Three Winterbane Worms

Suddenly, Grace stood up, her face bright with excitement. "Don't panic, it's not a big problem!"

Felix Zeng let out a sigh of relief. "What's wrong with His Majesty?"

Grace: "Winterbane Worm."

"Huh? What's that?"

"Don't worry about what it is for now," Grace said. "Just listen to my instructions."

Felix Zeng: "Yes, ma'am."

"Send someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau to fetch an acupuncture kit, and get me one of those white physician's robes with fitted sleeves that the court doctors wear."

"Yes!" Felix Zeng ordered someone to go at once.

"Then send a trusted aide to the Empress Dowager. Tell her His Majesty is fine, and she should rest in bed. Later, I'll go with His Majesty to examine her."

Felix Zeng perked up, saying, "That's wonderful!"

Not long after, everything was set.

Most of the women's clothes in Yan City have wide sleeves—totally impractical for work.

Grace slipped into the Warm Alcove, took off her outer robe, and put on the fitted white physician's coat from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

She instructed the two senior palace maids standing guard outside not to let anyone in, no matter what.

Then she brought Felix Zeng inside with her.

She took out the sharp Scarlet Sky Sword and boiled it in hot water for sterilization.

She also disinfected the golden needles.

Grace told Felix Zeng to remove Henry Tuoba's shirt. "There's a parasite in his body. I'm going to use a dagger on him in a moment. Don't make a sound or distract me—if I miss, it'll burrow deeper and be much harder to get out."

Felix Zeng glanced nervously at Henry Tuoba and said, "Maybe I should just wait outside! I... I'm worried my breathing will be too loud, or I might suddenly fart or something—wouldn't want to disturb you."

Grace shook her head, amused. "You can go outside if you want, but make sure no one comes in."

"Yes! I'll leave it to Alliance Leader Zhu!" Felix Zeng bowed respectfully.

Grace nodded.

There was a spirit parasite inside Henry Tuoba's body called the Winterbane Worm.

Its ice-element spirit energy was extremely pure—a favorite of Spiritual Alchemists.

But they were also quite dangerous, fond of burrowing into the bodies of spirit beasts or humans and eating them from the inside out.

At this moment, one or more Winterbane Worms had invaded Henry Tuoba's body.

Luckily, Winterbane Worms aren't very smart—once inside, they just wriggle around aimlessly.

When Henry Tuoba noticed them entering his body, he sealed several major acupoints, so they couldn't reach his vital organs.

Grace used golden needles dipped in medicine to seal off Henry Tuoba's heart, brain, and other key acupoints.

Then she gave him some medicine to drink.

This medicine would force the Winterbane Worms to move from inside the body to just under the skin.

After he drank it, bumps quickly appeared beneath his skin.

Grace grabbed the Scarlet Sky Sword and, quick as lightning, stabbed down.

One strike, dead center.

Then she used a small knife to cut open Henry Tuoba's skin, extracting a wriggling Winterbane Worm and placing it in the prepared wooden gourd...

There were three Winterbane Worms in Henry Tuoba's body.

Once all of them were removed, he woke up.

When he opened his eyes, the person beside him was Grace.

She was sewing up his wound with needle and thread.

Her expression was focused, her movements practiced. The stitched spot hurt and tingled.

"You're awake?" Grace smiled at him.

Her eyes shimmered, her skin was flawless, and she was as beautiful as a lotus blossom.

Henry Tuoba looked away. "Mm."

"Three Winterbane Worms burrowed into your body," Grace said. "Feeling better now?"

"I'm perfectly fine," Henry Tuoba replied. "Except for the spot you stitched up."