Chapter 526: with translation of chapter title

When Old Wang turned back once more to the gate of Rui Wang Fu, his face was full of delight.

He was worried about how to report back to Emperor Longqing, for at this time Emperor Longqing was tormented by illness to an unbearable state, and his temper was truly foul.

These past days, the inner palace has been a scene of blood and carnage, and the attending servants have been frightened half to death.

Even Old Wang, an old man, could hardly withstand it.

Unexpectedly, people from Rui Wang Fu intercepted his carriage midway, and Old Wang hastily brought Princess Consort of Rui Gu Jiu Ling and an unfamiliar young medicine slave into the palace.

The carriage stopped outside the East Si Ma Gate; Old Wang got out and invited Gu Jiu Ling to enter, while Bai Xiaosheng was about to follow but was blocked by the guards on both sides.

Old Wang smiled and said, "This is an important place in the palace; outsiders are not allowed to enter. I hope Princess Consort will forgive us!"

"Old Wang, this medicine slave is crucial; if he doesn't go in, the emperor's illness may not be treatable."

Old Wang stared for a moment, glanced at the medicine slave behind Gu Jiu Ling; he was indeed quite handsome in appearance, but his expression seemed rather unreliable.

Seeing that Old Wang had no intention of letting the person in, Gu Jiu Ling's face turned cold, and she lightly said, "Since Old Wang cannot make this decision, let's just head back to the Wangfu."

"All right!" Bai Xiaosheng was delighted to see things go smoothly.

"Wait! Princess Consort, please stay!" Old Wang could not let Gu Jiu Ling go again, and hastily smiled, saying, "Please, both of you!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, leading Bai Xiaosheng along the deep palace passage toward Emperor Longqing's sleeping quarters.

Soon they arrived at the gate of the sleeping quarters; from afar they could sense the tense atmosphere within, and even the air carried a faint smell of blood.

Gu Jiu Ling's steps halted there; Old Wang went inside to announce, and shortly came out, evidently the situation inside was dire—his complexion was ashen, likely he had been rebuked.

"Princess Consort, please!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded and led Bai Xiaosheng from behind into the interior.

The closer Bai Xiaosheng got to the sleeping quarters, the more his mind felt in a tangled mess.

Beyond the heavy palace doors lay the blood ties he could not sever, and also the mortal enemy he had despised for eight lifetimes.

He could barely keep his composure, when suddenly Gu Jiu Ling's voice came from ahead.

"Watch your step!"

Bai Xiaosheng shuddered, regaining a bit of clarity, only then realizing he had somehow ended up in front of Gu Jiu Ling without knowing when; he appeared somewhat impatient, nearly losing his composure.

Indeed, the expressions of the attendants on both sides flickered with surprise; this person looked so dull and foolish, not like a physician at all.

After Gu Jiu Ling's reminder, Bai Xiaosheng hastily stepped back a pace, his brows slightly furrowed, restoring his usual calm.

Gu Jiu ling, accompanied by Bai Xiao sheng, strode into Emperor Longqing's bedchamber; barely inside, she nearly retched—the stench was overwhelming.

She instantly realized the emperor was paralyzed; the air was thick with medicines, a bloody scent, and some unidentifiable odor that made her head spin.

Gu Jiu ling steadied herself and approached the dragon bed where the paralyzed Emperor Longqing lay.

She finally came to a stop about one zhang from the emperor, then knelt to pay her respects.

She finally came to a stop about one zhang from the emperor, then knelt to pay her respects.

Now looking at the emperor, he was emaciated to the point of resembling a skeleton, his flesh appearing to have been drained away—a horrifying sight.

Actually I misread. Let's re-evaluate lines:

Now looking at the emperor, he was emaciated to the point of resembling a skeleton, his flesh appearing to have been drained away—a horrifying sight.

"I, your servant, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Longqing feebly waved his hand at Gu Jiu ling, unable to utter a sound; his eyes locked onto her, making it feel as if a hellish demon were staring at her.

Gu Jiu ling slowly rose to speak, but Empress Dowager Ning'an arrived with her retinue.

Gu Jiu ling had to bow again to Empress Dowager Ning'an, who stared coldly at her delicate face, reminding her of another person.

The one who had been thrown into hell in the Seven Kill Valley and yet managed to claw her way out.

That person has grown ever stronger, whereas her son has become what we see now.

Sometime in the last four or five years, her son—whether from excess lust or carousing—has ruined his health, leaving him fatigued, headache‑prone, and sleepless.

It grew increasingly common, and this time, provoked by the Sixth Prince, he collapsed outright.

Although the crown prince is now regent, apart from a few civil‑official clans, few in the court back him strongly—let alone the generals.

Less than a month into the crown prince's regency, the capital is already descending into chaos.

Empress Dowager Ning'an couldn't stay seated, locking an icy gaze on the woman before her.

Gu Jiu ling stood bowed, observing the principle: if the enemy does not move, neither do I.

After a pause, Empress Dowager Ning'an said calmly, "I've heard your medical skill is excellent; this time you must give it your all."

Gu Jiu ling quickly bowed and said, "Mother, don't worry—I will naturally devote myself to healing the emperor."

Empress Dowager Ning'an snorted coldly, what a bold claim.

Empress Dowager Ning'an was conflicted: she despised the woman before her, yet secretly hoped she could cure her son, given the legendary reputation of the Prince Rui's consort's medical arts in the capital.

But she also feared the woman might try something underhanded to hurt her son, so she came personally to see.

If she could spot even the slightest hint, she would make the woman pay, no matter how Xiao Yin arranges things—she would seal her fate here.

"Hmph! Let the Consort of Prince Rui practice medicine!"

Having spoken, Empress Dowager Ning'an sat down beside the dragon bed.

Gu Jiu ling secretly smiled, feeling like she was guarding against a thief—could she really steal her son?

Gu Jiu ling did not resort to the pulse‑taking Empress Dowager Ning'an anticipated; instead, she pulled some strangely shaped objects from the box and began to trace them over her son's body.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Empress Dowager Ning'an exclaimed.

Gu Jiu ling held the therapeutic device, unsure what to do.

She was treating the illness—what else could she do?

Empress Dowager Ning'an doubted her, thwarting her at every step, making the illness untreatable.

Gu Jiu ling returned the item to the box, then bowed to Empress Dowager Ning'an and said softly, "Mother, I have my own method of healing; it's plain to see for all the patients in the capital."

"My healing method differs from other physicians'; if you can't accept that, Mother, then let the illness go untreated today—I'll take my leave."

Empress Dowager Ning'an's expression wavered; she had earlier looked into Gu Jiu ling's medical approach, which was indeed unusual, capable of all kinds of bold actions.

The son of Princess Renhe was not disemboweled, yet he remains healthy.

Now his martial arts are even more superb, and this has become a legend in Shang Jing.

I merely found your thing frightening, but you must remember it clearly.

The Emperor is different from ordinary patients; if something really goes wrong...

Gu Jiu Ling calmly responded: "If something goes wrong, that is also the Emperor's fate; life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor come from heaven; Empress Dowager, you have heard that before."

"You..." Empress Dowager Ning An was left speechless by that sharp retort, unable to speak.