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墨書 Inktalez
A gentle breeze wafted through the air, carrying the scent of sandalwood.
Chanting echoed softly as Mo Xier sat at her desk, diligently copying the Treasure Lotus Sutra. Her heart felt like a tranquil sea, undisturbed by the deceit and scheming of others, free from the disturbances of those with ulterior motives.
She cherished her current life, which was so peaceful that it seemed devoid of anyone else's presence—just herself and her heart.
Green Wisteria entered, holding a notebook. Seeing Mo Xier's serious demeanor, she chuckled, "You seem even more earnest than I am. If someone didn’t know better, they might think you were the one here to chant and pray."
Mo Xier did not look up but spoke with a hint of joy in her voice, "If it truly allows Buddha to feel my intentions, then it is indeed a good thing to be in the presence of an ancient lamp and Buddha."
"You have quite the open mind," Green Wisteria said as she placed her notebook on the desk and began to examine Mo Xier's handwriting closely. "Hmm, not bad. You've improved quite a bit since before."
Mo Xier felt somewhat surprised. Coming from the twenty-first century, she had little knowledge of calligraphy, unlike Green Wisteria, who not only possessed a Buddha nature but also infused every stroke with deep Buddhist sentiment. The copies of the Treasure Lotus Sutra she personally transcribed always brought peace to those who read them.
"Please don’t make fun of me," Mo Xier said as she finished the last few strokes and straightened up, stretching her sore back.
"My clumsy skills can only barely pass muster. However, you are capable and should take on more work; the Empress Dowager has instructed you to copy the Diamond Sutra as well."
Green Wisteria nodded, picked up her scripture, and gently blew on the ink to dry it. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "By the way, did Zhu Xi come looking for you today?"
"Looking for me? No, why do you ask?" Mo Xier shook her head dismissively.
"It seems that the Empress Dowager was unwell today and sought out the imperial physician but still found no remedy. That’s why she came looking for you. Didn’t you see her?"
Green Wisteria said this with curiosity as she looked at Mo Xier. "But I clearly saw her come here. How could such an important matter regarding the Empress Dowager's health be delayed?"
Mo Xier and Green Wisteria exchanged glances, both feeling that something was amiss.
Recently, Mo Xier had been staying in the Buddha Hall at Cining Palace's rear pavilion. This place was serene with few visitors; partly due to the Empress Dowager's arrangements and partly because Mo Xier herself preferred not to encounter His Majesty to avoid unnecessary complications.
However, even though this place is remote, it shouldn't take so long for someone to come with news.
"Perhaps... perhaps the Empress Dowager's condition has improved and she no longer needs me," Mo Xier said with a smile, casually making excuses and comforting herself. It was a time of many troubles, and she truly did not wish to stir up more issues.
Green Wisteria nodded, about to say something when suddenly a voice came from outside: "Is Miss Mo inside the hall?"
The two exchanged glances, and Mo Xier quickly responded, "Yes."
As she tidied up and opened the door, she saw that the visitor was none other than Zhang Zehai, who was close to the Emperor, wearing a beaming smile.
"I come to pay my respects to Miss Mo." Zhang Zehai was quite clever, more cunning than a monkey; he wouldn't come without a reason, and his visit surely meant trouble.
Though Mo Xier thought this in her heart, she still greeted him with a smile: "Grandfather Zhang, what brings you here today? What wind blows such a busy official as you to Cining Palace?"
"It's all for His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. No matter where it is, it's a blessed matter."
With his silver tongue and cheerful face, it was hard not to feel goodwill towards Zhang Zehai. "Green Wisteria is here too; that's great. I won't have to make another trip. Both ladies, the Emperor requests your presence at Cining Palace, in the Empress Dowager's chambers."
"Grandfather, do you know why we are being summoned?" Mo Xier asked, trying to gather some information. After all, it was the Emperor's order; she had no intention or ability to resist it but felt an instinctive reluctance.
Zhang Zehai's smile faded slightly as he returned to his usual demeanor: "What are you saying, young lady? How can we servants casually inquire about our master's thoughts? If that were to spread, it would be a death sentence."
