"My name isn't on the selection list?" Chu Qianli jolted awake.
"Yes, the message from my elder brother says your name is not on the list."
Fu Ning was also bewildered.
She had sent the portraits along with Chu Huaiyu's. To prevent any foul play, Fu Ning had even personally followed the eunuch carrying them.
She had only returned after he entered the palace.
She had been so cautious, fearing the people from the Duke's mansion would cause trouble.
Since the portraits had already entered the palace, why was Chu Huaiyu on the first batch of the selection list, but she wasn't?
"After these portraits were submitted, who was in charge?" Chu Qianli asked as she tidied herself, washed her face, and changed her clothes.
Fu Ning thought for a moment before replying, "The Empress is the mistress of the six palaces. Matters like the Prince selecting a consort should be handled by her."
"Although the Empress dislikes me, there's no reason for her to take my portrait and cancel my eligibility."
The Empress probably wished she would make a fool of herself.
Anyone with common sense knew that if she, like this, had the Emperor annul her engagement in the grand hall, the Emperor would certainly not choose her.
To participate in the selection like this would only be a source of amusement for others.
Chu Qianli knew this herself, and the Empress understood it too; it was a foregone conclusion that would invite ridicule.
Chu Qianli certainly didn't expect to be chosen. She merely hoped for an opportunity to meet and get to know a girl named Long Ziyue.
As for the Empress, wouldn't she be waiting to see her make a spectacle of herself and then mock her?
Why would she cancel her qualification?
"No," she mused, feeling increasingly uneasy.
She looked at Fu Ning. "Was Prince He at the Empress's place yesterday?"
Fu Ning shook her head. "My elder brother didn't mention it, but Prince He often visits the Empress. It's possible."
Chu Qianli felt a surge of despair.
That scoundrel!
He must have been at the Empress's place yesterday, otherwise, how would he have known she was going to participate in the selection?
It must have been him who discarded her portrait and forbade her from participating in the selection for Prince Xuan's consort.
That scoundrel, he was too much!
"Miss, what should we do now? Should we wait for the second batch to submit the portraits?"
According to the news from Fu Long, because there were too many participants, the Empress had divided them into several batches.
The focus was on the first batch. If none of the ladies in the first batch satisfied Prince Xuan, then the ladies in the second batch would continue the selection.
In other words, if any lady in the first batch managed to impress Prince Xuan, then the second batch could be canceled, and there would be no need for further competition.
"I can't go in the second batch. I'm not really here to select a consort."
"Miss..." There were things Fu Ning didn't know, which was why she still didn't understand Chu Qianli's true purpose for participating.
Was she not really aiming to become Prince Xuan's consort?
"I want to meet a girl named Long Ziyue. Given her status and position, she would definitely be in the first batch, so..."
"I understand." Fu Ning didn't ask further. Some things, if they shouldn't be asked, shouldn't be asked.
Chu Qianli telling her her purpose was the greatest trust she could place in her.
Fu Ning said, "I'll go into the palace to find my elder brother and see if there's any way."
"No need." Chu Qianli thought for a moment and shook her head. "The Emperor knows I have a good relationship with Fu Long, but given that many people in court form factions, the Emperor won't pursue minor matters."
"If Fu Long crosses the Emperor's line to help me this time, the Emperor might not be indifferent."
"But..."
"I'll find a way."
Chu Qianli casually tied up her long hair and said, "Prepare something for me to eat, and be quick. I need to go out after I finish."
...
Chu Qianli went to the Prince of逍遥's mansion.
Unexpectedly, Consort Yu was also there.
"Bypass surgery?" For these four words, both Feng Wuya and Consort Yu heard them for the first time.
"That's right. A bypass surgery is necessary to maintain heart function, otherwise..."
Chu Qianli was not trying to scare them. She had carefully considered this matter before deciding to speak.
"Otherwise, the Prince's heart function cannot be sustained. In another two or three years..."
She did not continue.
Consort Yu and Feng Wuya exchanged glances. They both understood Chu Qianli's meaning.
Another two or three years, that would be Feng Wuya's twenty-fifth birthday.
Back then, Wuchenzi had divined Wuya's fate, stating he would not live past twenty-five. Now, Chu Qianli's words clearly meant the same thing.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Chu Qianli did not pressure them.
Moreover, even for her, the success of this surgery was still uncertain.
Finally, she added, "The success rate is not high. Currently, I only have a twenty percent chance."
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
Twenty percent.
Consort Yu's heart ached instantly.
Opening the chest, and only a twenty percent chance...
After a long while, Feng Wuya smiled faintly and said, "Fate is destiny. In fact, being like this now is not bad."
"Your myocardial angina attacks have been increasing in frequency recently, and you often have difficulty breathing. These attacks mostly occur around midnight, is that right?"
Feng Wuya's expression froze.
Tie Xin didn't even know about this.
He had been enduring it.
How could she...
Seeing her son's expression, Consort Yu's heart ached. "Wuya, why didn't you tell your mother?"
After concealing the surprise in his eyes, Feng Wuya continued to smile faintly. "It's nothing. I'm used to it. I recover after the attacks."
"Each time it's more frequent, and each time it lasts longer. Without surgery, you won't recover."
She was a doctor and did not want to give patients false hope.
"If you don't have surgery, you really won't live long."
"Little Lier..." Consort Yu glanced at her with some resentment.
How could she say such things so directly in front of Wuya?
How painful it must be for Wuya.
Chu Qianli, however, looked at her and said earnestly, "Your Highness, you don't need to worry. In fact, the Prince's resilience is stronger than you imagine. It's just that he cannot accept the method of opening the chest for surgery at this moment."
Feng Wuya remained silent.
Although Chu Qianli spoke directly, it was not untrue.
But he still said, "Fate is destiny..."
"I never believed in fate," Chu Qianli smiled faintly. "If I believed in fate, I would have died countless times already."
"However, I haven't finished preparing the equipment yet. I'm still trying to find a way."
As for whether Feng Wuya was willing to accept it, that would be something to discuss after the equipment was ready.
After Chu Qianli administered acupuncture to Feng Wuya that day, she took her leave, leaving mother and son to discuss matters.
Leaving the Prince of逍遥's mansion, she did not take the mansion's carriage but walked alone on the street.
Returning to the Duke's mansion, a pile of matters awaited her.
Going back wouldn't necessarily mean rest. Instead, walking on the street was her only chance to catch her breath.
Bypass surgery required a lot of equipment, and these were not available on Taobao.
She didn't know if Taobao had any ready-made materials.
She opened the system on her bracelet.
But as soon as she opened it, even the calm Chu Qianli was severely startled!
What did she see?
WeChat?
How was that possible?