maidservant

Chapter 112 The Wind Rises
Towards evening, in the Imperial Hospital, everyone was busy sorting out their files, and there was a lot of hustle and bustle.

Yunshan took advantage of this opportunity and quietly came to the deputy dean of literature. She looked calm and handed the string of dark wood to him in front of him.

When the deputy director of the Academy of Literature saw the idiot he had been looking for for nearly half a day, he frowned, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes, and he looked up and glared at Yunshan fiercely.

However, Yunshan looked at him calmly and fearlessly. The deputy director of the Wenyuan Academy suddenly realized something, and the anger on his face gradually turned into suspicion and doubt. He cautiously reached out and took the string back.

Yunshan knew that Zhong Si would definitely tell Doctor Wen the whole story, so there was no need for her to pretend or be subservient to him.

Just before an incense stick of time had passed, Yunshan had already informed Lin Yu about Zhong Si and the deputy director of the Academy of Literature. Lin Yu even took a picture of the string of dark wood.

"Your Majesty, Zhong Si and Concubine Yang are both treacherous and cunning, and they are capable of taking advantage of any situation. With this leverage, perhaps we can restrain them a little."

Early the next morning, Concubine Cui said she was not feeling well, and the palace maid came to call Yunshan for treatment.

Yunshan was full of doubts. Although her medical skills had improved, according to common sense, when the concubines were unwell, they should seek help from the best imperial physicians.

She wondered if it was a gynecological problem. Yunshan didn't have time to think about it. She picked up the medicine box, registered everything, and hurried away with the palace maid.

When they arrived at the hall, before Yunshan had time to salute, Concubine Cui signaled everyone else to leave.

"Empress?" Yunshan couldn't help but get nervous when she saw this, and had a vague feeling of unease in her heart.

Concubine Cui raised her hand to signal her to come closer and said:

"Yunshan, I have already explained yesterday's events to His Majesty. You are a smart person—"

"Your Majesty, please speak frankly." Yunshan responded respectfully.

"Let me ask you a few questions."

Concubine Cui stared at Yunshan closely.

"First, the imperial physician diagnosed Concubine Bianliang as unfit to bear children and unlikely to have any children in the future. You've cared for her for a long time. Do you know her physical condition? If so, why didn't you report it?"

"My Lady? I."

This question was like a heavy hammer, instantly gripping Yunshan's heart. Just as she was about to explain, Concubine Cui raised her hand to signal her that she didn't need to answer.

"Second, how much does Concubine Xian know about this matter?"

"Your Majesty doesn't know!" Yunshan was so anxious that she didn't care about status and responded directly.

"How do you prove that Concubine Xian knew nothing about it?" Concubine Cui asked calmly, and Yunshan was speechless.

After a moment, Yunshan calmed down and said:
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Virtuous Concubine only learned of this matter during the interrogation yesterday. If anyone is slandering Her Majesty the Virtuous Concubine's innocence, please let them produce evidence. Then, I will be able to expose their perjury!"

Yunshan’s meaning was very clear. The person who reported the case should provide evidence. There was no reason to ask the person being reported to prove his innocence.

"But what if it was His Majesty who asked this question?"

Concubine Cui suddenly approached and looked up at Yunshan. Her voice was neither interrogation nor investigation, but more like a kind reminder.

Yunshan was stunned.

"Third, during those two days of the palace coup, since you were able to protect the eldest princess and ensure her safe birth of a daughter, why did Concubine Gao's full-term baby miscarry due to shock?"

"Your Majesty?! This is unfair! How could this humble servant have any control over a woman's childbirth? The eldest princess went into labor first, and the mutiny hadn't happened yet. I was there on the orders of the virtuous noble concubine."

Yunshan hurriedly explained, but when she mentioned "receiving the order from Consort Xian," she suddenly realized something. "Your Majesty? These three questions seem to be directed at me, but in fact, they all refer to Consort Xian?" Yunshan asked anxiously.

She understood that these three questions were probably revealed by the emperor when he was asking about what happened yesterday. Concubine Cui was so smart that she must have noticed the hidden danger signals.

However, the emperor's will is unpredictable. As soon as Yunshan said this, she realized that this matter could not be investigated further.

Concubine Cui looked at her and didn't answer directly. She just praised her without any emotion: "You have a very smart mind."

"Your Majesty summoned me here privately today, and I believe you didn't let Concubine Xian know. If that's the case, does Your Majesty want to protect Concubine Xian?"

Yunshan realized that Concubine Cui might not have any ill intentions, and her mood gradually calmed down.

"I don't want to become powerful alone." Concubine Cui was frank in her words.

In the past few years, Concubine Cui has never competed for favor, never flattered, and never made enemies with other concubines. Whenever something happened, she always tried to protect herself.

She rose through the ranks step by step, seemingly smoothly, but in fact it was the passing of her predecessors that pushed her to her current position.

Even though she now controls the power of managing the six palaces, she still wants to give a share to Concubine Yang and show an attitude of "mutual supervision" to the outside world.

Yunshan instantly understood what Concubine Cui meant. She wanted to protect Concubine Xian so that the two of them could continue to compete with each other in the harem.

As the saying goes, "A tall tree attracts the wind, and the bird that sticks its head out gets shot down." The important officials of the previous dynasty have been keeping an eye on who will be the queen. The various forces are restraining each other, and now the balance of power is achieved.

Only a balanced harem would ensure a long-term and stable situation. Protecting Concubine Xian was, in fact, protecting herself.

"Your Majesty, you are the most open-minded and intelligent person in this palace. Given the current situation, how do you think I can better protect the virtuous concubine?"

"Since you trust me, I will say a few more words."

Concubine Cui looked at Yunshan and asked,
"To Concubine Xian, you are like the wings of a lion or tiger. Everyone in the palace knows this. You are both Lin Yu's soft armor and a claw in the eyes of others. Some things cannot withstand suspicion. What happened yesterday, even if you and Concubine Xian were cleared of all charges, wouldn't people still talk about and slander you behind your back?"

Concubine Cui warned Yunshan earnestly:

"This close-fitting soft armor is a protective amulet when intact, but if it rusts, it becomes a torture device that pierces the flesh. If someone pushes against it again, the rusty steel spikes will penetrate the bone, causing a broken wound. Medicine Minister Song, do you have any elixirs that can guarantee a cure?"

Yunshan listened to Concubine Cui's double entendre and slowly shook her head:

"No elixir from any source can guarantee a cure. If the wound has spread to the blood vessels and rotted the bones, even a god would be powerless to save the patient."

The wind blew, and when I opened the temple door, I felt a chill invading my body.

After leaving Concubine Cui's place, Yunshan dragged her heavy body and walked back to the Imperial Hospital step by step.

Today, she had already made plans. Once the things at hand were finished, she would resign from the Imperial Hospital and return to the Pharmacy to avoid the affairs of the Deputy Director of the Academy of Literature.

But now it seems that if the emperor blames several things on her, then the longer she stays in the pharmacy and the more things happen, the more doubts will grow.

By then, not only would his own life be in danger, but Lin Yu would also be implicated.

Step by step, the stone road under her feet seemed to become more and more rugged and difficult to walk on, and Yunshan almost sprained her ankle several times.

Yunshan looked up at the sky and saw dark clouds covering the palace walls.

People cannot fight against nature. Before the rainstorm comes, they can only take shelter.