sjar Chapter 107 Backache
Chapter 107 Backache
Before long, Xianglan brought Lingxuan there.
"You may all step back."
Chu Qingyin waved to the palace maids inside the hall.
After all the maids had left, except for Xianglan, she looked up at Ling Xuan and said, "Physician Ling, please sit down."
Ling Xuan had a feeling that Consort Qiao's summons was not simple, but she dared not reveal it. She nodded slightly before sitting down.
"I've summoned you here today, Dr. Ling, because I need your help with something."
"What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Ling Xuan suddenly stood up from her chair, already having guessed what was going on.
Recently, the court has been abuzz with the officials' remonstrances regarding His Majesty's lack of offspring. In addition, the news of His Majesty's visit to Consort Qiao last night has spread throughout the palace. Even if she doesn't pay attention to the intrigues of the harem, she can probably guess that Consort Qiao's summons today is related to the matter of offspring.
"Don't overthink it. Although this matter is somewhat difficult for you, it's not difficult for you to handle," Chu Qingyin said with a faint smile, seeing through her thoughts.
Looking at the woman's delicate and charming face, with a calm and breezy smile, Ling Xuan was already certain that this matter was related to offspring.
However, her remarks seem to contradict the possibility she was thinking of.
"Your Highness, please speak frankly."
Chu Qingyin glanced at her admiringly. Although it was only a brief encounter last time, she had already discovered that this only female official in the Imperial Medical Bureau must be extremely intelligent, otherwise how could she have secured a place in the all-male Imperial Medical Bureau?
Now, she was even more certain that she hadn't misjudged her. So she stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Dr. Ling, I'd like you to prescribe some medicine for me."
Ling Xuan was startled and was about to refuse when Chu Qingyin interrupted her: "Don't doubt it, it's exactly what you think."
"Your Highness, why—"
Looking across the entire harem, she is the only one who enjoys the emperor's favor at this moment. Moreover, His Majesty is now under pressure to produce an heir. If she were to have an heir, she would undoubtedly be the most prominent woman in the harem. Apart from the position of Empress, His Majesty would surely obey her in every way.
Ling Xuan really couldn't understand what Consort Qiao was asking for.
“If you gain something, you must have the corresponding ability to protect it. But right now, I don’t have that ability.” Chu Qingyin looked up at her, her eyes full of sincerity: “Doctor Ling, as a fellow woman, do you understand what I mean?”
The phrase "we are both women" struck Ling Xuan like a thunderbolt.
Even knowing that she would be implicated if discovered, she was still inexplicably persuaded by her.
Moreover, from the moment she heard the request, she had no room to refuse.
The only difference is that at this moment she genuinely wants to help the Consort Qiao in front of her.
"Your subject understands."
Their eyes met, and they both understood each other's thoughts.
Chu Qingyin understood that Ling Xuan had agreed.
Only Xianglan, standing to the side, was completely bewildered. She saw Doctor Ling nod slightly to her mistress, then turn to the side, take out a brush and ink, and begin to write.
Before long, Ling Xuan handed her the written prescription: "After Your Majesty's daily visit, please decoct the medicine and give it to her. Do not give too much; a small bowl is enough. This will prevent harm to Your Majesty's body and affect her future health."
"What...what does this mean?"
Xianglan understood what Chu Qingyin meant, but her hand trembled as she hesitated to accept the gift. She looked at Chu Qingyin, her eyes full of confusion.
"Xianglan, I haven't hidden this from you. Firstly, you are loyal to me, and I didn't want to hide it from you. Secondly, I only trust you in this matter, and only you can help me with it." Chu Qingyin looked at her, her eyes sincere, and said, "This is the only thing I can do."
Xianglan met her gaze and saw the sorrow hidden in her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and though she didn't know why, she nodded and assured her, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will certainly live up to your expectations."
Ling Xuan watched the interaction between the mistress and her servant, and her admiration for Consort Qiao grew stronger.
-
After Ling Xuan left, Chu Qingyin felt weak and exhausted, so she lay down on the bed to rest.
Inside the palace, Xianglan made sure all the windows were tightly closed and curtains were hung to block out the light so that she could sleep peacefully.
Chu Qingyin was sleeping soundly when she was groggily awakened by a voice: "Your Majesty, please get up and have some porridge before you go back to sleep."
Xianglan was worried that not eating would harm her health, so she specially instructed the kitchen to cook red date and lotus seed soup and send it over.
Chu Qingyin's sweet dream was disturbed, and she couldn't help but frown slightly, somewhat displeased: "Xianglan, let me sleep a little longer."
After saying that, he angrily turned his back to her, clearly indicating that he didn't want to get up.
At this moment, the empress was like a child, throwing a tantrum and acting like a brat.
Xianglan smiled helplessly, just about to say a few more words of advice, when she felt someone pat her on the back.
When she turned around, she saw His Majesty standing behind her at some point.
She hurriedly tried to bow in respect, but was stopped.
Pei Yuanling raised his hand and made a 'shh' gesture to his lips.
Xianglan immediately fell silent, placed the red date and lotus seed soup in her hand aside, and then quietly withdrew.
The only light in the room was a candle lit on the lamp stand next to the bed.
A dim light illuminated the room.
Chu Qingyin was completely unaware of the commotion inside the hall. She lay there for a while, feeling sore and weak, and then turned over to face the edge of the bed, adjusting herself into a comfortable position before falling back asleep.
Pei Yuanling gazed quietly at what lay before him. The dim light reflected off the bed curtains, making the woman's sleeping face appear serene, like a fairy under the moonlight, tranquil and gentle.
A thought struck him, and he reached out to gently brush the stray hairs from the woman's forehead and tuck them behind her ear.
Chu Qingyin felt a slight itch on her face, and impatiently slapped away the hand in front of her, muttering, "Little Snowball, stop fooling around."
Pei Yuanling chuckled silently, his voice low and gentle: "Do I look like a little snowball?"
Chu Qingyin heard a familiar voice in her dream and immediately woke up.
In the flickering candlelight, the man's handsome face was clearly visible before them. His phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, and his gaze was filled with undisguised tenderness and doting affection.
"Your Majesty, when did you arrive?"
Chu Qingyin hurriedly sat up from the bed, but then felt a soreness in her waist and dared not move again.
She frowned slightly, looked at him, and complained with aggrieved eyes: "Your Majesty, my back aches."