When Xiao'er arrived at the Cining Palace, the imperial doctor had already taken the pulse.
The Empress Dowager's health was not in any great danger. She had eaten some fruit because she had no appetite, and now with the weather being extremely cold, and being an elderly person with a weak spleen and stomach, the freezing fruit irritated her fragile digestive system which led to vomiting.
Upon hearing the imperial doctor's words, the Emperor immediately demoted all the palace maids serving the Empress Dowager to the Clothing Bureau. Such a thing had happened during the New Year which almost scared everyone to death!
In such cold weather, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to eat fruit, she should not have been allowed to eat it!
The palace maids felt extremely wronged. They had advised her against eating, but when the Empress Dowager did not listen, what else could they do?
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was all right, everyone left the Cining Palace.