Su Jin did not explain, leaving Doctor Wei in terror.
Su Jin explained clearly, which made Doctor Wei even more terrified.
What would make them resort to such asures to find him? Was there sothing he absolutely had to be asked?
Doctor Wei dared not bla Su Jin for letting the Empress Dowager misunderstand him. As a commoner, he could not possibly contend with the Empress Dowager, much less with the Princess Consort Zhenbei who bested even the Empress Dowager.
Moreover, Su Jin had apologized, and she orchestrated his return to the Capital to protect him.
Such cunning and strategy were truly terrifying to just hear about.
Doctor Wei cald himself down, he should be grateful the Princess Consort Zhenbei told him truthfully, otherwise, how could he understand why the Empress Dowager harbored animosity towards him?
He looked at Su Jin and asked, "What does the Princess Consort wish to ask about?"
Su Jin looked at Doctor Wei and said, "I want to know why Doctor Wei left the Capital back then."
Doctor Wei furrowed his brows.
Was this intrigue really about forcing him to return to the Capital?
The Princess Consort Zhenbei’s curiosity seed too excessive, didn’t it?
Doctor Wei felt so anger inside; this was information anyone could easily find out, terrifying him for a month and disturbing his peace for just a bit of curiosity.
"I broke my leg back then, and then my arm, a stroke of bad luck, thus resigned and returned to my hotown," said Doctor Wei.
"That much I already know. I want to hear the real reason," Su Jin replied with a faint smile.
"... ."
Doctor Wei felt his heart skip a beat.
He stared at Su Jin.
Su Jin was looking at him too.
Doctor Wei instinctively avoided her gaze, realizing that was not a good sign.
There wasn’t any real reason for leaving the Capital back then, rely bad luck combined with weariness of court intrigue.
Doctor Wei attempted to share these thoughts with Su Jin, but could she be so easily fooled?
She looked at Doctor Wei and said, "Regardless of whether Doctor Wei is willing, you are already a part of my crew. Even if you explain to the Empress Dowager you’ve never t before today, she won’t believe it."
"I didn’t seek you out out of self-interest alone. I want to know if Doctor Wei’s departure from the Capital was influenced by Doctor Feng’s death?"
Su Jin hesitated.
Wondering if Doctor Wei was soone she could trust.
After all, what she was investigating was the Second Prince’s lineage.
Currently, the Empress and Empress Dowager are unaware she has grown suspicious; should Doctor Wei prove untrustworthy, and they beco aware, the investigation would only beco more difficult.
Upon Su Jin ntioning Doctor Feng, Doctor Wei stiffened, his face becoming paler.
Su Jin noticed the change in his expression, though Doctor Wei quickly regained his composure.
However, aside from Su Jin, Xingxing and the Hidden Guard also watched Doctor Wei, making him feel as if sitting on pins and needles.
Doctor Wei dared not et Su Jin’s gaze, rely muttered, "Why, why does the Princess Consort suddenly ntion Doctor Feng, it’s been over a decade since his death."
Su Jin decided to gamble. She looked at Doctor Wei and said, "I believe Doctor Wei knows who silenced Doctor Feng, right?"
Doctor Wei categorically denied it.
The Hidden Guard patted his shoulder, saying, "Doctor Wei, more than a decade ago, you wisely withdrew yourself from palace conflicts, but this ti the Empress Dowager summoned you to the Capital, unjustly giving you a dubious identity. Escaping unscathed again won’t be that easy."
"What the Princess Consort desires is rely to set things right. Doctor Wei, do you intend to oppose her and align with the Empress Dowager?"
Doctor Wei felt an overwhelming despair.
They did not offer him a chance to withdraw, was there even an opportunity to side with the Empress Dowager?
Right from the start, all escape routes were blocked.
Doctor Wei looked defeated.
What made the Princess Consort Zhenbei fixate on him...?
The room fell into silence.
After a while, Su Jin looked at Doctor Wei and asked, "Back then, when the Empress experienced fetal distress, wasn’t the child already dead?"
Doctor Wei jolted, falling directly off the stool.
Such a strong reaction was unexpected to Su Jin.
Though this verified Doctor Wei knew sothing of the matter.
It wasn’t easy indeed; the Empress had been so secretive, yet Doctor Wei had sensed sothing, allowing him the chance to escape.
Perhaps it’s the so-called justice of heaven at work here.
It’s divine protection that allows the truth to eventually surface.
Xingxing helped Doctor Wei up and said, "Just say what you know; my lady isn’t a patient person."
Xingxing’s face practically conveyed: If you want a beating, keep resisting.
Doctor Wei returned to his seat, looking bitter, "Princess Consort, I truly don’t know about this matter...."
Su Jin gazed at Doctor Wei and said, "If you insist on not speaking, I cannot force you. However, I will continue investigating."
"As for you, Doctor Wei, if you were aware yet chose to leave the Capital, hiding the truth from the Emperor, do you think he will forgive you?"
"I am giving you a chance to compensate for your wrongs. If you refuse it, can you bear the consequences in the future?"
Doctor Wei succumbed.
He kneeled and said, "Princess Consort, I rely got unintentionally involved in this matter. I have no desire to collude with the Empress or Empress Dowager."
Su Jin personally helped him up, saying, "I believe you only wish for a peaceful life; otherwise, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t have let you live till now."
She rely wanted to uncover the truth.
As long as Doctor Wei hasn’t committed any wrongdoings, she’ll ensure his safety, or else she’d never find peace.
Doctor Wei braced himself and said, "Back then, when the Empress experienced fetal distress, the situation was extrely dangerous. Almost all the Imperial Physicians were summoned to Phoenix Palace to treat her..."
Given the Empress’s pulse at the ti, with his dical skill, he had no way to save the child.
The Empress Dowager decreed that Doctor Feng should spare no expense to ensure the child survived.
From then onward, he never checked the Empress’s pulse again.
Whether the child in the Empress’s womb was alive or dead was beyond his knowledge, as the realm of dical skill has no limits.
He couldn’t save the Empress but that doesn’t an Doctor Feng couldn’t.
Being cautious by nature, observant to the tiniest details, he discovered Doctor Feng would prepare dicine secretly.
Treating the Empress shouldn’t be a clandestine affair, yet Doctor Feng was brewing dicine surreptitiously, and in two portions, clearly indicating an issue.
Doctor Wei didn’t inquire but still detected a problem.
Once when Doctor Feng had a stomach upset and rushed to the privy, he didn’t tily dispose of the dicinal dregs; Doctor Wei secretly checked the concoction.
His body almost froze in fright.
The dicine was indeed abortion prevention dicine, but in excessively high doses, beyond normal dosage ranges by at least fourfold, and included large quantities of anti-contraction dication.
This abnormal usage on the Empress left Doctor Wei incredulous.
He dared not inquire.
As a humble physician facing the Empress and Empress Dowager, he was akin to a worm shaking a tree, overestimating his capabilities.
From that day, Doctor Wei entertained thoughts of departure from the Capital.
Doctor Feng diligently brewed dicine for the Empress daily; the prescription recorded in the patient history and the dication administered were entirely different.
Months later, the Empress gave birth to a plump young prince.
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