Section 7

Jin Shu bit her lip, feeling quite aggrieved. How long would he rest? She was in a hurry to return to Ci Ning Palace, where many eyes were watching her. Even the smallest mistake would be enough for her to endure. Was this physician intentionally making things difficult for her? As she pondered this in her heart, she exerted force with her hands, striking the pestle against the copper mortar, creating a loud clattering sound.

The person, upon hearing this, did not hold back and directly pushed the mortar forward, saying, "Pound it into a fine paste, there must be no lumps."

With a loud bang, the charcoal exploded; fortunately, the charcoal basin was covered with a copper wire mesh, preventing any sparks from flying out. Jin Shu was startled and hurriedly raised her eyes, meeting the Emperor's gaze. She saw his expression was as cold as water, and he slowly said: "The vitality of Da Ying has just begun to recover. If there is war, the common people will suffer. Since I have promised, you need not worry." After a brief pause, he pointed to the string of herbs arranged on the counter and continued, "You may go. The Empress Dowager is anxious about her duties; if I see any signs of deviation in you, I will not spare you."

As she pondered, a sense of indignation welled up within her. What does "I remember you" mean? She was a thorn embedded in the heart of the Yuwen family; how could he possibly forget? He insisted on playing a cat-and-mouse game, clearly trampling on her dignity. Although she had long lost any semblance of dignity, she was still unwilling to be toyed with in such a manner. Thus, she raised her head high and declared with righteous indignation: "Your Majesty has a good memory; I am Jinshu, Murong Jinshu!"

The heart feels somewhat uncomfortable with the letter, and I do not understand how the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau could be so arrogant. Upon reflection, they are on duty while suffering from illness, so one must be understanding of their situation. Moreover, when one is under the eaves of another, even if they are being treated with disdain, one must still wait patiently. Thus, I composed myself and replied in a gentle tone, "I am here to prepare mugwort and safflower."

Jin Shu is busy saying: "Cui An is busy under the festival, so I sent a servant. My lord, please write the weight on the paper, and it will be taken back to Cining Palace for the aunt to weigh again, which will not break the rules"

As the ceremonial greetings were taking place, she bent down to sneak a glance. The person seemed to have noticed, furrowing their brows, and suddenly looked up to meet her gaze, appearing somewhat impatient, and said in a deep voice: "You have been staring at me for quite some time; what exactly are you looking at?"

Her mind was suddenly in a chaotic turmoil, as if a basin of ice and snow had been poured over her head, leaving her internal organs instantly chilled to the bone

The emperor looked at her, seeing her puffed cheeks and tear-filled eyes, and could not help but find it amusing. He secretly calculated how many more words he needed to say to make her cry, and with his hands behind his back, he continued earnestly: "What is ambition? It reaches up to the heavens, connects down to the earth, encompasses the spirit of the universe, balances strength and gentleness, measures all living beings, and brings peace to the world; that is ambition. Without ambition, there is no ruler. Without ambition yet holding a high position, it leads to great calamity for the family and the nation! Tell me, is what I say correct?"

The safflower is on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet. The person climbed the wooden ladder with a scale in hand, skillfully weighing out four taels, which were then directly poured onto paper and wrapped up. He slowly said, "I won't divide it here; you can take it back and weigh it again."

The emperor felt no need for discretion in her presence and spoke candidly: "He has been missing for nine years, and I am greatly concerned. The Murong family has only you siblings left. To avoid any unforeseen complications, if he finds you one day, tell him that I will not harm his life. As long as he is compliant, I will bestow upon him fine clothes and sumptuous food, allowing him to live as a leisurely prince, so that you siblings may be reunited."

The emperor let out a sound, stroking the amber prayer beads on his right hand, and said: "Murong Gaogong's daughter, the Taichang Princess, Murong Fifteen... When I attacked the Forbidden City, you were only seven years old, and now you have grown so much." His tone was indifferent, devoid of hatred, pity, or any emotion, as if he were a stranger passing by on the road, their lives having never intersected.

Indeed, there was that golden circle, shimmering brilliantly under the dim firelight, shining directly into the heart. Jin Shu was taken aback, sensing that something was amiss, yet without much thought, he knelt down and bowed his head, saying: "This servant deserves to die"

That person is as steady as Mount Tai, no matter what you say, he simply drinks tea and studies medical books, saying: "Let's finish grinding this jar of medicine before we talk."

