My Beloved Concubine Only Wants to Eat Melons

So early the next morning, when Doctor Jiang arrived at the palace for his shift, he immediately saw his father's life's work.

While excitement and sighs were inevitable, the urgent matter at hand was treating the Empress Dowager. After reviewing his father's records, Doctor Jiang immediately devised a treatment plan and began the therapy.

Yanshu was already waiting in the Palace of Benevolent Peace, and Yuwen Lan rushed there immediately after the morning court session, anxiously asking Doctor Jiang, who was examining the Empress Dowager, "How is she? When will the Empress Dowager recover?"

Doctor Jiang replied with a serious expression, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's chronic headache is an old ailment. The current treatment should focus on soothing the liver, relieving depression, nourishing the kidneys, replenishing qi and blood, and alleviating pain. All of these require a gradual approach. For now, I propose a course of treatment lasting half a month, repeated for three courses, which should eliminate the root cause of the Empress Dowager's illness."

Three courses?

Yuwen Lan frowned and asked, "So it will take at least a month and a half for the Empress Dowager to fully recover?"

Doctor Jiang bowed in confirmation.

Seeing this, Yanshu quickly consoled, "Your Majesty, please don't worry. Having a solution is better than having none at all. Besides, the Empress Dowager has been suffering from this illness for many years. If we can completely eliminate the problem in just a month and a half, that's quite good."

That made sense. Yuwen Lan nodded, then watched as Doctor Jiang took out a pack of silver needles and inserted them one by one into the acupuncture points on the Empress Dowager's head.

The scene made him pause, and Yanshu watched with trepidation - heavens, so many needles in the head must be incredibly painful!

Yet looking at the Empress Dowager, she showed no reaction.

This revealed that the headache attacks must be even more unbearable than the needle insertions.

Yanshu was nearly moved to tears with sympathy.

Yuwen Lan understood this too, and with a heavy heart, he asked Doctor Jiang, "Besides medicine and acupuncture, what else should we be mindful of?"

Doctor Jiang promptly replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's illness has both external and internal causes. Externally, she must stay warm and avoid catching cold. Internally, we must keep Her Highness in good spirits and relieve her liver stagnation."

The explanation was quite straightforward. Hearing this, Yanshu couldn't help but sigh inwardly—

[After all, isn't the Empress Dowager's current state all because of the late Emperor? Like the Empress Dowager, having an unfaithful husband, losing her child early, and spending years of effort to support her adopted son to the throne? To make matters worse, her family members were troublesome, causing one problem after another, and she couldn't even be with the person she came to know and care for... How could any woman not become depressed and ill under such circumstances? Oh, the Empress Dowager has had such a difficult life!]

Yuwen Lan silently took in these words, and after a pause, he said to the Empress Dowager lying in bed, "Mother, you have endured much hardship over these years."

Yanshu had a point.

Indeed, the palace had never given the Empress Dowager many days of peace and happiness.

As his words fell, the Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes and said weakly, "This is a busy time. Your Majesty need not worry too much about me. Please go back."

Hearing this, Yanshu quickly added, "I will stay to keep the Empress Dowager company. Your Majesty should return."

Indeed, it was morning, and surely a pile of important matters awaited him in the study. Yuwen Lan could only nod in agreement, bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, and return to Qianming Palace.

Doctor Jiang remained to continue treating the Empress Dowager, with Yanshu staying by her side.

After the acupuncture was complete and she had personally helped the Empress Dowager take her medicine, Yanshu waited until the Empress Dowager fell asleep before going to rest herself.

It must be said that Doctor Jiang's methods were indeed much more effective than Zhang Shengkang's. After two or three days of treatment, the Empress Dowager's symptoms had already lessened. She was no longer constantly dizzy and suffering from severe headaches, and when she felt better, she could even chat with Yanshu.

It was now mid-September, and the weather was growing increasingly cold. Although it was warm inside the palace, one could see through the windows that the trees in the courtyard had already lost all their leaves.

The Empress Dowager was still concerned about palace affairs. As her pain slightly improved, she couldn't help but worry again, asking Yanshu, "Has the Needlework Bureau finished making all the winter clothes for the palace?"

Yanshu quickly replied, "The winter clothes have all been distributed, Your Highness need not worry."

The Empress Dowager nodded and sighed, "You've become more and more capable now, but with a child in your belly, you shouldn't work too hard."

