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Uncle Li said it was purchased by a nobleman whose prestige was beyond words, and there was likely no one in this world who could surpass that noble.

He shook his head with a wry smile, chiding himself for such fanciful thoughts.

How could that person, who dealt with thousands of daily affairs, have the time to come here, not to mention stroll through a noisy crowd at the market and just happen to fancy his goods? It was too far-fetched a notion.

Having laughed at himself, he then remembered the pale and plump man—he couldn’t have been mistaken. That plump figure was definitely the same one who had both saved and restricted his Clan Aunt and Clan Uncle; he was that man’s subordinate.

However, since Guo Neng was nearby at the time, he had no chance to linger and had to leave at once, a pity indeed. If he hadn’t had to leave, he would have tried to find a way to make contact with that man.

The fact that this plump man had now come here probably had something to do with his big brother’s re-examination, but whether he was acting on that man’s orders, he could not ascertain.

Lian Bao sighed. Since his last contact with the Internal Guard Bureau’s Ancestral Master, he hadn’t visited the Internal Guard Bureau again. Counting the days, he decided to make another trip after his brother’s matters were settled, hoping that by then, there might be some gains to be had...

Inside Huaning Palace.

Xiao Jizi’s eyes were bloodshot, and he was overwhelmed by grief as he wept blood-soaked words, "...First there was a sighting of blood, and I went to the Imperial Medical Bureau to fetch Master Huang, but he wasn’t there.

Sadly, my master is of a timid nature and can’t stand the sight of other Imperial Physicians—seeing strangers might send her into shock.

I knew Master Huang was visiting your place, but I didn’t dare to disturb you and had to go back.

Shortly after returning, our lady began to suffer unbearable abdominal pain and started to bleed. .."

He was talking about Xiao Qing, who experienced severe abdominal pain and bleeding yesterday, and was still in her monthly period.

Having finished speaking, he broke into heart-wrenching howls, and his cries of despair echoed through the entire Huaning Palace.

Pang Ya joined in the wailing, lifting a sleeve stained with a smear of blood to wipe her tears. The tears mixed with the blood, leaving streaks down her face, like tears of blood. Her disheveled hair and haggard appearance made her look particularly fearsome.

While crying, she said, "Nanny is worried to the point of falling ill herself, waiting for Imperial Doctor Huang to examine her. He was supposed to be examining you, right? You are perfectly well here, so where is Doctor Huang? We’ve been searching all the way here.

Consort Zhen, please, be kind and tell us where Imperial Doctor Huang is! "

Their wails were so loud as to shake the heavens, yet every word clearly reached Consort Zhen’s ears.

She cried even harder, tears chirring down like a torrent mixed with bloodstains, reaching out desperately to grab Consort Zhen’s robe with her frightful appearance.

Dammit, Consort Zhen initially did not wish to receive them. Only after the young eunuch from the Star Palace mentioned His Majesty and Nanny Qi did she consent to meet with them.

Their three parties had come together after careful consideration: she represented Nanny Qi, the people from Star Palace represented His Majesty, and Xiao Jizi represented Canglan Court. In this Harem, who would dare not to receive them!

Yet Consort Zhen, usually so timid, had the audacity to claim that Huang Zude was not here. Such preposterousness.

This only intensified Pang Ya’s dissatisfaction, prompting her to perform even more convincingly and forcefully. She was close to Xiao Qing and, to stand up for her and also to vent her frustration, she was giving it her all.

Consort Zhen, her face deathly pale, could not sit still any longer. She stood up and repeatedly tried to dodge Pang Ya’s bloody hands, hands full of bloodstains, whose origin was clearly known.

In a flurry, she said, "He, he’s indeed not here; I meant not in the Main Hall. I remember now, after seeing me, he seemed to have gone to Nanny Wen’s place. Someone, go, quick! Check if he’s still in Nanny Wen’s room, and ask Imperial Doctor Huang to come out, hurry, hurry!"

