Her Power and Favor Span the World

Chapter 25

Sure enough, Chu Mingcui saw that the Retired Emperor's face darkened.

Chu Mingcui felt relieved. Although the Retired Emperor doted on Prince Chu, it was also because of this favoritism that he had ordered Yuan Qingling to stay in the hall to attend to his illness. Unfortunately, Yuan Qingling was an arrogant fool, unworthy of an important role.

Seeing the Retired Emperor's displeased expression, the imperial physician hurriedly brought over the medicine and turned to leave.

But the Retired Emperor angrily said, "Why haven't you brought the medicine over yet? Didn't you hear the Prince's Consort say she wanted to drink medicine?"

Everyone was stunned and looked towards Yuan Qingling.

Especially Chu Mingcui, whose expression suddenly changed. She could hardly believe her own ears.

Yuan Qingling lowered her head. She really did not want to say those words, but if the Retired Emperor recovered without taking medicine, it would raise suspicions.

Emperor Ming Yuan's expression lightened with joy. "Quickly, bring it here!"

From last night until now, Emperor Ming Yuan finally looked at Yuan Qingling approvingly for the first time.

The Retired Emperor drank down the entire medicine in one gulp, evidently really hating the bitter taste. After drinking the medicine, his face was all scrunched up. The Empress Dowager quickly handed him some honeyed fruits, and his face looked a bit better.

Yuwen Hao looked at Yuan Qingling with complicated eyes. This situation did not reassure him, it only made him feel more anxious. The Imperial Grandfather actually listened to her words, could it be that her sinister plot had already succeeded?

After the Retired Emperor drank the medicine, the Empress Dowager was also very happy. She called Yuan Qingling over to praise her, and even the usually silent Prince Rui complimented Yuan Qingling.

Although the Empress was also smiling, her smile was very forced. It seemed that Mingcui's worries were not unfounded.

Emperor Ming Yuan had set aside state affairs to specially attend to the Retired Emperor, although the Retired Emperor had improved, he still could not stop worrying. After all, just yesterday the entire Imperial Medical Bureau had said that the Retired Emperor was on his last legs.

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However, the Retired Emperor clearly did not want them to attend to him, and told Emperor Ming Yuan and Prince Rui to go back.

Before leaving this time, Emperor Ming Yuan said to Yuan Qingling, "Take advantage of the daylight and people being around to get some rest first."

"Yes!" Yuan Qingling bowed.

She went out to the outer hall, preparing to rest for a while, but Steward Chang came to inform her that the west warm pavilion had been arranged for her rest. He also ordered palace maids to bring a change of clothes and medicine for external injuries, and to prepare hot water.

Yuan Qingling was a bit surprised.

Steward Chang said indifferently, "By order of the Retired Emperor. Later, Granny Xi will come to apply medicine for you. Granny Xi has served the Retired Emperor for many years and will not gossip. Don't worry, Consort."

Although Steward Chang's attitude was still indifferent, Yuan Qingling felt like crying.

Arriving at the west warm pavilion, after a short while, palace maids brought in hot water, followed by a granny in gray clothes, about fifty years old, with a neat bun hairstyle. The corners of her eyebrows and mouth drooped down, appearing very stern.

"Granny Xi!" Yuan Qingling greeted her politely. The Retired Emperor's people were practically half masters.

"You may leave!" Granny Xi said to the palace maid by her side.

"Yes!" The palace maid bowed and retreated.

Without another word, Granny Xi said to Yuan Qingling, "Let this old servant undress the Consort to apply medicine."

As she spoke, she took out several bottles of medicinal powder from her sleeve and placed them by the bed.

As a patient has no dignity, Yuan Qingling allowed her to undress her and lay prone on the bed.

She heard Granny Xi gasp.

Hearing the sound of scissors, Granny Xi cut open the cloth bandaging her wounds. Piercing pain came, and she couldn't help but clench her fists.

