She knew it was too early for her to show up at this moment, and it wouldn't do any good to the current situation.
However, she just couldn't bear it any longer. What were these people talking about? Didn't they even think that if it weren't for the divine doctor, how could they have survived until now?
When everyone turned around, they immediately saw a woman in gorgeous clothes approaching slowly with a large group of palace servants.
At the sight of the woman's beautiful face, a flash of surprise crossed the middle - aged man's eyes.
The people present only thought that the woman in front of them was a female official in the palace and didn't associate her with the current empress dowager.
Thinking they were in great numbers, they directly formed a circle and surrounded Shi Muyuan in the middle.
"Are you also on the side of this quack doctor? It seems that all of you in the palace are of the same kind. Well, birds of a feather flock together. As the master is, so are the servants. Isn't what we just said right?"
Shi Muyuan tucked the hair beside her face behind her ear. Her movements were elegant and calm, which made the men present lose their minds.
They lived at the bottom of society and hardly ever saw such a beautiful woman on weekdays. Now that they did, they wished they could take out their hearts.
"Humph, watch your mouths. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that I won't tear them one by one someday. It may be a bit troublesome, but this method is probably the most time - and effort - saving one."
The woman changed from her gentle and approachable self just now. Now, a different kind of aura emanated from her whole body, an aura that made everyone present so shocked that they could hardly open their eyes.
They never thought that they would actually be able to meet the legendary empress dowager one day.
When everyone came to their senses, Xiao Xiao was already holding a whip she got from somewhere and standing in front of her mistress, blocking those ill - intentioned looks.
"Seeing the current empress dowager, you don't even kneel down. Instead, you look at her with such looks. Do you want to lose your eyeballs?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned. They quickly knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Forgive us, Empress Dowager. It's our first time seeing you. We never expected you to be so amazingly beautiful, so we were momentarily distracted."
"That's a good excuse. Alright, get up. I just want to settle another score with you."
Everyone was stunned and didn't quite understand what the empress dowager meant.
It seemed that they didn't take the laws of the Great Liang Empire to heart at all. But this was also within Shi Muyuan's expectation.
She impatiently gave Ze Ze a look. After all, the master and the servant had known each other for so long. With just one look, Ze Ze immediately understood her meaning.
Ze Ze coughed lightly, stepped forward, shook his sleeves, and began to recite the laws of the Great Liang Empire.
"Disrespecting the royal family is a great offense. Committing an act of insubordination and speaking recklessly in public deserves beheading. The accomplices shall be executed by being cut in half at the waist."
When the last two words fell, everyone began to wail: "Empress Dowager, we really know we were wrong. What we just said was all because of this person beside us who led us astray. Please make a fair judgment, Empress Dowager. We will definitely watch our mouths in the future."
Shi Muyuan lazily raised her eyes: "It's too late now. Also, the divine doctor has been traveling around and providing free medical consultations. He has already saved countless lives. You people are really bold. You actually slandered the divine doctor in public. It seems that the stable situation of the illness here recently has made you a bit carried away."
"We were misled by someone with ulterior motives. Please forgive us. We guarantee that there won't be such a thing again."
"Humph, you won't have another chance. Everyone knows about the medicine - testing. It's quite normal for one or two people to die during the process. Moreover, they volunteered. I don't know why you onlookers are meddling blindly. Also, if the divine doctor is a quack, and if he can't save you, then no one in this world can save your lives."
They thought that Shi Muyuan was only concerned about this one thing, so they quickly admitted their mistakes.
"Empress Dowager, we really know we were wrong. We shouldn't have slandered the divine doctor, nor should we have questioned his medical skills."
"After I've said all this, you still haven't realized your mistakes. In that case, all these people will go for the medicine - testing for the divine doctor."
Hearing this, dissatisfaction appeared on everyone's faces: "Empress Dowager, you know that medicine - testing may result in death, but you still want to send us there. We just said a few wrong words. Do you really have to be so cruel?"
"Yes, haven't we already promised? We'll never say such things again. Why won't you just forgive us?"
"Isn't the empress dowager's action inconsistent with the kindness that the royal family has always advocated?"
Shi Muyuan wasn't affected by these people at all. The reason why they had such strong objections was simply that they thought their lives were in danger because she asked them to test the medicine. So they decided to make a desperate struggle.
"If you're not willing, then how about dealing with you directly according to the laws of the Great Liang Empire? Indeed, after careful consideration, I think it's unfair to just let you test the medicine."
Everyone looked at each other. They didn't expect the empress dowager to come up with such a move in the end. But they only hesitated for a moment before immediately rebelling.
"Empress Dowager, we know we were wrong. Please let us go for the medicine - testing."
Almost in the blink of an eye, a large group of people were kneeling on the ground.
Looking at those sincere looks, Shi Muyuan nodded in satisfaction.
"You all asked for this. Guards! Get them to sign and seal. During the medicine - testing, no matter whether they live or die, it won't be taken into account. I've made it clear to you this time. If you use this matter to threaten me in the future, don't blame me for being merciless."
"We understand."
Just like this, before San Qi could react, there were suddenly many more free medicine - testers in his tent.
He heaved a sigh of relief but still followed Shi Muyuan to one side. He was still worried.
"If something happens to those people again, they may shift the blame onto me. I'm already so old. I really don't want to get involved in these disputes. Empress Dowager, please let me travel around after this matter is over?"
He looked at her with a pleading look in his eyes, and Shi Muyuan could understand his feelings.
He finally had a chance to enjoy his old age, but now he was being blamed. He probably couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart.
"Divine doctor, do you think all your previous deeds have brought you no rewards at all?"
These words made San Qi laugh at himself: "If there were really any rewards, I wouldn't have ended up like this, being the target of public criticism. And if the empress dowager hadn't stepped in today, I might have been devoured alive by those people."