"Then what should we do? Will medicine help?"
"Please rest assured, Eunuch Qin. The young mistress has a strong constitution. With proper care, she will recover. However, the injury to her ankle may take some time to fully heal."
"Go and prepare a prescription immediately. And by the way, there are others in the room who were also injured — take a look at them as well."
"Yes!"
The imperial physician, only a ninth-rank official in the Imperial Medical Bureau, was extremely respectful and cautious in front of Eunuch Qin, who held the seventh-rank position of Deputy Chief Steward in the Inner Court.
After examining Xia An, the physician then checked Chunqi, and finally came to Xiaoluzi.
When he saw the bruises on Xiaoluzi's chest and back, shaped like footprints, Qin Gonggong was so furious he could hardly contain himself.
But with the physician present, it was not appropriate to say anything.
Once the examinations were finished and the physician had left, Qin Gonggong immediately stepped forward, looking at Xiaoluzi with deep concern.
"What happened?"
"Master, you didn't see it with your own eyes — Consort Chu came with such an overwhelming show of force. She was clearly looking for trouble, and used the excuse of the Moon Gate being locked to punish everyone in the courtyard.
"She kicked me twice the moment she arrived — nearly killed me! The two elder sisters were also beaten up because they tried to protect the young mistress. Just look at the wounds on their faces and bodies! Consort Chu was far too ruthless!"
"And how did the young mistress get injured?"
"I heard from Sister Xia An that Consort Chu pushed the young mistress down and was about to whip her, but Sister Chunqi stepped in to block it. That's probably when the young mistress twisted her ankle."
Xiaoluzi actually knew the full truth, but he chose not to say it.
It was the first time he had ever lied to his own master — but he didn't regret it one bit.
His mistress was in such a precarious position in the harem that if no one protected her, situations like this would only keep happening.
Now that he served in the Left Side Hall, he was determined to ease her burdens however he could.
So he did not think of it as an exaggeration, but simply the truth.
Hearing all this, Qin An's expression turned grave as well.
Conflicts among the concubines were common in the palace, whether out in the open or behind the scenes, but to brazenly come and beat everyone up like this was unprecedented.
And even bringing hidden weapons!
It was as if she had no regard for palace rules at all.
He darkened his face and told Xiaoluzi,
"Bear with it for now. I will go speak with Eunuch Dong."
At that, Xiaoluzi understood why his mistress had arranged things this way.
Consort Chu relied on her high rank to bully them without restraint — but the palace was not a place where only her word counted.
If she wanted to throw her weight around, then let her suffer the consequences.
Outside Qian'an Hall, Dong Yuzhong was deeply shocked after hearing Qin An's report.
Taken lightly, it was nothing more than petty jealousy between concubines.
But if you looked at it more seriously, Consort Chu, who came from the northwest, was blatantly ignoring palace laws — and if she had learned that from her family in the northwest, then did they too hold imperial authority in contempt?
A seemingly small matter could reach all the way back to the front court — Dong Yuzhong dared not leave it unreported.
But if he reported it too bluntly, it might draw too much attention, so he spoke to Qin An in a low voice:
"I understand. You go back for now, and have extra people look after Lady Lin."
"Very well."
Qin An could not read Eunuch Dong's intentions from these vague words, and could not be sure if His Majesty would hear about it or whether he would stand up for Lady Lin.
But his habit of caution over the years made him retreat respectfully.
After Qin An had left, Dong Yuzhong summoned Qiu Ming and whispered a few words to him.
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Yuwen Hong had already been reading memorials for more than half the day, and was exhausted.
When he lifted the teacup by his side, he found it was already empty, and called out toward the outside.
"Dong Yuzhong."
"Your servant is here."
"More tea."
"At once!"
Seeing the Emperor pinch the bridge of his nose, Dong Yuzhong took the chance to ask,
"Your Majesty, are you feeling tired again?"
"Reading memorial after memorial all day — nothing ever lets me rest easy."
"Shall I give you a massage, Your Majesty?"
Speaking of massages reminded the Emperor at once of Lin Wanyi.
"Where is Lady Lin? Summon her to attend me."
"Yes!" Just as he was about to leave, Dong Yuzhong turned back and said,
"Your Majesty, it is nearly time for the evening meal. Why not visit Yihua Palace? It will lift your spirits, and you can dine there conveniently. I also heard Lady Lin has nearly finished sewing your night robes — perhaps you could try them on?"
The Emperor looked at the evening light outside — that sounded like a fine idea.
And so the imperial procession headed directly for Yihua Palace.
Along the way, the scenery was quite pleasant, and the Emperor told Dong Yuzhong, who was serving at his side,
"Tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some more Sichuan dishes. Lady Lin likes spicy food."
"Oh! As you command, Your Majesty. If Lady Lin learns of your thoughtfulness, she will surely be overjoyed!"
Yuwen Hong gave a light chuckle, saying no more.
At the gate of Yihua Palace, he had expected to see Lin Wanyi waiting to welcome him, but instead found only Qiu Ming, who had just been sent ahead to deliver the message, now kneeling on the ground in fear.
Dong Yuzhong immediately barked,
"Weren't you sent to inform Lady Lin to receive His Majesty? What are you doing kneeling here?"
"Your Majesty, Lady Lin… Lady Lin is injured and still unconscious — she is unable to receive you."
"Injured? What about the servants and maids in her courtyard — how were they attending her?"
"They are the same, Your Majesty — all lying down, unable to get up."
Dong Yuzhong feigned great shock, as if he had never heard this news before, and hurriedly said to the Emperor,
"Your Majesty, what should we do? Shall I summon an imperial physician?"
Yuwen Hong had not expected this either. Just two or three days ago, she had been speaking with him perfectly well — how could she now be lying in bed unable to rise?
His first reaction was to suspect that, like the other concubines, she was deliberately feigning weakness to win favor.
But then he remembered he had come here purely on a whim. There was no way she could have known in advance and made arrangements — she didn't have eyes and ears everywhere.
So his expression darkened, but he spoke calmly.
"Summon the imperial physician. I will go in and have a look."
"Yes!"
Dong Yuzhong turned to Qiu Ming and said,
"Go and fetch Imperial Physician Wang."
Qiu Ming glanced up at Dong Yuzhong, immediately understood his meaning, and nodded before hurrying off toward the Imperial Medical Bureau.
It was the first time the Emperor had ever come to Lin Wanyi's residence.
But he had no time to look around and went straight into the inner chamber.
He saw the woman who had been lively and bright just a few days ago, telling stories, now lying pale and sweating on the bed, weak and trembling, her brows tightly furrowed as if trapped in a nightmare.
Watching over Lin Wanyi was Xia An.