Qin Moyuan re-boarded the carriage and said without looking back, "A Shu has entered the palace, and it can't be hidden from my imperial brother."
"If he knows A Shu is here, he will definitely come in person. I can't let him scare A Shu."
Xinghe: "..."
Your Highness, do you really think the Emperor can scare a young lady?
Xinghe harbored deep doubts, but he dared not voice them. Resigned, he urged the carriage towards the Imperial Study.
...
Following Ying Xin, Li Yue Shu soon arrived at a magnificent palace.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, a strong smell of traditional Chinese medicine wafted towards her, indicating how much medicine the person in this palace must have taken.
The palace maids serving inside had clearly received instructions beforehand. Upon seeing Li Yue Shu, they directly led her into the room.
Shen Yimin and Mo Lian were both inside. Besides a few servants, a frail, pale beauty with bright eyes and rosy lips lay on the bed.
With a single glance, Li Yue Shu recognized her as Shen Yimin's birth mother, Consort Rong.
This was because the resemblance between mother and son was striking.
Mo Mu's eyes fell on her son the moment she entered. Though she longed to rush forward, she knew it was not the time. Thus, she averted her gaze after a glance and stood respectfully behind Li Yue Shu.
Li Yue Shu was unfamiliar with the etiquette of this world and was about to curtsy when the frail beauty on the bed spoke first, "You are Miss Li? No need for formalities, come and sit."
Her voice was weak, but her tone carried curiosity and joy, as if she would have been an outgoing and vivacious woman if not for her illness.
Li Yue Shu's initial impression was favorable. She nodded and sat down on the stool by the bed, placing her medicine box aside.
Shen Yimin followed, looking at Li Yue Shu with hopeful eyes.
Seeing him, Li Yue Shu smiled, "Don't worry, I will do my best."
Shen Yimin pursed his lips. Though he said nothing, his face clearly showed nervousness.
Consort Rong noticed her son's reaction and looked at Li Yue Shu with increasing curiosity. A fleeting glint flashed in her eyes.
Li Yue Shu withdrew her gaze. "Please extend your hand, Consort."
Her expression was calm, as if she were treating just another patient among thousands, not a high-ranking Consort.
Consort Rong obediently extended her hand.
Li Yue Shu took her pulse and began the examination with seriousness.
Everyone watched her with bated breath, their breathing unconsciously lightened.
After an indeterminate period, Li Yue Shu finally stopped, her expression placid as she looked at Consort Rong. "Consort, could you please have everyone leave? I need to conduct a more detailed examination."
Consort Rong readily agreed, nodding. "All of you, leave first."
Shen Yimin, knowing that Li Yue Shu sometimes required privacy for examinations, did not question further and led everyone out.
Soon, only Li Yue Shu and Consort Rong remained in the room.
From beginning to end, Consort Rong leaned by the bed, behaving with a docility that belied her status.
However, her gaze towards Li Yue Shu was so intensely curious, as if she were observing a giant panda in a zoo, making Li Yue Shu feel somewhat overwhelmed.
Fortunately, her medicine worked, and Consort Rong soon fell into a deep sleep.
Li Yue Shu then took her into her space for a series of examinations.
...
When Consort Rong awoke, she stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar bed curtains for a long time, seemingly disoriented about her whereabouts.
After a while, she suddenly remembered that she had been moved out of the cold palace.
As she tried to sit up, a hand suddenly reached out, gently helping her.
"Miss Li?" Consort Rong looked somewhat dazed. "How did I fall asleep?"
Li Yue Shu explained with a poker face, "The examination was somewhat painful, so I gave Consort some medicine, and you fell asleep."
Consort Rong was taken aback by her words and couldn't help but chuckle. "You have quite a bit of courage."
Not only did she fail to inform beforehand, but she also brazenly admitted to administering medicine to a Consort. Even the imperial physicians in the palace lacked such audacity.
Li Yue Shu detected no blame in her tone and replied with a smile, "I was entrusted by Ah Min to treat Consort, so I naturally had to do my utmost."
Mentioning Shen Yimin, Consort Rong's expression softened. "Zi Min is a good child."
Unfortunately, she was not a good mother, unable to protect her own child.
Consort Rong sighed inwardly and then noticed Li Yue Shu packing her medicine box, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Is the examination finished already?"
Li Yue Shu gave a faint "Mm," her voice somewhat subdued.
Consort Rong, oblivious, remained curious.
She had been told the examination was painful, yet she hadn't felt anything.
Looking at Li Yue Shu's fully packed medicine box, Consort Rong asked, "Miss Li, what were the results of the examination?"
Li Yue Shu stopped packing and her expression held a hint of hesitation.
Seeing this, Consort Rong had a rough idea. "Zi Min deliberately kept it from me, but I know the imperial physicians in the palace have all said my days are numbered. So, are they all telling the truth?"
Looking at the woman before her with a carefree air, Li Yue Shu felt a pang in her heart but still nodded.
She understood medicine and poisons, but she was not a deity.
Qin Moyuan was right. The poison Consort Rong had taken was too potent, and her body was irrevocably damaged.
Upon hearing this, Consort Rong smiled, seemingly unfazed by the outcome.
She knew her own body well. The fact that she had survived to see the day she was moved out of the cold palace was thanks to the Regent King secretly supplying her with top-quality medicinal herbs.
However, prolonging life was not the same as saving it. Her body was at its last gasp.
Consort Rong looked at Li Yue Shu with a smile, as if she were not the one facing imminent death. "Miss Li, when the imperial physicians in the Tai Hospital were all at a loss regarding Zi Min's mother, he still invited you into the palace, which must mean he has immense faith in your medical skills."
Her complexion was tinged with illness, but her demeanor was radiant. "I wish to ask Miss Li for a favor."
Given the circumstances, Li Yue Shu guessed her intention. "You wish for me to lie to Ah Min and say you are fine?"
Consort Rong was about to nod, her own thoughts precisely aligned with Li Yue Shu's words, but meeting Li Yue Shu's gaze, she found herself unable to.
Li Yue Shu casually closed her medicine box and said seriously, "In your view, concealing the truth from Ah Min is for his own good. But given your condition, how much longer can you hide it? When he eventually learns the truth, will his pain be any less than it is now?"
The phrase "for your own good" could inflict more harm than any weapon.
Consort Rong opened her mouth, only to find herself speechless.
After a long silence, Consort Rong sighed. "Zi Min is right; you truly are a good mother."
Li Yue Shu's eyes brightened. "Ah Min said that?"
Consort Rong noticed her expression and a hint of a smile touched her lips. "Yes, Zi Min often speaks of your life in Tongmu County, his words filled with nostalgia."
"Even before the Zheng family's misfortune, I rarely saw him like this."
Consort Rong looked at Li Yue Shu, a thought seemingly dawning on her, and she murmured, "He is indeed very different. No wonder..."