Chapter 36 Princess Jin'an
After saying goodbye to Ji Yun, Meng Yutong strolled towards the clinic that was being decorated in full swing.
Where the lights were bright, the sound of sawing wood could be heard incessantly.
Bai Zhi had just finished serving tea to everyone who had been working and was telling them to rest when she saw Meng Yutong. She immediately ran out to greet her, familiarly taking the medical kit from Meng Yutong's arm, and asked anxiously, "Miss, you're back! What did Young Master Ji say when you saw him today? Did he agree to the recommendation?"
Meng Yutong paused slightly, lowered her eyes, and turned her lips down slightly, remaining silent.
Upon seeing this, Bai Zhi's round eyes widened even more. She said angrily, "Miss, your medical skills are so superb, you've even passed the medical examination, why won't he agree? Could it be that he's bothered by your annulment of the engagement?"
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. She angrily rolled up her sleeves, "I'm going to confront him right now! He's so unreasonable!"
Seeing that the joke had gone too far, Meng Yutong quickly grabbed the person and called out, "Bai Zhi, Bai Zhi! I was just teasing you! He agreed, and the recommendation is settled. Once the place is repaired, we'll choose an auspicious day to open."
"Miss!" Bai Zhi stopped, stamped her foot slightly in annoyance, grabbed her arm reproachfully, and pinched her waist lightly. "You've really gone bad! You would never have teased people like this before!"
Meng Yutong smiled and begged for forgiveness, then changed the subject: "Did everyone have dinner at Qinglai Restaurant today?"
Bai Zhi nodded, then pouted and said, "I had lunch and dinner there."
She gestured towards the opposite side with her lip. It was past 7 PM, past lunchtime, and the Qinglai Restaurant was deserted.
Grandma Sun sat alone on a small stool by the door, clutching a rag in her hand, her eyes vacant, seemingly lost in thought, appearing unusually absorbed in something.
“Speaking of which,” Bai Zhi lowered her voice, with a hint of doubt, “that Granny Sun was acting very strangely today. She kept asking me all sorts of questions, like when the clinic opened, what you’re usually busy with, and how many people you’ve hired…”
Meng Yutong's eyes flickered slightly: "After eating here for two days in a row, what do you think of Aunt Sun's cooking?"
“Well…” Bai Zhi frowned as she recalled, a hint of disgust on her face. “The steamed fish at noon had lost its freshness and was wilted; the braised pork at night looked alright, but it was very dry and overcooked; even the most ordinary stir-fried vegetables were bland and tasteless, as if they had been steamed for too long, soggy and mushy.”
She paused, then added, "But those who did the heavy lifting weren't picky; they ate quite heartily."
“It seems that,” Meng Yutong said knowingly, “there are quite a few people coming and going on Peach Blossom Street. The problem with Qinglai Restaurant’s poor business is probably that the food doesn’t suit the tastes of the locals.”
As they talked, the two entered the lobby of the clinic.
Inside, the lattice doors had already separated the consultation room and the pharmacy, and the tall frame of the hundred-eye medicine cabinet had been erected against the wall.
The pulse pillow, medicine grinder, guillotine, and balance scale that Wu Ming purchased yesterday were all wrapped in blue cloth and neatly stacked in the corner.
The sound of bricklaying came from the backyard, indicating that the project was progressing rapidly.
Wu Ming, Cui Dacheng, Mei San, and a few others were sitting together, drinking tea from rough porcelain bowls to relieve their fatigue, and having a heated discussion about how to reinforce the shelves of the medicine cabinet to make it more stable.
Wu Lin sat cross-legged on the ground, his precious tortoise shell spread out in front of him. He was intently fiddling with a few copper coins, muttering to himself, "The Qian position belongs to metal, which governs killing and ruthlessness. Placing a guillotine here is in accordance with its nature. The Kan position belongs to water, which promotes flow. It is very auspicious for the medicine cabinet to be placed in this location..."
Hearing footsteps, the group turned around and saw Meng Yutong. They all stopped what they were doing and stood up.
Cui Dacheng and Mei San shouted in loud voices, "Miss Meng is back!"
"Boss!" Wu Ming reacted the fastest, immediately replying with a smile on his face.
Wu Lin glanced at Meng Yutong, then looked down at the tortoise shell and copper coins in his hand. Stroking his sparse goatee, he muttered to himself, "Hmm, this situation is acceptable, but the pharmacy's energy is a bit too strong. If a pomegranate tree could be planted in the southwest corner of the courtyard, its wood energy would generate fire and restrain earth, thus balancing yin and yang, making it even more secure..."
