Hearing the words "Imperial Mausoleum," Doctor Wei’s expression changed.
The Imperial Mausoleum is a place of hardship; soone of a prince or princess’s status would not easily go there. Could it be that the Eldest Princess committed so error and was exiled there?
On the journey back to the Capital City, he didn’t even find an opportunity to inquire about recent events in the capital, nearly angering the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, Doctor Zhao helped smooth things over.
Doctor Zhao spoke skillfully, saying that Doctor Wei was resting to better treat Princess Duanhui. Even if the Empress Dowager was upset, she had to restrain herself.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and several Imperial Physicians hastily retreated.
Upon leaving Yongning Palace, Director Li exchanged a few pleasantries with Doctor Wei, since they had worked together over a decade ago; after all, Doctor Wei was his senior.
If Doctor Wei hadn’t voluntarily resigned back then, the position of Dean wouldn’t have fallen to him.
Now recalled by the Empress Dowager, Director Li truly can’t quite grasp why she would do this—could it truly be just to treat Princess Duanhui’s wrist?
However, Director Li wasn’t worried that Doctor Wei would beco his competitor, as he had once easily gotten the Dean position, and now he comfortably held the position.
The Imperial Hospital had many matters to tend to, so after chatting for a bit, Director Li departed first.
After Director Li left, Doctor Wei thanked Doctor Zhao, "Thanks to you, Doctor Zhao, for smoothing things over earlier; otherwise, if the Empress Dowager got angry, I truly couldn’t bear it."
Doctor Zhao promptly said, "Doctor Wei, you are too kind. Back when you were in the Imperial Hospital, you guided a lot. I never expected, after more than ten years, I would see you again in the Imperial Palace."
Doctor Wei couldn’t understand it either. Looking at the vast Imperial Palace, he said with so lancholy, "I never thought there would be a day of return."
Not only did he return, but he returned in such a high-profile, mind-boggling manner.
Since he had to treat Princess Duanhui, he needed to ask exactly what was wrong with her wrist.
Doctor Wei sought guidance from Doctor Zhao.
Doctor Zhao was informative and spoke honestly, but when ntioning the Princess Consort Zhenbei, he paused.
Doctor Wei looked at him, "What’s wrong?"
"Previously, the Princess Consort Zhenbei also inquired about you, Doctor Wei," Doctor Zhao said.
Since Princess Consort Zhenbei asked, he conveyed the ssage.
A few days later, the Empress Dowager posted a notice summoning Doctor Wei to the Capital City—was this really just a coincidence?
Doctor Wei was unaware of Princess Duanhui being exiled, but he had heard of Su Jin.
The soap from Beauty Pavilion had already been sold all over Daqi; Doctor Wei was also using it. The na Beauty Pavilion was renowned throughout the land.
Doctor Zhao praised Su Jin’s dical skills imnsely. Since Su Jin claid she couldn’t heal Princess Duanhui’s wrist, Doctor Wei felt great pressure.
Doctor Zhao escorted Doctor Wei to the carriage stop, as he was still on duty. They agreed to et again tomorrow.
Doctor Wei boarded the carriage and left the palace.
When he resigned years ago and returned to his hotown, he was determined not to return. He sold off as much of his house, land, and shops as he could. Now hastily returning to the Capital City, he found himself with no place to stay.
Doctor Wei rested at an inn, albeit without intending to linger in the capital.
Just as he settled in at the inn, a young attendant ca knocking on the door.
Knock, knock!
"Co in," Doctor Wei said.
The attendant pushed the door open and said, "Sir, soone is here to see you."
"To see ?" Doctor Wei raised his eyebrows.
A Hidden Guard stepped in and handed Doctor Wei an invitation to see.
Doctor Wei saw it was the Princess Consort Zhenbei requesting to see him, and he was imdiately taken aback.
Yet he dared not refuse to et Su Jin.
Doctor Wei didn’t think too much about it, as he had been muddled in the Capital City since his arrival without understanding the reason.
