Chang Yuncheng first respectfully bowed, then reached out to receive the boxes and opened one.

Qi Yue hesitated for a moment, then stepped back to avoid looking.

Chang Yuncheng looked at the two boxes, slightly hesitant, and turned to look at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

Chang Yuncheng also smiled back at her, but his expression became even more hesitant.

The eunuchs watched him with smiling faces, not urging him.

Chang Yuncheng finally turned around, returned one box to the eunuch, and bowed respectfully.

“Thank His Majesty.” He said.

The eunuchs nodded with smiles and walked away.

Qi Yue immediately jumped to Chang Yuncheng’s side.

“Let me see.” She said, “What good thing is it?”

Chang Yuncheng opened it.

“Nothing much, it’s a map.” He said.

“A map?” Qi Yue reached out to take it, then thought of something and put her hand down, smiling at Chang Yuncheng, “Let’s look at it when we get back.”

Chang Yuncheng also smiled at her, though his smile seemed somewhat forced.

As the two got in the carriage and left, Little Prince Sima was lying in the Empress Dowager’s palace being attended to by two palace maids applying medicine.

The Empress Dowager’s expression was very displeased.

“How did your face get scraped? When your mother sees this, won’t she blame me for not taking good care of you?” She said.

The Little Prince didn’t feel much pain anymore; he was more concerned about other things.

“Empress Dowager, is His Majesty short of money?” He asked, “Why did he think of opening a pharmacy? If he needs money, just say so. My father said that while he can’t help His Majesty with other things, money and grain are no problem.”

The Empress Dowager was amused by him, laughed for a moment, then pulled a long face.

“Even if he were short of money, it wouldn’t come to that kind of money-making! What kind of behavior is that!” She said softly.

The Little Prince’s ears perked up, his eyes rolling.

“By the way, when did that old Zhou Maochun have a daughter?” He said, looking puzzled, “She’s quite pretty too, doesn’t look like him at all.”

The Empress Dowager snorted.

“It would be strange if she looked like him.” She said, “Foster daughter.”

The Little Prince made a sound of understanding, smiling and saying no wonder.

“But Your Majesty, I didn’t know His Majesty had invited that surnamed An again. I was rude to him. His Majesty won’t be angry, will he?” He pretended to be afraid, “Your Majesty, you must remember to speak well of me to His Majesty. I really can’t help myself when I see that surnamed An. How about this – I’ll leave the capital right away and go back to tell father that we’ll come to the capital less often in the future…”

The Empress Dowager’s expression became even more unpleasant.

“You didn’t offend His Majesty.” The Empress, who had been silent, finally spoke, “You offended Miss Qi. She was standing up for that surnamed An.”

The Little Prince looked surprised and disbelieving.

“Your Majesty the Empress, don’t tease me.” He laughed, while standing up and touching his face, “Alright, alright, this injury is nothing serious. I won’t disturb Your Majesties anymore. I’ll go back now.”

The Empress Dowager didn’t insist he stay, having someone escort him out properly.

As soon as the Little Prince left the palace gate, he urged everyone to hurry, chuckling twice with some pride and disdain.

“Finding a woman as backing, who can’t do that?” He snorted, spitting heavily, “Surnamed An, let’s wait and see.”

He walked quickly for a few steps, then suddenly stopped and pressed his stomach, hissing.

“Little Prince, what’s wrong?” The little eunuchs asked anxiously.

The Little Prince exhaled.

“Nothing, nothing, just a stomach ache.” He said, “Probably pulled a muscle.”

After saying this, the pain stopped, so he didn’t pay attention and hurried away.

At this time, Qi Yue had already sent someone back to report safety to Chen Shi, while she took Chang Yuncheng to see the newly purchased house.

This was a small courtyard house. In the capital, it wasn’t large, but it was exquisite and well-located.

“Not bad, this place must have been hard to find, right? Which admirer presented this to Miss Qi?” Chang Yuncheng joked with a smile.

“How would I know? The whole city is full of people waiting to curry favor with me. I don’t have time to remember them all.” Qi Yue laughed with a snort, walking with her hands behind her back.

