Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1485: Chapter 1586: Unworthy to be a Doctor_1

The Emperor wasn’t particularly fond of women, and burdened with numerous state affairs, his frequency of calling consorts to his chambers was limited, even the scheduled visits to the Queen’s Palace on the first and fifteenth had been reduced to just the first day of the month. If the Emperor were indulgent in female company, seeking the presence of others, the Queen could naturally go to the Empress Dowager for resolution or have the censors present a remonstrance. But as it stood, with the Emperor summoning consorts infrequently, often staying in the Imperial Study Room till late into the night, she was frustrated yet powerless to change it.

And this month, the Emperor had visited her only once, the same as he did with the consort Xu, who now looked particularly radiant, a sight that instantly stung the Queen’s eyes.

Bai Ruozhu noticed the Queen’s expression and thought to herself, ’This is bad.’ Consort Xu wasn’t cunning, which explained why she remained just a consort till now. Yet, with a kind heart and a sense of gratitude, Bai Ruozhu truly didn’t want her to get caught in the crossfire.

”Consort Xu, you know nothing about Medical Skills, so don’t speak recklessly. Even if Bai Ruozhu cured you, it doesn’t mean she’s incapable of misdiagnosing. You being here is not helpful, please leave at once,” the Queen said sternly.

Bai Ruozhu quickly shook her head slightly at Consort Xu, but it was Consort Xu’s Nanny who understood the signal and hastily led her away.

”The Empress Dowager arrives!” shouted a Little Eunuch outside in a shrill voice.

In a blink, the Empress Dowager entered the Main Hall, and both the Queen and Bai Ruozhu offered their salutations. The Empress Dowager, in a friendly tone, bid them rise, then asked the Queen, ”On my way here, I heard the brief details. How is Consort Lv doing now?”

”They say it was a misdiagnosis, a wrong Formulas was prescribed. Right now, officer Mao and his team are still trying to save her,” the Queen replied.

”How could there be a misdiagnosis? I have always trusted Ruozhu with my health, and she has never let me down,” the Empress Dowager said in staunch support of Bai Ruozhu.

The Queen felt even more displeased, ”Mother, perhaps we should examine the evidence first.”

At that moment, Jiu Sheng emerged from the room and whispered to Bai Ruozhu, ”Master, someone added an extra ingredient, Lang Rong root, to the back of your Formulas, and they added five moneys of it.”

Bai Ruozhu’s pupils contracted, realizing someone was deliberately framing her.

”Master, I also have copies of your Formulas. I’ve sent someone trustworthy to fetch them. Once they arrive, your innocence will be proven,” Jiu Sheng added.

Bai Ruozhu shook her head ever so slightly. They could easily claim Jiu Sheng, as her disciple, was intentionally protecting her.

”There’s no rush, saving a life is the priority,” Bai Ruozhu said, then turned to the Empress Dowager and the Queen, ”I beg the Empress Dowager and the Queen to grant me permission to first attend to Consort Lv. Afterwards, I will certainly provide you both with a reasonable explanation.”

The Queen wanted to object, but the Empress Dowager cut in, ”Saving a life is urgent. Go on, do not let anything happen to Consort Lv.”

”Mother!” the Queen tried to interject, but the Empress Dowager gave Bai Ruozhu a meaningful look, signaling her to hurry inside. She would handle the situation outside.

Understanding the cue, Bai Ruozhu rushed into the room with Jiu Sheng, while behind them, the Queen’s dissatisfaction with the Empress Dowager’s decision echoed, yet fortunately, the Queen didn’t dare force Bai Ruozhu out.

Upon seeing Bai Ruozhu enter, Wei Pengbo immediately exclaimed, ”Bai Ruozhu, you have the nerve to show your face? Look at what you’ve done to Consort Lv!”

Consort Lv, seeing Bai Ruozhu, showed a look of hatred in her eyes, ”You, you...”

She couldn’t utter a word before her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Bai Ruozhu had only known Lady Lü for two days, and she understood that there was no reason for Lady Lü to fully trust her under these circumstances. Still, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, discomfort aside, she would not forget the benevolence required of a doctor. Besides, even out of sheer stubbornness, she was determined to save Lady Lü’s life and prove that Lady Lü had misunderstood her.

