Chapter 6, Harvesting Good Friends

The Tianqi was returned, "Take it to buy medicine, along with the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, it should be enough for nearly a year. After a year, when I make a lot of money, I will buy you something even better."

She spoke as she turned and left for Wang Meng's residence, directly pulling the drowsy Wang Meng out of his bed. Wang Meng rubbed his eyes and looked at her in confusion

Tian Qi put his arm around his shoulder, "Good brothers should share both joys and hardships. The crime of deceiving the ruler is shared by you and me alike."

The imperial physician carefully took Wang Meng's pulse, examined his eyes and tongue, and pressed on several acupoints on his abdomen. Finally, he shook his head and said, "Your kidneys and spleen are not in good condition. Your body has previously suffered from deficiencies, and now it has developed a root cause of illness. You need to gradually adjust your health; it cannot be rushed."

Sheng Anhuai knocked on the door for a while, and seeing that no one responded, he simply pushed the door open and walked in

Wang Meng, however, was not satisfied, "What on earth is going on?"

It was also her good fortune that, although the room was warm, it felt somewhat stuffy, so she opened the window to let in some fresh air. Through the crack of the window, she saw Sheng Anhuai being led this way by a eunuch from quite a distance, and behind him followed another person carrying a small wooden box, with a beard that indicated he was not a eunuch.

Thus, her heart, which had just settled, was once again in suspense. Tian Qi realized that these days had truly been unfavorable for him, with troubles arriving one after another, without a moment's respite. He must find a temple to burn incense and dispel the bad luck.

Tian Qi had no choice but to briefly explain the situation to Wang Meng

The imperial physician clarified the matter and then asked who he was and when Tian Qi would arrive

In fact, the Imperial Guard was not always like this; this office once held part of the responsibilities that are now managed by the Court of Ceremonial and the Inner Court. It had its moments of glory, but those are all in the past. Currently, the main duty of the Imperial Guard is to clear the way and maintain order during the Emperor's outings

Wang Meng's nose felt a bit sour, "Why are you so good to me"

Returning to the Thirteenth Division, Tian Qizai pondered for a moment and felt that something was amiss. The Emperor, without saying a word, directly unfastened her belt, indicating that he had received reliable information about the issue with her belt. Under such circumstances, when he then observed her falling into the water, it appeared somewhat like a case of trying to hide something that was already obvious.

The entire world has become warm and cozy

Even if I have boarded a pirate ship, you must speak clearly so that I have a clear understanding in my heart

The Duzhijian is known as the "lowest of the twenty-four yamen," a place devoid of any benefits to be gained, which is also the primary reason why Tian Qi was able to be promoted smoothly before. Many people avoid this place, yet she eagerly approaches it, much like a foolish and naive fat sheep willingly drawing near to a tiger; if she cannot come to terms with this, who can she blame

Lian Sheng'an and Huai have also been dispatched, and Tian Qi felt that the Emperor had likely discovered the secret, so he sent this trusted confidant to demand an explanation. She was so frightened that she paced back and forth in the room, listening to the voices outside growing closer. One person said, "Is this it?" and another replied, "Yes, this way please." Then, there was a loud knock on the door.

What do you mean? Wang Meng returned the banknote to Tian Qi

Tian Qi grasped his collar and dragged him along, saying as they walked, "I see that you are weak in constitution, so I found a doctor to take a look at you. For a while, you need to say nothing, just focus on getting treated."

The eunuchs who brought them over noticed that Sheng Anhuai was not pleased, so they forced a smile and said, "Chief Steward Sheng has personally come to see Tian Qi, which truly overwhelms that young man. I just saw him return, so he must have just gone out. I do not know what important matter you have in seeking him; if it is convenient to disclose, I can relay it to him word for word, so as not to delay your affairs. You are busy inside and outside the palace, and there is no need for that little rascal to hold you back. If the Emperor does not see you for a moment and holds you accountable, even a hundred Tian Qis cannot bear the consequences."

Wang Meng was somewhat skeptical

The imperial physician sighed and said, "I see that you are not having an easy time either. In any case, this time it is the Emperor's decree, so I will simply prescribe you some good medicine. You can take the prescription directly to the Imperial Hospital to collect it without having to spend any money"

Upon thinking of this, Tian Qi's heart sank again

I am a doctor myself

Ji Heng's gaze casually swept forward, focusing on a particular spot

Wang Meng stared at the numbers on the banknote, his eyes somewhat glazed. To be honest, not all eunuchs are like Tian Qi, who can save money. Although Wang Meng himself worked in a decent government office, he did not have much spare cash

Sheng Anhuai's expression softened slightly as he replied, "It's nothing much. The ancestors of Tian Qi accumulated virtue, and the Emperor personally issued a decree for the imperial physician to examine him. I hurriedly brought people here, but I didn't expect him to be absent."

