Emperor's Cunning Wife

"Officer Gao, You won't mind this old lady stay near you while you examine Lou'er, right?" The old lady asked.

The needle that was about to prick Ning Lou's skin trembled with Gao Ling's hands.

"No….not at all." He breathed enduring his all not to show any signs of his anxiousness in front of the old woman.

"You can continue." She said while staring at the needle.

"Yes." Gao Ling replied.

When the needle was pricked, Gao Ling glanced once more at the old woman. The Empress Dowager however was too preoccupied with the needle that she didn't notice the sudden flash of actions Gao Ling made with his other fingers. He secretly twisted the needle and a groan from the one on the bed disturbed the seconds of the old woman's attention, Gao Ling was planning to grab the opportunity to switch the needles with the one in his sleeves. But, before he could even touch the other needle, the old woman's voice scared him out of his wits, "Hold on."

Gao Ling's breath hitched.

Gao Ling hands started to tremble. He missed that single opportunity he made. Did the Empress Dowager notice? Or was it only coincidental?

"Pull it out slowly." The old woman ordered making sure Ning Lou suffered less.

"Yes…" It took a while for Gao Ling to reply. His two fingers holding the needle in place became seemingly paler as the seconds goes by. Gao Ling felt the needle became heavier in his grasp. He felt petrified pulling it out.

"Is Officer Gao finished?" The Empress Dowager asked impatiently.

"….A.. lit…tle bit longer." Gao Ling gulped. His voice stuttered. He instantly knew the mistake he made.

"Is there any problem?" The Empress dowager asked after noticing the peculiarity in his tone.

Grandmother shouldn't worry since there won't be any problem? The Emperor spoke those words while looking at him instead of the Empress Dowager, is the Emperor trying to say something to him? His mind was filled with questions.

"How can you be sure that there won't be any problem? Lou'er might be poison! That servant definitely fed her with it!" The Empress Dowager protested sending a glare to the Emperor.

"If Grandmother really wants to know the truth We can ask Officer Gao. Grandson is sure Officer Gao is already done." The Emperor said eyeing Gao Ling.

Gao Ling finally understood his earlier words and nodded towards the old woman. "Yes." With it, the needle was pulled out, Gao Ling felt a sigh of relief as the previous burden on his shoulders were now lifted. He showed it to the old lady and the Emperor, ending his act for the day. "The Empress is not poison."

"See. Grandmother should rest at Loving Piety Palace already. You grandson will assigned servants to stay and serve the Empress for tonight. As for that servant who didn't do her duties properly…." He looked on the direction of Xiao Qu.

"Zhen will take care of her punishment." Xiao Qu's expression sunk hearing the Emperor's words.

"Hold on. Officer Gao can you examine the Empress again?" The old woman approached turned to face Gao Ling and insisted on another diagnosis. She adjusted up her attitude while talking to the physician. Gao Ling perceived the change in the attitude in the old woman's voice and gladly accepted her request. Finally, the storm has passed and he successfully survived it.

No one bothered as Xiao Qu was dragged outside to receive her punishment. She didn't cry and resisted again, her will extinguished when he heard the Emperor's words again.

"Fifty canes, then bring her to the Eunuch Sun for the transfer." The Emperor said never once sparing Xiao Qu a glance.

Meanwhile, Gao Ling came out of the Phoenix Pavilion after finishing his tasks. A eunuch greeted him outside of the gates of the pavilion and whispered words to his ear. Gao Ling nodded at him and strode to the direction where Xiao Qu was being punished.

At the Empress room.

The Empress Dowager sat near the bed while watching Ning Lou asleep. Tang-mama prepared the table and set up the dishes for the old woman's dinner. She had complicated emotions recalling the earlier events. How many times had it been? Only one year passed and that girl undergone multiple assassination attempts. Tang-mama sighed and quickly finished the task at hand.

"The meal is ready. Empress Dowager should eat while it's hot." Tang-mama softly said.

"I don't any appetite." The Empress Dowager responded downcast.

"If Empress Dowager doesn't eat the meal the Empress will probably get mad when she wakes up." Tang-mama tried to persuade the old woman.

The Empress Dowager paused and smiled faintly reminiscing the memories when Ning Lou invited her for meals and took care of her when the time she had a cold. This girl will indeed get mad at me. She wipe the tear that was about to fall and stretched her hand for Tang-mama to hold.

Tang-mama assisted her to the table and set the silver bowl and silver chopsticks. The Empress Dowager picked up the chopsticks and started eating. Tang-mama stayed and talked about the each dishes a bit to boost the old woman's appetite. Gradually, the old woman's mood became less gloomy.