Ping An, upon hearing the palace maid's report that the Emperor wished to see her, struggled to her feet with the help of the two maids and forced herself to approach the sleeping quarters.
As soon as she entered, she rushed to the emperor's bed, sobbing uncontrollably. This time, without any command from the Emperor, she recounted every detail of the past as if listing treasures.
"Your Highness, please don't leave Ping An behind! Ping An has followed you for over twenty years, serving Your Highness since she was a little maid. In the past, Your Highness was not only beautiful but treated this servant like a sister. It was then that I swore I would never marry and would serve Your Highness. Your Highness, can you hear Ping An speaking? Your Highness, please wake up..."
Hearing Ping An's words, Yun Xiao was slightly moved. To be honest, Ping An was a loyal servant, never abandoning the Empress Dowager.
Through Ping An's words, she learned that the Empress Dowager was not entirely without merit. It was perhaps due to her circumstances. In the inner court, if one didn't devour others, one would be devoured. Sometimes, one was forced step by step.
As Yun Xiao was pondering this, a figure quietly slipped in from outside the hall door. Observing the commotion in the room, he dared not utter a word, holding a yellow silk brocade and silver notes in his hand.
The moment Yun Xiao saw him appear, she couldn't help but smile. Ignoring Ping An's heart-wrenching cries in the sleeping quarters, she fixed her gaze on Xiao Ting Zi and asked softly, "Did you bring the silver notes?"
Shangguan Yao heard her words and suddenly turned his head, glaring at her. However, he saw no fear in Yun Xiao's demeanor. Instead, he saw a carefree smile. His clear, slightly deep voice rang out.
"Phoenix Official awaits the silver notes. Since the silver notes have arrived, Phoenix Official should administer the acupuncture to Your Highness."
In fact, she could already see some reaction from the Empress Dowager. Administering acupuncture now would surely wake her up, allowing her to leave the palace smoothly.
However, before leaving, she had to take ten thousand taels of silver notes, as well as the gold and silver from the Yun Prince's mansion. She wouldn't leave those things to the people in the palace.
Shangguan Yao's dark pupils flashed with a bloodthirsty glint. He had intended to strike down this commoner who dared to provoke him with a single palm.
But upon hearing Yun Xiao's next sentence, he forcibly suppressed his rage. However, his pupils bulged with a crimson hue, his breathing grew heavier, and the air he exhaled was exceptionally chilling.
"Xiao Ting Zi, immediately give the ten thousand taels of silver notes to this Phoenix公子."
Xiao Ting Zi nimbly handed the ten thousand taels of silver notes to Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao confirmed they were correct and nodded with a delighted smile as she walked towards the bed.
Behind her, Shangguan Yao's pupils were as dark as the black water in an ancient well, unfathomable. A cold sneer curved his lips. "If Phoenix公子 cannot awaken the Empress Dowager, do not blame me?"
This time, he would not merely administer thirty board strokes like before, but would ensure she died without a burial place.
To be threatened repeatedly – he was the reigning Emperor. To this day, no one had dared to threaten him. This was the first, and it would be the last.
Yun Xiao turned back, her eyes shining brightly. Her dark skin made her teeth appear exceptionally white, and a confident smile played on her lips.
"Phoenix Official is confident about this."
"That's good," Shangguan Yao said in a deep voice and sat back in his previous position. His heart seethed with anger, and he cast a cold, piercing gaze at Yun Xiao, wishing he could bore a hole through her back.
Meanwhile, Ping An, who had been weeping beside the Empress Dowager, heard the conversation between Shangguan Yao and the young man and realized that this young man was the physician who had answered the imperial summons and entered the palace. She knew that this physician could save the Empress Dowager.
Ping An immediately stopped crying, struggled to move aside, and knelt on the ground.
"Physician, you must save Your Highness."
"I will do my best." Yun Xiao couldn't bring herself to be harsh with Ping An. She felt Ping An possessed rare and valuable qualities.
Although she had committed many wrongdoings, she was a loyal servant. Possessing loyalty alone was enough to earn respect. People couldn't be perfect, but possessing one good quality was worthy of respect.
Yun Xiao sat to the side and called towards the door, "Medicine chest."
Liu Xing immediately entered with the medicine chest. As he walked in, everyone in the sleeping quarters was startled.
Shangguan Yao narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint fixed on Liu Xing. The aura emanating from this man indicated he was no ordinary person, but a master.
He did not expect such a formidable subordinate to belong to a mere physician. This could not help but arouse suspicion.
Shangguan Yao recalled the repeated incidents in the palace, Xi Men Yao, and the person in the shadows, including the matter in Chang Xin Palace. It was the arrival of assassins that had alerted him. Now, it seemed like a trap, and who was that assassin?
Who exactly was this Phoenix Official? Could he be from the Yun Prince's mansion?
However, it was not yet time to alert them. Healing his mother was paramount. Later? Shangguan Yao's pupils suddenly gleamed with bloodlust, a sinister smile spreading across his lips.
Yun Xiao's attention was already focused on the Empress Dowager. She casually opened the medicine chest, took out silver needles, and began to administer acupuncture to the Empress Dowager.
Silence fell upon the sleeping quarters. No one dared to speak, all anxiously watching the young man administering acupuncture. His expression was one of intense concentration, his eyes bright, and a confident smile graced the corners of his cherry-like lips.
This young man was truly handsome, especially when treating a patient, exuding an aura of sacred inviolability.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
The complexion of the person on the bed actually became a little more rosy. At this moment, everyone's hearts leaped into their throats. Was the Empress Dowager alright? Ping An beside her even began to sob softly, tears of emotion overcoming her.
Even Shangguan Yao stood excitedly behind Yun Xiao, his gaze fixed on his mother on the bed. The previously pale complexion was slowly regaining some color, and her breathing seemed longer than before.
He hadn't expected this "ghost hand" to actually have some skill, far surpassing the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital.
Yun Xiao glanced at the person on the bed and sighed inwardly. She actually did not wish to save this woman, but to leave the palace peacefully, she had no choice but to save her.
In truth, this woman was not seriously ill. She had merely suffered from qi and blood congestion, falling into a coma due to excessive emotional distress.
And she, knowing the inside story, knew that she had been angered by Shangguan Yao. As long as Shangguan Yao kept recalling past events, she would wake up.
The imperial physicians, however, knew nothing of the inside story. Even if they prescribed the right medicine, they couldn't save her immediately...
With the insertion of the last needle, the woman on the bed stirred. Everyone in the sleeping quarters crowded around, exclaiming in surprise. They all shouted in unison, "Empress Dowager!"
As Yun Xiao withdrew her needles, Shangguan Yao impatiently reached out, grabbed her, and tossed her aside. He then sat by the bed, holding the Empress Dowager's hand, and loudly called out, "Mother, Mother, you're awake?"
The person on the bed lightly frowned and moved her lips...
At this moment, all eyes were on the Empress Dowager. Yun Xiao exchanged a look with Liu Xing. Liu Xing understood implicitly and immediately picked up the medicine chest.
The two of them quietly retreated, all the way to outside the hall door.
Several eunuchs were waiting outside the door. These people did not dare to stop them. Without the Emperor's command, they did not know the situation and dared not prevent the two from leaving.