Chapter 797: I Fear Retribution
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Mingzhu didn’t press further and simply said, “It’s about time, Auntie. Drink your medicine and rest.” Then she looked at Sang Shen. “Bring the medicine for Her Majesty.”
Sang Shen glanced at the Great Empress Dowager stealthily. Her complexion had already darkened. “I’ve already taken it,” she said.
Mingzhu was surprised. “Even after taking it, you can sit here so lively and listen to zither music? Is Jiang Zhouzi’s medicine not effective anymore, or did you secretly reduce the dosage, Auntie?” Before the Great Empress Dowager could retort, Mingzhu decisively said, “This isn’t good. It’s not beneficial to your illness. Don’t be stubborn. You shouldn’t miss any of the medicine! Sang Shen, listen to me and bring the medicine!”
But she didn’t want to take the medicine now! If she took it, she would become drowsy, and how would she handle the subsequent matters? The Great Empress Dowager was extremely annoyed. Her hand on her knee trembled uncontrollably. She glared at Mingzhu, who smiled and met her gaze, clearly waiting for her to lose her temper. If she completely tore her face with Mingzhu now, wouldn’t all her efforts during this period be in vain?
After a moment’s consideration, she suddenly laughed. “You naughty child! Sang Shen, go bring the medicine.”
Sang Shen had been personally attending to the Great Empress Dowager recently and understood her implicit meaning well. She immediately brought over a bowl of tampered medicine and was about to offer it to the Great Empress Dowager when Mingzhu took it instead. Mingzhu sipped it lightly, tasted it thoughtfully, and then casually poured the medicine into a spittoon, her expression turning stern. “Who brewed this medicine? The dosage is incorrect!”
The Great Empress Dowager couldn’t help but show her anger. “Do you understand medicine?”
Mingzhu replied, “Aunt, you may not know this, but I do. Last year, I went with Jiang Zhouzi to find medicine for you and was captured and imprisoned by Yuwen Guang. Out of boredom, I asked him to teach me pharmacology. You see, I have no particular talent for medicine, but the one thing I am most proud of in this life is my memory. I didn’t idle away the journey, nor did I waste time once I returned home. Not to boast, but I understand pharmacology better than many ordinary doctors.”
The Great Empress Dowager’s face turned red and white alternately, and she erupted at Sang Shen, “Go and see who made the medicine? Beat them to death with a stick!”
Mingzhu immediately clasped her hands together. “Auntie, calm down. I’ve been eating vegetarian meals these days to pray for you and Father. Please don’t hurt someone’s life just because of a word from me. That’s against the heavens, and I fear retribution.”
The Great Empress Dowager had never realized that Mingzhu could be so eloquent and infuriating. She held her anger in her heart, wanting to erupt but unable to do so. She could only suppress her anger and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.” A sneaky eunuch peeked in from outside the hall, and a hint of impatience flashed in the Great Empress Dowager’s eyes. She immediately wanted Mingzhu to leave. “Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Ji Hui’s place? Go quickly, I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Mingzhu didn’t budge. “I’ll wait until Auntie finishes taking her medicine.” It’s easier said than done to send a god away once invoked. The Great Empress Dowager had kept her here by feigning illness and pity, trying every means to get close to her. Now she wanted her to leave; it wasn’t that simple. Either they would tear their faces apart, or she would endure.
The Great Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly smiled. “Alright, when one gets old, they should listen to their descendants. I’ll let you have your way.” She still didn’t want to tear their faces apart.
After a while, palace maids brought the medicine again. Mingzhu did as she promised and personally served the Great Empress Dowager the medicine. She watched as the Great Empress Dowager finished drinking the last drop from the bowl before she said contentedly, “If Auntie takes her medicine at every meal, she’ll definitely get better.”
Jiang Zhouzi’s medicine was potent. Shortly after drinking it, the Great Empress Dowager began to feel drowsy. Even her eyelids couldn’t stay open, and she could only reluctantly drift off to sleep. Mingzhu put away her smile, got up, and said to the inconspicuous Ji Hui, “Let’s go. Let’s go see the orchids you planted.”
Ji Hui led the way attentively, while Mingzhu walked proudly. She glanced indifferently at the little eunuch who bowed beside the path and asked a palace maid, “Who is he? He looks unfamiliar.”
The palace maid answered cautiously, “He’s called Xiao Shuangqing. He was recently assigned to serve here.”
Although the Great Empress Dowager didn’t judge people by their appearance, she definitely didn’t like having someone like him around. Suddenly having such a person must serve a special purpose. Mingzhu asked, “What is he in charge of?”
“He’s in charge of running errands,” the palace maid replied cautiously.
Xiao Shuangqing was lying on the ground, touching his forehead to the ground, showing utmost humility.
Mingzhu stared at him for a while, didn’t say anything else, and followed Ji Hui.
People always have feelings for things they once owned. If they see them being tampered with or destroyed by others later, they can’t help but feel uncomfortable. But Ji Hui was very clever; she hardly changed anything in the room. After Mingzhu looked around, her mood didn’t sour at all. On the contrary, she admired Ji Hui’s taste very much. “This room is much livelier than when I lived here.”
Ji Hui loved planting flowers. The room was tastefully decorated with various precious flowers and plants, elegant yet lively. But even after hearing Mingzhu’s praise, she didn’t show any signs of pride. “It’s just something I do when I have free time.”
Mingzhu sat down, had a couple of cups of tea, and then left when the sky began to darken. Before leaving, she deliberately circled around the front hall. The Great Empress Dowager was still asleep, and Xiao Shuangqing, the little eunuch, was anxiously whispering something to Sang Shen. He closed his mouth as soon as he saw her approach and pretended to leave early, as if he had something urgent to do.
Mingzhu didn’t pay attention to him and instructed Ji Hui, who escorted her out, “Miss Ji, you may return.”
Ji Hui complied readily, bowing, “Farewell, Wangfei.” She waited until Mingzhu had walked far away before turning back. When there were no palace maids eavesdropping around, her wet nurse asked softly, “Why did the Regent Wangfei show favor to Miss today? Could it be that something good is about to happen? After all, the Xiongnu are causing so much trouble now, and they need our family’s territory so much!”
Ji Hui replied calmly, “You’re wrong. She showed favor to me just to tell me that the Ji family’s ally should be the Regent mansion, not Changxin Palace. At the same time, she’s warning the Great Empress Dowager, trying to divide the relationship between me and the Great Empress Dowager. She won’t just watch as I get closer to the Great Empress Dowager. She’s helping the Regent, yes, but she doesn’t want me to end up with him.”
The wet nurse sighed, “But can it go on like this forever? To be honest, someone like the Regent is truly rare. I can’t think of anyone else in the world who can match Miss except him.”
Ji Hui scolded her softly, “Shut up! Aren’t there other good men in the world? What’s wrong with this arrangement? Good food, good drink, freedom, and no one to annoy me.”
The wet nurse muttered softly, “But none of those people are the Regent. There’s only one Regent. As for freedom, where’s the freedom when you’re confined to your hometown?”
Ji Hui didn’t answer her, only said, “The Regent Wangfei is very nice.”
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