The Martial Doctor

A group of eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground, shivering with fear. During the New Year’s celebration over the past few days, King Qi did not come, so naturally, no one went into that secret room.

Although meals were delivered daily.

But the daily food remained untouched, and those delivering the meals reported the situation, but there was no way to find King Qi for a report...

Since Zhao Yuanchun was conferred the title of king, he could live in the palace, but he also returned to his own residence. During the New Year’s period, he had to stay at his residence; otherwise, how could he maintain alliances with his subordinate officials at all times?

If he stayed in the palace, how could those officials seek an audience with him under the pretense of "paying New Year respects"? So, these two days, apart from the first day of the year when he entered the palace to pay his respects, he stayed at his royal residence.

As a result, he only found out three days later about Guan Biyun’s escape from the secret room.

This made him both angry and fearful; if this matter were exposed, it would be a significant blow to the reputation of a prince who had not yet ascended to the position of Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, we truly don’t know how she escaped; that secret room can only be opened from the outside. Every time we delivered her meal, we opened the window and put it in."

"She didn’t touch a single bite, and you didn’t suspect anything?"

"We did suspect; we thought she was just stubborn and unwilling to comply, so..." said the eunuch in charge of the secret room’s supervision, his face embarrassed.

"Useless!" Zhao Yuanchun’s face turned red.

"Enough, Chun’Er! Judging by the timing, she likely escaped during the Emperor’s New Year’s banquet, taking advantage of the palace being understaffed and security being lax. But now, three days have passed, and your issue hasn’t exploded yet, which means she probably hasn’t left the palace. Otherwise, there would have been chaos outside long ago," Consort Xue scolded, coldly analyzing.

"Mother, what should we do now?"

"Quietly find her, locate her, especially pay attention to Phoenix Hall and the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, and make sure they don’t notice anything!" Consort Xue instructed.

"Yes."

"Where’s your cousin? Make sure he watches the Cold Palace. If someone’s hiding in this palace, it’s most likely on that despicable woman’s side, especially since they’ve always had a good relationship," Consort Xue gritted her teeth and said, expressing her resentment and hatred openly, unlike before when she and Consort Yi were as close as sisters, with terms of endearment. Now, the animosity was no longer disguised.

"I’ve already sent someone to inform Cousin. Mother, why are we keeping that woman alive? Why not just kill her?" Zhao Yuanchun said.

"As long as the Third Prince isn’t dead, she can’t die. Only if the Third Prince dies, she loses her value." Consort Xue gave her son a sideways glance.

The Third Prince was confined due to the involvement of his mother, Consort Yi, in the matter with the Crown Prince. Although the Third Prince was confined and lost his freedom, he still maintained his subsistence.

Especially as Zhao Rui arranged for his protection, he only has three sons. No matter how cruel, no parent could harm their own child; moreover, keeping the Third Prince serves as a check against both the Crown Prince and Zhao Yuanchun.

The ways of an emperor are not something the common man can fathom.

Don’t be deceived by the fact that Consort Yi was merely sent to the Cold Palace, not executed. If she were to die inexplicably, what would the Emperor think?

If you could silently kill Consort Yi, does that mean I, as the Emperor, am always in danger of this fate?

If Consort Yi dies, the Emperor would inevitably be furious, ordering a thorough investigation. Under such scrutiny, would Mr. Xue’s identity withstand the investigation?

As for Zhao Rui, Consort Xue understood him well: he was suspicious, power-hungry, and afraid of death.

So, whether it’s the Third Prince or Consort Yi, if they succumb, that’s their fate.

If they suddenly die, before the dust settles, they would be the prime suspects.

"Chun’Er, if you can make the women around you conceive and give birth to a royal grandson, the Crown Prince position will be secure. If you have the intention, you should focus more on this," Consort Xue scolded, "Mother has found you a precious medicine, called the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir. Once you take it, I guarantee you’ll give me a grandson."

"Mother, are you serious?"

"Yes, it’s true. It was personally refined by True Monarch Xiaoyao; it couldn’t possibly be fake!" Consort Xue smirked proudly.

"True Monarch Xiaoyao, the master that Uncle introduced you to?"

"Yes, it’s him. I had someone try it, and it’s completely effective. You can rest assured; how could a mother deceive her son?" Consort Xue said.

"Thank you, Mother. I’ll go back and work hard now!" Zhao Yuanchun took the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir, happily leaving the palace.

The Cold Palace, also known as the Palace of Separation.

Located in the northernmost part of the royal palace, it’s built in a low-lying area. Summer is fine, but come winter, it becomes very cold and damp.

In just two short years, the formerly well-maintained and still charming Consort Yi had become like a sixty-year-old woman. She also suffered from severe rheumatism.

In the bone-chilling winter, the pain kept her up all night, making the experience extremely miserable.

However, this year, she wasn’t alone; there was someone else with her.

Consort Yi, though now stripped of her title, was called the Disgraced Consort; most palace people liked to call her "Poison Consort," simply meaning an evil and vicious consort.

"Your Highness, I must leave now; this is the Cold Palace, and they will eventually find their way here." Guan Biyun, though having regained some mobility and escaped from the secret room in Rouyi Palace, still found escaping the royal palace as difficult as ascending to heaven.

She needed to restore her full powers and also craft a meticulous plan to leave.

"Don’t call me your highness anymore; that’s long gone." Shangguan Rou shook her head, correcting the term her dear friend and sister Guan Biyun used to address her.

"Alright, I’ll call you Miss Shangguan from now on." Guan Biyun sighed; compared to Shangguan Rou’s circumstances, she considered herself fortunate. She merely had to suffer a dog bite. She never intended to marry anyway, so being bitten was not a big deal, just take some medicine.

The royal palace lacked no harmful medicine, having served as a steward of medicine for many years; she understood its inner workings well.

If you want to prevent a woman from getting pregnant, the techniques here are unparalleled; nobody else dares claim to be the best.

Therefore, she isn’t worried about herself, but rather concerned about her dear sister’s health. How short a time has passed since she’s turned into her current state.

She considered taking Shangguan Yi with her, but she could only be confident of escaping the royal palace, not the capital. So if she escaped, Consort Xue and King Qi could search quietly, unable to make a big fuss, especially outside the palace.

Were the deposed "Consort Yi" to escape from the Cold Palace, it would be a significant event; the confined Third Prince would certainly end up in trouble too.

"Biyun, thank you for staying with me over the past couple of days; otherwise, the days in the Cold Palace would have been unbearable. As for Yuanwu’s news, I know nothing while confined in the Cold Palace; without you, I wouldn’t know what he’s up to."

"Miss Shangguan, be cautious of that new eunuch; I can’t help but feel I’ve seen him somewhere before. Since Consort Xue placed him here, he must be here to monitor you." Guan Biyun, although having seen Mr. Xue before, hadn’t spoken with him, so it’s impressive she got even this impression, especially since she didn’t know Mr. Xue was inserted into the palace by Marquis Lingyang.

The secret about Mr. Xue being emasculated is known by few, and those aware wouldn’t spread it recklessly.

Guan Biyun’s news was somewhat isolated, not knowing this was natural. However, her female intuition sensed the deep malice from Xue, the young eunuch, and she naturally wanted to warn her dear sister.

"I know; although they might wish for my death, it has to be under normal circumstances. Were it otherwise, they’d face chaotic repercussions unless the succession is settled." Shangguan Rou said. Her political acumen exceeded the ordinary, and having been sent to the Cold Palace made her think a lot. She was betrayed by Consort Xue because she trusted her too much; losing was not uncalled for.