Chapter 415 The Truth About the Illness (Two Updates)
Gu Jiao had nothing else to do, and it wasn't too late yet.
The Ning Prince's Mansion and the Hanlin Academy are in the same direction. After I finish seeing the Ning Princess, I can pick up Xiao Liulang from his shift.
Gu Jiao said, "Okay, wait for me while I pack my things."
The lady-in-waiting said with a smile, "We have prepared the carriage. After treating the princess, Doctor Gu, wherever you wish to go, we will take you there."
Gu Jiao shook her head: "That won't be necessary. I'll just take the clinic's carriage."
The female official replied, "I will do as Doctor Gu says."
Gu Jiao boarded the carriage with a small basket on her back. The basket contained her medicine box, some commonly used Chinese medicines, and a few other travel essentials she needed.
The basket may look small, but it can actually hold a lot.
Xiao Sanzi was driving the carriage.
Their carriage followed closely behind the Ning Prince's carriage, arriving at the Ning Prince's residence without any obstruction.
This is Gu Jiao's first time entering an ancient royal palace. She didn't get a chance to go inside when she sent Princess Rui home last time, but this time she can take the opportunity to see what the palace looks like.
The Ning Prince's Mansion covers a large area, including an entire street that belongs to the mansion. Of course, it's just a small street, not a commercial street like Chang'an Avenue or Xuanwu Avenue.
The small street was lined with the residences of the servants of Prince Ning's mansion. The closer one got to the mansion, the more heavily guarded the area became, suggesting that the residents were of unusual status.
Doctors held a low status in Zhao Kingdom, and female physicians were even more lowly. They were not supposed to be allowed to enter through the main gate, but Gu Jiao's status was special. The female official from the Prince Ning's mansion still led her into the mansion through the main south gate, but instead of the central gate, they opened the side gate.
This is a royal rule: only princes and princesses, as well as direct descendants of the royal family, can use the main gate. Otherwise, the emperor, empress, and empress dowager can also use it, but others cannot.
Even when Consort Zhuang came, she could only enter through the side door.
The female official told Gu Jiao that her surname was Yao.
Gu Jiao silently hummed in her heart, "What a coincidence that she shares the same surname as Yao Shi."
The landscape of the Prince Ning's Mansion was more conventional than I had imagined, which complemented the temperament of Prince Ning himself. However, some details, such as pavilions, waterside terraces, and corridors, as well as the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, still showed the influence of Princess Ning's design.
Lady Yao took Gu Jiao to Princess Ning's courtyard.
Remembering what Prince Ning had once said, that if she, Xiong Batian, was willing, he could give her a separate courtyard, Gu Jiao suddenly became curious about where Prince Ning originally intended to place her.
"Dr. Gu, we've arrived." At the entrance of the courtyard, Lady Yao said to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao nodded and stepped across the threshold into Princess Ning's courtyard.
This is a three-courtyard complex, but it is much larger than a typical three-courtyard complex. Gu Jiao even felt that it would be more appropriate to call it a bedroom rather than a courtyard.
It seems the emperor's affection for his eldest son was evident.
Gu Jiao arrived at the door of the main room. A maidservant standing guard outside bowed to Lady Yao and opened the curtain for her.
Lady Yao personally welcomed Gu Jiao into the house.
Princess Ning sat on the chaise longue, leaning against the cushion, covered with a thin quilt, holding a book in her hands, engrossed in reading.
This wasn't Gu Jiao's first time being the Princess Consort of Ning; it was just that the previous time was in a dream—the Princess Consort of Ning was knocked down by a white cat that startled Xiao Liulang, resulting in a miscarriage, and Xiao Liulang was blamed for it.
With Yuan Tang's help, the white cat was captured without startling Xiao Liulang or offending Princess Ning, but Princess Ning still suffered a miscarriage.
Princess Rui said that Princess Ning had miscarried three times.
It's not hard to understand why her complexion was so poor, and why there seemed to be a faint, unresolved sorrow between her brows.
"Your Highness, Doctor Gu has arrived," Lady Yao stepped forward and announced softly.
Princess Ning raised her head, pressed down on the book she was reading halfway through with one hand, and stretched out the other. The maid beside her seemed to have understood the meaning of this action and quickly presented a bookmark with both hands.
Princess Ning placed the bookmark in the book, closed it, and looked at Gu Jiao, saying, "You are Doctor Gu? I've heard the Prince mention you before; the Empress Dowager is very fond of you."
Her gaze swept over the birthmark on Gu Jiao's face, but did not linger for long, nor did she show the slightest surprise or concern.
This demonstrates the refinement of a noblewoman and a royal consort, ensuring that guests do not feel embarrassed on the spot.
Although Gu Jiao was a female physician, Empress Dowager Zhuang's favor destined her to be of a higher status.
Princess Ning said, "We're all family, no need to be so formal, please sit down."
