You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Chu Nianci's ears were ringing with anxiety... If something happened to His Majesty while he was by her side, it would be a catastrophe that would cause the sky to fall and the earth to collapse!

Not only is his own life in danger, but he might also implicate his family.

She pulled with all her might, but Duanmu Qingyu, though thin, was still heavy and she couldn't move him at all. Looking around, although the place was not far from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, how could she and Tuanyuan possibly move an unconscious man?

They had no choice but to wrap him in the cloak, hold him as they sat on the ground, and were just thinking of sending Tuanyuan back to get help...

Suddenly, a lantern light appeared at the end of the passageway.

Without thinking twice, she quickly waved in that direction and shouted, "Her Majesty, you're here!"

The footsteps approached hurriedly, and Chu Nianci's heart nearly jumped out of her throat.

"Found it!" A handsome face appeared in the lantern light; it was Jingxi.

Chu Nianci finally breathed a sigh of relief, her heart settling back into her stomach.

Jingxi arrived quickly with several eunuchs.

As he walked, he said urgently, "This servant was wondering if Your Majesty had gone to Meiwu to pay respects to the late Crown Prince, and I searched all the way here. Fortunately, the Attendant was with Your Majesty."

"I ate too much for dinner and went for a walk near Taiye Pond. I didn't expect to run into His Majesty." Chu Nianci didn't mention the sacrificial ceremony, as there were too many people talking and it would be arousing suspicion.

Seeing His Majesty's expression as if a jade mountain had collapsed, and his face pale with shock, Jingxi exclaimed, "Your Majesty... what's wrong?"

"Your Majesty has fainted due to the cold," Chu Nianci said.

Upon hearing this, Jingxi turned around and swung his whisk, lashing out at a round-faced, shrewd eunuch behind him. He yelled as he struck, "You damned servant! I went to fetch a hand warmer, and instead of letting you follow His Majesty, you dared to sneak off and steal offerings! Of all places to court death, you had to cause trouble at this crucial time of the Winter Solstice! If anything happens to His Majesty, I'll skin you alive!"

The eunuch, shrinking back and enduring a few blows, cried out, "I'm innocent, Brother Xi! His Majesty needed to relieve himself, and this servant stood guard outside the washroom the whole time, not daring to leave for even a moment. Who knew that His Majesty would disappear in the blink of an eye..."

Chu Nianci then understood... It turned out that His Majesty had first sent Jingxi away, and then slipped out on his own while the eunuchs were not paying attention.

No wonder he was all alone.

"Enough," Chu Nianci interrupted them, "Now is not the time to blame each other. Quickly move His Majesty back to the palace. If we delay any longer, who can bear the responsibility!"

Several eunuchs hurriedly helped Duanmu Qingyu up, and a burly eunuch carried him on his back, quickly turning into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Nianci was worried, so she took Tuanyuan with her and went along.

Upon reaching the palace entrance, Chu Nianci hurriedly recounted the story of the eunuch who had followed her in Plum Grove. However, she didn't dare mention that he had followed her there, instead using the underworldly excuse, "He was spying on the Emperor's whereabouts with malicious intent." Upon hearing this, Jingxi didn't hesitate and immediately ordered several eunuchs to collect the remains.

Upon hearing the news, Li De'an rushed over. Seeing the situation, his expression tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to help the person into the inner hall and settle them on the couch.

The soaked outer robe was carefully removed, and a clean nightgown was put on before covering the person with a brocade quilt.

Chu Nianci took out a handkerchief soaked in cold tea and placed it on his forehead. After calming herself down, she noticed that Duanmu Qingyu had one hand hanging by the bedside. Taking advantage of the opportunity to lean over and check, she gently took his pulse.

The pulse under the fingers is disordered...

The pulse is disordered, including knotted pulse, intermittent pulse, rapid pulse, and hesitant pulse.

A knotted pulse is characterized by a slow pulse that is frequently interrupted, with no fixed number of interruptions, often indicating insufficient heart qi or deficiency of heart yang.

Intermittent pulse is a pulse that stops abruptly, with a fixed number of stops, and returns after a long period of time. It often reflects the decline of heart qi.

A rapid pulse refers to a pulse that is frequent but has occasional pauses, with no fixed number of pauses. This is often caused by phlegm, fluid retention, or blood stasis obstructing the heart vessels.

A choppy pulse, characterized by a slow and difficult flow, like scraping bamboo with a light knife, is often seen in cases of blood stasis in the heart.

Your Majesty exhibits all of these pulse characteristics.

It's a heart ailment.

Her heart sank.

No wonder he died suddenly after only five years on the throne in his previous life.

This disease is dangerous; even if I use all my medical skills, I cannot guarantee that he will recover.

However, if we use the golden needle technique passed down by my master, we can at least protect his heart meridian and prevent his life from being in danger.

As for a complete cure, perhaps only Master Sun, the Medicine King, can do it personally. Unfortunately, Master Sun is always traveling and I rarely get to see him. But that's a matter for later. Right now, let's save his life first.

Jingxi had already taken the pills from the inner room and fed them to Duanmu Qingyu with water, but after a while, Duanmu Qingyu still showed no improvement.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty!" Li De'an called out softly, his eyes reddening with anxiety, his gray hair appearing even whiter under the lamplight.

