Chapter 168
Chapter 168: Luo Ning Is Not Greedy
Empress Zheng’s steps were heavy, and her spirit was low. There were clear shadows beneath her eyes.
Luo Ning stood up and saluted her.
She glanced at Luo Ning, forced out a smile, and told her she did not need to bow.
Empress Zheng said: “Imperial Mother, this is Yu’er’s prescription. It looks very mild to me, and I’m afraid it won’t do much. Imperial Mother, Court Physician Gu only dares to speak honestly with you. Please have him look at the prescription.”
She was about to cry.
Eldest Prince Xiao Yu was Empress Zheng’s lifeline, more important than any imperial favor.
She had also raised him herself instead of sending him to an Imperial Prince’s residence, so their bond was very deep.
The child had had a fever for days that would not go away, but the Imperial Physicians did not dare use harsh medicine on him. The medicine was too gentle and had no effect.
Empress Zheng had not closed her eyes for three days.
As the Eldest Prince fell ill, the Emperor also became sick, and the Empress Dowager had to watch over the recording eunuch as he reviewed memorials to the throne. She was just as exhausted.
The Empress Dowager said: “I have sent someone to invite Court Physician Gu. Do not worry.”
The Empress nodded.
The Empress Dowager added: “You should rest more too. Do not wear yourself out.”
At these words, Empress Zheng’s eyes grew hot and tears began to fall.
She turned away and used her sleeve to cover her face and wipe her tears: “Thank you, Imperial Mother. I will take good care of Yu’er and myself.”
The Empress Dowager sent Eunuch Wei to summon Court Physician Gu.
She said: “Go to the side hall, eat something first, and lie down for a while.”
Empress Zheng agreed.
Seeing how tense the atmosphere was, Luo Ning quietly stayed by the Empress Dowager’s side and did not speak.
She remembered that in her previous life, at this time she had been suffering in the Marquis Manor. The Empress Dowager had sent people to ask about her several times, but the Marquis Manor blocked them, so she could only give up.
Thinking about it now, with the two people who mattered most to the court both sick during this period, the Empress Dowager was worn out from worrying about both family and state. Yet she could still spare a moment now and then to care about Luo Ning. That was already deep affection and kindness.
Luo Ning did not blame anyone.
After all, she had been born in the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Only when the court was stable could an ordinary person live with dignity. While the Emperor was sickly and the Eldest Prince was still young, the Empress Dowager carried the lives of all under heaven on her shoulders. She had already done everything she could.
While Luo Ning was thinking this, Prince Yong arrived.
Prince Yong had been in the Imperial Study the whole time, helping the Emperor review memorials. He was much quicker than the recording eunuch.
Prince Yong said: “Imperial Mother, when you have time, please look over these two memorials to the throne, and then I will make a decision.”
The Empress Dowager said: “Leave them there for now. I do not have the heart for it at the moment. Has Court Physician Gu not arrived yet?”
Luo Ning said softly: “Imperial Mother, someone was only just sent to invite him. It has not been long.”
The Empress Dowager nodded.
Luo Ning could feel how overwhelmed she was, even though she hid it well. It was like a lake with only slight ripples on the surface while strong currents surged underneath.
Xiao Huai Feng glanced at Luo Ning.
Luo Ning stood up and saluted him as well.
He asked: “Here to visit Imperial Mother?”
Luo Ning said: “Yes. I also heard that Prince was in the Imperial Palace and came especially to see you.”
He said: “What is it?”
Luo Ning said: “A small matter at home, not worth mentioning. I will speak of it when Prince has free time.”
Xiao Huai Feng nodded.
The Empress came back in.
She had been in a side hall drinking a little bird’s nest soup porridge. When she heard that Prince Yong had arrived, she came over on purpose.
Empress Zheng asked: “Seventh Younger Brother, was today’s memorial from the Duke of Shen delivered to the imperial desk?”
The Duke of Shen was the Empress’s uncle, even closer to her than her own father.
Just then, a palace maid also brought bird’s nest soup for the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze, looking as if she did not want to hear about it.
Xiao Huai Feng said: “Imperial Sister-in-law, step aside so we can talk.”
The two of them stood under the eaves of Shoucheng Palace, speaking very softly.
Luo Ning was truly curious and glanced at them twice out of the corner of her eye.
The second time, she vaguely saw Prince Yong raise his hand and lightly brush Empress Zheng’s arm.
It was only a brief touch.
She immediately drew back her gaze, not daring to look again.
Still, this was the first time she had noticed something unusual.
Luo Ning was a curious person. When she had been a ghost, she had been as free as the wind and had liked to watch lively scenes.
The feelings between Prince Yong and Empress Zheng were hidden too deep. In Luo Ning’s heart, they were like a mystery that had never been solved. Her urge to investigate kept stirring, and she could not help wanting to peek.
