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“Whether you can stay or leave might not be something you can decide.” Wen Jingyan sighed inwardly.

Even an old man like him who has been working in the Imperial Medical Bureau for decades couldn’t leave, let alone a rootless country child.

Yingbao blinked, “I am a kid. If someone forces me to stay, I’ll beat up the person they care about most every day.” Like Chen Tiantian, for instance.

Wen Jingyan burst into laughter, “You’ll be punished as well.”

“So be it!” Yingbao was not afraid.

The three of them chatted for a while longer, and soon someone from the palace came to take Yingbao into the palace to meet the emperor.

This time they didn’t call for Doctor Li to go with them, but summoned Yingbao alone, which made her a bit uneasy.

Wen Jingyan comforted her, “Don’t be afraid, it must be that His Majesty wants to reward you.”

The moment she heard about the possibility of a reward, Yingbao instantly perked up. She happily got into the carriage with the little eunuch, of course, not forgetting to bring along her medical kit.

The carriage went straight into the Imperial City and stopped at the entrance of Yingxian Yard.

The little eunuch held Yingbao’s medicine box and walked into the big gate of the Yingxian Yard, coming to the steps of Changsheng Hall.

Soon someone announced loudly, allowing Yingbao to enter the palace.

And so, Yingbao met the glamorous Empress once again.

This time, the Empress had a smile on her face. She had a stool brought over and asked her to sit down for a chat.

“I’ve heard that your family has a secret ancestral prescription?” the Empress asked with a smile.

Yingbao nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty, we do, but there is a family rule that we cannot divulge it to outsiders.”

The Empress said, “Don’t worry, I am not asking about your family’s secret recipe, but…”

She looked at the child below her and said, “My son’s health is weak, and perhaps your family’s secret recipe can cure his condition.”

Yingbao nodded, “Your Majesty, don’t worry, as long as the prince properly recuperates, he should be able to recover within two years.”

By then, he will be able to hold on even without her medicine.

The Empress breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Yingbao, why don’t you just live in Qing Palace from now on? In that way, taking care of the prince would be more convenient.”

In her heart, Yingbao thought, ‘Here it comes, just as Grandpa Wen predicted.’

She immediately stood up and bowed to the Empress, “Your Majesty, I can’t do that. I have to go home. My mother has been waiting for me for a long time. We have a field to plow at home, and no one to look after my little brother. Also, we have chickens and ducks at home. If no one takes care of them, they won’t lay eggs any more.”

Yingbao emphasised how busy and miserable her family was, subtly hinting that her family were farmers and law-abiding citizens, who wouldn’t sell themselves into the palace.

The Empress was taken aback before breaking into a smile, “You silly child. If I ask you to stay here and care for the prince, of course I will arrange proper living for your family.”

Yingbao blinked and pretended to be flustered, “Oh… how can we trouble Your Majesty like this?”

When she saw the Empress was not angry, she continued to flatter, “Your Majesty, why don’t we have the prince come to my house for recuperation? Our village is very beautiful, with mountains and rivers and lots of delicious fruits. The prince will surely enjoy it there, and his health would recover faster.”

The Empress twitched her mouth, and said with some impatience, “Are there no mountains, rivers or fruit trees in Qing Palace?”

Did this child seriously think that her tiny country village was better than the grand Qing Palace? Truly a rustic child with no sense of decorum in her speech.

Yingbao made a sullen face, “There are mountains, rivers, and fruit trees in Qing Palace, but they don’t allow me to roam around freely, nor do they let me pick the fruits.”

Today, the Empress was in a good mood, and patient, “Don’t worry about that. I will issue an order that you can move freely within Qing Palace and pick fruits to eat.”

She took a sip of her tea and said, “Now, are you satisfied?”

Yingbao nodded her head, realising she couldn’t fight against them. Suddenly, she said, “What if the palace maids bully me? I am only six years old, and I definitely can’t beat them.”

