“Calm down.” Ning Wanwan’s heart sank, but she was anxious. She instructed Fuwyi, “Quickly invite a doctor and bring medicine for the plague. Come with me to the prison.”
“Yes, I’ll go right away.”
“I’ll go too,” Xu said hastily.
“Little Mother, don’t come. Too many people might cause issues with the guards.”
“I’ll wait for news from the Young Mistress.”
“Mm.”
*
At the Ministry of Justice Prison, the same two prison guards were on duty. Seeing Ning Wanwan arrive with her maidservant and a doctor, they bowed, “Greetings, Madam Princess.”
“No need for formalities, I’m here to…”
Before she could finish, a guard interrupted, “Madam Princess, please understand. The Crown Prince has ordered no visitors for Lin the Prisoner, not even you.”
Ning Wanwan’s heart sank. “I heard my father is sick. Could you please take this medicine inside?”
Fuwyi carefully offered the plague medicine prepared by the doctor. The prison guard, without looking at the medicine, directly refused, “Madam Princess, we cannot take the medicine inside.” Ning Wanwan instantly understood the situation.
*
Eastern Palace.
As Ning Wanwan arrived at the palace gates, a small eunuch hurried out, bowing and smiling, “Madam Princess has arrived. His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for you for days. Please, come in.”
Stepping into the Eastern Palace again, memories surged, almost suffocating her. Was this a place she could never escape?
The small eunuch led Ning Wanwan into the Chongzheng Hall and quietly retreated. Ning Wanwan stood at the hall entrance, observing a round table adorned with jade plates of delicacies and golden wine vessels.
“You’re here,” Si Yi emerged from behind the curtain, walking to the table and pointing to the seat opposite him, “Sit.” Ning Wanwan walked over, expressionless, and sat down.
“I heard you love dishes from Changqing Lou, so I invited their chefs to the Eastern Palace,” Si Yi gestured to the dishes, “I specially had them make your favorites: golden thread belly soup, purple perilla fish, lotus flower duck skewers…”
Ning Wanwan suddenly interrupted, “What exactly do you want?” Si Yi’s warm expression vanished.
He looked at Ning Wanwan with a half-smile, saying, “I thought you truly didn’t care about your father, able to endure for so long.”