The Hidden Guard held a bundle and said, "Doctor Wei should be aware of the relationship between the Empress Dowager and my mistress. To avoid making the Empress Dowager suspicious, please change your clothes."
What could Doctor Wei do?
This indeed did him no harm.
Doctor Wei accepted the bundle handed to him by the Hidden Guard, changed his clothes behind the screen, and secretly left the inn.
Hmm.
Doctor Wei considered himself discreet, but soone was secretly tailing him to see when he and Su Jin would make contact.
Did he really think changing clothes could hide his tracks?
Doctor Wei had just boarded the carriage when soone reported the matter to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager sneered coldly, finding such tricks laughably ridiculous.
The carriage stopped at the Prince Mansion’s back gate, the Hidden Guard leading Doctor Wei into the mansion.
Upon entering Agarwood Pavilion, they headed straight for the bamboo house in the backyard.
Inside the bamboo house, Su Jin was mixing ointnts when the Hidden Guard entered and said, "Princess Consort, Doctor Wei has been brought back."
Su Jin put down the dicinal materials in her hands and saw Doctor Wei walk in, looking apprehensive.
He paid respects to Su Jin, "A commoner pays respects to the princess."
Su Jin smiled and said, "Doctor Wei, you are too formal."
Doctor Wei looked at Su Jin, "May I ask why the Princess Consort summoned this commoner?"
Su Jin smiled lightly and invited Doctor Wei to sit down and talk.
Doctor Wei, after expressing gratitude, sat down.
Xingxing poured tea.
Su Jin looked at Doctor Wei and said, "Doctor Wei must be very curious why the Empress Dowager forced you back to the Capital City in such a public manner?"
This was precisely Doctor Wei’s confusion.
This puzzle had troubled him for nearly a month.
Now that Princess Consort Zhenbei brought it up, Doctor Wei imdiately said, "I hope the Princess Consort can enlighten ."
Su Jin smiled, "I invited Doctor Wei for this very matter. Indeed, I must first offer my apologies to you, Doctor Wei."
Su Jin’s apology was sincere.
Regardless of whether Doctor Wei knew about the forr Empress’s incident, he, a doctor who had resigned and returned ho, was forcibly involved by the Empress Dowager because of her, possibly even facing danger.
However, the Second Prince’s lineage was profoundly significant, affecting the fates of many. Even if Doctor Wei was innocent, he had to be drawn into it nonetheless.
Su Jin rose to perform a bow of apology to Doctor Wei.
This act startled Doctor Wei, and he hastily said, "Princess Consort, such a gesture is sothing a commoner cannot afford."
This was a princess.
Even if not a princess, she was still the Princess Consort Zhenbei.
How could he bear her apology?
Doctor Wei was more eager to figure out why he had returned to the capital.
After Su Jin sat down, she said, "Doctor Wei should know a little of the animosity between the Empress Dowager and ."
"It was I who had so questions for Doctor Wei, hence sought to bring you to the Capital City. Firstly, I didn’t know your whereabouts; secondly, I feared that if the Empress Dowager found out, she would do harm to you. Thus, I employed a sche to let the Empress Dowager mistakenly believe my dical skills were taught by Doctor Wei. For treating Princess Duanhui’s wrist, she summoned you under the guise of a verbal order."
Doctor Wei, "...."
He had been puzzled why his forr apprentice suddenly seed to provoke the Empress Dowager; now he realized the "good apprentice" the Empress Dowager spoke of was—
Princess Consort Zhenbei?!
Doctor Wei couldn’t stay seated this ti.
When gods fight, it’s the small flyers that suffer.
Between the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort Zhenbei, Doctor Zhao said it’s a never-ending feud. He hadn’t even entered the Capital City when he was wrongly tagged as Princess Consort Zhenbei’s ntor, becoming disliked by the Empress Dowager. No wonder she wished to swallow him whole upon seeing him.
Did the Empress Dowager truly misunderstand that Princess Consort Zhenbei’s prowess was taught by him?
If the Empress Dowager really executed him, he might die with regrets.
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