Chapter Fifty-Three Entering the Palace

  Just then, Old Lady Jiang hastily said: "Since that's the case, Third Sister-in-law, you should quickly take Sixth Maiden back to change clothes and enter the palace, don't delay."

  Yu's family finally came back to their senses, with a nervous and uneasy feeling in their hearts, having both excitement and unrelenting worries.

  It's said that if those imperial physicians can't cure the nobles in the palace, the Emperor will have their heads chopped off. But thinking again, Third Uncle isn't a physician after all, and he's from the Duke's household. Since the Emperor summoned him personally, even if he can't cure her, it shouldn't lead to his anger being directed at us, not to mention that our daughter is also a young lady of the Duke's household, not some palace maid. The Emperor wouldn't kill someone over this, would he? You're the one who came looking for us, and we didn't sign any military orders guaranteeing a cure.

  With these thoughts in mind, Yu Shi quickly helped Ning Fengbi get ready and reminded her a few words, no more than being careful with what she said and did. She also knew that time was urgent at this moment, so she had someone send Ning Fengbi to meet up with Ning De Rong after getting her dressed.

  Never thought I'd have the chance to set foot in this place again, revisiting old haunts, yet reborn as a person.

  Walking on the spacious bluestone road inside the imperial palace, Ning Feng felt a thousand emotions in her heart: She remembered that the first time she entered the palace was when Mrs. Xue and Princess Rui brought her in to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. No matter what, as Shen Qianshan's nominal wife and the Empress Dowager's niece-in-law, she should have come to the palace to pay her respects.

  This time entering the palace was seven years earlier than in her previous life.

  Upon arrival at Cining Palace, a eunuch went in to report and rushed out shortly after, shouting: "The Emperor has issued an edict, summoning Ning De Rong for an audience."

  Ning De Rong had never seen an emperor in his life, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Ning Xianbi, on the other hand, was slowly calming down in her heart.

  She knew the emperor was a wise and ruthless old man who was somewhat arrogant, but still a just ruler.

  The Emperor Zhou Ming was sitting in the outer chamber of Cining Palace, and when Ning De Rong and Ning Xian Bi came to pay their respects, he waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "Ning De Rong, is it? The Empress Dowager is seriously ill, and the Imperial Hospital is at a loss for what to do. It was Prince Rui who recommended you come. I hear that the chronic illness of the Grand Princess Consort was also treated by you. Go in, remember to be as meticulous as when you treated the Grand Princess Consort's illness, otherwise..."

  Otherwise, Zhou Ming didn't say anything after all. He probably knew that he had taken the initiative to find someone and now threatened him, which would seem a bit unkind. What if he encountered an stubborn old man who would rather die than be treated because of these few impolite words?

  Ning De Rong was the one who liked to deal with difficult and complicated cases. Upon hearing this, he hastily entered the inner room, where he saw that the thick curtains on the bed had already been let down. A palace maid held a red thread in her hand, and when she saw Ning De Rong enter, she handed it over to him.

  Zhou Ming couldn't help but follow Ning De Rong and Ning Xian Bi into the house, watching anxiously as Ning De Rong examined her pulse.

  All the good doctors in the Tai Hospital were at a loss, even if they killed them, it would be useless. Fortunately, Emperor Yi recommended this doctor, and two years ago, Princess Zhang's illness was cured, which the emperor also remembered, and because of that, he changed the title of Junwangfu to Qinfu. Now, all his hopes are pinned on Ning De Rong.

  Ning De's fingers were tightly grasping the pulse, his face revealing a solemn expression. Ning Xianbi's heart was also lifted up. After more than half a minute, the old man's eyebrows finally furrowed together.

  Zhou Ming's heart suddenly sank, and the feeling of being born with hope but instantly despairing was too unbearable. It would be better not to give him hope from the start. He clenched his fists tightly, but saw Ning De Rong say to Ning Xianbi: "Xianbi, go take a look at the old empress dowager and tell me about her symptoms."

  Ning Feng's heart suddenly "thudded" as she realized that, as a reborn person, she knew the cause of the Empress Dowager's strange illness. Could it be that this time, not only did Third Grandfather establish a great merit, but also she herself could gain some benefit from it?

  It's not funny at all when I think about it, it seems like a scene of dividing spoils in a jungle of business competition.

  As he thought about it, he had already walked forward. Seeing that she was just a little girl, the two palace maids quietly opened a seam of the curtain and let Ning Fengbi walk in.

  The curtains were in two layers, and as the second layer was lifted, Ning Feng saw the Empress Dowager lying on the bed, unconscious. Two beautiful palace maids and two older women, probably over fifty years old, stood quietly beside the bed, their eyes revealing a look of surprise when they saw that Ning Feng was just a child.

  She walked past with a calm and composed expression, carefully examining the Empress's face before beginning to report her symptoms to Ning De Rong: "Her complexion is pale, her tongue coating is normal, but there are some unusual signs on her five features, revealing a painful expression..."

  She observed with a calm and collected demeanor, but her heart was racing faster and faster. Finally, when she saw the Empress Dowager's ear, she clenched her fist tightly in her sleeve, then tried to speak calmly: "There are unidentifiable marks on her ear..."

  "Peony..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Ning De Rong's voice came from outside, mixed with a slight tremble: "Take a closer look, are there really marks on the ears?"

  "Yes, Third Master." Ning Xianbi lowered her eyelids, she knew that there was no need to say anything more.

  As expected, Ning De Rong asked a palace maid outside: "When the Empress Dowager fell ill, did she cry out?"

  The palace maid couldn't answer back, only because the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill and in his anger, the Emperor had already detained all of those personal attendants.

  At this time, Ning De Rong asked like this, Zhou Ming was fortunate that he listened to the queen's words and did not immediately put those slaves to death. He hastily ordered someone to summon one of the palace maids who served him closely.

  It is said that the Empress Dowager was indeed in pain, and after crying out in agony, she immediately fainted. Ning De Rong's heart had already figured it out, and he bowed his head to say: "Reporting back to Your Majesty, this humble subject has based on the pulse condition and the symptoms described by the young granddaughter, as well as the scene at that time described by this young lady, can infer that there should be a foreign object entering the Empress Dowager's ear canal, going deep inside, causing severe pain and shock, but due to her old age and weakness, she immediately fainted..."

  "Is there a way to cure it?"

  Zhou Ming interrupted Ning De Rong's words, and now he was most concerned about this. Thinking that there were actually mosquitoes crawling into his ears, the emperor couldn't help but shudder all over, if they entered deeper into his ears, what kind of piercing pain would it be? If they went further in, wouldn't it... wouldn't it enter his brain?

  At the mention of this, the Emperor's face had already turned pale, but Ning De Rong fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there might be a way to try, however, the Empress Dowager's pulse is weak and this method is also a risky move, so... it still requires Your Majesty's decision."

  Zhou Ming took a cold breath, and Ning De Rong's meaning was clearer than ever: if this method is not used, the Empress Dowager will surely die. If this method is used, it is also uncertain whether she can survive, so Your Majesty, you decide for yourself.

  "Is there no safe plan?"

  Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, but Ning De Rong cut him off with an iron tone: "Report to the Emperor, a safe strategy, perhaps we can ask the big people of the Imperial Hospital, I... am powerless."

  Zhou Ming's face suddenly turned iron-green, fortunately the several imperial physicians at Tai Hospital were discussing countermeasures in the next room, so he immediately ordered someone to call them over.