Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

Zhang Quan cautiously entered the bedroom and saw Lin Ruoshui gently applying an ice towel to Xuan Yuan Yu's face.

"If His Majesty had shown even a little bit of kindness to the ladies of the harem, things probably wouldn't have come to this." Zhang Quan paused and thought.

Lin Ruoshui sensed someone coming in, turned her head and saw Zhang Quan standing there, stunned.

Lin Ruoshui asked, "Did those old women leave?"

Zhang Quan didn't understand at first and asked, "What does 'old woman' mean?"

Lin Ruoshui smiled awkwardly and said, "I'm asking you, have the Empress and the others left?"

Zhang Quan knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress and the Consort refused to leave and even slapped this old servant. Your Majesty can see that my face is still crooked."

Lin Ruoshui walked closer and took a look, saying, "Who did this? So ruthless! How dare they hit my people?"

Zhang Quan tearfully recounted, "Your Majesty, it was Granny Gui, who served the Empress. Not only did the Empress and her entourage refuse to leave, but they also knelt outside the palace, begging Your Majesty to grant them an audience."

Lin Ruoshui narrowed her eyes, which meant she was angry.

Lin Ruoshui shouted, "Shadow One!"

The shadow appeared and knelt in worship.

Lin Ruoshui said, "You few who have been poisoned, take care of those old women outside, no, I mean the Empress and the Consort, so they won't come to me every day in heat."

Yingyi and Zhang Quan were both petrified at the scene.

The secret guards were not allowed to disobey the emperor's orders. Yingyi gritted his teeth, seemingly having made a great decision, and knelt down, saying, "Yes, after we finish this task, we will commit suicide to atone for our sins."

Zhang Quan realized the situation was bad; the Emperor was serious and had come up with such an extreme plan. He quickly tried to dissuade him, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress and these ladies are all daughters of Grand Councilors. If something happens to them, they will surely not survive. If these families unite, I'm afraid our Chishui Kingdom will be thrown into chaos."

Lin Ruoshui said with a cold smile, "I don't care whether it's chaotic or not, as long as no one bullies my people."

Zhang Quan was moved to tears and said, "Your Majesty, I have no regrets in dying because of your compassion in this life. If we are to punish them, we need to consider it carefully."

Lin Ruoshui stroked her chin and thought for a moment. Okay, if being direct won't work, then let's try something more subtle and indirect.

Lin Ruoshui said with a wicked smile, "Zhang Quan, tell them that whoever returns to their palace first and is ready to wait for me, I will go to their palace first. Ying Yi, take the brothers who haven't been poisoned, prepare sleeping pills and knives, and give me those kneeling outside the palace..."

Lin Ruoshui then approached Yingyi and whispered in her ear. After she finished speaking, she didn't notice that Yingyi's cheek turned red.

After giving her instructions, Lin Ruoshui returned to Xuan Yuan Yu's side and continued to take care of him.

Zhang Quan walked outside the hall and said, "Your Majesty the Empress and all the ladies, please rise. His Majesty said that official business will be finished shortly. He asked all the ladies to return to their palaces first. Whoever returns to their palace first and is ready to wash and wait for His Majesty will be visited by His Majesty first."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress stood up abruptly and said, "My dear sisters, please wait a moment. I need to go to the side hall to 'change my clothes' (a euphemism for urinating or defecating in the Han Dynasty)."

The Empress made a hasty retreat, not to the toilet, but to her own bedchamber.

Consort Gui, Consort Shu, and the others exchanged glances, knowing that the Empress must have returned to the palace. Unable to contain themselves, they all stood up, their steps so fast it was as if they were running.

The imperial concubines and palace maids walked briskly, creating an effect similar to the evening walking crowd in 21st Century Park, disappearing in an instant.

Zhang Quan gave a wry smile, shook his head, and helplessly watched the women walk away, thinking to himself, "We fathers-in-law are the ones who have the most peace of mind."

Lin Ruoshui summoned Zhang Quan from inside the hall, and Zhang Quan quickly walked back.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Eunuch Zhang, don't just sit idly by. Compile a list of the concubines who have climbed into my bedchamber. I need the time, number of times they climbed into my bedchamber, as well as detailed personal profiles, including their family histories. Make sure you have all the information and bring it to me in an hour."

Zhang Quan received the order and went to collect the statistics.

An hour later, Xuanyuan Yu's fever subsided, and he slept soundly. He dreamt of Chu Xiao dressed as a woman; she stood among the trees, alluring and seductive, smiling and bewitching him, and he was just about to consummate their relationship.

Physician Li roused him with a needle, which was inserted into a painful acupoint. Xuan Yuan Yu woke up instantly, and the feeling of being torn apart surged into his heart. He suddenly struck out at Physician Li with a palm strike, but Physician Li dodged it by turning to the side.

Xuanyuan Yu looked at Physician Li, who had easily dodged his palm strike, and found it unbelievable.

"Imperial Physician Li, you are quite skilled. I didn't expect you to be not only a doctor but also a martial artist. There are very few people in the world who can easily dodge my palm strike. I wonder where Imperial Physician Li comes from?" Xuan Yuan Yu said coldly, his voice icy.

With his signature warm smile, Physician Li said, "I have been weak and sickly since childhood. I learned martial arts for a few days only to improve my health. I have never formally become a disciple."

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Yu realized it was a lie; this hypocritical Physician Li was highly suspicious.

Seeing the two handsome men locked in a tangible standoff, Lin Ruoshui decided to intervene after some thought.

Lin Ruoshui smiled and said, "Xuanyuan Yu, you're awake. It seems you were dreaming. What did you dream about?"

Xuanyuan Yu turned his head and saw those incredibly alluring eyes from his dream. Remembering how they had almost ended up together in the dream, he felt a pang of resentment. He glared fiercely at Physician Li and said, "Thanks to Physician Li, my sweet dream was shattered. Let's not dwell on it."

Physician Li smiled gently, but there seemed to be a hint of mischief in his smile. He said, "King Chu, you are not young anymore and need to get married."

Lin Ruoshui looked at Physician Li with a gossipy gaze. Physician Li noticed Lin Ruoshui's inquisitive look and then gestured for her to look.

Lin Ruoshui and Xuanyuan Yu looked together at the location indicated by Physician Li.

Lin Ruoshui, clutching her stomach, laughed so hard she almost fell over, saying, "Your Highness, it turns out you were just having a wet dream."

Xuanyuan Yu turned around awkwardly, his back to Lin Ruoshui and Physician Li.

Lin Ruoshui laughed for a long time, tears streaming down her face. It was the first time Physician Li had seen Lin Ruoshui so lively and spirited. He looked at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, and as he watched, he too began to laugh.

Xuanyuan Yu froze, clenching his fists.