tallest building

Chapter 228 Feigning Illness

Upon seeing the cat's corpse, the Crown Prince of Zhao clenched his fists.

But he didn't react in the end, and just said to his attendants, "Bury it properly! Don't frighten people anymore."

After speaking, he left.

Seeing his displeasure, Gong Chang'an remained silent beside him.

Back at his residence, Ying Tong sat down to have some tea, and a maidservant quickly poured it for him.

Ying Tong said unhappily, "It's so hot, how can anyone eat it?!"

The little palace maid was too frightened to speak, so Ying Tong said, "Get out of here, don't get in my way!"

Gong Chang'an picked up the little tabby cat from the side and placed it in front of Ying Tong: "Young Master, calm down. A dead cat cannot be brought back to life. Why not take pity on this one in front of you?"

Ying Tong snorted coldly and said, "What's this? You killed my cat and just gave me another one, and that's it?"

“That cat might not be the Crown Prince of Chu…” Gong Chang’an was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

"Who else could it be but him?" Ying Tong sneered. "Looking around this palace, who would mess with my cat? Ying Bai is a heartless man."

Besides, I didn't even know my cat had died, so why would they send over another kitten out of the blue? Isn't that obviously a guilty conscience?"

“They say one shouldn’t interfere in family matters, but I can’t help but say something. Regardless of whether the Crown Prince of Chu did it, you have no evidence. If you take the initiative to attack, it will actually be disadvantageous to yourself,” Gong Chang’an said. “If this matter damages our relationship, it will be difficult to make amends later.”

"That kid dared to play dirty tricks on me, and he figured I didn't have any solid evidence and couldn't do anything to him." Ying Tong sneered, "If he can't even tolerate a cat, who else can he tolerate?!"

Seeing his anger, Gong Chang'an stopped talking.

“I know this is the palace, and I can’t act recklessly. You meant well by reminding me,” Ying Tong said after taking a breath. “I won’t overstep my bounds.”

As for Wen Mingqian, she has been preparing medicinal meals for the Empress these past few days.

The Empress tasted it and liked it very much, so she asked her to make some every day.

She also managed to figure out the workings of the imperial kitchen.

Every day, the imperial kitchen prepares the meals for each master of the household, which are then checked by the imperial physicians and taken away by designated personnel from each palace.

The medicinal cuisine prepared by Wen Mingqian was no exception.

After she finished, people from the Imperial Hospital came to check on her.

For several days in a row, it was Physician Su Qingyun who came.

Wen Mingqian still remembered this person; he had met him twice before, and each time the man was cold towards him.

"Does Her Majesty the Empress's meals usually go through Physician Su's care?" After Su Qingyun left, Wen Mingqian asked Qing'er seemingly casually.

“Not really,” Qing’er said. “Most of the time it’s Physician Li, but he’s been on leave these days, so Physician Su is temporarily filling in. He’s Physician Li’s apprentice and also comes from a family of doctors. But as you know, doctors can’t teach each other; they have to find another master…”

Once Qing'er starts talking, she can't stop.

Wen Mingqian only listened to the important parts, letting the rest pass by like the wind.

"Lady Wen, you are truly remarkable. Because of you, the Empress no longer provides green tangerines." Qing'er said, then turned her attention to Wen Mingqian.

Wen Mingqian intentionally revealed this to Qing'er. She knew that once Qing'er found out, more and more people would gradually find out as well.

The snake she was trying to lure would surely come out and bite her. Sure enough, on that day, Wen Mingqian cooked another medicinal meal.

Aunt Bai brought over a celadon covered bowl and said to Wen Mingqian, "Madam Wen, this was specially sent by the Imperial Treasure Bureau for Her Majesty the Empress's meals."

Wen Mingqian looked at it and said, "It is indeed unique. There must be gemstone powder in the glaze, otherwise it cannot be so shiny."

"Madam Wen really knows everything," Aunt Bai said with a smile. "Her Majesty's lunch is all prepared, only your medicinal meal is missing."

Wen Mingqian filled the bowl with the medicinal food, and Su Qingyun came over, lifted the lid, tested it with a silver needle, and nodded to indicate that there was nothing wrong.

A palace maid, who was in charge of serving meals to the Empress, brought in a tray, and Wen Mingqian placed the bowl of medicinal food on it.

Perhaps because the bowl was too hot, Wen Mingqian's hand trembled, and the entire bowl of medicinal food spilled onto the tray.

"Ouch!" Wen Mingqian said, his hand trembling. "I don't know what's wrong with my hand today, I just accidentally knocked over the bowl."

Qing'er quickly came up to check if Wen Mingqian's hands were burned, and Aunt Bai also rushed up to clean up.

"It's a pity that this medicinal cuisine cannot be served today," Wen Mingqian said. "I will apologize to Her Majesty the Empress right away."

In fact, everyone knew that this was not a big deal. Wen Mingqian had made the medicinal meal voluntarily, and the Empress would not blame her for this minor oversight.

We can always have it at dinner.

The imperial kitchen prepared another soup and served it to the emperor.

Wen Mingqian also explained the situation to the Empress.

"Why apologize for such a small matter? It's alright." The Empress was indeed unconcerned.

When Wen Mingqian returned to his residence, he pretended to be ill and said to the little palace maid in front of him, "Why do I feel so panicked?"

The young palace maid was terrified upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "My lady, please lie down first. I'll go to the Imperial Hospital right away."

After a while, Su Qingyun was invited over.

"Xiaoyue, I was originally planning to take that package on the counter to Chunmei in Consort Yun's palace. I'll trouble you to make the trip again!" Wen Mingqian deliberately sent the little palace maid away.

"Why are you being so polite with me, my lady?" Xiaoyue said, taking out her things. "Quickly, please ask Physician Su to give you a proper check-up!"

After she left, Wen Mingqian sat up and said to Su Qingyun, "Imperial Physician Su, I am not sick. I knew you would come when Xiaoyue went to the Imperial Hospital."

Su Qingyun looked at Wen Mingqian, his expression growing even colder, but he pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Doctor Su, if I'm not mistaken, if you take my pulse this time, the medicine you prescribe will definitely kill me, won't it?" Wen Mingqian continued, ignoring his silence.

Su Qingyun remained silent, neither admitting nor denying.

"Imperial Physician Su, when you were inspecting the medicinal meal I prepared for the Empress today, you secretly added an extra slice of ginger under the cover of the bowl lid." Wen Mingqian took a box from the bedside and opened it; sure enough, there was a slice of ginger inside.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Su Qingyun finally spoke. “Madam Wen must still be ill; she’s talking nonsense.”

"Imperial Physician Su, why do such a self-deceiving and futile act?" Wen Mingqian laughed. "I didn't drag you to confront the Empress, don't you understand my intention?"

“You’re just trying to frame me,” Su Qingyun snorted. “What solid evidence do you have?”

“Imperial Physician Su, I know you’re not a fool, but you’re certainly not a smart one either.” Wen Mingqian wasn’t annoyed. “I know all your motives perfectly well, but you don’t understand my good intentions.”