[In the future, when the Prince trusts me enough, he might tell me himself. I might even have to help cover for him and the Empress.]
When Luo Ning thought of this, she immediately sat up straighter.
Prince Yong soon finished discussing business with Empress Zheng and came back into the hall.
Court Physician Gu arrived.
He was an old physician of about fifty, with very kind features.
When Luo Ning had been badly injured, she thought it had also been him who saved her. He was not only skilled at feeling pulses, but also good at treating wounds. He truly excelled at both internal and external medicine.
In the Imperial Palace, there were Imperial Physicians assigned to specific pulse cases, each with their own duties. The Eldest Prince and the Emperor both had Imperial Physicians they used regularly. Those physicians understood their master’s medical history and pulse best.
Unless there was something special, Court Physician Gu would not get involved.
Court Physician Gu soon said: “The medicine is indeed too mild. We should first remove the root of the illness and then nurse him back to health. Delaying is not the way.”
Empress Zheng wept with joy: “Then please write another prescription. Yu’er’s fever has not gone down, and my heart is breaking.”
Court Physician Gu said: “Your Highness, do not worry. An illness leaves the body like silk being pulled from a cocoon. It has to be slow.”
He went to write the prescription.
The Empress Dowager also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
She finally had the mood for other matters, picked up the two memorials Prince Yong had brought, skimmed through them, then handed them back to him: “Set these aside for now. When your Imperial Elder Brother gets better, he can decide for himself.”
Prince Yong agreed.
Prince Yong said: “Imperial Mother, after the work in the Imperial Study is done, I will go back to my residence and rest for a few days. When Imperial Elder Brother recovers, I will come to visit again.”
The Empress Dowager nodded: “Go on, then.”
Luo Ning took the chance to stand up: “Imperial Mother, I will go back first as well.”
The Empress Dowager looked kindly at Luo Ning and reminded her: “It has been cold these days, and you still have old injuries. Keep yourself warm. Do not let the cold wind harm you.”
Luo Ning agreed.
She left the palace gate together with Prince Yong.
On the way, she told Prince Yong everything that had happened in her own residence, because she had made use of his power.
The pleasure boat had come from Prince Yong’s residence. Lady Liu had been invited through Cui Zheng Qing, and the yamen runners had been arranged for Luo Ning by Deputy General Zhou from Prince Yong’s residence as a personal favor.
Luo Ning said: “Those two concubines were like two poisonous snakes coiled in our house, always passing messages to the Bai family. I was very afraid someone in the family would die by their hands. I worried all the time and kept thinking of a way to drive them out.
“They had not yet done anything openly evil, and I could not find any faults on the surface, so I could only go to Qiu Shi Dong. As expected, he was too clever for his own good. His own schemes backfired, and he took care of both concubines himself.”
After hearing this, Xiao Huai Feng’s expression stayed calm: “Backfired because he was clever? It was because he was ruthless and afraid of being exposed.”
Qiu Shi Dong knew very well what evil he had done. That was why Luo Ning’s seemingly casual actions, one after another, had pushed him into a trap.
Luo Ning said: “No matter what, now that those two concubines are gone, I feel much more at ease. No one will be passing messages anymore, and my mother can rest and recover quietly.”
Her cousin Luo Wan and the Marquis of Zhen Nan had both been directly killed by those two concubines. Her grandmother had been killed with the help of the elder Concubine Mei.
When Luo Ning had warned Luo Wan to be careful, she had already been thinking about how to get rid of this hidden danger.
Qiu Shi Dong’s cruelty had, in the end, helped Luo Ning solve a big problem.
Luo Ning said: “It is a bit of a pity that I did not use this chance to catch Qiu Shi Dong’s weakness. I was afraid of alerting him, and the more I did, the easier it would be to make mistakes and let him realize my goal. He is too cunning.”
From the actions of Bai Ci Rong and Madam Bai, Luo Ning had found a pattern: when planning something, greed was the biggest taboo.
If you wanted everything, you might end up losing completely and getting nothing.
Luo Ning wanted to sweep away the poisonous snakes in her home, so she could only do this one thing, instead of also trying to grab proof of Qiu Shi Dong’s murder at the same time.
If she wanted too much, she would leave too many traces. Qiu Shi Dong would notice immediately, and the whole plan would fail.
If things had not worked this time and the two Concubine Mei had gone into hiding afterward, what excuse could Luo Ning use to persuade Luo Chong Ye to drive them away?
Luo Chong Ye would not listen to her.
At some point, they might even strike back for Qiu Shi Dong and cause Luo Ning to suffer a crushing defeat.
Luckily, Luo Ning was not greedy.