Because of the importance of the Empress Dowager's health, Emperor Yuwen Lan could not afford to delay. That very night, he sent someone to the Zhang residence.

Well, with the exact location pinpointed down to the specific shelf in the study, and since Zhang Shengkang was required to stay in the palace due to the Empress Dowager’s illness, no one had entered the Zhang family’s study. The Jinyiwei easily retrieved the Xinglin Shiyi book without much effort.

The next morning, when Jiang Taiyi came to serve in the palace, he immediately saw the masterpiece of his father’s work.

Excitement and regret were inevitable, but the urgent matter was still to treat the Empress Dowager. After briefly reviewing his father’s notes, Jiang Taiyi quickly drafted a treatment plan and began his treatment.

Yanshu had been waiting in Ci’an Palace, and as soon as Emperor Yuwen Lan finished his morning court duties, he rushed over and immediately asked Jiang Taiyi, who was treating the Empress Dowager, "How is she? When will the Empress Dowager recover?"

Jiang Taiyi, with a serious expression, replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s headache is a long-standing condition. At present, the focus must be on soothing the liver, relieving stagnation, nourishing the liver and kidneys, boosting qi and blood, dispelling wind, and alleviating pain. These treatments must be gradual and step-by-step. I suggest a half-month treatment course for the first cycle, and after three cycles, we should be able to eradicate the root of the illness."

"Three cycles?"

Emperor Yuwen Lan frowned. "So, this means it will take at least a month and a half for the Empress Dowager to fully recover?"

Jiang Taiyi nodded respectfully.

Seeing this, Yanshu quickly reassured, "Your Majesty, it’s better to have a solution than none at all. Besides, the Empress Dowager has suffered from this illness for many years. If it can be completely resolved in a month and a half, that’s already very good."

Emperor Yuwen Lan nodded in acknowledgment. He then saw Jiang Taiyi take out a set of silver needles and start acupuncture on the Empress Dowager’s head.

The sight caused him to pause, and Yanshu watched anxiously. So many needles on her head, that must hurt terribly!

But when she looked at the Empress Dowager, she showed no reaction.

It seemed the pain from the headache was worse than the needles.

Yanshu felt her heart ache, nearly moved to tears.

Emperor Yuwen Lan also understood this, his heart heavy. After a moment of silence, he asked Jiang Taiyi, "Apart from the medicine and acupuncture, are there other precautions we should take?"

Jiang Taiyi replied promptly, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s illness is caused by both external and internal factors. Externally, we must ensure she is kept warm and protected from wind, to prevent further cold exposure. Internally, we must help her maintain a calm mood and relieve liver stagnation."

His explanation was simple and easy to understand, and Yanshu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—

[In the end, isn’t it all the fault of the late Emperor? Look at the Empress Dowager—her husband’s fickleness, the heartbreak of losing a child, her years of effort to promote her adopted son to the throne... And her family, constantly causing trouble, making things worse for her... She’s finally found someone she can confide in, but they can’t even be together. How could any woman not fall into depression under such circumstances? No wonder she’s sick. Ah, the Empress Dowager’s life has been so hard.]

Emperor Yuwen Lan silently listened, then turned to the Empress Dowager on the bed and said, "Mother, you have suffered greatly these years."

—Yanshu spoke the truth.

The palace had indeed never given the Empress Dowager a moment of peace.

Upon hearing his words, the Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, weakly saying, "It’s a busy time right now, Your Majesty, you don’t need to worry about me. Go back and handle your affairs."

Yanshu immediately said, "I’ll stay with the Empress Dowager. You go back first, Your Majesty."

Indeed, it was already morning, and there were surely pressing matters waiting for him in the Imperial Study. Emperor Yuwen Lan nodded in acknowledgment, bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, and returned to the Imperial Study.

Jiang Taiyi continued to treat the Empress Dowager while Yanshu stayed by her side.

Once the acupuncture session was completed, Yanshu personally fed the Empress Dowager her medicinal soup. After the Empress Dowager had fallen asleep, Yanshu returned to rest.

~~

After a few days, Jiang Taiyi’s treatment proved to be far more effective than Zhang Shengkang’s. The Empress Dowager’s symptoms had already improved. She no longer felt constantly dizzy with a splitting headache, and on good days, she could chat with Yanshu.

It was now mid-September, and the weather had grown colder. Though the palace was warm, Yanshu could see the trees outside the windows had lost all their leaves.

The Empress Dowager, now feeling a bit better, was still concerned about palace matters. As soon as her pain subsided, she began worrying again and asked Yanshu, "Do you know if the knitting bureau has finished making the winter clothes for the palace?"

Yanshu quickly replied, "The winter clothes have already been distributed. Your Majesty need not worry."

