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

Chu Nianci paused slightly as she twisted the needle.

Li De'an and Physician Zhang also turned around upon hearing the sound.

When Physician Zhang saw Physician Liu enter, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Elder Liu, this Consort Hui met a strange person when she was young and learned a set of life-saving acupuncture techniques. Now that His Majesty is in critical condition, I have discussed with Li Daban and asked her to try acupuncture."

Upon hearing this, Physician Liu shook his head repeatedly: "This is extremely inappropriate. His Majesty's health is of paramount importance; how can we allow a woman to treat him? If anything goes wrong, it will be a catastrophe!"

Physician Zhang frowned.

He had worked with Physician Liu for many years and knew that he was a confidant of the Empress, so he usually did not want to have any conflicts with him. He also knew that Liu looked down on women and had always opposed female doctors entering the palace. He had even tried his best to prevent His Majesty from establishing the position of female physician.

If he were to directly state that it was the succession of the Medicine King, he would certainly not believe it and would be even more resistant. So he simply said that it was "given by an extraordinary person".

"If Physician Liu has a better plan, please speak up and we can discuss it together," Physician Zhang said.

Physician Liu shook his head and said, "As Elder Zhang knows, my specialty is gynecology, and heart disease is not my area of ​​expertise. However, illness comes like a landslide and goes like a slow, drawn-out process. His Majesty is already weak, and once he contracted the disease, it deteriorated rapidly like a landslide. Therefore, we should treat it slowly with herbal medicine."

He stroked his short beard, lost in thought.

He was on duty today, but he wasn't in charge of the Emperor's health, so even if something happened, he wouldn't be blamed.

However, the Empress had previously instructed that any movement of the Emperor's body must be reported immediately.

Nowadays, everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy praises Zhang Yanpei's medical skills as superior to their own. He has long disliked this man, but unfortunately, His Majesty has taken a liking to this old man. Now, this Imperial Physician Zhang is getting older and more senile, and he even let a woman treat him. This is simply trampling the face of the Imperial Medical Academy into the ground!

Once this matter is resolved, I will certainly report it to Her Majesty the Empress.

How did Zhang Yanpei establish himself in the Imperial Medical Academy?

"His Majesty is critically ill. If we continue to 'take it slow,' can Physician Liu be confident that he can recover?" Chu Nianci interrupted coldly.

"Absurd!" Physician Liu glared with his triangular eyes. "I am discussing matters with Physician Zhang. What do you, a mere woman, know? Why are you interrupting? Get out of here!"

Chu Nianci sneered inwardly.

How could she not know this Physician Liu?

In his previous life, he misdiagnosed a concubine suffering from a cough as having tuberculosis and caused her death by medication. Afterwards, he claimed that the concubine was old and frail, and that when the late emperor's condition worsened, it was this same Physician Liu who requested that the treatment be slow and gradual, which ultimately led to the late emperor's passing.

He's just a quack doctor who climbed up the ranks by relying on his family background.

The Empress Dowager's cough is probably really bad luck now; it's likely getting worse the more he treats it.

"Since Lord Liu is an expert in gynecology, he should take good care of the Empress Dowager and prevent her condition from 'worsening' further. Don't forget that emergency cases require drastic measures. The late Emperor also took a gradual approach..." Chu Nianci said sarcastically, but only said half of what he said and did not finish.

Leaving it unsaid is what leaves room for imagination.

"You...how dare you spout such nonsense and slander this place!" Physician Liu's lips trembled with anger as he turned to Li De'an, "Li Da'an, this woman has no manners; get her out of here immediately!"

Chu Nianci wasn't in a hurry after saying that; he waited to see Li De'an's reaction.

This drastic measure will surely provoke Li De'an's anger.

As expected, when Li De'an heard about the late emperor's illness, a trace of sadness flashed in his aged eyes.

He remained silent for a moment before raising his dark eyebrows and coldly saying, "Lord Liu, although this old servant is not knowledgeable in medicine, I know that His Majesty's condition is urgent. Whether we administer acupuncture or medicine, we must first wake His Majesty up."

Physician Liu argued vehemently, "Li Daban is unaware that the severity of illness varies from person to person. For someone as weak as His Majesty, a sudden onset of this serious illness can be like a landslide, requiring slow and steady treatment..."

