The next day was a busy one.

Duan Changchuan first listened to several reports from the ministers during the court, mentioning the Lingnan area was approaching the rainy season and needed to prepare for potential flood prevention. Another topic was the arrangement of the scholars who passed the spring imperial examination as the Ministry of Personnel proposed.

After the morning court, Duan Changchuan called the six ministers, Prime Minister Bai, Prince Regent, Senior Huang, and Imperial Doctor Fang together to discuss the letter sent by Old Sun.

He spent the entire day engaging in a battle of wits with the Regent and didn’t stop until the afternoon.

When Old Imperial Physician Huang and Chang Le came over with a medicine bowl, he realized the day was almost over. And the person who used to take medicine with him was no longer by his side.

“How do you feel today? Come, drink the medicine first. I’ll take your pulse.” Old Senior Huang sat beside him and said.

Then he motioned for Chang Le to bring the medicine over, “I discussed with my disciple and changed your prescription.”

Duan Changchuan took medicine without suspicion, “I don’t have much appetite today … I barely ate lunch and always feel a bit nauseous. I was just about to ask you to add more anti-vomiting … The anti-vomiting patches behind my ear don’t seem to be working well.”

The old man immediately looked at his ear, “You don’t have an appetite now? That’s strange …”

Duan Changchuan drank the medicine and shook his head, “I don’t have any appetite, don’t feel hungry, and don’t want to eat. Maybe I’m just tired today …”

Halfway through, he suddenly paused.

He lowered his head uncertainly and sniffed the bowl, “What did you add to the new prescription this time?”

“I added some peony powder. Bai girl asked me to add it. I thought it was indeed a tonic, so I added it for you. What’s wrong?”

Old Imperial Physician Huang replied casually. But in his heart, he was on high alert.

That day, after Bai Su transferred her blood, she said to him with a piece of ginseng in her mouth, “If His Majesty asks about the medicine, just say some peony powder was added. This medicine is bitter. He always drinks it in one gulp, so he shouldn’t be able to taste anything. At most, he can only smell a bit of peony scent, so tell him that.”

He had no idea why Duan Changchuan asked, nor did he know why Bai Su said so. To be honest, other than the smell of fresh blood, he didn’t smell any peony in the medicine at all.

However, the young man seemed to enjoy this very much and accepted this explanation without giving it a second thought.

Just as Imperial Physician Huang let out a sigh of relief, he heard the young man ask another question, “The amnesia that I mentioned before … I suddenly remembered about it today. Is there any good way for me to recover? As the ruler of a country, I’m afraid I’ll mess up the country’s affairs.”

Imperial Physician Huang, “…”

It had only been a few days since he returned to the palace, why were there so many things happening? Wasn’t it fine when he wasn’t in the palace and didn’t bother with anything? Why did it feel like the entire world burden had fallen on his head the moment he returned?

Duan Changchuan had indeed had amnesia. Initially, Huang thought that no matter what the reason for his memory loss was, there must be issues with Duan Changchuan’s heart or head. After a few rounds of acupuncture and slowly recuperating, he would eventually be able to remember.

But Chang Le kept stopping him that day and later the young emperor asked Xiao Le to send him back.

As a result, as soon as they arrived at the medical center, the little eunuch knelt before him and begged him not to treat the young emperor.

At that time, Chang Le even showed him a letter …

It was a suicide note written by the young emperor to Chang Le. It turned out that the bag of poison Duan Changchuan asked Chang Le to was supposed to prepare was intended for a suicide attempt. For some unknown reason, the packet disappeared, the young emperor survived, but completely forgot that part.

At that time, the young eunuch knelt before him with snot and tears.

“I also know the emperor’s sudden amnesia isn’t a good thing, but I’ve also heard that people tend to forget very painful memories … I thought that His Majesty must be too sad, and that’s why he forgot. Chang Le knows this is a crime of deceiving the emperor, and Chang Le is willing to bear the consequences. I’m just worried … If His Majesty remembers, he might not be able to overcome it again. Imperial Physician Huang, Chang Le begs you … No matter what the consequences are, Chang Le is willing to bear it alone!”

What could he do? He could only help him up, “Sigh, stop being so melodramatic. Let’s talk about it later, okay?”

At that time, he felt a headache …

Now, looking at the little emperor who asked him directly … His head hurt even more.

Why did everyone make things difficult for him, a mere imperial physician?

“About your amnesia, let me explain. Regardless of the type of amnesia, it’s caused by poor blood circulation blocking your brain. The first step to recovering your memory is to improve blood flow. But since you are pregnant now, we better avoid things that improve blood flow. After the child is born, I’ll give you acupuncture. Moreover, maybe your blood flow will improve once this child is born, and you will naturally regain your memory. Everything is possible.”

The old man probably had never lied in his life. When he spoke, his eyes wandered countless times.

Duan Changchuan saw through it: These were all excuses.

[Let’s … forget it.]

There was no need to make things difficult for the old man.

Senior Huang had been out of the palace for many years, accustomed to being unrestrained outside. When he came back, he was suddenly burdened with so many secrets, having to keep each of them, how could he bear it? The fact that the old man hadn’t left yet was probably from his worry about Duan Changchuan, a man, having to carry and give birth to a child …

Thinking of this, the young man did not ask any further questions.

Instead, he turned his head and ordered indifferently, “Chang Le, have someone prepare a meal. I’m hungry.”

He had not had an appetite all day, now that he suddenly said he was hungry, the little eunuch was very happy. He responded quickly, “Yes, this servant will send a message to the imperial kitchen and have them bring meals over. Today, they’ve boiled chicken soup according to the Empress’s instructions. skimmed all the fat and made it very light.”

“Mm …” The corners of his lips curved.

–

That evening, Duan Changchuan and Senior Huang had dinner together.

After the meal, the old man stayed and chatted with him for a while before leaving.

There was nothing special in the evening, just like any other night, he bathed, burned incense, and read memorials.

When he finally finished, it was late at night.

He habitually called out, “Bai Su.”

He wanted to say, “I’ve finished reading all the memorials, we can rest.”

When he turned his head, he found the seat beside him was empty.

There was no one reading a scroll, no one grinding ink on an inkstone, no one smiling at him, and no one gently kissed his lips, saying, “Good boy.”

She was gone.

She set off early this morning.

She was traveling by fast horse, and by now, she should be over four hundred miles away.

It was already ten at night and the palace was silent.

Hmm … I wonder if she had slept? What did she eat on the way? Would it be inconvenient for her to take a bath in the inn …

[Does she … miss me?]

The young man looked up and saw the bright red clothes still hanging on the clothes rack …

He got up and walked over.

He stretched his arm to one of the sleeves, slowly raised it … and then gently stroked it on his head.

[What should I do? I seem to have started to miss her.]