Chapter Thirty-Six: Change of Masters

  The appearance of Mu Yan was unexpected, which made me delighted but also worried.

  The attitude of the Empress towards Mu Yan is self-evident, with her arrogant and overbearing temperament, she would provoke trouble, and even the Empress Dowager would have to give in a bit. What's more, Mu Yan was just an ordinary palace maid, without any imperial favor or influence. If the two really clashed, things would absolutely not develop in Mu Yan's favor. On the contrary, it might even implicate the people of the Zhou household. If that were to happen, I would truly be guilty of a grave sin.

  Such thoughts made my already unclear mind even more confused, what to do? What to do?

  "Long live the Empress Dowager!"

  The clear and melodious sound of her voice echoed in my ears, but it felt like an eternity since I last heard her speak.

  "Zhou Zhaoyuan, I don't know what brings you here?" Consort Chen lowered her head and fiddled with the silver-red gauntlets on her hands, without even glancing at Muran once, nor did she gesture for Muran to rise, her demeanor was extremely arrogant.

  "It's been cool and breezy lately, I haven't come to pay respects to you for many days, sister has been lazy, today I've come to apologize!"

  What Mu Yan said was reasonable and made sense, so those who didn't know the truth would really believe it.

  "Oh, when did Zhaoyuan put me in her eyes? She only acts like a younger sister when she's with the Empress Dowager! Stop pretending in front of me, let's make things clear today."

  What's going on? I exchanged a bewildered glance with Mu Yan, full of suspicion!

  "Sister is foolish, please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"

  "Hmph, you two master and servant, how long do you plan to deceive me? Was entering the palace truly just for selecting a consort? Or is there another scheme, thinking of shaking the foundation of the country, destroying my prosperous nation?"

  The Empress's voice grew louder as she spoke, her emotions becoming more agitated. "Bang bang", her slender hands slapped the purple wooden table in front of her, causing the tea water in the green jade cup to splash and spill onto the tabletop.

  Neither of us has ever seen such a question before. Without mentioning the terrifying anger of Empress Dowager, this crime of plotting to harm the country is not dared to be undertaken.

  "My name is Zha, my father was a loyal minister, with a heart full of loyalty, never having had any disloyal thoughts towards the Emperor. He was upright and honest, treating the people of the country fairly. I have been taught by my father since childhood, never having done anything improper or out of line. Entering the palace to select consorts is an imperial decree that cannot be disobeyed. If Your Majesty is not satisfied with me, you can ask the Emperor to dismiss us from the palace, and we will no longer appear before your eyes."

  "This palace will investigate and clarify. If it's a misunderstanding, then so be it. But if it's true, don't blame this palace for being ruthless!"

  The Empress's words were a warning, but they also allowed me and Mu Yan to breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. Fortunately, we can escape unscathed today!

  "Long live the wise and enlightened empress!" My companion and I kowtowed together to express our gratitude for her mercy in sparing our lives.

  "Zhou Zhaoyuan, this palace is tired, the matter of granting you an audience ends here, you may withdraw!"

  "Have mercy on me, Your Majesty!"

  I helped Mu Yan up and we stood up together, just as we were about to leave, but were stopped again.

  "You can leave, she will stay!"

  The Empress's words were neither too salty nor too bland, so how could I possibly respond?

  "The Empress ordered her to stay!"

  "Mother, Manya is foolish and lazy, deaf and inconvenient..."

  "What this palace has set its eyes on, no one can take away."

  "Mother..."

  "Zhou Zhaoyuan doesn't need many words. Is the imperial concubine's residence, Chennian Palace, not good enough for your maid? Would it be a humiliation to her?"

  The words of Zhen Fei seemed to be written with an air of inevitability, as if refusal was not an option.

  "Dare not, but..."

  Just as the two were at an impasse, the eunuch who had led me in hastily walked in from outside, his footsteps somewhat dragging but not daring to slow down, and after a burst of rapid steps, he arrived in front of Consort Shu.

