Chapter 3 — Saving the Emperor One Sugar Cube at a Time

Everyone around collapsed weakly to the ground, looking as though they had just seen a ghost, trembling like grain sifter. Drained of all strength, I lay sprawled upon the cold floor, parting my lips to gasp for air. The face of Black Snow Chu turned deathly pale; she involuntarily muttered under her breath:

“Impossible…”

Yet it lasted merely a fleeting moment. She bit down hard on the tip of her tongue, forcefully suppressing the panic churning within her eyes, and was the first among them all to drop heavily to her knees.

“This humble servant has successfully fulfilled her mission!”

Black Snow Chu deliberately raised her voice, terrified that someone might not hear her.

“Empress Dowager, that potent restorative prescription which this divine maiden dared to administer to His Majesty just moments ago—”

“Has finally taken effect at this crucial juncture, entirely beating back the chilling poison and securely locking down His Majesty’s final heartbeat!”

She suddenly whipped her head around to point directly at me:

“If not for the potent medicine administered by this maiden to preserve his breath, how could His Majesty possibly have held on until now?”

“This crude and ignorant lowly maid forcefully shoved some filthy, sweet concoction into His Majesty’s mouth, nearly ruining my medicinal properties and rendering all efforts completely wasted!”

Xiao Chengde immediately fell in step with her words, chiming in with a stern voice:

“Indeed! The medical mastery of Divine Doctor Black is truly boundless, effortlessly turning the tides!”

“A lowly palace maid like you is merely a blind cat that happened upon a dead mouse.”

“Not only did you dare trespass into the forbidden grounds of the Imperial Kitchen, but you also used some random trash to defile the dragon body. This is nothing short of high treason and gross disrespect!”

He abruptly wheeled around toward the Empress Dowager, pressing forward step by step:

“Imperial Grandmother, although this woman has not yet brought about a catastrophe, she has flouted palace regulations and disturbed the sacred carriage.”

“If she is not severely punished, everyone will follow suit hereafter, and what will become of palace rules? She should be dragged outside immediately and beaten to death!”

“Audacious!”

An elderly statesman slammed his table and rose to his feet, pointing an angry finger at Black Snow Chu.

“Just a moment ago, the esteemed Doctor Black was repeatedly claiming that His Majesty’s vitality was exhausted and he was on the verge of drawing his last breath.”

“Why is it that the moment this palace maid fed His Majesty a piece of rock sugar, His Majesty immediately opened his eyes?”

“Clearly, this is the merit of the palace maid, yet you still attempt to execute someone who has rendered such a great service!”

“Shut your mouth!”

Meng Wannu snapped harshly, cutting him off mid-sentence.

“The Grand Physician himself asserted that His Majesty was afflicted with a chilling venom; could it be that a mere serving girl is more brilliant than the entire Imperial Medical Academy?”

“It is nothing more than sheer coincidence! The Crown Prince speaks with absolute reason; palace regulations cannot be discarded. Guards, seize this lowly wretch!”

Xiao Qiyuan remained silent. Having just regained consciousness, the dizziness brought on by severe hypoglycemia left him without even the strength to sit upright. He half-reposed against the bright golden pillow; though his breathing remained faint, it had gradually grown steady. The grand hall erupted into a clamor so loud it threatened to tear the very roof away. The voices of those crying for my execution intertwined with those attempting to protect me. His gaze drifted with extreme languor over Black Snow Chu, who wore an expression of righteous indignation, and then passed over Xiao Chengde, who was far too eager to showcase himself. At last, his eyes traversed layer upon layer of courtiers, landing upon my blood-soaked form. He slowly parted his lips:

“This emperor has yet to draw his last breath, and already this realm belongs to you to command?”

The words of Xiao Qiyuan were spoken very softly. Yet they struck like a heavy blacksmith’s hammer, instantly shattering every sound within the hall. Xiao Chengde, who moments before had been clamoring to have me beaten to death, felt his knees turn suddenly weak and dropped heavily to the floor:

“Imperial Father, please calm your wrath! This son… this son was merely anxious to protect the carriage!”

Meng Wannu and Black Snow Chu also scrambled to their knees, not daring to draw a deep breath. But Xiao Qiyuan looked upon them no longer. Those few words seemed to have exhausted the entirety of his strength. He knit his brows tightly and once more helplessly closed his eyes.

“Your Majesty!”

The Empress Dowager lost all color in her face, terrified out of her wits. The Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Academy scrambled forward on hands and knees to administer acupuncture and check his pulse. After a long, agonizing moment, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead:

“Empress Dowager, His Majesty has been weakened to the absolute extreme.”

“Having just forced himself to remain conscious, he must now recuperate in absolute tranquility and can under no circumstances endure any further disturbance!”

With Xiao Qiyuan asleep, the metaphorical executioner’s blade suspended above Xiao Chengde and the others was temporarily removed. The terror dwelling in the Crown Prince’s eyes gradually receded. Unwilling to let the matter drop, he abruptly turned his head to glare fixedly at me as I lay upon the ground.

“Imperial Grandmother, since Imperial Father requires quiet recovery, this lowly maid who harbored murderous intent all the more cannot be allowed to live!”

Xiao Chengde rose to his feet, pointing straight at the bridge of my nose, and shouted sternly:

“I have thoroughly investigated this matter: this palace maid is named Yan Shu, of the most humble origins, having performed hard labor in the Laundry Bureau since the age of ten.”

“Only last month did she manage to worm her way into the imperial presence by relying on a meager shred of physical beauty!”

“It is clear she has long harbored deep resentment, and today, taking advantage of Imperial Father’s critical illness, she deliberately attempted to assassinate and retaliate using filthy means!”

He casually fabricated charges, ruthlessly slapping a fatal treasonous label onto my head. Meng Wannu immediately chimed in, lifting a handkerchief to dab at her tears:

“Mother, Duc is entirely correct. What could a servant spawned from such a vile place as the Laundry Bureau possibly know about saving lives and healing the sick? Her intentions are manifestly malicious!”

Seeing this, Black Snow Chu grasped at it as though it were a life-saving straw. She immediately crawled on her knees toward the imperial bed, feigning once more as she gently placed her fingers upon Xiao Qiyuan’s pulse.