Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Seeking Medicine (3)

"She seeks me?" Cold Jiu raised an eyebrow, dropping a peony petal from her hand, "What could she possibly need from me?"

"I’m not sure. But Consort Hua is kneeling at the door, her head touching the ground. It seems quite serious."

After thinking for a while, Cold Jiu finally said, "Let her in."

Soon, Consort Hua entered, wearing simple yet elegant attire, looking somewhat weary and dusty, as if she had hurried here. Her expression was somber as she knelt before Cold Jiu, "Consort Hua greets the Empress."

Observing her posture, Cold Jiu chuckled lightly, "I cannot accept such a grand gesture from you, Consort. Please rise."

Hua Yuxuan remained seated, looking up at Leng Jiu for the first time without hostility, "I implore Your Highness to save Jinzhi's life."

Leng Jiu narrowed her eyes slightly, "Why do you say that, Empress?"

"Jinzhi sparred with someone yesterday and was injured in the leg. The royal physician found that the injury affected the tendons and bones. Even if it heals, it will leave a chronic condition. I know Your Highness has a miraculous medicine that can mend bones and tendons. I beg you to bestow this medicine and save Jinzhi's life!"

Leng Jiu responded with a light laugh, "It's just a lingering ailment, not life-threatening. Where's the need to 'save a life'?"

"Your Highness, Jinyi has always been passionate about martial arts and riding. If he's left with a lasting injury, he won’t be able to ride or train as he wishes. It's akin to taking his life!"

You take a handkerchief, wiping the flower juice from your hands, and call out, "Qingling!"

"At your service!"

"Do we possess any miraculous medicine for mending tendons and bones?"

"Yes, Your Highness, Black Jade. Crafted by the late greatest healer, Ghost Hand, from hundreds of rare herbs, it can mend bones and tendons. The old General once had a severe injury in battle, nearly becoming a cripple. Out of admiration, Ghost Hand gave him the only piece of Black Jade, which healed him completely. They became close friends, but the healer passed away two years later. Since then, no one else has been able to produce Black Jade."

You raise an eyebrow, intrigued by such a miraculous item, and say to Empress Hua, "You heard it yourself. It's the only legacy left by the late healer for my father. I cannot decide on my own. Please leave."

Empress Hua stares incredulously, "Your Highness, would you really stand by and let Jinyi die?"

You frown, "It's not about being heartless, but powerless. That's a relic left by a healer and belongs to my father. Even as the Empress Dowager, I have no say in it. If you care, send someone swiftly to the southwest to ask my father. Perhaps he'll agree for the sake of his long-standing friendship with Prince De."

"I never thought you'd be so heartless!" Empress Hua turns pale with anger, "Jinyi treasured the hairpin you gave him on his adulthood ceremony, drinking alone every night. I believe this has something to do with you. Hearing him call your name last night, it's clear he holds deep feelings for you. Won't he be heartbroken to know of your coldness?"

You find her accusation amusing, "Empress Hua, are you foolish or cunning? Knowing my status, do you realize the crime of a subject coveting the Empress Dowager? Even if found out, he faces exile or disdain. You should've kept such matters to yourself. And how do you justify questioning me? Isn't it ridiculous?"

Empress Hua turns ghostly pale, unable to refute. After a while, she weakly retorts, "Even if Jinyi is condemned, aren't you afraid of being labeled a seductress, causing chaos in the dynasty?"

Plucking a peony, you reply, "I'm only twenty. Even without doing anything, I might still bear the blame of being a 'seductress'. What more should I fear? Besides, one needs the caliber to be a 'seductress', right?"

Empress Hua clenches her handkerchief, speechless. Your unyielding nature, impervious to persuasion or harm, leaves her with no comeback.

"In that case, I shall take my leave," she says, her departure heavy with defeat.

You lower your gaze, not watching her leave, and only when she's gone do you ask Qingling, "Do we have such a thing in the General's residence?"

Qingling nods: "Yes, Your Highness."

"Fetch it for me," you command.

Qingling, surprised, questions, "But didn't Your Highness refuse just now? And since there's only a little of that medicine in the world, using it might mean it's gone forever."

You open your eyes slightly, "Objects are inanimate, people are not. Besides, I don't wish to see that proud person fall from grace. It would be less interesting."

Without further discussion, Qingling turns and sends someone to fetch the medicine, delivering it to you in less than half an hour.

You examine the small, black object, no larger than a palm, resembling a hard coal piece with an odd, unpleasant smell. "Is this the Black Jade?"

"It's made from the bones and blood of fifty rare creatures, mixed with over fifty herbs. This is the only piece in the world."

"How is it used?"

"Just soak it in water to soften and dissolve. Apply it to the wound, and it can mend bones and tendons in seven days, even better than before. The old General used most of it. Giving it to Prince Hua might deplete it entirely," Qingling remarks with reluctance.

You continue to scrutinize the object, "So miraculous that as long as one's not dead, it can heal any broken bones?"

"Pretty much," Qingling confirms. "Does Your Highness intend to send this to Prince Hua now?"

You place the medicine back in its box, looking down, "If I said I won't give it, I won't."

Qingling, confused, fails to understand.

You don't elaborate, simply continuing to toy with the flowers in front of you.

Within an hour, Du Heng rushes in, "Your Highness, the Emperor is here with Prince De!"

Immediately after, Eunuch Qu's voice announces, "The Emperor has arrived!"

"Greetings to Your Majesty!" A group of palace maids knelt down.

"Rise," Emperor Long Yi said, lifting his hand and then striding towards Leng Jiu. Seeing her lazily reclining on the couch, his eyes flickered, "Is Your Highness feeling unwell again?"