The maiden stood up, her gaze clear, "How is it to be taken?"
"Your Majesty..."
"Absolutely not..."
Two voices came from Aunt Yuan and Lin Yanzhi respectively.
Hearing this, the maiden chuckled, "It's just heart's blood, not my life, what are you afraid of?"
"Your Majesty, it is absolutely not permissible. Your body is extremely precious, how can you harm it for others?" Aunt Yuan shook her head in disapproval.
Lin Yanzhi, supported by Cui Sheng and Cui He, also sat up and lay on the bed, saying, "Your Majesty, your noble body cannot be harmed in any way for a commoner. Otherwise, I would be guilty of a thousand deaths."
The maiden stepped forward, reaching out to help up the young man lying on the bed, her voice clear and bright, "You were brought here by me, how could I bear to see you harmed in any way?"
The young man's body trembled slightly, the hand on his shoulder withdrew, and he looked up to see the maiden had already picked up the dagger prepared on the table and plunged it into her chest, fresh blood dripping down.
"Imperial Physician Shen, is that enough?"
The maiden asked.
Imperial Physician Shen had not expected the Empress to actually take heart's blood.
After a long moment, he said, "Your Majesty, it is enough."
"Then why aren't you preparing the other medicines?" the maiden raised an eyebrow, her voice somewhat cold.
Imperial Physician Shen did not dare to delay, taking the half-bowl of heart's blood and leaving.
The maiden's face was slightly pale. She looked at the young man on the bed and said softly, "Soon you will no longer be tormented by this illness."
The young man lowered his gaze, his lips trembling slightly, "Your Majesty, you really didn't need to do this, this humble one..."
"I said, since you were brought here by me, you are now my person. How could I let you suffer from illness?"
The young man trembled all over and looked up, "Your Majesty..."
The maiden had already stood up and said faintly, "Rest well, there will be plenty of time for the future."
With that, she turned and left.
"Young Master..." Cui Sheng couldn't help but speak as his young master stared intently at the doorway where no one was.
The young man retracted his gaze and slowly said, "Cui Sheng, what do you think of the Empress?"
Cui Sheng was stunned, not understanding why his young master asked this, but he answered truthfully, "This subordinate believes the Empress treats you very well. Knowing that you needed heart's blood, she took it without a frown. Others would probably hesitate."
Hearing this, the young man chuckled, "Yes, others need to hesitate. I've never met the Empress before, and on our first meeting, she took her heart's blood for me. What do you call that?"
Cui Sheng was taken aback, his eyes flickered, "Young Master, I recall an old saying."
"What saying?" the young man asked.
"Undue eagerness often signals deceit or theft," Cui Sheng said, then gave an awkward laugh.
The young man sighed, "You're right, but the Empress has killed two birds with one stone. She gave me sweetness and also provoked Lord Li's side."
"Young Master, the schemes in this palace are too deep. Let's return to the Grand Commandant's mansion!" Cui Sheng said with a frown.
"No rush, the play has just begun." The young man's lips curved upwards, the smile that appeared fused with the blood remaining at the corners of his lips, exceptionally vibrant.
Zhaoyuan Palace
Aunt Yuan looked at Xue Zining's chest wound with great heartache, "Your Majesty, why do you harm your own body?"
Hearing this, the maiden sighed, "Aunt, it's just a little heart's blood, why be so nervous?"
"A little? That's half a bowl," Aunt Yuan said angrily, her eyes wide.
The maiden smiled, "Aunt, I have my reasons for doing this."
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience!" Xue Yan reported from outside the door.
"Let him in!"
Soon, a tall figure appeared outside the door and hurried inside.
Seeing her, the young man seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but his tone was still somewhat stiff, "Your Majesty, why do you not take care of yourself?"
Xue Zining heard this and smiled awkwardly, "You already know?"