Meng Yutong felt a surge of warmth at Wu Ming's address of "boss," and her smile deepened: "Thank you all for your hard work these past few days. In just two days, the clinic has already taken shape. You are all truly skilled and efficient. Once everything is settled here, we will choose an auspicious day for a grand opening!"
Her gaze shifted to Wu Lin, who was stroking his beard, and she said gently, "Mr. Wu, would you please trouble yourself to choose an auspicious day for our opening?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Lin immediately sat up straight, carefully put away the tortoise shell coins, and silently calculated for a moment before stroking his beard and smiling, "April 15th, Dingmao day, is auspicious for opening a business, trading, signing contracts, and receiving money. Moreover, there are no inauspicious influences, which is perfect for a medical clinic to practice medicine and help the world. It is extremely auspicious!"
"April 15th," Meng Yutong said after a moment's thought, her smile deepening. "If the construction goes smoothly, the completion of the decoration will leave just five days for cleaning, tidying up, and purchasing medicinal herbs. There's plenty of time, which is excellent! We'll do as you say, sir!"
"Alright! We're just waiting for Miss Meng's command!" Cui Dacheng rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement.
Mei San also laughed and said, "Don't worry, Miss Meng, I guarantee that our Zhaoyutang will open brightly and proudly!"
“When the time comes, the neighbors will all say it’s great when they see this brand-new clinic!” Wu Ming chimed in, as if he could already see the bustling scene inside.
At the head of Wangxian Bridge, from the brand-new clinic that had not yet been officially opened, bursts of cheerful laughter, full of energy and hope, rang out, particularly clear in the early summer night.
Grandma Sun, who was sitting listlessly in front of Qinglai Restaurant, felt a pang of anxiety when she heard bursts of laughter drifting from the clinic across the street.
Her face was now clouded with worry: with the inn converted into a clinic, even fewer people were coming to eat at her place, and her business was likely to become even more difficult...
*
April 12th, Ji Mansion, Wutong Courtyard.
At midnight, all was quiet. Outside the main house, a clump of green bamboo cast shadows, its slender leaves rustling in the wind.
Before the main room, a small jade incense burner sat quietly on the table. The incense in the burner had almost burned out, leaving only a few wisps of thin blue smoke, which lingered gracefully before finally disappearing into nothingness.
The person on the bed had a furrowed brow, fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead, and his slender fingers unconsciously clenched the brocade quilt beneath him, his knuckles turning white.
Ji Yun is trapped in a nightmare.
It was that rainy night again, and I saw my brother's face again.
It's all his fault, it's all his fault!
His clenched fists rose uncontrollably, pounding heavily against his chest again and again.
He even absurdly thought: if he had gone with his brother then, would he have been freed?
Regret and self-pity were like a giant net, tightly enveloping him without leaving a single gap.
He couldn't breathe, and his mind went blank.
"Husband, husband, what's wrong?" The gentle calls of a woman reached his ears, like a ray of light piercing through the thick fog, gradually pulling him back from his chaotic consciousness.
He vaguely felt a cool, soft hand gently patting his back.
The movement carried a reassuring power, finally allowing his tense mind to slowly relax.
He tried to open his eyes, but it felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on him. After struggling for a long time, he finally managed to open a tiny gap.
The woman's features were indistinct and difficult to discern; only a pair of extremely large eyes could be vaguely seen...
Who is she? Why does she call him 'husband'?
No, he's still dreaming!
Ji Yun suddenly opened his eyes and sat up in surprise.
Cold sweat had already soaked through his undergarments, clinging to his icy back. He took a few deep breaths and subconsciously glanced at the small table, only to see that the incense ash in the incense burner had gone completely cold.
He had been using Meng Yutong's herbal incense prescription for quite some time, and it was very effective. During this period, he was able to get a good night's sleep.
Why again today...?
He sat quietly for a long time, his chest heaving, feeling as if a piece of his heart was missing, unable to calm down for a long time.
The next morning, April 14th, as dawn broke, golden rays streamed through the carved windows of the Wutong Courtyard.
Birds chirped on the branches, their calls clear and melodious.
As usual, Qing Shu carefully packed Ji Yun's belongings for his trip to the Imperial Medical Academy in the study: a yellow pearwood medical box inlaid with mother-of-pearl, several volumes of medical records, writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone... Her movements were meticulous.
