The moment Jian Ning saw Prince Yong, he knew in his heart that someone in Prince Pingnan's Mansion must be colluding with Prince Yong, and naturally, Concubine Min, who was currently in charge, was the most suspicious.
Of course, it is not ruled out that it is another concubine.
There are countless examples of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it, throughout history.
When Prince Yong saw Jian Ning and Ding Youtian, his face darkened. Before he could react, Huo Jincheng strode over and bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness happened to be passing by, or..."
He glanced sideways at Prince Pingnan's mansion. Prince Pingnan was not at home, so Prince Yong would not come for no reason, so he stopped talking midway.
"I'm just passing through here." King Yong said, looking at Ding Youtian and Jian Ning. Ding Youtian stood where he was, bowed, and said loudly: "I greet King Yong!"
Before he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, the emperor had granted him the right to meet officials without kneeling. He thought that the fact that he bowed his hands was a courtesy to Prince Yong.
Even if he ignored him, what could Prince Yong do to him? If he started a fuss over such a small matter and it became public, it would be a disgrace to Prince Yong.
Jian Ning stood beside him with a medicine box slung over her shoulder, and only bowed slightly after he finished speaking.
As for Madam Huo, she was a first-rank imperial consort, so she didn't need to bow to a mere Prince Yong. Her accompanying maid helped her walk a few steps towards Prince Yong. Prince Yong pretended to have just seen her, only raising his chin towards her and forcing a smile, saying, "Madam is here too. How are you these days?"
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Old Madam Huo said indifferently. After that, she shouted at Huo Jincheng, "Cheng'er, why don't you go knock on the door? What are you standing there for?"
Huo Jincheng clasped his fists and bowed to Prince Yong, then turned and walked towards the gate of Prince Pingnan's Palace.
Prince Yong raised his chin and was about to call him, but Madam Huo spoke first, "Your Highness! You are busy with your affairs, so I will not disturb you."
The implication is, just go about your own business and don't get in the way or cause any annoyance.
She called out to Jian Ning and Ding Youtian, "Come with me. I haven't seen my old sister for a long time, and I don't know if she's doing well now. Come with me to take a look. If you can bring her back to health, you'll be a great help to the prince when he returns."
The old lady spoke loudly, deliberately letting Prince Yong hear it. Don't think you are great just because you are a prince. Prince Pingnan is an important minister of the country and is deeply trusted by the emperor. How can you, a little prince who has no contribution to the country and the people, compare to him!
"The First Rank Consort of the Imperial Tutor's Mansion is here to visit!"
Huo Jincheng shouted a few times outside, and the door slowly opened. The old lady came forward and scolded, "The prince is away, and the princess is ill. This palace is becoming increasingly disorderly. I will deal with you when the prince returns!"
She spoke to the servant who opened the door, but she insisted on speaking to the servant.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, so sorry. My sister was making a fuss just now. Everyone was so busy inside that I just managed to coax her to sleep." A beautiful middle-aged woman with hair full of pearls and jade hurried in, surrounded by several maids, her skirt flying as she walked. "I didn't know your wife had arrived, so I didn't come to greet you. I hope you will forgive me for my slowness."
Madam Huo's face darkened, she snorted coldly, and asked bluntly, "What do you mean? The princess has gone to bed. Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"Look at what you're saying, Madam. You and my sister have been close friends for many years. Everyone in the family knows this. We're so happy to have you come to see my sister. How could we dare to...?"
"Pa!" Before she could finish her words, Mrs. Huo unexpectedly raised her hand and slapped her in the face. She then spat in her face and pointed at her nose and said, "Who are you talking to us? Do you think you are worthy?"
"Even if she is given the title of concubine, she is still a concubine!"
"Now that you are the head of the palace, you have the nerve to call me sister?"
"Get away from me!"
Concubine Min covered her face and glared at Old Madam Huo, but dared not say a word. There was no noble lady in the capital who didn't know Old Madam Huo. She was famous for her hot temper and outspokenness even when she was still in the boudoir.
"Madam Huo, please calm down." A woman dressed in simple and elegant clothes stepped forward and bowed to Madam Huo. "My concubine greets you, Madam. I pay my respects to you."
"Sister Princess has indeed just gone to bed. She has been restless lately, waking up before an hour at night and staring wide-eyed until dawn. It's not that Sister Min is preventing Madam from seeing her."
When Jian Ning saw the two of them, she searched her memory and knew that this was Li, the concubine from the other side of the palace. Li also saw Jian Ning at this time. She was stunned for a moment, then a look of surprise appeared on her face, but she looked at Madam Huo hesitantly.
"You're quite sensible." Madam Huo nodded, took Jian Ning's hand and said, "This is the miracle doctor I invited for my sister Yuexi. It doesn't matter if she goes to sleep. I and the miracle doctor will wait in the side hall until she wakes up. Who told you to wake her up?"
Mrs. Huo from the Prince of Pingnan's Mansion was familiar with the place. She pulled Jian Ning and rushed in. Concubine Li looked at Concubine Min who was silent and said, "I will take Mrs. Huo there. Don't worry about it."
"Mrs. Huo, please follow me." She looked at Jian Ning again and smiled gently.
"This is a dough figurine, with the same good temper as my sister." Old Madam Huo whispered in Jane Ning's ear.
Ever since Princess Pingnan fell ill, Old Lady Huo had been visiting her frequently. She had long since grown tired of seeing Min's increasingly aggressive demeanor since becoming the head of the palace. Normally, she'd just put up with it, disdaining to argue with a mere concubine. But when she tried to act like a First-Rank Lady and truly try to subdue her, she'd have to swallow her pride.
In the following years, because Huo Jincheng married Hua, Mrs. Huo felt guilty about the Prince of Pingnan's Mansion and gradually came less often.
"How did your princess sleep in the past?" Jian Ning asked Concubine Li. "Has it always been bad, or has it just become like this recently?"
Hearing her address her as Princess, Concubine Li frowned slightly, her eyes glancing at Old Madam Huo before she smiled at Jian Ning, "I used to have trouble sleeping for a few days, but lately it's become more frequent. I wake up every few days after falling asleep for less than an hour."
"Sometimes she wakes up without making a fuss, just sitting quietly by the window. Sometimes she wakes up..." She paused, turned sideways, and glanced back casually before continuing, "Sometimes she always complains that the young lady can't find her way home and cries in the street, insisting on going out to find Miss Xinning."
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes and wiped them with a handkerchief.
"The princess is asleep now. Could you please take me in to see her? I won't wake her up. I'll just take her pulse to see what's causing her trouble sleeping."
Jane Ning said softly.
Then he asked, "Is the princess's diet okay? Are you eating three meals a day on time?"
Concubine Li shook her head. "That's not good. I'll lead you and Madam Huo in quietly. Follow me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com