You think you can play tricks with me! Mo Xier thought indignantly but maintained her smiling facade: "What Grandfather says is true; it is I who have overstepped."
Green Wisteria had already brought an appropriate cloak for both of them. Fortunately, they were both wearing garments hastily made within the palace today, which wasn't considered disrespectful. After getting ready properly, the two followed Zhang Zehai.
Passing through layers of palace gates, Cining Palace was now in sight.
From afar, they could see chaos unfolding. The Emperor's voice was urgent and angry: "A bunch of useless people! What good are you? You can't even handle a minor illness; what use do I have for you? Get out!"
The Chief Physicians of the Imperial Medical Institute hurriedly grabbed their medicine boxes and scrambled away, nearly colliding with Green Wisteria.
Upon seeing Mo Xier, the Emperor felt somewhat reassured, though his expression remained grim. "You have arrived. Quickly go check on the Empress Dowager. For some reason, she has been suffering from severe abdominal pain today."
Mo Xier, upon hearing this, wasted no time and hurriedly bowed before entering the inner chamber.
Inside, she found the Empress Dowager stripped of her imposing and luxurious attire, wearing only a moon-white silk nightgown. Sweat poured down her face like beads, and she curled up into a shrimp-like position, biting her lower lip tightly, looking quite distressed.
"Mo Xier, please, save me..." The Empress Dowager groaned desperately upon seeing her.
Mo Xier quickly approached and wiped away the sweat from her forehead. She first checked her temperature, which was slightly elevated. Then she gently opened her eyelids to examine them, confirming there was no internal bleeding. She sighed in relief.
After conducting a more thorough examination and ruling out troublesome conditions like appendicitis, she felt puzzled about what could be wrong with the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, can you still answer me clearly?" Mo Xier asked softly.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be in great pain. "I can. I feel very uncomfortable. Mo Xier, please help me."
"Mo Xier obeys your command, but I need to ask you some questions first. Did you eat anything unclean today?" Although she was addressing the Empress Dowager, her gaze was on Zhu Xi beside her.
Zhu Xi glanced at the Empress Dowager and nodded after receiving approval. She stepped forward to Mo Xier and said, "The Empress Dowager has not been feeling well today. This morning she had half a bowl of Bird's Nest and a Milk Almond Cake.
At noon, she had a bowl of Pearl Jade Soup, half a bowl of fragrant rice, and two slices of venison. Just now, she had another bowl of Milk. Oh right, today the Imperial Inner Court sent over a batch of fresh fruits and vegetables; the Empress Dowager had two oranges and felt a bit better after that, so she ate a few more."
Mo Xier listened attentively until she finally grasped the situation. After taking the Empress Dowager's pulse again, she felt more certain and instructed, "Prepare a cup of raw Milk, one egg white, and toast two slices of steamed bread until they are charred black; grind them into powder and bring it to me."
Zhu Xi was confused and did not move: "Miss Mo, what are you planning to do?"
The Empress Dowager's groans grew louder. Mo Xier was already feeling anxious; now her tone turned sharp: "If you keep delaying this, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will suffer from poisoning, and we will both be implicated."
Poison?
Not only was Zhu Xi stunned, but even Li Ye, who was anxiously waiting outside the chamber, was taken aback, wishing he could push the door open and rush in to ask: What? Poisoned? Mo Xi'er, you must be mistaken!
In the imperial palace, any noble figure would have a food taster, and the utensils would be replaced with silver ones to prevent anyone from poisoning the food.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager's illness was actually the result of someone's malicious intent? Thinking of this made his scalp tingle. How many hidden dangers lurked in this seemingly impregnable palace, ready to threaten his life at any moment?
Mo Xi'er calmly said, "This is not the time for talking, Green Wisteria, come in and help me."
Green Wisteria lifted the curtain and entered. "I don't know anything about medicine; just tell me what to do."