Yanshu quickly nodded, "I'm fine, please don't worry, Your Highness."

She then asked, "It's almost noon, would you like something to eat?"

The Empress Dowager shook her head and sighed, "These days of taking medicine have left such a bitter taste in my mouth, I don't want to eat anything."

This troubled Yanshu - one needs food to maintain strength, how could the Empress Dowager recover if she wouldn't eat?

Just then, a palace servant announced from outside, "Your Highness, Eunuch Fu Hai has arrived."

Since Fu Hai must have come on the Emperor's orders, the Empress Dowager nodded and said, "Let him in."

The person outside acknowledged, and soon Fu Hai entered the hall carrying a food box. He bowed to both women and said, "His Majesty has sent some persimmon cakes for the Empress Dowager."

Oh?

Yanshu was startled - the Empress Dowager had just mentioned the bitter taste in her mouth, and now the Emperor's persimmon cakes arrived. Could this be the connection between mother and son?

The Empress Dowager also seemed surprised, letting out an "Oh" before asking, "What made His Majesty think to send these to me?"

Fu Hai explained, "His Majesty had just inquired about Your Highness's condition from Doctor Jiang and learned that your appetite hasn't been good these past few days. As it happened, Headmaster Qi from Songhe Academy had just sent some persimmon cakes to the palace. His Majesty, knowing Your Highness's fondness for them, asked me to bring them to you."

He added, "His Majesty specifically checked with Doctor Jiang, and it's fine for Your Highness to have a few."

Upon hearing this, both the Empress Dowager and Yanshu were stunned.

Especially Yanshu, who could barely maintain her composure—

Did Fu Hai just say these persimmon cakes were from Headmaster Qi??? Why would Headmaster Qi suddenly send persimmon cakes to the palace?! Could it be for the Empress Dowager?!

At this crucial moment, the system chimed in to explain, [That's right, word has spread outside about the Empress Dowager's illness these past few days, and naturally, Headmaster Qi was even more worried. Unfortunately, being outside the palace meant limited access to information. After much hesitation, he finally gathered the courage to send in the persimmon cakes he made himself. Of course, he didn't dare say they were for the Empress Dowager, only that they were produced at Songhe Academy and sent to His Majesty as a token of gratitude for his care.]

Yanshu was extremely excited and quickly asked, [Then, then, then, how did the Emperor think to send them to the Empress Dowager?]

The system replied, [Because the Empress Dowager truly loves persimmon cakes! They've been mother and son for over twenty years, how could he not know this?]

Yanshu remained very excited, [So Scholar Qi also knew the Empress Dowager likes persimmon cakes? He even learned to make them himself? After waiting for so many years, he can finally let the Empress Dowager taste them?]

She had already imagined Scholar Qi's intense internal struggle between reason and emotion before finally being unable to resist his concern for the Empress Dowager, gathering his courage to personally send the persimmon cakes to the palace!

Though not a word was spoken, these persimmon cakes carried his feelings!

Looking at the Empress Dowager, she too was full of surprise, thinking to herself, [Could he have... deliberately sent these for me?]

Hearing this in her mind, Yanshu wanted so badly to nod and tell the Empress Dowager—

Your Highness, please don't doubt it, Scholar Qi truly did this all for you!!! He really cares about you deeply!!!

Oh, this is pure love moving in both directions!!!

Of course, while she couldn't say these words aloud, she could do other things.

So she quickly responded, "His Majesty's persimmon cakes have arrived at just the right time. Your Highness was just saying your mouth felt bitter. These persimmon cakes will help with that."

As she spoke, she took the initiative to accept the food box, took out the persimmon cakes, and had the palace maid Dan Shuang cut them into small pieces before presenting them to the Empress Dowager.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager indeed took a few pieces to taste.

Mmm, it was the natural sweetness of persimmons, and as she slowly chewed, she seemed to see his face in her mind.

These persimmon cakes, she suspected, were specially sent by him for her.

Given his personality, he wasn't one to actively try to please others.

With these thoughts, the sweet taste in her mouth gradually spread to her heart, seemingly making the medicinal smell in the room less noticeable.

Yanshu quietly observed from the side. Seeing the brightness returning to the Empress Dowager's eyes, she was delighted and quickly suggested, "While you're enjoying the sweetness of the persimmon cakes, perhaps Your Highness would like to eat something? We could have the kitchen prepare some porridge and a few small dishes?"

