Chapter 250 Heartache

Words : 1673 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Dean Zhou felt deeply disturbed. He felt for the Emperor. And felt even more for himself. Pity the imperial physicians, who get exceedingly anxious every time the Emperor has a headache or fever, fearing that the Emperor might suffer more and that their whole family’s lives might be at stake. It was the turn of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to bandage the Emperor’s wound... She actually stitched it up with needle and thread. The Emperor did not get angry, but even rewarded her. If an imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital did such a thing, surely their grave would already be overgrown with grass. Comparisons are odious and can be maddening. ... Su Jin and Xie Jingchen had just ascended the steps, preparing to leave the mansion. The palace carriage halted right in front of the Duke Mansion’s gate. The little eunuch riding on the shaft was an acquaintance. Upon seeing Su Jin, he quickly greeted her, "Greetings, Eldest Young Madam, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace." "I understand," Su Jin replied. "I’ll accompany you to the palace," Xie Jingchen said. Su Jin looked at him, "Don’t you have something to do?" "Just a small matter, I can let Di Qing handle it," Xie Jingchen said. After helping Su Jin onto the carriage, just as Xie Jingchen was about to get on, the little eunuch moved the stool away. Xingxing climbed up from the other side. The little eunuch sat back on the shaft and urged, "The Emperor is anxious, Young Master Xie, please hurry." After saying this, he drove the carriage swiftly toward the Imperial Palace. After all, the Emperor had used the words "urgent summons." Xie Jingchen, "...." Wishing to ride in the carriage to cultivate some feelings, why is it so difficult? He turned around to ride a horse. After instructing a few things to a hidden guard, Xie Jingchen said, "Come find me after handling the affair." "Yes," replied the guard. The carriage raced all the way to the palace, making Su Jin hit the back of her head, while Xingxing clung onto the carriage saying, "Is it necessary to rush like this? My young lady got hurt." "The Emperor is anxious, Eldest Young Madam, please bear it," said the little eunuch. "I’m fine," said Su Jin. Xingxing then refrained from saying more. Normally, carriages entering the palace stop at a fixed location, but since this was an urgent summons, the carriage halted as close to Taihe Palace as possible. Close enough that Su Jin lamented the paths she’d walked before. After alighting from the carriage, she felt dizzy, as if stepping on clouds. Fortunately, they arrived at Taihe Palace within less than half a tea’s time. Eunuch Fu was outside the hall, pacing anxiously. Upon seeing Su Jin, he looked at her as if she were a savior, his eyes lighting up. "Finally you’re here, Eldest Young Madam," Eunuch Fu said eagerly. "What happened?" asked Su Jin. "The Emperor’s back is itching terribly," Eunuch Fu answered. Xingxing exclaimed, "If it’s itching, why not scratch it? Waiting for my young lady to enter the palace, won’t the Emperor itch to death by then?" Eunuch Fu, "...." Their summoning wasn’t to scratch the Emperor’s itch. If scratching could resolve it, then it wouldn’t be a problem. At the Emperor’s word, those willing to help him scratch would line up from Taihe Palace to the city gate. "Can’t scratch it, scratching will hurt," said Eunuch Fu with concern. As Su Jin stepped into the hall, she said, "This is a normal reaction during wound healing, no need to be overly anxious." While Su Jin spoke lightly, Eunuch Fu remained worried. If the Emperor gets angry, it becomes a life-or-death matter. Of course, it’s other people’s lives. Having just shielded the Emperor from a hidden weapon, as long as he doesn’t commit an unpardonable crime, the Emperor will surely spare his life. Doctor Zhou hadn’t left, attending at the side. In truth, he felt uneasy; whenever the Emperor glanced his way, Dean Zhou worried the Emperor might order him to be dragged off for a flogging. The last time the Emperor was stung on the imperial buttock by a wasp, it was the balm from a doctor near Qingyun Mountain that cured him. Compared to doctors used by bandits, the Emperor wouldn’t hesitate to chop off their heads. Eunuch Fu eagerly moved forward, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has arrived." Su Jin stepped forward, about to bow and greet the Emperor. The Emperor said, "No need for formalities, hurry and treat my back." He turned around, and the palace maid helped the Emperor remove his light yellow undershirt, exposing the wound on his back. Su Jin stepped forward, inspecting the Emperor’s wound carefully, and said, "The wound has healed well and can be unstitched." "Bring scissors and tweezers," Su Jin ordered. The palace maid promptly obeyed. Su Jin meticulously cut the threads short and then used tweezers to pull them out of the