The Empress pinched her forehead, starting to feel a bit impatient, but still managed to maintain a gentle smile. She said, “Alright, I’ll grant you a punishment stick. If anyone dares to bully you, you can hit them back with it.”

That should do it, right? Sigh, it’s been such a long time since she last had to deal with children. It’s such a bother.

The palace maid standing beside her was quick-witted. She immediately fetched a punishment stick and handed it to Yingbao, saying, “Won’t you hurry and thank the Empress for her kindness?”

Yingbao accepted the punishment stick and placed it at her waist. She clasped her hands, bowed deeply to the Empress, and said, “I’m much obliged for your kindness, Empress.”

Humph! With the punishment stick in hand, the wrongdoers will bow their heads. For now, she’ll just stay in Qing Palace. After the skinny Prince’s condition improves, she’ll ask for his permission to go home.

As his only child at present, she should have this power.

When she left Yingxian Yard, Yingbao carried two strings of silver coins given to her by the Empress as a reward. Each string had five hundred coins, making it a total of a thousand coins.

These silver coins were exactly like copper coins, only they were made of silver instead, probably specifically for rewarding people in the palace.

Additionally, she also received two pieces of silk and two pieces of summer cloth, carried by a young eunuch all the way to Qing Palace.

Yingbao was still assigned to the same compartment she had previously stayed in.

The young eunuch placed the four pieces of fabric and the medicine box on the table, wiped the sweat from his brow, and stood by the door for a while, continuously casting glances at Yingbao.

Yingbao knew what he wanted. After thinking for a moment, she reluctantly took out a five-tael silver ingot from her small pouch.

This was already the smallest silver ingot in her possession. Ah, if only she’d thought to keep one-tael and two-tael ones.

“Little brother, you’ve worked hard. Here, buy yourself some tea,” said Yingbao as she handed the silver to the young eunuch.

The young eunuch looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. Accepting the silver, he beamed, “It wasn’t hard at all. If you ever need anything or want to buy something, just send for me. My name is Gui Ping. I usually run errands for the ladies in the outer courtyard of Yingxian Yard, buying odds and ends.”

So he was an errand-running eunuch.

Yingbao nodded quickly with a smile, “Of course, of course. I’ll be sure to call upon you, Brother Gui Ping, if I need to buy anything.”

Gui Ping happily tucked the silver ingot into his pocket before excusing himself and leaving.

Although Yingbao felt the pinch of parting with her five taels of silver, she also felt that it was money well spent.

Being unfamiliar with the palace, striking up a good relationship with the eunuchs and palace maids was crucial.

Therefore, she had to spend money when necessary. If needed, she would figure out a way to earn back the money she’d spent.

Just then, she heard someone calling her from outside, so she stepped out.

As soon as Yingbao arrived at Qing Palace, the head officer of the palace had received an order, aware that this young doctor would be staying here permanently, a palace maid was assigned to care for her daily needs.

After all, she was the young doctor who was treating the Prince. Despite her young age, she was not like ordinary palace maids.

This palace maid was called Changxiu. Around fifteen or sixteen years old, she had an honest and simple demeanor. Originally a cleaner of the courtyards, she was surprised and pleased to be reassigned to look after Yingbao.

Changxiu really didn’t have much to do for Yingbao, other than fetching water, delivering meals, and washing clothes.

Also, Changxiu could keep her company at night, otherwise, she would be scared.

Chen Tiantian noticed that Yingbao had returned and her facial expression wasn’t great.

But she still greeted her, “Yingbao, you’re back. Prince just woke up, let me go inform him for you.”

From yesterday until now, Chen Tiantian and a few other palace maids weren’t allowed to enter the inner hall, making her feel anxious.

A voice in her mind constantly urged her to seize every opportunity to show herself to the Prince to increase his affection towards her.

However, the head officer and several of Qing Palace’s other officers didn’t allow the palace maids to enter, much to her frustration.

Now the inner and outer areas of the Prince’s chamber are guarded by eunuchs, only a single Nanny has the freedom to come and go.