The tacit understanding between them reassured Mo Xi'er. "You help me massage the Empress Dowager's Zan Zhu and Jing Ming acupoints, make sure to apply enough pressure." Then she turned to the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, it might hurt a bit; please bear with it."
The Empress Dowager was already in so much pain that she couldn't speak, only nodding to indicate she understood.
Zhu Xi quickly brought in what was needed but didn't know what to do next; he just watched them.
Mo Xi'er pried open the Empress Dowager's mouth and poured in all the powdered burnt bun. The Empress Dowager gagged a couple of times. Then Mo Xi'er pinched her nose and forced some slightly fishy egg white into her mouth. The Empress Dowager had already caught a whiff of the unpleasant smell and began to vomit uncontrollably, filling the room with a sour stench.
All the servants took a step back; Zhu Xi was somewhat better off but still struggled to maintain a normal complexion.
Only Green Wisteria and Mo Xi'er remained unfazed. Green Wisteria continued to press on those two acupoints while Mo Xi'er squatted down without hesitation to check the vomit on the floor, frowning. "No, we need to continue."
Saying this, she poured another cup of fresh milk into the Empress Dowager's mouth while covering her mouth with one hand to prevent her from vomiting it back up and using the other hand to massage her stomach in a clockwise motion. Finally, when the timing was right, the Empress Dowager suddenly vomited loudly, filling the room with an unbearable odor.
However, it seemed that the Empress Dowager felt much better instantly. After checking the vomit, Mo Xi'er nodded and instructed Zhu Xi to fetch water to help clean up the Empress Dowager's body while she and Green Wisteria, both drenched in sweat, stepped outside.
As soon as they exited, they both found it amusing how they smelled so sour.
Li Ye also sensed it, but instead of showing any disdain, he looked at the two with even more respect. "How is the Empress Dowager's health?"
"She is no longer in serious danger." Mo Xier was very tired, having been hurriedly pulled in to serve as a strong support, and now she was treating the Empress Dowager, who was above all others. She worried that if she was not careful, she would soon meet Marx again.
"If you say there is no problem, then there must be none." Li Ye felt relieved as he looked at the stunning Fair Lady before him, his gaze filled with compassion and determination.
Her skin was as fair as fine rouge and beautiful jade, her long and thick eyelashes resembled small fans, her lips were plump and red, and a few drops of sweat on her delicate chin made her even more charming, stirring feelings of affection within him.
Mo Xier waved her hand. "Your Majesty overpraises me; I am just doing my small part. The rest should be left to the professionals. Why not let the Chief Physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau check the Empress Dowager's pulse? After all, one should not rely solely on a commoner's opinion."
Seeing such a sensible and broad-minded woman, Li Ye couldn't help but nod inwardly. "Those Chief Physicians have treated the Empress Dowager for quite some time, yet they have not been as effective as your unusual method. They are truly useless."
"Your Majesty's words are too much praise for a commoner." Mo Xier did not want to attract gossip; she had been trying to avoid the emperor and did not expect that the Empress Dowager's illness would give him an opportunity to get closer to her.
Now she only thought about how she had unintentionally disrupted the emperor's thoughts. "The Chief Physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau are all well-read in medicine and possess excellent skills; how could a small woman like me compare? My ability to save the Empress Dowager was merely a stroke of luck."
"By the way, you mentioned earlier that the Empress Dowager was poisoned. What kind of poison is it? You must tell me quickly; I need to have someone investigate thoroughly." Li Ye changed the subject and became serious. If someone truly had malicious intentions, he needed to be cautious.
Mo Xier saw his thoughts and found them somewhat amusing. "Your Majesty need not be so tense; the poison that afflicted the Empress Dowager is arsenic."
"Arsenic?" Li Ye was taken aback by such a deadly poison. "How could someone in the palace manage to bring in such a potent poison? It shows how careless these servants are in their duties. Zhu Xi, tell me, who could possibly want to harm the Empress Dowager?"
Zhu Xi, who had been attending to the Empress Dowager's needs, immediately rushed out and knelt down. "Your Majesty, please see clearly; we servants have no ulterior motives towards the Empress Dowager."
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