The Empress Dowager nodded and sighed, "You’re becoming more efficient. Just be careful not to overexert yourself with the child in your belly."

Yanshu nodded, "I’m fine, Your Majesty. Please don’t worry."

She then asked, "It’s almost noon. Would you like to eat something?"

The Empress Dowager shook her head, sighing, "I’ve been drinking medicine, and my mouth is bitter. I don’t want to eat anything."

Yanshu found herself in a difficult position. A person is made of iron, but food is steel. How could the Empress Dowager recover if she didn’t eat?

Just then, a palace maid outside the door announced, "Your Majesty, Fu Hai has arrived."

Fu Hai was surely sent by the Emperor. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded, "Let him in."

The maid responded and quickly brought in Fu Hai, who carried a food box and bowed. "Your Majesty, His Majesty sent these persimmon cakes for you."

What?

Yanshu was momentarily stunned. The Empress Dowager had just complained about the bitterness in her mouth, and now the Emperor had sent persimmon cakes? Could it be that mother and son shared a deep connection?

The Empress Dowager, also somewhat surprised, responded, "Why did the Emperor suddenly send these to me?"

Fu Hai explained, "His Majesty asked Jiang Taiyi about Your Majesty’s condition and learned that you’ve not been eating well these days. By chance, the persimmon cakes were sent to the palace by Qi Shuguang from Songhe Academy. His Majesty knows that you enjoy these, so he asked me to bring them for you to try."

He added, "His Majesty also specifically asked Jiang Taiyi that it’s okay for you to eat a little, but not too much."

At these words, both the Empress Dowager and Yanshu froze.

Especially Yanshu, who almost couldn’t control her expression.

Did Fu Hai just say these persimmon cakes were from Qi Shuguang?

Why would Qi Shuguang suddenly send persimmon cakes to the palace? Was it for the Empress Dowager?

At this key moment, the system popped up to explain, [That’s right. The news of the Empress Dowager’s illness had spread, and Qi Shuguang was naturally worried. Unfortunately, because he’s outside the palace and communication is slow, he hesitated several times before finally summoning the courage to send in the persimmon cakes he personally made. Of course, he didn’t dare to say they were for the Empress Dowager. He only claimed they were from Songhe Academy and sent them as a gesture of thanks for the Emperor’s care.]

Yanshu was thrilled and quickly asked, [So, why did the Emperor think to send them to the Empress Dowager?]

System: [Because the Empress Dowager truly likes eating persimmon cakes! They've been mother and son for over twenty years, would she not know this by now?]

Yanshu was still extremely excited, [So, Scholar Qi knows the Empress Dowager likes persimmon cakes too? Did he even learn to make them by hand? After all these years, he finally got to let her try them?]

She couldn’t help but imagine the scene where Scholar Qi, after an intense inner battle between reason and emotion, could no longer resist his longing for the Empress Dowager and, gathering all his courage, personally brought the persimmon cakes to the palace.

Wuwuwu… She had already mentally pictured it! Despite not saying a word, those persimmon cakes were his heart’s intention!

And then, looking at the Empress Dowager, she saw her surprise, and she thought, [Could it be… Is he deliberately sending them to me?]

Yanshu overheard this and couldn’t help but want to nod and tell the Empress Dowager: Yes, yes! Scholar Qi truly did it all for you! He’s been thinking about you!

Wuwuwu... This is the pure, mutual love that’s a two-way street!

Of course, she couldn’t say these things aloud, but she could do something else.

So, she quickly responded, “Your Majesty, these persimmon cakes are just right. Just now, Her Majesty was saying that her mouth felt bitter. If you eat some persimmon cakes, it’ll help ease that.”

With that, she took the food box and, with a flourish, brought out the persimmon cakes, which the palace maid Dan Shuang then cut into smaller pieces and placed them in front of the Empress Dowager.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager really did take a few pieces to taste.

Mmm, the natural sweetness and fragrance of the persimmons. As she chewed slowly, it was almost as if she could picture that person’s face.

Surely, these persimmon cakes must have been sent specially by him?

After all, with his personality, he wouldn’t normally go out of his way to please anyone.

With this thought, the sweet flavor seemed to spread from her mouth to her heart, and even the medicinal taste in the room seemed to fade away a little.

Yanshu, observing from the side, saw the bright look in the Empress Dowager’s eyes and was secretly pleased. She quickly seized the opportunity and said, “Since the persimmon cakes are so sweet, Your Majesty, why not eat something else as well? The kitchen can make some porridge and a few side dishes. What do you think?”

The Empress Dowager nodded and smiled, “Now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry. Alright, let them bring it over.”

