Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

Xie Qingli glanced at the empress dowager's eager eyes, and a barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

She offered the brocade box with both hands and said respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise. Heaven's laws are clear, and retribution is inevitable, but Heaven is merciful and always leaves a glimmer of hope. If you can sincerely repent, rectify your mistakes, and wait for your karma to dissipate and good thoughts to develop, the efficacy of this medicine will naturally...increase day by day."

The empress dowager's bony fingers clasped the brocade box fiercely, a glint of sarcasm flashing in her cloudy eyes. "Karma," she thought, "is just a fancy trick the Hopeless Young Master had invented to justify the pills." Trembling, she lifted the lid. Three brown pills lay quietly on the crimson velvet, emitting a faint fragrance.

Seeing the Queen Mother's hesitation, Xie Qingli bowed and said, "If Your Majesty has any doubts, you may wish to summon the masters of the Imperial Hospital to examine it together. Then choose a reliable palace maid to test it..."

"Ridiculous!" The Queen Mother suddenly shouted, "How can we allow those lowly creatures to waste such an elixir?!" She immediately summoned the imperial physician on duty.

After the imperial physicians cautiously confirmed the pill's non-toxicity, the empress dowager eagerly swallowed one. Suddenly, a refreshing breath of air rose from her throat to her head, and her limbs felt like a spring breeze. To her surprise, her once heavy body felt lighter and more agile, and she was even able to stand and walk.

"Quick! Bring me the bronze mirror!" the Queen Mother's voice trembled. In the mirror, the wrinkled old face seemed to relax a little, and the cloudy eyes brightened a little.

The maid holding the bronze mirror trembled slightly in her hands as she glanced up. The empress dowager's wrinkled face remained unchanged, yet she stroked her cheek obsessively, her voice changing with excitement: "Miracle medicine! It really is a miracle medicine! I have truly become younger!"

Everyone in the hall knelt on the ground and said in unison: "Congratulations to the Queen for her eternal youth!"

The Queen Mother caressed the brocade box lovingly and suddenly sighed, "What a pity... there are only these three."

She suddenly raised her head, a terrifying glint flashing in her cloudy eyes. "Master Wuwang, how often should I take this medicine? Can you make it for me?"

Xie Qingli lowered his eyes to hide the sneer in his eyes, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, there is no strict limit on the use of this medicine. It only needs to be taken twice within a period of no more than seven days. As for the refining..."

She looked troubled, her voice trailing off, "The herbs you need are all rare and precious. I'm willing to do my best to find them for you, Your Majesty, but... I can't guarantee we can gather them all."

The Queen Mother narrowed her cloudy eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said sternly, "Alright! Just go ahead and refine it! I will immediately issue an order, allowing you to use all the medicinal materials in the Imperial Hospital." After a pause, she added, "An additional reward of one hundred taels of gold will be given as a reward for your contribution."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Xie Qingli bowed and saluted, with just the right amount of joy on his face.

Stepping out of the vermilion gate of the Cining Palace, Xie Qingli's fingers under her wide sleeves gently stroked the Imperial Hospital's token. The sunlight shone on her beautiful face, reflecting a faint smile.

Not only had she escaped unscathed today, but she'd also secured a windfall. Even better... she couldn't help but smile as she recalled the empress dowager's ecstatic expression after taking the medicine. Tonight, when the datura's full effects took effect, what kind of "miracle" would this sinister old witch witness? Would the souls of those she'd murdered come to visit her for a "reminiscence"?

What's even more ironic is that in order to alleviate the hallucinations caused by this medicine, the Queen Mother has to do as she said... accumulate good karma and sincerely repent.

Xie Qingli walked lightly through the palace path, but suddenly stopped at the corner. He saw Chu Yuncang standing under the palace wall in a black brocade robe. The moment their eyes met, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a trace of imperceptible concern flashed in his deep eyes.

Xie Qingli didn't know that during the half hour she spent in the Cining Palace, Chu Yuncang had secretly mobilized all his hidden agents in the palace. If she had come out a moment later, he would have brought his men to force his way into the Cining Palace.

