Zhou Maochun gasped, then exhaled again.

“My poor daughter…” he wailed dramatically.

The Emperor and Cai Zhong were startled by his sudden outburst, then couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lord Zhou, it was Miss Qi who beat up the Little Prince.” Cai Zhong coughed lightly to remind him.

It wasn’t Miss Qi who was beaten by the Little Prince, so don’t cry so pitifully…

“How could a weak woman like her beat up…” Zhou Maochun stared and shouted, then drew out his voice to wail.

“She brought twenty people, while the Little Prince only had four.” Cai Zhong said, suppressing his laughter.

Zhou Maochun opened his mouth, then slapped his thigh and wailed in a drawn-out voice.

“My poor daughter, they say even a rabbit will bite when cornered. How badly must she have been bullied…” he said.

“Enough, old man. Though Little Sima is quite wild, he’s never actually bullied women.” The Emperor laughed, then looked at Cai Zhong. “Everyone’s been brought here?”

“They have.” Cai Zhong quickly bowed.

Since it involved the Sima royal family, the sooner and faster this matter was controlled, the better. So the secret guards on the scene immediately took away everyone from Qianjin Hall. When the Five Cities Military Commissioner arrived, they only saw an empty, devastated hall.

“Let’s go, let’s go take a look.” The Emperor laughed, appearing quite interested.

Entering the great hall, they saw the people inside.

Lying on a rocking chair, constantly groaning and surrounded by three or four palace servants for comfort was naturally the Little Prince. On the other side, two people knelt – one was Qi Yue, the other was Old Physician An.

Seeing Old Physician An, both the Emperor and Zhou Maochun who had entered the hall suddenly understood why the fight had occurred.

From all the information gathered, this troublemaker basically caused trouble every time to protect those close to her.

The Emperor naturally knew all too well what attitude the Sima family would have toward Old Physician An.

The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly.

He had only heard about the previous incidents, but seeing this firsthand confirmed it even more.

This woman really dared to strike!

“What kind of things are you? After beating people, you can still be brought here?” The Little Prince didn’t forget to point at Qi Yue and curse between his groans of pain. He also shouted at the palace servants nearby, “Just send them to prison and beat them to death!”

Qi Yue kept her head down, ignoring him.

“Arrogant! Let’s see how arrogant you are now! Do you know who this prince is now? Are you scared now? Damn it, you lowly maid are quite fortunate – you get to tour the imperial palace before dying…” The Little Prince cursed, then turned to berate the palace servants, “What’s wrong with you eunuchs and guards? Are you stupid this time? People like this should be killed on the spot. Why bring them all here together?”

When that group of people had surged in, he had recognized them as the Emperor’s men – these people were lawless, tyrannical, and could even kill first and report later.

He had been waiting to see these madmen killed on the spot, but unexpectedly they received the same treatment as him!

Of course, it wasn’t exactly the same – at least he was sitting and lying down, while they were kneeling!

As he was cursing, the Emperor arrived. Several people quickly kowtowed in greeting, while the Little Prince was exempted from the full prostration ritual.

“Your Majesty…” he called out.

Before his voice fell, a louder voice drowned him out.

“Daughter, oh daughter, how are you!”

Zhou Maochun rushed over in a few steps, looked at Qi Yue kneeling on the ground, and began wailing. He even squeezed out tears, as if the person before him was in some terrible state.

The Little Prince was stunned, then suddenly understood.

No wonder someone dared to strike at the drop of a hat like this. In the capital, they definitely weren’t ordinary people – turns out she was Zhou Maochun’s daughter!

With a scoundrel for a father, naturally the daughter would be very arrogant too!

No wonder she could swagger into the palace!

But wait, how is she the one suffering?

“Hey, hey, hey! Zhou!” The Little Prince sat up and pointed at Zhou Maochun. “The one lying here covered in wounds is this prince! Look clearly before you cry!”

The Emperor had now seated himself on the dragon throne, saying nothing, his expression unreadable.

“What wounds all over?” Zhou Maochun glanced at the Little Prince and said seriously, “Little Prince, don’t tell such jokes in front of a physician.”

The Little Prince angrily rolled up his sleeves.

This old man was becoming more and more outrageous…

Relying on the late Grand Empress Dowager’s favor, he had been tyrannical for so many years and still wouldn’t restrain himself!

Being rude to others was one thing, but to be so disrespectful to him too!

The Emperor tapped on the table.

Everyone then dared not speak, and the room fell quiet.

“So tell me, why the fighting?” The Emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, I have no idea why! This woman started beating people the moment she entered!” The Little Prince shouted first, pointing at Qi Yue. “I even announced my name and title, and she still beat me!”

It was precisely because of your name and title that she beat you…

If you hadn’t said it, maybe nothing would have happened…

Several people in the hall who understood the situation lowered their heads.

“Your Majesty, it’s all this subject’s fault…” Old Physician An prostrated himself and said in a trembling voice.

“What I’m asking is, why the fighting?” The Emperor frowned impatiently and said, then slammed something on the table with a thud.

Everyone in the hall was startled by the sudden sound, falling silent as cicadas.

The Little Prince was no exception, feeling more shock than fright.

It seemed the Emperor had no intention of standing up for him, or he wouldn’t ask this way.

He couldn’t help but look at Zhou Maochun. Although he had heard this old fellow was very favored by the Emperor, he hadn’t expected such favoritism!

“I went to see a doctor, they wouldn’t treat me, so I said a few words, then they beat me up.” He quickly said with some grievance.

“He smashed the shop first.” Qi Yue said, lifting her head. “Your Majesty personally bestowed this shop with your golden words. If anyone dares to smash it, this commoner woman will absolutely not let it go!”

