As soon as the military report from Yongzhou reached Yun Capital, nearly everyone in court and society breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Zhengyuan held morning court to handle government affairs, ordering all officials to discuss matters concerning resistance against Danqiu.

Zhou Ting escorted the criminal official Tan Guangwen back to the capital. Before he could even enter the Night Investigation Bureau, he was intercepted by people from the Court of Judicial Review and the Supreme Court, who, under the emperor’s edict and before the watchful eyes of the public, took Tan Guangwen away.

“There must be someone in our Night Investigation Bureau who leaked information!” Chao Yisong said indignantly. “Otherwise, how would they know you were returning to the capital today, my lord? I’ll go root out the culprit right now!”

“Come back.”

Zhou Ting’s face was pale. Throughout the journey protecting Tan Guangwen’s life, he had been severely wounded multiple times. “Whose people are you going to root out?”

“I…”

Chao Yisong’s spine stiffened, at a loss for words.

“The Night Investigation Bureau is His Majesty’s Night Investigation Bureau. Tell me—who are you going to mobilize forces to investigate?” Though Zhou Ting’s voice was weak and feeble, beads of cold sweat dotting his temples, it still carried an intimidating power.

That people from the Supreme Court and Court of Judicial Review came together indicated there must be His Majesty’s authorization behind this.

That someone in the Night Investigation Bureau had leaked information upward meant His Majesty was actively inquiring into this matter. Most likely, even before they entered the capital, someone had already submitted memorials to His Majesty.

“This is the Esteemed Envoy’s memorial. Quickly have someone deliver it to the palace.”

That His Majesty had no intention of seeing him indicated His Majesty didn’t trust him enough. Perhaps because Chao Yisong’s escort of Cao Dong had alerted certain people, they had clearly already regarded Zhou Ting as someone allied with Meng Yunxian.

In less than five days,

Accompanying the news that spread of Tan Guangwen killing Marshal Miao Tianning out of personal vendetta was news of Tan Guangwen’s death. He had written a confession in his own blood in prison, then committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

As for matters such as half the Yongzhou garrison forces having supported Jianchi Prefecture, or General Yujie Xu Hexue ordering two forces to provide coordinated encirclement of the barbarian general Mengto—the blood-written confession made no mention of these things whatsoever.

Ni Su and Qingqiong entered the capital just as winter arrived. Tan Guangwen’s death caused a great commotion, and Marshal Miao Tianning’s name was constantly mentioned in the streets and markets.

Only—no one spoke of Xu Hexue.

“Miss Ni, I thought that once Tan Guangwen, that big villain, entered the capital, we would have hope…” Qingqiong’s lips were dry and cracked. He couldn’t even eat the pastries Ni Su bought for him.

The hope in Ni Su’s heart was also shattered. She said nothing, only lowered her head to glance at the medicine basket at her waist. Only when this ball of white luminescent light remained by her side did her heart feel somewhat settled.

Returning to South Sophora Street, before Ni Su could approach that medical hall, she saw several people on ladders busily working at her entrance.

“Miss Ni, why are they taking down your signboard?”

The more Qingqiong looked, the more wrong it seemed.

Ni Su led Shuangge forward quickly. “Excuse me, what are you doing?”

“Who are you?”

A middle-aged man taking down the signboard looked at her.

“Elder Sister Ni!” Afang from the pharmacy across the street had been watching the commotion at their place. Seeing that familiar figure, her eyes immediately brightened. She pushed through the crowd and ran before her. “Elder Sister Ni, you’re back!”

“This is the owner of this Ni Family Medical Hall!”

She didn’t forget to introduce her to those people.

“Ah, so this is Young Mistress Ni?” The man’s face showed a smile. “Please don’t misunderstand—we’re not here to smash your sign. We’re here to replace your signboard!”

“Replace the signboard?”

Ni Su didn’t understand.

“That’s right, Elder Sister Ni!”

Afang took her arm, saying excitedly, “This signboard was supposedly written by hand by Minister Huang Zongyu of the Western Residence himself!”

“Minister Huang?”

Ni Su was completely confused. “Why would he inscribe characters and replace my sign?”

