Lanterns were lit every three paces in the courtyard, illuminating the courtyard like daylight.
After refusing to be followed by the two palace maids, Song Wan Yue slowly slipped around, opened the note in her hand when no one was looking, read its contents, balled it up, put it in her mouth, chewed it a few times and then swallowed it, looked up at the sky, then turned around and slipped back.
She said to the palace maid who had just put on her cloak, “I think the sky will change tomorrow, sister, go to the Imperial Hospital and say I want some medicine against wind and cold, bring it back and boil it for everyone to drink some.”
The palace maids were delighted, as they were afraid of getting wind chills, so they curtsied and thanked her, then quickly went out.
When they heard that Song Wan Yue wanted herbs to prevent wind chill, they gave them a big packet without saying a word.
The palace maid brought it back and boiled it in the kitchen.
Song Wangyue personally watched the fire.
……
After eating and talking for a while, seeing that the emperor was tired, Consort Xiao Xian and the crown prince waited for the emperor to lie down before they each went back to the palace.
As soon as they entered the palace gate, they smelled medicine, and Xiao Xianfei paused slightly in her steps, “What’s going on, who’s sick?”
Song Wan Yue happened to come out from the kitchen and heard it just in time, smiling as she replied, “I saw that the weather would change tomorrow, so I asked them to go to the Imperial Hospital to ask for medicine to prevent wind and cold and boil it for them to drink.”
Xiao Xianfei’s fiercely raised heart slowly fell back and she also smiled and said, “I’ll have a bowl of it when it’s ready, Miss Song’s medicine works especially well.”
“Your Majesty has praised me.”
“When the prince got smallpox, if you hadn’t boiled the medicine for the palace staff to drink every day, perhaps no one would have been left in his palace.
The palace people were eager to do so.
When the medicine was ready, two bowls were served to Consort Xiao Xian and Song Wan Yue, and the rest was served to each of them, it was not bitter and even had a little sweet taste.
An hour later, the palace was dead quiet.
Even the palace maids on night duty were sleeping like dead pigs.
Song Wan Yue came out of the house and walked to the door of Consort Xiao Xian’s room, whispering, “Your Majesty.”
The door of the room was opened and Consort Xiao Xianfei was standing in the doorway wearing only her midriff.
“Please give me the pills, Your Majesty, and a few of your usual handkerchiefs.”
Consort Xiao Xianfei turned around and went in, and came out again already fully dressed, with the pills and handkerchiefs in her hands.
Seeing this, Song Wan Yue didn’t say anything else, turned around and went to the kitchenette, added water, built a fire, and when the water boiled, put the pills in to melt, and put a few handkerchiefs in to boil through, and carefully fished them out to dry.
Xiao Xianfei stood silently with a face full of shame, her heart full of pity.
The next morning, Song Wan Yue was called to the Emperor’s bedchamber.
The court was staying at the Imperial Hospital and did not go back, but came over just after dawn to check the Emperor’s pulse and waited for Song Wangyue to come over.
Song Wan Yue was yawning one after another, and her eyes were tearing up.
“Miss Song, did you not sleep well last night?”
Song Wan Yue nodded her head, “A little uncomfortable.”
The courtier felt the same way. He also had trouble sleeping when he changed places, but he did so because he was old, Song Wan Yue was the age where she should lie down and fall asleep …… perhaps because she had to brew medicine for the emperor and was under too much pressure.
“Why don’t I do it today, and you watch from the side.”
“Good.”
Song Wangyue nodded her head.
When Yizheng was about to make a move to mix the herbs, Eunuch Huang quickly walked over to stop him, “The mixing of herbs cannot be done in a sloppy manner, it’s better to let Miss Song do it herself, lest there be a mistake that will delay the Emperor’s recovery.”
Eunuch Huang was the emperor’s personal eunuch, his meaning was the emperor’s meaning, and the courtier naturally knew this. The courtier did not dare to make a move and moved out of the way.
Song Wan Yue yawned greatly again before walking over and sitting down, mixing the required herbs in proportion and instructing the eunuch next to her to boil them.
“Is this because Miss Song hasn’t slept well?”
Eunuch Huang asked, staring at the dark circles under her eyes.
Song Wan Yue nodded breathlessly, “I’m a little uncomfortable with the change of place.”
“I didn’t hear that Miss Song had trouble sleeping when she was treating the Prince for smallpox?”
Song Wan Yue squinted at him, “What does Eunuch Huang mean?”
“Aiyo, old slave just said it in passing, Miss Song must not be angry.”
“Naturally I’m not angry, because it’s not worth it.”
Eunuch Huang’s old face stiffened.
“The Prince has smallpox, the slightest mistake could cost him his life, the courtier and I have been working on the prescription all night long, sleeping less, if Eunuch Huang doesn’t believe me, he can ask the courtier.”
The courtier nodded cooperatively, “Miss Song is right, we have indeed been studying the prescriptions.”
To be precise, it was mostly his own research, but this could not be said in front of Eunuch Huang, the emperor was already displeased with him, and if he heard it again, he would have done his job as a courtier.
“Your Majesty, this is different, I just need to prepare the herbs according to the ancient recipe, does Eunuch Huang still have any doubts?”
“Aigoo, look at me, I said the wrong thing, I should be beaten.”
Said the man, and really hit himself in the mouth, “Miss Song don’t be ordinary with me.”
Song Wangyue hummed, and Eunuch Huang sarcastically retreated to the door of the bedchamber.
The medicine was boiled and poured into the same boiled saliva, and the courtyard was carrying it in, watching as Eunuch Huang fed the Emperor a mouthful of it before staring at his mouth without batting an eyelid.
A quarter of an hour later, there was not the slightest change.
He was a bit anxious, and forced himself to wait for another half a quarter of an hour, seeing that there was still no change, he turned around and went out, “Miss Song, is there a problem with today’s medicine, the emperor has not changed at all.”
Song Wangyue swallowed the tea that had just reached her mouth unhurriedly, “Your concern is confusing. Yesterday’s effect was fast because it was the first time His Majesty drank the medicine, just like when we are sick on a regular basis, as long as it is right, the first dose of medicine is the fastest to work.”
The courtier slapped his head, that was exactly what happened, he was too anxious.
He hurriedly returned to his chambers and saw that His Majesty’s face was not well, so he hurriedly repeated Song Wan Yue’s words, “Your Majesty, don’t be impatient, wait a little longer.”
The emperor’s face eased a little.
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, the courtier felt that there was a change in the emperor’s mouth, but at a closer look, he felt that there was not, so he could not decide for a while and spoke carefully, “Please say something, Your Majesty.”
“A bunch of trash!”
was a little clearer than yesterday.
The courtier was so elated that he completely ignored what the emperor had just said.
The emperor himself also felt it, his heart was not satisfied that the change was not as big as yesterday’s, but the surface did not show, “Is today’s dispensing the same as yesterday?”
“In reply to Your Majesty’s words, yes.”
“Ask Song Wan Yue if you can increase the amount of medicine next time?”
The courtier lurched out to ask and returned a short while later, “Miss Song said that it was not written in the ancient recipe, but if Your Majesty insists on trying it, you can try it.”