Mi Yuheng

Tears fell from Wen Yunmian's eyes in disbelief. "Your Majesty, what they said is false. I know an imperial physician surnamed Mi who is currently at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Why not summon him here? If he also says this medicine is Peach Blossom Song, I will willingly enter the Cold Palace."

Wen Yunmian wept like pear blossoms drenched in rain. As she gazed at Jun Chenyu through her misty eyes, his heart softened once more. Frowning, he motioned to Eunuch Lu. "Bring him here."

Consort Shu froze, clearly not expecting the emperor to make another exception for Wen Yunmian.

In the past, Wen Yunmian would have been thrown into the Cold Palace long ago. Yet this time, the emperor's heart had softened again and again, leaving Consort Shu both alarmed and furious.

She secretly lowered her eyes to Wen Yunmian, who was kneeling on the floor. This little bitch was even more cunning than she had imagined.

Still, what difference would another imperial physician make? It was nothing more than a dying struggle.

Imperial Physician Rong had the final say over the entire Imperial Medical Bureau. Who would dare contradict his diagnosis?

The Empress looked at the slender figure and finally spoke. "Your Majesty, why not let Noble Lady Yan rise first? She is frail, and kneeling on the floor for so long may expose her to the cold. If the other physician arrives and confirms the matter, there will still be time to punish her."

Ferocity shone in Consort Shu's beautiful eyes. That old woman, the Empress, never meddled in other people's affairs. Why had she dared to help Wen Yunmian today?

The Empress had chosen to help Wen Yunmian because she had seen through the emperor's thoughts. There was unmistakable, if barely perceptible, pity and tenderness in Jun Chenyu's eyes.

Sure enough, Jun Chenyu's response confirmed the Empress's suspicions.

He gave Wen Yunmian an indifferent glance. "Rise for now."

Wen Yunmian rose obediently. Tears clung to her snowy, creamy skin, and her damp lashes trembled faintly. She looked truly pitiful.

Mi Yuheng was brought in shortly afterward. Jun Chenyu withdrew his lingering gaze from Wen Yunmian and sat impassively.

Mi Yuheng had only recently joined the Imperial Medical Bureau and remained beneath the prestigious senior physicians. He had barely ever treated anyone, and most of those he dealt with were palace maids and eunuchs.

Even Mi Yuheng, normally aloof and upright, could not help feeling tense at being suddenly summoned by the emperor.

He entered in his official robes, his handsome features refined and scholarly. Standing there with his medicine chest, he was like a jade tree among fragrant orchids, as clear and noble as a fresh breeze beneath a sky washed clean by rain.

Mi Yuheng knelt respectfully before Jun Chenyu. "Your subject, Mi Yuheng, pays his respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and good health."

Jun Chenyu acknowledged him coldly and glanced at Imperial Physician Rong.

Imperial Physician Rong took the hint. He had little impression of this man, but stepped forward and handed him the pill nonetheless. "Since Noble Lady Yan recommended you to examine this medicine, sorry for the trouble, Physician Mi. Please determine whether it is indeed Peach Blossom Song."

As he handed the pill to Mi Yuheng, his sinister eyes rested on him, seemingly carrying both a warning and a reminder.

Mi Yuheng paused, then calmly ignored Imperial Physician Rong and reached out to take the pill.

Before examining it, he glanced in confusion at those standing in the palace. He did not know who Noble Lady Yan was, nor why she had recommended him.

But since this was an opportunity to distinguish himself before the emperor, he naturally had to seize it.

As Mi Yuheng examined the pill, everyone in the hall harbored different thoughts. Any other physician would already have been drenched in sweat, yet he remained perfectly composed, as though nothing were amiss.

Consort Shu lifted her handkerchief to cover her red lips and exchanged a glance with Imperial Physician Rong. Only after he gave her a discreet nod did she feel victory was all but certain.

After all, he was merely a junior physician who had only just begun to emerge in the Imperial Medical Bureau. He would not have the nerve to disobey.

Wen Yunmian watched Mi Yuheng quietly, her gaze serene. In this life, she had used this situation to bring him to prominence early. She hoped he would live up to her expectations, and that this would also repay his kindness in her previous life.

