The uncles acted swiftly. In the blink of an eye, they had rented an old courtyard in a secluded area. This location wasn't far from the palace, and it was quiet and unlikely to attract attention.
Wei Dongling thanked Murong Xuan and secretly moved everyone to the newly - bought courtyard.
The courtyard wasn't large, with only a few rooms in total. Fortunately, the Ninth Prince wasn't a pampered person. He was quite willing to share a room with Jingzhe.
After everyone pitched in to tidy it up, the rooms looked clean and tidy. Yu Haiming and Old Brother Qin went out to buy some items.
Wei Dongling leaned against the door of the Ninth Prince's room, watching Ruan Niang give him acupuncture. The charcoal fire in the room was burning vigorously, casting a rosy glow on the Ninth Prince's face. Murong Yuchen coughed lightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Shouldn't Miss Wei step out for a while?" To facilitate Ruan Niang's acupuncture and blood - drawing, he was dressed thinly, with most of his chest exposed. Being watched so boldly by his elder sister made him blush.
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes. "What for? I've seen it all. Besides, you're my own younger brother."
Murong Yuchen was at a loss for words and turned his face away in silence.
After a whole set of procedures, a fine layer of sweat had appeared on Ruan Niang's forehead.
Wei Dongling quickly picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat off her face. In the past few days, Ruan Niang had been so busy that she looked haggard.
Ruan Niang waved her hand, indicating that it was okay. She pulled Wei Dongling out of the room and said excitedly, "I've managed to slowly draw out some of the poison from the Ninth Prince. I can see some signs of improvement! If I'm given a bit more time, there might be a chance to save him!"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling was overjoyed. She stepped forward and hugged Ruan Niang's waist, whispering softly, "Thank you, Ruan Niang."
For several days in a row, Right Supervisory Censor Lord Shen had been trying to contact a familiar imperial physician in private, hoping to recommend Ruan Niang to treat the emperor. But he hadn't received a reply from the palace.
Wei Dongling was extremely worried. Since the Fifth Princess was dead, she couldn't enter the palace with this face. And with the Tenth Prince eyeing them covetously, they definitely couldn't return to the palace in the name of the Ninth Prince paying homage to the emperor. Otherwise, they might not even get to see the emperor, and it would only make Murong Yunqian more vigilant.
But every day that passed, the rations for the Tianchao soldiers and the Iron Cavalry soldiers cost a fortune. Thinking of all that silver slipping away, Wei Dongling felt like crying.
Fortunately, at noon one day, while Wei Dongling was accompanying Old Man Su in the courtyard to bask in the sun, Uncle Li handed her a letter from Xiliang.
Wei Dongling unfolded it and couldn't help frowning slightly. Cheng Hao's handwriting was so bad that it was almost unreadable!
Cuilan hurriedly leaned over to take a look and asked, "What does the letter say?"
Wei Dongling said speechlessly, "Xiliang intends to revitalize Jiangcheng, and the market is gradually recovering. Cheng Hao plans to sell all the houses he has hoarded and come back to reunite with us earlier." Wasn't this expected?
Cuilan smiled. "That's great news!" With Cheng Hao's lively personality, being left alone in the distant Xiliang without a single friend, he must be eager to come back.
Wei Dongling nodded. "Let him do as he wishes!" Selling the houses to get some money back was also good. It would at least ease her financial strain.
One afternoon, someone came in a hurry to pay a visit. They whispered something to Uncle Li in detail. Uncle Li immediately went into the house to call Wei Dongling, Ruan Niang, and the Ninth Prince, asking them to get ready and go to the palace quickly.
Wei Dongling's eyes lit up. This was the day she had been waiting for! She quickly reached out to tidy up her hair in a man's hairstyle, put on makeup, and changed her clothes.
Cuilan used charcoal ash to adjust the complexions of Wei Dongling and the Ninth Prince. After a careful makeover, when they were sure that no one would recognize them, they got on the carriage and headed for the palace.
If it was for the purpose of treatment, Ruan Niang could only bring two assistants at most. And Wei Dongling and the Ninth Prince had to go, so Uncle Li and Cuilan could only wait outside the palace.
Uncle Li whipped the carriage into a wild gallop. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at the palace gate.
Uncle Li helped them get off the carriage and warned them one by one, "Be careful in everything! Remember, your lives are more important than anything else. If there's danger, turn around and run. I'll be here to pick you up!"
The three of them nodded in unison.
Cuilan wanted to hand the dagger in her hand to Wei Dongling for self - defense, but then remembered that weapons were not allowed in the palace, so she had to give up. Her Miss Wei was so bad at kung fu and always acted rashly according to her mood. It was really worrying.
Seeing that Cuilan was worried, Wei Dongling nodded at her. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me!"
Cuilan said seriously, "Don't be rash. Do everything according to Ruan Niang's arrangement!"
"Got it. You're just like a young woman seeing off her husband to join the army!" Wei Dongling pouted and complained, then walked away without looking back.
Inside the palace, Lord Shen and the imperial physician he was familiar with were waiting anxiously. Seeing Ruan Niang and the others coming from afar, they quickly stepped forward to greet them.
Ruan Niang and the others bowed their heads and saluted Lord Shen and the imperial physician. Lord Shen introduced them, "This is Mrs. Ruan I've mentioned to you! Mrs. Ruan, this is Imperial Physician Sun, my fellow - townsman."
The imperial physician stepped forward and saluted. "So it's Mrs. Ruan! I've long admired you. Come to think of it, we've met once before!"
Ruan Niang nodded and smiled politely.
Imperial Physician Sun then asked, "Who are these two?"
Ruan Niang replied, "Imperial Physician Sun, these two are my assistants."
Imperial Physician Sun looked embarrassed. "Right now, the emperor is paralyzed, and the area around his bedroom is heavily guarded. I'm afraid you can't bring assistants in!"
Ruan Niang nodded. "It's okay. They can wait outside. If necessary, I'll call them in."
Only then did Imperial Physician Sun nod in agreement.
On the way, Ruan Niang carefully inquired about the emperor's condition and daily routine.
When they arrived in front of the emperor's bedroom, they saw from afar that Eunuch Cao was standing guard outside the bedroom with two eunuchs.
Imperial Physician Sun stepped forward and said something. Eunuch Cao came over and saluted Ruan Niang. "Long time no see, Mrs. Ruan. I hope you've been well." As he spoke, he raised his eyes to size up Wei Dongling and the Ninth Prince beside Ruan Niang, his eyes shining with shrewdness.
Scared, Wei Dongling quickly lowered her head and didn't dare to look around.
Ruan Niang returned the salute and said with a gentle smile, "Thank you for your concern, Eunuch Cao. May you be blessed."
Eunuch Cao nodded and said in a deep voice, "I've heard that Mrs. Ruan is very skilled in acupuncture and has even saved people with the same symptoms of poisoning. But I wonder how confident you are in saving the emperor?"
Ruan Niang replied, "I have indeed used acupuncture and blood - drawing to save patients with the same symptoms. But every patient is different, and the severity of the poisoning also varies. I dare not make any hasty remarks before I've felt the emperor's pulse. But please rest assured, Eunuch Cao. I will do my best to treat our emperor!"
Eunuch Cao nodded and replied, "Alright, Mrs. Ruan, please follow me. These two can stay here. The emperor doesn't like noise. He might fly into a rage if he sees strangers."
Ruan Niang was secretly anxious. The purpose of this trip was to let Wei Dongling and the others see the emperor. How could they not be allowed in at this moment?