The cruel little princess

"Your humble servant greets the Empress! May the Empress be blessed with good health!" Imperial Physician Wang and Imperial Physician Yang quickly turned around to pay their respects to the Empress.

"Your servants greet the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed with good health!" Madam Zuo, Madam Zheng and Madam Wu, the aunt of Prince Jin, also bowed to the Empress Dowager.

"No need to formality!" The Queen stretched out her right hand to support them, then walked to the side of Shen Youyou's bed. She looked at the small person lying on the bed, whose face was as pale as paper. Just now, she had a rosy face and greeted her politely, but she didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, she jumped into the water to save people, and was tossed into this state by the cold lake water!

"Your Majesty..." Shen Youyou struggled on the bed, wanting to get up and salute the Empress, but her body felt like it was falling apart and she had no strength at all. She could only lie on the bed unable to move, "Your Majesty... please forgive me! Your servant... cough cough... cannot get up... salute... cough cough..." Shen Youyou kept coughing, as if she wanted to cough out all the air in her lungs. She covered her mouth tightly, fearing that she would lose her manners in front of the emperor.

The Queen quickly waved her hands to show that she didn't care: "It's okay, it's okay, just take a good rest, I won't blame you." After that, she stepped forward and gently patted Shen Youyou's hand, signaling her not to be nervous.

The Empress saw Shen Youyou, who was about the same age as her daughter, and a wave of pity welled up in her heart. Hearing that she had lost her mother at a young age, yet was still so sensible and well-behaved, truly made her heartbroken. So, she patted the back of Shen Youyou's hand a few more times, her tone increasingly gentle, comforting, "I understand your feelings, but right now, your health is more important. Don't worry about these empty formalities."

However, Shen Youyou insisted that the Empress stay away from the bed, fearing that she might pass on her illness. She forced herself to speak frailly, speaking haltingly, "Your Majesty... please stay away from... cough cough cough... the bed... cough cough... lest... you... pass on... cough cough... the illness! That's... this minister's... cough cough... not..." Shen Youyou warned the Empress, coughing.

Seeing her persistence, the Empress took a few steps back and asked with concern, "Why are you so stubborn, child? Is there something wrong?"

Shen Youyou shook her head, trying hard to force a smile, and answered with difficulty: "Thank you, Your Majesty... for your concern. I am fine... ahem... seriously. I just don't want... ahem... to let Your Majesty be implicated by me..." After she finished speaking, she couldn't help coughing again, and her face became paler.

The Empress then recalled that the Emperor had just visited her chambers the previous night and had repeatedly urged her to pay close attention to the appearance and conduct of the Rui'an County Lady, and to take proper care of her. Initially, the Empress had assumed the Emperor intended to take her into the palace as a concubine, but then he said a prince had taken a liking to Shen Youyou and wanted to marry her. Hence the Empress's earnest inquiry.

But she thought that girls all liked to be lively, so there was no need to restrict them to listen to the endless compliments of these ladies, so she sent them all out to play! She didn't expect that before she could take good care of them, they would turn out like this! And it happened right under her nose. How could she explain it to the emperor?

"Imperial Physician Yang! How is the Rui'an County Princess doing?" The Empress looked at Shen Youyou, who lay quietly on the bed, her eyes filled with heartache. After hearing what the little girl had said, the Empress felt that this child was extremely sensible. She didn't know how much grievance she had endured, so she lived so cautiously. So, seeing Shen Youyou like this, the Empress's pity and love for her became even stronger, and she wished she could give all her love to this poor child. So, the Empress decided to personally ask the Imperial Physician about Shen Youyou's condition.

Hearing the call from the Empress, Doctor Yang hurried forward, knelt down and saluted, saying: "Your Majesty, it was a noble act by Princess Rui'an to jump into the water to save people! However, the Princess has been soaking in the water for too long, causing a cold to enter her body. I'm afraid she will have a high fever today and tomorrow. Moreover, the lake water is too cold, which has caused great harm to Princess Rui'an's body. From now on... I'm afraid she will have no children!" As Doctor Yang spoke, he knelt with his head down, as if he was extremely ashamed that he could not save Princess Rui'an's physical condition.

"Ah?" The Empress was shocked to hear Doctor Yang's answer! Just now, next door, she had learned that Miss Xu had difficulty conceiving after falling into the water, but she hadn't expected that Princess Rui'an's condition was even more serious! Her eyes widened, her face filled with shock and heartache.

At this moment, the palace maid's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Prince Rui has arrived. He is clamoring to see the Princess of Rui'an!"

"What is he doing here? And how did he know about this?" The Empress frowned, her face clearly displeased, as if she was deeply dissatisfied with His Royal Highness the Prince of Rui. "Just say that Princess Rui'an is unwell and unable to receive guests, and send him away!" The Empress waved her hand impatiently, signaling the young palace maid to retreat.

"I'll ask you again, how did you and Miss Xu end up in the water?" The Empress gazed softly at Shen Youyou. After all, she had ascended to the throne after navigating harem strife, so she could readily discern that there was more to this incident than meets the eye. She hoped to learn more from the parties involved so she could conduct a more rigorous interrogation of the bound young maid.

"Your Majesty! Rui'an and Qingqing met Miss Xu in... the Imperial Garden... We were standing by the lake, chatting..." Shen Youyou recounted the events, reminiscing and reiterating the story. She emphasized that the young maid had carefully verified her identity before falling. She had also deliberately fallen towards her, but luckily she reacted quickly and used her Qinggong to dodge. It could be said that the young maid was coming for her!

But Xu Qingxue was not so lucky. She was knocked into the lake by the little palace maid and suffered an unexpected disaster!

I just don't know who is behind this! To the point where he keeps attacking her!

Shen Youyou was certain she was getting in the way, obstructing others' attention. That was why she was framed for poisoning the medicinal food, but she and Lord Wu were quick-witted enough to see through the truth. That person, having failed in their previous scheme, devised another one: a plan to plunge her into the water! It was freezing cold, and if she hadn't mastered the art of light martial arts and couldn't dodge in time, she would have been knocked into the water by the young palace maid. Furthermore, most noble ladies these days couldn't swim, so if she was one of those landlubbers, her life would be in jeopardy!

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Rui is still waiting outside the palace. He said that he heard that Princess Rui'an fell into the water, so he came to visit!" The little palace maid came back to report to the Queen.

The Queen tapped her fingers on the table twice and said, "In that case, I will go out and see where His Royal Highness Prince Rui got the news that Princess Rui'an fell into the water!" The Queen turned back and told Shen Youyou to have a good rest, then went out with the help of the aunt in charge.

As soon as the Queen left, the three ladies who had been standing aside with little presence gathered around.

"County Lady! Are you feeling unwell?" Madam Zuo asked softly.

"Thank you all for your concern. Youyou is fine now. Ladies, please keep a proper distance from me so as not to pass on the disease!" Shen Youyou forced herself to speak a few words to them. She didn't have time to care about whether this unfamiliar lady was the mistress of the He family and why she came here to visit her.

Imperial Physician Yang drove the ladies out of the wing, saying that Princess Rui'an needed to rest well.

As soon as they left, Imperial Physicians Yang and Wang gathered around. Finally, it was their turn to speak! Huh!