When Ji Yun pushed open the door and entered, Qing Shu immediately noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes. Her hands paused involuntarily, and she said worriedly, "Young Master, did you not sleep well again last night? The calming medicine given by Princess Jin'an is extremely effective. Why don't you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yun had already taken two steps to the ebony desk, sat down on the large rosewood official's hat chair, and pressed his knuckles heavily on his furrowed brow.
He was plagued by nightmares for days, his mother's attitude changed, and his father spread the news of his annulment of the engagement... When did all of this begin? His originally orderly and uneventful days suddenly changed.
As his thoughts drifted, he carefully recalled the events. It seemed that the changes were not limited to the Ji family.
He suddenly raised his eyes, a clear glint in his phoenix eyes, and turned straight to Qing Shu: "You don't need to come with me to the Medical Academy today. Go and investigate the Meng family for me, especially that Miss Meng. Investigate everything that has happened in the past six months, including her changes in temperament, who she has been in contact with, and what skills she has learned... Every single detail must be thoroughly investigated and reported back."
Her medical skills, her sudden change in temperament, her familiarity with his habits... all these coincidences, when put together, inevitably arouse suspicion.
Qing Shu did not immediately bow and reply "Yes" as usual.
He remained silent for a moment, his thin shoulders tensing almost imperceptibly, before speaking in a low voice, "Young Master, today is the customary day to enter the palace to check Princess Jin'an's pulse. Usually, I am the one who accompanies her. Could Yunzhou be entrusted with investigating Miss Meng's matter?"
His already thin face appeared even paler in the morning light, giving him a sickly air.
The room was completely silent when a bird suddenly leaped up from under the eaves, breaking the silence with a rustling sound of flapping wings.
Ji Yun slowly lowered his hand from between his eyebrows and placed it on the smooth, cool ebony table.
He raised his eyes, his gaze as deep and cold as a pool, carrying an invisible pressure as he stared directly into Qing Shu's eyes. His voice was not loud, but it was full of authority: "Today, Yun Zhou will accompany you into the palace."
Qing Shu's eyelids twitched, and his face paled even more. He hurriedly bowed deeply, "I have overstepped my bounds, please forgive me, young master. I will take care of it immediately."
He quickly and respectfully placed the prepared medical kit and all the necessary documents and writing materials on the table in front of Ji Yun: "Young Master, I will go and summon Yun Zhou to come and be at your service."
"Hmm," Ji Yun responded indifferently.
After Qing Shu left, Ji Yun's gaze fell on the yellow pear wood medical box inlaid with mother-of-pearl in front of him. His fingertips unconsciously touched the cool, auspicious cloud-shaped copper clasp on the lid, gently stroking it, but his brows furrowed more and more tightly.
Qing Shu... was originally the most trusted and capable servant of his elder brother Ji Zhao. Ji Zhao was gentle and kind, and he taught Qing Shu to be meticulous, intelligent, quick-witted, and meticulous in his actions.
Since his elder brother passed away, Qing Shu has been by his side in every way, never making a single mistake or questioning him.
Why is this excuse being made today?
Does he not want to investigate the Meng family, or does he want to go to the palace?
His eyes
With a soft "click," the lock popped open, and the lid was lifted slightly.
A ray of pale golden morning light pierced through the crack, illuminating a corner of the box: a neatly folded plain pink silk handkerchief, and two pine nut candies arranged in perfect order beside it.
Almost the instant he saw it clearly, Ji Yun abruptly withdrew his fingertips as if electrocuted, and at the same time, his wrist slightly sank, and the lid of the box, which had been slightly opened, was tightly fastened back together.
Another strange thing.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Yunzhou jogged to the study door, knocked on the doorframe, and then strode in, slightly out of breath.
"Young master, it's almost time. Shall we set off?"
As he spoke, his hand naturally reached for the medical kit on the table, intending to pick it up.
The Imperial Medical Academy was located in the northeast corner of the Imperial City, with red walls and yellow tiles, and the faint scent of medicine wafting through the air.
Ji Yun arrived at the courtyard first, paused briefly, handled a few routine affairs, and then briefly discussed a few important medical cases with the head of the academy and several colleagues. He then took his medical kit and Princess Jin'an's medical records from over the years and left the courtyard.
Princess Jin'an's residence, "Jinglanxuan," was located in the most remote northwest corner of the Western Six Palaces of the Imperial City.