  "Your Ladyship, Doctor Chen is outside requesting an audience!"

  "Is it Physician Chen, namely Chen Heyan?"

  The Empress's voice was slightly trembling, seemingly a bit tense and questioning.

  "Yes, it is this person."

  "Oh, hurry up and pass it!"

  Chen Taizhen, how did you come? Is he also the imperial physician of Empress Zhen? However, looking at Empress Zhen's rosy complexion and speaking with a full voice, it really can't be seen that she has any illness. But in the palace, asking for peace pulse is also a common thing. After all, which concubine in the harem doesn't want to have more children? Maybe she is also like this.

  The truth is not something that can be guessed at will.

  "Your humble servant, Chen Heyan, wishes Your Highness good fortune!" The usually taciturn Imperial Physician Chen bowed solemnly to Consort Shen.

  The imperial concubine saw Doctor Chen, and her mood seemed to clear up a bit, her complexion looked better, and the originally beautiful woman had an even more captivating smile.

  "Imperial Physician Chen, rise. I recall that it was not you who usually took my pulse for me."

  "Your Highness has a good memory. I didn't come to take your pulse, but rather because of the disobedient patient, Miss Manya!"

  "Is Doctor Chen here for me? Really? I couldn't help but look up at Doctor Chen, despite trying to contain my excitement in front of Princess Zhen. The snowflakes fell gently on the coral-colored brocade cloak, dampening it slightly, and the white petals that hadn't yet melted reflected off the dark sable hat, looking lovely. But at this moment, I couldn't bear the intense gaze from Princess Zhen, which made me feel like I was on fire, so I had to abandon the beauty in front of me and lower my head to hide."

  "She, a palace maid, was also worthy of being treated by Chen Taigong, the chief imperial physician. Chen Taigong was indeed joking."

  "A doctor's heart is like a parent's, anyone who falls ill is my patient, regardless of whether they are master or servant, noble or beggar, I have the responsibility to cure them."

  "The kindness of Imperial Physician Chen is admired by the palace, since that's the case, I also want to be a good person once. Zhou Zhaoyuan's Lingbo Hall is a bit cold, naturally it's not as good for recuperation as my own Xianying Palace, why don't we let her stay here and recover instead? Firstly, it's close to the Imperial Medical Bureau, convenient for Imperial Physician Chen to diagnose and treat illnesses, secondly, I also want to do more good deeds. Zhou Zhaoyuan, you won't refuse my kind intentions, will you?"

  "Rubbish, Empress! You're talking nonsense, what charity, what consideration for me and Imperial Physician Chen? In fact, you just don't want to let us go. What a nice-sounding lie! Mu Yan, you must hold on, if I'm stuck here, next time we meet might be in the afterlife!"

  I used my eyes to convey the monologue word by word to Mu Yan, praying that heaven would make her understand at this moment!

  "This is already the best, thank you for your trouble!"

  "Hmm, since Zhou Zhaoyuan has agreed, I can rest assured! There should be elegant things in the palace, no need to pack up the luxurious items, stay here for tonight!"

  "Yes!"

  This was the first night I stayed in the Chensheng Palace, and Empress Chen did not make things difficult for me, nor did she treat me kindly. She simply arranged for me to live alone in the Xingyue Pavilion. As the night wore on, I still couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning, unable to help but think wildly.

  Why did Doctor Chen come so promptly, just this morning he announced that my illness had been cured and no further examination was needed, why then did he change his words afterwards, could it be that there is another hidden aspect to my illness.

  I know that the Empress Dowager's wish is something that no one can refuse, and Mu Yan's consent was just a formality. She couldn't refuse. But Mu Yan's expression at that time really made me puzzled. The curve of her mouth rising, was she secretly laughing? Was it only when I left that she felt satisfied? Were all the past events a deception? What kind of relationship did she and Wu Man Ya have? Were they mistress and servant, sisters, or something else?

  In the following days, staying in the Cining Palace, is it good fortune or a calamity, I don't know!

  Who can't sleep tonight?!!!