Work overtime

Chapter 696

After a short rest, Wei Changzai stood up and limped with the help of Xiaohe to Yonghe Palace to ask for help from Concubine Ning.

In her heart, Concubine Ning was like a fairy descended from heaven, possessing all the good qualities. Even if she used all the nice words she knew to praise her, they still fell short.

And Imperial Concubine Yi was also there. She was the most gentle and kind-hearted mistress in her heart.

After leaving Jingyang Palace, Xiao He started to complain, "My dear, what are you trying to do? You even broke your leg."

Wei Changzai lowered her eyes and said nothing. She didn't know why. She just felt that it was the right thing to do.

Seeing that his mistress had become mute like a goose again, Xiao He complained bitterly, "She didn't come from a good family either, but now she has become a royal concubine."

Wei Changzai's eyes were red. "I'm the one who caused you trouble. If you want to go to another palace, go ahead."

This was not the first time she had said this. She also felt that she was useless.

"Forget it," Xiao He said unhappily, "My young master is of low rank, so please stop showing off in the future."

Wei Changzai said nothing. Yes. She was indeed showing off. Maybe Xiao Cairen didn't need her help at all.

Suddenly, a group of people came towards us in a grand manner.

The two of them didn't dare to look at him any longer and instinctively knelt down with their heads down.

"My lady, it's Wei Changzai."

Concubine Xiao lifted the curtain and glanced at Concubine Wei who was kneeling by the roadside. "Sister Wei, please stand up. Come back to Jingyang Palace with me."

After saying this, he lowered the curtain and started coughing again in the sedan chair.

Wei Changzai did not dare to disobey, and dragged her sprained foot back to Jingyang Palace.

The imperial physician took Concubine Xiao's pulse and prescribed some cough-relieving medicine.

Xiao Guiren's maid asked, "Master, Miss Wei's foot is sprained. How about asking the imperial physician to take a look?"

"She twisted her foot?" Concubine Xiao was surprised. "Doctor Wang, go and take a look at Miss Wei. Ping'er, go with the doctor. Let's see if it's serious."

Ping'er was a little embarrassed, "My lord, which way are you?"

"I'm fine." Lady Xiao said as she coughed. Since she started coughing up blood, it seemed like she couldn't stop. Whenever she coughed, red spots would appear on her handkerchief.

Seeing her master's insistence, Ping'er had no choice but to obey, "Yes, young lady, I will go right away. Doctor Wang, please come in."

Doctor Wang examined Wei Changzai and asked about the whole story. He felt sorry for and admired the seemingly weak but actually strong woman in front of him. He frowned and advised:
"My lady, you can't walk for the next month. Your foot is seriously injured. You twisted your foot and you still want to run. Sigh."

Xiao He rushed to say, "I have advised you not to run away, she..."

"Xiao He!" Wei Changzai interrupted Xiao He and smiled gently, "Thank you, Doctor Wang."

He winked at Xiao He. Xiao He fumbled around in his pocket and took out some change, picked out two coins, and handed them to Doctor Wang awkwardly.

As a servant, she felt ashamed to give out such a small reward.

Doctor Wang did not answer, but waved his hand and said, "This is my duty."

Wei Changzai's eyes turned red with embarrassment. "Master Imperial Physician, I am of low rank and don't have much money. This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you don't mind."

Doctor Wang was touched. Even though the woman was in a poor and humble situation, she still knew how to repay his kindness. He thought about it and accepted the silver. He packed his things, thought about it and said to Xiaohe, "You can take my sedan chair back."

"What about you, the doctor?"

"I will walk back. It's no problem. I'm used to it. It's a good way to exercise my legs and feet," said Doctor Wang cheerfully. "I still have to go to see Lady Xiao. You can take my sedan chair back."

Wei Changzai bowed to Doctor Wang and said, "Thank you."

Doctor Wang said to a young doctor who followed him, "Go and tell the sedan bearer about Miss Wei's condition. Then come back and find me."

Wei Changzai limped away with the help of Xiaohe. Xiaohe complained, but her eyes were filled with tears.

Imperial Physician Wang brought another young imperial physician back to Concubine Xiao and told her about Concubine Wei's sprained ankle and the whole story.

"Sister Wei is kind and gentle. In the future, please ask Doctor Wang to take care of Sister Wei and take good care of her feet."

Concubine Xiao winked at Ping'er, and Ping'er took out a jade bracelet of medium quality and gave it to Doctor Wang. Doctor Wang refused for a long time and was determined not to accept it. Concubine Xiao had no choice but to give up.

After Doctor Wang left, Concubine Xiao fell into deep thought.

Ping Er was serving water to Concubine Xiao, and she sighed, "I didn't expect there are such kind people in the harem."