This place is far from the majestic palaces on the central axis. The palace walls are mottled and the palace roads are secluded. Along the way, you can only hear the sound of the wind and birdsong, and rarely see the figures of palace people.
Ji Yun walked steadily through the long covered corridors and around several quiet, deserted palace gates, taking about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finally arriving.
Here, even the lush vegetation and the silence of human voices create a sense of forgotten desolation.
The gates of Jinglan Pavilion were half-open, and moss had already grown in the cracks of the stone steps in front of the gate. The furnishings inside the courtyard were extremely simple, with only a few sparse bamboo stalks planted.
There were only a handful of palace servants on duty: an elderly nanny over fifty years old, accompanied by two young palace maids.
Upon seeing Ji Yun, they hurriedly curtsied and addressed him as "Physician Ji," their actions seemingly respectful, yet revealing a hint of perfunctory indifference. The nanny led Ji Yun into the hall.
Princess Jin'an's birth mother, Consort Li, was a princess sent by Nanzhao to Dasheng as a marriage alliance.
When Consort Li first entered the palace, she was favored for her beauty and dancing skills, enjoying unparalleled glory. After giving birth to Jin'an, however, childbirth depleted her vital essence, and her radiance faded. She quickly fell out of favor in the palace, where beauties abounded.
Princess Jin'an was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart disease at birth, and the imperial physicians predicted that she would not live past the age of ten.
The double blow of her beloved daughter's illness and loss of favor caused Consort Li to fall ill with grief, and Jin'an died of depression when she was only five years old.
After her birth mother died, Jin'an was raised by the Empress. At the age of eighteen, she was betrothed to Shen Duo, the second son of the deceased Earl of Zhongyong, who was then serving as the commander of the Jingji Guard with a sinecure.
Less than three years after their marriage, Shen Duo contracted a sudden illness and died unexpectedly. Twenty-one-year-old Jin'an, a childless widow, returned to the palace and was placed in the secluded Jinglan Pavilion in the northwest corner of the palace.
Princess Jin'an had the title of princess, but in the palace she was as if she had been forgotten and no one cared about her.
The palace servants were outwardly respectful but inwardly negligent. Her heart ailment was a difficult condition to treat, and after the old physician who had been in charge of her care retired, no one was willing to take over. It was at that time that Ji Yun, who had only recently joined the Imperial Medical Academy, took on the task of treating Jin'an. This action did attract some gossip.
There were rumors at the time that Ji Yun and Jin An had known each other since childhood as a prince's companions, and that they might have had a childhood sweetheart relationship. However, the Ji family was at its peak, Ji Yun had a bright future, while Jin An was a sickly, widowed, and disgraced princess. After a while, the rumors faded away.
Since Ji Yun took over, he has been regularly visiting the palace every month to examine Princess Jin'an without interruption.
This has continued for three full years as of April this year.
The bedroom in Jinglan Pavilion was dimly lit and simply furnished. There was a bed, a couch, a table, and a cabinet, nothing else.
Only on the small rosewood table by the window was a pot of beautiful flowers and plants.
The leaves of the flower are narrow and long, dark green to almost black, with several bowl-sized reddish-gold flowers clustered at the top. The petals are layered and emit a faint, sweet fragrance.
It doesn't quite match the simplicity of this dwelling.
This is a golden marigold datura, unique to Nanzhao, the birthplace of Princess Jin'an. It is extremely rare in the Central Plains and is only for viewing.
Princess Jin'an leaned against the bed, a thin, plain gauze curtain hanging in front of her. Through the curtain, only her pale, thin face could be vaguely seen.
She was holding a book, her slender fingers slowly turning the pages, making a soft "rustling" sound, her expression focused.
The nanny leading the way whispered, "Princess, Physician Ji has arrived."
Ji Yun bowed through the gauze curtain and said, "Your humble servant Ji Yun greets the princess."
Jin'an didn't look up, only giving a soft "hmm" in response.
She extended her left hand, which was resting on her knee, through the gauze curtain and gently placed it on the brocade wrist pillow that had been prepared beforehand by the couch.
Ji Yun sat down on the embroidered stool in front of the couch. Yun Zhou immediately stepped forward, carefully placed the medical kit on a small table beside him, and then lowered his head and retreated to a shadowy corner.
He held his sleeve with his left hand and placed three fingers on Jin'an's slender wrist.
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional chirping of birds coming from outside the window.
After a moment, Ji Yun stopped, his voice calm and even: "Princess, your pulse is deep and weak, and your deficiency of both qi and blood has not improved, especially the depletion of heart blood. This month's decoction can be made with some longan pulp and cypress seed, which can nourish the blood and calm the mind, and may alleviate your palpitations."
