The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "Alright, all of you may leave! Someone, take the Tenth Prince to bathe and change his clothes. I'll take him to see the Emperor right away."
"Yes!"
The Empress Dowager glanced at Wei Dongling and Concubine Shu, then at Empress Zhao, and snorted coldly, "One thing is for one thing. Zhao deserves punishment. Take her away for execution!"
"Yes!" The imperial guards dragged Empress Zhao away to receive the flogging.
Wei Dongling watched as the servants around the Empress Dowager escorted the Tenth Prince to bathe and change his clothes. She felt extremely annoyed.
Originally, it seemed that Nanny Gao was about to be executed immediately, and she thought she could avenge her hatred. But unexpectedly, the Tenth Prince appeared out of nowhere. After he put away his act of feigning madness and stupidity, he actually managed to please the Empress Dowager so much. In the end, Nanny Gao was only punished to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Punishment! The punishment was really too light!
The more Wei Dongling thought about it, the angrier she got. She exchanged a look with Concubine Shu, nodded to each other, and then took the seriously injured Cheng Hao back.
Cheng Hao was seriously injured. There was a heavy palm print on his chest, and the numerous injuries on his body clearly showed what a fierce battle he had been through. The dense wounds made Wei Dongling's heart tremble.
The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau felt Cheng Hao's pulse for a long time, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "Princess Wu, this old official can only do his best. As for whether he can be saved, it depends on fate."
Wei Dongling said anxiously, "You must save him!"
A group of imperial physicians surrounded the side room of Yaoguang Pavilion tightly, but Cheng Hao still remained unconscious. Wei Dongling paced around the courtyard anxiously, not knowing what to do. Could she only go out of the palace to invite Ruan Niang to come and take a look at Cheng Hao?
As Wei Dongling paced back and forth, she suddenly remembered that Concubine Shu was also skilled in medicine. Why not go to her first to discuss the matter? If it didn't work, then send someone to invite Ruan Niang.
Without hesitation, Wei Dongling rushed to Concubine Shu's courtyard.
It was still the same haughty maid who had helped her cover up the lie standing at the door. With the same disdainful look in her eyes, she said indifferently, "My lady is not feeling well..."
Wei Dongling quickly took out a shiny jade bracelet from her lapel and stuffed it into the maid's hand. She interrupted her flatteringly and said, "I know that Lady Shu is not feeling well. I've come specifically to see her. Please do me a favor, sister!" As she said this, she took the initiative and put her arm around the maid's shoulder, walking inside. She asked, "Your name is Chun Juan, right?"
The maid glared at Wei Dongling angrily and shouted, "You're the one named Chun Juan! My name is Chun Juan!"
Wei Dongling greeted her familiarly and patted her on the shoulder with a smile, "Oh, so you're Sister Chun Juan! I'm sorry! Thank you for your help today. I really came here to thank you and Lady Shu!"
"Humph!" Chun Juan quietly put the jade bracelet into her bosom, rolled her eyes, and said, "My lady is not in the palace. It's useless for you to come in."
It seemed that this time she was telling the truth.
Wei Dongling sighed and said, "I really came here to find your lady on a matter of urgency. My personal bodyguard was seriously injured by Nanny Gao. Even the imperial physicians are a bit at a loss. I was thinking that your lady is highly skilled in medicine and might be able to give me some advice."
Wei Dongling and Chun Juan sat down on the round stools. Chun Juan picked up the teapot and filled a cup of tea. Just as Wei Dongling was about to reach out to take it, she saw Chun Juan pick up the cup and take a big gulp.
Wei Dongling was extremely shocked. Were the servants in Lady Shu's place so rude? Even if there was no strict distinction between master and servant, was this how she usually entertained guests?
Chun Juan glanced at Wei Dongling and snorted, "What are you looking at? Can't you pour the tea yourself?"
Wei Dongling had no choice but to pick up the teapot and pour herself a cup of tea. She drank the tea facing Chun Juan.
After quenching her thirst, Chun Juan said slowly, "You can go back first. I'll ask my lady to go to your Yaoguang Pavilion when she comes back. My lady should be able to do something about your personal bodyguard's injury."
"That would be great!" Wei Dongling nodded and thanked her with a big smile. She was too anxious to stay any longer. After drinking a cup of tea, she got up and said goodbye.
When she returned to the courtyard of Yaoguang Pavilion, Wei Dongling took some silver from the bedside drawer to bribe the Internal Affairs Office and asked them to choose a geomantically favorable place to give Min Fang a decent burial.
Cheng Hao still remained unconscious. Wei Dongling paced around the courtyard anxiously, but Concubine Shu still didn't come. Looking up at the sky, she decided to send someone out of the palace to look for Ruan Niang.
She had just stepped out of the main gate of Yaoguang Pavilion when she saw Concubine Shu coming with a group of maids.
Wei Dongling rushed forward anxiously, grabbed Concubine Shu's sleeve, and said, "Lady Shu, why did you come so late!"
Concubine Shu nodded and said with a gentle smile, "I'm sorry, Princess Wu. I went to pick up my elder sister to enter the palace just now, so I'm late."
"It doesn't matter. Lady Shu, come with me quickly!" Wei Dongling couldn't wait to pull her hand and turned to enter the house, completely ignoring the maids behind Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu pointed at Chun Juan and the others behind her with an embarrassed look on her face and said, "That..."
Wei Dongling waved to Chun Juan and said, "Chun Juan, help me entertain Aunts and the others and invite them in for tea!" She had just taken a quick glance and saw a tall and exquisitely made-up young woman covering her face with a round fan. She had never seen this woman before. Presumably, this was Concubine Shu's elder sister!
Chun Juan rolled her eyes unhappily. She didn't expect this girl to act so familiar with herself!
Wei Dongling dragged Concubine Shu to the door of the side room in a hurry and muttered, "I'm relieved now that you're here, Lady Shu..."
Concubine Shu interrupted her and said awkwardly, "I'll go and see him now. Don't worry! By the way, my elder sister is also proficient in medicine. She heard that Princess Wu was also injured and insisted on coming to take a look at you."
Wei Dongling waved her hand quickly and said, "No need, no need. I'm in good health! As long as you help me save Cheng Hao..."
Before she could finish her words, she heard a familiar light cough. Wei Dongling quickly turned her head to look and saw a petite and delicately dressed woman among the maids brought by Concubine Shu. The woman had thick makeup on her face, but Wei Dongling still recognized her at a glance from her face shape and contour. It was Cui Huan, the one she had been longing for!
Cui Huan had actually sneaked into the palace in the name of Concubine Shu's family member?
Wait, does this mean that Concubine Shu, who had always been protecting her, was actually on Yu Zixi's side?
Wei Dongling's hand holding Concubine Shu's trembled, and she almost shed tears.
She had always thought that she was fighting alone, but unexpectedly, there had always been someone protecting her. Under the pressure of the Tenth Prince today, she had watched helplessly as Min Fang died. She had been so desperate that she thought she was going to die in the palace. But unexpectedly, she saw her loved one in the blink of an eye!
Wei Dongling's eyes were red, and she cried loudly. She almost told all the grievances she had suffered recently to Cui Huan on the spot.
Seeing her lose control, Concubine Shu coughed lightly and said, "Princess Wu, please let my elder sister take a look at your injury!"
Wei Dongling stared at Cui Huan's face with teary eyes and couldn't help but feel emotional. Then she realized that Concubine Shu wanted them to talk alone. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and nodded vigorously, "Thank you, Lady Shu. Thank you, Aunt!"