Chapter 3: Dead Trees Come Back to Life
Xiao Linyuan naturally remained silent with his eyes closed.
Song Zijin bravely hooked his little finger, "Since you're silent, that means you agree. Let's make a promise. When you get better, you must remember to help me!"
Her voice became weaker and weaker, and the pain in her body could not overcome the tiredness and sleepiness, and finally she fell asleep unknowingly.
Outside the main house, Qingzhi wanted to knock on the door to remind Song Zijin to go back, but was stopped by Nanny Jiang.
"I don't think your Xiao family really values the prince's offspring. If Miss Mianmian walks back like this, the chances of her getting pregnant will be low. Wouldn't all her efforts tonight be in vain?"
Qingzhi was proud and arrogant, and was dissatisfied with Nanny Jiang's bossing. "Mammy, do you mean that you want me to carry Mianmian back?"
"Who are you to be carrying the prince's child? Call for a sedan chair, otherwise Miss Mianmian will stay here and go back tomorrow morning."
"You!" Qingzhi looked around. There was no one from the Minister's Mansion here. If a fight broke out, she would be at a disadvantage as she was alone.
"Then let her stay here first. I'll make a decision tomorrow after I consult the adults."
Nanny Jiang gave a wink to the servant at the door before leaving.
At the hour of Mao, the east was slightly brighter.
Song Zijin dragged her aching body to her feet. She had to go back and take a shower.
The incense in the incense burner had burned out, and she secretly dug out some ashes with a handkerchief.
The door creaked open, and Song Zijin saw Qingzhi's face with a bluish hue.
"I thought the girl was going to dawdle and not return to the Xiao Mansion. She was so happy after just one night that she didn't want to leave."
Song Zijin didn't even glance at Qingzhi. She walked forward step by step with dignity, making sure no one noticed anything was wrong with her.
I have already lost my innocence, but I must never lose my pride.
Qingzhi gritted his teeth and caught up, "Miss, are you afraid to answer because of what I said?"
"Did your husband ask you to question me?"
"No, I'm just speaking up for you!"
"Even the adults in your family don't care, so why would a maid like you care?" Song Zijin chuckled. "If you're so sour, I'll misunderstand that you have some interest in me."
“…” Qingzhi stood there in a daze.
Is this still the same quiet and gentle lady from before?
It turns out she has been hiding a second face!
The old princess walked out from the corner, looked at Song Zijin's back, her eyes half-closed.
Such an extraordinary woman is worthy of being a favorite concubine in the palace. How could Xiao Jin resist taking her as his wife?
What is the purpose of this bastard?
…
Liao Yan was a doctor under Xiao Linyuan. After confirming that the prince was beyond cure, he was so sad that he decided to stay in the palace and travel around.
But before he could leave the capital, the old princess sent someone to invite him back.
"What's going on?" The old princess was extremely anxious.
Liao Yan touched his non-existent beard with a heavy expression. It took a long time before he withdrew his fingertips.
"Strangely enough, the prince's health has improved!"
The old princess' eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Of course it's true. A few days ago, the prince's pulse was weak and disordered, a clear sign of imminent death. But now, his heartbeat is steady and strong, like a withered lotus pond being injected with fresh water."
Liao Yan was in a complicated mood. Was it because his medical skills were not good enough?
The old princess naturally saw Liao Yan's worry and asked, "Could it be that the incense is the problem?"
Liao Yan shook his head. "I've been studying the incense that Minister Xiao sent me these past few days, and I'm certain it doesn't contain any deadly poison. My medicine boy personally tested it and confirmed that it's beneficial for men's genitals, and he didn't experience any discomfort. I've consulted many ancient texts, and I roughly guess that this is a lost incense from the previous dynasty."
The so-called soul-stirring incense was developed by the Divine Doctor Valley for the tyrant emperor at that time, and it has miraculous effects.
As for why it was lost later, there is no record in the classics. It must have been a secret of the previous dynasty, unknown to the public.
"Could it be... because of the marriage consummation?" The old princess looked grim.
Liao Yan put his hands in his pockets and said, "It's not impossible."
Because he tasted the sweetness of a woman, he was like a dead tree coming back to life. If this were to be told to others, where would King Jin Yue put his face?
"Hmph, it must be that bastard's conspiracy!" The old princess swore.
"If His Majesty can save his life because of this conspiracy, it would be a blessing."
The old princess kept breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling. Did this bastard want to humiliate her and Ling Zhi in this way?
Nanny Jiang hurriedly tried to calm the old princess down, "Who knows, maybe the problem lies with that girl."
"How do you say that?"
"From what I've seen, Miss Mianmian doesn't look like an ordinary maid. Not only her appearance, but her manners and body are also excellent. Ordinary people can't cultivate such a demeanor. And it seems that she doesn't get along with that man's trusted maid, so she shouldn't be Xiao Jin's confidant."
The old princess nodded. She would rather believe that Mianmian did something secretly than believe that it was Xiao Jin's credit.
"But there are very few people in the world who can perform medical skills, and all of them are from the Divine Doctor Valley. It has been twenty years since the Divine Doctor Valley was destroyed. This girl is just in her prime, and there is no way she is from the Divine Doctor Valley." Liao Yan said firmly.
The old princess glanced at him and said, "A few days ago, you swore that my son would not live for more than two weeks. Now, isn't he getting better?"
"This, this..." Liao Yan was speechless for a moment.
"Alright, I know you've always been loyal to the palace, and that's what the people from the Imperial Hospital have concluded. So Mianmian must have something extraordinary about her. Why don't we let her live here? We can observe her every day and we'll eventually find the reason."
The old princess made the final decision, and Liao Yan had no choice but to agree to this approach.
He just scoffed at the speculation that Mianmian could have any outstanding qualities.
Even though he, the descendant of the imperial physician who had the good fortune to spend a year in the Valley of Divine Doctors, was unable to diagnose the poison, how could he expect a mere cucumber to cure it?
However, he sincerely hoped that the prince would get better. Such a hero should not die like this.
Xiao Mansion, Cangjiao Pavilion.
Song Zijin changed the water three times before coming out of the bathroom.
Fu Yue was so distressed that she hid behind the pillar and dropped gold beans.
Song Zijin walked over slowly and gently patted Fu Yue's double buns.
"Why are you crying?"
Fu Yue wiped her tears, not daring to look up at Song Zijin, "Miss, you have been wronged."
She refused to call her "Madam" anymore because she felt that Xiao Jin was not worthy of her.
He is worse than an animal if he can push his wife to do such a thing.
"It's not a grievance. If I could offer other bargaining chips, why would I have to exchange my body?" Song Zijin smiled bitterly.
"The imperial court doesn't allow women to take the imperial examinations. If women could become officials, you would definitely be able to save the master and the mistress by now. This is all the imperial court's fault!"
"Keep your voice down! You're saying this in the home of a third-rank official. Do you think our lives are too long?"
The more Fu Yue thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her tears flowed like a flood that broke through the dam, soaking Song Zijin's handkerchief until it could no longer absorb water.
"Hao Fuyue, you've hurt your eyes from crying. I really have no relatives in this capital." Song Zijin took her in his arms and comforted her carefully.
When the Song family encountered trouble, Mrs. Song immediately returned the indentures to the servants and allowed them to leave the house and seek refuge.
Fu Yue refused to leave no matter what. She said she had no family left and Song Zijin was her only family.
The two grew up together and their relationship is even deeper than that of some real sisters.
"Miss, do you really believe in Xiao Jin? He is a bad man. I don't believe he can save the master."
Song Zijin smiled and poked Fu Yue's forehead, "So I, your daughter, have thought of another way."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
