"Yinxing!"
On her way back to Lili Lan Yuan, Yinxing encountered Imperial Physician Li.
"Greetings, Imperial Physician Li!"
She curtsied to Imperial Physician Li. Imperial Physician Li glanced at the plum blossoms in her hand, his smile faltering. A fleeting glint in his eyes quickly vanished as he resumed his smile and asked, "Off to pick fresh flowers for the Empress again!"
Yinxing nodded, "Thanks to you, Imperial Physician, the Empress is very pleased!"
Imperial Physician Li waved his hand, appearing modest, "It's good that the Empress likes them. However, Yinxing, plum blossoms are not as good as Muyuan flowers. It would be better to pick Muyuan flowers for the Empress."
"Your servant understands. The Empress found Muyuan flowers a bit tiresome and wanted something fresh today. I'll change the flowers back tomorrow."
"That's good!"
Yinxing felt that Imperial Physician Li was truly a good person. Although Imperial Physician Wei had taken over everything after the Empress became pregnant, Imperial Physician Li still cared for the Empress constantly. He never interfered with the Empress's pregnancy but only inquired about her diet and the incense she used, lest she ingest or use something harmful. It was Imperial Physician Li's reminder that made her recall placing a vase of fresh flowers in the Empress's room daily to add a touch of spring and a fragrant aroma.
After bidding farewell to Imperial Physician Li, Yinxing placed the picked plum blossoms into a new vase and carried it into the room.
Shen Yue subtly observed Yinxing. In the afternoon, Shen Yue had paid close attention to the maids who cleaned the inner chambers.
Not all palace maids were permitted to enter the Empress's sleeping quarters; only those of the second rank and above had the privilege. Shen Yue inquired and learned that the Empress's chambers were cleaned by three maids of the fourth rank in rotation.
The next day, Shen Yue reported Yinxing's odd behavior and the names of the maids cleaning the sleeping quarters to Ji Hong.
Since Shen Yue arrived and took Yinxing's place, guarding Zou Yun'er day and night, Yinxing no longer had night-watch duty. After Zou Yun'er fell asleep, Yinxing returned to her room.
A first-rank palace maid by the Empress's side had her own room, not having to crowd with many other maids. She removed her hairpins, her hair cascading down. The candlelight in the room flickered, casting her shadow onto the head of the bed. Yinxing sighed softly.
There was only one position for the Empress's personal female official. Caiwei was the former, and Shen Yue was the current. She would always be behind them, a step below them.
As she was feeling sorry for herself, a sound reached her ears. Yinxing looked up, and in the flickering candlelight, she saw a figure.
The secret guards secretly brought the person into the imperial study.
During Ji Hong's interrogation, Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying were absent.
"Flowers?"
Even now, Yinxing felt bewildered. Facing the king's wrath, she was terrified and at a loss. She didn't understand what was wrong with the flowers.
What did he mean by who instructed her? She merely picked flowers and placed them in the room!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please enlighten me. Your servant merely picked flowers. Those flowers, those flowers were ordinary plum blossoms from the imperial garden."
"I am asking about the Muyuan flowers!"
"Muyuan... Muyuan flowers, your servant, your servant merely wanted to add a touch of spring to the Empress's room. Currently, the only flowers blooming in the imperial garden are Muyuan flowers and plum blossoms!"
"Then why did you keep picking Muyuan flowers instead of plum blossoms?"
"Because the plum blossoms this year did not grow well and were not as lovely as the Muyuan flowers!"
"Let me ask another question: why did you think of placing flowers in the Consort's sleeping quarters?"
"It was Imperial Physician Li. Imperial Physician Li said that placing fresh flowers in the sleeping quarters would help the Empress's pregnancy. Today, I also met Imperial Physician Li. Seeing me pick plum blossoms, he said it would be better to pick Muyuan flowers."
"Did Imperial Physician Li say anything else?"
"Imperial Physician Li didn't say anything else, he was just concerned about the Empress. Oh, right, Imperial Physician Li previously asked what kind of incense the Empress was using and what pastries she had been eating recently!"
"And you told him?"
"Your servant, your servant... Your Majesty, before the Empress conceived, it was Imperial Physician Li who was responsible for checking the Empress's pulse. Moreover, the imperial physician did not ask any other questions, so your servant..."
"So you told him?"
"Your servant deserves death, your servant deserves to die a thousand deaths!"
Ji Hong had the secret guards take her away. Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo emerged from the shadows. "Imperial Physician Li? Who?" Nan Shiying asked.
"Li Mingyi!"
Ji Hong's expression was grim.
Li Mingyi was an old imperial physician in the palace. Before Yun'er became pregnant, he had been the one to check Yun'er's pulse. Later, due to Qin Qiancheng and other matters that made Ji Hong suspicious of everyone, he had Wei Yuan take over everything after Yun'er became pregnant, making him the Empress's exclusive imperial physician.
Ji Hong did not expect to hear Li Mingyi's name from Yinxing today.
"Is he reliable?"
Nan Shiying asked about Yinxing's testimony.
"We'll find out after questioning!"
Li Mingyi was on duty today and was currently at the Imperial Hospital.
The secret guards unnoticeably dragged Li Mingyi to the imperial prison.
Li Mingyi was awakened by a basin of cold water. Before he could even survey his surroundings, he met a pair of eyes filled with rage.
"Your... Your Majesty!"
Li Mingyi's throat felt constricted, and he was in a panic.
"Minister Li!"
Ji Hong's voice was devoid of emotion, yet Li Mingyi couldn't help but shiver. He had something to hide, making him feel guilty and frightened.
"Minister Li, I have been on the throne for decades, and I have never mistreated you. I cannot comprehend why you would want to harm my heir. Do you truly wish for me to be without offspring?"
"Your servant, your servant is wronged!"
Facing Ji Hong's accusation, Li Mingyi cried out that he was wronged. Of course, he knew he was not wronged, but he did not believe that anyone in this world could discover what he had done.
"Wronged, hehe~"
Ji Hong sneered.
People always harbored a sliver of hope, believing their deeds were unknown.
Nan Shiying tugged at her sleeves. Ji Hong's clothes were somewhat ill-fitting on her. Moreover, if she had heard correctly, the clothes she was wearing now were Ji Hong's from his coming-of-age ceremony five years ago.
Nan Shiying smiled, her lips stiff.
"Does Master Li truly believe his actions were seamless?"
Nan Shiying walked into the prison and smiled at Li Mingyi. Upon seeing this face, Li Mingyi's heart sank to the bottom.
How could it be Feng Luan!
"Master Li, you have truly good plans and methods. With your dedication to medical theory and skills, it is an understatement to say His Majesty has not appointed you as the chief of the Imperial Hospital!"
"The scent of Muyuan flowers combined with the almond incense on the bronze cauldron and the calming incense in the censer, followed by a cup of rich plum wine, Master Li, do I need to be any clearer?"
"No need!"
The moment Feng Luan appeared, Master Li stopped struggling. Others might not have noticed his actions, but how could Feng Luan, the third-generation successor of Medicine King Valley, not detect them?
A look of dejection appeared on his face, and then he seemed somewhat resigned!