I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 154: The Use of Dark Chess

Qiu Yue led in a physician who was about forty years old, with a thin face and wearing a blue official robe.

"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Wang has arrived."

Wang Jimin bowed respectfully, his voice steady: "Your humble servant Wang Jimin greets Consort Hua."

"Physician Wang, there's no need for such formalities."

Xu Fenghua sat upright on the soft couch, slightly raising her hand to indicate, "I have a bit of a headache today, please trouble the imperial physician to take my pulse."

"It is my honor to be able to treat Your Majesty."

Wang Jimin stepped forward and sat down on the embroidered stool that the palace maids had brought.

Qiu Yue immediately fetched a pulse pillow and placed it under Xu Fenghua's wrist.

Wang Jimin extended three fingers and gently placed them on Xu Fenghua's wrist pulse.

His fingers were long and slender, with warm fingertips and a steady, calming touch.

When taking a patient's pulse, he lowered his eyes slightly, his expression focused, as if he were truly just concentrating on diagnosing the illness.

Xu Fenghua looked at him quietly.

After six years apart, Wang Jimin looked much older, with gray hair at his temples and fine lines around his eyes.

But his eyes remained clear, and his expression remained calm, not much different from the stubborn and unyielding young doctor in front of the clinic back then.

Time passed slowly.

The hall was completely silent, except for the soft ticking of the water clock in the corner.

After a long while, Wang Jimin slowly withdrew his hand and pondered:

"Your Majesty's pulse is thready and weak, indicating excessive thinking, stagnation of liver qi, and poor blood circulation. In addition, you must not have slept well last night, and you are also mentally and physically exhausted today, hence your headache."

His diagnosis was conventional and no different from that of an ordinary imperial physician.

Xu Fenghua nodded slightly: "The imperial physician is absolutely right. How should we treat this?"

"Your Majesty, I will first prescribe a formula to soothe your liver, regulate your qi, calm your mind, and soothe your nerves."

Wang Jimin took out paper and pen from his medicine box and began to write a prescription. His handwriting was neat and elegant, and he was extremely careful with every stroke.

After writing it down, he presented the prescription with both hands:

"Your Majesty, if you take this prescription, your condition should improve in three days. However..."

He paused, looked up at Xu Fenghua, and a barely perceptible deep meaning flashed in his eyes.

"Illness arises from the mind, and the power of medicine will eventually be exhausted. Your Majesty must relax and think less, so that you can be cured completely."

Xu Fenghua took the prescription and glanced at the paper.

The prescription is very ordinary, consisting of herbs such as Bupleurum, Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, and Poria cocos, which are used to soothe the liver and regulate qi. The dosage is also common.

But her gaze fell on the signature at the end of the prescription.

There, Wang Jimin signed his name and drew an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible pattern below it.

A five-petaled plum blossom.

The fifth petal of the plum blossom is slightly angled off from the other four petals.

This was the secret code they agreed upon back then.

The plum blossom has five petals, with the fifth petal slightly off-center, signifying that everything is well and contact can be made.

Xu Fenghua's heart settled slightly.

At least, Wang Jimin's line is still safe.

"The imperial physician is right."

She slowly put away the prescription and handed it to Qiuyue beside her, "Get the medicine according to the prescription, decoct it and bring it over."

"Yes." Qiuyue took the prescription, bowed, and withdrew.

Inside the hall, only Xu Fenghua and Wang Jimin remained.

The sunlight from outside the window filtered through the paper window, casting dappled shadows between the two people.

The flames of the eternal lamps inside the hall flickered slightly, casting long, long shadows of the two people on the wall.

Xu Fenghua picked up the teacup, gently skimmed off the foam, and said in a very low voice:

"Imperial Physician Wang, I have a question to ask you."

Wang Jimin bowed his head: "Your Majesty, please speak."

"Today in the Imperial Garden, I saw an old eunuch whose face... seemed quite familiar."

Xu Fenghua spoke slowly, carefully considering each word.

"He was around sixty years old, with a hunched back and an old scar on his left eyebrow. I wonder if Physician Wang, who has served in the Imperial Hospital for many years, has ever seen this man?"

She described Cao Wei's appearance, but deliberately omitted the name "Cao Wei," only referring to him as "the old eunuch."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in Wang Jimin's eyes.

He was silent for a moment before whispering:

"Your Majesty, there are thousands of eunuchs in the palace. Although I move around the palace, I spend most of my time in the Imperial Hospital and don't have much interaction with the eunuchs. However..."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further:

"Your Majesty, I do recall that about seven days ago, the Imperial Household Department recruited a group of elderly eunuchs from outside the palace to be responsible for cleaning the outer areas of the palaces and the Imperial Garden. Among them... there does seem to be someone like the one Your Majesty described."

Seven days ago?

Xu Fenghua's heart stirred.