"With a slow approach, what are your chances of curing His Majesty?" Li De'an interrupted him, his voice becoming serious.

Physician Liu was taken aback. He stroked his beard and cautiously cupped his hands, saying, "Your Excellency, the speed at which His Majesty's condition has deteriorated is truly unexpected. Now... I'm afraid we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."

"Leave it to fate?" Li De'an's face suddenly darkened. "So you're saying you're powerless? His Majesty is in the prime of his life; you're leaving a mere minor illness to fate? Since you have no confidence whatsoever, then stop pointing fingers!"

"This..." Doctor Liu's face turned purple and he choked, unable to speak.

Although Li De'an was a eunuch, he was tall and robust, while Liu Taiyi was thin and short, appearing like a chick in comparison.

Li De'an looked down at him intently and said coldly, "When the late emperor suddenly fell ill, you were powerless to help. Now that His Majesty is critically ill, you are again helpless... Tell me, what use are you, the imperial physician?"

Physician Liu broke out in a cold sweat under his gaze, and stammered, "This...this is fate, how can one defy destiny..."

"Is this fate?" Li De'an laughed angrily. "The late emperor's death was 'divine will,' and Your Majesty's serious illness is also 'divine will'? What use are you!"

After speaking, his cold, piercing gaze seemed to bore a hole through him.

Physician Liu was so frightened that his legs went weak. While secretly wiping away his sweat, he still said reluctantly, "Alright, alright... good advice is hard to persuade, and honest advice is hard to swallow. I'll leave now. If anything happens here, it has nothing to do with me. Farewell!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves, turned around, and hurriedly pushed open the door to leave Yangxin Hall. He had made up his mind that he would go to the Empress's palace later and give those three a good dressing down to avenge today's humiliation.

Unfortunately, just as he stepped out the door, he heard Li De'an clapping his hands behind him. A young eunuch at the door respectfully invited him to the side hall.

Only then did Physician Liu realize that he wouldn't be able to leave tonight.

Seeing Physician Liu leave, Physician Zhang hurriedly stepped forward and advised, "Master Li, please calm down. Saving His Majesty's life is the most important thing right now."

Li De'an took a deep breath and nodded to Chu Nianci.

Chu Nianci held her breath and took the golden needle, gently scorching it over the candle flame.

Her fingertips were as steady as a rock. She first gently rotated and shallowly inserted the needle into the Tanzhong acupoint, and then inserted the needles into the Neiguan and Shenmen acupoints in turn. The needle tips trembled slightly. She twisted and lifted the needles with extremely gentle finger techniques, and her eyes were as focused as still water.

Time passed slowly, and the long wait made the dripping of the water clock seem extremely slow.

Duanmu Qingyu's tightly furrowed brows seemed to relax, and the rise and fall of her chest gradually became calmer.

Physician Zhang, being a physician after all, could not hide his delight upon seeing His Majesty's breathing gradually stabilize, and his hand, which was stroking his beard, trembled slightly.

Li De'an, with his sharp eyes, noticed that Duanmu Qingyu's fingers, which were hanging by the bed, twitched slightly. He was so excited that he almost clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist prayers.

Chu Nianci had already withdrawn the last needle, but still stood guard by the bedside, staring intently at the pale, paper-white face.

Duanmu Qingyu's long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

His gaze was initially unfocused and wandering, but after a moment it gradually cleared, and his eyes sparkled like tiny crystals in the dim candlelight.

"Your Majesty...you're awake!" Li De'an's voice was choked with emotion.

Physician Zhang quickly stepped forward and placed his fingertips on the man's wrist. After a long while, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Although he is still weak, his pulse has stabilized."

Physician Liu stood in the side hall, his ear pressed against the wall, listening intently to the conversation next door.

He could hardly believe his ears. Although he couldn't hear clearly, he could always hear His Majesty's voice clearly.

I just took His Majesty's pulse, and it was very deep. It was clear that he had been overworked and was suffering from a high fever due to cold, which triggered his old illness. It would be extremely difficult for him to wake up. Even if the Medicine King himself came, he probably wouldn't have the means.

How is that possible?

Could that woman really possess supernatural powers?

