Chapter 237 Seeking Medical Help (Second Update)
After the banquet, the Crown Princess returned to the Eastern Palace.
The crown prince looked somewhat sullen.
"Your Highness," the Crown Princess stepped forward, "What are you thinking about?"
The Crown Prince sighed, "The third prince has been making quite a splash lately."
Actually, it's not that the third prince is more prominent, but rather that he is less prominent. Prince Rui himself is not a threat, has no great ambitions, and is only focused on following Prince Ning.
However, the more favored the third prince became, the more attention the Prince of Ning would receive from the emperor.
He was originally the eldest son, unlike the other princes.
When the emperor went south, he took Prince Ning with him and left him in the court to oversee the country. It seemed that Prince Ning had benefited, but along the way, the father and son were kind and filial. Who could say that the emperor's heart would not be more inclined towards his eldest son?
The Crown Princess looked at him devoutly: "Your Highness need not worry. The Liang Kingdom's envoy has arrived. This is a great opportunity for Your Highness to shine in front of the Emperor. Your Highness will surely win the Emperor's favor more than anyone else. I will help Your Highness."
After leaving the palace, Princess Rui originally planned to go to Gu Jiao's place, but since it was so late, she figured Gu Jiao should have already gone back, so she decided to go see her during the day.
Gu Jiao was unaware of what had happened, but she was indeed no longer at the clinic. She was standing under the locust tree at the main gate of the Imperial College, quietly waiting for Xiao Liulang to finish school.
Evening classes mainly consisted of the teacher answering questions and resolving doubts, while students studied on their own. If they had any questions, they would go to the podium to ask the teacher; otherwise, they would do exercises at their seats.
Evening classes have ended, and students are gradually emerging from the Imperial College.
Many people are familiar with Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao was not ashamed of her appearance and often took Xiao Jingkong and Xiao Liulang to school. Xiao Jingkong and Xiao Liulang were even more unconcerned about her appearance and generously let people know that she was their older sister and wife.
At first, when people saw Gu Jiao, they were just curious about her appearance and would occasionally glance at her, but they would not take the initiative to greet her.
However, as Xiao Liulang's reputation grew at the Imperial Academy, more and more people nodded and greeted Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao clearly felt that her status had changed.
This change wasn't brought about by her treating others; it was because Xiao Liulang had made a name for herself in her studies that the high-ranking students of the Imperial Academy were willing to take a second look at this country bumpkin.
Don't underestimate this simple greeting; it transcends social classes.
How many people spend their entire lives unable to break through the class barriers above their heads?
Therefore, in ancient times, studying was indeed the easiest way to change a person's fate.
It's not that farming or doing business is bad, but to truly achieve great success, one still needs to study.
"School has already let out for the day, but several students are asking Xiao Huiyuan questions. You might have to wait a little longer," a student said kindly to Gu Jiao, seeing that she had been waiting for a while. "Should I go and inform Xiao Huiyuan?"
Gu Jiao politely replied, "Thank you, but I'm not in a hurry."
"Well, I'll be going now!" the student said and left.
Gu Jiao continued to wait for Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang was unaware that Gu Jiao was waiting for him outside. He was explaining the key points that he hadn't understood in class today to several students. Some students who weren't from the Shuaixing Hall also came over to listen to him.
The pace of each grade is different, but they can all understand what Xiao Liulang is saying. The older students don't find it too simple, and the younger students don't find it too profound. They can all gain something from it.
Xiao Liulang wasn't always this powerful.
He had to tutor both Xiao Jingkong, a top student who knew everything, and Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, poor students who knew nothing. As a result, he gradually developed the powerful skill of deepening simple topics and simplifying complex ones.
With the imperial examination approaching, whether everyone has enough time to prepare is another matter. Those participating in the imperial examination are all competitors, and at this critical juncture, few people are willing to help their classmates improve their scores.
Xiao Liulang initially only taught Lin Chengye and Feng Lin. Occasionally, their classmates would ask Xiao Liulang questions, which he patiently answered. Gradually, more and more people came to Xiao Liulang, and even the senior students from the same class would come to him for advice.
Xiao Liulang had one advantage: he didn't bring his own interests into his lectures and never worried about feeding his disciples and starving them.