The person, having worked up a sweat, casually removed the warm hat from their head and set it aside, revealing a head of thick, jet-black hair with distinct sideburns, which further accentuated their noble bearing and striking features. Their brows and eyes were like a painting. Although their facial features were beautiful, there was not a trace of femininity; instead, they exuded a spirit of confidence and vigor. Jinshu could not help but comment, echoing a line from a play: 'As distant as a solitary mountain standing tall, majestic like the jade mountain on the verge of collapse.' It was the kind of demeanor that suggested the world was at their fingertips.

Jin Shu stood up and stepped aside, hearing these words he fell silent, and after some consideration, he said: "This servant did not know that Your Majesty was present"

Upon raising her eyes, she was astonished to see that the black boots were embroidered with patterns, indistinguishable whether they depicted a dragon or a python, with claws bared. Looking again at the hem of the robe, there were horizontal eight-treasure water motifs, and surprisingly, above them were the Song Yi and seaweed from the twelve auspicious patterns. She was greatly alarmed and suddenly remembered that although he had a heavy nasal tone, his voice had not changed. Why had she not realized this earlier, stubbornly thinking that anyone in the Imperial Medical Institute was a physician? She had long heard that the Emperor often enjoyed meddling with medicinal materials, but had previously dismissed it as mere rumor; who would have thought there was truth to it! No wonder there was no one in the Southern Three Courtyards; she thought they had all been lured away by him. Could it be that he intended to learn from Qin Shi Huang to concoct an elixir of immortality? Why was there not even a gatekeeper eunuch present?

Jin Shu held the medicine close to her chest, straightened herself, and then retreated to the door. The emperor stood at the entrance, only to see that purple-brown figure drifting away, gradually becoming indistinct, with only the snow flying in the sky.

The letter was somewhat unexpected; she had thought he would become angry or directly order someone to drag her to the market square for execution, posting a notice to announce it to the world, and perhaps see if he could lure Murong Sixteen out to rescue her from the execution ground. However, to her surprise, he did not do so, which felt rather strange.

The heart of Jinshu suddenly sank, and when she mentioned the eternal day, it struck at her soft spot, instantly extinguishing even the strongest of her resolve. Her mind cleared; she realized that she was still herself. What could a trivial act of verbal resistance achieve? Under a low eave, being oblivious to the times would only lead to a bloody head. Only by taking a step back for self-preservation could there be a future. With her head bowed and her demeanor submissive, she said, "This servant does not know; this servant lives deep within the palace, with no contact with the outside world, and is unaware of the whereabouts of the sixteenth brother."

Jin Shu smiled slightly and said, "I am the daughter of Emperor Mingzhi of Daye, with the title of Taichang. The Emperor should have heard of me, right"

The person glared and said, "What are you in such a hurry for? Can't you see that I am busy here?"

The letter was secretly savored, revealing that she was from the Southern Garden, no wonder she was so proud. She smiled with a hint of embarrassment and asked, "How many years have you been in the palace, my lord?"

With a sense of helplessness, Jin Shu thought to himself: "My lord, please take a rest; I will prepare the medicine for you!"

Jin Shu stood by the door, and the wind from outside blew in, making her back feel chilly. Tilting her head to one side, she couldn't help but marvel at the audacity of this imperial physician. Regardless of the chief physician or the guards in the palace, even the ministers of military affairs in the court would show respect when encountering the steward of the Empress Dowager's palace. This person is truly arrogant, daring to call her by name; such boldness is indeed admirable.

That person raised his tone and said, "The red flowers in the palace are forbidden drugs, how can I send you to catch them? Where is Cui Guixiang?"

The emperor was clearly taken aback, "Murong... Jinshu?"

Jin Shu felt a chill at the back of her neck, causing her to unconsciously lighten her movements. After holding back for a moment, she was about to plead again when the imperial physician asked, "Where is your hometown?"

