Chapter 54: Never Expect Her to Be Soft-hearted in Quarrels (1/2)
Translator: Li Wenting
Proofreader: Prof. Zhu Yuan
Ruan Jiujiu came in. The Emperor asked her immediately, “Have you collected all medicinal material you needed?”
Ruan Jiujiu was about to answer when Ruan Qingqing took a step forward.
Using poison as an antidote to poison?
As was known to all, counteracting one kind of toxin with another was such a risky move that the medical practitioners would never think of it unless there was no option. Imperial Concubine Dan was the Emperor’s beloved concubine. Ruan Jiujiu was courting her death by resorting to that method.
“Your Majesty, Miss Ruan had collected all the medicinal material she needed. I stood right beside her. Nothing to worry about.”
Imperial Physician Shen made confirmation. Incandescent with rage, Ruan Qingqing could barely resist the urge to raise her objection. However, the Emperor had already nodded in agreement.
Imperial Physician Shen was the Emperor’s personal physician, so the Emperor trusted his words.
Ruan Qingqing looked at Ruan Jiujiu with intense hatred. Ruan Jiujiu met her glance, calm and composed. Ruan Qingqing felt as if Ruan Jiujiu was laughing at her when Ruan Jiujiu raised the corner of her mouth.
Fine. He who hopes to succeed should learn to bear and forbear.
“Then you may start.” The Emperor cast a glance at Beiming Xuan as he spoke to Ruan Jiujiu. Beiming Xuan, however, sat in silence. It seemed that he was keeping himself aloof from what was going on right now.
The Emperor found it difficult to fathom out what Beiming Xuan was thinking.
He had no choice but to wait until Ruan Jiujiu eliminated the toxin.
“Your Majesty, the medicinal material was foul-smelling. You and the Empress…” Ruan Jiujiu was fiddling with those herbs as she cast a glance at Beiming Xuan. His frosty stare was fixed on her. Ruan Jiujiu added immediately, “And Lord Ming…You three are all high-born and high-bred. I’m afraid you could not bear that unpleasant smell. May I decoct those medicinal herbs in the side hall?”
The Emperor knitted his eyebrows. Ruan Jiujiu continued, “Imperial Physician Shen may stand beside me and provide help.”
Ruan Jiujiu was indicating that the Emperor might set his mind at ease with his underling keeping an eye on her.
The Emperor’s kitted eyebrows were yet to be smoothed out. Suddenly, he felt a pungent smell assailing his nostrils. Then he said to Ruan Jiujiu, “Go to the side hall. Have Imperial Physician Shen with you.”
“Your Majesty, I also possess medical skills. I could offer help,” Ruan Qingqing said as she stared at Ruan Jiujiu in disbelief. She thought Ruan Jiujiu would play tricks.
Ruan Jiujiu expressed her strong disapproval before the Emperor made the final decision: “You can’t go with me.”
“Why?” Ruan Qingqing had her stare fastened on Ruan Jiujiu: “I doubt my dear sister is planning to play tricks. What are you uneasy about if you have done nothing wrong?”
“Turns out you can tell whether I am playing tricks while Imperial Physician Shen cannot?” Ruan Jiujiu flung Ruan Qingqing a scornful look.
Ruan Qingqing pulled a long face. Imperial Physician Shen who was standing beside coughed politely.
“Your Highness, I’m not equipped with remarkable medical skills, but I guess I have gained more experience than you do. Besides, I have served the Emperor for years. You can trust my eyes.”
Ruan Qingqing was rendered speechless with rage. She believed that Ruan Jiujiu would definitely play tricks.
“No disrespect intended, Imperial Physician Shen. I was just thinking I could learn something from you, although I wasn’t able to offer help.”
“Ruan Qingqing, you are so shameless! Have some self-knowledge!” Ruan Jiujiu cursed loudly.
“You are my sister. How could you curse me like that?” Ruan Qingqing asked as if she was wronged.
Ruan Jiujiu, however, snorted contemptuously with laughter: “I’m your sister? Indeed! You should also know there is a big difference between one who was born of the legal wife and one who was born of a concubine!”
“You!” Ruan Qingqing turned pale with anger.
There was a great difference between one who was born of the legal wife and one who was born of a concubine?
Nobody dared to make comments about Ruan Qingqing’s family since she came to the capital. Ruan Qingqing’s father was born of a concubine. She had been given a low status since she was born!
Who was Ruan Jiujiu? She was the eldest daughter of the master and his legal wife!
Hardly had one wave subsided when another rose. Ruan Jiujiu raised her head and spoke in a flat tone, “Everybody knows that you and I have never really got on. Respected Empress Xiao, am I right?”
Empress Xiao was thrown off her guard. Being targeted at by Ruan Jiujiu was beyond her expectations. Empress Xiao froze for a second before she threw a glance at Ruan Qingqing. Then she tried to smooth things over: “Infanta Lianhua does possess medical skills. She might offer help.”
“Your Majesty, Ruan Qingqing never really got on with me, so I don’t want her to go with me. Imperial Physician Shen would offer great help. I have to go against Respected Empress Xiao’s wishes.”
Ruan Jiujiu was quite emphatic when she pronounced the words “Respected Empress Xiao.” The Emperor answered, “You could just have Imperial Physician Shen with you.”
Everyone knew that Ruan Qingqing was on intimate terms with Empress Xiao. The Emperor didn’t trust Ruan Qingqing. Ruan Qingqing was Empress Xiao’s underling.
The Emperor was of a suspicious disposition. He never put his complete trust in others, including Empress Xiao, his legal wife.
Upon hearing Ruan Jiujiu’s words, Empress Xiao drew a long face, and Ruan Qingqing’s face was even darker with rage. She could do nothing. Ruan Jiujiu had left for the side hall together with Imperial Physician Shen.
Ruan Jiujiu asked Imperial Physician Shen to decoct the medicinal herbs after they entered the side hall. Imperial Physician Shen was ready to offer help.
Decocting medicinal herbs required concentrated efforts and meticulous care. Having buried himself in his work, Imperial Physician Shen didn’t have the energy to keep an eye on Ruan Jiujiu. Ruan Jiujiu sat herself down, closed her eyes slowly and got her mind focused.
Shortly afterwards, Ruan Jiujiu felt as if her soul went out of her body. Things in front of her got covered in a thick white fog. She gazed carefully at the fog. After a while, the fog gradually lifted. Then she saw…
She saw all those precious medicinal herbs be arranged in neat piles. Ginseng, root of red-rooted salvia, esculent swift’s nest, glossy ganoderma, and so on…Ruan Jiujiu collected them from the Imperial Dispensary. Now they were placed in the secret space projected by the Exquisite Ancient Ring.
It worked! Ruan Jiujiu squealed silently with delight.
She glanced over those medicinal herbs and gazed into the distance. Once again she saw those two Chinese characters “Yi” and “Liao” as well as their English version. Then she discovered numerous shelves extending as far as she could see. She started to search through the shelves. Shortly afterwards, she found what she wanted.
“Miss Ruan, the medicine is ready.” Imperial Physician Shen brought the medicinal liquid. It was so kind of him to have filtered out all the dregs of the decoction, leaving only the green medicinal liquid, bright and glossy.
Ruan Jiujiu made no response.
Imperial Physician Shen gazed at her in confusion.
What was Miss Ruan doing? It seemed that she was asleep?
“Miss Ruan?” He called her with some trepidation.