He's not arrogant at all.
Of course, she's also good-looking, pleasing to the eye, and has a pleasant voice.
In short, more and more people came to listen to Xiao Liulang's lectures.
Fewer and fewer people believe that he got to where he is today by sheer luck; his scholarship, character, and integrity are all highly admirable.
Of course, he doesn't just talk to everyone.
Female students came seeking his guidance, only to be rudely rebuffed by him. Many of them burst into tears on the spot and vowed never to come to him again.
"Hmph, what's so great about a poor country bumpkin like you? They're doing you a favor by coming to you for advice! You really think you're something special!"
"Exactly! Even Prince An isn't as arrogant as you!"
Prince An has been appearing at the clinic more often lately, and has been encountered by the young ladies of the girls' school several times. When someone asks him for advice, he tries his best to answer, and if he can't answer, he politely apologizes for not being able to.
The two ranked first in the imperial examination, which inevitably led to comparisons between them.
"Look at this, this is the proper manners of a young master from a noble family!"
Xiao Liulang's reputation in the capital was polarized. Students at the Imperial Academy thought he was approachable and open-minded, while female students criticized him as a naive and arrogant cripple who had become conceited after achieving some success.
"That's all for today. I should go home now. Everyone should go back and rest too." Xiao Liulang finished explaining another key point and closed the book.
Everyone knows he has a wife at home, and he's afraid she'll get impatient waiting.
None of us are selfish or tactless. Xiao Liulang is already being very kind by spending time explaining the problem to them. There's no reason to keep Xiao Liulang here indefinitely.
"Brother Xiao, thank you very much."
"Thank you very much, Brother Xiao."
Everyone thanked him.
He is the youngest, so calling him "brother" is a respectful way of addressing him.
Xiao Liulang nodded, picked up his cane, and left the Imperial College.
He spotted Gu Jiao immediately, his eyes flickered, and he stepped forward, saying, "Why did you come here? Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just arrived." Gu Jiao shook her head.
Xiao Liulang looked at the few small craters she had stepped into on the ground and pretended to believe her.
He took her small basket and carried it on his own back.
In his past life, this would probably have been him carrying his girlfriend's bag, right? He wasn't worried at all about being laughed at.
Gu Jiao found it quite amusing.
"Give."
Xiao Liulang suddenly handed over something wrapped in brown paper.
"What?" Gu Jiao took it, unwrapped the layers of kraft paper, and found a piece of dried meat coated in syrup inside.
Gu Jiao stared at him blankly.
"Here you go." Xiao Liulang kept his eyes straight ahead. "Don't you like to eat this?"
The dried meat was a gift from a student of Shuaixingtang. This kind of dried meat coated with syrup is their family's exclusive recipe. There are two kinds: real meat and vegetarian meat. They don't do business with it; it's just for the few children in the family.
A few days ago, Xiao Liulang gave him a lesson. To express his gratitude, he gave Xiao Liulang two pieces of dried meat, one real meat and one vegetarian meat.
Xiao Liulang took it back and gave it to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao shared the food with her great-aunt and three younger brothers, but only tasted a small amount of the syrup and minced meat stuck to the parchment paper herself.
Mmm, it tastes so good!
Even Gu Jiao, who wasn't particularly interested in food, was amazed by the aroma.
However, Gu Jiao didn't say anything, not expecting him to find out.
"Where did you buy it?" Gu Jiao asked.
"It was given to me by a classmate," he said.
Actually, he asked his classmate for it.
This kind of meat is not easy to cook. I ordered it last time, but I only managed to cook it today.
It's ridiculous that someone as dignified as Xiao Huiyuan would be so greedy as to ask his own classmate for meat. He really doesn't care if word gets out and people will laugh at him.
Since it was given to her by someone else, Gu Jiao was reluctant to eat it.
Xiao Liulang knew this would happen, and said to her, "I saved some for them, this one is for you."
Gu Jiao glanced at him, then suddenly grabbed the parchment with both hands, broke the jerky into two pieces, and handed him the larger piece: "You eat some too."
Xiao Liulang didn't refuse and took the dried meat from the brown paper.
Gu Jiao began to enjoy her meal.
