The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 8 - Memories of An Shu.

The reestablishment of the Dowager Empress was now taken for granted by the servants and maids. By the morning of the third day she was able to get up and had recovered much of her original strength. She took a fragrant bath with the help of her faithful group of servants, and then changed her clothes, returning to adorning herself with jewelry and jade ornaments, as she usually did.

Qiang Ling was a yao of advanced age, but her charm and beauty were enduring and elegant, which was enhanced by her discreet robes and parsimonious accessories. Qiang Yong couldn't help but feel great joy at seeing his mother refreshed and on her feet after so many months in bed.

That morning, Su Ning recommended that she take a walk in the garden and sunbathe, which the Empress complied with as long as he accompanied her. After all, the doctor never left her side for a single moment, except to prepare her meals and there were still so many things she wanted to show him!

The doctor offered no resistance to Qiang Ling's whims or requests and walked beside her, with An Shu asleep under his neck. The snake seemed to have adopted the habit of sleeping there during the day and the Empress came to the sad conclusion that he must have been worried that Qiang Yong would attack the doctor in the neck again.

She observed the doctor's thin neck, where finger marks slowly disappeared. Hu Long should apologize to him, she mused as they both sat under a stone bench. The other servant's behavior of speaking ill of the doctor was unacceptable.
Xian Zhong walked over,  happily carrying a tea set with him. The doctor looked at her for a moment.

"Xiao Zhong." He asked softly. "Who asked you to bring tea?"
The maid tilted her head in perplexity. "Ah, Doctor. They just asked me to come and serve them. I thought the Empress had asked."
"Anyway, tea is always welcome." The Empress smiled.
The doctor scratched his head. "Actually, she still won't be able to drink this kind of tea now."

Xiao Zhong stared at him in bewilderment.
"(...) I'll take you back then. Sorry for the inconvenience Dou..."
"It's not a hassle at all. You won't have to take it back."
The doctor took the teapot and poured the contents out without leaving a single drop. Then he took out a qiankun pouch from his sleeve, took out a small bulb and placed it in the teapot.

Then he extended his hand over the container and a spiral of water formed, falling directly into the glass, filling it. Then he snapped his fingers and water began to boil. Inside the teapot, the bulb opened and a yellow chrysanthemum blossomed. Both the servant and the mistress gasp in surprise.
"Oh, it's beautiful! What is it?"

"It's a flowering tea." He replied as he poured a cup. And he even extended one of the bulbs to Xiao Zhong. "Keep one too if you want to try it. It's good for balancing qi and blood."
"The doctor is so good to this useless servant!" Xian Zhong took the bulb with watery eyes and blushing up to his ears.

It was as if she had been given a treasure and dashed off to guard it. The Empress laughed.
"While I'm glad you're better, it saddens me to know that I will also lose your pleasant company."
"Don't be that way. You can visit the clinic whenever you want."
The Empress's eyes lit up.

"Are you sure? The doctor must be a very busy man."
"Most days are very quiet. But if you prefer to make an appointment in advance, we can talk through the communication headquarters."
The Empress agreed and promptly changed her contact details.

"Dr. Su, I would like to thank you for your service and I want you to know that I consider you as a good friend. I also want to apologize to you on behalf of my son, for that incident on the first day. Yong-er is so... Please don't hate him."
"There's nothing to apologize for about that." The doctor laughed. "As you mentioned, it was just an incident. The Emperor has feelings and worries like anyone else, why would he be forced to endure everything?"