"How dare you!" Yu Qingping scolded angrily, her face cold as frost. "You dare to show disrespect to His Majesty? Does your Qingyun Marquis family have no manners? Kneel down!"
Grace feared the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, but not this little maid!
She was also furious. "Does your Yu family have manners, teaching you to speak to me like this? Have you considered how many people in the world can be alone with the Emperor at night? You don't even have the capability to endure what I have, and you should be the one greeting me!"
Yu Qingping was so angry she was speechless, her face darkening to the point of wringing out water!
She knew Grace was difficult, but she didn't expect her to be so sharp-tongued!
She turned to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this Grace is too rude!"
The Emperor glanced at Grace. "She hasn't been rude just today."
Yu Qingping was stunned...
So, her continuous rudeness was tolerated?
Grace had no mood to argue with Yu Qingping. She had received treatment, offended people, and even threatened the Emperor. This was a capital offense, and it was time to withdraw gracefully! Otherwise, was she waiting for the Emperor to list her crimes in public so she could apologize?
She immediately said, "I won't delay His Majesty any longer, I shall take my leave!"
After speaking, she hobbled out of the clinic, clutching her backside!
Halfway back, she encountered the hurriedly returning female physician Chen. She nodded in greeting under Chen's surprised gaze, then quickly beckoned Yun Xiangyi and Hua Xiangrong to leave swiftly!
The speed of their retreat was so fast, it was hard to believe that she had been in excruciating pain just moments ago!
...
They had barely settled in when they reached home.
The three of them returned to the Jade Courtyard, all with solemn expressions. Xiaolan and Xiaojv, who came to greet them, didn't have a chance to ask what happened before Grace waved them off to close the door.
After closing the door and seeing them sitting as if they had survived a disaster, Xiaolan and Xiaojv were even more puzzled. "What happened? Why do you all look like you've seen a ghost?"
"We didn't see a ghost, but it's almost like we did," Grace panted.
Hua Xiangrong couldn't contain her excitement, still shocked, but eager to share the gossip. "You'd never guess. When we went to see the female physician Chen, it wasn't her we saw, but the Emperor!"
The maids were immediately frightened. "Why was the Emperor there?"
"Who knows!" Grace said, tilting her body to the right, "I must have some conflict with the Song family."
The Empress Dowager's husband's surname was Song.
Xiaolan advised, "Miss, don't say such disrespectful things. If someone hears it, you'll be punished."
Yun Xiangyi caught her breath and said, "Oh no, the Emperor used the medical tools. What if female physician Chen notices something when she returns?"
The maids were even more puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Miss's boil was treated by the Emperor!" Hua Xiangrong, with her ever loose lips, never disappointed, "The Emperor personally squeezed the pus from her boil and applied the medicine himself! I always thought the Emperor was aloof and unattainable. I never expected he could treat an illness! That pus was so dirty, but he managed to remove it for her!"
Grace glared at her. "You saw it?"
"Miss screamed so miserably inside, anyone could guess it!"
Xiaolan and Xiaojv were stunned!
It was shocking enough that the Emperor personally treated someone's illness, but the boil was on her backside! The Emperor personally treated her boil, which meant he saw her... her...
"Miss!"
The maids immediately crouched beside Grace, looking at her with concern.
How could they not worry? She had just managed to arrange a marriage, but it fell through yesterday. Today, someone saw such a private part of her. In the past, this would have been considered a loss of chastity! The society might be more open now, but not to the extent of showing one's buttocks to anyone. How could their Miss still get married?
Even with Grace's thick skin, she couldn't handle their concern.
It was true she was a soul from the 21st century, but she was also a young woman who had never been in a relationship. Discussing being seen by a man in such a way was something she couldn't handle calmly!
Initially, she thought it was just a look, and she could silence him, but it was the Emperor. Even with ten times the courage, she couldn't take action against him, could she?
She gritted her teeth and instructed, "This matter must be kept secret. Not a word outside!"
Not being able to get married was minor; becoming a laughing stock was a major issue!
This humiliation could only be buried in their hearts!
"Who would dare to say anything? If we do, we won't keep our heads! We accompanied you to the clinic. If word gets out, do you think the Marquis would spare us?" Yun Xiangyi immediately highlighted the crucial point.
Grace nodded after listening. But she couldn't help but hold her head. She was still working for the Emperor's mother. How could she enter the palace after this? What should she do if she encountered the Emperor?
Damn it, aren't ancient men supposed to be ceremonious? Why is this Emperor so casual?
Extending his hand just like that?
Rogue! Tyrant!
She pounded the bed board.
Yun Xiangyi advised, "Stop pounding. If you attract attention, the secret will be out."
Grace remembered. "You two are also too disloyal. You recognized him but didn't tell me!"
Yun Xiangyi was speechless. "In that situation, how could I tell you who he was? Whispering in front of the Emperor is a crime!
"Besides, the Emperor was dressed so plainly, clearly not wanting to reveal his identity. How tactless would we have to be to expose him? If we keep it unspoken, we can all tacitly understand and not mention it again. Once it's said, even Miss can't save face!"
Isn't this the perfect example?
Yu Qingping exposed the truth, and now Grace was lamenting!
At that time, the Emperor didn't reveal it, probably to save her face.
Grace had nothing to say.
But she had doubts. "Even if you have a point, how do you recognize him?"
"Have you never seen a pig run if you haven't eaten pork?" Yun Xiangyi rolled her eyes dramatically. "I've heard since I was young that the Third Prince resembles the Emperor and Empress the most. Just for that, I had to find a way to see him, right?
"The Emperor has visited our mansion before. While I wasn't qualified for a formal audience, I still found a chance to take a peek. As for you—"
"Hold on!" Grace interrupted her, "The Third Prince?"
"Yes."
"Wasn't the Crown Prince supposed to succeed the throne? Wasn't he made the Crown Prince right after birth?"
The books clearly stated that after Lu Ling gave birth to the Crown Prince, the couple adored him, and the former Emperor even decreed his crown prince status on his first birthday! How did it become his brother? Did the Crown Prince also die?
"How can someone raised in a noble family not know this?"
Yun Xiangyi couldn't help but question.
Grace felt a bit guilty. "I've heard about it, but it's been a long time. Besides, I wasn't interested, so I didn't remember much."
Yun Xiangyi looked at her and said, "This story is quite long."
"Then make it short!"