After Emperor Jianwen passed away and Empress Dowager Yu took over the power of the harem, Cining Palace gradually faded out of the public eye and was almost forgotten by everyone.
Empress Dowager Li, who was unable to move or speak, lay on the bed all day long, had a weird temper, and often lost control of herself. When the maids served her, they were also full of complaints and resentments.
These maids were all Empress Dowager Yu's. Seeing no one to care about her, Empress Dowager Li could not move or speak, so she was careless in serving her. Sometimes she was too slow to change clothes and bedding for Empress Dowager Li.
There is always a foul stench in there.
There were two or three sarcastic people who deliberately said harsh and unpleasant things in private when no one else was around.
Poor Empress Dowager Li, who has the longest generation and the most prestigious position, yet lives a life like a prisoner. If it were anyone else, she would not be able to close her eyes long ago.
However, Empress Dowager Yu issued a strict order and ordered the imperial doctors to take good care of Empress Dowager Li's body. Precious tonics for extending longevity were continuously sent to Cining Palace.
It can be said that we can neither survive nor die.
However, in the past few days, the scene in Cining Palace has quietly changed.
On the first day of Xie Mingxi's arrival, she scolded all the maids around Empress Dowager Li. She ordered people to carry the stinky Empress Dowager Li into a wooden barrel, bathe her in hot water, and then put on clean clothes.
All the clothes and bedding on the bed were changed, the windows and doors in the bedroom were opened for ventilation, and sandalwood was burned to get rid of the bad smell in the room.
Afterwards, Xie Mingxi called two imperial doctors to ask about the prescriptions Empress Dowager Li was taking.
The two imperial doctors had some careless intentions at first. They never thought that the young Queen Xie was actually well versed in medical science. After asking her a few words, the two imperial doctors broke into cold sweat on their backs.
After Xie Mingxi beat the imperial doctors for a while, she said calmly: "The imperial grandmother has been ill for several years, and you have always taken good care of her. There is nothing serious. However, the illness has not improved."
"If you can't cure the emperor's grandmother, go and report to the envoy of the Ming Zhao Academy and replace him with a skilled doctor. In short, within a month, I want to see that the emperor's grandmother's condition has improved."
On the same day, the envoy from Zhao Yuan came to plead guilty in person, and two more imperial doctors were appointed to adjust the original prescription.
Xie Mingxi read the prescription and didn't say much. She just took a pen, crossed out one of the herbs, added another, and adjusted the weight of the other two herbs. Then she gave the prescription to Ambassador Zhao.
An expert will know if it is there as soon as he takes action.
When Zhao Yuan envoy saw the changed prescription, cold sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead. He knelt down with the imperial doctors to apologize.
Xie Mingxi raised the corners of her lips, but there was no smile in her eyes: "Just follow this prescription and brew the medicine. If it doesn't work within a month, I will go to Jiaofang Palace in person to apologize to my mother."
How could the envoy of Zhao Yuan dare to answer the question? He knelt down in front of Xie Mingxi, with cold sweat dripping down his back.
How could such a huge commotion in Cining Palace be concealed from Empress Dowager Yu?
Queen Mother Yu was quite dissatisfied with Xie Mingxi's unauthorized change of the prescription. She sent Zhilan to ask questions. Xie Mingxi still said the same two words: "Just give the medicine to the imperial grandmother according to the prescription I changed. If it doesn't work within a month, I
I will go to my mother to apologize and let my mother suffer."
Empress Dowager Yu wanted to trap Xie Mingxi in Cining Palace. She felt a little sullen and unhappy, so she swallowed it. She also had the intention of using this incident to attack Xie Mingxi a month later.
Unexpectedly, just a few days later, the emperor and empress would join forces to make such a big noise. Empress Dowager Yu was completely passive and had to admit defeat.
Empress Dowager Yu was also a capable person. Seeing that the situation was not in her favor, she immediately changed her face and sent Zhilan to Cining Palace to "invite" Xie Mingxi.
…
"By the order of the Queen Mother, I invite the Queen Mother to have lunch at Jiaofang Hall."
One day before the canonization ceremony was held, Xie Mingxi, the queen, became unjust and unjust. Zhilan only called her empress vaguely.
Empress Dowager Li in the dormitory was helped to sit up by two strong and powerful maids. Two other maids massaged Empress Dowager Li's legs.
After a few days, Zhilan couldn't tell whether Empress Dowager Li's illness had improved. However, the Cining Palace had a completely new look, and most of the lingering fishy stench had dissipated.
Xie Mingxi sat elegantly on the chair and took a sip of the fragrant tea. Then she said slowly: "The Imperial Grandmother cannot live without anyone. If you go back and report to your mother on my behalf, say that I have no time to go to Jiaofang Palace. Yes."
The emperor and the emperor's sister-in-law accompany my mother to eat together, and I feel very relieved."
Zhilan was frightened when she heard this.
Xie Shangshu's words "brother-in-law and widowed sister-in-law" in the court hall are still in my ears. At this time, Xie Mingxi said "the emperor's sister-in-law", which obviously meant something!
Zhilan continued to laugh: "The Queen Mother has announced the summons. It would be better for the Queen to go to Jiaofang Palace."
Xie Mingxi raised her eyebrows slightly and said calmly: "When my mother summons me, the emperor's grandmother cannot leave me. Could it be that in your eyes, serving the emperor's grandmother is not as important as accompanying the mother to eat?"
How could Zhilan withstand such sharp words? Her knees softened and she knelt down to apologize: "I never meant this, please forgive me!"
Empress Dowager Yu covered the sky with one hand in the harem and tortured Empress Dowager Li into a living dead.
But as long as Empress Dowager Li is alive, she is Empress Dowager Yu's mother-in-law and the only person in the harem who can suppress Empress Dowager Yu in terms of status.
In the past, no one dared to compete with Empress Dowager Yu, and no one mentioned Empress Dowager Li.
Now, Xie Mingxi has taken up this big game...
While Zhilan was dealing with the aggressive Queen Xie, she was secretly frightened for her master.
In the past, in her mind, Queen Mother Yu was shrewd, ruthless, and omnipotent. But now, in front of Xie Mingxi, Queen Mother Yu made frequent mistakes.
Perhaps it’s not the Queen Mother Yu’s fault, but Xie Mingxi’s coping methods are superior.
A seemingly unsolvable dilemma was turned into an unparalleled weapon by Xie Mingxi in just a few days.
Xie Mingxi said calmly: "When you go back to your hometown, remember to learn everything I said to your mother word for word. My mother values filial piety the most. I think she will understand my care for the imperial grandmother and will not blame me easily."
Zhi Lan responded in a low voice and stepped back tremblingly.
Xie Mingxi took another sip of tea before getting up and walking slowly to the bed.
Empress Dowager Li was led by the maids and moved little by little to the bed. She was supported and stood beside the bed for a moment. Then she was helped back to the bed and lay down.
With just these few simple movements, Empress Dowager Li was so tormented that she was sweating all over her body, and her old face became unusually flushed. Her pair of turbid old eyes were a little brighter than usual.
Xie Mingxi smiled slightly, like a filial and considerate good granddaughter-in-law: "The imperial grandmother has been seriously ill for a long time and always lies on the bed. She is very prone to bed sores. It is best to move from time to time."
