Chapter 45 Visiting
After listening, Xiao Yuxuan fell silent.
In her past life, she only overheard that the imperial physician, Doctor Pei, had passed away and that Pei Xing'er had sought refuge with her aunt's family, but she didn't investigate the reasons in detail.
Now it seems that even visiting medical clinics in the capital has been ineffective; unless she can summon a royal physician from the palace, there is nothing more she can do.
She couldn't bear to ignore the glimmer of hope that still existed and let Doctor Pei pass away.
Is there any way to do this?
What other options are there...?
It was late at night. At the side gate of the Xiao residence, a small door quietly opened a crack, and a petite figure wrapped in a thick cloak emerged from inside.
"Miss Bihui, please come back quickly. If Madam finds out, we'll all be in deep trouble!"
The old woman guarding the door whispered instructions from the other side of the door.
The small face was hidden behind the hood and fine fur, with only a small, fair nose and chin showing. The voice was muffled and indistinct.
"I understand, thank you."
The door closed again, and Xiao Yuxuan, who came out as Bi Sui, looked at the silvery street under the moonlight and clenched the token in her hand.
She was going to find the eldest princess.
The Princess's residence was not far from the Xiao residence, but it would still take at least a quarter of an hour to walk there. Xiao Yuxuan dared not waste any time and walked very fast. By the time she arrived at the entrance of the Princess's residence, she was covered in sweat.
"Who goes there?!"
The guards at the gate, armed with knives, were quite cautious when they saw a young girl arrive late at night.
The eldest princess is health-conscious and goes to bed early every day.
Those who come to the door at this time are either acquaintances with important business, or outsiders who are unaware of the situation.
Xiao Yuxuan handed over the token in her hand, the character "令" on it glowing reddish under the light of the lantern above her head.
Her voice was calm, but her speech was rapid:
"Please trouble you two elder brothers to pass this token to the head lady-in-waiting of the Princess, and tell her that Xiao Yuxuan of the Xiao family has important business to discuss with the Princess."
Although the token was given by the Crown Prince, the Eldest Princess had said she would accept it herself. The token was merely a symbol of power and wealth, and it should be sufficient as a stepping stone now.
The two guards glanced at each other, both seeing disapproval in each other's eyes.
Even if the princess had already retired for the night, they wouldn't dare to disturb her without a word or a token given to her in broad daylight.
One of them clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:
"Miss Xiao, is it? Her Highness the Princess has already retired for the night. Please send a proper visiting card tomorrow, and we will deliver it to Her Highness."
Xiao Yuxuan frowned:
"Brother Guard, this is a matter of life and death, please make an exception..."
As she spoke, she took off two bracelets from her wrist and tried to slip them over.
"This is for the brothers to have some drinks, please don't find it offensive."
Unfortunately, the guards at the Princess's residence were used to such things and were not tempted by such petty gains.
"Miss Xiao, it's late and the dew is heavy, please go back quickly."
The two sides are deadlocked.
After a long while, Xiao Yuxuan slowly lowered her hand that was holding the jade pendant. She stared at the tightly closed doors of the Princess's residence and exhaled a breath of stale air.
"I understand, thank you both."
Just as she was about to leave to think of another way, she suddenly heard the slow, leisurely sound of horse hooves approaching from behind.
A slightly drunken voice rang out from the horse:
"Hey? You're, you're that girl from Class D, what's her name again, Xiao Yuxuan?"
Xiao Yuxuan turned around in surprise. There was a group of snow-white ponies, and sitting on the back of the horses was Master Nie, wearing a wide-sleeved robe. His black hair was loosely tied up with a bamboo hairpin, his eyes were blurry with drunkenness, and his cheeks were flushed.
"Master Nie?!"
Why is Master Nie here in the dead of night?
"You, you can't sleep either, so you came to see Amian?"
Master Nie dismounted unsteadily, staggered a couple of steps, and walked up to Xiao Yuxuan.
A rich aroma of wine wafted through the air, and only then did Xiao Yuxuan see clearly the wine jug the other person was carrying. She froze on the spot, and after a long while, she bowed in greeting.
"Student Xiao Yuxuan greets Master Nie."
Master Nie smiled, revealing two rows of snow-white teeth, and put one arm around Xiao Yuxuan's shoulder before walking towards the Princess's residence:
"Come on, let's go together and have a drink with A-Mian!"
This time, the guard at the door simply opened the door in silence and let the two of them in.
As Xiao Yuxuan was embraced, her mind raced. So Master Nie and the Princess had such a good relationship?
As soon as the two entered, the lights in the Princess's residence were lit one by one, and the palace servants led them inside with practiced ease.
Xiao Yuxuan was increasingly alarmed as she walked; the eldest princess was so frugal.
This place is not even as luxurious and exquisite as the Xiao residence; it is just a larger, ordinary house. No one would dare to imagine that this is the residence of the most favored elder sister, the eldest princess.
After walking for a long time, we finally arrived at a brightly lit sleeping quarters.
Master Nie released Xiao Yuxuan, his eyes clear and bright, with little trace of alcohol remaining.
"Go ahead, aren't you looking for the Princess?"
Xiao Yuxuan immediately understood.
She bowed respectfully with gratitude, then lifted her skirt and hurried into the hall.
Master Nie stood still, looked up at the bright moon, round as a silver plate, and took a sip of wine from the pot.
The eldest princess had difficulty falling asleep tonight, so she simply wrapped herself in her outer robe and practiced calligraphy at the long table.
Hearing the announcement that Yuan Yuan and Xiao Yuxuan had come, she was puzzled. Yuan Yuan was understandable, since she often came to her for drinks in the middle of the night, but what about Xiao Yuxuan?
If she remembered correctly, she had not yet revealed her identity to her, and the two of them should not know each other at this time.
I put down my pen, washed my hands, and then heard someone announce that the little girl had arrived at the door.
"Please come in." After she finished speaking, she turned to the maid and instructed, "Go and get some sweet snacks and fruit drinks. The young girl loves these. She must be hungry after walking for so long in the middle of the night. Let her eat and talk."
"yes--"
The maids were puzzled. They had never heard of any relationship between His Highness and this Miss Xiao. Why was His Highness taking such good care of her?
Before long, Xiao Yuxuan, still breathing lightly, knelt down in front of the Princess and briefly recounted the events.
"Your Highness, please have mercy and summon the imperial physicians to leave the palace to save Doctor Pei..."
After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply to the eldest princess.
She didn't care about these formalities. If it was just a matter of saying a few words and kowtowing to save a life, especially since it was Pei Xing'er's grandfather, she wouldn't mind at all.
The princess glanced at the head female official beside her, who immediately understood and quietly left.
She looked at Xiao Yuxuan, who was still kneeling on the ground, with a curious expression:
"I understand, but why have you come to me for help? How do you know me?"
Xiao Yuxuan:
“At the poetry gathering a few days ago, I learned of the Crown Prince’s identity and had my own guesses. In addition, I was fortunate enough to be admitted to the school thanks to His Highness’s leniency. Even if I cannot use this token to ask for help, I would like to try as a student. If I succeed, I may be able to save a life. If I fail, I will only be expelled from the girls’ school because His Highness dislikes me. Therefore, I want to take a gamble.”
The eldest princess nodded, signaling her to rise.
"After talking so much, are you thirsty? Have a fruit drink first."
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