A moment later, Mi Yuheng withdrew his hand, raised his head, and bowed to the emperor with his hands clasped. "Your Majesty, this medicine is not Peach Blossom Song. I once encountered that drug outside the palace. Their scents are entirely different."

"The pill in my hand nourishes the body and calms the mind, gathers vital energy, and invigorates the spirit. It contains a combination of medicinal herbs that is especially beneficial to men. How could it be Peach Blossom Song? I wonder how Imperial Physician Rong reached his conclusion."

Mi Yuheng cast a light glance at Imperial Physician Rong, seeming almost disdainful.

He had always been this way. His medical skills were exceptional, and he was exceedingly proud. Above all, he could not stand physicians whose skills fell short of his own.

At those words, everyone in the hall changed expression. Even Consort Shu froze, staring straight at him. "Where did this physician come from? Are you flaunting a mere smattering of knowledge here? Imperial Physician Rong and the other two physicians have already determined that this is Peach Blossom Song, yet you claim it is not? Are your medical skills greater than those of all three?"

Faced with Consort Shu's challenge, Mi Yuheng was neither servile nor overbearing. "Your Highness, although I cannot match these three physicians in prestige, I have every confidence in my medical skills! This pill is certainly not Peach Blossom Song. Either Imperial Physician Rong's aging eyes failed him and he made a mistake, or he did it deliberately. In any event, I cannot possibly be the one who is wrong."

Jun Chenyu narrowed his long phoenix eyes slightly as he looked at Mi Yuheng. "How can you prove it is not?"

Consort Shu interrupted, glaring at Wen Yunmian. "Since Noble Lady Yan recommended you, perhaps you are deliberately spouting nonsense to help her. Your words cannot be trusted!"

Mi Yuheng followed Consort Shu's gaze to Wen Yunmian, who stood beside the candlelight.

Within the brightly lit Chanyang Palace, Wen Yunmian appeared cool and dignified, like an immortal banished to the mortal world. Her features were serene yet captivating, and she shone like a smooth, lustrous pearl, dazzling to behold.

Her beauty struck Mi Yuheng full in the eyes, and his usually tranquil heart suddenly stirred. Realizing he had lost his composure, he quickly grew solemn and raised his clasped hands. "Your Majesty, I have not lied. I stake my head on my guarantee that this is absolutely not Peach Blossom Song. Your Majesty may send this pill to different physicians for examination. If anyone says it is not, I will answer with my life."

Wen Yunmian's lips curved faintly. This man, as noble as a fresh breeze beneath a rain-cleared sky, was still exactly as he had been in her previous life: a rash greenhorn when he first entered the palace. Had his medical skills not been exceptional, and had he not later earned Jun Chenyu's appreciation, he would surely have lost his head long ago.

His integrity now would likely leave an impression on Jun Chenyu as well. After all, this was precisely the sort of person he admired most.

Jun Chenyu turned his cold, piercing gaze on Imperial Physician Rong. "Imperial Physician Rong, have you anything to say?"

Imperial Physician Rong's burly frame jolted. Precisely because Mi Yuheng had spoken so decisively, he knew the emperor would certainly have the matter investigated further.

He could influence the Imperial Medical Bureau's decisions, but not everyone there obeyed his commands. Besides, was playing power games before the Son of Heaven not courting death?

His throat tightened. Not daring to gamble with his life, he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, I was muddleheaded and misidentified this medicine. It is not Peach Blossom Song. It merely bears a slight resemblance, which led me to speak incorrectly and nearly slander Noble Lady Yan. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Consort Shu's eyelid twitched violently, fury welling in her heart. She had never imagined this insignificant physician would dare ruin her plans! He must have grown tired of living.

"Your Majesty, my innocence has been proven..." Wen Yunmian sank weakly to her knees, tears falling like rain as her slender, lovely neck and shoulders trembled.

The Empress sighed. "Your Majesty, one lapse in judgment from Imperial Physician Rong nearly ruined Noble Lady Yan. If such a person remains in the Imperial Medical Bureau and makes another mistake in the future, what will we do if he harms Your Majesty's sacred person?"

Consort Shu froze. She was just about to speak when Mi Yuheng continued, "Your Majesty, Peach Blossom Song and this pill are completely different. There is no possible way to confuse the two. He must have deliberately tried to frame her."

All the consorts in the palace were stunned. Was this man really so... blunt and arrogant?

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