Yanshu responded eagerly, immediately sending Dan Shuang to call for the meal.

Soon after, when the midday meal arrived, the Empress Dowager indeed drank a bowl of porridge and had two side dishes.

Even the medicinal soup was drunk in one go, showing how happy she was.

Seeing this, Yanshu finally relaxed.

~~

With the encouragement from her idol, the top boss would surely recover soon.

Meanwhile, Emperor Yuwen Lan had been constantly worried about the Empress Dowager. Unfortunately, due to his busy duties, he didn’t return to Ganlu Palace until the evening. Upon seeing Yanshu, he immediately asked, “How is the Empress Dowager today?”

Yanshu quickly replied, “Your Majesty, rest assured, the Empress Dowager is much better today. Especially after eating the persimmon cakes you had Fu Hai send over, her mood improved greatly. She ate quite a bit for both lunch and dinner.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but smile inwardly, [Speaking of which, you really know how to handle things! You actually remembered to send Scholar Qi’s persimmon cakes to the Empress Dowager. Well done, well done, you’re a child who can be taught!]

Yuwen Lan: “…”

Well, since Imperial Physician Jiang said the Empress Dowager needed to keep her spirits up, he could only do his best to make that happen.

The moment the words were spoken, Yanshu replied, “Your Majesty, I was just thinking today that since the Empress Dowager’s condition is improving, perhaps we could start talking to her about Zhang Shengkang’s past. After all, I had written a book exposing Zhang Shengkang’s treachery and betrayal before. It would be perfect to bring it out and read it to the Empress Dowager, so she can be prepared to hear about his past misdeeds. Then, in a couple of days when the Empress Dowager is fully recovered, we can reveal the matter of The Xinglin Shiyi Book. That way, the Empress Dowager will completely understand Zhang Shengkang’s true nature.”

Yuwen Lan nodded upon hearing this, “That sounds good.”

As he thought about it, Zhang Shengkang had probably become anxious as soon as he saw that Imperial Physician Jiang was treating the Empress Dowager, and he might even resort to more vile actions.

However, it didn’t matter. He had already ordered the secret guards to keep an eye on him. If Zhang Shengkang made any further moves, he would be caught immediately.

But Yanshu’s plan was also well thought out. It would be a good idea to prepare the Empress Dowager mentally first. That way, when it came time to deal with Zhang Shengkang, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be as shocked or disappointed.

After all, someone who is ill shouldn’t be exposed to too much emotional stress.

At this moment, as Yanshu agreed, she hurried over to the bookshelf to look for something.

Yuwen Lan was puzzled and asked, “What are you doing?”

It was already late—she wasn’t thinking of writing another story, was she?

Yanshu answered, “I can’t seem to find the manuscript I wrote about Zhang Shengkang. I’m just looking for it so I can read it to the Empress Dowager tomorrow.”

Yuwen Lan stepped forward, gently pulling her away, and said, “It’s very late. You can find it tomorrow. You’ve already spent the whole day in Ci’an Palace. You should rest now.”

As soon as he spoke, Yanshu, in perfect timing, yawned, realizing she was indeed a bit tired. She had no choice but to agree and follow him to the bed to rest.

~~

The next day, as usual, Yuwen Lan woke up early to prepare for the morning court session at the Qianming Palace.

The noise of him getting out of bed startled Yanshu, who lazily sat up, lifting the bed curtains and asking, “Your Majesty, are you leaving?”

As she spoke, she yawned, her eyes still half-closed.

Yuwen Lan, amused and gentle, leaned down and kissed her forehead. “No need to get up, it’s cold outside. Sleep a little longer.”

Yanshu, enjoying her pampered status, hummed and intended to lie back down.

However, just then, Fu Hai’s voice came from outside, “Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei has a report.”

Yuwen Lan hummed in acknowledgment, then put on his outer robe and walked out, asking, “What is it?”

Meanwhile, still lounging in the blankets, Yanshu wondered what the Jinyiwei had uncovered so early in the morning that required an urgent report. Had they caught something on someone?

Could they have captured that Bai He Taoist?

No, wait—considering the timeline, the people they had sent were probably just arriving in Minyue. There wouldn’t have been enough time to capture anyone, let alone return… So who could it be?

Hmm, her curiosity piqued, she suddenly wasn’t as tired anymore. She quickly got out of bed, threw on an outer robe, and crept to the door to listen.

Outside, the Jinyiwei reported, “Your Majesty, last night, I infiltrated the Zhang residence and discovered that after Zhang Shengkang finished his shift and returned home, he was found in an intimate situation with a woman. Shortly after, that woman went to his son’s room, and they continued their... activities until the middle of the night.”

Yanshu: “???”

Yuwen Lan: “???”