Song Xibai sighed.
"This Eastern Palace is truly a place where everyone has secrets."
"Don't worry about it! Just focus on getting better. Leave this to your man."
Dingxiang tucked the blanket around her.
"What are men for? Aren't they for times like this?"
Song Xibai thought about it and agreed.
These are all the Crown Prince's family matters, why should I worry about them?
I'm just a doctor, not his housekeeper.
So, Song Xibai lay down with a clear conscience.
When Physician Fu arrived, he took her pulse through the curtain and came to the same conclusion as Dingxiang.
Then comes the process of writing the prescription, getting the medicine, and decocting it.
Dingxiang frowned after looking at the prescription.
"This prescription is too mild. If you take it like this, it will take seven or eight days to get better. Why not remove these two ingredients and add half a qian of this one?"
Physician Fu looked at the bold palace maid in surprise.
"You know medicine?"
Dingxiang is still quite modest with outsiders.
“My family has been practicing medicine for generations. My grandfather ran a small clinic in the south of the city. I have been exposed to medicine since I was a child, so I know a little about it.”
Dr. Fu remained silent.
This wasn't just a superficial understanding; it was clearly a high level of expertise that allowed him to so decisively correct his prescription.
The key point is that this palace maid looks very young, not even twenty years old.
Doctor Fu's expression was extremely complicated.
But he still patiently explained to Dingxiang.
“When treating nobles in the palace, this is the only prescription you can give. According to your prescription, the illness will indeed heal quickly, but most nobles are delicate and weak, and are prone to fatigue and weakness. It is not good to prescribe a prescription so quickly.”
Having overheard their conversation, Song Xibai spoke up.
"When you treat patients outside, they naturally want to take fewer doses and save money, so the prescriptions will be different. Doctor Fu is right, prescribe the medicine according to your prescription!"
Doctor Fu breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew.
Dingxiang pouted but didn't argue. Instead, she followed Doctor Fu out.
She watched him write the prescription and followed him to the imperial pharmacy to get the medicine, her eyes never leaving him the entire time.
Physician Fu was on edge the whole way, fearing that this bold young woman would ask some difficult questions. Fortunately, Dingxiang was quite cautious outside and left after taking the medicinal herbs.
As soon as Dr. Fu saw her figure disappear, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing this, a young eunuch pounding medicine nearby teased, "Physician Fu, which palace does that maidservant belong to? Could it be that she's taken a liking to you?"
Physician Fu's face hardened, and he reprimanded him: "Don't talk nonsense! That's the head maidservant of Consort Xi of the Eastern Palace. We people from the Imperial Hospital are not allowed to have too much contact with other palace maids. If you say this and it gets her into trouble, what will you do?"
The physician was not of high rank and often took turns working in the Imperial Pharmacy, but he usually did things like organizing medicinal herbs or treating less important concubines. However, he usually had a good relationship with the eunuchs, and this was the first time he had been so serious.
The young eunuch turned pale, and remembering the palace rules, he hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Fu, it was my fault."
Physician Fu sighed: "At least I have a rank. If someone smears me, at worst I'll be kicked out of the Imperial Hospital. I can make a living as an ordinary doctor outside with my medical skills. But people in the palace are different... You are also a palace servant, so you should be more careful in the future."
The young eunuch, having received his instruction, went back to pounding medicine.
Meanwhile, Dingxiang hurriedly returned to the East Palace carrying several packets of medicine.
As soon as she stepped into the East Palace, she was startled to see a crowd gathered outside the central hall.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that Eunuch Feng was pacing anxiously back and forth at the door.
With his serious expression, anyone who didn't know better would think someone was giving birth inside!
Even the boldest Dingxiang could tell something was wrong, so she quickly crouched down and returned to the east side hall, calling a maid to fetch the medicine pot and other items.
Song Xibai dozed off for a while, then suddenly smelled a strong medicinal fragrance and woke up with a start.
She then saw Dingxiang squatting at the palace gate, holding a small palm-leaf fan in one hand, brewing medicine.
"Why brew medicine indoors? Also, such things can be done by the palace maids."
Song Xibai spoke, her voice still somewhat listless.
Dingxiang ran up to her and whispered, "The Crown Prince went to the inner palace, and it's been almost half an hour, but he still hasn't come out! Judging from the expressions on Eunuch Feng's and the others' faces, things seem quite serious!"
Dingxiang sat at the doorway, actually observing the situation in the central hall.
Song Xibai immediately understood. It must be because the Crown Prince couldn't sit still after learning about yesterday's events and went to question the Crown Princess.
"Alright, let them handle their own affairs! Aren't you afraid of catching a cold sitting by the door?"
Dingxiang thought it made sense, so she called over a young palace maid and asked her to watch the stove.
After Song Xibai drank the medicine and lay down for a while, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside and a loud and urgent shout.
"Quickly, fetch the imperial physician! The Crown Princess has fainted!"
This shout startled Song Xibai awake.
Dingxiang leaned against the window, looking straight out.
"Did you faint? Was it from illness or from anger?"
It could also be from fright.
Song Xibai thought to himself.
"Quickly tell the palace servants to return to their posts. Don't wander around or ask questions!"
Song Xibai summoned Fuliu and Juqing and gave them a few words of advice.
The two quickly went out to make the arrangements.
Dingxiang belatedly realized, "Why are there only the two of them? Where's Wei Hong?"
“I asked her to deliver something to the Crown Prince, but he didn’t give any permission, so she couldn’t come back.”
Song Xibai waved to Dingxiang.
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