flesh. The pain brought beads of sweat to the Emperor’s forehead. After pulling out two threads, the Emperor couldn’t bear it, "Hold on a moment." Su Jin held the tweezers, her hand frozen mid-air. "What are your orders, Your Majesty?" Eunuch Fu asked. The Emperor was silent for a moment, then muttered, "Just knock me out." Eunuch Fu, "...." Your Majesty. This request of yours is too terrifying. Who’s bold enough to knock you out? "Husband, you do it," Su Jin stepped aside. Xie Jingchen raised his hand and directly chopped at the Emperor’s neck. The Emperor fainted on the Dragon Couch. Eunuch Fu, "..." Doctor Zhou, "..." Can’t you show a bit of pity for the Emperor? Princess Shouning walked in, just in time to see this scene. "You, you have the guts to borrow courage from the heavens, knocking out my father!" Princess Shouning pointed at Xie Jingchen and Su Jin. Su Jin glanced at her and ignored her. Princess Shouning was furious, she came over and was stopped by Eunuch Fu who said, "It was the Emperor’s request." Her father requested it? Is her father crazy?! "Who are you trying to fool?!" "My father would ask someone to knock him out?!" Princess Shouning didn’t believe it. Eunuch Fu wished he could cover Princess Shouning’s mouth. If she yelled so loudly, even the guards outside Taihe Palace would hear. This is the Imperial Palace; no one would dare to do such a thing if not requested by the Emperor. Princess Shouning pushed away Eunuch Fu, then was stopped by Dean Zhou. "Princess, calm down, it is indeed the Emperor’s request," Dean Zhou said. "If the princess doesn’t believe it, you can ask the Emperor when he wakes up." Princess Shouning frowned tightly. Seeing Su Jin pulling out the thread, Princess Shouning said, "Clumsy, let me do it!" Su Jin, "..." It’s the first time someone called her clumsy at removing stitches. And not only did Princess Shouning call her clumsy, she directly came over to grab the tweezers. Su Jin didn’t let go, and Princess Shouning wouldn’t loosen her grip. "Let go!" Princess Shouning shouted. Su Jin laughed, "I’m the one supposed to say that!" "That’s my father!" Princess Shouning said. "..." Alright. No argument against that. But Su Jin didn’t let go either; she wouldn’t take the Emperor lightly out of spite. She still had that bit of professional ethics. "Escort Princess Shouning out," Xie Jingchen said coldly. Princess Shouning’s face sank, "How dare you?!" "Young Master Xie of Duke Zhen Mansion is indeed bold, are you going to escort me out as well?" Outside, the Empress entered. Eunuch Fu had a headache. How come not a single one was stopped? The Emperor is unconscious again, who could possibly keep the Empress in check now? Eunuch Fu hurried forward and said, "Helping the Emperor with the stitches is the priority." Princess Shouning continued to grab the tweezers, Su Jin wouldn’t let go. The Empress said coldly, "Let go!" "Do you dare not listen to my words?!" the Empress said coldly. Su Jin looked at Eunuch Fu, "Eunuch Fu, later when the Emperor wakes up in pain, you must testify for me, it’s not that I wasn’t helping with the stitches, but it was orders difficult to defy." While saying this, Princess Shouning with a forceful tug snatched the tweezers away. She moved her waist, pushing Su Jin aside. Su Jin just stood by watching her mess things up. The stitches were sewn by her, no one understood better than her how to remove them with the least tear to the wound. Watching Princess Shouning pulling and tearing, Su Jin turned her face sideways, unable to bear watching. With such a troublesome daughter, the Emperor really was pitiful. After successfully removing three threads, Princess Shouning also successfully woke the Emperor up in pain. The Emperor inhaled sharply. Turning his head, he saw it was Princess Shouning, and was immediately enraged. "Who let you remove the stitches?!" the Emperor yelled angrily. "It was the Empress!" Xingxing said quickly. The Emperor glanced at the Empress, his expression furious, "Writing one hundred times the palace rules isn’t enough for the Empress to copy, still so idle, then add another hundred times!" "Without finishing copying the palace rules, don’t come to see me!" The Empress, "...!!!" "Emperor, please calm down, this consort knows she’s wrong," the Empress said aggrievedly. "Get out!" The Emperor, waking up in pain, was more temperamental than ever. "Father," Princess Shouning was frightened. "You too!" the Emperor said coldly. Su Jin walked over and snatched the tweezers away. "Such rough chores are not for the Princess to do, the Princess should go back and indulge in writing and copying palace rules," Su Jin said, playing with the tweezers. Princess Shouning bit her lip tightly, eyes filled with tears, accusing the Emperor of injustice, she pointed at Su Jin, "Why can she?!" Su Jin smiled faintly, "Because the stitches were sewn by me." Princess Shouning, "...!!!"

Chapter 250 Heartache

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