Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1546: Chapter 1546: Deputy Envoy Liu Who Doesn’t Understand the Rules_1

Inside Yangxin Hall, the Empress walked in gracefully and saluted the Emperor, ”Your concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

”There is no one else around; there’s no need for such grand formalities,” Tang Yin said as he sat drinking tea and casually reading a book.

Hearing this, the Empress solemnly replied, ”Rituals must not be discarded. As the Empress, I must set a good example for all the consorts and concubines of the six palaces.”

The Emperor shifted his gaze from the book to her face, a flicker of boredom in his eyes. There’s no one here, whom are you setting an example for?

He couldn’t be bothered to say anything else and went back to reading his book. After respectfully completing her salute, the Empress then said, ”Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated the matter of Liu Fei’s poisoning. It was a eunuch from the Department of Precautionary Punishment who abused his position to collude with a palace maid from Liuyun Hall to harm her master. It also involved the matter of Liu Fei employing private punishment last month, which resulted in the death of a palace maid. Your Majesty, what do you think...”

The Emperor was well aware of the situation without needing the Empress to report.

”I heard that it was Aunt who recommended Hao Baishuang, who then cured Liu Fei of the poison. Haven’t you looked into this matter further?” The Emperor’s face showed displeasure. The Empress dared not investigate further, right?

The complexion of the Empress turned a shade paler, ”Without solid evidence, let’s not harm the feelings among our own people.”

The Emperor lightly snorted, his voice exceptionally soft—if one wasn’t listening carefully, they wouldn’t notice his dissatisfaction.

”Those who have committed offenses should be judged according to the law. The Empress should also take this opportunity to rectify the Harem. Let Liu Fei remain confined for another three months,” the Emperor said as if it was a casual remark.

Overjoyed in her heart, the Empress thought, what’s the difference between three months of confinement and being sent to Leng Palace? Once she’s out, will the Emperor even remember her?

”Yes, Your concubine will obey the decree. Additionally, Hao Baishuang had the merit of curing Liu Fei of poison, and I declared she would be generously rewarded. Yet she refused to accept and merely requested to enter the Female Physicians Institution. I believe, given her exquisite medical skills, it would be a degradation to make her a common female physician, especially since this was a poison that even the Chief Doctor Bai could not cure,” the Empress said.

A look of irony crossed the Emperor’s face but quickly faded. His Empress had a point, ”Without solid evidence, let’s not harm the feelings among our own people.” He had no evidence and couldn’t do anything to Aunt, and by extension, he couldn’t suspect Hao Baishuang either. Otherwise, speculation from the outside would start to run wild.

”The Empress may decide on the ennoblement,” said the Emperor, rubbing his temples wearily. Seeing this, the Empress sensibly rose to her feet, took her leave, and departed.

That very afternoon, an imperial edict from the Empress arrived at the Female Physicians Institution, stating that Hao Baishuang, for her merit in curing Liu Fei of poison, was specially appointed as the Deputy to the Female Physicians Institution, to assist Bai Ruozhu in managing the institution.

All the female physicians knew about the conflict between Hao Baishuang and Bai Ruozhu. Plus, Hao Baishuang used to be one of the five female physicians who participated in the examination with them. Now, though, she was appointed above them, and the female physicians all started feeling discontent.

Bai Ruozhu, however, was much more composed; she had anticipated this outcome. Wasn’t Princess Huilan’s aim, through Liu Fei’s poisoning incident, to incriminate her? When she found she couldn’t pin the crime on her, she resorted to sending Hao Baishuang in to compete with her. But could Hao Baishuang really outmatch her?

Moreover, don’t think that being appointed the Deputy of the Female Physicians Institution really meant much.

Firstly, this position wasn’t conferred by the Emperor. Secondly, it was merely the position of a deputy; there was no mention of being promoted to any rank of female official. Furthermore, the Female Physicians Institution was established separately, with incomplete systems; the Emperor had decreed for her to adjust and manage, so what could Hao Baishuang as Deputy of the Female Physicians Institution do? She would still adjust things as she desired, wouldn’t she?

