The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 1164: Doomed

With Buhui’s diagnosis spoken, everyone’s expressions changed several times; Imperial Physician Lu stared at him in fright, thinking, are monks nowadays all so reckless with their own lives? To speak so bluntly like this, is he not afraid of taboos?Or is this what a true doctor is—telling the plain truth?

Song Ci, however, thought, worthy of you, an iron straight-man Monk, honest to the bone wherever you go.

Emperor Chu’s face had gone dark; his gaze, which had been on Buhui, shifted to Imperial Physician Lu’s face. Tuberculosis?

Imperial Physician Lu felt somewhat guilty; he had suspected as much himself, only he hadn’t dared to say it outright, especially without being completely certain. Who would have thought this blockheaded Monk would blurt it out in one go.

Empress Dowager Wang was also stunned for a moment, then a wave of panic rose in her. No wonder she kept coughing, as if she couldn’t catch her breath, and there was blood in her phlegm.

"Emperor, you go out first." Empress Dowager Wang looked at Emperor Chu and said.

If it was tuberculosis, it could easily be transmitted to others. She did not wish to implicate her son; he was the ruler of a nation, there must be no mishap.

Emperor Chu remained unmoved, only looking at Buhui and asking, "Master, my imperial mother has never had poor health; how could she have developed tuberculosis?"

Master Buhui held back and said, "Old in years and frail in body, with an illness that has never fully recovered."

Song Ci let out a silent sigh of relief. Good thing you decided to act human this once, or else, coming into the palace today, you might not be walking back out.

Emperor Chu still wanted to say more, but Song Zhiyuan coughed once and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps we should speak outside?"

Emperor Chu stiffened, then finally looked at Empress Dowager Wang and said, "Mother, please rest for now."

Empress Dowager Wang waved her hand; she could not wait for her son to leave quickly.

The group walked out and moved to a side hall to talk.

Emperor Chu sat at the head seat and asked bluntly, "Master Buhui, this frailty of my imperial mother’s—could it be exactly the same as Madam Song’s?"

"The Empress Dowager’s frailty, compared to Madam Song’s, is somewhat more severe." Master Buhui did not conceal anything.

Emperor Chu was greatly shocked.

Song Zhiyuan was also startled. "How can that be? The Empress Dowager’s health has always been somewhat better than my mother’s, and she is younger—how could it have come to this?"

Buhui, however, only smiled. "Prime Minister, you were born into a poor family, so you should know: children who grow up in the mountains and in the fields have much sturdier bodies than those raised in warm rooms and pampered with meticulous care. Madam, though she damaged her foundation when she was young, has at least spent years doing farm work and rough labor, and so her body toughened itself over time. But the Empress Dowager, these years she has lived in luxury and anxiety; she cannot bear even the slightest speck of filth, and if her food is the least bit coarse, it upsets her stomach. How can the two be compared?"

Song Zhiyuan: "..."

"Wildflowers grow rough and unattended, and thus are all the more tenacious; but delicate orchids are precious and finicky—one small oversight and they wither. That is all there is to it."

Emperor Chu was terrified; his hand curled into a fist, then relaxed again, anger faintly surging forth.

"Eunuch Zhou, where is that screen? Let Master Buhui take a look. And have Madam Song invited as well."

Eunuch Zhou assented and had Eunuch Hai lead some men to carry over the screen that had already been quietly put away. At the same time, he went to escort Song Ci over.

Song Zhiyuan was uneasy and personally went over to support Song Ci, explaining the situation to her in a low voice.

Song Ci was horrified and looked toward the screen covered in velvet. She hadn’t misheard, right? She had a string of Crystal Stones, and the Empress Dowager had an entire screen?

The radioactive kind?

No wonder Empress Dowager Wang had become that weak.

Emperor Chu did not go near; he only had someone lift the red cloth. The screen was set just under the window, where the winter sunlight happened to stream in and fall upon it. It glittered crystal-clear, lustrous like jade, breathtakingly beautiful.

Song Ci recognized it at a glance and, startled, instinctively stepped back two paces.

Wasn’t this made of the same material as that string of Crystal Stones? With such a large piece, if it was kept by one’s side day and night, it could only be summed up in four words: you’re as good as dead.