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The named Gui Xiang was a bit hesitant, "Eunuch Li, I’m not the one who serves Lady Shen personally, it’s not appropriate for me to go inside."

Eunuch Li is someone close to the Emperor, the head eunuch, with countless people fawning over him and his words carrying great weight.

Yet one by one, they all disregarded his command, which directly infuriated him.

"If I tell you to go in, you go in. What’s with all the nonsense?"

"...But, Eunuch Li, I’ve just finished work, my feet and hands are dirty." Gui Xiang, fearing Eunuch Li wouldn’t believe her, stepped forward several paces and stretched out her hand in front of Eunuch Li, "Don’t believe me, smell this."

Gui Xiang had just come out from applying fertilizer in the Vegetable Garden, using raw materials, and was about to bathe when Eunuch Li stopped her.

Without waiting for Gui Xiang to extend her hand, as she approached, Eunuch Li smelled the stench of dung and, with a look of disgust, covered his nose, stepping back and flinging the duster in his hand, he rebuked, "Stay away from me."

"Yes, yes." Gui Xiang obediently backed up several tens of steps before she asked cautiously, "Eunuch Li, may I go bathe now?"

Eunuch Li waved his hand in distaste, "Go on, go!"

"Thank you, Eunuch Li." Gui Xiang ran off.

Eunuch Li swept a glance at the two Imperial Doctors, then at the Guard behind him; even with the Emperor’s command, he could not barge in rashly.

Eunuch Li then turned to Chun Xi, and with a stern face, asked, "Is it not ready yet?"

Chun Xi, while massaging her legs, replied, "It’s almost done."

She stealthily glanced at the door behind her, not knowing how the young master was faring inside; she was struggling to hold off any longer.

Imperial Study Room

The Emperor, waiting left and right, saw no sign of Eunuch Li returning to report and grew impatient. He instructed a Palace Maid beside him, "Go to Xiyun Pavilion and see what’s happened."

"Yes." The Palace Maid quickly left the Imperial Study Room and headed straight for Xiyun Pavilion.

Xiao Jinyan stood ramrod straight to one side, also unsure of the situation in Xiyun Pavilion at this moment.

Even though he was anxious, there was nothing he could do at this moment.

A small Eunuch came in to report, "Emperor, the Empress has arrived."

No sooner had the words fallen than the Empress, clad in a bright red Phoenix Robe, walked in and greeted the Emperor, "Concubine pays respect to Your Majesty."

The Emperor raised his hand, signaling the Empress to rise, "What brings the Empress here?"

The Empress, glancing sideways at the Crown Prince, replied, "Concubine heard that Your Majesty was alerted by some baseless tales and took great action, so I came to see for myself."

Xiao Jinyan, observing the sudden appearance of the Empress, flashed a look of surprise in his eyes, likely stunned by her timing, which probably explained his astonishment.

The Emperor’s tone softened as he spoke, "Lady Shen had returned to her family home some days ago and contracted Smallpox. The Crown Prince, disregarding the danger, brought her into the palace. If it were to spread Smallpox to others in the palace, it would be no small matter."

The Empress, previously unaware of the issue, was shocked upon hearing this.

Smallpox is a deadly disease, out of a hundred people, few survive, with a very high mortality rate.

If it were to spread in the Imperial Palace, it would be no trivial matter, which is no wonder the Emperor was so angrily mobilized.

Not only was the Emperor angry, but she was also livid, to dare to deceive the Emperor for a woman?

"Your Majesty, do not be angered, perhaps it is all just a misunderstanding? When Lady Shen returned to her family home, Lady Shen followed, and there has been no word of Lady Shen contracting Smallpox. Have the Imperial Doctors confirmed it to be Smallpox?"

The Emperor paused upon hearing this. When he received the news, he just wanted to confirm it and then eliminate this risk. Smallpox was no small matter.

"I have already dispatched Eunuch Li with the Imperial Doctors to Xiyun Pavilion, we should be able to confirm it shortly."

Xiyun Pavilion

As Eunuch Li was growing impatient, a small Palace Maid came running over, "Eunuch Li, the Emperor has commanded me to see why there’s no news yet?"

Seeing the Palace Maid arrive, Eunuch Li beckoned her, "You’ve come at the right time. Lady Shen is currently bathing, go inside and hurry her along."

"Alright." The Palace Maid was about to step forward when Chun Xi abruptly stopped her, "Wait a moment. My young master is timid. She would certainly be frightened by a stranger entering. It’s better for me to go in."

Eunuch Li was already losing patience and didn’t care about these concerns, "Go in, any delay is more than anyone can bear."

"Eunuch Li, I understand the gravity of the situation. My leg is a bit better; I’ll go in right away and urge the young master to come out quickly." Chun Xi, knowing she could delay no further, turned around and pushed open the door, walking inside, though her pace was much slower than usual.

Eunuch Li watched Chun Xi’s tortoise-like speed, his irritation evident.

Upon entering, Chun Xi, like a rabbit, darted into the inner room, "Young master, I can’t hold them off any longer."

"It’s fine; I’m already done bathing."

Shen Chuwei rose from the bath, beads of water cascading down, she stepped out, taking a bath towel to wipe the droplets from her body.

Chun Xi came in panting to help Shen Chuwei dress.

When she saw Shen Chuwei’s face, she was so surprised, "Young master, the red spots on your face are gone."

After speaking, Chun Xi dashed out, bringing back a mirror for Shen Chuwei to see, "Young master, look, they’re really gone."

Shen Chuwei looked at herself in the mirror; her cheeks had returned to being pale and rosy, as if the red spots had never been there.

It just pained her a little for the loss of her medicine pills.

Chun Xi, overjoyed, put down the mirror and continued assisting Shen Chuwei with dressing and then with her makeup.

Even then, Eunuch Li was growing restless and allowed the small Palace Maid to check on the situation.

The Palace Maid ran in and asked in confusion, "Lady Shen, are you well now?"

Chun Xi replied, "She is well now; let the Imperial Doctors come in."

After a short while, the Palace Maid went out, and Eunuch Li came in with the two Imperial Doctors.

Eunuch Li, without entering the inner room, stood at the doorway and saw Lady Shen lying on the couch, her hair wet, clearly having bathed recently.

However, her face was covered with a mask and could not be seen.

Chun Xi explained with a smile, "Eunuch Li, my young master was injured by an arrow last time, and just now she bathed again. She doesn’t have much strength at the moment; I hope Eunuch Li understands."

Eunuch Li, at this point, cared for nothing else but to quickly conduct the check.

"Lady Shen, the Emperor has heard you’ve come down with Smallpox and specifically sent me to have a look."

Shen Chuwei’s voice sounded somewhat weak, "Then I trouble Eunuch Li."

"I am merely carrying out an order. There’s nothing troublesome about it." Eunuch Li said to the Imperial Doctors, "You go in and have a look first."

Both Imperial Doctors, wearing masks, carefully entered.

One of them said, "Lady Shen, please uncover the mask for the lower official to see."

"Alright." Shen Chuwei lifted her delicate wrist and removed the mask, revealing a delicate face as if carved from jade, her tender cheeks bearing not a single flaw.

The Imperial Doctors saw this, exchanged a look of confusion, and placed a piece of silk on Shen Chuwei’s wrist to check her pulse.

Eunuch Li, standing at a distance, couldn’t see the details and was growing anxious, "Imperial Doctors, have you found anything?"