The jerky itself is spicy, but the syrup on the outside is very sweet and cloying. It's probably not ordinary white sugar, but more like honey, so it also has a slightly sour taste.
It's so delicious!
Gu Jiao held the dried meat and ate it in small bites, like a little squirrel looking for food.
Xiao Liulang walked beside her, watching her until she finished eating and smacked her lips with lingering satisfaction, before handing her the half of the dried meat that he hadn't even touched.
As if afraid she would refuse, he said, "I can't eat anymore, you eat."
"Oh." Gu Jiao didn't say anything, took the piece of jerky from his hand, but before eating it, she broke off a small piece and fed it to him.
Although the Liang Kingdom's envoys had entered the capital, it didn't really affect the common people; everyone continued with their lives as usual.
Xiao Jingkong got up early to practice his skills. Gu Jiao didn't need to make breakfast today; Granny Fang did. Gu Jiao accompanied Xiao Jingkong to practice his basic skills for a while.
While wiping the little guy's sweat, Gu Jiao voiced her doubts: "Why do you always practice these things?"
Xiao Jingkong tilted his head and said, "That's all I know!"
Gu Jiao: "...!!"
Oh no, I've been so focused on the kids' studies that I've forgotten that martial arts also require a gradual progression.
The first few years at the temple should focus on teaching basic skills. Only after the basic skills are solid will they gradually teach some boxing techniques and martial arts routines.
Xiao Jingkong descended the mountain early and hadn't had time to learn martial arts yet.
Gu Jiao does know a little Tai Chi and the Five Animal Frolics, but she's not very good at them. In her previous life, she learned skills for killing and robbing, which are not suitable for teaching to children.
Looks like we'll have to hire a martial arts instructor for the little guy.
Gu Jiao's first thought was Gu Chengfeng. She had been exploiting him a lot lately, so it was easier for her to think of him.
But that guy's a thief. What if, without careful attention, he turns Xiao Jingkong into a little thief?
Gu Jiao's mind flashed to the image of Xiao Jingkong wearing a mask and acting as a ninja thief, and she decisively shook her head!
Gu Jiao thought of Gu Changqing again. Gu Changqing was not bad, but he was too busy. He was in the military camp all year round, and it was almost impossible to see him on weekdays.
Gu Jiao kept this matter in mind.
After breakfast, Xiao Liulang and Xiao Jingkong went to the Imperial Academy, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun went to Qinghe Academy, and Gu Jiao went to the clinic.
She had only been at the clinic for a short time when Princess Rui arrived.
She was holding the violin case in her hands.
Actually, she knew the violin was very valuable after playing it yesterday, but she didn't show it in public because she didn't want to attract too much attention.
The two arrived at Gu Jiao's courtyard.
Princess Rui explained the mistake of taking the wrong zither: "My little eunuch was incompetent, I apologize."
Gu Jiao already understood what had happened, and she shook her head: "It was my oversight."
Xiao Jiangli is still a child; she should check the violin case.
Princess Rui grasped Gu Jiao's hand: "Then I really should thank you for your oversight! If it weren't for your zither yesterday, I would have been a supporting character!"
Princess Rui was also competitive, especially in music; she was absolutely unwilling to be a supporting character.
"Wen Linlang must have known this, which is why she didn't tell me beforehand that I was going to play with someone! And what about Xie the musician? What do you mean he suddenly fell and got injured? I think she just didn't want Xie the musician to perform!"
She had already inquired and found out that Xie Leshi was not injured.
"Hmph! She's just trying to sacrifice me to curry favor with those Liang Kingdom envoys!"
Last night, after Prince Rui returned to his residence, he comforted Princess Rui, saying that from a diplomatic point of view, the Crown Princess had not made a mistake in this move, it was just that Princess Rui had been wronged.
For the sake of good relations between the two countries, the princess was willing to marry far away. As a royal consort, it seemed reasonable for her to sacrifice for the greater good.
Ultimately, the Crown Princess is a politician, while the Princess Consort of Rui is not, hence the conflict between their views.
Princess Rui was furious; even her husband was speaking up for that woman!
"Why doesn't anyone think she did anything wrong? Shouldn't she have told me beforehand? Don't they think that's disrespectful?"