"Is that Young Master Wuwang?" a shrill voice suddenly interrupted. A young eunuch came running up, breathless, beads of sweat on his forehead. "My master invites you!"

Chu Yuncang's eyes suddenly turned cold, but Xie Qingli calmly bowed and said, "I wonder which lady you are?"

The young eunuch looked around and said in a low voice, "It's...it's the Concubine Shu. The Concubine asked the young master to see the doctor..."

Xie Qingli's eyes flickered, his thoughts racing. Concubine Li Shu was the mother of the Sixth Prince, Chu Yunhong. Though one of the Four Concubines, she had always lived a secluded life. But now, she held the Phoenix Seal and presided over the six palaces, becoming the most powerful person in the harem. Although he didn't know the true purpose of her summons, it was clearly not appropriate to refuse at this moment.

She glanced at Chu Yuncang subtly, giving him a soothing look. Then, turning to the young eunuch, she said softly, "Since it's the Imperial Concubine's order, I'll be obliged to serve. Please lead the way, eunuch."

After about a cup of tea, Xie Qingli followed the eunuch who led the way through the numerous red gates of Jinxiu Palace. They walked around the magnificent main hall and along the winding corridor to a quiet side hall.

The furnishings within the palace were elegant and unique. Ancient books and curios were displayed in the Treasure Pavilion, landscape paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls, and books and classics were piled on the desks. Xie Qingli knew for sure that this arrangement must be the residence of the Sixth Prince.

On the bed, a boy about ten years old was lying quietly, his face as pale as paper and his eyes closed.

A woman in plain clothes stood by the couch, her unpainted face etched with worry. Her hair was simply tied up in a bun, and her moonlit white palace dress accentuated her elegant demeanor.

"Your Majesty, Master Wuwang has arrived." The young eunuch bowed and reported.

Just as Xie Qingli was about to perform his formal ceremony, he saw Concubine Li Shu hurried forward, holding him with her bare hands, and said anxiously, "Sir, there is no need to be so formal. Hong'er has been unconscious for half a day. I hope you can treat him quickly."

"I obey your command." Xie Qingli stepped forward, grasping the Sixth Prince's wrist and lightly placing three fingers on his pulse. The moment she touched him, her brows furrowed slightly. The pulse was thin and deep, intermittent, clearly...

She gently parted the Sixth Prince's eyelids, only to see his pupils slightly dilated. His lips, however, were a deep purple. All these signs pointed to one conclusion.

Concubine Li Shu's voice tightened, and her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the handkerchief tightly: "Master, Hong'er..."

Xie Qingli looked around, about to speak, but stopped. Concubine Li Shu understood and immediately waved her hand, saying, "Everyone, leave!"

The palace maids filed out, but one solemn-looking old maid remained motionless. Her eyes, sharp as a torch, glanced back and forth between Concubine Li Shu and Xie Qingli. Her eyes showed no trace of the subservience expected of a servant, but instead a sense of authority that came from without anger.

Concubine Li Shu spoke bluntly, "Sir, please tell me. Is Hong'er poisoned? Is there a solution?"

Xie Qingli understood that this old nanny must be Concubine Li Shufei's confidant. Without further hesitation, she said sternly, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince was poisoned by 'Heartbreak Powder.' While this poison is potent, it was fortunately discovered in time..."

She took out a small jade bottle from the medicine box and said, "This is a detoxification pill. Take it for three days and then supplement it with acupuncture. You should be cured."

The old maid suddenly stepped forward, took the medicine bottle, uncorked it with a deft movement, and sniffed it, her brows furrowed slightly. She then summoned a palace maid and ordered, "Test the medicine."

The maid swallowed the pill and stood quietly in the hall. Half an incense stick later, seeing that the maid's face was back to normal, the old nanny handed the medicine bottle to Concubine Li Shu, and said in a soft but unquestionable voice: "Your Majesty, give it to Hong'er."

Xie Qingli felt that this master-servant relationship was indescribably strange. The old nanny's words and actions didn't show any respect for her master. Instead, it sounded like she was giving orders...