Night deepened. The courtyard below the mountain was brightly lit, and several physicians gathered inside to discuss what to do. Ye Jingtang stood at the doorway, watching the room.
Quite a few people were inside. Fan Qinghe was carefully mixing medicine at a worktable. Niao Niao, perhaps hungry, stood beside the table, tilting its head at the bottles and jars. It wanted to go over and have a taste, but it did not know this pretty young lady and did not quite dare. All it could do was keep acting cute, trying to inspire her to feed it.
Beside the bed, Dongfang Liren stood with her hands behind her back, worry filling her face. Every so often, she gave a silent sigh.
Madam Wang leaned against the headboard, holding the Empress Dowager, whose breathing was as faint as a thread, and called softly:
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
Perfected Person Xuanji sat beside them with a bowl of nourishing porridge. She blew on a spoonful and brought it to the Empress Dowager's pale lips. Her throat could be seen swallowing instinctively, but she showed no sign of waking.
Ye Jingtang watched in silence. After an indeterminate wait, Fan Qinghe, who had been sitting inside, rose and came over with a bowl of medicine and several wrapped packets of medicinal powder.
"This is Blood-Stasis Powder. Take it with warm water once in the morning and once at night. It works wonders on internal injuries."
Dongfang Liren turned at this and came over to take the bowl.
"Sorry for the trouble, Miss Fan. You came all this way as an envoy of the Dongming Tribe, yet I have failed to show you proper hospitality and instead made you run yourself ragged. I'm truly ashamed. I'll have my master arrange somewhere for you to