Imperial Physician Wei looked at the viscous substance remaining in the pot and sniffed it.
He then dipped a finger into it and tasted it.
Afterward, he grabbed the teapot and gulped down half of it, coughing incessantly.
"Oh, Imperial Physician Wei, hurry and give me the prescription.
I'll go and boil the medicine. His Majesty has been poisoned and cannot wait!"
Hearing Xing Sheng's words, Dong Nan was frantic.
It was indeed the Empress who poisoned him. But now was not the time to pursue Ming Yue's responsibility; saving Ji Shi You was paramount.
"Eunuch, do not fret. His Majesty is unharmed and requires no treatment.
He does not need to take any medicine. He only needs to sleep, and he will wake up safely.
If he takes medicine, it will dilute the medicinal properties within him and reduce the treatment's effectiveness.
Empress Niang Niang's miraculous recovery is remarkable. This dietary therapy prescription is ingenious.
As I took His Majesty's pulse, I discovered the medicinal meal prepared by Empress Niang Niang.
Although the medicinal effects were potent, causing vomiting and unconsciousness, it has completely eradicated His Majesty's stomach ailment. It can be considered a miraculous recovery.
May I ask if Empress Niang Niang would be so kind as to impart the prescription for the medicinal meal?
Allow this servant to broaden his horizons. This servant kneels in gratitude!"
Ji Shi You's stomach ailment originated from his time as a hostage in the Wu Man Kingdom, caused by irregular meals. It had plagued him for many years.
When it flared up, the pain was unbearable, and he would even vomit blood.
Imperial Physician Wei had been helpless, only able to alleviate the pain, not cure the root cause, treating the symptoms but not the disease.
Just now, upon taking his pulse, he discovered that eight or nine-tenths of the stomach ailment was gone, and it was still healing.
Upon learning that the chronic and incurable stomach ailment that had troubled him for years was cured by Ming Yue with a single medicinal meal, he was immediately astounded and knelt before Ming Yue, begging for the secret recipe.
As his words left his lips, different emotions appeared on everyone's faces.
Dong Nan breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Ji Shi You was fine, that was all that mattered.
Xing Sheng and Yan Liu were filled with confusion. Wasn't it poison? How did it become a medicinal meal for healing?
Ming Yue's heart sank, thinking that this plan had failed again.
Poisoning had turned into healing. What kind of luck was this?
In her annoyance, all the pity she had felt for Ji Shi You vanished.
She sat down and gulped down a cup of tea to suppress her anger.
"Please, Empress Niang Niang, bestow the prescription!"
Imperial Physician Wei was persistent in his pursuit of medical knowledge, constantly inquiring.
"Yan Liu, tell him the ingredients. Also, boil it repeatedly.
Then use all the seasonings from the small kitchen, in unspecified quantities."
Ming Yue was annoyed by his questions and spoke impatiently. At this moment, she couldn't afford to lose her temper.
"Niang Niang is truly a master physician, worthy of the title 'miraculous recovery.'
These ingredients, seemingly clashing with each other, actually suppress each other's medicinal properties when combined.
Through repeated high-temperature stewing, their medicinal properties merge into a single, warming, and meridian-soothing elixir.
It has truly opened a new door in medicine for this servant. This servant is in awe.
Especially the use of various seasonings. The word 'unspecified' is the stroke of genius.
One must know that each patient's constitution differs,
and their ailments vary. The dosage of these seasonings needs to be adjusted.
Niang Niang truly cherishes His Majesty.
You have gone to great lengths to completely cure His Majesty's stomach ailment!"
Holding the list of ingredients written by Yan Liu, Imperial Physician Wei treated it as a treasure.
Then, his old habit resurfaced, and he wanted to flatter Ming Yue.
"Scram! If you don't leave, do you believe I'll kill you?"
Ming Yue was already annoyed, and Imperial Physician Wei was still babbling.
She immediately drew her dagger, plunged it into the table, and said fiercely.
"This servant takes his leave!"
His flattery had backfired, and Imperial Physician Wei immediately withdrew.
He fled from Lan Yue Palace as if escaping for his life, thinking.
Empress Niang Niang is indeed as unpredictable as the rumors say, capable of killing at any moment.
However, her medical skills are indeed superb, far beyond my reach.
