The next day dawned bright and sunny, bathing the earth in golden light.
Today was the day Leng Ruo Li was to enter the palace to examine the Empress Dowager’s health.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager had sent a carriage to the General’s residence early to pick her up.
Upon hearing the report from a servant, Leng Ruo Li hastily finished her breakfast, grabbed her medical kit, and rushed out.
Just as she reached the entrance of the General’s residence, she bumped into Leng Ruo Shuang, dressed in vibrant attire, hurrying out with her maid, Xiao Cui.
“Oh, eldest sister, what a coincidence! I heard you needed to go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager today. You must be careful, the Empress Dowager has consumption.”
Leng Ruo Shuang said to Leng Ruo Li with a tone of veiled sarcasm.
“That’s right! I am indeed going to the palace to see the Empress Dowager today, but I don’t need you to worry. As for you, sister, why are you in such a hurry to go out today? Where are you off to?”
Hearing the drama queen’s words, Leng Ruo Li’s expression remained unperturbed.
“Hmph, Prince Qing has invited me for a boat trip on the lake today.”
Leng Ruo Shuang said smugly, her chin held high.
“Oh, then sister wishes you and Prince Qing a pleasant time today.”
Leng Ruo Li replied calmly to Leng Ruo Shuang.
Then, she quickened her pace out the main gate and walked towards the carriage sent by the palace.
“Young lady, you’re out!”
Before Leng Ruo Li could get closer to the carriage, a sharp, duck-like voice reached her ears.
“Xiao De Zi, you’re here to pick me up today?” Leng Ruo Li said with a smile.
“Yes, young lady. The Empress Dowager was worried about you coming to the palace alone, so she sent me to fetch you,” Xiao De Zi explained.
“Is that so? Then when I arrive at Renzhou Palace, I must properly thank the Empress Dowager.”
Leng Ruo Li said with a smile. Indeed, this Empress Dowager was very different from the ones she saw in historical dramas. Those Empress Dowagers were majestic, dignified, and imposing, while this real Empress Dowager was kind and excellent to everyone.
Leng Ruo Li boarded the carriage, and they smoothly entered the imperial palace.
In Renzhou Palace, the Empress Dowager had already asked Madam Fang to wait at the entrance of the main hall.
“Fang Qing, has the Leng family girl arrived?” the Empress Dowager asked anxiously.
“Your Majesty, not yet. She should be here soon,” Madam Fang replied.
“This time, the Leng family girl is coming to the palace, and I must insist she tell me a few more stories. I wonder how that girl’s little head can hold so many good stories,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Fang shouted.
“Ah, Your Majesty, the Leng family’s eldest young lady has arrived, she’s here.”
Madam Fang shouted loudly after seeing a familiar figure led by Xiao De Zi.
The Empress Dowager immediately leaned back on her cushions, groaning continuously. A palace maid, with keen eyesight, came forward to massage her calves.
When Leng Ruo Li was led into the main hall by Madam Fang, she saw this scene.
She immediately paid her respects to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling her to rise.
“Leng family girl, you’re here!” the Empress Dowager asked knowingly.
“Yes, Your Majesty, Ruo Li has come to the palace to examine your body.”
She walked closer to the Empress Dowager, glanced at her, and saw that her complexion was ruddy, but her spirit seemed not quite well.
Afterwards, she quickly took the Empress Dowager’s pulse and used the instruments in her system space to conduct a physical examination. She discovered that the Empress Dowager’s consumption had improved significantly.
Perhaps it was the first time these ancient people had used antibiotics, and the effect was surprisingly good.
The Empress Dowager shouldn't be in this state.
“Your Majesty, your consumption has been controlled. Do you have any other discomforts?” Leng Ruo Li asked with concern.
“Leng family girl, I still feel unwell.”
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li frowned slightly, and a glint flashed in her apricot eyes as she asked, “Then, Your Majesty, where are you feeling unwell? Tell me, and I’ll take a look, and then I’ll give you another injection.”
Uh…
“Fang Qing, I’m not feigning illness anymore. I don’t want the Leng family girl to give me any more injections.”
Then, the Empress Dowager sat up nimbly.
Madam Fang smiled at the Empress Dowager’s demeanor, wondering who had just said they wanted to scare the Leng family girl.
She didn’t expect herself to be so weak-willed. As soon as Leng Ruo Li mentioned giving her an injection, she became frightened.
“Leng family girl, I was just teasing you. My illness is already about seventy to eighty percent healed,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
“Haha, Your Majesty, I was also teasing you. I didn’t expect you to reveal yourself so quickly.” Leng Ruo Li also laughed happily.
“You clever little thing, haha~”
“Your Majesty, I’ll prescribe you three more days of medicine. You must cooperate with Madam Fang and take it.”
“As for taking medicine, I’m not afraid. The medicine you prescribed for me is sweet and tastes much better than the decoctions prescribed by the imperial physicians in the palace.”
Leng Ruo Li smiled, secretly thinking: Of course, the medicine she prescribed for the Empress Dowager was scientifically developed and refined in the 22nd century, thousands of years ahead of its time. How could it not taste better than those bitter herbal soups?
“Child, I haven’t heard you tell stories for three days. I still want to hear ‘Journey to the West’ and ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’.”
Even Madam Fang and the palace maids standing nearby looked at her expectantly, hoping she would tell them a few stories.
The Empress Dowager directly pulled Leng Ruo Li over and had her sit beside her to tell stories.
“Alright, last time I was talking about the ‘Three Beatings of the White Bone Demon’. Today I’ll continue from there…”
After Leng Ruo Li had been talking for a while, the Empress Dowager and Madam Fang were already captivated.
When Leng Ruo Li was halfway through her story, Grand Physician Zhang and Prince Leng also came to Renzhou Palace to listen to her.
As Leng Ruo Li vividly narrated her stories, Prince Leng sat beside her, his extraordinary purple eyes deep as he looked at her, appreciating her from the bottom of his heart.
Leng Ruo Li not only possessed superb medical skills and martial arts but was also agile and resourceful. Her only flaw was her unattractive appearance.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the afternoon. After Leng Ruo Li bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, Madam Fang personally escorted her to the palace gate before returning to Renzhou Palace.
This was because a few days prior, the Empress Dowager had heard from Prince Leng that during the congratulatory banquet in the palace, Leng Ruo Li, unfamiliar with the palace, had been tricked into the Cold Palace, which had been uninhabited for many years, and was almost bitten by a venomous snake. This had greatly frightened the Empress Dowager.
She simply liked this young girl, Leng Ruo Li. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were so clear and bright, her demeanor was unrestrained and natural, and she was clever, as if reminding her of her own youth.
Alas, time spares no one. Decades had passed in the blink of an eye, and she had gradually transformed from an innocent young girl into an old woman, a grand victor of palace intrigues, her hands stained with the blood of her enemies.
Alas, if she could, she too would have wished to be an ordinary person.