Such a good servant must be placed before the emperor

The morning court session lasted longer than usual, and by the time it concluded, the sun was already rising. The eastern sky was filled with morning glow, resembling fiery clouds in vibrant red, yet tinged with a layer of bright gold, exuding vitality and vigor. The sun appeared as if it had just been taken from a furnace, enveloped in a red light, radiating intense heat that dispelled the lingering coolness of dawn

Tian Qi sat under the wall for a while, then got up and returned to the room. Upon seeing the court physician inside, she did not wait for him to ask but instead took the initiative to question him about his purpose.

Although she verbally expressed a sense of resignation to fate, sitting idly by was not Tian Qi's style. She quickly climbed out of the window, closed it, and then crouched down to listen to the sounds coming from inside the room

Wang Meng lowered his head and said, "I understand what you are saying, but doesn't buying medicine require spending money?"

After sending off the imperial physician, Tian Qi patted her chest, finally managing to turn danger into safety once again. These past few days have been truly thrilling, as she found herself teetering on the brink of life and death from time to time, causing her heart to race uncontrollably.

In this simple task, he was extremely focused, with a straight back and an upright posture. He resembled a slender bamboo.

After a moment of tension, she felt that since the Emperor had already returned her, it indicated that she was temporarily safe. If the Emperor were to realize his mistake and decide to deal with her, that was something beyond her control. Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and nobility are in the hands of heaven; she would just wait.

The imperial physician pondered for a moment, fearing that prescribing too much might lead to scrutiny, and deemed it unnecessary to invite trouble upon himself. Thus, he prescribed a two-month supply and added, "The prescription is generally as follows; after taking it, we can adjust the dosage based on the situation. You are still young, and with long-term use, in a few years, you should be able to restore your health."

However, Ji Heng still recognized her at a glance among the crowd

The blue uniform, with its slender silhouette, features an especially thin waist that stands straight; lifting her head, she gently claps her hands, her fingers also delicate, fair and translucent. Sunlight filters through her fingers, as if dancing around the tips, creating a dazzling brightness that captivates the gaze.

Shut up

Whenever the imperial carriage passes, there are always two rows of young eunuchs clapping their hands in front, intended to alert the people on this road: The Emperor is coming, quickly make way!

Tian Qi crouched by the window, and upon hearing this, quietly patted his chest, relieved that it was not a death sentence. However, the imperial physician must never be allowed to see her; once it is diagnosed that she is not a purebred eunuch, death would not be far off.

This is what is known as dried Tianqi.

Tian Qi felt a bit guilty and rummaged through her belongings, bringing out her hidden treasures. She had a total of one hundred thirty-five taels and seven qian of silver left. She handed over the entire amount to Wang Meng, a complete one hundred taels in silver notes

"I was just thinking about you," Tian Qi said nonsensically

After spending a month in the drum room, Tian Qi returned to his position as the Chief of the Metropolitan Police.

The imperial carriage returned from the Huangji Gate, heading straight towards the Cining Palace. Ji Heng sat atop the dragon carriage, moving with his back to the rising sun. In front, a row of young eunuchs clapped their hands to clear the way.

This indicates that the person has just left not long ago

Wang Meng found it somewhat strange, "It is a good thing for the imperial physician to treat you, why are you unwilling?"

Tian Qi promptly covered his mouth and turned to the imperial physician, saying, "Please, prescribe a bit more."

My name is Wang Meng. Tian Qi just went out. Please wait, I will find him for you.

They dragged the person back to their room as if it were a robbery. Upon seeing the physician, Tian Qi pointed at Wang Meng and said, "Alright, the person is here, please take a look."

Inside, An Huai chatted with that eunuch for a few moments. After waiting for a while and seeing no one return, he did not dare to sit for long, so he simply instructed the imperial physician to continue waiting while he returned to the Ganqing Palace first

Indeed, it wasn't long before the matter arrived.

Wang Meng was unable to speak as Tian Qi covered his mouth, and he was being pressed by Tian Qi to nod vigorously.

Wang Meng has never been good at saying no; he often accepts others' polite remarks without question. At this moment, when Tian Qi is a bit more assertive, he decisively falls silent

Wang Meng widened his eyes and said, "You mean---"

"Deceiving the Emperor!" Wang Meng's eyes widened.

Although this is also an opportunity to be close to the imperial presence, the likelihood of making an appearance before the Emperor is extremely slim. You may attract attention for being perceptive and capable of handling situations, or for having a sweet tongue and flattering skills, but have you ever heard of someone being noticed by the Emperor simply because they clapped their hands loudly?

Moreover, after the commotion caused by the previous events, Tian Qi temporarily lacked the inclination to reach for higher branches. Thus, her applause was neither loud nor bright, indistinguishable from that of those around her

A thought surged through Ji Heng's mind

Do not be nervous, the heavens know, the earth knows, you know, and I know; it is nothing serious. You can still get some medicine, so why not take advantage of it?" As he spoke, Tian Qi flicked the prescription, "I will go get the medicine for you later.

There was no one in the room. Sheng Anhuai, with his meticulous thoughts, walked to Tian Qi's bed and found the quilt spread out. He reached out to touch it and felt that it still had some warmth.

You saved me, and today I have also taken advantage of you, so I must repay your kindness and also apologize to you. This amount of money is insufficient