Chu Nianci reached out and nudged him, but he didn't react at all.

She slowly withdrew her hand, took two steps back, and looked at that pale face flushed with color, her heart churning with emotions.

The eunuchs inside the hall were already in a panic.

Li De'an, being an old man, glanced at everyone present, his thick brows furrowed, and he ordered in a low voice, "Everyone go outside the hall and stand guard. No one is allowed to leak a single word... or they will be beaten to death on the spot!"

Everyone hesitantly retreated to the door, and Tuanyuan followed cautiously outside.

Only Jingxi and Chu Nianci remained in the hall.

Chu Nianci soaked a handkerchief in cold tea and applied it to Duanmu Qingyu's burning forehead. Then she turned to Li De'an and said, "Summon the imperial physician immediately. Li Daban, quickly summon Imperial Physician Zhang."

Li De'an frowned deeply: "Imperial Physician Zhang is not on duty tonight, and besides, the palace gates have already been locked. Leaving the palace at this time requires a written order from the Empress Dowager or the Empress."

"Then... could we ask Her Majesty the Empress to come over?" Jingxi whispered.

"No, without His Majesty's decree, how can we dare to disturb the Empress?" Li De'an shook his head slightly.

Seeing the two hesitate, Chu Nianci looked at the unconscious emperor on the bed and secretly bit her lip.

Knowing he suffered from a heart ailment, he would sneak out alone on a snowy night to pay respects to his mother and brother.

Even someone as rational, composed, and meticulous as him could be so reckless at times.

His illness was so severe that once the news spread, the Empress Dowager and the Empress only needed to send the Imperial Guards to surround the Hall of Mental Cultivation, forbidding anyone else from entering or leaving, thus concealing his condition. His life and death would then be entirely in their hands.

Scorching heat and freezing cold are precisely the times when heart disease is more likely to flare up.

Who could find fault with a frail young emperor who died of illness?

As for those of us who served in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, their fate was predictable...

With the Empress's old grudges still unresolved, and feeling utterly alone and helpless in the deep palace, she feared she wouldn't even be able to enter the Cold Palace and would quietly "disappear."

Should we run away?

Her uncle had a ship, so she might be able to escape overseas. But if she did that, not only would the Lin family not let her go, but according to the law, her uncle's family and her parents' family would not be able to live.

Conversely, if she stays by his side through this difficult time and never abandons him, she can truly win his trust and even his heart.

If he can't endure it... then she should also find a quick end to avoid falling into an even worse situation.

Calm down, at this crossroads of fate, she had to be calm.

One must calmly choose which side to take.

I remember that in my previous life he had at least five more years to live.

She was betting that it would be the same in this lifetime... that he would never die so soon.

Chu Nianci closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She stepped forward and whispered to Li De'an, "Li Daban, His Majesty's condition cannot be delayed. I have some medical knowledge and can use acupuncture to wake His Majesty up first. Given his wisdom, it would be more prudent for him to make the decision."

She knew that there were golden needles in the cabinets of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Although there was no medicine to cure the disease, she could only try to restore his consciousness for the time being...

Only when he regains his senses can he decide whether to summon the Empress or the Empress Dowager, or make other arrangements.

Given his character, he is sure to make a decision, and I believe he can handle things thoroughly.

Li De'an walked to the bedside to examine Duanmu Qingyu's condition, then turned back to look at Chu Nianci, his brows furrowing slightly.

Having worked in the palace for many years, he was well-informed and naturally knew what she had been up to lately... She had saved Consort Shu and discovered poisonous insects... But Li De'an was not entirely confident that she could save His Majesty.

But if His Majesty could be awakened...

"Do you know?" Li De'an asked, his aged eyes fixed intently on her, "What does this sentence mean?"

What does it represent?

How could she not know?

If she doesn't use needles, even if something happens to His Majesty, he won't be held responsible in the future.

But if she gets a needle in her hand.

If something happens to His Majesty, she will be held responsible.

But do I still have a choice?

Whatever she does, she is now bound to his fate.

Trying to calm herself down and mentally preparing herself, she bowed to Li De'an and said, "Master Li, I know what I'm doing. I believe in my medical skills, and I also believe that His Majesty is a true Son of Heaven and will surely turn misfortune into good fortune. Please allow me to give it a try!"

Li De'an stared at her for a long time, his gaze softening.

"Can you really wake His Majesty up?" he asked in a low voice.

Chu Nianci's voice was even softer: "Your Majesty, I dare not boast of a complete cure, but I am confident that I can temporarily awaken Your Majesty."

Li De'an's gaze darkened, and he finally nodded: "Jingxi, go and fetch the golden needles from the back hall."

Jingxi hurriedly brought over the needle case.

Chu Nianci took a deep breath, took out a slender gold needle, bit her lip and concentrated, and slowly inserted it into several acupoints such as Tianchi and Fengfu.

Her touch was extremely light and gentle, as if afraid of hurting him... She could have used a more forceful acupuncture technique to wake him up, but for some reason, she chose this most strenuous and gentle method.

After more than ten breaths, Duanmu Qingyu's long eyelashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The three of them immediately surrounded them.

His gaze wandered aimlessly for a moment before finally settling on...