Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)
Meet in person
Overwhelmed, that one word was able to describe how confused the two Wu Li Mei children were after they entered the medicinal shop. The next patient list sheet of the mother was handed over to the staff of Tabib Zhong.
They hid while looking at the emperor through a small crack in the door, "God! How about this, what if you find out?" puzzled Zhou Fang Yin who saw the emperor still faithfully waiting in one of the taverns along with Commander Hao who was in disguise.
"How sis? What are we gonna do next?" push the girl.
"I don't know either." replied the crown prince, "How about we prevent the emperor from meeting the mother alone?"
"Yes, but how? I waited outside and couldn't leave before I could see my mother. I'm sure it is!"
"I'm sure of that too."
Zhou Fang Yin pinched the elder brother's small arm, "You're just kidding!"
"Yeah let's just relax a little bit, you're too scared."
"Are you not afraid? It's not like you said that until we get caught, this drugstore is likely to be banned by me."
"According to the rules of this palace is indeed true, and again the mother advised not to let anyone know especially the father" replied the crown prince, he also stared back and forth to make sure the emperor would not suddenly come and pat him on the shoulder again, even though they were in the room.
They couldn't linger inside because the queues outside had to be controlled, Physician Zhong's men might have trouble calling one after another or facing those who wanted to raid the ranks. It was soon lunchtime because the sun was already at the top of the head, and perhaps the emperor would visit at that time.
"What if we just disguise ourselves?" asked Zhou Ming Hao.
The younger brother frowned, "Apparently how?"
"I'll be the mother at lunch, you call me to meet me and then you can take me somewhere else. Or we'll just tell mom that dad's coming over, and then mom's gone and I'm mom."
"Aha! That's a brilliant idea!" praise the younger brother made Zhou Ming Hao proud of his brilliantly praised brain. "But everyone knows Mrs Wu is a woman, how will you disguise yourself as a woman?"
"Ah, right too."
"Oh brother, give me a good idea."
"I'm trying to rack my brain! Try now you're telling me pendapa--"
"Why are you here?"
Hearing that voice made the two teenagers flinch slightly, they turned their head stiffly towards Wu Li Mei who was walking towards them with Dayang Yi and Lu Yan.
The elder scratched his non-itchy neck while showing off a neatly arranged row of teeth, "Ah, no ma'am, we're just having a short discussion."
"Regard what?" wu Li Mei asked curiously.
"Lunch on!" chirps Zhou Fang Yin, "What do you want to have lunch today mom? My sister and I thought something nice for lunch today. But by the way, why is mom here?"
Wu Li Mei sniffed her shoulders, "By resting, it's midday apparently and we're very busy today, mom is worried we don't have enough time for lunch. So I will send Lan Suo alone to buy food! What do you want to eat, just tell Lan Suo let her buy it for us later huh." said the grand concubine.
"Mrs Wu?"
Lan Suo had come even though she had not been summoned by Wu Li Mei, the young man was struggling to come to see the madam. Arriving in front of Wu Li Mei, he was confused by the people who were gathering, but he ignored it because his goal to meet the madam was to announce something.
"What's Xiao Lan?" ask Wu Li Mei.
Zhou Ming Hao and Zhou Fang Yin instantly froze on the spot, they lowered their heads not daring to stare at Wu Li Mei who was caught from the corner of the middle eye staring at them. The mother must be sensitive to who Lan Suo meant. "Yes, tell him to come to my practice room."
"You sure madam?" ask Dayang Yi quickly.
"Miss, but you definitely know who Lan Suo meant?" Lu Yan shook his head firmly, "Isn't he someone we all know?"
"Let me see him alone, you just wait here!" firmly Wu Li Mei, the madam walked back to her practice room.
"Good madam!"
"Good ma'am!"
***
In accordance with the direction of the young man named Lan Suo who was guarding the medicinal shop, Emperor Zhou and Commander Hao waited inside Madam Wu's practice room expectantly. Actually their goal was to come there, only the emperor knew. Commander Hao followed as a personal safeguard. Several times the commander tried to convince the emperor not to meet with Mrs Wu for reasons of being very busy with patients and fear of intrusion.
But the emperor was still the emperor who was firm on his stance, this would not be long since he would only deliver a few sentences that might be able to help this store in the future.
Long waiting for the madam, Emperor Zhou finally saw a woman with a simple hanfu and a face-covering veil coming from the direction of the door. The emperor got up from his seat, "Good day, Lady Wu, sorry to interrupt your break."
"It doesn't matter sir, but indeed I can't linger because I have to re-open the practice" Wu Li Mei said in a tone of voice that he deliberately made different. One thing for sure is, he avoided eye contact with the emperor.
"Please sit!"
"Thank you."
"What do you need to do, sir, look for me?" wu Li Mei asked directly at his spot, she glanced at Commander Hao briefly before turning back her head. The commander was also unable to say anything at this moment other than silence.
The old Zhou Emperor looked at the veiled woman before him as he felt very familiar with that face, very similar to Wu Li Mei's sharp eyes. But is it possible? It was not because the concubine was busy in the palace. The veil that partially covered his face was the key, had he opened his veil the emperor could have seen his face.
Emperor Zhou took a deep breath, "My arrival as an emissary from the empire to convey to you that the empire is ready to help in case of such trouble the other day. Your role for the people is huge, and it's amazing to help ease an outbreak with this drugstore. So if you need a hard-to-get herbal remedy, you can say it and the empire will help."
"Empire?"
"Yes, madam?"
Wu Li Mei looked up and looked at Commander Hao, the commander gesturing with a nod.
"Is this true?"
"I can vouch for it, Lady Wu." said the emperor with great decisiveness, "The empire will help you earnestly if you need it. My arrival here is to extend your support directly to you."
"And if you don't mind, the empire also invites you to dinner at the palace!" said the emperor.
Wu Li Mei rounded her eyes, dinner in the palace was certainly not a good idea and refused as well how. "Eat dinner? I feel very honored, but .. I .. I can't accept it."
"Why?"
"I apologize for my unwillingness to refuse the invitation from the emperor, but I really can't.
Emperor Zhou nodded in understanding, "I understand, but the invitation will be valid until you have some free time mistress. We will be very much waiting for your presence at the palace banquet."
