As Princess Fuqing reached the doorway, she stumbled and nearly fell.
The palace maid beside her hurriedly supported her, frightened and anxious: “Princess, be careful.”
The princess was worth her weight in gold. If anything happened to her, even dying a hundred times wouldn’t be enough to atone.
Princess Fuqing seemed not to hear the maid’s words and pushed her away, running back.
Although her eyes couldn’t see clearly, she had grown accustomed to it over the years. Usually, her walking appeared no different from others, but now she stumbled, bumping into the corner of a table.
“Princess—”
Princess Fuqing looked in a certain direction, her voice trembling: “Seventh Sister-in-law, what did you say?”
She wasn’t looking in Jiang Si’s direction, which made her appear even more pitiful.
A beautiful young girl being blind was already a regrettable thing.
The Empress rushed over and grasped Princess Fuqing’s hand, speaking harshly: “Princess Yan, do you know what you’re saying?”
Jiang Si’s expression was extremely calm: “Daughter-in-law said that the Princess’s eye condition can be cured.”
“Sensationalism—”
Princess Fuqing tightly gripped the Empress’s hand: “Mother, I want to hear what Seventh Sister-in-law has to say.”
“Ah Quan, don’t listen to this nonsense…” The Empress embraced her trembling daughter, feeling heartbroken.
How could Princess Yan say such absurd things? Her intentions were truly malicious!
How could she use what Fuqing desired most to provoke her?
The more the Empress thought about it, the angrier she became, almost unable to maintain her imperial composure, wanting to severely reprimand Jiang Si.
Emperor Jingming didn’t speak, his gaze profoundly deep, fixated on Jiang Si.
Princess Fuqing raised her head, her voice trembling: “Mother, for so many years, so many imperial physicians have examined my eyes, but only Seventh Sister-in-law says my eye condition can be cured.”
At this point, she gave a bitter smile: “So even if it’s nonsense, I want to hear more.”
The Empress looked at Jiang Si and said word by word: “Very well, please continue, Princess Yan.”
Jiang Si spoke lightly: “The Princess’s eye condition isn’t congenital, nor is it a structural change due to later illness. Rather, it’s caused by parasites in the eyes, leading to blindness…”
“How can you prove this?” the Empress asked impatiently.
Jiang Si smiled: “If I can cure the Princess’s eye condition, would that be proof enough?”
The Empress was completely stunned, staring at Jiang Si, forgetting to respond.
Emperor Jingming leaned close to Princess Fuqing, muttering: “Parasites? How can eyes have parasites?”
Princess Fuqing covered her eyes, feeling a mix of shame and anger: “Father, please stop!”
Were there parasites in her eyes?
Just thinking about it made her stomach churn.
But compared to irreversible eye damage, if there were parasites, didn’t that mean her eyes had hope for recovery?
Thinking this way, Princess Fuqing gradually lowered her hands.
“Fine, fine. Since Princess Yan says so, then please treat Fuqing’s eye condition,” the Empress composed herself, her face as calm as water. “If you can cure Fuqing’s eyes, I will certainly reward you generously. If not—”
Jiang Si smiled and cut off the Empress’s latter words: “Mother Empress if I hear of punishment, I’ll be under too much pressure.”
Yu Jin pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh.
He had worried that Jiang Si might be intimidated in front of the Emperor and Empress, but now he realized his concerns were unnecessary.
After all, Jiang Si didn’t bat an eye at killing and arson; her courage was naturally great enough.
The Empress was so frustrated that veins popped out of her temples.
Had she heard wrong? At a time like this, Princess Yan still dared to threaten her not to speak harshly.
The Empress looked deeply at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si calmly met her gaze.
Re-entering the royal family, a place that could devour people without spitting out bones, in her previous life she had chosen to hide her abilities yet still died unjustly. So in this life, she might as well be herself wholeheartedly.
Rules were there to constrain the vast majority, but there would always be a small number of people who could live well, or even better, by breaking the rules.
As long as one could break those rules.
Jiang Si was very clear that no matter how angry the Empress was now, or how doubtful the Emperor was, as long as she cured Princess Fuqing’s eyes, whatever she had said before wouldn’t matter. Those words would just be seen as expressions of her confidence.
Princess Fuqing gently tugged at the Empress’s sleeve: “Mother, even if Seventh Sister-in-law can’t cure my eyes, it doesn’t matter. My eye condition isn’t her fault; at worst, things will just stay the same…”
Hearing this, Jiang Si’s lips curved slightly.
She had to admit, Princess Fuqing was a sensible person.
The Empress calmed down, gently dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, her tone returning to softness: “When can Princess Yan treat Fuqing, and what items or assistance do you need?”
Jiang Si replied: “We can start now. Please arrange a room where we won’t be disturbed.”
“Without disturbance?” The Empress frowned.
“Yes, just the Princess and me.”
The Empress hesitated, looking towards Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming was exceptionally quick to agree, immediately ordering someone to make arrangements.
What was there to fear about them being alone? This girl wasn’t crazy or stupid; surely she wouldn’t dare harm Fuqing?
Soon, Jiang Si and Princess Fuqing were arranged in a room, with everyone else waiting outside.
In the empty, quiet room, Princess Fuqing’s voice sounded somewhat ethereal: “Seventh Sister-in-law, can you cure my eyes?”
Jiang Si softened her voice: “Don’t be afraid, Princess. We can try. As you said earlier, at worst, things will remain as they are now.”
Princess Fuqing nodded lightly: “Mm.”
She was still afraid in her heart.
Having hope and then losing it again, how could things remain the same?
However, she didn’t want to see her mother punish an uninvolved person because of this…
“Princess, lie down and relax…”
Princess Fuqing did as told, allowing Jiang Si to gently help her lie on the bamboo bed.
The bamboo bed was slightly cool, with ice basins placed in the four corners of the room, but her palms quickly became very sweaty.
Princess Fuqing felt her eyelids being supported, followed by a slight pain and itching.
The sensation was very faint, perhaps because she was immersed in endless darkness, yet it was exceptionally clear.
Anxiety washed over Princess Fuqing’s heart like a tide, causing her breathing to quicken.
In her ear was a woman’s gentle, steady voice, carrying a certain determined strength: “Relax a bit more. It will be over soon.”
Princess Fuqing gradually relaxed.
After an unknown amount of time, that gentle voice sounded again: “Princess, you can get up now. Let me help you.”
After a moment of silence, Princess Fuqing suddenly sat up, mumbling: “I can’t see, I still can’t see…”
Perhaps it was too much wishful thinking born from her desire to see. After being blind for over a decade, how could she suddenly regain her sight?
Princess Fuqing covered her face with her hands, wanting to cry, but suddenly touched something.
Jiang Si chuckled: “Princess since you haven’t seen light for so long, I’ve covered your eyes with a cloth. When we go to a brighter place, let your eyes adjust through the cloth first before removing it. We’ll see how it goes.”
Princess Fuqing was at a loss for words.
“I’ll lead the Princess out,” Jiang Si said, holding Princess Fuqing’s hand as they walked towards the door.
As soon as the door opened, Emperor Jingming nearly fell in.
“Ahem, how are Fuqing’s eyes?” he asked.
Princess Fuqing hesitated: “I, I don’t know…”