Chapter 12

Qi E is a bit busy.

I’m also very busy.

Every day I have to learn to read and write with the female master, and I’m surrounded by a group of imperial physicians for acupuncture and medicine.

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve taken too much medicine, but lately I can hardly smell the bitterness on Qi E anymore.

“Doudou, smell me, have I become bitter too?” I frowned as I watched Doudou bring over a bowl of medicine.

Doudou thought I didn’t want to drink the medicine and tried to persuade me earnestly, “Consort, His Majesty is doing this for your own good. Didn’t you say yourself that reciting texts has become much easier lately?”

Yes.

All these are medicines to cure stupidity.

What those imperial physicians say isn’t much different from what the doctor my father invited said.

It’s mostly that my mother had a difficult labor when giving birth to me, and I was locked up at home for over ten years, so my mind never developed and my brain is blocked.

No one would want to be a fool.

I endured it, pinched my nose, and drank the bowl of medicine.

I had just popped a piece of candied fruit into my mouth when a palace servant hurried in.

“Consort, the Empress Dowager came out of the Buddha hall yesterday and asks you to pay your respects at Cining Palace.”

Doudou said the Empress Dowager is Qi E’s mother.

She’s been a vegetarian and chanting Buddha’s name for years, and every year she spends half a month in the Buddha hall.

My father is also Qi E’s father.

Qi E’s mother is naturally my mother too.

I quickly had Doudou pick out a pretty dress for me to change into, washed up, and followed the palace servant to Cining Palace.

“You are Consort Chun?” The Empress Dowager looked kindly and smiled at me from her couch.

I bowed properly, but before I could speak, I caught a strange foul smell.

It was coming from the Empress Dowager.

“How dare you not answer when the Empress Dowager asks you a question?” Li Xingzhi, standing to the side, scolded sharply.

The stench from her mixed with the Empress Dowager’s, filling the hall and making me uncomfortable.

But on the way here, Doudou had reminded me of the rules over and over.

Afraid I’d make another mistake.

I had thought the Empress Dowager, as Qi E’s mother, would be just like Qi E.

But now, it seems not.

I said softly, “Replying to the Empress Dowager, I am Consort Chun.”

“Good child, so lovely, no wonder the emperor likes you.” The Empress Dowager smiled, “Come sit by me.”

I looked up at her, then at Li Xingzhi’s resentful face.

Clearly both are bad people, yet so different.

I obediently sat beside the Empress Dowager, and she took my hand and said to Li Xingzhi, “You may go back now.”

Li Xingzhi glared at me, looking reluctant, but still bowed and left.

After she left, the Empress Dowager asked me, “Tell me, do you like the emperor?”

Of course I do.

Seeing me nod, she continued, “I heard the emperor was recently attacked, and you were there too. Were you frightened?”

I shook my head.

“Sigh, I spent half a month in the Buddha hall, and when I came out, the emperor had lost so much weight.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand, and a palace servant brought over a small bottle.

“You may not know, but the emperor hasn’t been by my side since he was young, and he has some misunderstandings about me.” Her tone was sorrowful. “Seeing you with him, I feel much comforted.”

“This is a medicine I found for his heart disease. He refuses to take it no matter what. Could you help me find a way to get him to take it?”

I glanced at the small porcelain vial.

“His Majesty has heart disease?” I asked.

She nodded, “He’s had it since he was young. Every attack is excruciating. If he doesn’t take this medicine, I’m afraid he won’t live for many more years. I have no other way, so I’m asking you for help.”

Not many more years to live?

My eyes widened.

“He hates me, so as long as it’s something from me, he won’t touch it. You mustn’t tell him it’s from me.”