“Everyone’s heard about what happened in Yongzhou. That Magistrate Shen of Yongzhou said in his memorial to His Majesty that though you’re a woman, you dared go onto the battlefield. When Yongzhou city was besieged by barbarian armies, you not only treated the women there but also tended to the soldiers’ wounds. I heard the barbarians even used plague cattle trying to make everyone in the city contract plague, and you worked together with Yongzhou’s medical workers to prevent and treat the disease…”

The warm-hearted man, built powerfully and strong, could speak endlessly even while holding a signboard.

As he spoke, many voices chimed in agreement from the side.

They all wore smiles, some examining Ni Su with curiosity. Ni Su felt somewhat at a loss. She watched as they mounted the signboard inscribed by Minister Huang—vigorous, powerful calligraphy with Huang Zongyu’s personal seal as the signature.

And because of one Huang Zongyu, Ni Su’s previously quiet medical hall was packed full the moment it opened.

Qingqiong didn’t know how many times he’d asked male patients who came to join the excitement to leave. Though tired, he’d broken into a sweat and actually felt less cold.

“Miss Ni, I don’t know how many times I’ve said that this is a medical hall exclusively for treating women patients. How is it there are always people who seem not to hear?”

He drank down a cup of water.

Having just returned, with dust still uncleaned inside and outside the medical hall, Ni Su had confusedly spent most of the day diagnosing female patients who came seeking treatment. Exhausted, she lay sprawled on the table, staring at the luminescent light in her medicine basket.

“I’ve stored lots of reed flower dew,”

Qingqiong came over and sat down. “But General Xu continues like this and can’t drink it… Hey, how about this?”

He rose as if talking to himself.

Ni Su raised her head. “What are you doing?”

Qingqiong brought over the water bag, pouring the dew inside into a bowl. “You hold it out. All along this journey, it won’t let me touch it.”

Ni Su hummed acknowledgment, reaching into the medicine basket. The fluffy ball of light immediately pressed close, obediently settling in her palm.

Qingqiong propped his chin in both hands, watching her cradle the luminescent light into the bowl.

Ni Su pressed it down; it came back out. After several such repetitions, Qingqiong couldn’t help but laugh. “Forget it, Miss Ni. It seems unwilling.”

Ni Su looked at it for a while, poking its tail with her finger.

Only when severely wounded would he transform into this ball of white luminescent light. Ni Su didn’t know when he would be able to reconstitute his form, but she and Qingqiong, traveling all this way, would use water bags to collect reed flower dew whenever they encountered water’s edge with reed flower groves, waiting only for him to recover.

On the second day after Ni Su returned to the capital, she and Qingqiong were cleaning the courtyard, making space for Shuangge and Qingqiong’s date-red horse and building feed troughs, when a group from the palace arrived bearing His Majesty’s imperial edict. Besides bestowing some money and silk upon her, they also ordered her to enter the palace to examine the pulse of Imperial Noble Consort Wu.

The medical hall entrance was surrounded by onlookers until not even water could trickle through. The heavenly envoy delivering the edict looked down at this young woman. “Young Mistress Ni, shall you come with us now?”

Ni Su responded affirmatively, rising to hand the edict with both hands to Qingqiong beside her, saying, “You needn’t follow me. The feed troughs for Shuangge and Little Jujube aren’t finished yet. When the craftsmen arrive, remember to offer them tea and pastries.”

Little Jujube was the name Qingqiong had given his horse.

“Miss Ni…” Qingqiong felt somewhat uneasy.

Ni Su shook her head at him, then pointed to her medicine basket, where the luminescent light jumped—visible only to her and Qingqiong.

Imperial Noble Consort Wu was Wu Dai’s daughter and also Wu Jikang’s older sister.

Those who came bore ill will—Ni Su understood this clearly in her heart. But the weight of the emperor’s edict was absolutely not something she, a commoner, could refuse.

The vast Imperial City—Ni Su set foot in it for the first time in her life.

Just as court officials were leaving morning session, she followed the inner attendant past Yongding Gate, seeing many officials in various colored robes forming groups of twos and threes. Above the white jade steps rose a majestic palace hall.

The morning mist of the winter day had not yet dispersed, cold air assailing her face. Ni Su didn’t look much in that direction. She only called to the eunuch ahead. “Esteemed Inner Attendant, may this young woman first ask—does Imperial Noble Consort Wu have some ailment?”

As she spoke, she untied the pouch at her waist and naturally slipped it into his hand.

