"How..." Xiao Qu stuttered, witnessing a miracle. Her feeling was like someone who has been from hell to heaven. She turned her eyes to the physician, who, in return, gave her a stern warning with his icy gaze. Xiao Qu shut her mouth and decided not to utter any more sounds.
"Is there something you're hiding from this old lady?" The old woman asked, noticing Xiao Qu's actions.
"No," Xiao Qu replied, biting her lips out of nervousness.
"You said that the Empress vomited blood. If the Empress isn't poisoned, then what's the reason? Are you taking this old lady for a fool?" The Empress Dowager questioned and stopped when she felt her chest ached so suddenly. She breathed slowly, trying to stabilize and subside. Tang-Mama assisted her to a chair after witnessing the old woman's expression.
"No. This servant would never poison Niang Niang." Xiao Qu replied again, wanting to kowtow at the Empress Dowager's feet to express her innocence.
The Emperor creased his forehead, which Gao Ling perceived as a distress signal.
"The needle didn't turn black, so the soup wasn't poison. This official also heard she was injured today and was advised on a strict diet, and the soup must have contained the ingredient the Empress should avoid in her recuperation and ended up vomiting it," the physician explained, earning a glare from the old woman.
"And you expect this old lady to believe that? Officer Gao, this one believed you knew the consequences of deceiving a monarch." Empress Dowager gave him an undisguised threat and carefully noted his facial expression.
"This official is telling the truth." Gao Ling remained unperturbed under the stare and maintained his serious expression.
"I once sentenced a physician who gave Lou'er the wrong medicine to be beheaded, demoted a noble lady to a commoner and sent her to the temple with the rumors she spread, and executed an entire clan for treason. How do you think I'll spare you just because you accompanied the Emperor for years?" She added, increasing the tension in the room.
Gao Ling knelt in response and didn't succumb to the old woman's intention: "This official has no reason to tell a lie. If the Empress Dowager and His Majesty permit, this official can examine the Empress with the needle to see if the Empress' blood is poisoned or not."
With the method he proposed, the old woman squinted her eyes and stood up, preparing to see up close Gao Ling's honesty: "Alright, prepare a set of sterilized needles for the Physician Gao."
"This official brought some silver needles."
The mama, who was about to excuse herself, stopped midway because of the young official's words.
"Prepare the needles." Nevertheless, the old woman pretended not to hear anything. Gao Ling couldn't do anything and just prepared for the worst to come. The mama once again continued in her steps, following the order.
"Mark this old lady's words: If this old lady finds out that both of you hid something from me, this old lady won't hold back," the Empress Dowager whispered when she passed by the physician. She couldn't see the young man's facial expression clearly as it lowered his head and did not meet her eye to eye.
Gao Ling sighed inwardly at the old woman's shrewdness. She must have considered the possibility that I wouldn't use a silver needle. Like a mother and son, this pair shares the same type of extreme cautiousness.
The Empress Dowager surpassed Gao Ling and sat by Ning Lou's bed, looking extremely worried and helpless. Memories of past events kept pouring into her mind. She stroked the girl's head and traced the creases on her forehead. She seemed to be in a lot of pain.
"Lou'er, Grandmother won't let anything happen to you," she said softly, fixing the loose tendrils of the girl's hair.
"Can someone fetch this old lady a clean cloth?" The old woman said, noticing the accumulated sweat on Ning Lou's forehead and neck.
Not long after, a mama came back with a white cloth with her.
"Give it to this old lady," she said, stretching her hands.
"Your Highness, this slave will do it," the mama suggested.
"No. This old lady will stay and attend with Lou'er for the night." The old woman insisted.
Helpless, the mama could only follow. She gave the cloth to the old lady and retreated several steps away. The fellow palace maids had their own different thoughts, but they all agreed on one thing: the room was a lot chillier as time went by. They didn't know if it was because it was approaching night or something else.
Gao Ling, on the other hand, could clearly tell the Emperor's current thoughts. His eyes watched as the man's hand curled into a fist and protruded with visible veins, contrary to his stoic face. How much could he endure? Gao Ling lamented for his friend.
Just when the old woman was finished attending Ning Lou, the mama who was tasked with looking for a set of silver needles came. Gao Ling stared at the box with gold engravings and was surprised. Isn't this the... He suddenly looked in the direction of the Emperor but was unable to see his expression.
"Officer Gao, the set of needles is prepared."
Gao Ling snapped and returned to his previous calmness, but inside he was beyond nervous.
"Give it to him," the Empress Dowager said to the palace maid.
The engravings on the box signified the value of the needles. Gao Ling felt his heart tingle at the moment his hand touched the box.
Ominous clouds formed in his mind as his thumb opened the lid. The world slowly turned along with Gao Ling's breath. He selected the shortest needle from the set. Approaching the sleeping figure, beads of sweat rolled down his back. This wouldn't be his last day, right? He asked about his future while glancing at the old woman who was watching his every movement like a hawk.