Princess Rui's views were quite advanced for ancient times; she was awakened to a certain level of feminist consciousness.
"So, do you play it well?" Gu Jiao asked.
Princess Rui raised her chin proudly and said, "Of course!"
She remained reserved in the manor, not daring to be too flamboyant, but she relaxed completely with Gu Jiao, letting out all the excitement and smugness she had suppressed all night.
"Didn't you see their eyes were wide open!"
"Prince Yu even applauded for me!"
"That so-called direct disciple of Lord Moonshadow is nothing special!"
Look, look, look! That little tail is sticking up high.
All the frustration I felt earlier vanished.
However, Princess Rui, despite her smugness, did not forget to acknowledge the good deeds: "Actually, it was all thanks to your zither. With my own zither skills, it would have been very difficult for me to gain an advantage in that piece."
Gu Jiao wasn't too surprised.
After witnessing Xiao Jingkong's golden abacus and house deed, Gu Jiao no longer treated this broken zither as an ordinary broken zither.
“That musician from Liang actually offered to buy your zither, but I refused,” Princess Rui said, looking at her.
“Yes.” Gu Jiao nodded in agreement. “The zither was a gift from Xiao Jingkong, I’m not selling it.”
Princess Rui breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that she had made the right decision to refuse Wuming yesterday.
Her gaze fell on the guqin: "Speaking of which, what kind of guqin is this? It has Fuxi engraved on it, could it really be the Fuxi Qin?"
Princess Rui thought Gu Jiao would deny it, but to her surprise, Gu Jiao thought for a moment, hummed in agreement, and said seriously, "Maybe."
Princess Rui: "..."
The clinic wasn't busy in the morning. Princess Rui sat in Gu Jiao's courtyard for half an hour and chatted with her for a while.
Princess Rui only mentioned this one thing regarding the envoy. After all, she was neither a politician nor had any ambition, so she didn't care much about the envoy's visit.
On the contrary, because both Princess Rui and Madam Yao were pregnant, Gu Jiao was quite interested in the topic, and the two chatted about pregnancy and babies.
After that, the clinic became busy, and Princess Rui returned to her residence.
Meanwhile, in the royal gardens on the other side, a magnificent courtyard was filled with the occasional low coughing sound.
The servants guarding the door all looked solemn and dared not utter a sound.
Inside the house, Princess Yu held her son, whose face was flushed from coughing, and asked with concern and anxiety, "When will the Prince return?"
The accompanying eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, the Prince is arguing fiercely with the ministers of Zhao Kingdom, and this servant has been unable to see the Prince at all!"
That's how negotiations are; they always argue back and forth, and sometimes they even overturn the table.
Princess Yu didn't care what they were arguing about; she was only worried about her son's condition.
Her son had been coughing for ten days, and the imperial physician they had brought had been giving him medicine, but it was clear that he couldn't cure her son's illness.
The eunuch hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How about... this servant goes to the palace to see Empress Xiao and asks her to send a royal physician from Zhao Kingdom?"
Princess Yu thought for a moment and said, "Wait, don't go to the palace yet."
At a crucial moment in the negotiations, she was reluctant to entrust her son's life to the other side.
Although the Zhao Kingdom's royal family would certainly not harm her son, if someone wanted to use the Zhao Kingdom's royal family to cause trouble, her son would be in danger.
Furthermore, even if no one causes trouble, Zhao State's attempt to raise prices under the pretext of treating her son's illness would be detrimental to Liang State's negotiations.
Having been a princess for so many years, she naturally had more thoughts than the average person.
Princess Consort Yu instructed, "Go and find out which medical clinics in the capital are well-known. Be careful not to let anyone find out."
"yes!"
The eunuch changed into the clothes of an ordinary servant and left the garden unnoticed.
An hour later, he returned: "Your Highness, I have inquired and found that there are three major medical clinics in the capital: Lingzhi Hall, Tongde Hall, and Huichun Hall. There is also a Miaoshou Hall, which is said to have excellent medical skills."
Princess Yu asked, "Which is the nearest clinic?"
The eunuch said, "The Hall of Miraculous Healers."
(End of this chapter)
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