The emperor scoffed, "Indeed, he is a benevolent ruler, so benevolent that he can easily cede the northern territories! I have heard that when it comes to handling state affairs, he is indecisive and lets the concubines in the harem draw lots. You are a princess; you must know how absurd this is! Your father is not a good emperor; no matter how high his accomplishments in calligraphy and painting, he is merely neglecting his duties."

When that person saw her about to leave, he straightened up, smiled slightly, and said, "Come back, didn't I say I wouldn't let you catch it? You have quite the temper!"

He dipped his brush into the inkstone, casually pulled a sheet from a stack of paper on his left, smoothed it out, and pressed it down with a paperweight, saying as he wrote: "Prepare five doses, two taels of mugwort, and eight qian of safflower each, and come back once you have used them well."

First, seal off a king, then confine him, and subsequently seek out faults or fabricate a baseless charge to harm him openly. Isn't this how emperors eliminate their rivals? If one were to believe his words, disaster would surely follow! At this moment, although the whereabouts of Yongzhou are unknown, as long as he is still alive, it is better than returning to the capital. Outside, there is at least freedom; if one were to heed his words and come under his watchful eye, preserving one's life would likely require considerable effort.

He leisurely left the chair and walked over, and only then did Jin Shu see that his robe was split at four points, causing his heart to skip a beat. In Britain, a four-slit robe is considered prestigious; commoners are only allowed to wear a "single wrap round," while officials and commoners may wear a two-slit robe. Only royal family members are permitted to wear a four-slit robe. It seems this gentleman is from the Yuwen family, which makes his appearance less surprising.

I pondered for a moment and said, "My hometown is Nanyuan."

Those hands were well-maintained, fair and delicate, with long and strong joints. The writing was beautiful, reminiscent of Dong Qichang's style, adhering to rules yet fluid and restrained. Jinshu gazed at the handwriting and suddenly an uncontrollable thought surged up: to discern whether he was of royal lineage, one only needed to look into his eyes. Resolute in her decision, she secretly observed him, but he kept his eyes lowered, his thick eyelashes casting shadows over his pupils. Summoning her courage, she attempted several times to no avail, feeling a sudden sense of discouragement.

Jin Shu should be here, he moved the mortar aside. She thought that once he had freed up his hands, he would be able to fetch her some medicine, but to her surprise, the man walked out from behind the counter, sat down in a chair next to the listening room, sipped tea from the thermos, warmed himself by the charcoal stove, and leisurely closed his eyes to take a nap

Jin Shu was originally quite spirited, but with this question from him, she immediately wilted significantly. When her father was in power, the pleasures of life occupied all his thoughts. He could write an impressive calligraphic scroll, yet he could not manage the bandits disturbing the people in Jiangnan. Indeed, during the Great Ye period, the national fortune was in decline, and the capabilities of Yu Wenlan Zhou are undeniable. After his years of reform, the lives of the common people should be much better than during his father's reign. Who still cares whether his throne is obtained with honor? If you casually ask someone, they would surely say that Emperor Chengde is more suitable, but as the daughter of the Meiji Emperor, how could she speak ill of her own father? During the Great Ye period, the national fortune was indeed in decline, and the capabilities of Yu Wenlan Zhou are undeniable. After his years of reform, the lives of the common people should be much better than during his father's reign. Who still cares whether his throne is obtained with honor? If you casually ask someone, they would surely say that Emperor Chengde is more suitable, but as the daughter of the Meiji Emperor, how could she speak ill of her own father? She held her head high and retorted, "My imperial father is a benevolent ruler"

The emperor slowly paced around the room, slightly raising his head and said: "So, in your opinion, who is more suited to be emperor, I or your father? I am following the mandate of heaven, nurturing my strength in obscurity, and honing my skills for ten years. When your father was emperor, how many of the qualities of ambition, strategy, skill, decisiveness, and knowledge did he possess?"

The emperor strode to the high table, the dim firelight illuminating the cloisonné patterns on his sleeves, casting a heavy halo in concentric circles. Suddenly, he turned around and said: "I ask you, do you know where Murong Yongzhou is now?"