That was shortly before Qin Mu returned from his southern tour and took her as his concubine.

The timing is right.

"Do you know this person's name? Where is he on duty?" she pressed.

Wang Jimin shook his head: "This humble subject only overheard a young apprentice from the Imperial Medical Academy mention it, and did not inquire further. However..."

He looked up and met Xu Fenghua's gaze, his voice barely audible:

"If Your Majesty truly wishes to investigate, this humble subject may be able to... inquire on your behalf."

This was said in an extremely subtle way, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Xu Fenghua gave him a deep look.

Six years have passed, and Wang Jimin is still the same Wang Jimin.

Cautious, composed, grateful, and... intelligent enough.

"Then I will trouble the imperial physician."

She said slowly, "But remember this: do not disturb anyone else."

"Your Majesty understands."

Wang Jimin bowed and said, "If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I will take my leave."

Xu Fenghua nodded: "Go ahead."

Wang Jimin picked up his medicine box, bowed, and withdrew.

As he reached the palace gate, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Xu Fenghua.

For a fleeting moment, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

There was concern, worry, and a touch of indescribable heaviness.

Then he turned and disappeared outside the palace gate.

Xu Fenghua sat alone on the soft couch, remaining motionless for a long time.

Wang Jimin's words confirmed her suspicions.

Cao Wei did indeed enter the palace seven days ago, and he did so as a "miscellaneous eunuch".

What bothered her even more was Wang Jimin's words, "I'll inquire on your behalf."

This means that Wang Jimin did not just bury himself in medical skills during the six years he spent in the palace.

He must have also built his own network of contacts; at the very least, he had trustworthy informants within the eunuch community.

This is good.

She needs such a channel.

But now is not the time to use it.

She had to personally investigate Cao Wei's matter.

More importantly, she must get in touch with Xu Longxiang as soon as possible.

The appearance of Cao Wei, the potential exposure of Jiang Qingxue's true identity, Qin Mu's meaningful probing of Empress Li Yang... all of this must be known to Xu Longxiang.

Otherwise, the Northern plans could very well plunge into an abyss of no return without any preparation.

Xu Fenghua slowly stood up and walked to the dressing table.

A pale and haggard face was reflected in the bronze mirror, but deep within those amber eyes burned an inextinguishable flame.

She opened the makeup box and took out a small, inconspicuous black pill from the bottom.

The pills were only the size of a grain of rice, completely black, and had no odor.

This was given to her by Xu Longxiang when she left the Northern Border.

"Sister, keep this Breath-Sealing Pill safe. If you encounter any danger, take it and you can feign death for twelve hours. I will send someone to meet you then."

At that time, Xu Longxiang was still young, his eyes full of youthful vigor and worry for her.

She accepted it with a smile, never imagining she would actually need it.

But now...

Xu Fenghua held the pill tightly in her palm. The cool touch transmitted through her skin calmed her restless mind slightly.

It's not the right time yet.

Feigning death is a last resort, an option used only when absolutely necessary.

Now, she still has a game to play and a path to take.

First, she needed to ascertain Cao Wei's whereabouts.

Secondly, she needed to find a way to meet with Jiang Qingxue alone.

Despite the immense risks, she had to confirm whether Jiang Qingxue had made contact with Cao Wei and whether she knew the secret of her birth.

Finally, she had to find a way to get the message to Xu Longxiang.

All of this requires time, patience, and even more so... extremely precise calculations.

Xu Fenghua slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, they were clear and resolute.

Qin Mu, do you think you can control everything by trapping us in this deep palace?

you are wrong.

This deep palace, though like a cage, is also the best chessboard.

But the pieces are never just those that are on the surface.

She slowly placed the "Breath-Closing Pill" back into the bottom of the makeup box and closed the lid.

Then, she walked to the window and opened it.

The autumn wind blew into the palace, carrying the scent of plants and trees from the courtyard, as well as the faint sounds of people from outside the palace walls in the distance.

The imperial city is vast, and the palace is deep.

But even the deepest palace walls cannot confine a heart determined to break free.

Xu Fenghua looked north, towards the northern border, the direction where Xu Longxiang was.

Dragon and Elephant, let's wait a little longer.

My sister will definitely spread the news.

Will.

Outside the hall, Qiuyue's footsteps sounded again.

"Your Majesty, the medicine is ready."

Xu Fenghua turned around, her face now regaining its usual calm.

"Bring it in."

She took the medicine bowl; the medicine inside was black, steaming hot, and had a bitter smell.

She picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

The medicine was very bitter, the bitterness spreading from the tip of my tongue all the way to my heart.

But she remained unfazed.

Compared to the anxiety and scheming in my heart, this little bit of suffering is nothing.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually darkening.

Autumn dusk comes exceptionally early, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyes the imperial city in a golden-red hue.

Night is coming again.