The cruel little princess

The morning light filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a shadow on Concubine Shu's delicately made-up yet haggard face. The fatigue and worry in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes were like a thick haze that no amount of makeup could conceal.

She moved lightly with lotus steps, her figure graceful but somewhat weak, as she and Zizhu strolled casually along the winding paths of the imperial garden.

The garden with colorful flowers and shady green trees now looked like a wasteland to her. Her heart was filled with sorrow and she had no time to appreciate the beautiful spring scenery.

When they reached the quiet archway, where no one was around, Concubine Shu paused, leaned slightly sideways, and whispered to Zizhu, "Zizhu, are there any midwives in the palace now that you're familiar with?"

The voice was very low, like a gently falling autumn leaf, which would cause ripples if not handled with care.

Zizhu's heart trembled. With her sharp mind, how could she not guess the deep meaning behind Concubine Shu's words?

At that moment, he fell to his knees with a thud, his face filled with panic: "My Queen! This is absolutely inappropriate!"

His words were sincere, and his eyes were full of anxiety and dissuasion.

Concubine Shu's expression remained unchanged, as if she had just casually asked about trivial matters. She spoke slowly and calmly, "I have been having frequent headaches recently. I remember hearing you mention before that there is a midwife named Li in the palace, and that she is related to your distant cousin's family?

She seems to be very good at treating headaches with folk remedies. Go find her and ask her to help me take a look!"

Her tone was steady and unhurried, but the slightly clenched corners of her clothes revealed her inner nervousness.

Zizhu crawled a few steps on her knees, looked up at Consort Shu, and tried to persuade her: "Your Majesty! Let's call the imperial physician to check your pulse!"

As long as your Majesty relaxes her mind, this headache will surely be relieved..."

"Relax?" Concubine Shu suddenly interrupted, her eyes wide open as she glanced at Zizhu. Her suppressed anger instantly erupted, but her voice remained low, as if squeezed out from between her teeth: "How can I make this palace relax?!

Why can others enjoy loving couples, children around their knees, and the happiness of family life...

But my Rui'er can only struggle and spend his days on the sickbed...

How can I remain calm and composed? I won't accept this!"

After saying this, she took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and said coldly, "Just do what I tell you to do! Don't ask anything you shouldn't ask! Go!"

Seeing her master was truly furious, Zizhu dared not say anything more and could only timidly respond, "Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"

Concubine Shu forced herself to take another walk around the imperial garden. The peonies that she once loved the most were no longer pleasing to her eyes, so she returned to the palace dejectedly.

After returning to the palace, she first sent her trusted maid to the Imperial Hospital to inquire about Prince Rui's condition in detail, not wanting to miss even the slightest change.

He also ordered people to carefully prepare rewards and send them to Prince Rui's Mansion for Zhang Yuyan, hoping to stabilize the situation there.

Hearing that there was no news from the people, she felt as if the last bit of energy had been drained away. She dragged heavy steps back to the bedroom and lay down listlessly on the chaise longue.

But as soon as she closed her eyes, the nightmare came back like a ghost, replaying in her mind over and over again. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was a warning from God, like a death warrant, urging her to make a quick decision and remove all obstacles.

"As one grows stronger, the other loses. It must be that person...who has inherited Rui'er's fate. Therefore, they are Rui'er's nemesis..."

The Concubine Shu muttered to herself, her eyes becoming increasingly fierce, as if she had fallen into madness.

Just as she was lost in thought and lost in her thoughts, Zizhu came in and reported softly, "Madam, Li Wenpo is here..."

"Let her come in!" Concubine Shu was in low spirits, her tone was flat, as if she had lost interest in everything.

"Yes!" Zizhu went out to pass on the message.

After a while, Zizhu came in leading a woman who was about forty years old. Although the woman was wearing a simple palace dress, she was well-maintained, with a rosy complexion, and her every move revealed a sense of competence.

"Your servant Li pays homage to the Empress Shufei. May the Empress Shufei live in peace and happiness!"

As soon as Li Wenpo entered the room, she knelt down and saluted with quick movements and perfect etiquette.

"Get up!" Concubine Shu gently pushed forward with her right hand and glanced at her indifferently.

"I heard that besides being good at delivering babies, you also have a secret technique for treating headaches?"

"In reply to the Empress," Wengpo Li lowered her head slightly and replied respectfully.

“My ancestors have been doctors for generations, but unfortunately our family fell into poverty.

By my generation, there were no brothers in the family, and I was the only one supporting the family. I had only learned some simple pulse diagnosis, acupuncture and midwifery techniques!

As for treating headaches, they are just some folk remedies that occasionally work!"

"Yes!" Empress Shufei nodded slightly. "I've been feeling dizzy lately. Can you help me take a look? If you can cure it, I'll reward you handsomely!"

"Yes!"

Li Wenpo took the order and stepped forward, kneeling respectfully again.

"Please extend your hand, Madam Shufei. I will take your pulse and check your health!"

Concubine Shu slowly stretched out her fair and slender wrist, and Wengpo Li gently placed her hand on it, slightly closed her eyes, and concentrated on taking her pulse.

After a moment, she looked up at Consort Shu again and asked, "Your Majesty, may I allow this servant to examine your neck?"

"Okay!" Empress Shufei replied weakly.

After a meticulous examination, Wengpo Li stood up and replied to Consort Shu: "Your Majesty's recent headache is due to your recent depression, restlessness, and lack of sleep."

"Is there any treatment?" Concubine Shu looked anxiously at Wengpo Li.

"If Your Majesty trusts me, I will first give you acupuncture for a few days, and then prescribe some simple calming prescriptions. This will probably alleviate a lot of your pain..."

While packing up her needle box, Li Wenpo raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Shu cautiously.

Seeing that she lowered her eyes and had no intention of refutation, he took a deep breath and added boldly, "I hope your Majesty will relax and not think too much.

Once the knot in your heart is untied, your headache will heal without medication!"

The tone of voice carried some concern of a doctor, but also concealed awe for this high-ranking lady.

"Ha ha……"

A bitter, self-deprecating smile appeared on Concubine Shu's lips, and the laughter echoed in the empty inner hall, revealing endless sadness.

"You all say it so easily, but how can I overcome this hurdle so easily?"

Her eyes stared blankly ahead, as if she were lost in an abyss of painful memories. Her fingers twisted the handkerchief unconsciously, and her knuckles turned white from the strain.

After a moment, she seemed to have made up her mind. She gently waved her hand and regained some dignity in her voice: "Forget it, you can help me with acupuncture first. If you can help me relieve the pain, I will reward you handsomely!"

The unquestionable tone was as if the master of the harem was giving orders to a humble servant.

"Yes! I obey my command!"

Li Wenpo quickly agreed and hurriedly retreated to the clean room to wash her hands and prepare.

Concubine Shu slightly turned sideways, glanced at Zizhu, and asked quietly, "This midwife Li seems to be quite capable...

Zizhu, is there anyone else at her family?"

The voice was as gentle as a gentle breeze, yet it carried an irresistible sense of oppression.

Zizhu bowed slightly and replied softly, "Your Majesty, she has a husband and two sons at home!

The eldest son's family was doing business abroad, and they were busy all year round, and their business was quite prosperous.

The youngest son has also married and has his own children, and the family lives a peaceful and stable life in the ancestral home.

Concubine Shu nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile on her lips, but the smile did not reach her eyes: "More people are good, more people are good!

This kind of... is easy to grasp..."

She murmured softly, as if planning something, with a sinister look in her eyes.

Zizhu understood and nodded calmly to show that she understood.