The portion for Xiaoxiang Hall held a significant place within the imperial harem, thus the lunch prepared for Li Man'er was exceptionally lavish. Though the quantity of dishes was not overwhelming, each one was exquisite, featuring the finest seasonal delicacies.
"Man'er, try the imperial cuisine. Does it suit your palate?"
Li Man'er vaguely recalled this might be her first time dining in the palace. In the past, such opportunities never included her, as neither Cui Shi nor Guo Shi ever brought her along.
"Just looking at it makes my mouth water. The palace chefs' skills are undeniably superb."
Li Qingshu served Li Man'er a dish. Noticing Li Man'er's slightly surprised gaze, she explained, "Here, I am your aunt, and you are my niece. There's no need for formalities."
Hearing this, Li Man'er's impression of Li Qingshu improved.
Could it be that good things can arise from bad stock? Could Cui Shi, such a deeply scheming elder, have given birth to someone as pure and innocent as Li Qingshu?
Li Man'er popped a piece of bamboo shoot into her mouth. In this vast imperial harem, were there truly any innocent people? Even if one's intentions were not to vie for favor, wouldn't others scheme against you for it? If Li Qingshu were truly naive and kind, never engaging in disputes, she likely wouldn't have survived this long!
She had been in the palace for ten years. If she were truly innocent, could she have remained in her consort position so peacefully until now?
That wasn't quite right, the Fourth Princess was gone!
Li Man'er ate without speaking, her delicate bites revealing a hint of distraction that caused Li Qingshu's lips to curve slightly. She remembered her own youth, filled with freedom and radiance, but after entering the palace, she had long forgotten what it felt like to act according to one's own heart.
After lunch, Li Qingshu had tea prepared, and she conversed with Li Man'er in a side hall.
"How is the Old Madam's health?"
Li Man'er nodded. "The weather was too hot a few days ago, and Grandmother's appetite wasn't good, causing some digestive issues. However, she's much better after taking medicine."
Li Qingshu nodded. "And your mother?"
"She still hasn't woken up, remaining asleep. We're sustaining her with ginseng soup, but the physicians are at a loss."
Li Qingshu couldn't help but ask, "Even you can't do anything?"
Here it comes!
Li Man'er thought to herself. She had been wondering if her aunt was truly so pure, innocent, and harmless.
Now, she suspected that her initial demeanor might have just been a means to disarm her.
"Aunt, while I do study medicine, I only learned from the texts of the ancients and used their prescriptions. I can follow them to the letter, but I'm incapable of groundbreaking innovation. My mother's illness is unprecedented, and I've never heard of such a condition. I've scoured ancient texts, only finding descriptions of the elderly falling into a coma as they approach death, but never a condition like my mother's."
Li Qingshu nodded, "I also received news when your father was poisoned, but even Imperial Physician Duan couldn't do anything. How could I have helped? I never expected you, this child, to silently learn such skills and detoxify him."
A peculiar feeling resurfaced in Li Man'er's mind. Li Qingshu seemed to harbor little deep affection for her maternal family, her mother, or her own brother.
"Aunt, I've come because... Grandmother gave me instructions."
Li Qingshu smiled. "Even if you hadn't said it, I would have known. Mother asked you to check my pulse and help me conceive, didn't she?"
Uh...
Li Man'er could only nod. That was indeed the case.
Li Qingshu chuckled. "I know my own body. To conceive, I fear it's quite difficult. However, since you are here, I will trouble you one more time."
Li Man'er quickly replied, "Aunt, you speak as if we are strangers. Please have someone fetch a medicinal pillow. If one isn't available, even a towel will suffice."
The palace was lacking in nothing. Imperial physicians came periodically to check pulses, and Xiaoxiang Hall was well-equipped with medicinal pillows.
As Li Man'er took Li Qingshu's pulse, Li Qingshu remained remarkably calm. She had long since given up any hope for her own body.
Aunt Wenxiu, however, was particularly anxious, sensing that perhaps Li Man'er's presence might change something.
While Li Man'er examined Li Qingshu's pulse, her expression was serene. Even Li Qingshu, a seasoned survivor of the palace, could not discern anything from her eyes.
Li Qingshu marveled inwardly. The Li Man'er she remembered, who was raised by Guo Shi to be capricious, eccentric, and ill-tempered, had transformed into someone she couldn't fathom.
It was truly remarkable.
Simultaneously, Li Man'er was also inwardly astonished. Li Qingshu's physical condition was nearing its end! Before the birth of the Fourth Princess, she must have miscarried. During the birth of the Fourth Princess, her body was severely depleted, suffering from severe bleeding and puerperal convulsions. Her recovery had been poor.
These were minor issues. The most crucial was that Li Qingshu had been poisoned, a slow-acting toxin. Although she had received treatment, it was discovered rather late. The poison had gradually permeated her internal organs, leaving Li Qingshu's body in a precarious state.
How precarious? Well...
Let's just say that Cui Shi could outlast Li Qingshu.
Li Man'er withdrew her hand and sighed.
The hope in Aunt Wenxiu's eyes instantly vanished. She had been foolishly optimistic. She knew the Consort's condition all too well. At this stage, she still dared to dream of miracles! Was this not a pipe dream?
Furthermore, how old was Miss Li? Even if her medical skills were superb, could they truly surpass those of the imperial physicians?
Aunt Wenxiu felt that the rumors circulating outside, suggesting Duan Imperial Physician was inferior to Li Man'er, might have been spread by the Li family themselves, merely to inflate the value of their daughters.
"It's a pity," Li Man'er sighed softly. "Aunt, if only I had come sooner."
"It matters not." Li Qingshu had long since come to terms with life and death. The moment her Ah Wu left, her heart had died. What remained was merely a walking corpse.
Aunt Wenxiu's eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, "Consort..."
Just then, Li Man'er said, "If I had come earlier, Aunt would still have had the possibility of childbirth. But I am late. I can only save Aunt's life and detoxify her. To conceive, I fear, will be difficult."
These words struck Li Qingshu and Aunt Wenxiu like a thunderbolt, profoundly impacting them.
"What did you say?" Li Qingshu couldn't believe her ears.
"Aunt can no longer bear children."
"No, the other part."
Li Man'er intentionally hummed, then said, "Detoxify and save your life."
Aunt Wenxiu was both surprised and overjoyed. "Really? Can Miss Li truly achieve this?"
"Of course."
Li Qingshu, however, was not as optimistic. "Do you know what I have endured? You are so confident, aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation?"
"Before the Fourth Princess, Aunt once carried a child, but miscarried before three months, is that correct?"
Li Qingshu frowned. Her family knew about this matter, so her knowing it was not surprising.
"Yes."
"During the birth of the Fourth Princess, there was severe bleeding and puerperal convulsions."
Aunt Wenxiu nodded repeatedly, but her heart was still uncertain.
Li Man'er revealed her trump card. "Then why didn't you tell your family about being poisoned? Was it something you couldn't speak of?"
Li Qingshu froze completely and blurted out, "How did you know?"