Her choice of words was also very careful; it wasn't a gesture of offering a seat or bestowing charity, but rather as if she were treating a real guest.
Gu Jiao sat down beside her, taking the small basket off her back and placing it on another chair before sitting down.
"What book is the princess reading?" she asked.
When this was mentioned, Princess Ning smiled faintly: "Some books of poetry, would you like to take a look?" She handed the books to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao shook her head: "I don't understand poetry, and I don't like it."
Princess Ning chuckled again: "I don't like it either."
Gu Jiao asked, "Will the Princess still be looking?"
Princess Ning smiled faintly, "I'm just passing the time because I'm bored at home."
That's what she said, but Gu Jiao felt that she wasn't just killing time, but rather forcing herself to do something she didn't like but had to do.
Gu Jiao said to her, "Let me take the princess's pulse."
Princess Ning extended her hand.
A maidservant stepped forward to place a handkerchief on Princess Ning's wrist, but Princess Ning said, "No need."
"Yes." The maid took the handkerchief and withdrew.
Gu Jiao began to take the pulse of Princess Ning.
The room fell silent.
Princess Ning's pulse was as Gu Jiao had predicted. Gu Jiao asked, "How is Princess Ning's sleep? Is it difficult for her to fall asleep?"
Princess Ning gave a bitter smile: "A little."
Gu Jiao looked directly at Lady Yao, who was standing beside Princess Ning, and asked, "How long does it usually take for the Princess to fall asleep after she retires for the night?"
Lady Yao glanced at Princess Ning, and seeing that the other party did not stop her, she truthfully said, "At least half an hour, at most... possibly the whole night without sleep."
Gu Jiao nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "How's your appetite?"
"It's not good," Lady Yao replied. "I can't eat anything, and even if I do manage to eat something, it's hard to digest."
Gu Jiao hummed in agreement, withdrew her hand, and said to Princess Ning, "Judging from your pulse, Your Highness suffers from a weak spleen and stomach. This is not a difficult or complicated illness; with careful treatment for a month or two, Your Highness should see significant improvement. Your Highness has seen a doctor, hasn't she?"
Princess Ning said, "I've seen it, and it's the same as what you said. It gets better while taking the medicine, but it relapses when I stop taking it."
Therefore, the crux of the problem lies not in spleen deficiency, but in heart disease.
Gu Jiao said to Princess Ning, "Please dismiss the others, Your Highness."
Princess Ning said without hesitation, "You may all leave."
With only the two of them left in the room, Gu Jiao conducted a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of Princess Ning and found that she had mild depression, not to the extent that Yao had experienced, but if left untreated, it could very well develop into something even more serious than Yao's.
Gu Jiao didn't tell Princess Ning, "You should try to think more positively." For someone with depression, saying something like "think more positively" is like saying "drink more hot water." If you can think positively, you won't be depressed. If you can't think positively, it's not because you're being dramatic; it's because you're genuinely sick.
Gu Jiao opened the small medicine box. Since Yao's recovery, there had been no antidepressants in the box, but today it appeared again.
Gu Jiao took two boxes of antidepressants, opened them, put them into a porcelain bottle, and handed them to her: "Take one tablet in the morning and one at night, and try to take it before going to bed at night."
Princess Ning took it and asked, "Is this medicine for treating spleen deficiency?"
Gu Jiao said, "No, it's medicine that will help you sleep better. You can continue taking the medicine for your spleen deficiency as before."
Princess Ning sighed, "I don't want to eat the previous ones anymore, they're too bitter."
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll have someone send a few bottles of pills to the Princess later."
Miaoshoutang opened its own medicine workshop. In addition to producing wound medicine needed by the military camp, it also opened several other pill production lines, including pills for strengthening the spleen and stomach.
"Is it bitter?" Princess Ning asked.
Gu Jiao said, "It's not bitter because of the honey."
Princess Ning breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
The fact that a high-ranking princess would be afraid of taking bitter medicine made Gu Jiao realize that Princess Ning was quite different from what she had imagined.
After that, Gu Jiao gave Princess Ning some instructions on daily life, mainly about dietary restrictions and that she should go out more often to get some sun, take walks, and exercise.
After finishing these tasks, Gu Jiao prepared to leave: "I'll have someone send the medicine to the Princess later."
Princess Ning said, "No need to trouble yourself, I'll have someone fetch it."
"Okay," Gu Jiao said without refusing.
Princess Ning offered to pay Gu Jiao's consultation fee, but Gu Jiao replied, "His Highness Prince Ning will pay."
Princess Ning paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright."
This was the first real smile Gu Jiao saw when she entered the room. Was this the kind of smile that only appeared when the Prince of Ning was mentioned?
Gu Jiao packed her things, and Lady Yao saw her out.