Chang Yuncheng poked her head and laughed heartily. Qi Yue pulled down his hand, and the two walked hand in hand touring the house, chatting casually.

“Has Old Madam Xie left?” She asked.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head, then nodded.

“In the next few days, both grandmother and mother’s health isn’t good.” He said.

After such a big incident, with Old Madam Xie being so elderly and Madam Xie having undergone throat surgery, both were bedridden.

“Have you consulted imperial physicians?” Qi Yue asked.

Chang Yuncheng fell silent for a moment.

“Old Physician An is taking care of them and has prescribed medicine for a few days.” He said with a smile.

The Marquis Dingxi was probably too embarrassed to seek out Zhou Maochun, Qi Yue nodded.

“Don’t worry.” She squeezed his hand and said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled at her, squeezed back, and nodded.

“You should go back early. With no one at home, you won’t feel at ease.” Qi Yue said, reaching out to pinch his face.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and pulled her hand away.

“Alright.” He didn’t stand on ceremony, nodding.

After mounting his horse and turning out of the alley, Chang Yuncheng sighed softly. Good thing she didn’t ask about the map again.

She must think it was military affairs, so she didn’t pay attention.

He reined in his horse and looked back at the alley, frowning.

But he’d have to tell her sooner or later…

“If he wants to say something, he’ll definitely say it.” Qi Yue said, watching A’Ru lock the door, “Since he doesn’t want to say it now, I won’t ask.”

A’Ru nodded.

“Were you scared?” Qi Yue asked.

A’Ru snorted.

“I’m used to it, not scared.” She said.

Qi Yue laughed heartily, linking arms with her as they walked toward the carriage.

The Emperor didn’t see the returned brocade box until the next day.

“Oh, I was so busy I forgot. Which one did he choose?” He asked casually while wiping his hands.

Cai Zhong quickly opened the brocade box carried by a little eunuch.

“Your Majesty, this contains the capital defense map.” He said.

“How boring, I knew he’d choose that one.” The Emperor said, waving his hand, “So when they say ‘heroes fall to beauty,’ that’s all nonsense. It’s not that the beauty barrier is hard to pass, but that the hero himself couldn’t pass that barrier to begin with and just blamed it on the beauty. Give him an ugly one, and he still couldn’t pass.”

Cai Zhong smiled and agreed.

“We servants have watched too many plays and think what’s shown there is all true.” He laughed, while taking out a silver ingot from his pouch and placing it somewhat painfully into a small porcelain jar on the table, making a muffled sound, “This month, this servant has lost quite a lot.”

“Stop crying poor!” The Emperor laughed, throwing the towel aside, “With one word from you people, there are those outside willing to pay a thousand taels of silver.”

Cai Zhong smiled and said he wouldn’t dare, explaining that they weren’t buying his words but His Majesty’s golden words.

The Emperor laughed heartily, not taking it seriously.

“Court is so boring, gives me a headache.” He said, sitting down and finding a comfortable position to lean against. He gestured to Cai Zhong with his chin, “You said yesterday that Miss Qi really called little Sima ‘Julu donkey’ to his face?”

Cai Zhong smiled and nodded, then stood up to demonstrate.

“Where are you from?” He mimicked Qi Yue’s voice.

“We’re from Julu.” He turned and switched to the servant’s voice.

Then he switched back, slightly raising his chin with some feminine charm.

“Julu donkeys.” Cai Zhong drew out the tone, “This is a pharmacy, not a place to treat livestock. Are you in the wrong place?”

The Emperor burst into laughter, not knowing whether he was laughing at the words or at Cai Zhong’s performance.

“This girl is really wicked!” He shook his head and laughed.

“Oh my, Your Majesty, that’s not fair of you to say.” Cai Zhong brought over tea and said.

The Emperor looked at him.

“Miss Qi often says that Your Majesty is a good person.” Cai Zhong said, then tried to widen his eyes, affecting a feminine manner as he offered the tea.

The Emperor laughed again and kicked at him.

“So ugly.” He laughed.

