âSecond sister hasnât even reached marriageable age yet has already gone senile? As soon as you woke up, you started wantonly cursing at me, yet you still want to let me get rid of the stinky smell on your body? You really are optimistic!â.
After Du Xiao Liâs reminder, Du Ke Xin finally recalled how she treated Du Xiao Li after waking up. Seeing the sneer on her face, she let out a âhmphâ and turned to leave the pavilion.
âWhile Iâm at it, let me remind you, just soaking once isnât enough, need to soak again after twelve hours. Hopefully, tomorrow, second sister can appear before everyone smelling pleasantly.â
Du Ke Xin paused her steps, following which she immediately headed towards Du Yun Han, and after informing Du Yun Han, turned and left the imperial gardens. Seeing that hasty appearance, presumably in a hurry to go back and soak in the bath.
Shortly after, Eunuch Shanâs sharp voice yelled out âhis Majesty has arrivedâ. Du Xiao Li got up and left the pavilion, coming to Du Yun Hanâs side. Very soon, Han Ming Zeâs figure appeared before everyone.
âGreetings to the Emperor.â Everyone uniformly bowed.
âYouâre all excused.â Han Ming Ze glanced at the people in the imperial gardens. These were the students participating in the competition this time, each and every one all appearing quite outstanding. âToday, this emperor invited everyone here in order to give you all a welcoming reception to wash away the dust, and at the same time, also to wish you all the best in the competition this time, and all be able to win a quick victory!â
Du Xiao Li nearly laughed out loud. If everyone all were to win a quick victory, then who would be in first, and who would be in last?
Han Ming Ze began admiring the flowers with everyone, saying that at noon, he will hold a welcoming feast for everyone. Du Xiao Li was bored, thus asked Han Ming Ze to excuse her, saying that she wanted to go examine the Grand Empress Dowagerâs body. Hearing this, Han Ming Ze thus agreed, letting someone take her to the forbidden palace.
Du Xiao Li arrived outside the forbidden palace gates. As soon as the eunuch that brought her over left, Hong Xiu immediately appeared at the entrance.
âMiss Du, please come with me.â
âThank you Hong Xiu-gugu.â Du Xiao Li said with a smile and followed Hong Xiu in.
Hong Xiu brought Du Xiao Li to the Grand Empress Dowagerâs resting chamber. The Grand Empress Dowager was currently resting on the recliner with her eyes closed. Meng Gu was next to her slowly fanning with a fan. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she opened her eyes.
âThis one greets the Grand Empress Dowager, wishing the Grand Empress Dowager good health!â Du Xiao Li greeted with a curtsy.
âQuickly get up, come sit before this grieving one.â Chun Ming moved a stool over and placed it before the recliner. The Grand Empress Dowager sat up and said, âJust now, when Meng Gu said youâd come, this grieving one was even somewhat surprised. With you being that busy, how would you be able to come see these old bones. Coming to the palace this time, is it for something?â
âReplying to the Grand Empress Dowager, his Majesty invited the students participating in the competition this time into the palace to admire the flowers, so this subject also came together with them, and thinking that ever since Grand Empress Dowager returned, this subject had yet to come visit you, thus asked his Majesty for instructions, coming over to examine your body. Grand Empress Dowager, please extend your hand.â
The Grand Empress Dowager extended her hand, while Hong Xiu brought a cloth cushion over. Du Xiao Li let the Grand Empress Dowager place her hand on top as she took her pulse.
âGrand Empress Dowagerâs body is recovering nicely. Right now, can already stop taking the medicine, and can just nurse oneâs health using medicinal meals. The medicinal meals should still be the same as before, and put an end to dishes with generous amounts of meat and fish.â Du Xiao Li said as she retracted her hand.
âThe chefs you trained, as expected, have great skill. The things they make are much more delicious than the meals the imperial chefs previously made.â The Grand Empress Dowager happily said.