”This is bad, Lady Lü has fainted. Her stomach is so weak, she might...” Mao Xingcai exclaimed anxiously.

Wei Pengbo hurriedly looked over at Lady Lü, his face turning pale. He had intended to use Lady Lü to frame Bai Ruozhu, but he dared not actually kill Lady Lü. He hadn’t realized that Lady Lü’s stomach was so weak; the five moneys’ worth of Cynanchum root was too much for her stomach to handle!

To harm someone, six moneys’ worth of Cynanchum root would suffice, and he had even reduced the amount by one money for Lady Lü, not wishing to cause a serious incident. He hadn’t anticipated her condition being worse than he had expected.

”Everyone clear out, don’t hinder my efforts to save her!” Bai Ruozhu, seeing the two men become dumbfounded at the slightest issue, felt a surge of anger and pushed past Mao Xingcai. Jiu Sheng also quickly followed, pushing away the still dazed Wei Pengbo.

As Bai Ruozhu administered the acupuncture to Lady Lü, she said, ”I know someone is trying to harm me. I, Bai Ruozhu, have practiced medicine for many years; how could I misuse something like Cynanchum root? A normal person would exhibit these symptoms after taking six moneys’ worth of Cynanchum root. The person trying to harm me used five, and given Lady Lü’s current stomach condition, three would be enough to seriously harm her. Adding two more moneys’ worth is an attempt on her life!”

”I know some people dislike me, but as a doctor, I am compassionate. To harm an innocent patient simply because of a dislike for a certain doctor—is that what a doctor should do? Such a person is unworthy of being a doctor, let alone an Imperial Doctor!” Bai Ruozhu said indignantly.

Regaining his senses, Wei Pengbo quickly suppressed the panic in his heart and glared at Bai Ruozhu, saying, ”What do you mean by that? You prescribed the wrong formulas and hurt someone, and now you’re making wild accusations? I won’t waste words with you. Just wait for your imprisonment!”

Bai Ruozhu sneered, casting a sidelong glance at Wei Pengbo, ”Then let’s wait and see who ends up in prison.”

Having said that, she ignored Wei Pengbo, removed the needles one by one, and stuffed a detoxifying pill into Lady Lü’s mouth. The Cynanchum root, reacting with the other herbs, had produced a poison, and the detoxifying pill was the fastest and most effective remedy.

Mao Xingcai had just prescribed a detoxifying formula, but unfortunately, it took time for the staff to gather the ingredients and prepare the decoction, and it was unclear when it would arrive. It was obviously no match for Bai Ruozhu’s pill in terms of efficacy.

Sure enough, before long, Lady Lü’s complexion improved, and she gradually began to regain consciousness.

Once the medicine and recuperation followed, Bai Ruozhu let out a huge sigh of relief. If something had happened to Lady Lü, even if Bai Ruozhu proved her innocence, it would still leave a knot in her heart. After checking the prescription Mao Xingcai had written and finding no mistakes, she decided not to prescribe a new one.

Mao Xingcai looked at Bai Ruozhu, bewildered, and asked, ”What did you just give Her Ladyship? How did it take effect so quickly?”

”It was a common detoxifying pill. Cynanchum root, when reacting with other drugs, becomes toxic. Fortunately, the toxicity was weak, and this type of detoxifying pill was just effective,” Bai Ruozhu replied.

”Can your pills detoxify many poisons?” Mao Xingcai asked excitedly.

Bai Ruozhu, not understanding his persistence, replied indifferently, ”They can handle general, less potent poisons, but for severe toxins, specific antidotes are required.”

By this time, Lady Lü had regained much of her clarity and glared at Bai Ruozhu, demanding, ”Was it you who did this to me? I almost... I almost died just now!”

Bai Ruozhu sighed silently, ”I have not prescribed the wrong formula. As for who is trying to harm Her Ladyship, I suppose the truth will come to light by the end of the day.”