The inner attendant felt the bulging pouch, raising his eyelids to look at her.

Ni Su smiled at him. “This young woman has never diagnosed illness for palace nobility. My heart feels somewhat apprehensive, so I wanted to ask you first. This way, I can also have some idea in my mind.”

“Rest assured,”

The inner attendant tucked the pouch into his sleeve, walking while speaking to her in low tones. “The Imperial Noble Consort’s body has no particular ailment. She’s only with child. I estimate that inviting you here is just to meet you and have you check her pulse for peace of mind.”

“The Imperial Noble Consort is with child?”

“Indeed.”

The inner attendant nodded. “Since Prince An died young, there’s been no such movement in the rear palace. Fortunately now, the Imperial Noble Consort’s belly proves worthy, and His Majesty has an heir again.”

“When you meet Her Ladyship, be careful. With child, her temperament differs from before.” The inner attendant spoke euphemistically. For the sake of her pouch of money, he showed her a bit more concern.

“Thank you, esteemed inner attendant. This young woman understands.”

Ni Su lowered her head.

The Chaoyun Hall where Imperial Noble Consort Wu resided was shrouded in pale, thin mist. Ni Su followed several inner attendants and palace maids into the hall. Elegant gauze curtains layered upon each other, with a vague rich incense fragrance assailing her.

“Your Ladyship, Young Mistress Ni has arrived.”

A palace maid reported outside the gauze curtains.

For a moment, there was almost no sound of voices in the hall. Ni Su kept her eyes lowered, only staring at her medicine basket where the luminescent light floated.

After about the time for two cups of tea,

A palace maid’s voice finally came from the inner hall: “Please invite Young Mistress Ni to enter.”

The palace maids guarding before the gauze curtains immediately drew aside the curtain. Ni Su walked in to see behind the pale blue long curtain a figure reclining on the bed.

The inner hall was somewhat warmer, probably because heated floors were burning.

“This commoner Ni Su pays respects to Imperial Noble Consort.”

Ni Su bowed deeply.

“Young Mistress Ni, please come forward to examine Her Ladyship’s pulse.” A palace maid raised her hand, indicating she should sit on the soft stool near the long curtain.

Ni Su responded lightly, moving forward to sit. “Please extend your hand, Your Ladyship.”

The person within the curtain had perhaps kept her gaze on her all along, but Ni Su paid no mind. She merely kept her eyes lowered. Seeing a fair, delicate hand with bright red nail polish extend forth, she reached out to check the pulse.

After a while, Ni Su determined in her heart—it was indeed a slippery pulse without doubt.

“Your Ladyship’s spleen and stomach are somewhat weak, but this commoner believes the palace physicians must have already prescribed good medicine for Your Ladyship.”

Almost as Ni Su’s words fell and she was about to release her grip, she was suddenly seized by the wrist with reversed grip, the force so great that those bright red nails nearly pierced her skin.

With force applied from within, Ni Su’s body leaned forward, meeting a pair of eyes.

They were eyes extremely similar to Wu Jikang’s, the corners slightly upturned.

Imperial Noble Consort Wu’s hair was unbound, completely unadorned at this moment, like a piece of plump beautiful jade with silken long hair flowing loose, examining her with a cold, severe gaze.

“What is Imperial Noble Consort doing?”

Ni Su’s words remained calm.

Imperial Noble Consort Wu curved her lips, speaking lightly. “Just wanted to meet you.”

“To let me know what kind of woman could cause my dear younger brother Kang’er to be beheaded for public display.”

Beneath her tone lay a dense, cold atmosphere.

“Does Your Ladyship also find it impossible to forget your younger brother?”

After a long moment, Ni Su raised her eyes. As Imperial Noble Consort Wu showed a moment of stunned confusion, she spoke again. “This commoner also could not forget him. This commoner had only one elder brother, whose examination papers he switched, whose future prospects he destroyed, who was humiliated, beaten, and even starved to death…”

Perhaps because Ni Su’s expression was too cold and too sharp, and Imperial Noble Consort Wu had always lived in pampered luxury, how had anyone besides His Majesty ever dared treat her thus? Her fingers slightly loosened their force.

Ni Su took advantage to withdraw her hand. With respectful, compliant manner and complete propriety, she looked at her calmly and said:

“Your Ladyship, this commoner is just like you—I will never forget your younger brother.”