Of course, now was not the time, for Hao Baishuang had just saved Liu Fei; it was only fair to let her enjoy her moment of glory.

Before long, Hao Baishuang swaggered into the Female Physicians Institution with a look of triumph on her ever-sneering face, her eyes full of provocation when she looked at Bai Ruozhu.

”Bai Ruozhu, the wheel of fortune turns; here we meet again,” Hao Baishuang said, bursting outright with laughter.

Bai Ruozhu glanced at her coldly and said, ”Now that you’re here at the Female Physicians Institution, you must abide by its rules. I am the person in charge here, a fourth-rank female officer. In the future, Vice Envoy Hao, you must pay respects when you see me and may not address me by my name directly. Otherwise, next time, I won’t be so courteous. Whatever the rules in the Palace, that’s how you should proceed.”

”You...” Hao Baishuang’s arrogance was quenched like a bucket of cold water had been thrown on her; she shook with anger, but knowing she ranked below Bai Ruozhu, she managed to swallow her rage.

She changed her tone and said, ”Chief Doctor Bai surely carries an air of authority, but how come you can’t even solve a case of poisoning and had to let a lowly physician like me solve it?”

Bai Ruozhu let out a snort of laughter, ”Poisons are varied and complex, most difficult to comprehend. I’ve heard that only the person who administers the poison truly understands its composition. I admit my understanding of poisons is limited, not as good as someone who’s in on the secrets.”

The other female physicians all covered their mouths and giggled. The situation was clear to them; how could Hao Baishuang manage to cure Liu Fei’s poisoning just by a stroke of good luck?

”What do you mean? Are you trying to defame me? If that’s the case, let’s go to the Department of Precautionary Punishment and speak clearly!” Hao Baishuang exclaimed angrily.

Bai Ruozhu’s smile vanished, and she commanded sternly, ”Tian Fang, slap her mouth ten times, and reprimand her for her disrespect toward an officer. All day it’s been calling me by my name or ’you, you, you,’ with no manners at all. I truly wonder how she entered the Palace.”

Tian Fang hopped over with a gleeful smile, raised her hand, and swung it toward Hao Baishuang’s face. Since Hao Baishuang lacked martial arts skills, she could only desperately dodge and finally fled outright from the Female Physicians Institution.

Bai Ruozhu scolded Tian Fang with a glance, ”You didn’t hit her even once, too clumsy.”

Tian Fang’s cheeks flushed red, ”It was my first time, I’ll be faster and more ruthless next time.”

”My lord, let me do it next time. We former palace maids know how to do these things,” Wei Tianzhen said, holding back her laughter.

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh too. None of them wanted Hao Baishuang to be parachuted in, especially since Hao Baishuang was the type who didn’t rely on real skills but rather on crooked ways to get in. It’d be odd if others accepted her.

”Next time, just give her a warning. If she continually offends, then you may hit her.”

Hao Baishuang, who hadn’t gone far, overheard the conversation of the people in the Female Physicians Institution and turned pale with rage. She abruptly turned and walked toward Yong’an Palace to seek justice from the Empress.

Inside Yong’an Palace, the Empress had dark circles under her eyes due to the recent investigation into Liu Fei’s affair. Just as things seemed to be settling down, a palace maid reported that Doctor Hao sought an audience.

”Let her in,” said the Empress, in an indifferent tone.

Hao Baishuang entered the hall and paid her respects. Then she poured out her grievances about how Bai Ruozhu targeted her and how the female physicians, along with Bai Ruozhu, ostracized her.

She had recognized Princess Huilan, the Grand Princess who harbored hatred for Bai Ruozhu from the start. Every time she saw Princess Huilan, she would complain in this manner, so she subconsciously assumed that since the Empress appointed her as deputy of the Female Physicians Institution, Bai Ruozhu’s ostracizing her was an affront to the Empress, and naturally, she had to complain in the same way to her.

Unfortunately, she was unaware that the Empress was a person who placed great emphasis on rules and etiquette.

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What a blunder, last night Mouka coaxed the child to sleep and ended up falling asleep too... didn’t even hear the alarm on the phone...