Chapter 53: Summoned by the Emperor (1/2)
Just as Bai Luochu exited from the Empress Dowager’s palace, she saw a eunuch rubbing his hands as he paced around. She had only taken a few steps out and seeing as the eunuch was waiting for something, Bai Luochu ignored him.
Bai Luochu looked straight ahead as she made her way out of the imperial palace. Just as she passed the eunuch, he spoke, “Is this guest Divine Physician Bai?”
Hearing that someone was calling out her fictitious name, Bai Luochu stopped in her tracks and turned around. She responded, “It is precisely this humble one. May I know your identity?”
When the eunuch saw that it was truly the renowned Divine Physician Bai, he quickly bowed with respect and said, “This old servant is His Majesty’s close attendant. Yesterday, when His Majesty went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, Her Majesty mentioned that Divine Physician Bai was coming into the palace today to provide treatment for her.”
“His Majesty heard about Divine Physician Bai’s fame for a long time but has never met you in person. This morning, he sent this old servant to wait on the main path in the imperial palace in order to invite you over. Can I trouble Divine Physician Bai to follow me in order to avoid making things difficult for this old servant?”
The way the eunuch spoke made it seem as though he truly meant his words. Those that didn’t know might think that he was a sincere person. However, Bai Luochu wasn’t a greenhorn that could be easily deceived. Now that the Emperor wanted to see her, he must have already discussed it with the Empress Dowager. It was no wonder someone came with an imperial sedan to welcome her but she was making her way out on her own. It was because someone was already waiting for her.
Looking at the current situation, Bai Luochu knew that there was no way to refuse the invitation. She didn’t think that she had the capability to disobey the imperial decree at this moment. Her heart might be filled with mockery, but her expression and body language didn’t reveal a hint of her thoughts. She simply nodded slightly and spoke to the eunuch, “Then I shall trouble lord eunuch to lead the way.”
This ‘lord eunuch’ seemed to make the old servant rather joyful as a beam immediately appeared on his face as he led Bai Luochu to the imperial study.
In fact, Bai Luochu called out ‘lord’ truly because he was worthy of the title. He was after all, the person who understood the Emperor the most in this world. The person that understood the Emperor the most, wasn’t his spouse or his children. Instead, it was this court eunuch who had been serving the Emperor since he was a child.
This chamber of concubines was truly a distance from the imperial study. This time, Bai Luochu walked for the time it took two sticks of incense to burn before seeing the building the imperial study was located at.
After walking for another ten minutes, she finally arrived at the entrance of the imperial study.
“His Majesty is already waiting in the imperial study for the Divine Physician. Will Divine Physician please enter? It’s not good to make His Majesty wait for such a long time. This servant will not be going in and will be standing guard at the door.”
After finishing his words, the eunuch opened up the door for Bai Luochu and made an inviting gesture to signal for Bai Luochu to enter the room. After Bai Luochu went inside, he closed the doors tightly.
As soon as Bai Luochu entered, she saw a figure wearing bright yellow robes as he stood behind the study table. Of course, no one other than the emperor would dare to wear the imperial robes.