The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, "Now that you mention it, I am feeling rather hungry. Very well, have them bring the food."

Yanshu acknowledged and quickly sent Dan Shuang to relay the order.

Before long, when lunch arrived, the Empress Dowager indeed finished a bowl of porridge and two side dishes.

She then drank all of her medicine in one go, clearly showing her improved spirits.

Seeing this, Yanshu felt relieved.

With her idol's encouragement, her number one fan would surely recover quickly.

Yuwen Lan had been constantly worried about the Empress Dowager, but unfortunately, his official duties kept him busy. When he returned to Ganlu Palace in the evening, he asked Yanshu, "How was the Empress Dowager today?"

Yanshu quickly replied, "Your Majesty need not worry. The Empress Dowager was much better today. She particularly brightened up after eating the persimmon cakes you had Fu Hai deliver, and she ate well during both lunch and dinner."

In her heart, she thought gleefully, [You really know what you're doing! You even knew to send Headmaster Qi's persimmon cakes to the Empress Dowager. Not bad, not bad, you're learning well!]

Yuwen Lan: "..."

Well, since Doctor Jiang said the Empress Dowager needed to maintain good spirits, he would have to do his best to ensure that.

After this thought, Yanshu said to him, "Your Majesty, I was thinking today, now that the Empress Dowager's condition is improving, perhaps we could try telling her about Zhang Shengkang's past deeds. Didn't I write a story before about how Zhang Shengkang betrayed his teachers and ancestors and showed no gratitude? We could read it to the Empress Dowager, laying the groundwork for her to learn about his past misdeeds. Then in a few days when she's recovered, we can reveal the truth about the Medical Records Collection, and she'll fully understand Zhang Shengkang's true nature."

Yuwen Lan nodded and said, "That would work."

Speaking of which, these past few days, seeing that the Empress Dowager was being treated by Doctor Jiang, Zhang Shengkang must be getting quite anxious, and might try something despicable again.

But it didn't matter, as he had already ordered his secret guards to follow the man. If he attempted any wrongdoing, he would be caught immediately.

Still, Yanshu's arrangement was quite good. Preparing the Empress Dowager mentally first would help avoid too much shock and disappointment when they eventually dealt with Zhang Shengkang.

After all, someone who was ill shouldn't receive too much of a shock.

As these words fell, Yanshu acknowledged with a "yes" and hurriedly went to search through the bookshelf.

He asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

It was already late; surely she wasn't planning to write stories now?

Yanshu replied, "I'm not sure where I put the manuscript about Zhang Shengkang. I want to find it so I can read it to the Empress Dowager tomorrow."

Yuwen Lan pulled her away, saying, "It's already very late. You can look for it tomorrow. You've spent all day at the Palace of Benevolent Peace, you should rest now."

As if on cue, Yanshu yawned, finally realizing how tired she was. She agreed and followed him to bed to rest.

The next day, Yuwen Lan woke up early as usual, preparing to attend the morning court session at Qianming Palace.

His movement woke Yanshu, who lazily sat up and pushed aside the bed curtains to ask, "Is Your Majesty leaving?"

As she spoke, she yawned again, her eyes not fully open yet.

Yuwen Lan felt both amused and tender, leaning down to kiss her forehead, saying, "No need to get up. It's cold outside, sleep a while longer."

Yanshu, spoiled by his affection, made a soft sound and was about to lie back down.

Aliali: 673eb950c4f3f33ac4ee7f08

However, at that moment, Fu Hai announced from outside, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard has something to report."

Yuwen Lan made an acknowledging sound and put on his outer robe to go to the outer chamber, asking, "What is it?"

Meanwhile, Yanshu, still lounging in bed, wondered what scandal the Imperial Guard had uncovered to report so early.

Could they have caught the Baihe Taoist?

No, that couldn't be right. Given the timing, the people sent out would have barely reached the Min Yue Region by now, let alone caught anyone and returned...

So who could it be?

Well, driven by curiosity, she found herself no longer sleepy, so she got up, put on her outer robe, and crept to the door to listen.

She heard the Imperial Guard report from outside, "Your Majesty, last night when we infiltrated the Zhang residence, we discovered that after Zhang Shengkang returned home from his duties, he was intimate with a woman, who then shortly after went to his son's chamber and remained intimate with him until late into the night..."

Yanshu: "???"

Yuwen Lan: "???"