Princess Zhenzhen still wouldn’t raise her head. Noble Consort Li couldn’t help but pull her hand: “Zhenzhen, let Mother Consort see how you are now.”

Princess Zhenzhen remained silent with her head down.

Jiang Shiran urged, “Zhenzhen, why won’t you raise your head?”

“I—” Princess Zhenzhen closed her eyes, then suddenly lifted her head. Amid the others’ low exclamations, she slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the mirror with an extremely anxious heart.

The young lady in the mirror had an oval face the size of a palm. The festering appearance with yellow fluid seeping out was gone, replaced by layers upon layers of scabs. Though still unsightly, it was vastly better than before.

Princess Zhenzhen suddenly turned to look at Qiao Zhao.

Noble Consort Li covered her mouth: “Zhenzhen, your face is no longer festering!”

Princess Zhenzhen didn’t respond to Noble Consort Li’s words, but instead quickly walked to Qiao Zhao and grabbed her hand: “How did you do it?”

At this moment, Laixi spoke up: “Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has instructed that once there are results here, you should go see Her Majesty.”

Princess Zhenzhen composed herself and nodded politely to Laixi: “This Princess will go immediately.”

The place where Princess Zhenzhen received treatment was originally a secluded room in Cining Palace. The group walked for just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before arriving at Empress Dowager Yang.

Empress Dowager Yang’s calm gaze swept over Princess Zhenzhen’s face, showing somewhat more emotion: “It’s truly no longer festering.”

“Yes, your granddaughter also didn’t expect it to be so effective. Thank you, Imperial Grandmother, for summoning Miss Li into the palace on your granddaughter’s behalf.”

Laixi, who had led Princess Zhenzhen over, secretly praised her: No wonder the Ninth Princess was most favored by the Empress Dowager. Even in such circumstances, this girl still remembered to please her elders, truly determined.

Princess Zhenzhen’s words made Empress Dowager Yang feel very comforted. Her expression softened as she looked at Qiao Zhao and said warmly: “One truly cannot tell that Third Miss Li, despite her young age, possesses such great abilities.”

Qiao Zhao curtsied: “The Empress Dowager flatters me. I was merely fortunate to receive some guidance from Grandfather Li.”

Empress Dowager Yang didn’t take it seriously, thinking the young lady loved beauty and had specifically obtained some skin-care formulas from Physician Li.

“Third Miss Li, since you can cure the festering on the Ninth Princess’s face, do you have any solution for the scabs on her face?”

Hearing the Empress Dowager ask this, Princess Zhenzhen’s heart rose to her throat, staring intently at Qiao Zhao. She could hear her heart beating rapidly, as if it might jump out of her chest at any moment, but she had no intention of stopping it. Ever since her face developed problems, she thought her heart would never beat again.

From despair to a glimmer of hope, back to despair, and now to another glimmer of hope—would Third Miss Li let her keep this thread of hope?

Everyone stared at Qiao Zhao with burning gazes, only to see her slate eyebrows furrow slightly, as if she were very troubled.

This silence lasted for quite a while before Princess Zhenzhen asked in a trembling voice: “Is there… no way?”

“Third Miss Li, feel free to speak your mind,” Empress Dowager Yang said.

“It’s not that there’s no medicine to completely cure Her Highness, but it would be somewhat troublesome—”

“Miss Li, are you saying my face can truly be saved?” Princess Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up.

Qiao Zhao nodded hesitantly: “If the right medicinal ointment can be prepared, Your Highness can be completely restored.”

Princess Zhenzhen seemed unable to believe it and stepped back several paces before barely steadying herself, murmuring: “Imperial Grandmother, Mother Consort, did you hear? She said my face can be completely restored, completely restored!”

“Yes, yes!” Noble Consort Li nodded repeatedly. Her gaze toward Qiao Zhao no longer held its previous gloom but was instead extremely fervent. “Third Miss Li, whatever medicinal materials you need, just say so. No matter how troublesome, it doesn’t matter, as long as it can cure the Princess’s face.”

Empress Dowager Yang was much calmer, nodding lightly: “Noble Consort Li speaks correctly. Third Miss Li, feel free to state whatever you need.”

As if truly very troubled, the young lady under everyone’s gaze pondered for a moment before determinedly speaking: “The medicinal materials needed for the ointment are all common, but one main ingredient called Congealing Pearl grows inside a type of clam shell in the South Sea. It’s this ingredient that’s rather troublesome—”

Before she could finish, Noble Consort Li said, “That’s simple. If it’s not available in the capital, the palace will send people south to purchase it.”

Empress Dowager Yang frowned in displeasure: “Noble Consort Li, let Third Miss Li finish speaking.”

Seeing this young lady’s troubled expression, things were probably not so simple.

Noble Consort Li dared not speak further and stammered an acknowledgment.

Empress Dowager Yang nodded to Qiao Zhao, indicating she should continue.

“This medicine must be used immediately after harvesting, or it will lose its medicinal properties. So to prepare the ointment Her Highness needs, I must personally make the trip.”

With these words, the hall fell silent.

Empress Dowager Yang seemed to think of something and asked: “This Dowager heard that Physician Li died in a shipwreck at sea. Could it also be related to this Congealing Pearl?”

Qiao Zhao’s face paled, grief flashing in her eyes as she said softly: “Yes, Grandfather Li decided to go to the South Sea to gather Congealing Pearls to cure Young Master Qiao’s face. Congealing Pearl is an essential ingredient for the sacred scar-removing medicine.”

“Young Master Qiao?”

Laixi leaned close to the Empress Dowager’s ear and whispered, “It should refer to the grandson of the great scholar Qiao Mo. This Young Master Qiao’s face was burned by fire.”

Empress Dowager Yang’s gaze on Qiao Zhao carried inexplicable meaning: “Physician Li specifically went to the South Sea to gather medicine for Young Master Qiao?”

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyelashes: “Yes, Grandfather Li told me he was good friends with Master Qiao.”

“I see.” Empress Dowager Yang turned the walnuts in her hands, pondering silently.

Princess Zhenzhen didn’t speak to make requests but looked at Empress Dowager Yang expectantly.

Noble Consort Li couldn’t contain herself and called out: “Empress Dowager—”

Empress Dowager Yang glanced at Noble Consort Li, then looked at Qiao Zhao with extremely gentle eyes: “Third Miss Li has a benevolent physician’s heart. The Ninth Princess’s face will have to trouble you.”

This meant she wanted Qiao Zhao to go to the South Sea to gather medicine.

Qiao Zhao secretly found it amusing.

Just now, when she mentioned Grandfather Li’s guidance, the Empress Dowager had looked dismissive, but now she spoke of her benevolent physician’s heart. The speed at which imperial family members changed faces was truly unmatched. If it were an ordinary young lady hearing about having to travel far to the South Sea to gather medicine, she would have been panic-stricken long ago.

Fortunately, traveling south had always been her plan.

Qiao Zhao’s hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, clenched slightly as she suppressed that trace of excitement.

After waiting so long, she had been waiting for a legitimate opportunity to go south. Finally, it had come.

“Third Miss Li, rest assured. This Dowager will send people to protect you well.”

Qiao Zhao looked somewhat uneasy: “With the Empress Dowager’s people protecting me, I’m not worried about going to the South Sea, but my family—”

Thinking of the Li family relatives, Qiao Zhao felt somewhat guilty. She could already imagine Lady He’s tearful appearance.

Perhaps it would be better if Mother had a baby in her belly?

This thought suddenly flashed through Qiao Zhao’s mind, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Father seemed to be spending all his time in the main room lately. Well, the objective conditions were still permissible.