"Hmm, I’ll test it first and see the results before deciding anything," Sugar said. "I also know this matter can’t be rushed. Don’t worry, I know what I should do."
To prevent others from worrying, after changing her clothes, Yuan Yuan stepped onto the scale and had actually lost another five jin (175 jin). It seemed like she had expelled quite a lot of toxins these past few days!
Because she had gone three days without eating, and after such a severe detoxification process, Yuan Yuan fainted in front of the Four Arts as soon as she appeared before them. This scared them terribly. Such a big incident couldn’t be kept from the Empress Dowager, so they called for the Imperial Physician and informed the Empress Dowager.
They remembered the Empress Dowager’s instruction to not summon any doctors from Yuan Shoucheng’s faction, and so they called only the Imperial Physician designated by the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Physician arrived almost simultaneously. Having not seen Yuan Yuan for several days, the Empress Dowager’s tears were about to pour out upon seeing Yuan Yuan appear to have grown thinner.
Upon learning that she had locked herself in her room for three days without food and drink, the Empress Dowager clutched her chest in pain, almost fainting herself.
Fortunately, the diagnosis given by the Imperial Physician allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief, "Empress Dowager, rest assured, the Empress only has qi deficiency and low blood sugar. She’ll recover after some nourishment."
After three days without eating or drinking, Doctor Zheng looked at the Empress, lying in bed like a large chunk of meat, and heaved a deep sigh. It’s not easy, to be able to be so ruthless with oneself is truly remarkable!
After leaving Yikun Palace, Doctor Zheng went to inform the Emperor of the situation. Ning Xu raised his eyebrows in surprise after hearing it, "She lost weight?"
Doctor Zheng nodded, "Indeed, she has lost quite a bit, although she still looks overweight. However, the Empress has not struggled in vain over this period. Losing twenty to thirty jin should be no problem. If she keeps this up, the results will be even better."
Ning Xu felt a bit uncomfortable, "What’s the point of losing weight , tormenting herself? Is it to get my attention?"
If Yuan Yuan heard these words, she would certainly have slapped him, "Pah, shameless! Being conceited is an illness that needs to be cured!"
Although he was reluctant to admit it, Ning Xu had to respect Yuan Yuan’s willpower, and it kindled a desire within him to see her.
"Next month is the national Qing celebration. For such a festival, I need to make offerings to the Sky with the Empress. Notify them to make preparations in Yikun Palace."
The Chief Eunuch, Weng Yi, doubted his own ears and looked incredulously at his master.
"Emperor, do you mean that you want to attend such a grand festival with the Empress?"
"What? Is there a problem with that?"
"No, no problem at all. Your servant will see to it immediately."
But inwardly, he was perplexed. Who was it that said they would not see that pig in this lifetime? It’s only been a few days, and the mind has changed already? Truly, the heart of an Emperor is the hardest to fathom!
When the news arrived at Yikun Palace, they too were in disbelief, but then immediate concern followed, for they knew their Empress had been laughed at from childhood. On the day of the event, if their Lady, with her single person’s stature, stood next to the Emperor who was two to three times slimmer, how embarrassing would that be?
They had all seen the Emperor and knew he was exceptionally thin, while their Lady was short and fat, a veritable round winter melon. But the Emperor wasn’t much better, being a walking stick. The pair’s figures, unnoticeable on their own, become a reason for laughter when compared side by side.
Could it be that they wanted the stick to lever the squat winter melon?