Concubine Xiao took a sip of water and said calmly, "She was recommended to the palace by the local government because her family has been filial, respectful, loyal and virtuous for generations and has good character. Her family members are like this, so naturally she is the same."

Even so, Concubine Xiao never thought that she would go to such an extent of disregarding her own safety for others.

She was originally a noble and cold person who had no expectations of human nature. She did not like to get emotionally involved with others and was unwilling to get involved in the right and wrong in the harem.

If it were someone else, even if he died for her, she would think that person deserved it and it had nothing to do with her, so she would not be moved at all.

Today, Wei Changzai touched her heart and made her feel warm. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "There are actually people like this in the world."

But Wei Changzai's kindness made her feel troubled. She was like this at home, she didn't like to owe favors to others, and she didn't know how to be nice to others.

She couldn't help but look up and ask Ping'er, "How do you think I should thank her?"

"How about we give her some gold and silver jewelry?" Ping'er asked tentatively. Isn't this what people usually give as gifts?

Concubine Xiao shook her head. She felt that this was a humiliation to Concubine Wei. Concubine Wei would definitely not ask for gold and silver directly. If it was other jewelry, she would definitely collect it as a treasure and would not sell it.

Ping Er suggested again, "Then write a letter to the master, tell him about this, and then ask him to send some money to Miss Wei's family?"

Xiao Chang was silent in her heart, thinking that Wei Chang must be very filial with such a character, and she would be very happy if her family was better. "That's good. Bring me paper and pen. I'll write now."

Li Beichen learned about the conditions of Concubine Xiao and Concubine Wei, as well as the whole story, from Doctor Wang. He ordered people to send Concubine Zhen back on the grounds that Concubine Xiao was coughing up blood and was sick, which was not good for the fetus.

He also ordered Liang Xiaobao to summon Jiang Yu to the Qinzheng Palace to visit Concubine Xiao together.

Concubine Xiao, who usually doesn't like to talk or gossip about others, for the first time ever said a lot of good things about Concubine Wei.

Li Beichen was also very moved after hearing this. He comforted Concubine Xiao to rest and recuperate, and said he would definitely reward Concubine Wei on her behalf.

After leaving Xiao Guiren, Li Beichen took Jiang Yu to visit Wei Changzai. Lan, who lived in Fanghuaju, agreed and came out to greet them. She thought that since Wei Changzai was injured and could not sleep with him, maybe she would have a chance.

When Wei Changzai saw that the emperor actually came to visit her in person, she was very nervous and kept apologizing, saying that it was all her fault for being careless and that it was just a minor injury. Because Wei Changzai really thought so in her heart, these polite words actually sounded very sincere and touching.

Lan, who was waiting on the side, felt hypocritical and disgusted after hearing this, and was hurt by the pity and compassion on the emperor's face. She thought with great resentment that the emperor liked this kind of person who pretended to be weak and kind.

After Jiang Yu examined him, he came to the same conclusion: his meridians were injured and he needed to stay in bed for a month.

Li Beichen immediately promoted her to Wei Cairen as a reward and sent her some gold and silver as a reward. Wei was flattered, and she felt from the bottom of her heart that she was just doing her duty and didn't think there was anything special about it.

This sincerity even infected Jiang Yu, who secretly sighed how there could be such a simple, pure and kind woman in the harem.

Considering that Wei was going to be bedridden for a month, Li Beichen asked, "What do you like on a daily basis?"

Wei lowered her head, feeling inferior. She couldn't say she liked anything because she didn't understand anything.

Seeing Wei lowering her head and keeping silent, Li Beichen thought of Wei's background, she was illiterate and couldn't play the piano, "Do you like embroidery? How about I find an embroiderer to teach you embroidery?"

When Wei heard this, her eyes lit up. She had wanted to learn embroidery since she was a child but had no chance. She nodded quickly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am willing to do so."

Thinking that I could embroider something and give it to the emperor after I learned it, my heart felt even sweeter and a smile appeared on my face.

"Then it's settled."

Li Beichen casually told Liang Xiaobao to arrange the matter and to make sure to find a gentle, patient and experienced embroiderer.

Wei was so moved that she almost cried, and she choked up and thanked him again and again. In fact, for Li Beichen, it was just a matter of mentioning.

Lan Da Ying who was standing by sneered secretly, thinking that Wei Cairen was really scheming and good at pretending.

The emperor also ordered Lan Ying to come over often to accompany Wei Cairen and chat with her to relieve her boredom. Lan Ying agreed with a smile, "I obey your order. Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will take good care of Sister Wei."

After returning to the Qinzheng Palace, Li Beichen dismissed everyone, closed the door, and asked Jiang Yu about the poison on Concubine Xiao and Concubine Wei.

