Chapter 522: 522: Does Queen Rui also Understand Medical Skills?_1

The Emperor shook his head: “I indeed should appoint a Crown Prince… I owe it to the Empress and Yiyi… it’s unfortunate that Yiyi’s health… I must find someone who would treat him well even after my demise…”

“Your Majesty, don’t think like that. You are strong and healthy, and you will certainly live a long life.” Eunuch Gao hurriedly comforted.

“I’ve heard this so often that I’m tired of it. I do not fear death, I just can’t let go of some things at this moment.”

The Emperor knew his own body, which had collapsed over these years.

Now, he only seemed tough on the outside, fooling others but not fooling himself.

Then the Emperor looked into the distance, and mumbled in a trance: “If there is something I fear, it is seeing her after death. I don’t know how I can apologize to her.”

Eunuch Gao hurriedly consoled: “Your Majesty, don’t blame yourself. You were also deceived in the matter of the Xiu family back then. Now that the truth is out, surely the Empress will forgive you in the afterlife…”

The Emperor gave a bitter smile: “She had such a strong character, how could she easily forgive me? She will blame me for not finding out the truth at the beginning, for not protecting her father and brothers. She definitely doesn’t want to see me again…”

“Your Majesty, Her Highness the Empress always had a tough exterior but a soft heart. Remember how she used to kick you out of the room, yet secretly asked me to bring you a cloak. Even if she ignored you, she would secretly have the Imperial Kitchen prepare medicinal meals for you!”

Eunuch Gao’s words plunged the Emperor into memories, and he began to speak of the past.

“In my youth, women were nothing more than objects to balance the court situation to me, they bore children to stabilize the court. When she first entered the harem, she was so defiant, even unwilling to let me stay, I didn’t want to deal with her either, I didn’t want to be bothered with her.”

Listening to the Emperor talk, Eunuch Gao quietly started to listen.

This was not the first time the Emperor shared these past experiences with him. Each time something triggered these memories, the Emperor would inevitably mention them. It had been this way for nineteen years.

The Emperor went from being at odds with the Empress at first, to gradually falling for her, and then to singularly loving her alone.

Outsiders thought that the Emperor’s preference for the Empress was to reassure the Xiu family on the border, but they didn’t know that the Emperor really fell in love amidst constant confrontations with her.

In that year, the Emperor had truly fallen for her.

Then that incident happened. Even though there was solid evidence of the treasonous plot of the Xiu family, the Emperor still did not want to depose the Empress. He only thought to send the Empress to Jing’an Temple to recover, waiting to bring her back after the storm subsided.

Who would have thought, the Empress did not survive for him to take her back, and even the child she gave birth to died prematurely.

Since then, the Emperor had not favored any other women in the palace, and no queens or concubines have been pregnant since Queen Xiu left.

At this point, everyone finally believed that the Emperor was truly in love with Queen Xiu.

How deep this love was, no one could tell.

“Enough, let’s stop here for today.”

His thoughts returning, the Emperor no longer had the intention to continue working.

The Emperor moved the pile of paperwork to one side and stood up. Eunuch Gao hurried forward to assist.

Just at this moment, the junior eunuch sneakily came to report: “Your Majesty, Prince Rui and Queen Rui have arrived at the Palace.”

“Why are they here?” The Emperor stopped, paused, then went back to his seat, “Let them come to the Imperial Study.”

Then the Emperor had Eunuch Gao bring over a chair and place it at the side of his desk.

Eunuch Gao full of smiles, seeing the Emperor’s completely different attitude towards Prince Rui compared to his other sons.

The Prince hadn’t even arrived yet, and the Emperor had already had a chair prepared. Other people would never receive such treatment. To be granted a seat would already be a great honor!

After a while, Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo arrived at the Imperial Study together.

“No need for formalities.”

The Emperor spoke before Wei Jinyi could performed the ceremonial rites.

He looked at Wei Jinyi with a warm gaze, extending his good attitude to Wei Ruo as well.

“Sit” the Emperor said next.

Wei Ruo assisted Wei Jinyi and helped him sit in the spot that was already prepared.

Wei Ruo herself stood at the left behind Wei Jinyi.

Once Wei Jinyi was settled, the Emperor observed Wei Jinyi closely, then spoke with some relief: “Yiyi, you look well today.”

“It’s thanks to the Queen’s attentive care.”, Wei Jinyi replied.

The Emperor looked up at Wei Ruo and praised: “Queen Rui is considerate indeed.”

“It’s part of my duty.” Wei Ruo answered.

The Emperor then asked Wei Jinyi: “Yiyi, why did you want to see me today? If it is not an urgent matter, you could have simply sent a message, there is no need for you to come personally.”

Wei Jinyi replied: “I have a concern and I’ve asked the Queen to accompany me to present it to you…”

With that, Wei Jinyi turned to look at Wei Ruo at his side.

The Emperor also followed Wei Jinyi’s gaze to look at Wei Ruo and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Wei Ruo responded: “I made a tonic for the Prince earlier. It helps strengthen qi and enrich the blood, strengthening the constitution; the Prince found it effective. The Prince, thinking of you, wished to present this medicine to you, Father Emperor.”

The Emperor looked at Wei Ruo, his face kind: “Queen Rui, you also know some medical skills?”

Wei Ruo replied: “I only know a little. This prescription was left by Doctor Xu. I only know that it works well for those with symptoms of physical debility.”

The Emperor said: “I didn’t know before that Queen Rui has such a skill. I was already amazed by your craftsmanship. Moreover, the incident of you discovering a new rice species in Jiangzhe for the benefit of the people, really, you never cease to amaze me.”

Because Wei Ruo had already given the Emperor quite a few surprises, this time when she said she only knew a bit about medical skills, the Emperor couldn’t help but praise her again and again.

“I am terrified… It’s my good fortune to be able to alleviate Your Majesty’s worries.” Wei Ruo responded.

“You shouldn’t be so humble. If you were a man, I would definitely have you enter the court to serve as an official, enabling you to do great things and benefit the people.” the Emperor said.

“I am terrified… how could I dare.” Wei Ruo lowered her head.

Wei Jinyi returned to the topic at hand: “I respectfully request you, Father Emperor, to allow Queen Rui to take your pulse to assure that you can take the prescription left by Divine Doctor Xu.”

The Emperor did not immediately give a response, but instead looked at Wei Ruo.

After some contemplation, he said, “Alright, I’ll make an exception and let Queen Rui diagnose me.”

Upon hearing this, the shrewd Eunuch Gao went to fetch a pulse pillow, and had the Emperor rest his wrist on it.

Wei Ruo tiptoed to the Emperor, bent down, and carefully extended her hand to feel the Emperor’s pulse.