General, your wife has gone to deliver another calf for your horse.

“No need.” Jiang Nuanzhi shook her head slightly: “I think the reason why this Grand Princess was forced to kneel was probably because she had a test in mind.”

Jiang Nuanzhi suddenly raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lin Chun: "Lin Chun, if you were terminally ill and there was only one person who could cure your illness, would you keep a close eye on her movements?"

“Of course.” Lin Chun nodded to himself, then glanced at the guards behind him: “Are you saying that the Emperor already knows?”

Jiang Nuanzhi: "The palace is practically riddled with holes. I'm afraid it's not just the Emperor who knows; many people do. As for the Emperor, I'm sure he's known every step I took from the moment I stepped through the palace gates."

Now, I'm also a little curious..."

"My lord, please don't let a moment of anger cause you physical suffering. Or, this servant should go and inform the Sixth Prince?"

Jiang Nuanzhi shook her head: "No, there are countless people watching Xuan Ting too."

As he spoke, he suddenly laughed and lifted his robe to show Lin Chun: "Look."

Lin Chun glanced over and saw that the master's knees were covered with thick cushions.

She blinked, and after a while, she gave her a thumbs-up, just like Jiang Nuanzhi had done before.

"You were right to have foresight."

Jiang Nuanzhi chuckled and took out another pair from her wide sleeves: "Take this with you too. I was so busy catching up on sleep when I went to the palace that I forgot to give it to you."

Lin Chun fastened the cushion Jiang Nuanzhi had given her, and then Jiang Nuanzhi stuffed a pastry into her hand. She was still in a daze when she asked, "Master, why did you prepare this yourself?"

Could it be that the lady knows she will suffer upon entering the palace?
Jiang Nuanzhi smiled and said, "It's always better to be prepared."

"See? I was right, wasn't I?" Jiang Nuanzhi said, feeding Lin Chun another piece of pastry.

Looking at her master, who had a smug look on his face, Lin Chun felt a lump in her throat.

What is this thing called?

The lady is a general's wife, the matriarch of the Li family, yet she still carries knee pads and brings her own snacks when she goes out.
In a daze, she sniffed and took off her clothes, wrapping them tightly around the lady in front of her, who seemed to have become even thinner.

Kunning Palace.

The maid in purple passed through the hanging flower gate and tiptoed into the hall. She walked around in front of the charcoal fire to ward off the chill before entering the inner room.

On the couch by the window, a graceful woman in a hazy indigo cloud-patterned dress leaned against the corner of the table, fiddling with an incense burner.

"Your Majesty, things have escalated. The Grand Princess is furious, but in the end, she only punished Physician Jiang by making him kneel for two hours," a maidservant replied as she approached.

The woman paused in her fiddling with the incense burner. The next second, she slightly raised her head and looked over, revealing a pair of delicate, upturned eyebrows: "Only two hours of kneeling? The Grand Princess cherishes Tuanzi so much, how could she let it go so lightly? This is not like the Grand Princess's temperament."

The maidservant smiled obsequiously, "Indeed, Your Majesty is wise. I also felt something was amiss and paid close attention. It must be that good-for-nothing Zhao Yuniang who slipped up. I heard that Zhao Yuniang has already been taken back by the Grand Princess, and she will inevitably be subjected to a thorough interrogation."

Hearing this, Granny Zhou frowned immediately: "Your Highness, could that fool have leaked some information?"

The woman at the head of the table raised an eyebrow: "News? I didn't say much to her, what could have been leaked?"

As she spoke, she picked up a strand of her hair and played with it in her hand for a while before saying, "A lowly female physician, I never expected her to actually possess some skill. Not only did she escape unscathed from the Regent's Palace, but now she's also unharmed facing the Grand Princess? This woman has only just entered the palace and has no foundation whatsoever, yet she has managed to infiltrate this place. I underestimated her."

Granny Zhou stepped forward, carefully peeled the grapes, and handed them to you, saying, "Your Highness, she's just a female physician, what trouble could she possibly cause?"

The lady at the head of the table raised her slender eyebrows slightly: "But this very female physician has captured the Sixth Prince's heart and soul. He's even become somewhat distant from me, his mother. Besides, she's only been in the palace for a few days, yet she's already serving the Emperor? And with the Sixth Prince's closeness in the future, who can guarantee there won't be any trouble?"

The old woman frowned slightly: "Your Highness, she is already married and cannot enter the palace."

No matter what, it won't threaten you. You are a Noble Consort, and the position of Empress has been vacant for many years; you are the most powerful person in the harem.

Consort Rou merely lifted her eyelids and stared at the wisps of incense smoke: "Who says that someone who can't enter the palace isn't a threat? My eyelids have been twitching ever since this person came to the capital."

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to remember something: "What's going on with the Emperor?"

The maid shook her head: "No one from the Emperor's side has shown up, but Lord Xie seems to have a deep hatred for this imperial physician and looks like he wants to kill him as soon as possible."

Consort Rou raised an eyebrow, and after a long while said, "Has Li Rong not shown himself yet?"

The maid nodded.

Consort Rou frowned in thought, and Granny Zhou stepped forward to massage her shoulders: "Your Highness, how about we go and buy a good man? People from poor backgrounds like these usually uphold their integrity and are more responsive to gentle persuasion than force. Should this old servant further investigate?"

Consort Rou unconsciously played with a strand of her long hair for a while before saying, "Have someone add some firewood for our Physician Jiang. Kneeling here is hardly a hardship."

"What Your Majesty means is..."

"I remember that fool Xie Jieyu was infatuated with General Li back then, wasn't she? She couldn't even get a concubine's position. Now, a former slave has married General Li as his principal wife. I wonder what outrageous things she might do if she knew?"

"Your Majesty's insight is brilliant. This old servant will make the arrangements immediately."

Upon hearing this, Consort Rou twitched the corner of her mouth, her hair once again forming a circle in her hand, before she chuckled to herself.

"The Grand Princess has grown old; she's no longer as formidable as when she led troops into battle. Now, she's learned to read people's expressions and is quite timid."

……

"Are you Li Rong's new wife?"

The shrill sound was particularly jarring in the palace corridor.

Jiang Nuanzhi looked at the aggressive young girl in front of her, and at her hostile demeanor, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "You are—"

"Who do you think you are! You don't deserve to be called one!" Zhao Jieyu thought, "Just a lowly country bumpkin, surely vulgar and uncouth." But when she saw Jiang Nuanzhi's almost flawless face and her overall demeanor, she was stunned. A surge of anger welled up inside her. Looking at that fair and enviable face, she suddenly stepped forward and slapped her across the face!
Jiang Nuanzhi narrowed her eyes slightly and suddenly grabbed her wrist: "What are you doing? The way important people greet each other is certainly different."

"You bitch! Let go of me!" Xie Jieyu struggled several times but couldn't break free. Then, her other hands suddenly grabbed at Jiang Nuanzhi's other cheek.

Jiang Nuanzhi's expression turned cold, and the next second she flicked Xie Jieyu's elbow with her finger.

I thought to myself, I really forgot to check the almanac before I went out.

This year is really unlucky.

It hasn't stopped since this morning.

Forget dealing with the Emperor, she probably wouldn't even have seen him yet; these troublesome brats would wear her down. (End of Chapter)