Xuexue said bluntly, "Reward."
The Emperor didn't react immediately: "Ah? Madam Situ, what did you say?"
Xuexue reminded him: "The Emperor issued an Imperial Edict saying whoever cures the Empress Dowager's illness will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold. Has the Emperor forgotten?"
Only then did the Emperor suddenly come to realize and nodded, saying, "Indeed, there is such a matter."
Xuexue's mind was set on the reward; otherwise, why would she go through so much trouble to enter the Imperial Palace? She certainly wasn't in the habit of doing good deeds for free, so she asked again, "The Emperor, what about the reward for this subject?"
The Emperor glanced at the sleeping Empress Dowager on the bed and said, "The Empress Dowager hasn't woken up yet. Once she is fully recovered, I will not short-change you on this reward."
