Yun Han, relying on her favor with Noble Consort Xi, had become accustomed to bullying others in the palace.
She hadn't expected the newly arrived Ji Zizhao to be unfazed by her. How could she tolerate such defiance?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Yun Han deliberately took a longer route with Ji Zizhao.
But as they walked, before Ji Zizhao could beg for mercy, Yun Han herself could no longer bear it.
Yun Han, walking ahead, subtly glanced back at Ji Zizhao following behind. Though her forehead was beaded with sweat, her steps remained steady.
Furious, Yun Han had no choice but to abandon her plan of taking a longer route.
Otherwise, before Ji Zizhao could plead for mercy, she feared she herself would pass out from the heat.
Yun Han was truly feeling the heat. From then on, she focused only on the path ahead, having no time to sneak glances at Ji Zizhao.
Seizing this opportunity, Ji Zizhao quietly opened the needle pouch hidden in her sleeve, took out a silver needle, and pricked several acupoints on her palm. Sudan Novels Network.
A piercing pain spread from her palm throughout her entire body.
Gritting her teeth, Ji Zizhao slowly withdrew the silver needle and inserted it into other acupoints.
As the silver needle went in and out of her palm several times, a cold sweat trickled down Ji Zizhao's face.
The intense pain made Ji Zizhao tremble uncontrollably, yet she remained silent, her expression calm as she continued to follow Yun Han.
Now was not the time to cry out in pain.
She had to wait a bit longer.
Previously, Noble Consort Xi's residence was in the deepest part of the West Six Palaces. Now, it had moved to Huaqing Palace, closer to the Emperor's Dragon Hall.
In the courtyard of Huaqing Palace, maids and eunuchs were busy cleaning everywhere.
As Ji Zizhao entered, she attracted everyone's attention.
Yun Han, walking ahead, turned back and said to Ji Zizhao, "I trouble the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family to wait for a moment."
With that, she left Ji Zizhao alone in the courtyard and went into the residence first.
Inside the sleeping quarters, Noble Consort Xi was reclining on a soft couch, eating fruit.
Yun Han hurried over and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family has arrived. She is in the courtyard."
Noble Consort Xi unhurriedly picked up a piece of watermelon from the plate with her jade fork, as if she hadn't heard Yun Han.
Yun Han immediately understood. "Is Your Highness tired? Perhaps you would like to sleep for a while?"
If she slept, she wouldn't wake up for at least one to two hours.
Noble Consort Xi heard this and threw the jade fork onto the plate. "She is someone I summoned. How can I leave her in the courtyard? If this gets out, won't it give people grounds to question me, saying I deliberately made things difficult for an imperial physician?"
Yun Han was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground. "Your Highness is right. It was this servant's foolishness."
"The person I summoned is naturally here to diagnose me. Wasn't it said that the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family is exceptionally knowledgeable in medicine? If so, let her examine me properly. If she cannot discern why I am unwell, what right does she have to remain in the Imperial Hospital?"
Why did the Fifth Prince always act foolishly from time to time?
It was precisely because he remembered Ji Zizhao in the Imperial Hospital as soon as he entered the palace!
Noble Consort Xi could not bear to punish her son, but that did not mean she would be equally merciful to others.
"Your Highness is right. This servant will go and summon her immediately." Understanding Noble Consort Xi's intention, Yun Han turned and walked out, her eyes filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing Ji Zizhao embarrassed.
In the courtyard, many palace servants had gathered.
Yun Han, walking out, curiously quickened her pace. When she pushed aside the palace servants in front of her, she saw Ji Zizhao, who had been standing in the courtyard, now collapse on the ground, covered in sweat and with a pale face.
Yun Han was stunned. "She was fine just now, what happened?"
The palace servants in the courtyard shook their heads. Eldest Daughter Ji had collapsed without warning, and they had no idea what had happened.
Seeing this, Yun Han quickly knelt down and turned Ji Zizhao, who was lying on her side on the ground. Upon closer inspection, she saw that Ji Zizhao's lips were pale and bloodless, and her entire body was limp, as if boneless.
The commotion in the courtyard also alerted Noble Consort Xi in the sleeping quarters.
In the sunlight, Noble Consort Xi wore a hibiscus-red brocade gown with gold thread trim, adorned with large roses. She was truly resplendent.
Lying on the ground, Ji Zizhao squinted her eyes and observed.
Noble Consort Xi was among the first group of women selected to enter the palace after Empress Zhong. Although no longer young, her meticulously maintained face still possessed exquisite features, and her every movement exuded charm.
At the previous palace banquet, Ji Zizhao had only glimpsed her from afar and hadn't paid much attention.
Seeing her now, she had to admit that it was no wonder Noble Consort Xi remained favored by the Emperor. She was indeed a beauty.
Noble Consort Xi looked at the listless Ji Zizhao lying on the ground and frowned, asking, "What happened?"
The palace servants in the courtyard immediately knelt on the ground, none daring to answer.
Ji Zizhao moved her dry lips and said with great effort, "This minister followed Miss Yun Han from the Imperial Hospital for a full half an hour. I suppose the sun was too strong, and this minister could not withstand it and suffered heatstroke. This minister deserves death for disturbing Your Highness's peace."
Ji Zizhao had not stopped Yun Han from deliberately taking a longer route, but she would not allow herself to be made to walk for nothing.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Xi looked at Yun Han, who was not far away.
Yun Han's hands and feet turned numb with fear. She quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant is simply not familiar with the route to Huaqing Palace, and so... so I took a detour..."
This meant it was indeed true!
Assisted by Granny Zhang, Noble Consort Xi stepped forward a few paces, raised her foot, and kicked Yun Han's shoulder. "Useless creature! All you do is slack off. Not one thing brings me any pleasure!"
Only by having Ji Zizhao take her pulse could she find fault with Ji Zizhao and find an excuse to have her expelled from the palace.
But now, Ji Zizhao was lying on the ground, struggling to even breathe. How could she take her pulse?
With all her schemes dashed, how could Noble Consort Xi not be angry?
She was furious to death!
Kicked to the ground, Yun Han writhed in pain.
She refused to believe that Ji Zizhao had truly fallen ill just from walking a few extra steps. Yet, looking at Ji Zizhao's weak appearance, her pale face and lips, she couldn't find any flaws.
Noble Consort Xi did not understand medicine, but heatstroke was a common ailment. Even if one hadn't eaten pork, one had surely seen a pig run.
For this very reason, she, who was also watching Ji Zizhao, became increasingly exasperated.
She had summoned the person with the intention of causing trouble, but before she could even speak, the person had collapsed on the ground.
She couldn't bring herself to strike.
She couldn't bring herself to scold.
Noble Consort Xi, her mind full of schemes, was so frustrated that her face turned green!