Chapter 7: Defying Convention! The Heartfelt Pastry Saves Her Husband and Moves the Emperor!

Inside the grand hall, the atmosphere was strange and tense.

Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao wore expressions full of amusement; father and son watched Zhu Gaochi’s vivid performance, their bellies aching from laughter.

This chubby little fellow was simply too entertaining!

The imperial physician Song, having been mocked as a pig’s head, was now utterly humiliated and furious, nearly wanting to fight Zhu Gaochi to the death.

“Look at you, old geezer. You don’t understand anything, so how dare you bark like a dog here?” Zhu Gaochi teased mercilessly, leaving no face for the old man.

Seeing this, Crown Prince Biao quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“All right, enough, Gaochi, stop now.”

“After all, Imperial Physician Song is an elder; don’t be so reckless!”

Zhu Gaochi curled his lips disdainfully but only reined himself in after Old Zhu shot him a sharp look.

Then Crown Prince Biao turned to Dai Sigong, pressing, “May I ask, Divine Doctor Dai, how should we proceed with treatment?”

The facts were laid bare: Empress Ma was suffering from a horse-riding abscess. Given that, the crucial question was how to treat it.

Hearing this, Dai Sigong remained silent, instead glancing at Zhu Gaochi.

As an outsider official, certain words were inconvenient for him to say.

But Zhu Gaochi was different. As a member of the royal clan, son of Prince Yan Zhu Di, and grandson of the Empress herself, even if he misspoke, it would be seen as filial naivety.

Following Dai Sigong’s gaze, both Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao looked expectantly at Zhu Gaochi.

For a moment, the chubby boy felt immense pressure.

Yet, considering Empress Ma’s significance to the Ming dynasty, Zhu Gaochi braved it and spoke.

“Next, Grandmother must endure some hardship,” his chubby face serious. “We will shave bamboo into small blades and mount them onto a chair, coating the blades with anti-inflammatory and analgesic powder. Then, Grandmother will sit on the chair. As the bamboo blades pierce the abscess from horseback, naturally, her condition will heal…”

At those words, even Old Zhu and Crown Prince Biao were stunned, their faces darkening instantly.

What kind of treatment was this?

It was nothing short of shocking and horrifying!

“Rubbish!” Imperial Physician Song seized the moment to shout, “Your Majesty, the Empress is the Mother of our Great Ming; her delicate body must not suffer such indignity!”

“It’s clearly this Divine Doctor Dai’s reckless haste, conjuring such a mad scheme. I urge you to punish this villain with the harshest penalty!”

This old fellow was also a coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Having been harshly mocked by Zhu Gaochi earlier, he dared not provoke the chubby boy again, instead turning his wrath toward Dai Sigong.

A powerless young man—he reckoned he could handle him.

Dai Sigong furrowed his brow but remained silent, choosing not to explain.

Zhu Gaochi shot Imperial Physician Song a fierce glare before volunteering, “Your Majesty, this method was my own idea, unrelated to Divine Doctor Dai.”

Crown Prince Biao’s face grew irritated. “Is there really no other way?”

As a son, how could he watch his mother endure such humiliation without trying to help?

This time, Dai Sigong shook his head and answered bluntly.

“The Empress is the Mother of the Nation; even Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince cannot…”

“If it weren’t for this young lord’s unconventional approach, the Empress’s illness would have become incurable!”

At this point, nothing more needed to be said.

“Absolutely absurd…” Imperial Physician Song resumed his clamoring.

Zhu Gaochi would not indulge him, raising his chubby hand threateningly. Instantly, the old man quieted.

“If you keep whining, I’ll cripple you right now!”

Old Zhu paid no mind but sank into deep thought.

His face flickered between gloom and uncertainty.

A quack like Imperial Physician Song, who clearly knew what disease the Empress had, dared not speak for fear of trouble.

Meanwhile, the young physician Dai openly stated the diagnosis but proposed a treatment so shocking it was hard to accept.

What choice was there?

What if—

Old Zhu paced back and forth, hands clasped behind his back, hesitating like never before.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a tug at his sleeve. Looking down, it was the chubby Zhu Gaochi.

“Grandfather, have you forgotten how, back then, Grandmother hid hot pancakes in her bosom so you wouldn’t go hungry?”

At these words, Old Zhu’s eyes reddened.

Crown Prince Biao looked bewildered, seemingly unaware of this secret.

Seeing this, Old Zhu’s eyes filled with tears as he slowly spoke.

“At that time, I was just a militia commander under Guo Zixing. Because I was brave and victorious, Guo Zixing grew suspicious and confined me. His two foolish sons wanted to use the chance to get rid of me, ordering no food to be given, hoping I’d starve.”

Hearing this, Crown Prince Biao’s face changed.

He had never heard of these secrets. How had Zhu Gaochi come to know them?

“At that time, I went several days hungry, skin clinging to bone, my vision darkening—I almost starved to death.”

“Your mother found out and secretly stole freshly baked pancakes from the kitchen, hiding them in her bosom to bring to me. But just as she left the kitchen, she bumped into Lady Zhang, Guo Zixing’s wife. Afraid Lady Zhang would see through her plan, your mother quickly hid the pancakes in her own bosom and greeted Lady Zhang.”

“Lady Zhang noticed your mother’s nervousness and deliberately engaged her in long conversation. Your mother barely replied, stammering. Later, when the pain made her cry silently, Lady Zhang helped her inside, dismissed the servants, and carefully questioned her. Only then did your mother break down and explain everything. Lady Zhang hurriedly told her to loosen her clothes and take out the pancakes. The pancakes were still steaming, stuck to her wounded flesh. It was difficult to remove them, the meat nearly burnt…”

By this point, Old Zhu was weeping openly.

Crown Prince Biao’s eyes also filled with tears, choking on his words.

“Biao, if not for your mother, I would have died long ago. There would be no fortune like today!”

“So no matter what, we cannot stand by and watch your mother suffer. We must find a way to save her!”

Crown Prince Biao nodded through his tears, saying no more.

Finally, Old Zhu made the decision.

“Then so be it—the girl’s life is paramount. Nothing else matters!”

Life itself is the greatest treasure; without life, what else is there?

The craftsmen finished making the bamboo chair and soon it was brought in. Everyone anxiously waited outside the inner hall, the air thick and still as they awaited the outcome.

Old Zhu patted Zhu Gaochi’s head, wiped his tears, and smiled, “Good child, don’t worry. I’ll credit you with a great merit!”

But Zhu Gaochi could not smile; he truly worried for Empress Ma.

Seeing this, Old Zhu’s gaze softened further, his fondness for the chubby boy growing.

At last, the bamboo chair was brought out. Dai Sigong immediately knelt to the ground.

“Your Majesty, it worked!”

When he spoke, everyone exhaled in relief.

Zhu Gaochi collapsed onto the floor, his back soaked with cold sweat.

By heaven, it was finally a success—no easy feat!

This meant Empress Ma had been successfully saved!

Heh heh, Zhu the Fourth, you scheming rascal, still dreaming of becoming emperor?

Keep on dreaming your grand dreams!