Chapter 98: Why did you become a eunuch!

Upon seeing the Emperor arrive, the palace maids and eunuchs who had come to seek medical treatment from Lin Jiaojiao knelt down in unison, and even Pei Aosong followed suit!

Why did the Emperor come here at this time!

Pei Aosong was filled with shock, but since he was currently disguised as a palace eunuch, he could only lower his head immediately, attempting to use his eunuch's cap to cover his face, while mimicking the tone of a eunuch and shouting along, "Welcome, Your Majesty!"

"This commoner pays respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!" Lin Jiaojiao knelt down with Qingdai to pay respects to Qin Yuan.

Even Guo Shi, who had been coaxing Zhu Geer inside the room, hurriedly ran out with the baby in her arms, kneeling to pay respects to the Emperor.

The Emperor sat on his palanquin, looking down at everyone from on high.

When his gaze fell upon the kneeling palace maids and eunuchs, he couldn't help but feel suspicious, frowning slightly as he asked Lin Jiaojiao, "Lin Guniang, what is going on here?"

Lin Jiaojiao nodded and replied, "Reporting to the Emperor, this commoner is taking pulses and treating these palace maids and eunuchs."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan felt a bit curious, "They all came to you for medical treatment?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, this commoner is just idling away in Qingju Pavilion, so it doesn't hurt to take pulses and treat illnesses for everyone. Only when the servants are in good health will they not make mistakes when serving their masters."

Lin Jiaojiao explained the reason. When she lowered her head, she glanced back at the kneeling palace maids and eunuchs; they all wore expressions of fear, but upon hearing Lin Jiaojiao speak up for them, they all cast grateful looks toward her.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Gao felt a surge of emotion. In this vast Huang Gong, when they, these servants, fell ill, they all endured it alone, not daring to report it for fear of disturbing their masters.

And he had witnessed Lin Jiaojiao's medical skills. If he could have Lin Jiaojiao take his pulse and regulate his body, that would surely be excellent!

Taking advantage of the Emperor's presence, he tried his best to secure some benefits for himself, "Lin Guniang, your medical ethics are truly profound. If I have some free time, I will also come to you to have my pulse taken and have my body regulated."

"Eunuch Gao is joking," Lin Jiaojiao flattered Eunuch Gao, "If you are feeling unwell, just come to me for a pulse reading and treatment."

"You are indeed kind, and what you say makes sense," the Emperor stepped down from the palanquin, walked over, and helped the kneeling Lin Jiaojiao up, his eyes filled with appreciation, "Since you are willing to speak for them and are willing to diagnose and treat them, everyone may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After receiving permission, the crowd rose tremblingly.

"Have you all finished your consultations?" The Emperor looked at those palace maids and eunuchs, intending to disperse them so he could have some time alone with Lin Jiaojiao.

The palace maids looked at each other, not daring to speak. It was Qingdai who stepped forward to explain, "Your Majesty, Lin Guniang has already taken the pulses of twenty or thirty people today and is now a bit tired. We just agreed with them to come back tomorrow to wait in line, and wait for Lin Guniang to make further diagnoses."

"Since that is the case, you may disperse." The Emperor waved his hand, and the group of palace maids and eunuchs responded with "Yes," then began to disperse one by one.

After Guo Shi stood up holding Zhu Geer, she glanced at the eunuchs and palace maids, but saw a very familiar figure among them. In an instant, her sharp eyes recognized her former master!

Her eyes widened like copper bells, and her mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg. Her look of surprise was no less than seeing a ghost in broad daylight. In a moment of haste, she blurted out, "Master of the Pei family! Why have you become a eunuch!"

"Master of the Pei family?" Qingdai was stunned, "He, isn't he—?"

But Lin Jiaojiao shot her a look, and Qingdai immediately closed her mouth and stopped talking.

Upon hearing Guo Shi's shout, Pei Aosong trembled subconsciously and hurriedly tried to squeeze into the crowd, wanting to escape and slip away with the others.

But who would have expected Qin Yuan to give a look to the guards beside him? A guard lunged forward, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him out of the crowd!

The guard kicked Pei Aosong hard behind the knees. With a "thud," his knees hit the hard stone tiles, making a muffled sound!

Yet even so, he still didn't dare to raise his head to face the Emperor!

The guard, however, wouldn't allow him to keep his head down like that. He went up, knocked off his hat, and used the hilt of his sword to prop up his chin, so the Emperor could see his face clearly!

Qin Yuan took two steps forward and quickly recognized that it was his official—Pei Aosong!

"Speak, why are you pretending to be a eunuch and sneaking into the palace?" Qin Yuan was asking what he already knew; he had just seen Pei Aosong during the morning court session today.

He knew that Lin Jiaojiao had previously been a concubine in the Pei Mansion. Hearing that she had almost lost her life giving birth, Qin Yuan had no good feelings toward the entire Pei Mansion. But after all, this was someone else's family business; as an Emperor, it was inconvenient for him to interfere in an official's family affairs, especially past family affairs.

Fortunately, the Pei Mansion had released Lin Jiaojiao and given her freedom, but why had he snuck in again now? Could it be that he was trying to stage some kind of affectionate drama?

Seeing Pei Aosong remain silent, Qin Yuan's dissatisfaction rose like a tide. Even his tone lacked the usual respect for an official, and he addressed him by his full name, "Pei Aosong, do you know what the crime is for a subordinate official to trespass into the Huang Gong?"

Upon hearing that Pei Aosong was about to be punished, Lin Jiaojiao should have turned a deaf ear, but when her gaze fell on Zhu Geer, she had other thoughts.

"Your Majesty," Lin Jiaojiao stepped out and lied to Qin Yuan, "Master Pei's young child at home is unwell and has found no medical help, so he risked his life to come to me, wanting to get a prescription to treat the child."

"But wasn't he just..." Qingdai was about to speak, but suddenly realized Lin Jiaojiao was helping Pei Aosong, so she put down the fire tongs in her hand and lowered her head in silence.

Guo Shi, holding Zhu Geer, spat at Pei Aosong a hundred times in her heart!

"Oh? Is that really so?" Qin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing that Lin Jiaojiao was lying, but he wasn't willing to let it pass lightly.

"Yes, it is because the young child at home is unwell..." Pei Aosong hurriedly followed Lin Jiaojiao's lead, "When the child was born, he almost choked on milk and died early. Jiaojiao saved him, so this time the young child—"

"Hmm? You call her Jiaojiao?" Qin Yuan suddenly opened those slightly narrowed dragon eyes. In an instant, a murderous intent surged out, sweeping toward Pei Aosong like a sharp blade!

"A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue—" Pei Aosong hurriedly explained, sweat seeping from his forehead. But how could Qin Yuan listen? Now he only wanted to punish this Pei Aosong who didn't know the height of the sky and the depth of the earth!

But Lin Jiaojiao was intentionally protecting him!

What merits did this useless ex-husband have that were worth her protecting him!

Qin Yuan's anger rose, and he ordered, "Regardless of your purpose, for trespassing into the Huang Gong this time, the death penalty may be avoided, but the living punishment is inescapable!"

"Your Majesty!" Lin Jiaojiao shouted urgently, a hint of a request appearing in her eyes as she looked at Qin Yuan. It was this look that made him feel very satisfied: Lin Guniang finally had a day where she needed him!

His tone softened, "Considering you are here to treat your child, I am not a cold-blooded and heartless person. But you have violated palace rules; if I don't punish you, I cannot convince the masses. Men! Drag him away and give him twenty heavy strokes as punishment!" ===== CHAPTER 99 =====