The Emperor was stunned, then couldn’t help but want to laugh, raising his hand to brush his nose to hide it.

The Little Prince’s eyes widened.

“Your Majesty, you opened this shop?” he shouted.

He looked at Zhou Maochun and Qi Yue again.

This time he had kicked an iron plate! No wonder this woman was so arrogant!

“Why didn’t you say so at the time?” he shouted.

“Seeing a doctor, was it?” The Emperor interrupted him. “Zhou Maochun.”

Zhou Maochun, who had been playing the role of a loving father both aggrieved and helpless about his daughter’s situation, responded yes.

“Examine him.” The Emperor said.

“I’m fine now!” The Little Prince quickly shouted.

“If you’re fine, then get lost.” The Emperor said impatiently.

The Little Prince immediately bowed farewell and scurried out without another word.

This earth-shattering incident was over in just a few words?

The people in the hall were still somewhat bewildered.

“You didn’t actually beat him?” Zhou Maochun couldn’t help but ask Qi Yue in a low voice.

Qi Yue glanced at him with an expression that said she wasn’t stupid enough for that…

“As soon as we started, we dragged him to the wall.” She said softly.

Zhou Maochun chuckled.

The Emperor snorted.

“Are you done talking?” he asked.

Zhou Maochun and Qi Yue lowered their heads and knelt obediently.

“Good job, Miss Qi. You really dare to speak, lying to my face without even blushing.” The Emperor snorted.

“This commoner woman didn’t lie.” Qi Yue kowtowed. “If not for Your Majesty, this commoner woman would be a prisoner now. How could she still be following Your Majesty’s orders to use Qianjin Hall to prepare medical supplies? When this commoner woman entered and saw someone smashing the place, she couldn’t think of anything else, only Your Majesty’s reputation…”

As she spoke, she lifted her head with a determined expression.

The Emperor couldn’t hold back this time and burst out laughing. Since he had already laughed, he didn’t suppress it and laughed heartily.

His laughter left everyone in the hall somewhat at a loss.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a woman speak those flattering words as seriously as those court officials… too funny…” The Emperor said, laughing.

“Your Majesty, this commoner woman is sincere…” Qi Yue quickly said.

The Emperor laughed again, waving his hand.

“Enough, enough. Don’t give me that routine.” He said, then couldn’t help but laugh again.

Was it that funny?

She hadn’t said anything special, had she? Weren’t these just standard official phrases?

Qi Yue couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

“Zhou Maochun, you should really learn from your daughter.” The Emperor finally stopped laughing and looked at Zhou Maochun.

Zhou Maochun nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes. Your Majesty, this subject will remember. If anyone dares to disrespect our Imperial Medical Academy in the future, this subject will beat them! Can’t let Your Majesty lose face!” he said loudly.

“Get lost.” The Emperor laughed again and scolded, “Don’t learn the good things, learn the bad ones!”

Zhou Maochun laughed and agreed, then retreated with relief.

The great hall returned to quiet.

“Weren’t you afraid that flattery might not work?” The Emperor suddenly asked, his hand lightly tapping the armrest, making rhythmic sounds. “You can’t possibly not know who this Prince Sima is, right?”

Qi Yue solemnly kowtowed.

“Not afraid, Your Majesty is a good person.” She said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have saved Physician An’s life back then.”

The Emperor said nothing, looking at Old Physician An kneeling to the side.

Old Physician An’s body trembled. He seemed to understand something yet not understand. He just felt his emotions stirring.

“Your Majesty, this guilty subject thanks Your Majesty again for your protection.” He prostrated himself and said, his voice already choking with emotion.

The Emperor looked at him.

“After all these years, you haven’t changed much. Good, good.” He said.

Old Physician An was already sobbing.

“This guilty subject never thought he would have another chance to see Your Majesty’s face…” He cried, wanting to say something more, but ultimately couldn’t speak, prostrating on the ground and sobbing.

Qi Yue had never seen the usually steady Old Physician An lose composure like this, and felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

A eunuch entered from outside, taking small steps with his head down to whisper something to Cai Zhong.

Cai Zhong hesitated for a moment, neither moving nor speaking.

“What is it?” The Emperor asked proactively.

Only then did Cai Zhong step forward and whisper a few words. Cai Zhong’s voice was very low, and Qi Yue kneeling on the ground couldn’t hear.

The Emperor glanced at Cai Zhong with an ambiguous smile that made Cai Zhong lower his head further.

“Everyone speaks so righteously!” The Emperor laughed, shaking his head. “I don’t have time to serve them! Everyone, leave!”

Qi Yue heard this and helped Old Physician An kowtow in thanks before withdrawing.

They had just reached the palace gate when they saw Chang Yuncheng standing alone in the center of the gate. Both sides’ eyes met and they were stunned, then both hurried toward each other.

“Are you alright?”

They said in unison.

“I’m fine.”

They answered in unison again.

Old Physician An, who had been in an emotional state, was amused by their synchronized dialogue.

“Now you dare to come out looking for me? Not afraid of implicating me and earning a bad reputation?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

“Let them curse. No matter what they say, you’re still my treasure.” Chang Yuncheng said.

Qi Yue wrinkled her nose at him.

Just as they were about to get in the carriage, several more eunuchs came out from inside.

“Lord Chang, please wait.” One of them called out.

Both Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue quickly turned around, watching the eunuchs approach.

“Lord Chang, His Majesty has two things for you and asks you to choose one.” The lead eunuch said with a smile.

What things?

Qi Yue was somewhat puzzled, watching as two small eunuchs each carried a brocade box and approached, presenting them to Chang Yuncheng.