“Eunuch Li, how much longer do we have to wait?”
Shen Yu followed Eunuch Li into the palace, but an audience with the Empress wasn’t so easily obtained.
While Shen Yu had indeed been urgently summoned by the Empress, there were countless people and matters more urgent than her, piling up one after another.
First, a dire disaster report here, then barbarian incursions at the border, followed by financial shortfalls here and treasury deficits there.
Shen Yu was led into the Hall of Mental Cultivation and seated in a remote corner.
She and Yin Qiu ate pastries while waiting for the Empress’s summons, a wait that stretched deep into the night.
To say the Emperor didn’t value them… yet they were allowed to wait within the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
To say the Emperor did value them… this wait lasted for several hours.
“Sister, how much longer until we can see Her Majesty?”
Yin Qiu asked cautiously.
She had been dressed up like a freshly bloomed little flower, her delicate, youthful face adorned with bright rouge, looking exceptionally charming and captivating.
The palace maids responsible for their grooming indeed had considerable skill, nearly transforming Yin Qiu into a princess.
Of course, it might also be because Yin Qiu herself was a natural beauty.
With such looks, she likely wouldn’t be out of place even at a royal banquet.
“Don’t be impatient. Her Majesty manages myriad affairs daily; we simply wait. Are you already eager?”
Shen Yu’s words made Yin Qiu shake her head repeatedly, glancing around nervously as she did so, afraid someone might be looking their way.
“No, Sister, this place feels so oppressive. I don’t like it here. I still prefer our little courtyard with you. It might not be as beautiful as here, but it’s much cozier.”
“Does the Empress usually live in a place like this?”
Yin Qiu surveyed the opulent decorations of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, her idealized filter for the lofty Emperor diminishing slightly.
If this were truly the case, no wonder those emperors referred to themselves as ‘the solitary one.’
Living in such a place, without a single close confidant to talk to.
“The Empress…”
“Physician Attendant Shen, Her Majesty wishes to see you.”
Just as Shen Yu was about to speak, Eunuch Li’s voice interrupted her.
“Understood.”
Shen Yu stood up, gently taking Yin Qiu’s small hand.
“Don’t be afraid. Once we go in, you don’t need to speak. Just watch what I do and follow along.”
“Mhm…”
Yin Qiu nodded timidly, instinctively moving closer to Shen Yu, her small hand gripping Shen Yu’s wrist tightly, unwilling to let go.
Entering the core area of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shen Yu finally saw the lofty Empress who usually bore the brunt of Grandpa’s complaints.
A screen of thin gauze separated them from the Empress.
Shen Yu couldn’t see the Empress’s face clearly, but through the shadow on the gauze, she could tell the Empress was undoubtedly a tall, graceful, and stunning beauty.
After all, she was legitimate royal blood.
Her father was the late Former Emperor.
The empire had existed for so many years, selecting consorts of peerless, nation-toppling beauty.
Through generations of superior genetic combination, anyone of royal blood was certainly not ugly.
The Empress behind the screen was even more so.
“Your servant Shen Yu pays respects and inquires after Your Majesty’s sacred well-being.”
Shen Yu imitated the etiquette Yun Wei had taught her, paying reverent homage to the Empress.
Yin Qiu followed Shen Yu’s example, somewhat clumsily inquiring after the sacred well-being.
“We are well. Shen Yu, We have finally met you. Truly, as those below said, a young talent.”
“Your Majesty praises too highly. Your servant is unworthy.”
Shen Yu kept her head bowed, not daring to look at the lofty figure even through the screen.
Mainly because Eunuch Li had specifically warned her upon entry that the Empress had a temper and it was best to be cautious.
For a woman to ascend to this position, she must be decisive in judgment and action.
If one truly displeased her, she might even personally execute someone.
“Rise. Li Dachang, bestow seats upon Physician Attendant Shen.”
“As you command, Master.”
Eunuch Li brought two Golden Silk Nanmu chairs for Shen Yu and Yin Qiu, simultaneously whispering for Shen Yu to relax.
Afterward, the atmosphere in the hall fell into silence.
“We have heard Physician Attendant Shen proposed a set of epidemic prevention methods. We have reviewed them; they indeed have merit.”
“However, one matter remains unclear. What is this ‘vaccine’? Can it truly, as you claim, allow healthy people to never again suffer the affliction of the Hundred-Year Sore?”
“If this is truly so, We would hope you might also perform your miraculous technique upon Us.”
The Empress’s voice carried a chill.
She was bent over the desk, likely still reviewing memorials.
But because her chest was overly ample, it seemed somewhat awkward…
As for her attitude toward Shen Yu, it felt more like casually chatting a few words when she had time, completely indifferent.
If it were an ordinary person, they’d probably be intimidated by the Emperor’s imposing manner.
But Shen Yu was no ordinary person.
She had grown up listening to Grandpa curse the Emperor, and coupled with her modern mindset from her previous world, she held no idealized filter for the Emperor whatsoever.
Her nervousness and fear were feigned.
Not just to maintain her persona as a common-born woman, but mainly because pretending to be nervous and afraid meant she didn’t have to initiate conversation with the Emperor.
‘You don’t speak, I don’t speak. Let’s just stalemate. I’m not in a hurry anyway.’
Moreover, this Empress, talking to her intermittently—if one didn’t know better, they’d think they were on a blind date.
“Your Majesty, the Cowpox Vaccine is indeed effective in preventing the Hundred-Year Sore. However, the inoculation method is relatively painful. Furthermore, Your Majesty’s body is priceless. If inoculated rashly, I fear it might leave scars…”
“It is of no consequence. We dare to be the first, dare to be first for the people. If your vaccine truly works, We have no objections.”
The Empress set down her writing brush, her tone tinged with excitement.
Her intermittent, indifferent attitude toward Shen Yu was also an act.
In truth, she was deeply interested in Shen Yu’s vaccine for preventing the Hundred-Year Sore.
“Then… very well, Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness for my presumption. Please disrobe, Your Majesty.”
As soon as Shen Yu spoke these words, the entire Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Especially Eunuch Li beside them, whose eyes widened in shock.
Asking the Emperor to disrobe—looking across the entire history of the Empire, Shen Yu was truly the first.
He had just warned her not to do anything foolish or say anything improper, and she immediately hit him with a royal flush, leaving him utterly stunned.
‘Asking Her Majesty to disrobe… how could Shen Yu say such a thing?’
“Um, Your Majesty, this servant believes Physician Attendant Shen probably meant…”
Eunuch Li, thinking the Empress’s prolonged silence meant anger, hurriedly tried to speak on Shen Yu’s behalf to smooth things over.
“Very well. All of you, withdraw. Remove the screen. Our beloved official Shen, approach.”
“As you command.”
Shen Yu stood up.
Then, under Eunuch Li’s astonished gaze, the screen was slowly withdrawn, and Shen Yu finally saw the true face of the Empress before her…
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