Since Ji Shi You was unharmed, and seeing Ming Yue's outburst, everyone wisely retreated.
They feared accidentally displeasing the Empress and losing their lives.
Only Ming Yue and the sleeping Ji Shi You remained in the hall, and silence descended.
Looking at Ji Shi You, Ming Yue drew the dagger from the table and slowly approached.
Now that no one was around and Ji Shi You was fast asleep, it was the perfect opportunity for her to act.
With a swift strike, Ji Shi You would be dead.
"Empress Niang Niang!"
Before Ming Yue could get close, Dong Nan's voice rang out from the doorway.
She immediately hid the dagger in her sleeve and turned to face the entrance.
"Niang Niang, please forgive this servant's presumption, but there are some things I cannot help but say!"
Outside the door earlier, Xing Sheng had explained the true situation to Dong Nan.
Knowing that Ming Yue truly intended to poison Ji Shi You, Dong Nan could not remain silent.
He turned and came to find Ming Yue, deciding to risk his master's punishment to clarify matters.
"Say what you want. No one is stopping you."
Ming Yue replied impatiently and returned to sit by the chair.
She knew that Dong Nan was absolutely loyal to Ji Shi You.
With Dong Nan present, and a large number of guards and eunuchs in the courtyard, killing Ji Shi You was impossible.
"Niang Niang, do you truly hate His Majesty that much? Do you have to kill him?
Do you know what those people in the courtyard are holding?
They are the dowry His Majesty selected for you. He didn't even eat lunch and spent two hours in the storeroom.
He selected everything from the Wu Man Imperial Palace that was brought back.
He was overjoyed to bring it to you, hoping to make you happy.
Niang Niang, what the eyes see is not always the truth.
This servant can only say that His Majesty has never betrayed you, nor has he ever done anything to wrong you."
Dong Nan stood before Ming Yue, explaining on Ji Shi You's behalf.
"Never betrayed me, never done anything to wrong me?
Dong Nan, you and I have known each other for a long time, and I once considered you a friend.
I never knew you could lie with a straight face.
My Wu Man Kingdom was destroyed, my people were killed, and my country was ruined.
Do you dare say that Ji Shi You was not responsible? How do you explain that?"
Dong Nan's words completely enraged Ming Yue. She slammed the table and shouted.
"Niang Niang, actually..."
"Dong Nan, do you wish to die? Get out and have them bring in what I've prepared."
Dong Nan was about to say something when Ming Yue's angry shout startled the sleeping Ji Shi You awake.
He sat up from the brocade couch, stopping Dong Nan from continuing.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Dong Nan also realized his slip of the tongue and turned to leave.
Following him, people entered one after another and began to busy themselves.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, everyone exited the hall.
Ming Yue looked at the grand hall before her, her eyes gradually moistening.
How had she not noticed that the layout of Lan Yue Palace
was identical to her own Ming Yue Palace in the Wu Man Imperial Palace?
She had been preoccupied with thoughts of revenge these past two days and hadn't paid attention.
Now, the decorations and furnishings that Ji Shi You had brought were all items from her palace.
After they were arranged, she felt a sense of detachment, as if she had returned to the palace where she grew up.
"When I left Cang City, I packed these items and had them transported back.
Fearing that seeing them would make you sad, I stored them in the storeroom.
Now that I've brought them out, I hoped to alleviate your homesickness.
Additionally, the one hundred and eight rosewood chests outside are your dowry.
Jewelry, ornaments, antiques, clothing, shoes, and socks, etc.
They were all prepared according to the standards for a Wu Man princess's wedding.
Two of the chests contain gold and silver for daily expenses. You can have Yan Liu keep them safe."
Ji Shi You sat on the brocade couch, looking sickly and weak, speaking faintly.
"Don't think that I will be grateful to you just because you brought these things.
These things were originally mine.
You plundered them, and now they are being returned to their rightful owner.
Those outside are not a dowry, but the compensation I deserve."
Ming Yue looked at the items before her, unwilling to let Ji Shi You take them away.
She huffed and found an excuse, not logically sound, but with righteous indignation.
"Alright, let's consider it compensation. However, I have one more request."
As long as Ming Yue accepted them, Ji Shi You said weakly, she could say whatever she pleased.
"You still dare to make demands?"
Ming Yue's temper flared again!