The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1110 - 189: The Empress

Chapter 1110: Chapter 189: The Empress

Eunuch Wu carefully led her through successive palace halls. As they proceeded, the flower beds on either side of the roads took up more space, and various pots of flowers were also placed under the corridors.

Along the way, Keke occasionally announced the discovery of treasured species in an emotionless tone, but not to mention Manbao, even Keke knew its host couldn’t possibly be squatting in the flower beds digging up flowers and plants at this moment, so its electronic voice wasn’t excited at all.

Manbao, listening to these sounds, arrived in front of a palace and looked up at the signboard, whispering "Lizheng Dian" in her heart.

Eunuch Wu turned to remind Manbao to keep close and slightly looked up only to see her with her little head tilted back looking at the signboard. He got startled, hurriedly stepped forward to pull her sleeve, and whispered, "Bow your head quickly."

Manbao bowed her head, mimicking his posture and whispered, "Is looking up not allowed?"

"Not allowed!" Eunuch Wu cried out softly, whispering, "Doctor Zhou Junior, speak less once inside. Whatever the masters ask, you answer just that, and by the way, Imperial Doctor Zheng and others are also inside."

Manbao responded with an "Oh" and asked, "Besides the Crown Prince, who else is inside? For whom am I supposed to examine?"

Seeing someone come out, Eunuch Wu hushed and said, "Don’t ask so many questions, you’ll know once you’re inside."

Young Manager Zheng nodded repeatedly and also tugged at Manbao’s sleeve.

Manbao obediently followed behind Eunuch Wu, her head down and hands neatly folded in front of her belly, yet her eyes couldn’t help but rove around, looking at the ground.

Entering a grand hall, she could see people quietly moving in and out on both sides, and she heard coughing sounds from afar.

Manbao eventually couldn’t resist and slightly lifted her head to look. She saw only the palace attendants coming and going inside the grand hall, no Crown Prince, nor anyone else who looked noble.

She blinked and peered around the side of the screen.

A young woman walked out from behind it, and Manbao immediately lowered her eyes to gaze at her toes.

She saw Eunuch Wu slide out of her line of sight; she kept her head down without looking up to see where he had gone.

Young Manager Zheng, who had been secretly watching Manbao, sighed in relief.

They heard Eunuch Wu speaking to the young woman, "Lady Shang, the summoned doctor has arrived."

Lady Shang glanced at Manbao, smiled politely at Eunuch Wu, and then stepped forward to say, "Open the medical box and let me see."

Young Manager Zheng immediately placed the medical box on a nearby table and opened it.

Manbao finally raised her head, curiously looking at Lady Shang, but unexpectedly, Lady Shang, who was supposed to checking the medical box, was staring at her instead.

Their gazes met, and Manbao instinctively smiled at her.

Lady Shang, with an expressionless face, shifted her gaze to the medical box. After inspecting the contents of the box, she nodded slightly and said, "Alright, let’s go inside."

Young Manager Zheng quickly closed the medical box and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Manbao followed Lady Shang with Young Manager Zheng immediately carrying the medical box behind them.

They went around a central screen to the back of another palace hall, pushed the door open, where several people were standing. Lady Shang led them to a large screen, told them to wait there, and then went around the screen.

Manbao heard her speaking to someone, "Your Majesty, the doctor has arrived."

Coughing sounds were heard, and Manbao heard a gentle voice say, "It’s not a serious illness; why did you still summon a doctor from outside?"

"Mother, you agreed to have a check-up."

Manbao discerned that this was the crown prince’s voice. She heard him sigh softly, "Since she’s here, let her come in for a look. I also want to see what the person who saved Su Jian looks like."

Nurse Shang quickly came out again and said to Manbao and Young Manager Zheng, "Her Majesty summons you, come in."

Following her, Manbao walked past the screen and saw more people standing inside. There was someone leaning on the bed in the center, and Manbao only quickly glanced at her before lowering her head.

Although it was just a glance, Manbao thought she was very beautiful.

Manbao deeply bowed, but Young Manager Zheng had already knelt down behind her. Manbao noticed this and was momentarily stunned, but since she was already bowing, it was too late to kneel.

Manbao pretended not to notice and continued with the greeting, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."

The Empress slightly raised her hand and smiled, "No need for formalities."

Manbao then stood straight and looked at the Empress, glancing over at the crown prince standing on one side.

By the crown prince’s side, there stood many young men, teenagers, and beautiful girls, all curiously looking at her.

Young Manager Zheng also stood up while holding the medicine box, grumbling in his heart, you could have told me not to kneel earlier.

The Empress, knowing that Zhou Man was young, was still surprised upon seeing her. "So, you are Doctor Zhou Junior? Come closer so I can have a better look."

Manbao stepped forward and stood in front of the bed, seeing the Empress more clearly. Noting her worn condition yet unable to hide her elegance, Manbao couldn’t help but show a sweet smile.

Upon seeing her smile, the Empress also couldn’t help smiling and beckoned her even closer, "What a lovely child...cough cough, how old are you?"

Manbao thought she should not deceive her, and honestly replied, "Nearly thirteen, I was born in the last lunar month."

The Empress laughed, "That’s still three months away. So young and yet so skilled, who did you learn your medical skills from?"

"It’s quite a list; Fifth Sister-in-law’s grandfather, Doctor Ji, Imperial Physician Fan, Doctor Chen, Shopkeeper Zheng, Doctor Ding, and Doctor Tao among others."

The Empress spoke softly, "I heard you are also a disciple of Confucianism, is that correct?"

Manbao hesitated, then nodded, "I study the classics of Confucianism, but I also read about Taoism and Legalism, learning their skills, so I suppose that makes me their disciple too."

The Empress smiled, coughed, then said, "That’s why you need not be too formal with us."

The crown prince then spoke, "Mother, let her examine you."

The Empress extended her hand and smiled at Manbao, "This is an old problem, over twenty years now. No medicine has completely cured it. Just give it a casual check."

Manbao turned around, Young Manager Zheng had already opened the medicine box and taken out a wrist pillow.

Setting her hand on the wrist pillow, Manbao carefully felt the pulse. The room fell silent, only occasionally interrupted by the Empress’s coughs.

The Emperor walked in, stopping everyone’s movements, and stood with his hands behind his back watching Manbao treat the Empress.

Manbao did not retract her hand but instead asked the Empress while observing her complexion, "When did Your Majesty first fall ill?"

The Empress thought for a moment and replied, "At the age of fifteen. I caught a cold in the rain and got sick, but the illness lingered and left a root cause."

Manbao asked, "Besides coughing, does Your Majesty feel discomfort anywhere else?"

"When an attack occurs, I often feel pain in the chest, a severe headache, and a general laziness not wishing to move at all."

Manbao inquired, "Do you experience symptoms of breathlessness and chest tightness?"

The Empress nodded with a smile, "Yes, but occasionally. It’s especially uncomfortable at night."