Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1021 - 1119_1

Chapter 1021: Chapter 1119_1

After much fuss, the Empress Dowager finally lay back on her phoenix bed.

The room was crowded with people: the Emperor, the Empress, a few princes and their princesses, and Prince An’s family were all present.

No one spoke, quietly waiting for the imperial doctor to examine the pulse.

The Empress Dowager cried out in pain lying on the bed, "Oh, it hurts! What if my foot is broken?! Why does it hurt so much?!"

Xiao’er glanced at the exaggerated expression of the Empress Dowager, feeling that her cries of pain were somewhat akin to the screams of a woman in labor.

However, given her vigorous screaming, it seemed her body didn’t have any major problems. Perhaps she had a minor bone fracture because her bones were quite fragile due to her age.

The on-duty doctors from the Imperial Hospital were present. The director carefully measured her pulse over and over, then carefully examined the Empress Dowager’s foot.

Afterwards, several doctors also checked the pulse and held a consultation together. Once they reached the same conclusion, the director reported to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s toe bone is slightly fractured, besides minor shock, there are no other major problems."

The Emperor nodded at this, "Then hurry up and treat the Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager was startled when she heard her bone was fractured, "Can a fractured bone heal? Will it get worse if I move? Will the bone shift its position? Will I become lame?"

Faced with the series of questions from Empress Dowager, the director couldn’t help but twitch. He bowed and replied, "Your Highness, a fractured bone can heal. As long as your highness stays in bed and refrains from making any significant movements, the fracture will not worsen and the bone won’t shift. Once the fractured location is healed, you’ll be able to walk normally."

"How long would it take for me to walk normally?" She was planning on choosing a concubine for her grandson. If she had to rest in bed due to her injured foot, how was she supposed to choose?

"A muscle or bone injury requires a hundred days to heal, at least three to four months," said the director, leewaying towards a longer period of time.

Typically, it would heal within one to two months. However, as people age, their recovery ability diminishes. In case the Empress Dowager’s recovery rate is particularly poor and hasn’t healed by the time he stated, what would he do if she blamed him?

The director decided it was better to be on the cautious side and gave a longer estimate. If the Empress Dowager’s foot heals earlier, it would only reflect his impeccable medical skills, wouldn’t it?

The Emperor looked towards Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er upon hearing the doctor’s words. He knew that his son and daughter-in-law had superior injury medicine. However, considering how his mother always caused them trouble and how the purpose of today’s flower-banquet was to integrate people into their palace, the Emperor felt awkward about asking for the medicine.

Nonetheless, seeing his mother in so much pain, he couldn’t bear it. Regardless of anything, the Empress Dowager was genuinely kind to her own children and grandchildren, even if she was cold towards those who weren’t her blood relatives.

Xiao’er of course noticed the Emperor’s eye contact. She understood what he was thinking.

Truthfully, the Emperor and Empress were genuinely kind to her. Even if she didn’t want to give them the medicine, she would be obligated to if asked.

If in the end she had to give the ointment to the Empress Dowager, it would be better to take the initiative and offer the ointment before the Emperor asked for it. This way, she could maintain the upper hand. As for which type of ointment to give, of course, she would have the final say!

Didn’t the director say that the Empress Dowager’s foot would take three to four months to heal? Then, the ointment she offered that can heal within a month should suffice!

"Empress Dowager, I have a special ointment exclusively for bone injuries. Not only does it help heal the bones, but it is also highly effective in relieving pain. Would you like to give it a try?"

The Emperor, still contemplating how to ask for the ointment, was pleasantly surprised at Xiao’er’s initiative. He felt somewhat relieved.

No matter what, even though this child is strong and competitive, she could not bear to put those who treated her kindly in a difficult position.

"No!" The Empress Dowager replied reflexively without thinking.

Could she use ointment provided by Shen Xiao’er? She feared Xiao’er held a grudge against her and would love to see her confined to bed for years!

What if Xiao’er had added some chronic poison to the ointment, wouldn’t she die without even knowing how she died?

The Empress Dowager would rather stay in bed for a few more months than accept Xiao’er’s ointment.

Hearing this, Xiao’er did not get angry. Well, if she didn’t want it, then so be it. Her space was currently unstable, and she might have one less ointment to use each time. After all, it was just a bone fracture. The Empress Dowager wasn’t the type of person who needed to move to eat, and she had enough people to serve her. She would eventually recover, so she might as well save her ointment!

Besides, she was worried that if anything went wrong -- even if the Empress Dowager used her ointment but didn’t recover -- it would lead to unnecessary complications for her.

The Emperor, hearing the Empress Dowager’s response, couldn’t help but advise, "Mother, Xiao’er’s ointment is highly effective. If you use it, your injury will heal faster and you won’t be in so much pain."

"Your Majesty, there’s no need. I don’t require any ointment. The imperial doctor can prepare the medicine. I don’t want to risk my life for the sake of one foot!"

This must be what it feels like to have your good intentions misunderstood!

Knowing the Empress Dowager’s stubbornness, the Emperor didn’t persist.

Though he felt sorry that his mother had to tolerate the pain from the fracture, he couldn’t let Xiao’er’s goodwill be stomped on time and again.

As an Emperor, the most important lesson he learned was how to win people’s hearts! He knew that once someone’s enthusiasm had cooled, it’d be difficult to warm it up again.

Therefore, he always maintains a good balance between familial affection and loyalty among his subjects.

"Imperial doctor, hurry up and treat the Empress Dowager!" The Emperor turned to the director of the Imperial Hospital and commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the director acquiesced reverently.

But in his heart, he was despairing. The Empress Dowager was the most difficult to serve. Last time, when she caught a cold, she spent a whole month recuperating and cursed all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital. Now that she had a fracture, the director feared that once the Empress Dowager couldn’t stand staying in bed for half a month or so, she’d begin to deride them as incompetent and demand a faster cure. Otherwise, they might lose their heads.

A moment ago, when the Emperor proposed using ointment from Princess Rui, he had breathed a sigh of relief. But he never expected that the Empress Dowager would turn down such a good treatment and instead demand the prescription from their incompetent doctors!

The director, although continuously begrudging in his heart, had been an imperial doctor for many years and knew how to keep a respectful facade while internally complaining.

He quickly prepared the prescription, carefully applied the medicines to the Empress Dowager.

Only after the medicine was applied did the Empress Dowager remember a girl who had cushioned her fall, keeping her relatively unscathed. She turned to her son and asked, "Emperor, wasn’t there a maiden who saved my life? Who is she? Where is she now?"

The Emperor didn’t know who the girl was. After hearing about the Empress Dowager’s accident, he had rushed straight to the Cining Palace. He knew that the Empress would take care of everything, so he turned to her.