“This servant is much uglier than Miss Qi…” Cai Zhong laughed. Though his body swayed, he steadily placed the tea on the table.

The Emperor reached out to take the teacup, slowly drinking while looking thoughtful, a faint smile playing on his lips.

A little eunuch hurried in at this moment. Cai Zhong’s face darkened as he looked at him.

The little eunuch quickly lightened his steps.

Only then did Cai Zhong allow him to approach. The little eunuch whispered a few words, and Cai Zhong’s expression changed slightly. He turned and hurried over.

“Your Majesty.” He began.

The Emperor ignored him, finishing his tea.

“The Empress Dowager may be feeling unwell.” Cai Zhong continued, hesitating, “She just sent someone to summon Miss Qi.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment, turning the teacup in his hands.

“Yesterday, little Sima left from the Empress Dowager’s place, right?” He asked.

Cai Zhong quickly confirmed.

The Emperor threw the teacup onto his seat, stood up, and walked away.

Cai Zhong asked no questions, just gestured for the little eunuchs to follow.

“Empress Dowager.” Qi Yue kowtowed again, “This commoner woman fears failing in her duties.”

“How could you fail in your duties?” The Empress Dowager said slowly, “Aren’t you a female physician? Having you stay with me here, do you think this old woman isn’t worth serving?”

“This commoner woman dares not.” Qi Yue quickly kowtowed again, “This commoner woman’s medical skills are shallow. I fear I cannot bear Your Majesty’s trust.”

The Empress Dowager smiled.

“How are your medical skills shallow? Aren’t you a divine physician? If you say this, are you being modest, or is His Majesty shallow?” She asked with a smile.

Oh my goodness!

Qi Yue had to kowtow again and say she dared not.

“Your Majesty, though this commoner woman has achieved some success in medicine, there are specializations in every field. This commoner woman’s medical skills are not quite suitable for treating noble people in the palace.” She said.

“I really don’t understand what you’re saying.” The Empress Dowager said, looking at the kneeling woman with an increasingly unpleasant expression, “You mean you’re not suitable to attend to these consorts, but only suitable to attend to the Emperor?”

Oh my heavens, this old woman really knows how to twist things!

“Your Majesty, this commoner woman doesn’t mean that. What I mean is…” Qi Yue said.

Before she could finish, a eunuch hurried in from outside.

“Your Majesty…” He bowed.

Before he could speak, the Empress Dowager raised her hand to stop him.

“See? Rescue comes so quickly, as if I’m so frightening that even summoning a female physician to talk isn’t allowed.” She said indifferently to the attending palace servants.

The kowtowing eunuch looked embarrassed.

“Your Majesty, it’s Lord Zhou from the Imperial Medical Academy…” He had to say reluctantly.

The Empress Dowager made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Go tell him that I don’t eat people.” She said blandly.

The eunuch knelt without moving.

“Your Majesty, Lord Zhou said, said…” He stammered.

“What? Only Lord Zhou can speak, and I can’t?” The Empress Dowager’s face darkened as she scolded.

The eunuch trembled in fear.

“Your Majesty, Lord Zhou said that Little Prince Sima is ill with a rapidly progressing condition. The Imperial Medical Academy cannot cope and requests Miss Qi to consult!” He gritted his teeth and said loudly.

Sima?

The Empress Dowager was stunned.

“What’s wrong with him? He was fine yesterday?” She asked anxiously.

“Yes, the Little Prince fell ill last night and has been suffering all night.” The eunuch quickly said.

“What illness that all the imperial physicians can’t handle?” The Empress Dowager asked, glancing at Qi Yue, “Miss Qi is really too modest… Look, without you, the Imperial Medical Academy can’t function…”

Qi Yue awkwardly said she dared not repeatedly.

The little eunuch hesitated for a moment.

“The Little Prince has, has stomach pain.” He said, kowtowing.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Empress was the first to burst out laughing.

The Empress Dowager looked stunned.

“Stomach pain?” She asked, slamming her teacup heavily on the table with a bang, her face darkening, “How ridiculous!”