Chapter 162: Watch Your Mother’s Expression Before Speaking
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The Empress Dowager remained silent.
If it were possible, she naturally hoped the Carefree Prince could recover completely. But Yu Zhi Yi had made it abundantly clear: that was impossible.
Since that was the case, her only hope could lie in ensuring that the prince lived a little longer. Currently immobile, if he were to encounter danger, escape would be impossible. Perhaps a Healing Talisman could save his life in a critical moment.
Finally, the Empress Dowager made up her mind. “Very well, deliver the third Healing Talisman as soon as possible. As for the rest, this widow shall let it go.”
Yu Zhi Yi didn’t bother to argue with the Empress Dowager’s haughty demeanor and simply extended her hand. “Eunuch Hu, three thousand taels of silver.”
The Empress Dowager frowned. “What? You’re asking this widow for money?”
Yu Zhi Yi looked perplexed. “Even the Imperial Physicians receive salaries when treating noble officials, and the palace provides all their medicinal ingredients. Their only contributions are their skills and the risk of being executed if they fail to cure someone of importance.”
“But as for this minister’s Healing Talisman, it contains a significant amount of my personal spiritual energy. A single thread of spiritual energy rivals the effects of a century-old ginseng root. Why does Her Majesty think my services should come for free?”
The Empress Dowager was left speechless.
The Emperor, afraid that his mother might say something even more inappropriate, quickly interjected. “Eunuch Hu, give Minister Yu four thousand taels of silver.”
Eunuch Hu promptly pulled out four thousand taels in silver banknotes. Yu Zhi Yi took one of the one-thousand-tael notes and returned it.
“Since it’s a medical fee, there’s no reason to charge an inflated price.”
The Emperor smiled warmly. “Minister Yu truly lives up to her reputation as a virtuous and upright mystic.”
Yu Zhi Yi hesitated. “…Um.”
Virtuous and upright? Her?
“Your Majesty, do you want to take another look at your mother’s expression before saying such things?”
However, she was not foolish enough to tarnish her own image. She promised to draw the third Healing Talisman upon her return and departed with a bow.
The Emperor, knowing she had urgent matters to attend to, dismissed her before the Empress Dowager could stop her.
“Emperor, you know your brother needs that third Healing Talisman. Why didn’t you have her draw it immediately?” the Empress Dowager protested.
The Emperor explained patiently, “Mother, the more miraculous a talisman, the harder it is to create. It might take several attempts, delaying her for an uncertain amount of time. Minister Yu’s departure from the palace involves a critical mission that concerns countless lives. It cannot be delayed.”
The Empress Dowager frowned. Though she disapproved, she refrained from pressing further. Deep down, she valued her beloved son’s life far more than the lives of commoners. Yet, her eldest son’s love for his people was unshakable, and she did not dare provoke his ire.
Suddenly, a palace servant announced, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the stewardess of Glass Palace, Madam Su, seeks an audience.”
After leaving the hall, Yu Zhi Yi hesitated briefly before quickening her pace towards a specific direction. Moments after her departure, a messenger from Glass Palace arrived at Jade Splendor Palace where the Carefree Prince was recuperating. Its location was not far from Longevity Palace.
Aware that she might be stopped again, Yu Zhi Yi wasted no time. She mounted her horse and rode swiftly through deserted alleys, ensuring she escaped Sheng Capital before any palace orders could intercept her. By the time she stopped, she had traveled over a hundred miles.
Treating the Carefree Prince or Consort Yu were both tasks she detested. The only reason she had taken on the prince’s case was because his injuries had exceeded her expectations.
All she sought was to restore him to the state he was in before her last treatment—to ensure he remained bedridden, incapable of causing further trouble for her.
This was a balance acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao.
Otherwise, if the Carefree Prince were to die or suffer severe consequences from this injury, the Heavenly Dao would judge her for malicious harm.
While she might bear the karmic repercussions, she refused to do so for someone unworthy. And for Consort Yu, she was even less willing.
…
Glass Palace.
When Consort Yu learned that Yu Zhi Yi had left the capital overnight, she smashed every porcelain piece in the hall in a fit of rage.
“Wretched woman! Wretched woman! Wretched woman! She did it on purpose!”
Aunt Su hurriedly consoled her. “Your Highness, please calm down. Do not get angry; it’s not good for the child.”
With disdain, Consort Yu sneered, “Just a worthless thing. Why should I care about its well-being?”
Previously, a renowned gynecologist had assured her that this child would undoubtedly be a male heir. Yet, after an inexplicable bout of abdominal pain yesterday, the gynecologist re-examined her and informed her of a diagnostic error: the child was a girl.
While taking her pulse, the physician’s expression had shifted dramatically.
“How could this be?” he muttered, his face as pale as death.
Consort Yu immediately sensed something was amiss. After much questioning, she learned that the fetus exhibited traits of both a girl and a boy. In layman’s terms, it was an aberration—a monster.
Piecing this revelation with news from the morning—that Yu Zhi Yi was still alive while the eunuch she had sent to find the Daoist priest had died a gruesome death—it all became clear. The priest must have failed to harm Yu Zhi Yi and, fearing retribution, turned his revenge toward her instead.
She dared not imagine the scandal of birthing such a child. This led her to summon Yu Zhi Yi. Though she had sent her people early in the morning, they reported back that Yu Zhi Yi had already left the Yu Mansion.
She had been desperate, but a glimmer of hope arose when she heard that Yu Zhi Yi had entered the palace. She immediately dispatched her attendants to block her, but it was too late.
At that moment, her abdomen spasmed twice, an ominous sign that sent her into a state of terror and despair.
…
Unconcerned with Consort Yu’s plight, Yu Zhi Yi urged her horse onward. She channeled her spiritual energy to nurture the animal, allowing the ordinary steed to run hundreds of miles without fatigue.
By nightfall, she reached the small town near South Cao Village, which lay just ten miles away.
Standing in the town, she looked toward the southwest sky, her expression heavy. Malignant energy was surging.
You Bing Yue and her group must have set out that morning. Yu Zhi Yi could only hope that Ou Yang Shuo had no magical treasures to hasten their journey and that they had yet to enter the village.
If Ou Yang Shuo were injured and his blood infused with spiritual energy, the malevolent entity could grow exponentially stronger, perhaps beyond her ability to handle.
Unfortunately, the heavens were deaf to her prayers, or perhaps her pleas came too late.
Had the Empress Dowager not summoned her to the palace that morning, she would have arrived before You Bing Yue and her companions. But the hour-long delay allowed them to reach South Cao Village’s entrance. At this moment, You Bing Yue, Ou Yang Shuo, Li Chang Huai, Liu Fei Yang, and Du Zi Heng stood at the village gate.