The Emperor played with the jade thumb ring on his hand, remaining silent. Zhao Sisi felt a prickling sensation on her scalp under his gaze. She could only repeatedly discuss with the system about where the mistake might have occurred.
“Sisi, what are you spacing out about?”
“I… I…”
“You’ve been in the palace for so long, and you still haven’t learned any proper etiquette.”
“This servant knows her mistake. If there is any place that has displeased Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to state it clearly.”
The Emperor couldn't bring himself to say those words. Looking at Zhao Sisi kneeling on the ground with an ignorant expression, he directly pulled her up and threw her onto the bed.
After a session of intimate whispers, he finally voiced his question. Although Zhao Sisi was reluctant, she still took out the aphrodisiac powder she had redeemed from the system.
Blushing, she handed the item to the Emperor, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s as she explained its use and method.
The Emperor’s face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. All the displeasure he had felt in the past few days was vented upon Zhao Sisi.
Disregarding her pleas, he tormented her and then gripped her neck tightly with his hands. Zhao Sisi struggled incessantly, crying out “child, child.”
At the last moment, the Emperor finally stopped. “Does this medicine have any side effects?”
Zhao Sisi quickly got up and knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty need not worry. This servant swears to the heavens. If this medicine is harmful to Your Majesty’s dragon body, then this servant shall be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a small bolt of lightning struck directly at the Emperor. The Emperor’s entire lower body was burned. He screamed in agony, and Zhao Sisi was completely stunned.
After a long while, she finally reacted and rushed out to tell the guards to call the imperial physicians. Fearing that more lightning would strike, she didn’t even dare to re-enter the room.
The concubines from various palaces rushed over upon hearing the news, all wanting to ascertain if the Emperor was on his deathbed. Seeing the dramatic scene, they all looked distressed and hesitant to approach.
Jun Jiuli led the way in. The other concubines, slightly fearful, all hid behind her. They merely paid their respects formally; none dared to step forward to offer comfort.
When the imperial physicians arrived, they could only administer good medicine to the Emperor to sustain his life. They were all trembling. With the current level of medical skill, they dared not operate, as a mistake could lead to the execution of their entire clans.
Seeing that the Emperor was about to faint, Jun Jiuli took a silver needle from an imperial physician and pricked the Emperor’s index fingernail. The pain stimulated the Emperor, bringing him back to a clearer state.
Before he could speak, Jun Jiuli said, “Your Majesty, you cannot fall asleep now. This concubine is doing this for your own good.”
The Emperor gritted his teeth. “The Imperial Consort has done well. Do any of my esteemed ministers have any countermeasures?”
Several imperial physicians knelt on the ground, not daring to look up. Their shift today was truly unlucky. Under the Emperor’s imposing gaze, they all trembled like sieves.
“Speak, and I shall grant you immunity.”
“Your subject’s medical skills are superficial, and Your Majesty’s injuries are too severe…”
The Emperor felt a surge of blood rush to his head, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Jun Jiuli pretended not to see it beside him. For a moment, there was no one to wipe it for him.
“This delay is not a solution. If you all cannot come up with a proper treatment plan, then first brew some medicine to stop bleeding and nourish the body, and then find the best ointment for external wounds.”
The imperial physicians bowed gratefully and quickly went out to write prescriptions and brew medicine. A young eunuch quickly brought the external ointment, and the Emperor’s palace maids hurriedly took it to apply it to him.
Jun Jiuli grabbed Zhao Sisi, who was trembling outside, and kicked her in the back of the knee.
Zhao Sisi fell to her knees with a thud. Seeing her still dazed, Lvluo stepped forward and slapped her twice.
Only then did she snap back to reality and angrily glare at Jun Jiuli. “You lowly servant! Why are you hitting me?”
Jun Jiuli replied, “You are also just a lowly servant. Those who are by my side can hit whomever they please.”
“You…”
“No manners. Lvluo, slap her.”
Jun Jiuli only stopped her when Lvluo’s wrists ached.
“Speak, what exactly happened tonight?”
Zhao Sisi clutched her stomach and said nothing. Jun Jiuli turned her gaze to the palace maids in her court.
Several of them quickly kowtowed. “This servant knows nothing. We beg the Imperial Consort’s forgiveness.”
“Drag these people to the Department of Judgement.”
The eunuchs waiting outside immediately came forward to drag them away. The women began to cry out helplessly.
“Imperial Consort, spare us! This servant truly knows nothing. Master, save me! Master, please save this servant! This servant has served you diligently for years, I deserve some credit for my hard work! Ah~ No! Woo woo woo…”
Their mouths were gagged, and their painful cries echoed as if still in their ears. Zhao Sisi witnessed the terror of ancient times for the first time. One wrong step and it was unforgivable.
The feeling of her life being held in someone else’s hands deeply affected her. The only person she could rely on in this room was the Emperor.
The Imperial Consort would definitely not let this opportunity pass. Even if she didn’t die, she would be severely punished. Thinking of this, she began to cry and wail.
“Your Majesty, save me! Imperial Consort Sister, she wants to kill me. Your Majesty, you must not have anything happen to you, or how will we mother and son live? Woo woo~”
The Emperor turned his head away in disdain, not looking at her. He signaled for Jun Jiuli to handle it. Zhao Sisi felt as if the sky had fallen, and she collapsed on the ground, weeping incessantly.
“Be quiet.”
She was startled into silence and dared not make another sound.
“What exactly happened today? Will you tell me or not?”
She dared not reveal the part about the oath, only stating that it was an accident. She didn’t know what had happened either; the Emperor was suddenly struck by lightning.
The Emperor remained silent. He couldn’t bring himself to utter such an oath. However, he had completely resented Zhao Sisi and was already contemplating several ways to kill her, waiting only for her to give birth.
“Get up. It’s cold on the ground; don’t harm the child. Since this matter has nothing to do with you, why didn’t you clarify it directly just now?”
“This servant is timid and was frightened at the time. I beg Your Majesty and the Imperial Consort’s forgiveness.”
At this moment, several imperial physicians brought in the medicine. After drinking it, the Emperor felt even more unwell.
He directly asked, “Are there any methods to alleviate the pain?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, this medicine already contains the finest painkillers. We cannot add more.”
“If treated with your methods, how many days do I have left to live?”
“This…”
They looked at each other, not daring to speak.
“Speak. His Majesty is not such a narrow-minded person.”
“At most three months.”
After saying this, they all kowtowed to the ground, not daring to rise.
“Is there no other way? Cough, cough, cough~”
At this point, an imperial physician raised his head. He thought, “Better a dead friend than a live one.” His head was already on the chopping block today, and he had a family of elders and children at home.
He decided to take a gamble. “Your subject’s medical skills are superficial, but if the immortal pill that the Empress Dowager used last time is still available… it can definitely save Your Majesty’s life.”
Everyone in the room turned their gaze to Zhao Sisi. Her previous 5 points had been spent on luring the Emperor over.
Now she was penniless, and the Emperor’s favorability was still at -20. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond and could only kneel on the ground, looking pitifully at the Emperor.