Helping him rise

Mi Yuheng's blunt words sent Imperial Physician Rong into a fury. He turned and pointed at Mi Yuheng. "You wet-behind-the-ears brat! How dare you spout nonsense and slander me! Your ambition is plain as day-you think you can climb into my position by smearing my name, don't you?"

Mi Yuheng gave a cold chuckle. "With my medical skills, even if you remained deputy director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, you would not hold that seat for long. Why would I need to resort to this?"

"You!"

Panic had already seized Imperial Physician Rong, but with the emperor still present, he could only suppress his terror and beg for mercy.

Yet Jun Chenyu merely gave him an indifferent glance before issuing his command. "Rong Di failed in his duties and nearly wronged Noble Lady Yan. Drag him away and grant him death by his own hand."

One cold, merciless sentence, spoken with neither anger nor pleasure, had sealed his fate.

Imperial Physician Rong stared in disbelief, his face ashen, and desperately knocked his head against the floor. "Your Majesty, this subject truly made an unwitting mistake! Please show mercy and spare my life!"

Wen Yunmian's expression remained cold. He had served at Jun Chenyu's side, yet dared to drug him and use the opportunity to stir up trouble. Allowing him to take his own life and leave his body intact was already an act of mercy.

"Your Majesty!" Imperial Physician Rong pleaded at the top of his lungs. The Imperial Guards entered and forcibly hauled him away.

Consort Shu wanted to plead for him, but Noble Lady Yu held her back. "Your Highness, you must not wade into these muddy waters."

Consort Shu's heart brimmed with fury. She glared viciously at Wen Yunmian, never imagining that this wretch possessed such ability. Working with that physician, she had countered their attack and struck back in the same stroke, actually eliminating Imperial Physician Rong!

Imperial Physician Rong was a trusted subordinate she had painstakingly raised up within the Imperial Medical Bureau. His presence had made many matters easy to handle swiftly and cleanly.

Now that Imperial Physician Rong had lost his life, her connection to the Imperial Medical Bureau had been severed completely. Raising up another man would be no easy task...

After Imperial Physician Rong was dragged away, Imperial Physician Xu and the other physician were beside themselves with fear. They, too, had followed his lead and spouted nonsense just now. Now, they feared...

The Empress stepped forward. "Your Majesty, how should these two physicians be dealt with?"

Jun Chenyu let out a heavy breath, already growing impatient. "Handle it as you see fit. There is only one condition: such practices must not be tolerated in the palace!"

The Empress accepted his command. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Imperial Physician Xu and the other physician were also led away. Though Consort Shu was furious that she had failed to eliminate Wen Yunmian, she had to appear magnanimous now, even if it was only an act. "To think Noble Lady Yan truly was wronged. Had it not been for this Imperial Physician Mi, you might have been thrown into the Cold Palace, little sister. Remember this lesson well, and do not let such a misunderstanding arise again."

Wen Yunmian's lips curved faintly, and she bent her knees in gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Mi Yuheng did not dare linger either. He said respectfully, "This subject takes his leave!"

Consort Shu had wanted to say more, but the Empress saw through Jun Chenyu's wishes and said to her, "Little sister, His Majesty has only just recovered from a serious illness and is still weak. Let us not crowd around here and disturb him. The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost upon us. Come help me see what preparations are needed."

Since the Empress had spoken, Consort Shu could only agree. Yet she remained deeply uneasy. She had thought the emperor would ask Wen Yunmian to stay, but even when Wen Yunmian left with the other consorts, he said nothing.

Consort Shu was taken aback. Beside her, Attendant Hui teased, "Sister Yan suffered such a terrible injustice just now. I thought His Majesty would keep you behind and comfort you properly. Who would have thought you would come out with the rest of us?"

Her mocking words drew faint smiles and chuckles from several of the other consorts. They resented Wen Yunmian and naturally delighted in seeing her made a laughingstock.

Noble Lady Yu added with a smile, "Noble Lady Yan is different from the rest of us. Perhaps His Majesty will summon her later."

Consort Xian smiled faintly. "None of us can fathom His Majesty's words or actions. I was merely wondering-with the way he behaved today, whom was he angry with?"

Consort Xian always struck at the heart of the matter with a single sentence, stirring jealousy or discord among the consorts and keeping their struggles alive.

Once she had said her piece, she put on an air of serene indifference to worldly strife and left.

Consort Shu's expression changed. She glanced anxiously at Noble Lady Yu, no longer in any mood to exchange idle remarks. Casting Wen Yunmian a cold look, she left with Noble Lady Yu.

On the way, Consort Shu remained unsettled. "Do you think it really is as Consort Xian said? His Majesty knows I cannot be disentangled from this affair, so he is angry with me? Otherwise, judging by his usual habits, I would certainly have been the one he kept behind to accompany him. But today was different..."

Consort Shu felt profoundly guilty for harming the emperor's health by drugging him, but she had been too afraid-afraid that a woman as breathtakingly beautiful as Wen Yunmian would steal his heart the moment she entered the palace.

There had been selections before, but never had they brought in a woman of such peerless beauty. That was what had made her lose her sense of proportion.

A hint of tears entered Consort Shu's voice. "If His Majesty knows I was the one who administered the Peach Blossom Song, he will surely be disappointed in me. What should I do? What can I do now?"

Noble Lady Yu hurried to soothe her. "Do not worry, Your Highness. Since His Majesty did not implicate you before everyone, he must not know."

Unable to fathom Jun Chenyu's thoughts, Consort Shu said anxiously, "But His Majesty only punished Imperial Physician Rong today. He did not pursue the matter of why the Peach Blossom Song was in his body. What do you think he means by that?"

Noble Lady Yu did not know either. She sighed, her expression grave. "Your Highness, do not worry about what His Majesty is thinking for now. Those pink chrysanthemums were sent over according to Noble Lady Yan's rank. As for the pills, we instructed that maid in the Peony Pavilion to buy them secretly from outside the palace."

"No matter how this affair is investigated, nothing will lead back to us. Besides, given the affection between His Majesty and Your Highness, he certainly would not suspect you."

Noble Lady Yu's words eased Consort Shu's heart, and her gaze turned venomous. "To think Wen Yunmian managed to escape again this time. Who exactly is that Mi Yuheng from the Imperial Medical Bureau? How dare he join forces with a mere noble lady and eliminate my trusted subordinate outright! He deserves to die."

Soothing her had already become a habit for Noble Lady Yu. "Do not be angry, Your Highness. Getting rid of a physician is all too easy. We need only pin some charge on him. He truly is not worth such fury."

Consort Shu narrowed her eyes sinisterly. Wen Yunmian, just you wait!

As Wen Yunmian headed back with Yun Yang and the others, both Yun Yang and Yun Fei were badly shaken. They had now witnessed just how fierce and frightening the scheming within the palace could be.

Before either could speak, they saw one of the emperor's attendants escorting Noble Lady Wei back to Chanyang Palace.

Yun Fei asked in confusion, "Does His Majesty intend to have Noble Lady Wei attend him during his illness?"

Wen Yunmian glanced over. The matter had clearly been resolved, yet Jun Chenyu had offered her not the slightest comfort. Could he be using this incident to warn her about something?

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Recalling the emperor's fury at morning court that day, Wen Yunmian could not help tightening her grip on her handkerchief. Perhaps this truly was connected to that incident.

But to inquire into matters at court, she would need connections there.

The mistress and her two maids were about to continue on when a clear voice, like jade being struck, rang out from behind them. "Noble Lady Yan, please wait!"

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