Jiang Yu considered for a while and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xiao will recover in two days at the fastest and seven or eight days at the slowest. It's hard to say about Concubine Wei, she doesn't seem to have any symptoms yet."

Li Beichen was very surprised after hearing this, "It's so fast."

"Yes." Jiang Yu replied respectfully.

"Why didn't Concubine Xiao show any signs of pain?"

Jiang Yu sighed, "Perhaps the poison varies from person to person and hides in the right places on the body. Lady Xiao's poison is likely hidden in her abdomen. It's not that she didn't suffer any special pain. It's that she was in so much pain that she mistook the abdominal pain for the aftereffects of a miscarriage."

"Then why are you coughing up blood?"

Jiang Yu replied, "It's because the disease is already too advanced and has invaded the lung meridian."

Li Beichen's expression changed and he felt a dull pain in his heart.

Jiang Yu didn't know how to persuade him for a moment. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty can try Taoist medicine. I heard that some Taoists in the south know how to collect poison."

Li Beichen said without hesitation, "Then do it right away."

Jiang Yu reported carefully, "This means that the emperor must make public the fact that the empress in the harem has been poisoned by the cold poison."

Li Beichen was silent.

If this happens, it will probably cause a big upheaval. Because he is afraid of cold but not heat and does not need an ice box, everyone in the court knows about it. Once it is announced, it will be equivalent to announcing that he has also been poisoned by the cold. It is difficult to predict the impact on the situation.

It was hard to say whether the rebellious forces would make a move. It was even harder to say whether any of the Baili people had sneaked into the palace disguised as Taoist doctors.

What should I do?

He was undecided for a moment and asked Jiang Yu, "Do you have a Taoist doctor you know who can take a look at Lady Xiao first?"

Jiang Yu was a little embarrassed. "Yes, there is. It is in the Taoist temple in the mountains. He usually travels outside to collect herbs and his whereabouts are unknown. I don't know if he is in the Taoist temple."

"Tell Xiaobao where Taoist Priest Xiaobao is and what he looks like, and let him arrange this matter."

As long as there is a glimmer of hope, you should always give it a try.

Li Beichen's mind flashed with Jiang Yuebai's gentle and determined eyes. He had given up, but now he felt that he could not give up.

After Jiang Yu left, Li Beichen wrote a secret letter to Jiang Yuebai, which was delivered to Yonghe Palace by Xiao Yinzi himself.

The Yonghe Palace was bustling with activity.

Concubine Yi, Concubine Xie, Concubine An, and Concubine Jiang were all there. Several people were eating at a table, praising the chefs of Yonghe Palace for their skills.

Concubine Yi and Jiang Chang were drinking tea, while Concubine Xie and Concubine An were drinking separately. They had a feud and it was impossible for them to be good friends. They could barely sit at the same table only because of Jiang Yuebai.

Before the others arrived, Imperial Concubine Yi asked Jiang Yuebai if she wasn't worried that the three of them would take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble out of jealousy over the twin pregnancy. Jiang Yuebai just smiled and told her not to worry, saying that it was her own territory and it was not anyone else's turn to make trouble. If anyone dared to do so, she would be in a state of panic.

Luo Shan hurried over and said he had something important to report.

Jiang Yuebai put down the chopsticks in her hand and went to the inner room in a wheelchair. Jiang Yuebai read the secret letter from the emperor with a smile on her face, paused for a moment, and put the letter into a compartment of the dressing box.

She smiled and kissed her red lips on a piece of exquisite letter paper, folded it in half, put it in an envelope, handed it to Luo Shan again, and said a few words to him in a low voice. She then picked up the foundation in front of the dressing table and applied powder to make herself look more haggard.

Pretending not to notice the person peeping outside the window, he walked out leisurely.

When she returned to the table, she looked pale and tired. She held her stomach and said, "Sisters, please eat slowly. I feel a little unwell and will go back to rest."

"Sister." Jiang Chang called anxiously, "Don't worry about us, go back to your room and rest."

Imperial Concubine Yi thought that the matter was settled, so she pretended to be anxious and held Jiang Yuebai's arm, "Sister, how are you? Quick, go and call the imperial physician!"

Jiang Yuebai looked at her best friend and said in a dying voice, "Thank you, sister. Maybe the fetus just moved. I'll go back to my room first."

Concubine Xie put down her chopsticks and looked around. "Where's Concubine An? Why is she gone?"

Jiang Yuebai: "Concubine An is drunk. She is lying in the inner room. Let's talk after she wakes up. I am really sorry for today."

Imperial Concubine Yi hurriedly urged him, gently blaming him, "What are you talking about? Go lie down quickly, your health is important. You really worry me."

Jiang Yuebai said with concern, "Sister Yi, you are not well yet, go back and rest."