Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 401: Birds Disappear Over a Thousand Mountains VS Inhumane (3)

Feng Xuxu stood on top of the tea house, watching as the twenty-some carriages passed by one by one, roughly estimating that there were more than one hundred and fifty ladies of beauty, available for the Emperor’s selection.

Turning her head, she looked at a certain person leisurely drinking tea, lifting her chin, "Hey, you, come take a look, those carriages are filled with stunning beauties."

Dugu Chen lifted his eyelids, glanced at his wife, then lowered his gaze again and continued drinking his tea.

"I’m talking to you," Feng Xuxu said irritably, her voice carrying a hint of displeasure.

Dugu Chen put down his cup, rose reluctantly, walked to the window, and embraced his wife, whispering in her ear, "Whether they are stunning beauties or not is of no concern to me. In my eyes, you are the most beautiful, the most breathtaking, and also the best."

After hearing this, Feng Xuxu’s face blushed a shy red, and she gave a slight chuckle at the person beside her before gently leaning into his embrace.

Before entering the palace, the ladies had undergone rigorous screenings; the vetting was extremely strict, and even the slightest flaw was not permitted.

The ladies stood in rows outside the palace, led by palace attendants inside, and arranged in several palaces, where specialist instructresses taught them etiquette.

In the Moon Fairy Palace, Xiu Yang scoffed disdainfully upon hearing from Mother Luo, her lips curling in contempt.

After the ladies entered the palace, life there became colorful: if there wasn’t a quarrel with someone today, a lady losing something tomorrow, the daily dramas were endless, keeping the managing instructresses extremely busy.

Five days after the ladies entered, a shadow darted out from a secluded palace at night, quickly making its way toward the Imperial Kitchen.

Upon reaching the Imperial Kitchen and seeing that inside there was only a chef busy making pastries, and the guard was fast asleep against the door, the palace maid took the opportunity to sneak in, searched for a moment, and poured a small packet of white powder into a soup that was ready. She stirred it quickly and looked back to see the chef engrossed in kneading dough, unaware that there was an extra person in the Imperial Kitchen. Seeing this, the palace maid, crouching low, stealthily walked out.

That night, the Emperor left the Baihua Palace in a hurried state.

In the palace, only the pale-faced Fragrant Consort was left behind.

The Emperor returned to his sleeping chamber and called for the eunuch by his side, "Call for the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau to come to me."

Eunuch Shi looked up to see the Emperor’s face was very unsightly, bowed his head, and quickly left the sleeping chamber to summon the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Not much time passed before Eunuch Shi brought over the head of the Bureau, Imperial Physician Liu.

"Your servant Liu Yue pays homage to Your Majesty. May the Emperor live in peace and prosperity," he said.

Dugu Han, his face stern, leaned on one arm against a small tea table, veins on his hand standing out, coldly glanced at the person on the ground, then opened his thin lips, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Head Physician Liu said, also sensing an unusual atmosphere.

Dugu Han gestured for the eunuchs and palace attendants by his side to leave, and after they were gone, he stretched out his arm, "I feel somewhat unwell. Come, take my pulse."

"Yes," answered Head Physician Liu. He put his box down on the ground, took out his medical bag, then took out a fresh piece of cloth, placed it on the Emperor’s wrist, and began to examine his pulse.

Half the time of a cup of tea passed, then a full cup, and the longer it took, the colder Dugu Han’s expression became.

Head Physician Liu, his heart pounding with astonishment from the results of the pulse he took, even started to doubt whether he had made a mistake. He took the pulse a second time from the start and, after confirming there was no error, felt a chill run down his spine.

"How is it?" Dugu Han furrowed his brows, his eyes narrowing with an unpleasant look as he stared at the lost-in-thought Head Physician Liu.

Head Physician Liu snapped back to his senses and with a thump, knelt on the ground, his body trembling like chaff in the wind, not daring to meet the Emperor’s eyes.