When ng Qianqian was treating Your Majesty’s chronic headache, Gongsun Liuying had hoped more than once that she would fail to make a na for herself. Yet when her accomplishnt was abruptly interrupted, Gongsun Liuying couldn’t help but wish she had already finished applying the needles to Your Majesty.
Under the cover of wide sleeves, her right hand began to tremble faintly.
Had this been in the past, she would never have been so nervous. But now, now—
Not to ntion, the person in question was none other than the ruler of Liang Country.
"Absolutely not!"
Consort Hu interjected to stop the proceedings.
Consort Jiang remarked with biting sarcasm, "Why not? If an obscure disciple of the Thousand chanism Pavilion can apply needles to Your Majesty, then surely the eldest Miss of the Pavilion, inheritor of the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles, shouldn’t be lesser than her own junior sister, right? Besides, the first forty-eight needles have already been placed—all that’s left is the final needle. It shouldn’t be a challenge for the peerless healer, Miss Gongsun, should it?"
Precisely because it was the last needle, Consort Hu dared not let Gongsun Liuying take such a risk.
Given that all the previous needles had been placed without incident, it demonstrated that the girl’s dical skill was impeccable. If sothing went wrong now, the bla could hardly be pinned on that girl.
Lu Zhaoyan offered cautiously, "Mother Hui Consort, I think the Imperial Concubine is only thinking of Father Emperor’s well-being. After all..."
Trailing off, he cast a complex glance at Nie’er beyond the palace hall, "The earlier mishap has left her understandably shaken."
Consort Jiang snorted coldly, "A slight misstep, that’s all. Even Your Majesty himself is willing to give Miss Gongsun a chance, yet the Imperial Concubine distrusts her daughter-in-law’s dical skill? Or could it be—she’s long known her own daughter-in-law’s reputation is entirely superficial?"
Consort Hu’s face turned livid as smoke practically poured from her ears. She slapped the table fiercely, "Jiang Wanqing!"
The two concubines clashed heatedly, sharp as blades against wheat, while the Princes exchanged uneasy glances. The Palace Attendants dared not even breathe audibly.
The Empress spoke with a stern tone, "You two, enough. You’re behaving disgracefully in front of the children. At least show so decorum befitting your status as elders."
The Princes, while no longer children, did have younger mbers of the imperial family present—Lu Yuan and Lu Qi.
Even the two mud-sared little ones loitered innocently at the door.
Consort Jiang picked up her teacup leisurely, "I have no intention of quarreling. Miss Gongsun, did you not hear Your Majesty’s order?"
Consort Hu gritted her teeth, "Hui Consort, do you want to bring harm to Your Majesty? You know full well Liuying is under scrutiny and turmoil—forcing her to apply the needle now is tantamount to endangering His Majesty’s life!"
Consort Jiang sneered, "So a re mont of faltering leaves her helpless, yet she dares call herself the Phoenix Girl ordained by destiny?"
Lu Yuan raised his brow slightly, "The Phoenix Girl is ant to bring prosperity to Great Liang, not harm its ruler. Unless, of course, the prophecy is false."
Consort Jiang shot Lu Yuan a disdainful glance, thinking to herself, "You’re no true qilin either."
Qilin or Phoenix Girl, she didn’t believe in such tales.
Nonetheless, her longstanding feud with Consort Hu weighed heavier. Between seeing the Jin Prince’s faction succeed or letting the Crown Prince Mansion prevail, she’d gladly support the latter.
"Yuan’er is correct. The Phoenix Girl is His Majesty’s destined blessing. She couldn’t harm him even with her eyes closed."
After all, as long as His Majesty hadn’t dethroned the Crown Prince, even if disaster struck, the Crown Prince would ascend—and the Jin Prince’s household would scarcely survive to drink bitter waters.
ng Qianqian erged from behind the screen, handing the tray of silver needles directly to Gongsun Liuying. Her voice was gentle, "Elder Sister, the silver needles are prepared for you. Apply them quickly; any delay may impact the treatnt’s efficacy."
Everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell upon Gongsun Liuying.
Gongsun Liuying clasped her fingers tightly, her back beginning to seep fine droplets of cold sweat.
Her heart pounded anxiously; an ominous sense of dread lingered.
Had it been a few days ago, she would never have felt such apprehension. But the sporadic failings of her dical skill now filled her with an unprecedented unease.
She lifted her gaze, staring into ng Qianqian’s calm, unruffled eyes.
For reasons unknown, her unease surged even stronger.
"Who are you—really?"
Her tone was icy, her voice low as she questioned.
ng Qianqian smiled faintly, answering softly, "I’m your junior sister, Elder Sister."
Gongsun Liuying abruptly turned her gaze toward Lady Yan, standing not far away.
Lady Yan’s brows furrowed, and a clear tension and anxiety reflected in her eyes.
"Elder Sister?"
ng Qianqian extended the tray closer to her, inching it forward deliberately.
Gongsun Liuying clenched her fists tightly.
Two choices lay before her.
One, she could admit her dical skill was inferior to Yan Xiaojiu. Yet for soone as prideful as her, acknowledging such a weakness felt worse than accepting death itself.
Two, she could co clean about her trembling hand and inability to perform the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles.
But if she admitted this, Hui Consort would surely press further: Since her hand was trembling, why put the life of the Consort’s grand-nephew at risk? Isn’t his life equally valuable?
It was a cruel twist of fate. Her shaking hand had mostly struck during nightti; during daylight, her dical errors were few and far apart.
Reviews
All reviews (0)