Next, Su Li performed acupuncture on County Princess Yuzhu twice more.
After the last session, she said to the maid, "Watch her carefully. She should wake up by the latter half of the day at the latest."
"Yes." The maid was no longer as wary as before. Now, whatever Su Li said, she would follow.
County Princess Yuzhu woke up even earlier than expected. Just after lunch, a maid excitedly came to invite Su Li over, saying that the County Princess had awakened.
When Su Li arrived at County Princess Yuzhu's room, Princess Shaowen was happily embracing her daughter.
Seeing Su Li approach, she released her daughter and said, "Zhu'er, this is the divine physician who saved you."
"Divine physician, quickly see if the County Princess has any discomfort?"
County Princess Yuzhu smiled softly at Su Li. Unlike other Xi Chen women, her smile was extremely reserved, likely due to Princess Shaowen's overprotection.
Su Li stepped forward, took her pulse, and said, "The County Princess is completely normal. As long as the Gu poison is removed, she will be perfectly fine."
Princess Shaowen held her daughter's hand and said, "Zhu'er, have you remembered what Mother told you?"
"I remember, Mother, don't worry."
Princess Shaowen gently stroked her daughter's long hair and said, "Zhu'er, don't be afraid. Mother will be by your side. If there's any unusual movement inside you, tell Mother. The rest, leave it to Mother. Mother will definitely make my child return to normal and make the Gu caster wish they were dead!"
County Princess Yuzhu nodded, obediently assenting.
Su Li watched this scene, feeling a little nostalgic for her own parents.
Her expression somewhat downcast, she said, "Your Royal Highness, since everything is fine, I will take my leave."
Princess Shaowen turned around and said, "Go then. Thank you for your trouble, divine physician."
Su Li came out, and Jun Mo saw that her mood was a bit off.
Back in their room, Jun Mo finally asked, "Li'er, what's wrong?"
Su Li shook her head and said, "Nothing, I just felt a little nostalgic for my parents, seeing the deep mother-daughter affection between Princess Shaowen and the County Princess."
Jun Mo embraced her, his hand gently stroking her back.
"Li'er, I'm sorry, it's all because of me..."
Su Li raised her head, covering his lips with her hand.
"Don't say such things. I'm just affected by the scene; I'll be fine in a moment. Ziyan, coming to Xi Chen was my willing choice. If I needed the Thousand-Layer Frost, would you let me come to Xi Chen alone?"
Pausing for a moment, Su Li continued, "You wouldn't, would you? And vice versa. So, don't think that you're burdening me. Those who love each other must not only share joy but also endure hardship together."
Jun Mo held her tighter, sighing, "Li'er, how can you be so good."
The two embraced for a while, then discussed the matter of entering Snow Lotus Mountain.
...
Finally, under the varied expectations of people from all sides, the Purple Emperor's birthday arrived.
Early that morning, a maid brought the Princess's residence's maid and stable boy attire. After Su Li and Jun Mo changed, they came to the front hall to wait for Princess Shaowen and her daughter.
Close to Sishi (9 AM to 11 AM), the group departed from the Princess's residence.
In a magnificent palace within the Xi Chen Imperial Palace, rows of maids held trays, on which rested exquisite hair ornaments.
A beautiful woman in red was trying various hair ornaments on the seated woman.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of this one? This 'Morning Phoenix Hanging Pearl Gold Hairpin' paired with your 'Golden Filigree Sparrow Pattern Cloud Earring' truly match perfectly."
The seated woman wore a purple robe, regal and dignified.
Her eyebrows were raised, and her eyes were sharp.
She merely glanced at the bronze mirror. With just one look, the woman beside her knew she was not satisfied.
Placing the hairpin back on the tray, "Take it away."
Another maid came forward. The woman picked up another hairpin and chuckled, "Your Majesty, this 'Phoenix Spreading Wings Purple Jade Hairpin' is very suitable for your attire today."
The Purple Emperor merely swept her gaze over it, giving a cold "hmph."
The woman secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly and gently adorned it for her.
"Your Majesty, it's truly beautiful!"
"I am over fifty. How beautiful can I be?" Her voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
"How can you say that? Your Majesty possesses heavenly beauty. Years cannot defeat a true beauty. Looking across Xi Chen, and even the entire world, no one can compare to Your Majesty."
The Purple Emperor sneered, "You haven't left Xi Chen. How can you know how many beauties there are in the world? Even if they are beautiful, what does it matter? In his eyes, there is only her."
Ziyue didn't know who the "he" and "she" in her words referred to, but she knew she had said the wrong thing.
She quickly knelt. "Your Majesty, forgive me. Ziyue wasn't lying. You are truly the most beautiful Ziyue has ever seen..."
"Get up. I'm not blaming you. Today, some people might try to fish in troubled waters during my birthday. You must be diligent with the defenses inside and outside the palace. If a lapse like the last one occurs again, you know my temper."
Ziyue quickly said, "Ziyue understands."
The Purple Emperor looked at the person on the ground for a long time, examining her face.
Every time, Ziyue felt that she was looking through herself at someone else.
"You may leave."
"Yes."
Ziyue felt as if she had received a great pardon. She rose and respectfully withdrew.
As soon as she exited the main hall, she regained her usual haughty demeanor.
A maid waiting outside the hall came forward and said, "Your Highness, where are we going?"
Ziyue kicked her. "Do I need to report to you where I'm going, Princess? Who do you think you are? How dare you try to climb over me!"
She vented all the frustration she had just endured on this poor maid.
Outwardly, she was the glamorous Princess Ziyue, the future Empress of Xi Chen.
But only she herself knew what kind of life she had always lived!
The maid pleaded, but Ziyue didn't stop.
Just then, a man rushed over and grabbed Ziyue.
"Princess, this is outside His Majesty's sleeping quarters!"
Ziyue instantly sobered up.
The man ordered his subordinates to take the maid away, then looked at Ziyue.
"Princess, what's wrong?"
Ziyue composed herself and said, "Nothing."
The man said, "This subordinate has heard that Your Highness rose at Maoshi (5 AM to 7 AM) and hasn't even had breakfast, serving His Majesty until now."
Ziyue looked at the man, suddenly feeling a little wronged.
"He Jiao, even you know to care about me not having breakfast, but His Majesty... She's always hard to please, and even more so lately. She spent almost half an hour choosing a hairpin!"
"Princess, be careful with your words!" He Jiao interrupted her, glancing around.
Ziyue said, "I stood for almost three hours straight. I didn't dare to complain, because before I became a royal princess, I also lived a hard life. He Jiao, when you brought me into the palace, I asked you. I asked, 'Why would His Majesty take a liking to me, a commoner girl?' And you said it was because I caught His Majesty's eye."
"Princess, this is not the place to talk."
Ziyue paused, then chuckled, "Alright, I won't say any more. You don't have to be so nervous."
He Jiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that she was no longer speaking treasonous words.
However, Ziyue had another thought in her heart. She always felt that the fragmentary words spoken by the mad old woman confined in the abandoned courtyard of the imperial palace were traceable.
She needed to find an opportunity to go and see her again.
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