He turned to the table beside him, signaling a palace maid to bring him pen and ink. He then wrote a new prescription: "I have added three qian of danshen and five qian of fushen to the prescription to enhance its effects of invigorating qi and blood, calming the mind and stabilizing the will. I have removed the polygala used last month, as its dry nature may further deplete yin and blood."
His hands never stopped writing as he gave his usual instructions: "Princess, you must rest quietly, think less and worry less, do not move around casually, and especially avoid strong emotions. This is the way to maintain your health."
Jin'an still did not respond, her gaze remaining fixed on the pages of the book, before slowly turning the page again.
Ji Yun seemed to be used to it by now. After finishing writing this month's prescription, he put down his pen, stood up, and was about to take his leave.
Behind the gauze curtain, Jin'an suddenly frowned and looked up in Ji Yun's direction.
Those eyes were a rare amber color. On that fair and delicate face, those heterochromatic eyes were like two glass beads. Instead of adding warmth, they revealed a contradictory and beautiful charm in the calmness.
Her gaze pierced through the thin veil, landing on Ji Yun from afar. Her voice was sweet and clear, seemingly out of place with her demeanor, "Ji Yun, have you changed your scent?"
Ji Yun paused slightly, but his face remained calm as he replied in a low voice, "The 'soothing incense' that the princess previously bestowed upon me has become less effective, so I have stopped using it and replaced it with a new incense."
"Oh?" Jin'an's lips suddenly curled into a smile, as if she had discovered something interesting. "It seems you're finding it increasingly difficult to fall asleep. It's alright," she said, her tone even becoming lighter. "I'll just increase the amount for you. Changing it back and forth is too much trouble. Next time you come, I'll have the nanny give you the newly prepared incense."
Although Jin'an and Ji Yun grew up together, their relationship doesn't seem very close.
When Ji Yun took over the treatment of Jin An's heart ailment, Jin An was not happy about it. He even deliberately kept Jin An outside when he came to see him.
Later, she didn't know what Ji Yun said to her before she agreed to it.
About a year after Ji Yun began treating her, her attitude improved slightly, and she even gave him a lot of calming medicine.
During routine consultations, neither of them spoke much. Ji Yun would simply prescribe medicine for her as a monthly routine and give her some instructions. When she was in a good mood, she would respond with a few words, but when she was in a bad mood, she would completely ignore him.
Today was unusual; I spoke much more than usual.
"Princess is unwell and needs to rest and recuperate. I dare not trouble you with such trivial matters."
Ji Yun lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting two light shadows under his eyes, obscuring the expression in his eyes, and his tone remained respectful and distant.
"No need for that. We're cousins, after all. It's nothing, no need to be so polite." She seemed to be in a better mood, casually closing the book and setting it aside. Her amber eyes were fixed on the blurry figure outside the curtain with interest. "By the way, I heard you broke off your engagement?"
Ji Yun's eyes were devoid of warmth. When he lowered his gaze, his eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes. He blinked more frequently, revealing a hint of impatience.
"The Imperial Medical Academy still has many affairs to attend to," Ji Yun's voice was even colder than before, revealing no emotion. He gave a hasty bow, his movements swift and decisive. "If the princess has no further instructions, this humble official will take his leave."
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned around and strode out of the hall with a brisk pace. The sleeves of his blue medical robe fluttered quickly in the dim light.
Through the plain white gauze curtain, Jin'an could only see his tall figure quickly disappear into the distance, casting a blurry and faint shadow on the curtain.
Once the figure had completely disappeared into the light and shadow of the palace gate, Jin'an slowly raised her hand and gently lifted a corner of the gauze curtain blocking her view with her slender fingers, the blue veins of which were visible.
Her gaze pierced through the palace gates, fixing on the corridor where Ji Yun's figure had disappeared. A chill crept into the depths of her amber eyes. A mocking sneer, however, slowly curved upwards at the corners of her lips.
"This marriage," she said, her red lips slightly parted, her voice indifferent, "is better off canceled."
It saved her a lot of trouble.
Why is everyone else moving forward, while she's the only one left behind?
Just you wait, nobody's going to have an easy time.
A gentle breeze swept in through the window, carrying a slight chill, and filled the empty hall.
The beautiful flowers on the small table swayed in the wind, their graceful forms revealing a strange and alluring beauty.
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