After Nianxue turned Yun Yuan over, she used her hands to support herself on the ground and then sat up on her bottom. With Nianxue pulling her arm, Yun Yuan finally stood up.
"Thank you, Princess Niu, thank you, Sister Nianxue," Yun Yuan said, slightly curtsying her thanks.
"No need to thank me. Nianxue and I are enjoying the flowers here. You can go about your business. Be careful when you walk in the future." Lanqin didn't want to interfere in Yan Yu's affairs. Her maid's knee was injured, which was naturally a matter for her courtyard. She didn't need to meddle.
Looking at her, Nianxue said, "Your knees look like they're seriously injured. You've probably been kneeling."
When Yun Yuan saw that she had seen through her secret, her face turned even redder, and she stammered and refused to speak.
“The Princess Consort said that the abuse of private punishment is forbidden in this mansion. What wrong have you done that Princess Yan Yu wants to make your knees kneel like this?” Nianxue said.
When Yun Yuan saw that it was Lan Qin and her servant, she remembered that she and Yan Yu had never gotten along, and now that they had seen through her, she felt even more conflicted.
"That's enough. It's none of your business to interfere when Princess Yan Yu punishes her own maid. Nianxue, let's go. Don't delay Yun Yuan. Go quickly to Doctor Zhou's place and get some medicine to apply. She's probably been kneeling for a long time." Lanqin said calmly.
"Thank you, Princess Niu. This servant will take her leave now." Seeing that Lanqin did not want to ask any more questions, Yun Yuan immediately went along with her words and left.
Seeing her limping, Nianxue said somewhat resentfully, "The Princess Consort has explicitly forbidden the abuse of private punishment. Yun Yuan was clearly punished by her master, and this Consort Yan clearly doesn't respect the Princess Consort."
"That's their business. Nianxue, don't meddle in things you shouldn't. Come on, let's go pick some roses over there!" Lanqin found some rose varieties in the garden. Although they were mixed with roses, their noble beauty could not be concealed.
Lanqin wasn't a cold-blooded person; she simply instinctively felt that Yanyu was about to give birth, making her the focus of the entire household, and also the center of trouble. At this moment, she wanted to be as far away from them as possible. The last incident was still vivid in her mind: Li Shi had merely invited Yanyu to her courtyard for a New Year's meal, only to be found guilty of using witchcraft to curse Yanyu and her unborn child, resulting in her being confined to her quarters and ultimately committing suicide inexplicably.
Even now, Lanqin still doesn't think Li Shi is the type to commit suicide. She has two sons and a daughter; why would she take her own life? Fourth Master only demoted her rank; he didn't even banish her from the East Courtyard, showing he still left her room for maneuver. Therefore, Li Shi should have understood that if she could just endure that period, she might have a chance to rise again. But, of all people, she still took her own life.
Then Yun Yuan limped to the small courtyard where Doctor Zhou lived. Seeing that the latter was grinding medicinal herbs, she called out to disturb him, "Doctor Zhou!"
When Doctor Zhou saw that it was Yun Yuan from Princess Yan Yu's quarters, he thought something had happened to Yan Yu, so he immediately stood up to greet her and said anxiously, "Miss Yun Yuan, is there something wrong with Princess Yan Yu?"
Yun Yuan shook her head and said, "Princess is fine. I just wanted to borrow some medicine from Doctor Zhou to relieve blood stasis and pain."
Relieved, Dr. Zhou asked in a gentler tone, "What's wrong, young lady?"
Yun Yuan said shyly, "A few days ago, I accidentally fell and injured my knee. I wonder if Dr. Zhou has any way to reduce the swelling and pain for me?"
Doctor Zhou examined Yun Yuan's knees and said, "Miss, may I take a look at your knees? Otherwise, I will not be able to administer the medicine."
Fangyun blushed and said to Doctor Zhou, "Then I'll roll up my trousers and let the doctor take a look."
Doctor Zhou was only in his early thirties. He had a family outside the mansion, and he had to ask someone and spend money to become a doctor in the Fourth Prince's residence. Serving these wealthy ladies required great care. Even the maids were dressed and fed better than girls from ordinary families.
"The girl should go to the inner room and roll up one leg; there's cloth underneath, just enough to expose the knee." Doctor Zhou naturally understood that a young woman's reputation and innocence were of utmost importance.
Yun Yuan agreed and limped into the inner room of Doctor Zhou's house. Doctor Zhou continued to grind the medicinal herbs on the table, waiting for Yun Yuan to come out.
"Dr. Zhou, is this alright?" Fangyun rolled up her trouser leg and wrapped a piece of cloth around her calf, leaving only her swollen knee exposed. She stood there in the doorway, looking shyly at Dr. Zhou as she asked.
Alas, in that wicked feudal society, even women had to hide their illnesses when they went to the doctor.
"How did Miss Yun Yuan hurt her knee?" Doctor Zhou put down the herbs in his hand, walked over to Yun Yuan, and squatted down to examine her injured knee.
"I... I fell by accident," Yun Yuan said softly.
"This doesn't look like it was caused by a fall." Doctor Zhou leaned closer to take a look.
Yun Yuan was just a teenage girl, and she felt incredibly embarrassed to see a grown man squatting in front of her. However, she was afraid that Doctor Zhou would find it strange, so she could only stand there dumbly while he examined her knee injury.
Little did they know, Fangyun, who had just reached Doctor Zhou's door, had witnessed their every move. She had come here hoping to find an excuse to send Doctor Zhou away, lest he ruin Yan Yu's plans the next day.
"What a Yun Yuan! You always seem so pure and innocent, but I never expected you to be seducing Doctor Zhou here!" Ever since Fang Yun started following Ninth Master, she has looked down on the other maids who serve Yan Yu, especially Yun Yuan.
"Hmph, you asked for this, don't blame me!" Fangyun smiled and turned to leave.
"Dr. Zhou, how is my knee? Can you prescribe some medicine to apply? It should be fine, right?" Yun Yuan couldn't help but ask when she saw Dr. Zhou squatting in front of her knee for a while.
"You're kneeling, aren't you? I'll prescribe some medicine for you to apply to your body. Do it three times a day. If there's no noticeable effect after three days, come back to me." Doctor Zhou stood up from the ground and turned to prescribe medicine for Yun Yuan.
Yun Yuan also took the opportunity to tear off the cloth on her calves and let down her trouser legs.
"Thank you, Dr. Zhou." Yun Yuan said as she took the medicine from Dr. Zhou, who had already packed it for her.
"It's best not to bend your knees when you get back. It would be best to lie down and rest for a few days." Doctor Zhou didn't ask any more questions. He also knew that these women living in the inner quarters often fought for favor and sometimes even took their anger out on others.
Yun Yuan left Doctor Zhou's room with the medicine and slowly walked back. But she never imagined that she would not live to see him again in just three days.
As soon as Fangyun returned, she told Yanyu what she had seen at Doctor Zhou's door. With her embellishments, Yanyu was furious. Her maid was actually having an affair with the doctor in the manor. Wasn't this just causing trouble for her?
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