The eunuchs of Huaning Palace hurriedly responded, and before leaving, they cast a glance at Consort Zhen’s senior palace maid by her side, then rushed off to find someone.

Consort Zhen, supported by others, staggered and avoided Pang Ya’s hand, the sight of the blood on it sending shivers down her spine, afraid it would stain her.

She was on the verge of tears; she had only heard that Huang Zude excelled in treating chronic hematoma. Nanny Wen had exerted herself to the utmost for her over the years, and she held Nanny Wen in high esteem, which is why she requested Huang Zude on her behalf.

Huang Zude was currently performing acupuncture on Nanny Wen.

Initially, when she heard that someone from Canglan Court had come to ask for Huang Zude, her senior palace maid spoke on her behalf, commenting that Beauty Lian was too presumptuous.

She held a concubine rank far above a small beauty in the harem, and her status was incomparably higher—couldn’t Beauty Lian simply consult another imperial physician instead of requesting the one currently tending to her?

Upon hearing this, she felt displeased, and thus did not meet with them.

Later, when she learned that Nanny Qi’s maid and the eunuch from Star Palace had arrived, she had no choice but to see them. Even though they seemed anxious, she thought that if she could delay even for a moment, by the time enough time had passed, the acupuncture should be finished.

But she had not anticipated that it was such a grave matter—bleeding had occurred, and for a pregnant woman, the dangers of such a sign were self-evident!

Why didn’t they explain the reason for their visit when they initially sought an audience, or speak the truth when they first met? They had wasted so much time with her. If she had known it was such a serious matter, not even ten times her courage would suffice to get involved!

At this moment, her mind was in complete turmoil, her heart pounding wildly out of sheer terror. She didn’t want any part in such an affair, not in the slightest.

Pang Ya, wailing, incredulously widened her eyes and said, "So, Master Huang really is here with you, and after such a long stay, he hasn’t left.

Master Lian has been unable to summon him, and now Nanny Qi is still lying there, and we don’t know her condition, but you delayed all this time for your own servant.

When I came out and saw so much blood, I was terrified. .."

She broke down with a "wah," crying as if her heart was broken, her face a mixture of grief and rage, and also overwhelmed with shock.

Consort Zhen’s ears rang painfully with the cries. She had intended to keep it secret, but with Canglan Court’s bleeding occurrence, the matter was too significant to conceal. She couldn’t bear the weight, and fearing the eventual inquisition, she would likely be forced to reveal it.

She was shaking with fear, partly due to the ghostly wails and howls in the palace that terrified her, especially Pang Ya’s expression, which was horrible to behold.

Despite attempts to cover up, her clothes bore many bloodstains, her hands as well, and now her face was smudged with blood, making her appear as ghastly as a fierce ghost;

On the other hand, she was extremely anxious. Thinking of the consequences filled her with dread. Her heart thudded violently, so fast it felt as if it might burst out at any moment. Her blood surged, blurring her vision.

Nanny Qi was a significant personage, the former empress dowager’s managerial nanny, carrying a third-ranked imperial edict.

Even Noble Consort Xue had to avoid her edge.

And now, with a matter of urgency seeking Imperial Doctor Huang, she had found herself equivocating and obstructing, which eventually led to the discovery that she was delaying for a mere servant to be treated.

She dared not bear such an accusation!

Her lips pallid and trembling, she attempted to explain, "This consort, this consort had no idea you were summoning Imperial Doctor Huang. This consort, this consort..."

"This consort" struggled to articulate a complete sentence with her breath short and her heart in panic, stepping back repeatedly.

Cai Hua, the senior palace maid by Consort Zhen’s side, curved her lips into a slight smirk, a glint of dark satisfaction fleeting across her eyes.

As Cai Hua steadied Consort Zhen, who was continually collapsing, her hand turned ice cold from fright, her heart flickering with disdain.