, he mentioned it after court today, which is why you were brought into the palace to take a look."
Song Jinzhao lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.
So it was Xiao Chengjing's idea.
"The Emperor's heart aches for Your Majesty. Since that is the case, your subject will now take Your Majesty's pulse."
Resting the pads of her fingers on the Empress's wrist, a strange look flashed through Song Jinzhao's eyes a moment later.
Excessive worry, internal stagnation, and a deficiency of qi and blood. It seemed this Empress was not living as well as she appeared on the surface.
"Your Majesty's liver qi is stagnant, and your heart and spleen are both deficient, leading to a restless mind. Presumably, managing the affairs of the six palaces too diligently has caused your noble body to fall ill."
"Your subject can use acupuncture to balance Your Majesty's qi, blood, yin, and yang, and to clear your meridians. This will be supplemented with herbal decoctions to nourish the body and consolidate qi. However, the headache is a chronic disease prone to relapses. Your Majesty must avoid excessive worry and maintain a joyful mood to reduce the frequency of recurrences, or even prevent them entirely."
The Empress gently stroked her temples and said slowly, "As the Empress, I have to worry about everything in the six palaces. How can I not be anxious?"
"The imperial physicians have long advised me about these headaches. County Princess, just treat it as soon as possible."
Song Jinzhao stood up and took out her acupuncture tools from the medical box.
The Empress had been married for many years but had never been pregnant. Judging from the pulse just now, there were no issues with her fertility. Without contraceptive measures, it was impossible for her not to conceive. Perhaps the problem truly lay with Xiao Chengjing.
With the Empress childless, the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Ying had a higher chance of ascending the throne. She just didn't know who had taken action.
To dare to scheme against the Emperor, their courage was no ordinary thing.
Half an hour later, when Song Jinzhao removed the needles, the Empress, who was lying face down on the bed, had already fallen asleep.
Song Jinzhao handed the written prescription to the palace maid. "Although sandalwood can calm the mind and soothe the spirit, using too much can cause dizziness and a constant feeling of mental fatigue and sleepiness. It is better to use less."
The Empress's personal maid curtsied and said, "The imperial physicians said the same thing, but if we don't burn more, Her Majesty cannot fall asleep during her afternoon nap, and her energy will only be worse in the afternoon."
Song Jinzhao glanced at the Empress lying on the bed. She definitely suffered from depression, and it was not mild.
Walking out of the Kunning Palace, she saw the same eunuch who had led the way when she entered the palace. He seemingly hadn't entered the Kunning Palace earlier.
After walking for a distance, Song Jinzhao stopped in her tracks. "Eunuch, this doesn't seem to be the way out of the palace."
At the intersection just now, they should have turned, but he had led her straight ahead.
The eunuch's body stiffened, his eyes showing a hint of nervousness. He hadn't expected Song Jinzhao to be so perceptive.
"To reply to the County Princess, this servant is following Eunuch Zhao's orders to lead the way for you. The County Princess just needs to follow."
Song Jinzhao pursed her lips, and her hand gripping the medical box tightened slightly.
It seemed Xiao Chengjing's head eunuch was named Eunuch Zhao.
It was Xiao Chengjing who suggested she enter the palace to treat the Empress. Did he want to ask about the Empress's condition, or did he have other motives?
Seeing the plaque for the Funing Palace hanging above, Song Jinzhao was led to the side hall next to it.
The eunuch leading the way pushed open the door and stopped at the entrance. "County Princess Linghui, please enter."
The moment Song Jinzhao stepped over the threshold, the large doors were shut behind her.
There were no palace maids or eunuchs inside the hall; only the flames on the candlestands flickered in the wind.
The sound of pages turning came from her left. Song Jinzhao took a deep breath and walked inward. When she saw Gu Jupu standing to the side, her footsteps paused imperceptibly.
"Your subject Song Jinzhao kowtows to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor, long live, long long live."
Xiao Chengjing was sitting on the couch reading a book, with the head eunuch, Eunuch Zhao, waiting beside him. There were only the four of them in the room.
"Rise." The majestic and solemn voice reached Song Jinzhao's ears from just a few yards away.
The moment Song Jinzhao stood up and raised her head, she met Xiao Chengjing's gaze.
It was like the eyes of a snake locking onto its prey, sending a chill down her spine. It felt completely different from the impression he gave at the birthday banquet last time.
"How is the Empress's condition?"
Song Jinzhao slowed her breathing and spoke slowly: "Her Majesty's headache is a chronic disease that frequently relapses. Your subject has already administered acupuncture and prescribed medicine for Her Majesty. If she can constantly maintain a joyful mood, the frequency of relapses will be reduced."
Xiao Chengjing's gaze hadn't left Song Jinzhao since she appeared. "Are you saying it cannot be completely cured?"
