So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

Ning Yu couldn't find Qing He in the side hall. She found her in a separate room behind the imperial kitchen after following the head maid. Qing He had been beaten, and her wounds, which hadn't healed yet, had reopened.

She looked at the person lying on the small bed, stiffened her body, and walked in. What happened?

The head maid glanced at it and quickly went out to inquire.

It turns out that Qinghe was discovered when she came to the imperial kitchen to get something last night, and was beaten by the head cook. Logically speaking, there is only one lady in the harem, and her personal maid should not be interfered with when she comes to get some food.

But the head chef got scolded by his boss yesterday, so he took the opportunity to vent his anger on Qinghe.

Anyway, she was just a palace maid serving an unfavored lady, so it wouldn't matter if she was beaten. After beating her, Qinghe was locked in a separate room and left to freeze all night. In the dead of winter, you can imagine how frozen she must have become.

Remembering His Majesty's attitude earlier that day, the head cook immediately had someone hold the cook down and take him outside the private room. After explaining the whole story, and seeing that there was no sound from inside, she slapped the cook hard several times.

Several slaps landed, and the cook's face immediately became red and swollen.

"You reckless lackey, you even dare to hit the people around the lady."

The sounds of cursing and pleas for mercy came from outside the screen. Ning Yu sat wearily on the edge of the bed, knowing that the head aunt was putting on a show for her.

The emperor's favor is truly a wonderful thing.

She looked at Qinghe's weak face and gently took her hand.

In this palace, without power, she couldn't protect anyone, not even her own life. Qinghe suffered too much while following her.

"I'll send you out of the palace first. No matter what, I'll send you out of the palace first."

The murmured voice entered her ears. Qinghe, delirious from the fever, heard these words and wanted to say that she was alright, but her vision was too blurry to open.

After having Qinghe escorted back to the side hall, Ning Yu went to the Imperial Hospital himself.

The same herbalist happened to be on duty. When he saw it was her, he generously took out the herbs she wanted and even helped her cook them.

Ning Yu took a handful of gold beans from her purse and handed them over. She had taken them from the dressing table box as a way of thanking him for taking care of her during this time.

"Where did you get so many gold coins? You didn't steal them, did you? You'll be beaten to death if you get caught."

Seeing that he was trying to persuade her to return it quickly, Ning Yu said gently, "It wasn't stolen, it was a gift from my master."

She had heard him talk about his family. He had a seriously ill mother who was in dire need of money. He passed the imperial examination and became a pharmacist at the Imperial Hospital, but his monthly salary was not enough to cover the cost of the expensive medicines. He relied on his master to provide him with medicines from the Imperial Hospital.

As the two were talking, Ning Yu suddenly felt a strange malice coming from behind her. When she turned around, she found the female official hiding in the corner. Upon seeing her, she immediately turned around and left.

She quickly chased after her and confirmed that it was the female doctor whose hand had been chopped off that day for delivering medicine to her, and called out to her.

The lady-in-waiting turned and bowed, "Greetings, Madam."

"I dragged you into this that day." Ning Yu glanced at her hand. "The Medicine Sage at the summit of Beishan, who is as famous as Leshan, is most skilled in suturing. He is even more skilled than the head of the Imperial Hospital. I am willing to recommend him to you. Would you like to go?"

The female official hadn't expected her to come and talk to her about this. For a moment, the resentment in her eyes froze, and she didn't know how to suppress the complex and intense emotions she felt.

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"Your Majesty's command is my duty."

No one in the Imperial Hospital dared to stitch up and reattach her wounds.

"I'll help you."

She looked up in shock, the emotion still lingering in her eyes. Ning Yu clearly saw the resentment she couldn't hide, but her expression remained unchanged, and she spoke calmly.

"I will plead with His Majesty to allow you to leave the palace and write you a letter of recommendation. The Sage of Medicine will help you."

The female official suddenly knelt on the ground, and whether she was sincere or not, she was crying with tears streaming down her face. "Please, Madam, save this sinful subject."

She was fed up with being ostracized and bullied because of her broken hand, and she wanted to go even if there was only a sliver of hope.

After leaving the Imperial Hospital, Ning Yu took the medicine back to the side hall. After settling Qinghe in, she went to Changxin Hall.

Upon arriving, she discovered that all the palace servants had been replaced, leaving only a few that Ning Yu usually liked. Recalling the scene of the Empress Dowager entering without anyone stopping her that morning, she pursed her lips and asked, "Where is His Majesty?"

"Reporting to Madam, there was an urgent message from the border, and His Majesty has gone to the Council Hall."

Last night, the dog emperor carried her back to Changxin Palace, and today the palace servants' attitudes are like completely different people.

Ning Yu glanced at it in a daze, hummed in agreement, and turned to head towards the Hall of State Affairs.

The head maidservant hurriedly tried to follow, but Ning Yu didn't want a large group of people following her, so she said calmly, "You all go back."

The Hall of State Affairs wasn't far from the Emperor's bedroom. When Ning Yu arrived, Qing Feng was guarding outside the door. He was taken aback when he saw her.

It's quite unusual that this lady would take the initiative to come to her master.

"What can I do for you, Madam?"

"His Majesty didn't eat much for his afternoon meal, so I've brought him some food."

Qingfeng glanced at the perfunctory tea in her hand, guessing it was cold tea or water taken from a side hall, which His Majesty wouldn't drink anyway.

"Go and inform them."

The palace was filled with important officials and generals who had rushed to the palace. They were all enjoying the New Year with their wives and children when suddenly a military report, delivered by express courier, arrived back at the palace.

Yanmen Pass fell, and the Moxi tribe rebelled, raising an army under the pretext of deposed crown prince, which caused a great uproar in the southwest region.

Voices expressing their opinions rose and fell in the hall. Xie Xun sat quietly on the dragon throne, watching the people below fight, carefully weighing their thoughts. Suddenly, he heard Qingfeng's report and narrowed his eyes and raised his eyebrows.

Does this mean they need something from him?

"Bring her in."

When Ning Yu entered, all the important officials in the hall turned their gazes toward her. Some of them changed their expressions slightly when they saw her, but they all bowed respectfully in greeting.

The Ministry of Rites is still preparing for the ceremony of establishing an empress, and all the formalities must be done properly.

Ning Yu was surprised to see so many people in the hall. Looking at the man sitting high on the dragon throne, their eyes met. His elegant and unapproachable face carried the romantic and majestic air of an emperor, which was somewhat different from when she was in private in Changxin Hall.

Seeing that she seemed to be in a daze for a moment, Xie Xun laughed and said, "What are you standing there for? Come here."

The new emperor, Xie Xun, was usually stern and unsmiling, but he showed such a gentle demeanor in front of this lady, making him seem quite approachable. Recalling his usual methods, everyone couldn't help but feel a great uproar.

Ning Yu bowed and, after ascending the dragon steps, slowly said, "All the ministers are here; I will go to the inner hall to wait for His Majesty."

Xie Xun glanced at her considerate and dignified appearance, feeling somewhat intrigued. In the past, she was always arguing or making a fuss with him. He raised his arm and touched her face, "Why don't you wear a cloak? Your face is so cold."

Ning Yu felt countless gazes directed at her, and her back felt like it was sitting on pins and needles. Just as she was about to speak, his hand moved down and pressed against her back. With a slight push, he pushed her forward, almost causing her to fall into his arms.

"It'll warm you up."