The old man fell silent.
Seeing this, Emperor Jingming grew even more curious and pressed, “What exactly is this miraculous herb?”
The old man smiled, seeming somewhat hesitant, “It’s not so much miraculous as it is common, yet it’s not something that can be bought with money…”
As he spoke, he glanced at Princess Rongyang.
Princess Rongyang shook her head slightly.
Emperor Jingming noticed the silent exchange between them and frowned, “Rongyang, what is this medicine? Are you preventing the physician from speaking?”
“Well—” Princess Rongyang hesitated.
The Empress Dowager was naturally curious as well, “Rongyang, is there something that cannot be said?”
Princess Rongyang’s expression changed several times before she finally nodded.
The old man then spoke, “In response to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, this herb is two ounces of human flesh, specifically taken from the arm of an unmarried young woman…”
“What?” The Empress Dowager was shocked, her stomach churning and her face turning pale.
Princess Rongyang immediately knelt to beg forgiveness, “Please don’t blame your daughter for concealing this, Mother Empress. I feared you wouldn’t take the medicine if you knew…”
Emperor Jingming was also stunned.
Mother Empress had eaten human flesh without realizing it? Does this mean human flesh tastes similar to other meats?
He coughed, realizing his thoughts had wandered.
Returning to the present, Emperor Jingming looked at the Empress Dowager with concern.
The Empress Dowager had already composed herself.
For a woman at the pinnacle of the imperial harem, if human flesh could cure an illness, then it was simply medicine. If it was life-saving medicine, there was nothing that couldn’t be consumed.
“I’m fine. But I wonder about this medicine—”
Princess Rongyang was silent for a moment before saying, “Mingyue personally cut the flesh from her arm…”
“It was Mingyue?” The Empress Dowager was greatly surprised.
Emperor Jingming was even more astonished.
In his impression, this niece had always been gentle and graceful. The rumors from last year had shocked him greatly, and he never imagined she would cut her flesh to save the Empress Dowager…
The Empress Dowager finally calmed down and asked with concern, “How is Mingyue now?”
Even if she had been dissatisfied with Cui Mingyue before, upon hearing this, all that dissatisfaction vanished.
Princess Rongyang gently wiped the corners of her eyes, “Mingyue developed a fever after cutting her flesh. She’s still asleep now.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, “Why didn’t you choose someone else?”
With so many maids available, why use such a delicate young lady…
Princess Rongyang sighed, “The physician said that the more precious the provider of this ingredient, the better the medicinal effect… When Mingyue learned of this, she immediately cut the flesh from her arm with a dagger. I couldn’t even stop her…”
“This child, this child is…” The Empress Dowager was at a loss for words.
Princess Rongyang consoled her, “Mother Empress, please don’t worry about Mingyue. Your health is the most important thing. Mingyue is young, and a fever isn’t a serious matter—”
The Empress Dowager interrupted her, “Who says a fever isn’t serious? Fevers can be the most unpredictable. Has the physician examined Mingyue?”
The old man replied, “This humble one specializes in difficult and strange ailments. For common fevers, it’s best to consult a royal physician.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Jingming, “Your Majesty—”
Emperor Jingming nodded, “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll send a royal physician to examine Mingyue right away.”
Princess Rongyang stood up, “Royal Brother, may your sister return home with the royal physician? I’m truly worried about Mingyue.”
“Go ahead, Sister. Be sure to inform me immediately if anything happens.”
Cining Palace fell quiet for a moment.
The Empress Dowager counted her prayer beads, murmuring with closed eyes.
About an hour later, the royal physician returned to report.
The Empress Dowager beckoned the physician forward and asked softly, “How is Miss Cui’s wound?”
The physician replied, “Miss Cui’s left arm wound is quite deep and somewhat swollen, which is causing the fever.”
The Empress Dowager was deeply moved upon hearing this.
Living in the imperial harem, one always harbored a bit of distrust towards others. Although Princess Rongyang had spoken of Cui Mingyue cutting her flesh, the Empress Dowager still had some doubts. Now, hearing the physician’s words, her doubts were completely dispelled.
That child Mingyue had truly cut her flesh without hesitation to save her…
“Will it leave a scar?” she asked.
The physician lowered his head and replied, “Such a wound will naturally leave a scar.”
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment.
For a noble lady to have such a scar on her arm was a lifelong regret. In the future, when she married, her husband might look upon her unfavorably because of it…
Thinking of marriage, the Empress Dowager recalled the incident involving Cui Mingyue before the New Year.
Rongyang had said that Mingyue had been deceived by that scoundrel Zhu, believing him to be a self-respecting and self-reliant poor scholar. Although they had spent some time together, Mingyue had maintained her virtue and was still pure.
At the time, she had been angry at Cui Mingyue for being foolish and hadn’t listened. Now, thinking about it, Mingyue had always been a good child, and Rongyang wasn’t just making excuses for her daughter.
The Empress Dowager’s miraculous recovery quickly spread throughout the palace, along with the story of Cui Mingyue cutting her flesh to save her.
Suddenly, no one dared to laugh at the rumors about Cui Mingyue from before the New Year.
Many thought secretly: Miss Cui is about to turn her fortune around. Compared to the merit of saving the Empress Dowager, what do those little rumors matter?
The people’s guesses were not wrong. When the Empress Dowager was able to walk in the garden and even felt lighter than before her illness, she finally made a decision and summoned Emperor Jingming to Cining Palace.
Emperor Jingming had been in high spirits these past few days.
He was truly happy that the Empress Dowager had recovered so well.
“Mother, you’ve been walking for a while now. Let me help you inside,” Emperor Jingming suggested, noticing the sweat on the Empress Dowager’s forehead.
The Empress Dowager agreed, allowing Emperor Jingming to support her back to her chambers.
As they sat down, palace maids immediately served tea.
The Empress Dowager took a sip from her teacup and gestured for the unnecessary attendants to withdraw, leaving only her trusted elderly maid to serve.
Emperor Jingming sensed that the Empress Dowager had something to say and straightened his expression.
“Isn’t Prince Xiang also getting older?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Emperor Jingming was taken aback and glanced at Pan Hai.
With so many children, how could he remember exactly how old his eighth son was?
To be honest, he remembered his seventh son’s age most clearly, since the Celestial Master had prophesied that father and son could only meet when the boy turned eighteen.
He had only learned what his seventh son looked like last year, so he knew for certain that his seventh son was nineteen this year.
Pan Hai immediately understood that the Emperor was at a loss and discreetly made a “seven” gesture with his hand.
Emperor Jingming quickly said, “The eighth prince is seven—”
“Ahem!” Pan Hai coughed forcefully.
Your Majesty, this servant only has ten fingers, I can’t show you seventeen! Can’t you pay a little more attention?
“Seventeen years old!” Emperor Jingming corrected himself in time.
“Seventeen, that’s not so young anymore. The marriages of the sixth and seventh princes have already been arranged. I was thinking we should also arrange a marriage for the eighth prince,” the Empress Dowager said.
Emperor Jingming began to understand the Empress Dowager’s intention and asked, “Does Mother have anyone in mind?”
After all, the eighth prince’s birth mother was only a dancer, so she had no say in his marriage arrangements.
The Empress Dowager smiled at Emperor Jingming, “What does Your Majesty think of Mingyue?”