"Impossible!" He almost immediately dismissed the idea.

He reached a conclusion in the blink of an eye.

This must be because Physician Zhang's ten needles worked; that woman just happened to be lucky.

But how should we report this situation to the Empress?

Could it be that he diagnosed the problem but was helpless, and instead a woman succeeded?

If the Empress were to question his medical skills because of this, how would he be able to maintain his position in the Imperial Hospital?

No, I need to change my story when I meet the Empress tomorrow.

It is said that His Majesty was only slightly unwell, and it was only thanks to Physician Zhang's meticulous treatment that he recovered, while that woman... merely assisted from the sidelines.

In a flash, he had already prepared his reply.

But she was still annoyed. If she had known this would happen, she should have taken the initiative to administer the remaining four needles.

He stood in the shadows, unconsciously punching the wall in regret.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chu Nianci saw Duanmu Qingyu slowly waking up, so she knelt down and used a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

Duanmu Qingyu glanced at the three people gathered around the bed, his lips curving weakly, his voice hoarse yet clear: "Just now... I saw Father, Mother, and my elder brother, and I thought... I wouldn't be able to come back."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression froze.

Chu Nianci immediately said softly, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, blessed with boundless fortune and able to turn misfortune into good fortune. How could you not return? Perhaps the late Emperor and Empress saw that you lingered a little longer, which is why you returned later. Your Majesty, I will go to the Buddha to pray for your well-being and fulfill my vows."

Duanmu Qingyu looked at her, a faint smile appearing on his pale lips: "Your words... I love to hear them the most."

"I am deeply honored." She bowed her head in a gesture of respect.

"Thank you for your help, Physician Zhang." Duanmu Qingyu slowly turned to Physician Zhang, and Chu Nianci changed the handkerchief and placed it on his forehead.

Imperial Physician Zhang hurriedly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty's condition was critical, and I am ashamed... This time, it was entirely thanks to Consort Hui's acupuncture that you were able to turn the tide."

He was grateful for Chu Nianci's previous kindness and knew that she had saved the day, so he recounted the entire story of how she had administered acupuncture to save him without reservation.

Duanmu Qingyu's coughing gradually stopped, but a layer of fine sweat seeped out on his forehead, though his complexion gradually became rosy.

His gaze swept over Chu Nianci's beautiful face, and when he heard that she was a disciple of Master Sun, a hint of surprise flashed in his clear eyes.

But this slight difference quickly turned into a sense of understanding.

It turns out that she possessed medical skills because she was a disciple of the immortal Sun Simiao.

This illness was originally a setup, intended to test who in the palace was colluding with the outer court, but no one expected it to become so serious.

But if not for this, how could we test her true abilities?

I am quite satisfied with her handling of this crisis.

He's a normal man too. How could he not be moved by sweet words spoken to a woman he likes?

Regardless of how much of what she said is true or false, let's see what she does tonight.

That is enough to gain their trust and appreciation.

As Duanmu Qingyu thought of this, her gaze softened unconsciously.

He said gently in a low voice, "Come closer, I have something to say."

Chu Nianci knelt and walked to the bedside: "Your Majesty, please give your orders."

My heart jumped into my throat. After all this busy work, it was finally time to see the results.

I wonder what reward His Majesty will bestow... gold and silver treasures, or fine silks and satins.

Duanmu Qingyu slowly said, "Since I ascended the throne, I have disliked this palace, because the late emperor died here, as did my mother and elder brother... Every time I think of it, I find it hard to let go of my sorrow..."

He paused, his breath slightly short, "Then I met you, and I had a few peaceful days. Although you were just a tea-serving maid, you repeatedly relieved my troubles. I had long wanted to give you a proper title, but I was afraid that your background would be a burden... If I gave you a high title, it would easily attract criticism from the palace, and if I gave you a low title, it would not reflect your merits. Now you have saved me from the brink of death. If I do not promote you, wouldn't it make me seem harsh and ungrateful?"

He turned to Li De'an and said clearly, "Issue an imperial decree to the six palaces: Lady Chu, the Consort of Jin, will be promoted to Noble Lady Hui."

Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback, and then she heard her heart pounding...

Less than a month after the last promotion, he's been promoted again—this has never happened before in the palace…