"If it's too painful, Consort may bite down on the bedding," Granny Xi's voice carried a hint of melancholy compassion.

"Mm!" But Yuan Qingling bit her own hand.

Such pain, it was the most acute, tearing pain she had suffered in her life.

Tears of grievance and pain welled up.

But the door was suddenly pushed open as someone strode in quickly.

Yuan Qingling was shocked. From the footsteps she knew who it was. She pulled up the bedding to try to cover her body. But Granny Xi pressed down her hand and said indifferently, "It's Prince Chu who has come, no need to move!"

It was because it was Prince Chu that she wanted to cover up!

Yuwen Hao had not expected Granny Xi to be here. He really could not restrain himself and wanted to come ask questions, but happened to see Granny Xi treating her injuries.

The chest full of anger and doubts were suddenly stuck in his throat.

Seeing her wounds, his eyes darkened.

On her back, thighs, and buttocks, wherever the cloth strips were cut open, it was a bloody mess, seeping blood.

Her wounds really had not been treated.

Yuan Qingling had been able to hold back her tears, but being stared at naked like this by him was even more humiliating than the pain. She shed silent tears.

Drop by drop, she bit her hand desperately, not daring to sob aloud, but unable to control the trembling of her shoulders.

Yuwen Hao's fury actually slowly dissipated. At this time, he was not thinking about her scheming against him at the Princess's residence, but recalled what she had furiously said yesterday when cornered, and the madness as if driven to desperation and forced to fight back.

That ferocity contrasted sharply with her current fragile weeping.

Granny Xi finished cutting the cloth strips and said indifferently to Prince Chu, "Please bring over a hot towel."

Yuwen Hao turned and saw a basin of hot water next to him. He soaked a towel in the water, wrung it out, and handed it over.

"Wipe her," Granny Xi said.

Yuwen Hao did not move, frowning. The wounds were almost impossible to handle, and most importantly, he was unwilling to touch this woman.

Granny Xi sighed, took it from him, "Made of flesh and blood, my prince!"

Yuwen Hao had been raised by Granny Xi, and naturally did not dare refute her, though his face kept shifting between green and red.

The towel gently dabbed her wounds. Yuan Qingling's whole body shook, sobbing stuck in her throat. This sound was even more pitiful than crying out loud.

"How did you endure such wounds for a whole day and night?" Granny Xi sighed, glancing reproachfully at Yuwen Hao, "If you won't wash the wounds, at least you could have applied medicinal powder?"

Yuwen Hao took the medicinal powder and sprinkled it over Yuan Qingling's massive wounds. The flesh that had been moist now looked much drier after the powder.

But the wounds appeared even more mottled and horrifying coated in white powder.

Yuan Qingling started coughing, and once she started, she almost could not stop. She coughed so hard her whole body curled up, coughing until tears spilled out. In her fluster she still did not forget to cover her chest with cloth, looking wretched and pitiful.

A mouthful of bright blood sprayed from her mouth,

Splattering like a huge, brilliant red peony blossom on the white pillow.

Granny Xi's expression changed. Looking up at Yuwen Hao, she said, "You—"

But the words stuck in her throat. After all, this was the child she doted on, and she could not bear to reprimand him. She only shook her head, "Such suffering, which consort must suffer like this? What heinous crime was committed?"

"I'm going to die, aren't I?" Yuan Qingling knew it was because of the Purple Gold Soup. She did not know what was in it, but this bout of hemoptysis was probably because of the Purple Gold Soup. At the time, her granny and Green Bud had fed it to her, and she could tell the Purple Gold Soup was toxic.

She grabbed Yuwen Hao's sleeve, her pale face raised slightly. Blood still lingered at the corner of her mouth, pulling so hard made her grit her teeth in pain. Looking at Yuwen Hao, her eyes were nearly mad with determination.

"I beg one thing of you. Before I die, divorce me. I'd rather die than be this Prince's Consort."