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Chapter 325 The Emperor Bestows the Title of Consort on a Palace Maid

"Dr. Qian?"

Song Ruyan tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"Really? He's always been like that, fiddling with his medicinal herbs."

The matter-of-fact tone in her voice left Yuling speechless for a moment.

Yu Ling took a deep breath and decided to be more explicit.

"No... I mean, he seems to be in a bad mood lately, he's always listless, look at him..."

She pointed in Dr. Qian's direction, "He's lost a lot of weight."

Song Ruyan looked at it again, then nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh... I'm in a bad mood..."

She swallowed the last bite of osmanthus cake and clapped her hands.

"Then he should definitely come out and stretch his muscles!"

"Look at me, every time I finish martial arts practice, I work up a sweat, and all my worries disappear! I feel so good!"

As she spoke, she clenched her fist forcefully to prove that what she said was true.

Yu Ling was speechless, choked by her bizarre logic.

What kind of thought process is this?

"That was not what I meant……"

Yu Ling tried to explain: "I mean, Dr. Qian... he might be because..."

She wanted to say "because of you," but she swallowed the words back, feeling it was too direct and might hurt someone.

Before Song Ruyan could finish speaking, her eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something.

"I see!"

Yu Ling was overjoyed, thinking that she had finally figured it out.

"What do you know?"

Song Ruyan said in a serious tone, "It must be because he sits there all the time that he looks so listless!"

"After I finish this round of boxing, I'll drag him out for a couple of laps! I guarantee it'll cure him completely!"

Yu Ling: "..."

Looking at Song Ruyan's face, which seemed to say "I'm so smart," she suddenly felt powerless.

Talking to this stubborn girl is like casting pearls before swine.

No, it's playing the piano for a wooden dummy.

She rubbed her temples, feeling like she was about to get dizzy from this strange logic.

"I think...it might not be a physical reason..."

"What's the reason for that?"

Song Ruyan asked curiously, her big eyes blinking, "He's a doctor, can't he heal himself?"

Yu Ling opened her mouth, looked into those clear yet slightly naive eyes, and finally gave up.

Forget it.

When it comes to matters of the heart, no amount of advice from others will change anything.

You have to experience it for yourself.

Perhaps Dr. Qian's intentions were destined to go through some twists and turns.

"It's alright now." Yu Ling forced a helpless smile.

"You...you continue practicing, I'm leaving now."

"Oh, okay! It's so hot, could you make me some mung bean soup later..."

Yu Ling nodded resignedly, "Alright, ancestor!"

Song Ruyan chuckled twice, turned around, and threw herself back into the "battle" with the wooden dummy.

The wind howled from the punches, as if the little incident from before had never happened.

Yu Ling shook her head, picked up the remaining osmanthus cake, sighed softly, and turned to leave.

At the pharmacy entrance, Dr. Qian remained in the same posture, as if forgotten by the entire world in a corner.

Only the occasional breeze would ruffle the stray strands of hair from his forehead...

As night deepened, moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Chu Ruohan watched as Gu Junze held a book, motionless, but his mind was not on it.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gu Junze finally put down his book and raised his head. "Your Majesty, today a palace maid was promoted to the rank of concubine."

Chu Ruohan raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this normal? With three thousand beauties in the harem, the Emperor..."

“It was Prince Su who brought him into the palace,” Gu Junze interrupted her.

Chu Ruohan was also puzzled, "Why would Prince Su find someone else to share Consort Jing's favor?"

"I once tested Consort Jing, and she clearly didn't realize that the current Prince Su was an imposter..."

Chu Ruohan's voice rose a few decibels, and her expression became serious.

"Gu Chengyan and Consort Jing are now in cahoots. With the Empress dead, Consort Jing is all-powerful and has become the most likely candidate to succeed her."

Gu Junze narrowed his eyes slightly, "Sending women to the Emperor at this time must have ulterior motives!"

Chu Ruohan nodded. "Gu Chengyan's ambition is already quite obvious, but we don't have any evidence right now, so we can't take action against him lightly."

Gu Junze stood up and helped her sit down. "Don't think about it anymore. If it's fake, it will be exposed sooner or later. I'll find a way."

"Ah."

Gu Junze said, "Due to the war between the two countries, the Empress Dowager's mausoleum has been kept in Cining Palace. Now that the war has ended, she will be buried in the imperial mausoleum in two days."

"You...you're too heavy-set, so you shouldn't show your face."

Chu Ruohan shook her head, "I'm afraid there's dissatisfaction in the palace. The Empress Dowager truly cares for you."

"Etiquette should not be neglected. Besides, not going would only arouse suspicion."

Looking into her determined eyes, Gu Junze knew he couldn't persuade her, so he had no choice but to compromise.

"Alright then, I'll make all the arrangements and ensure your safety."

"However, we cannot stay too long; the Empress Dowager's entourage will return as soon as they leave."

Chu Ruohan nodded, but her gaze suddenly became distant.

"Have you ever wondered why the Empress Dowager was buried at this time?"

Gu Junze frowned slightly. "Logically speaking, national mourning should be a major event, but the Emperor is acting so hastily."

"That's what Prince Su meant."

Chu Ruohan's tone was calm, yet tinged with coldness, "If the Empress Dowager is to be buried, the only female representative can be Consort Jing, for the position of the mother of the nation..."

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Junze's eyes. "I've had someone secretly keep an eye on Prince Su and the movements in the palace."

Chu Ruohan gently stroked her abdomen and smiled slightly.

"It's always good to be more careful."

As night deepened, the moonlight outside the window shone like water. Chu Ruohan leaned against Gu Junze's chest, but her thoughts drifted far away.

The atmosphere in the palace was somber on the eve of the Empress Dowager's funeral.

Consort Jing sat alone in her bedchamber, with the newly conferred title of Mingfei kneeling before her.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. His Majesty has been unwell recently, and I will certainly take good care of him," Consort Ming said softly.

A barely perceptible hint of disgust flashed in Consort Jing's eyes. "Just remember your place and don't try anything funny."

After Consort Ming respectfully withdrew, Prince Su emerged from behind the screen, a cold smile in his eyes.

"Is Mother still not satisfied?" He sat down next to Consort Jing.

Consort Jing snorted coldly, "Just say what you want to do, why bother with all this mystery?"

Prince Su toyed with the jade thumb ring in his hand, saying, "After the Empress Dowager's burial, the harem cannot be ruled by anyone for even a day."

Consort Jing snorted coldly, "The Empress's position will be mine sooner or later. What exactly do you want by bringing such a woman into the palace?"

"Father dotes on her, doesn't he? The Third Prince is back, but who can guarantee that the position of Crown Prince will definitely fall to me?"

Prince Su stood up, leaving only the words, "Mother, you've grown old!"

Consort Jing smashed her teacup in anger, "How could I have given birth to such a disobedient and unfilial child?"