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After receiving the order, Debao quickly made his way to the Imperial Medical Institute. The night was deep, and the institute was quiet, illuminated only by a few dim oil lamps casting weak light. The on-duty physician was dozing at his desk when he was startled awake by the hurried footsteps, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Master Debao? What brings you here so late?" The physician rose quickly to greet him, a hint of confusion in his tone.
"Master Physician, His Majesty has given a decree. We must hurry to Phoenix Palace to check on Her Majesty!" Debao spoke urgently, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
The physician did not dare to delay. He grabbed his medical kit and followed Debao hastily toward Phoenix Palace. Along the way, he adjusted his clothing repeatedly, feeling anxious and uncertain about what condition the Empress might be in.
Inside Phoenix Palace, the Empress reclined on a couch, idly flipping through a poetry collection. A-Ying stood nearby, carefully fanning her.
Hearing the footsteps, the Empress looked up and saw the physician and Debao, her expression showing a hint of impatience. "What is it now? The physician again? This Palace is not ill!"
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is concerned for your health and has sent the physician to check on you," Debao said, bowing slightly and speaking cautiously.
The Empress tossed aside her poetry book with annoyance. "This Palace is perfectly fine! No need for any checks! You may leave!"
"Your Majesty, this..." Debao's face showed difficulty as he didn't know how to respond.
"What? You dare disregard This Palace's words?" The Empress's tone turned sharp, her gaze carrying a warning.
Debao dared not speak further and quickly signaled to the physician. The physician approached the Empress with trepidation, bowing deeply. "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
The Empress waved her hand dismissively. "Enough! Just take my pulse quickly; don't delay This Palace's rest."
The physician cautiously took her pulse while observing her complexion closely and inquiring about her recent diet and daily routine.
"Your Majesty, have you felt dizzy or fatigued in recent days? How is your appetite? Are you sleeping well?"
"No! Everything is fine!" The Queen impatiently interrupted the physician.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the physician continued to ask, "Has Your Majesty experienced any nightmares or other unusual occurrences in recent days?"
"No!" The Queen's tone grew even more impatient, her eyes revealing a hint of displeasure. "Are you done yet?"
Seeing the Queen's annoyance, the physician dared not ask further and quickly withdrew his hand.
"Your Majesty's pulse is steady, with no abnormalities," the physician reported cautiously, keeping his head lowered.
"Since there’s nothing wrong, you may leave at once!" The Queen waved her hand, signaling for A-Ying to escort them out.
A-Ying led the physician and Debao out of Phoenix Palace in a state of panic, hurrying back to the study to report.
Inside the study, the Emperor was anxiously waiting. Upon seeing the physician and Debao return, he quickly asked, "How is the Queen?"
The physician wiped his forehead again and stammered, "Your Majesty, the Queen's pulse is steady with no abnormalities... It may be that she was startled, leading to a drastic change in temperament."
Hearing this, the Emperor furrowed his brows tightly and began pacing back and forth, lost in thought.
He walked to the desk and picked up a book but did not open it. His gaze was vacant as he stared ahead, seemingly deep in contemplation.
After a moment, he set the book down and moved to the window, gazing out at the pitch-black night sky with a long sigh.
The Emperor's fingers lightly tapped against the window frame, creating a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound that broke the silence of the study.
After a long moment, he turned around and looked at Debao, speaking in a low tone, "Proceed to Phoenix Palace."
Debao bowed and replied, "Yes." He then quickly stepped outside the hall and called out loudly, "Proceed to Phoenix Palace—"
Under the night sky, the Forbidden City was shrouded in darkness, with palace lanterns dotting the path leading to Phoenix Palace. The emperor's royal carriage moved slowly forward, while the palace maids and eunuchs on either side knelt and paid their respects.
Inside Phoenix Palace, the Empress leaned languidly against a soft couch, idly flipping through a poetry collection. A-Ying stood beside her, gently fanning her.
"A-Ying, do you think this palace is rather strange?" The Empress set down her book and turned to A-Ying.
A-Ying paused for a moment before hurriedly kneeling down. "This servant would not dare to speak carelessly about the Empress."
The Empress chuckled lightly and reached out to help A-Ying up. "Get up; there are no outsiders here." She picked up a pastry from the table and took a delicate bite. "Tell me, how could I have ever liked such a rigid man?"
A-Ying lowered her head, not daring to respond. Everyone in the palace knew of the Empress's past admiration for the Emperor. Now, it seemed as if she had become a different person.
"The Emperor has arrived!" A eunuch's sharp voice announced from outside the hall.
The corners of the Empress's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a playful smile. "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."
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