Chapter 270: From Official to Third Rank

"Conspiracy and calculation? You mean that everyone around me is full of conspiracy and calculation?"

Chi Zhongshan only lowered his head and said nothing.

That meant a silent acquiescence.

The Emperor gave him a cold glance and said in a chilly voice, "Out, out, out! I don't want to see you now!"

"Thank you, Emperor." Chi Zhongshan followed behind Li Gonggong as they left the palace.

"That old fox." The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looked at the secret letter in his hand, and whispered, "Since that's the case, don't blame me. Bring in the Southern First Young Master."

Chi Nan Yi was about to go to Prince Li's residence when the summons arrived.

"Emperor, you want me to enter the palace?"

"Yes."

At this critical moment, why would the Emperor seek her?

Could it be for Mo Junyan's leg?

"Prince Li?"

"His Highness Prince Li had an unpleasant dispute with the Emperor this morning and has already left the palace." Little Gonggong slipped the money pouch into his pocket and said with a smile, "Young Master, the Emperor is waiting, please go."

Chi Nan Yi differed from her grandfather; she entered the palace openly.

Just as she entered the Imperial Study, the Empress received a message.

"Southern First Young Master, Chi Nan Yi, an orphan of the Situ Family, adopted daughter of the Meng Family." The Empress sneered, "Fine! Fine! This stinky girl has managed to manipulate everyone."

"Your Majesty, what shall we do now?"

"What can we do?" She patted her belly and said with a smile, "I am now pregnant; it just happens that she entered the palace, claiming I feel unwell, and asked her to come and check my pulse."

"Your Majesty intends to let the Emperor know of your pregnancy?"

"Now the timing is ripe. The Central Palace has never had a legitimate son; the Emperor is still young and vigorous, so he can wait for this child to grow. If the Emperor learns that I am pregnant, he will be delighted."

"But the Crown Prince…"

"Hmph, the Crown Prince? A waste born of a scoundrel, unfit for the Crown Prince's seat." The Empress curled the corner of her mouth, "Tell her to keep the Crown Prince's medicine going."

"Yes." Grandma laughed, "Your Majesty, it's been so long; the Crown Prince can no longer cause those women to become pregnant."

"That won't work either." She gently stroked her abdomen and said softly, "I must ensure the Crown Prince's line ends. Only then can my child rightfully ascend the throne, and when that happens, the whole Daqi will be in my palm."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Chi Nan Yi entered the Imperial Study, still dressed as the Southern First Young Master.

"Commoner humbly requests an audience with the Emperor."

The Emperor stared at her coldly and did not allow her to rise.

After a long pause, the Emperor whispered, "Do you know what punishment the crime of betraying the ruler carries?"

Chi Nan Yi frowned slightly, startled inside.

"Commoner is ignorant, I do not know…"

Another act of feigning stupidity; she is as unscrupulous as her maternal grandfather.

"Since you do not know, let me tell you: the crime of betraying the ruler, at its lightest results in the extermination of the entire clan, at its harshest implicates nine families. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

"Commoner does not dare to influence the Emperor."

"Hmph! You dare not influence me, yet you dare to deceive me! What a Southern First Young Master, clearly the granddaughter of that old scoundrel Chi Zhongshan, yet she disguises herself as a man to deliberately get close to Prince Li and to me. What is your true intention?" The Emperor slammed the table heavily and shouted, "If you cannot give a satisfactory answer today, I will punish you for your crime!"

Chi Nan Yi raised an eyebrow; the Emperor's information was indeed far‑reaching.

"Speak, why are you silent?"

Chi Nan Yi smiled lightly and said softly, "Since the Emperor already knows, I will no longer hide anything."

"What, now you intend to tell the truth?"

"Commoner Chi Nan Yi is the biological daughter of Situ Fu, an orphan of the Situ Family."

Upon hearing "Situ Family," the Emperor's expression froze.

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Emperor."

"You approached Prince Li to seek revenge?"

"The vengeance for my father's death is unforgivable; the thieves annihilated my entire Situ Family, and the court's investigations for years yielded nothing. I must avenge my parents; if I can slay the enemy with my own hands, I will die without regret."

"Are you blaming me for not being able to catch the murderer?"

Chi Nan Yi smiled and shook her head, "Commoner does not dare; I know the Emperor is not easy, and even when my beloved met a tragic death I can only endure silently and wait for the right moment."

Hearing her say that, the Emperor's pupils contracted sharply, "You little girl is indeed perceptive."

"I let you enter the palace today not to reproach you; since you wish to slay your enemies, I will give you this chance." The Emperor smiled, "Your medical skill is superb, and I happen to lack a medical officer. I hereby appoint you as Imperial Medical Director, answerable only to me, with a rank of third grade. How does that sound?"

Seeing her remain silent, the Emperor continued, "I order Xie Yuwei to investigate the case of the Bai Family and the Situ Family. Earlier someone claimed the Situ Family members were first poisoned then killed. With your excellent medical skill, you shall assist Xie Yuwei; the two of you will work together on the case until all the truth is uncovered. Agreed?"

Chi Nan Yi heard this and a hint of joy flashed in her eyes.

"Thank you, Emperor, commoner…"

"Hey, still calling yourself a commoner? You are now the Imperial Medical Director I personally appointed."

"I, your servant, thank you for your great grace."

At that moment, a palace maid hurried up to the doorway of the Imperial Study; Li Gonggong, seeing her attempt to rush inside, quickly blocked her.

"What are you doing?"

"Grandfather, the Empress has fainted."

Li Gonggong heard this and hurried, "Has the Imperial Doctor been summoned?"

"Yes, Imperial Physician Wen has already attended, but… the Empress hasn't awakened. Grandma, upon hearing that the Divine Doctor of the Southern First Young Master entered the palace, hurried to have a maid make the request."

Li Gonggong glanced at the tightly shut door, thought for a moment, and whispered, "Stay here for now; I'll go in and take a look."

At that moment, the doors of the imperial study swung open.

Before Lord Li could speak, the Emperor's voice rang out: "Come in and draft the edict."

Soon after, Chi Nan Yi emerged from the imperial study, holding a fresh, steaming imperial edict.

From that moment, she became a third‑rank official of Daqi; though she lacked jurisdiction, everyone still sought to curry favor with her.

"Divine Doctor Chi Nan Yi," the young maid called out loudly. "The Empress is ill; please send the Divine Doctor to take her pulse."

Chi Nan Yi heard this, gave a faint smile, and said, "Sorry, I won't go."

"How audacious! That's the Empress's imperial decree; do you dare defy it?"

Chi Nan Yi waved the edict in her hand: "The Emperor has spoken; I obey only his command. If the Emperor does not nod, no matter how many imperial decrees your Empress issues, they are useless."

"You!"

Chi Nan Yi turned to Lord Li and said, "Please inform the Emperor that the nourishing pills will be delivered shortly."

"Very well."

The young maid, seeing the edict in her hand, was startled, glanced around, and hurried away.

Back in the Empress's Palace, she recounted everything that had happened today.

The Empress, hearing this, snatched the fruit tray from the table and threw it to the ground.

"How insolent! This is outrageous! How dare you not regard my palace!"

"What about the Emperor? Does the Emperor know that my palace is ill?"

No sooner had the words finished than a court attendant reported, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived."