Scarcely had these words been uttered when Sanqi suddenly heard a sound behind her.
"Great physician, I was just too agitated before, so I took my anger out on you. In fact, I've now come to understand that my wife's death has nothing to do with you. Is it too late for me to apologize now?"
Sanqi turned around. She was a bit surprised by his behavior.
But more than that, she was touched. "It... it's okay. I know you must have been in a hurry just now. As long as you believe I didn't do this on purpose."
It seemed as if the misunderstanding between them had been resolved, yet at the same time, it seemed as if nothing had changed.
After the middle - aged man apologized, he lingered in front of them. Shi Muwǎn raised her eyebrows slightly. "Do you still have something to say?"
The middle - aged man shook his head hastily. "No, it's just that, Your Majesty the Queen Dowager, those commoners said those things because I was in a hurry at that time. Could you please not punish them?"
Shi Muwǎn was stunned and didn't react for a long time to what he meant.
Finally, Xiao Xiao took the initiative to respond.
"No one can change the Queen Dowager's decision. If you have nothing else to do, get out of the way quickly."
Hearing this, a flash of anger crossed the middle - aged man's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
He still wore the same smile on his face. "Your Majesty the Queen Dowager has been here for so long and dealt with so many things. You must be thirsty. How about coming with me for a cup of tea? I've prepared some excellent tea leaves."
"No need. The things outside can't meet the Queen Dowager's taste. You'd better mind your own business."
Shi Muwǎn ignored the man. After all, she had lived for several decades. If she couldn't see what this middle - aged man was up to, she might as well have lived in vain.
The middle - aged man never got a response from Shi Muwǎn. Instead, it was this maidservant who kept chattering. He could hardly hold back his temper.
"Auntie seems to be overstepping her bounds. I've been talking to the Queen Dowager all this time, but you've been butting in. Isn't this inappropriate?"
He thought his rebuke would make the person in front of him show some remorse.
But in the end, he realized he had thought too much.
Shi Muwǎn didn't even bother to lift an eyelid and let Xiao Xiao scold him freely.
"Who do you think you are? It's already a great honor for you to be able to speak in front of the Queen Dowager. Now you even want a response from her. It seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."
Xiao Xiao waved her hand, and immediately two eunuchs stepped forward. Without hesitation, they grabbed the middle - aged man and threw him out.
Feeling the ridicule from the surrounding commoners, the middle - aged man gritted his teeth. He was so close to having a conversation with the Queen Dowager. It was all that maidservant's fault. He would never let this go.
Shi Muwǎn didn't waste any more time on that man. She just comforted the great physician beside her.
"Great physician, actually many people remember all you've done. No one has forgotten your previous deeds. Moreover, you've helped so many commoners during your travels. These are indelible. Don't worry. After this matter is over, you will surely see the result you want."
After saying that, she immediately asked someone to arrange accommodation for her.
This action really stunned everyone. The great physician was still thinking about his own business. When he heard her say this, he refused without a second thought.
"The Queen Dowager and the Emperor are the foundation of the country. You two must not have any accidents. Moreover, I can handle the matters here. You don't need to worry. I'll soon return to the palace with good news."
Shi Muwǎn's eyes were filled with determination. She had made up her mind on this matter.
Since she came here, she had dealt with two similar incidents. She had also witnessed with her own eyes that the great physician couldn't handle the matters here alone. So, someone needed to assist him.
"Great physician, there's no need to persuade me anymore. I've made up my mind. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will have a chance to harm you."
The sunlight filtered through her hair. The great physician had never seen such a woman before. At that moment, he seemed to understand a lot.
Finally, the great physician couldn't persuade her. For her safety, he still had someone set up her tent not far from his own.
The reason he didn't set it up right next to his was that there were so many patients coming in and out every day. He was afraid that one day the Queen Dowager might accidentally catch the plague.
As for the middle - aged man, he hadn't shown up for several days. Just when Shi Muwǎn thought he wouldn't appear again, he suddenly showed up in front of her tent.
Hearing the conversation outside, the Queen Dowager felt annoyed.
"I remember that auntie reminded you last time not to come again. I didn't expect you to be so forgetful. Get out quickly. Don't make me do it myself, or I can't guarantee whether you'll live to see the antidote."
The middle - aged man had mustered up a lot of courage to come this time. He was happy to see that the fierce maidservant had left, but he didn't expect that the people around the Queen Dowager were even more difficult to deal with.
"Miss, I just want to send some food to the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager has been sitting here and must not have tasted the pastries outside. I asked someone to buy these from the best shop in Changjing City. They're still warm."
As he said this, he held out the lunch box in his hand. Ziyi felt the warmth inside and knew that what the man said was true. But she remembered the Queen Dowager's instructions and would never let this man in.
"Get out! The Queen Dowager has tasted all kinds of delicacies. Do you think your things can be better than those made by the imperial chefs in the palace?"
Feeling humiliated, yet still not achieving his goal, now was not the time to fall out with the person in front of him. Once he became the Queen Dowager's male favorite, he would definitely drive out all these annoying maidservants.
With this thought in mind, his tone became even more polite.
"Miss, I just want you to help me deliver something to the Queen Dowager. I can stay outside. It shouldn't be that difficult to deliver something, right?"
As he said this, he took out a handful of silver coins from his pocket with a pained expression and stuffed them into Ziyi's hand.
To gain something, one must lose something.
Moreover, as long as he was with the Queen Dowager in the future, this money would come easily. Maybe he would even have more.
After having this thought, his emotions calmed down a bit.
However, Ziyi didn't even look at it and threw all the things on the ground.
All the things scattered on the ground, and the fragrance of the pastries wafted around. But all the commoners were just watching the show and didn't dare to step forward.