"Long time no see, Doctor Zhang." Si Junlin nodded at her as a return gesture.
Doctor Zhang bowed and said, "Your Majesty the Queen, you're joking. I live in your palace every day. How can it be a long time no see?"
"It's because you're so devoted to medicine, rarely going out. I almost forgot you're still in the palace," Si Junlin said teasingly.
Doctor Zhang quickly knelt down and bowed, saying, "I'm deeply frightened."
Si Junlin waved her hand and said, "Get up, Doctor Zhang. I called you here mainly to ask if there's any improper medicine in this embroidered sachet." As Si Junlin spoke, Qingcao brought the tray in front of Doctor Zhang.
Doctor Zhang didn't dare to be negligent and quickly picked up the sachet on the tray to examine it carefully.
Si Junlin didn't urge him and just sipped her tea on her own.
About half an hour passed. During this period, he also asked for writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, which Si Junlin provided without hesitation.
Finally, Doctor Zhang had a definite answer.
He handed the paper in his hand to Qingcao and asked her to pass it to the "Queen".
Si Junlin glanced at the paper and then shifted his gaze away. It wasn't that he didn't want to read it, but that he couldn't understand it. Instead of wasting time looking at it carefully, it would be quicker to listen to Doctor Zhang's explanation.
Seeing Si Junlin's actions, Doctor Zhang always felt that this was the Emperor. Because he had dealt with the Emperor a lot, he had noticed some habits that only the Emperor had.
For example... every time the Emperor checked the prescriptions he wrote, he would glance at them and then throw them aside, waiting for him to explain.
If he hadn't had little contact with Su Wan'er, the matter of the soul exchange might have been exposed.
Seeing the actions of the "Queen", Doctor Zhang could only handle things according to the standard of facing the "Emperor".
"Your Majesty, there are indeed medicinal herbs on this paper. However, most of these medicinal herbs are tonics, and only one is a poison, Ban Cun Ding, a kind of herb that can make people poisoned through breathing. Although it's not enough to kill a person, it's enough to make a person lose the ability to take care of themselves, let alone give birth to a prince."
After pausing slightly and taking a breath, he continued, "Fortunately, this herb needs other herbs as a primer. So, Your Majesty, you're still safe for now. I suggest Your Majesty dispose of this herb as soon as possible."
Si Junlin nodded but didn't immediately ask Qingcao to dispose of it. For him, this thing was still useful for the time being.
After listening to Doctor Zhang's words, Si Junlin asked him, "Doctor Zhang, do you want to return to the Imperial Medical Bureau or continue to stay in my palace?"
Doctor Zhang hesitated for a while and then reported to Si Junlin, "Your Majesty, I hope to be able to help Your Majesty at any time."
His attitude was obvious. He hoped to stay by the side of the "Queen".
Nonsense. Back in the Imperial Medical Bureau, he was just an ordinary imperial doctor. If he chose to stay here, he didn't have to rush around to serve various concubines.
Most importantly, the Queen was in favor now. As long as he said a word, countless medicinal herbs would be sent from afar for any medicine needed in the Queen's palace. This was much better than staying in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
For a medicine enthusiast like him, it was certainly better to stay in the Queen's palace.
"Okay, I'll talk to the Emperor. You can go now." Si Junlin nodded, indicating that Doctor Zhang could go back first.
Doctor Zhang bowed again and then turned to leave.
Qingcao fetched a porcelain bottle and put the note away carefully to avoid accidentally hurting others.
On the other hand, just as Su Wan'er had finished receiving the envoys and was about to leave, she was called to stop by the envoys from the Southern Border. "Your Majesty, please wait."
Su Wan'er turned around in confusion and looked at the envoys. "I wonder if the envoys from the Southern Border still have something to say?" All matters had been discussed, and Su Wan'er really couldn't figure out what else they wanted.
The envoy from the Southern Border made a gesture of invitation to her. "Your Majesty, thanks to your hospitality these days, we've been able to taste the delicious food of the Jin Kingdom. We envoys will leave the Jin Kingdom soon. We brought a cook with us on this trip, thinking we could use him when we couldn't get used to the food. But the food in the Jin Kingdom is so good that our cook has never had a chance to show his skills."
"Seeing that this trip is coming to an end, we also want to invite Your Majesty to taste the food of our Southern Border."
"Your Majesty?" Fang Xi looked at Si Junlin worriedly. At this time, the Emperor hadn't had an heir yet. What if someone poisoned him?
Su Wan'er waved her hand. "It's okay. Since the envoys from the Southern Border have invited me, I'll naturally be happy to accept the invitation."
"Then... Your Majesty of the Jin Kingdom, please come to the back hall."
Su Wan'er followed the envoys from the Southern Border into the inner hall. No one noticed that a dark figure disappeared into the darkness.
After three rounds of drinks, Su Wan'er and the envoys from the Southern Border were chatting happily. Just then, a pleasant ringing sound came. The door of the inner hall was pushed open, and a charming woman dressed in the clothes of the Southern Border walked in gracefully, dancing a unique dance.
"Who is this?" Su Wan'er asked in confusion.
The envoy from the Southern Border quickly explained, "This is a dancer from our Southern Border, famous for her graceful dancing. If Your Majesty of the Jin Kingdom likes her, we're willing to present her as a gift for the friendship between our two countries."
Su Wan'er was stunned at first, and then her face darkened.
She really didn't expect that the envoys from the Southern Border had set up this banquet just to present this woman to her. Looking at this woman, who was only in her teens, she should be at home waiting to get married shyly.
But now she was being given away as a gift. Was this how they regarded women?
"I just remembered that there are still some matters in the palace that need to be dealt with. I won't accompany you any longer." After saying that, Su Wan'er turned around and left with Fang Xi, leaving the envoys from the Southern Border looking extremely surprised.
"Your Majesty, aren't you being a bit too impulsive?" Fang Xi also didn't understand why his own Emperor was so angry. The envoys from the Southern Border didn't seem to have done anything wrong.
"No. Since the treaty has been signed, they have no room to go back on their word. This matter is of no consequence." Su Wan'er waved her hand casually.
Su Wan'er didn't know at this time that her decision not to accept that woman today was actually extremely wise.
After the envoys from the Southern Border left and Long Xiaojiu came back, she casually mentioned this matter. Long Xiaojiu immediately told her that that woman was no longer really a human being. Her body had merged with the gu worms. If she was kept by her side, those gu worms would gradually devour everyone around her.