The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 699 - 699 328 Fight for Favor (Two updates)_3

Chapter 699: 328 Fight for Favor (Two updates)_3 Chapter 699: 328 Fight for Favor (Two updates)_3 With a flash of silver light, Gu Jiao deftly used another pair of tweezers to remove a fishbone from her patient.

Empress Dowager Zhuang: “….”

Gu Jiao said, “It’s done. There’s no major issue, but your throat will need some time to heal. Try not to use your voice too often and eat a light diet.” She then addressed the door and said, “Eunuch Qin, come in.”

Eunuch Qin happily entered the Sleeping Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhuang shot someone a frosty glare!

Eunuch Qin shrank back and hid behind Gu Jiao.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Wei had returned to Huaqing Palace alone.

The emperor, now alone, was furious, “What happened? Where is the young doctor? Didn’t I tell you to bring her here no matter what?”

Eunuch Wei awkwardly replied, “This servant did request her presence, but… the young doctor….”

The Emperor cut him off in a cold voice, “Speak up! Don’t stutter!”

With a hardened heart, Eunuch Wei answered, “The Dowager Empress is ill too, so the young doctor was summoned by Eunuch Qin.”

The emperor sneered, slamming his fist on the table. “Didn’t she heal from her cold a long time ago? I had just visited her with a Peace Charm and she seemed full of life. How could she suddenly become so ill that a doctor was called? Don’t we have imperial physicians in the palace?”

Eunuch Wei hesitated, “Um… apparently it was an accident, she had a fish bone stuck.”

The emperor’s mockery deepened, “Last time she got seriously ill, she didn’t want to inform the young doctor. Now, over a small fish bone, the young doctor was called into the palace right away. Is she doing it on purpose? Does she know?”

“Your Majesty…” Eunuch Wei was clueless on how to respond.

With a tight fist, the Emperor said, “Fine, if she wants to go first, she can’t blame me for going further!”

“Your Majesty! Lady Gu is here!” reported the young eunuch from outside the door.

The Emperor shot Eunuch Wei a look and he understood, heading out to welcome Gu Jiao into Huaqing Palace.

Gu Jiao was only informed that someone in Huaqing Palace was injured, but had no idea who it was until she entered the side hall of Huaqing Palace and saw that her patient was Concubine Jing.

Gu Jiao didn’t question why Concubine Jing was present in the Emperor’s Sleeping Palace when she was supposed to reside in the Nunnery. She assumed that the Renshou Palace was perhaps not aware of it, otherwise Eunuch Qin wouldn’t have been muttering about it on the journey.

Gu Jiao looked at the unconscious Concubine Jing.

Her husband had only suggested that she avoid making medical rounds at the Nunnery. He never mentioned stopping her from visiting Huaqing Palace.

One way or another, she could make her rounds today.

Gu Jiao placed her first aid kit on the table and began to examine Concubine Jing’s injuries.

“What happened to her?” Gu Jiao asked.

The Emperor watched Concubine Jing, answering with a sorrowful voice, “Mother tripped and fell. She was picking fruit for me and unfortunately tumbled down the stairs.”

Behind the Nunnery, there was a small fruit garden growing seasonal fruits. When the fruits ripened each season, Concubine Jing would pluck some to send to the Emperor.

The Emperor then explained why Concubine Jing had entered the palace, “I visited Mother today and just as I returned to the palace, I heard of the unfortunate news. I brought her here to convalesce because I couldn’t put my mind at ease.”

“Her injuries are not severe,” Gu Jiao noted.

The Emperor remarked somberly, “But I fear there could be other accidents.”

His statement held two possible interpretations – indicating either that Concubine Jing was accident-prone due to her old age or that there are people trying to harm Concubine Jing by perpetuating accidents.

Gu Jiao refrained from asking further.

Concubine Jing had bruises with varying degrees of severity on her right elbow, the palm of her left hand along with her right thigh and knee. They appeared slightly feverish, which suggested she might have caught a cold.

Gu Jiao prescribed a regimen: “One prescription per day, to be brewed once in the morning and once in the evening, to be taken after meals. As for her bruises, apply the Golden Cut Ointment from the Imperial Medical Bureau. If you don’t, it’s no big deal.”

As Gu Jiao packed up to leave, the Emperor chuckled bitterly, “I thought I had hid it so well.”

He found himself overestimating his own abilities and underestimated the extensive network in Renshou Palace!

Gu Jiao paused and said, “The Dowager Empress doesn’t know.”

With a sarcastic laugh, the Emperor questioned, “Is it possible she fell ill at such a crucial time unknowingly? What a relief that Mother wasn’t severely hurt. But what if she was? With the delay, Mother’s life could have been in danger!”

He thought he was moved by her care for him overnight, but it seemed now that it was only her way of ingratiating herself. She would never change!

“The Dowager Empress didn’t pretend to be ill,” Gu Jiao pointed to Concubine Jing lying on the bed, “The Dowager Empress’ condition is more serious than hers. If someone were to pretend to be ill, wouldn’t it be her?”

Gu Jiao was not questioning Concubine Jing’s honesty but merely providing evidence to counter the emperor’s argument.

Immediately, the emperor became agitated, “How could Mother Jing pretend to be ill? Look at her condition! Are your own observations false?”

Unfazed by the Emperor’s anger, Gu Jiao stared back at him and defiantly declared, “I saw it with my own eyes at the Dowager Empress’ side too.”

The Emperor’s gaze grew increasingly icy.

The entire side hall fell silent. Eunuch Wei and the other attendants all held their breath; nobody dared to make a sound.

Lady Gu’s audacity astonished them all – did she not fear the Emperor’s wrath?

The Emperor indeed wanted to punish Gu Jiao in his anger, but managed to restrain himself at the end.

He turned his back to her and coldly commanded: “You may leave. Do not show yourself in front of me in the coming days!”

Gu Jiao calmly replied, “Perfect, I was planning to tell Your Majesty that I will not be visiting Huaqing Palace in the future. If someone in Huaqing Palace falls ill, please ask them to call for a physician or the Imperial Medical Bureau instead of me.”

The Emperor abruptly turned back to her, “You!”

Humph!

With a click, Gu Jiao closed the lid of her kit and stormed out of the room, not looking back!

The Emperor’s face turned green with rage.

He watched her small figure disappear into the distance and shouted angrily, “Even the Crown Prince has never been so disrespectful to me!”

Gu Jiao paused mid-stride, then turned back, clutching her first aid kit against her chest.

A hint of triumph appeared on the Emperor’s face – realizing the might of an emperor now, are you?

Perhaps he could forgive her on the condition that she admit her mistake and seek his forgiveness.

Instead, Gu Jiao held out her hand.

“What?” asked the taken-aback Emperor.

“The consultation fee!” said Gu Jiao in a chilled tone, “Doesn’t the Emperor pay for his medical consultation?”

The Emperor gasped, choking on his breath: “….!!”

After receiving her fifty taels of silver as her consultation fee, Gu Jiao left with a stone-cold expression on her face.

Concubine Jing stirred awake, probably due to the pain on her body. She drew a sharp breath.

Spotting the movement, the Emperor rushed over and sat beside her bed, “Mother!”

Concubine Jing pressed her throbbing head, “There was quite a racket earlier, did somebody offend Your Majesty?”

Eunuch Wei shot a nervous glance towards the Emperor.

The Emperor tucked the bed corner around Concubine Jing, “No, you must have misheard, Mother. There’s no one who would dare to offend me. I was just discussing your condition with the doctor earlier. I regret that it created a disturbance for you.”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wei heaved a sigh of relief – the Emperor still cared for the young doctor.

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