Chapter 105: The Prince is an Octopus

“Of course, it’s a living condition. Ah, right—I’ll write you a prescription. If you apply the medicine and take the pills regularly for half a year, everything will be fine.” Su Jingluo suddenly remembered that post-operative care was also an issue. Many of the methods in this era were unsuitable after surgery, so she needed to write detailed instructions. As soon as she stepped out of the chamber, she found a table and carefully wrote down the steps for changing the dressings as well as the methods for using the internal and external medicines.

“But Your Highness, may I ask why?” Chunxi still didn’t understand.

“Why? Why have surgery?” Su Jingluo replied casually as she wrote. Of course, unfamiliar medical practices would feel strange.

“No, Your Highness, you are a genius healer, unlike other imperial physicians. I wonder why you saved the Empress Dowager, especially since she was against the Prince…” Chunxi, following the Prince’s orders, had given the Dowager some medicine that made her uncomfortable. Though he didn’t understand it fully, the Princess’s puzzling behavior intrigued him even more.

“Well, how can I put it? I know the Empress Dowager isn’t kind to the Prince; I don’t like her either. But a doctor’s heart is like a parent’s. If I think about it from that perspective, she is still the Empress Dowager, my mother-in-law. How could I not save her when I saw her suffering?” Su Jingluo finally finished writing the precautions and explained her reasoning in detail.

Her bold words startled Chunxi, who almost covered Su Jingluo’s mouth.

“Oh dear, my Princess wouldn’t speak nonsense,” Chunxi glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, relaxed. He sighed and said, “The Princess and the Prince truly have kind hearts. You don’t know that the moment the Dowager whispered to me about her final breath was also the moment that should have been your last.”

Good heavens, that old witch was ruthless indeed! Su Jingluo’s anger grew the more she thought about it. She wasn’t sure if saving that venomous woman was right or wrong. No wonder she had been whispering to Chunxi for so long. And what about Xiao Jingxuan? Was he kind-hearted? She realized she had never truly tried to understand him.

“Those who hold power often think themselves above others, but everyone—me, you, her—all lives are precious, all flesh and blood. People just think differently, so there’s no need to take offense. Otherwise, you’ll torment yourself with regret and sleepless nights. After kindness is trampled upon, why torture yourself? It’s not worth it. Better not to think about it.”

Chunxi was momentarily stunned, then took a step back and bowed deeply to Su Jingluo, his expression respectful and sincere, as if she had done him a great favor.

“Your Highness is wise beyond measure!” Chunxi’s gaze was full of admiration, as if she were a transcendent sage. Su Jingluo felt slightly embarrassed. Were people in this era really so easily impressed?

She waved her hand modestly as if to say it was nothing. Chunxi, not wasting any time, quickly escorted her out.

Just outside the Empress Dowager’s palace, after Chunxi returned, a young palace maid hurried out from the recovery ward and approached Su Jingluo directly.

“Your Highness, I am the Empress’s attendant.” The maid bowed and introduced herself after seeing Su Jingluo.

“So after attending to the Empress Dowager, I’m to go to the Empress next, right?” Su Jingluo guessed that upon entering the palace, she would have to serve every mistress in turn. She was quite annoyed, especially since the Empress often used curses and tricks against her—truly a sinister woman.

“Yes, but I am here to escort you out of the palace.” The maid spoke nervously, whispering her true intention.