âThatâs because Grand Empress Dowager, your body previously wasnât good, so anything you eat all feels unappetizing, and those medicinal meals can only be made by those that have training, thatâs why this one let specialists come cook for you. Now that your body has recovered, when eating the dishes prepared by the imperial chefs from before, youâll also feel itâs delicious.â Du Xiao Li smilingly replied.
âHaha, youâre still this good with words.â The Grand Empress Dowager held Du Xiao Liâs hand and said with a smile.
Du Xiao Li accompanied the Grand Empress Dowager for a while, then went to the forbidden palaceâs little kitchen to teach the new chefs how to make another medicinal dish.
This chef originally was Feng Xue Louâs specialist in medicinal dishes. When Du Xiao Li went to go treat Lu Jun Qiâs poison, she had them called over to the estate to prepare medicinal meals for the Grand Empress Dowager. Because his skills were all taught by Du Xiao Li, thatâs why his cooking was quite good. Afterwards, the Grand Empress Dowager returned to the palace, and Du Xiao Li had him enter the palace as well, taking care of the Grand Empress Dowagerâs daily three meals in the forbidden palace.
Agreeing to the Grand Empress Dowagerâs request, Du Xiao Li prepared the medicinal meal as she demonstrated to the imperial chefs. Once the imperial chefs figured it out, sheâd also finished making the meal. While she was at it, she also cooked two light stir-fried dishes and carried them to the dining hall, eating the afternoon together with the Grand Empress Dowager and chatting with her. And only after the Grand Empress Dowager left to go take her afternoon nap did Du Xiao Li finally leave.
When she returned, the banquet feast on the other side had already scattered, and the students were currently preparing to return to Sui Yuan. Du Yun Han had already left at an unknown time.
âImperial Physician Du.â A Eunuch came to Du Xiao Li side.
Du Xiao Li recognized that this was Eunuch Sha who frequently appeared behind Eunuch Shan. âDoes Eunuch Sha need something?â
âThe Emperor has summoned you, please come with me.â Eunuch Sha waved the horsetail whisk in hand, and then turned to lead Du Xiao Li to the imperial study. Arriving at the imperial study, he first went in to report before finally letting Du Xiao Li enter.
Du Xiao Li came into the imperial study. This wasnât her first time coming here, but this time the feeling was obviously different. Carefully thinking it over, she discovered that the imperial guards and palace maids were all gone, with only Eunuch Shan alone serving Han Ming Ze.
âGreetings your Majesty.â Du Xiao Li bowed in greeting.
âYou may rise.â Han Ming Ze put down the brush in hand. Ever since a few days ago, after Du Yun Han had the inner cabinet dispersed, the memorandums he needed to read through everyday suddenly increased by a lot, and the time he spent on these also increased. Even now, his desk was filled with two piles of memorandums.
âThanking your Majesty.â Du Xiao Li got up, and once again inwardly ridiculed this feudal societyâs kowtow system inside.
âHow is imperial grandmotherâs body?â Han Ming Ze asked.
âReplying to your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowagerâs body has recovered very nicely. The harm brought about by the gu has already healed by a lot. After recuperating for a few more days, she more or less will be able to return to normal.â Du Xiao Li replied.
âYouâve worked hard on imperial grandmotherâs matter!â
âThe Grand Empress Dowager is a very good person, and is also very good to this humble subject, whether itâs oneâs public duty, or oneâs personal wish, this humble subject will all do oneâs best.â
âEn, itâs very good that you have this thought.â Han Ming Ze nodded in praise. After contemplating for a while, he asked, âHave you figured out what gu imperial grandmother was afflicted with? How was it able to enter the body?â
âReplying to your Majesty, this gu although is relatively low level, itâs relatively difficult to raise in the early stages, needing a special environment. And after it enters its cocoon stage, need to place it into a specialized container. When it leaves the container, it must be transferred into the body within an hour, else the gu will die. In the cocoon stage, the gu is smaller than a rice grain and can be placed in food, letting the person eat it when theyâre not paying attention. As long as it enters the body, the gu will be able to makes its home and settle down.â Du Xiao Li explained.