Reborn Divine Doctor: The Abandoned Girl's Legend
Chapter 175 - 45: Man-Made ’Disease

Chapter 175: Chapter 45: Man-Made ’Disease

During the massage, Ye Lingyue took the opportunity to carefully observe the Empress of Daxia Country.

Liu Yunxiu was about thirty years old, her beauty not the type to cause nations to fall, but with graceful brows and bright eyes, she appeared more dignified and elegant than the charming and bewitching Noble Princess Consort Luo. According to what her adoptive mother, Lady Lan, said, Liu Yunxiu was indeed a talented woman in her youth.

Her father was the present Imperial Tutor, erudite in literature. Empress Liu herself was well-educated and sensible, earning great respect from the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xia. However, due to the Sixth Prince’s illness, Empress Liu spent years tending to him, making her look older by a decade, with sunken cheeks and a sallow complexion.

After a moment, Empress Liu became vigilant upon seeing Ye Lingyue.

Although Ye Lingyue had saved her, if Ye Lingyue revealed the deterioration of the Sixth Prince’s condition after leaving the palace, the Emperor would surely execute the Sixth Prince.

The instinct to kill flashed in the eyes of Liu Yunxiu and was sharply caught by Ye Lingyue.

"Empress, I am the second daughter of Lady Lan, Ye Lingyue." Ye Lingyue hurriedly clarified her identity.

"You are the second daughter of Sister Ye Xuan?" Upon hearing Lady Lan’s name, Empress Liu’s expression slightly relaxed. "It has been many years since I last saw your mother. How is she?"

"My mother is in good health. Ever since my father was transferred back to Xia Capital, she has always wanted to visit you in the Imperial Palace, but she never had the chance. Last Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, my mother suggested coming to see you but was outright rejected by Noble Princess Consort Luo." Ye Lingyue looked at Empress Liu in front of her and sighed heavily. If Lady Lan saw her old friend’s condition, she would surely be distressed for a long time.

"Noble Princess Consort Luo?" Upon hearing this, Empress Liu was somewhat astonished.

"Over these years, the Empress might not have paid attention to the affairs of the harem. Now, Noble Princess Consort Luo carries herself with the air and power of the Empress. Many of the Emperor’s favored women in the palace have also been disposed of under the guise of the Empress," Ye Lingyue’s words caused Empress Liu’s face to change drastically.

She looked inquiringly at the few palace maids by her side and at people like Chi Yan.

The palace maids and the guards all bowed their heads in silence.

"Chi Yan, is what Second Miss Lan said true?" A layer of faint anger appeared on Liu Yunxiu’s face.

Before the Sixth Prince became ill, Empress Liu managed the harem in perfect order, with Emperor Xia treating all fairly, and there had never been conflict among the concubines.

After the Sixth Prince became ill, Noble Princess Consort Luo frequently visited to express sympathy, offering to help share the Empress’s worries.

Empress Liu, indeed occupied with other matters, had declared that she would allow Noble Princess Consort Luo to make decisions regarding the harem if she couldn’t manage it.

"Empress, I have wanted to speak of this for a long time. In the harem nowadays, Noble Princess Consort Luo, bolstered by His Majesty’s favor and with her son becoming the Crown Prince, wields disproportionate influence. The only person who can suppress Noble Princess Consort Luo is the Empress Dowager, but considering the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager has always turned a blind eye to Noble Princess Consort Luo’s actions," Chi Yan, in his youth, was promoted by Empress Liu’s father, Grandmaster Liu, and was deeply loyal to Empress Liu.

Ye Lingyue expressed all the words he dared not say, and Chi Yan felt a silent gratitude in her heart.

"It is only my fault for living in such a muddle these years, and the Sixth Prince has turned out this way. I fear that I, as the Empress, am in name only." Empress Liu said with a bitter smile. If it were not for Emperor Xia’s regard for her father Grandmaster Liu’s sake, she would have been deposed long ago. But now, with Grandmaster Liu’s health declining day by day, she feared that the time of his immortality would be when she and her son would be sent to the cold palace.

"Empress, do not be disheartened. Noble Princess Consort Luo has risen to power, but after all, it is because of the Crown Prince. I’ve heard that the Sixth Prince was exceptionally intelligent from a young age and far surpassed the Fourth Prince. If the Sixth Prince could recover, with the Empress Dowager’s fondness for him, why would you worry about not being able to outwit Noble Princess Consort Luo?" Ye Lingyue reminded Empress Liu.

Ye Lingyue originally had no deep enmity with Noble Princess Consort Luo, but tonight, Noble Princess Consort Luo had schemed to set her up, and behind her was a collusion with the Hong Residence.

An enemy of an enemy is still an enemy, all must be eliminated. This was Ye Lingyue’s creed in dealing with the world.

When mentioning the Sixth Prince, Empress Liu’s eyes showed a bit more motherly love, but even more so, helplessness.

"Ling Yue, your mother and I have been good friends for many years. I’ll tell you the truth, if someone else entered Chaohua Palace tonight, there would be only a dead end. Qiqi’s illness has been worsening lately. He has already hurt quite a few palace maids and guards. The Empress Dowager also vaguely knows some of this. The Emperor is still in the dark. The Emperor is an upright person, and if he knew what Qiqi has turned into, he would have him executed. How can such a Qiqi compete with the Crown Prince?" After Empress Liu finished speaking, her eyes shimmered with tears.

Xiahou Qi was once Empress Liu’s greatest pride. But now, he became Empress Liu’s everlasting hurt.

Grandmaster Liu had also advised her several times to give up on Xiahou Qi and take advantage of her youth to bear another child with the Emperor to secure her position in the harem, but Liu Yunxiu could never abandon the Sixth Prince.

"What exactly is the illness that the Sixth Prince has?" Ye Lingyue only knew the Sixth Prince was ill, but what exactly the illness was, she did not know.

This was also why she dared not rashly agree to Lady Lan’s request to treat the Sixth Prince.

Originally, Ye Lingyue did not want to get involved in the murky waters of the Imperial Back Palace, but since others have already stepped over the line, she would not let it go easily.

Moreover, Ye Lingyue was quite interested in the Sixth Prince’s ability to use Divine Power Attacks.

"Your Highness, I do not know what illness the Prince has caught. Domestic doctors and alchemists from the city have all seen him, and he has taken a lot of spiritual medicine, but to no avail. His condition has only worsened over the years. He used to recognize me at first, but in the past two months, he does not even recognize me anymore," said Empress Liu, her eyes reddening as she turned aside to wipe away tears at the corner of her eyes.

"Don’t worry, Empress. When I was among the common folk, I also learned some of the Qihuang Technique. How about I take a look at the Sixth Prince?" Ye Lingyue asked.

"No, that’s not possible. The child has been irritable lately and cannot even control himself. Today I only sent some food over, and he suddenly attacked me. Not to mention that you’re a stranger," Empress Liu shook her head.

"No problem, I have my ways to get close to the Sixth Prince. However, before I diagnose him, I still need to take a look around the side hall where the Sixth Prince resides. Also, could you trouble the Empress to make a copy of the Sixth Prince’s usual diet for me to examine carefully?"

Based on her intuition, Ye Lingyue was certain that the Sixth Prince turning out this way was definitely not just due to illness.

There must be another secret.