The Empress Dowager’s face darkened. This Pure Consort, always falling ill, seemed to use some bewitching tactics to win the Emperor’s favor, wishing to relocate all the imperial physicians to Rui’en Hall.
Si Suo said anxiously to the Empress Dowager, “Mother, I’ll go check on Pure Consort.” Despite her displeasure, she allowed him to go.
Ning Wan Wan furrowed her brow, lost in thought.
“Pure Consort? And Wan Shun… This seems too coincidental.”
Suddenly, Zi Zhan coughed, and she snapped back to reality, grabbing his hand nervously. “My Lord?”
“It’s nothing,” Zi Zhan said, smiling softly.
In that moment, Ning Wan Wan understood something. She urgently turned to the Empress Dowager, saying, “Mother, the Lord’s medicine needs to be taken every two hours. It’s about time now…”
The Empress Dowager looked at Zi Zhan, noticing his pale lips and poor complexion. Realizing Supervisor Xu would be delayed at Rui’en Hall, she said, “In that case, you may leave.”
They rose and bowed. After Zi Zhan led Ning Wan Wan away, Xu Man Yao stood up. Before turning, the Empress Dowager gave her a deep look. Anxiously, she took off her bracelet and hurried out.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes blazed with fury as she commanded, “I don’t want anything like that. I want absolute certainty! Use any method necessary, but you must implant the life-binding curse into Sihan’s body.”
“But, the King of Yi detests me as one of the Empress Dowager’s people, and I don’t even have a chance to get close to him,” Xu Manyao knelt before the Empress Dowager, kowtowing several times. She pleaded tearfully, “Your Majesty, I beg you, I truly do not want to harm anyone. Please let me and my brother Lu Chuan return to Miaojiang.”
The Empress Dowager helped Xu Manyao up and smiled softly: “I promise you, as long as you successfully implant the life-binding curse into Sihan’s body, I will release you and your lover.”
Xu Manyao replied, “But the King of Yi has ordered me to stay in the Qingwu Courtyard and not come within half a step of Zhuohua Courtyard. I really have no way to approach him.”
“If there’s no way, then find a way!” the Empress Dowager suddenly roared.
Xu Manyao was stunned by the Empress Dowager’s sudden change.