The words were stuck in her throat, making her tremble with anger. If it came to a physical confrontation, she certainly could not match him; all that was left was to engage in verbal sparring. However, she was inherently clumsy with words and was no match for him at all, leaving her blushing furiously, twisting her own fingers in frustration

It seems that I became a court physician when the Emperor of Chengde changed the era name, and my official position must have been quite high, no wonder I carry such an imposing presence! Jin Shu, preoccupied with matters, truly cannot afford to delay, and can only plead: "My lord, I still have many duties to attend to, I beg you to write a prescription for me to obtain medicine! The Imperial Pharmacy has no other court physicians, I am deeply grateful for your assistance."

The person set down the prescription and the pestle, then went to pound the medicine. Because there was no soft mat underneath, the counter was struck with a loud thud. Looking down at the mortar, he said softly: "What medicine do you need to grab?"

She is quite attractive, but her temper is a bit poor, treating her like an ornament. Jin Shu patiently wished him well again, saying, "My lord, I am in urgent need of delivering my report, please do me a favor."

The monk, who was two feet tall, was perplexed and still pondering who this person could be. Could it be that someone from the clan is serving in the Imperial Hospital? Yet he could not ask: he could only bend his leg slightly and say, "Thank you... my lord"

The heart is filled with sorrow from the beautiful letter, but what does it matter whether it is right or wrong? The world is in his hands, and who dares to refute his words?

She was taken aback, as if she had been pricked by a sore spot, and after a moment, she lowered her head and said, "I am from the capital." Regaining her composure, she thought she should try to get closer to him, hoping that if he was pleased, he might just give her some medicine, so she flattered him by asking, "Where are you from, sir?"

The urgent letter burned in my heart, and I realized that waiting foolishly was not a solution. How long would this delay last? So I placed the bronze mortar down and said with a bow: "Since you are busy at the moment, I shall go to the Imperial Pharmacy in the Shuxiu Palace. I take my leave now"

The brocade letter was stifled, and in my heart, I repeatedly thought to myself "I" while personally standing here to prepare the medicine. Although I had seen him years ago, I was still about ten paces away, only catching a glimpse of him. I remembered that he was very tall and had an upright posture, but I could not see his face clearly. This time was indeed the first proper meeting, so it was understandable that I could not recognize him. Therefore, I bowed and said: "I would never dare, I was originally serving in the Imperial Garden and only arrived at the Cining Palace yesterday. I did not have the fortune to see the Emperor's face before, please forgive me for being blind."

"I am asking you a question, why are you not responding?" The person urged her when he saw her lost in thought

The letter trembled in her heart, and his implication was: I remember you, what reason do you have not to remember me? She did not understand why this person, with such a formidable presence, could remain composed and humble while kneeling before her father in submission. Is this the heart of an emperor? What an unfathomable person! She hated herself; clearly, her enemy was right in front of her, yet she could not muster even a shred of confidence. With just a glance from him, she felt as if she had lost all her armor. It seemed not only fear but also an indescribable sense of reverence. How tragic it was to revere her enemy; she must be the most unaccomplished deposed princess!

The emperor neatly tied five bundles of medicinal herbs with fine hemp rope, every movement appearing quite dignified. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself; if he were not an emperor, he might have made a good doctor. Remembering her earlier disrespect, he intentionally elongated his face and said, "By your reasoning, is it not my fault then?"

The emperor squinted at her as she lay on the ground, the pearl earrings on her earlobes swaying slightly. Her head was deeply bowed, revealing a patch of neck beneath the dark purple collar, white as congealed fat. She knocked her head and said: "This servant has been presumptuous and disturbed Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

That person squinted menacingly, "This is medicine for the Emperor. If you exert so much force that you break the mortar and spill a bit of the medicine, I will have your head!"

The emperor pressed his lips tightly together, knowing what she was thinking as he saw her with her head bowed in silence. Upon reaching the door and looking outside, he noticed that the wind had stopped, and the snow was falling even more densely, swirling like cotton. The distant buildings were already covered with a thick layer of white, creating a vast expanse of silence between heaven and earth.

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back and glanced at her, saying: "You are called Jinshu? I remember you; you are the palace maid who can write."

The emperor wrapped up the remaining pastries and said indifferently, "Get up, you are the first person bold enough to urge me."

He turned the tiger bone ring on his hand, slightly tilting his head, his gaze resting on the floral carvings of prosperity on the main beam of the roof. After a moment of contemplation, he murmured, "By next May, it will be nine full years."