Xu Xin watched the scenery flashing by outside the carriage. The smile on her lips sent a chill down one's spine.
She was finally going back.
Chu Qing, just wait for her!
...
After leaving the Weiyang Palace, Chu Qing returned to the prince's mansion to wait for Wei Ying.
She needed Wei Ying to introduce her to Imperial Physician Wu, Wu Deshou.
An old friend of hers.
It was not until after she had lunch that Wei Ying returned.
There was a hint of coquettishness in Chu Qing's voice, a hint even she herself didn't notice: "Why are you just coming back?"
Wei Ying's heart softened. He stroked Chu Qing's head and replied, "The emperor asked me to set up some secret informants in many places. The second prince of Xiliang will arrive in a few days."
Chu Qing, whose head had been stroked, resisted the urge to rub against his palm. What was wrong with her! Why did she... can't wait to cling to him as soon as she saw Wei Ying?
Ah!
While sighing at how much she had changed in the past half - year, Chu Qing heard Wei Ying mention the second prince of Xiliang. She sat up straight and regained her serious expression: "Are you ready?"
A chill flashed in Wei Ying's eyes as he replied, "It'll be fine if he doesn't do anything. But if he doesn't know his place and tries to do something, I don't mind making sure he never goes back."
Chu Qing immediately understood what he meant. There was a hint of worry in her eyebrows as she said, "What if Xiliang launches a war because of this?"
"Do you think I'm afraid of them, Qingqing?" Wei Ying smiled.
After Chu Qing let out a sigh, she remembered why she had been waiting for him. Then she said, "Take me to visit Imperial Physician Wu."
"Okay. But..." Wei Ying paused for a moment and then said helplessly, "Imperial Physician Wu has a strange temper. Are you sure you can persuade him to help you?"
Hearing this, Chu Qing showed a very confident smile.
If it were someone else, it might really take some effort.
But she was not just anyone. She probably knew the other person's likes and dislikes better than his own family.
...
So, Chu Qing took Wei Ying to buy a pack of... almond cakes from Weijue Pavilion.
With Wei Ying looking utterly confused, Chu Qing hurriedly asked him to take her to Imperial Physician Wu's mansion.
You know, Imperial Physician Wu had absolutely no resistance to the almond cakes from Weijue Pavilion in the capital.
Especially the freshly - made ones still steaming.
Of course, this was just the first step.
When Imperial Physician Wu slowly came out to greet Chu Qing and Wei Ying, before Chu Qing could even take out the cakes, Imperial Physician Wu had already smelled them and noticed what was in Chu Qing's hand.
The originally cold - faced Imperial Physician Wu couldn't stop smiling after seeing the almond cakes.
"Your Highness the Prince of Ning and Princess of Ning, I'm sorry I didn't greet you properly!" Imperial Physician Wu stroked his beard and invited Chu Qing and Wei Ying into the mansion with a big smile.
It's just that... his eyes were always fixed on the almond cakes in Chu Qing's hand.
Seeing this, Chu Qing couldn't help but smile softly in her heart. This old guy was really obsessed with almond cakes.
Actually, ordinary people would only find the almond cakes so - so. Because the taste of almonds was too strong, most people couldn't stand it. But Imperial Physician Wu just loved them.
Seeing that Imperial Physician Wu's eyes were almost glued to her hand, Chu Qing then handed over the cakes and said with a charming smile, "Just now, the prince and I were strolling outside. We thought the freshly - made almond cakes from Weijue Pavilion were good. We thought you might like them, so we bought the last pack and brought it to you."
Imperial Physician Wu was so focused on the almond cakes that he didn't even think about how Chu Qing was so sure he would like them.
After Chu Qing and Wei Ying were seated, Imperial Physician Wu said he would excuse himself for a moment and then left with the almond cakes, disappearing somewhere.
Wei Ying looked at Imperial Physician Wu's hasty back with amusement and asked helplessly, "He...?"
"Gone to eat the almond cakes." Chu Qing pursed her lips and smiled.
"How do you know Imperial Physician Wu likes these almond cakes, Qingqing?" Wei Ying raised his eyebrows and continued to ask.
Chu Qing paused for a moment and then replied casually, "I heard about it."
Wei Ying didn't know whether to believe her or not.
The two fell silent together.
Thankfully, Imperial Physician Wu didn't keep them waiting long. He came out soon.
Chu Qing glanced at the crumbs on his beard and resisted the urge to laugh as she said, "Imperial Physician Wu, I've heard that there's no medicine you can't recognize?"
Hearing her mention medicine, Imperial Physician Wu immediately perked up and replied, "I'm not boasting, but there are hardly any medicines in this world that can stump me."
At this moment, Chu Qing was smiling like a fox: "Well... I'd like to see for myself."
Imperial Physician Wu really liked the admiring looks from others. So he readily agreed to this not - too - excessive request from the Princess of Ning.
Guided by a servant, Chu Qing went to make preparations. Soon, she brought out two bowls of unknown liquids.
One was pitch - black, and the other was slightly brownish.
Imperial Physician Wu first picked up the black liquid. After taking a small sip, he said confidently, "This is prepared rehmannia root and grassleaf sweetflag rhizome."
Chu Qing clapped her hands with a smile: "Sure enough, nothing can stump Imperial Physician Wu. And... what about the other bowl?"
Imperial Physician Wu took another small sip and quickly replied, "White peony root."
Chu Qing curled her lips and said in a convinced tone, "Imperial Physician Wu is really amazing!"
Imperial Physician Wu smiled, enjoying the compliment.
Wei Ying beside them was a bit surprised.
He thought Chu Qing would make things difficult for the doctor, but now it seemed that what Chu Qing had done was really just to test the doctor's skills.
So... what on earth did she want to do?
Then Chu Qing took out a pack of something from her bosom and gently placed it on Imperial Physician Wu's table. Then she said, "To be honest, I've come today because I have something important to ask of you. But since I didn't know how capable you were, I thought I should test you first. I hope Imperial Physician Wu won't mind?"
When Imperial Physician Wu heard that Chu Qing had doubted his skills, he originally wanted to snort. But then he thought that he had just eaten the almond cakes she brought. He had to soften his cold expression. His voice was still a bit cold as he replied, "I wonder what the Princess of Ning wants?"
"I have a pack of medicinal residues here. Someone found them in Concubine Xuan's courtyard and gave them to the Empress. Since we don't know if they're related to her miscarriage, I thought I'd bring them to you for a look. After all, you diagnosed that Concubine Xuan had a miscarriage because of taking medicine that day, didn't you?" Chu Qing said slowly.
Imperial Physician Wu frowned, then dipped his finger in a little of the medicinal residues and put it directly into his mouth.
"Pharbitis seed, common monkshood mother root, Chinese angelica tail, safflower, tree peony bark, prepared common monkshood daughter root." Imperial Physician Wu said seriously.
"Could it be that all these are in it? With such a large dose, I'm sure just one dose would cause a miscarriage!" Chu Qing also frowned. She didn't expect Concubine Xuan to be so cruel to herself.
But Imperial Physician Wu shook his head and said unhurriedly, "No, no. None of what I just mentioned is in this medicinal residue."
"..."