The two had just arrived at the gate of Prince Ning's residence when they unexpectedly encountered Prince Ning alighting from his carriage.
"Your Highness!"
The female official, Yao, quickly bowed and gave a salute.
Prince Ning nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Gu Jiao beside him, revealing a gentle smile: "It's Doctor Gu. I didn't expect you to come."
Lady Yao said, "The princess felt a little tightness in her chest this afternoon. I remembered that the prince said that Doctor Gu's medical skills were superb, so I went to Miaoshoutang to invite Doctor Gu over."
Prince Ning nodded approvingly: "You have done very well. You may leave now. I need to speak with Doctor Gu about the Princess's condition."
"Then this servant will go to the Miaoshou Hall to get the medicine," said Lady Yao.
Lady Yao boarded the carriage.
Prince Ning pointed to the Prince's residence: "If Doctor Gu is not in a hurry, why don't you go and sit in the flower hall?"
Gu Jiao said, "I'm in a hurry, Your Highness, please speak quickly. Also, since we've run into each other, I'd like to trouble Your Highness to settle the consultation fee."
"Alright." Prince Ning took out a fifty-tael silver note from his pocket.
“One hundred taels,” Gu Jiao said.
Princess Xinyang gave 100 taels of silver each time, which directly broke her previous limit on consultation fees.
Prince Ning paused for a moment, and for some reason felt that Gu Jiao's arrogant attitude was somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Gu Jiao crossed her arms and said, "I told you, the consultation fee isn't cheap."
Indeed, Gu Jiao had kindly reminded him that since Prince Ning hadn't bargained then, it was even less likely that she would try to negotiate the price after treating the princess.
Prince Ning had no idea that the price she was referring to as "not cheap" was actually such an exorbitant one.
Prince Ning felt a lump in his throat.
It's not that I can't afford it, but there's an indescribable sense of frustration.
Prince Ning eventually paid the one hundred taels of silver.
Gu Jiao accepted the silver note: "Your Highness, please speak if you have any questions."
It really makes a difference after spending money on in-game purchases; her professional attitude has improved!
Prince Ning was taken aback by her sudden change in tone. He opened his mouth and asked, "It's about the Princess's illness. I want to know what's wrong with her."
Gu Jiao said, "A weak spleen and stomach is one reason, and excessive worry is another."
Prince Ning frowned: "Too much worry?"
Gu Jiao nodded: "It's depression, or as people would say, a mental illness. I prescribed some medicine, but Your Highness Prince Ning should still take good care of the Princess's emotions on a daily basis."
"She... was it because of the child? I've been married to the princess for many years and have always longed to have a child of our own, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and this time the child was lost again."
He used the word "again," seemingly casually, but actually to tell Gu Jiao that this was not the first time Princess Ning had miscarried.
Gu Jiao already knew from Princess Rui that Princess Ning had miscarried three times, so she wasn't surprised. Since she was always calm and composed, Prince Ning didn't find her reaction suspicious.
Prince Ning asked, "Will the Princess Consort be able to have children in the future?"
Gu Jiao said, "It's hard to say. The most important thing right now is the princess's condition."
Prince Ning nodded, then asked, "Does she know it herself?"
Gu Jiao said, "I didn't mention my depression."
Prince Ning breathed a sigh of relief: "Luckily you didn't say anything. I don't want her to be troubled by her illness. I will be more careful in the future."
Gu Jiao nodded: "Farewell."
Prince Ning called out to her, "I heard..."
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao turned to look at him.
Prince Ning said gently, "Doctor Gu entered the palace yesterday and met Princess Rui and the Crown Princess."
Gu Jiao didn't deny it, her face completely open: "Is there a problem?"
Prince Ning smiled and said, "No. It was my third sister-in-law who mentioned Miss Gu to me. This isn't the first time my third sister-in-law has been with Doctor Gu. You two seem to have a good relationship. If Doctor Gu doesn't mind, he can come and keep Princess Ning company more often in the future."
Gu Jiao glanced at him and said, "I'm a doctor. The only ones who need me to stay with them are the patients."
Prince Ning laughed out loud: "I was being presumptuous."
Gu Jiao withdrew her gaze and left the Ning Prince's Mansion. She instructed Xiao Sanzi to drive the carriage to the Hanlin Academy. Unfortunately, Xiao Liulang was called to work overtime again.
Kong Mu recognized Gu Jiao and knew she was Xiao Liulang's wife. He said to her, "She went to the cabinet. I heard that Chief Minister Yuan needed manpower and personally selected the top three scholars of this year."
The three top scholars were Xiao Liulang, Prince An, and Ning Zhiyuan.
Gu Jiao touched her chin.
Yuan, the chief minister, has a good reputation and might even be a future relative. He's not a bad person, so there's no need to worry about your husband.
Xiao Sanzi asked, "Miss Gu, shall we go back to the clinic or to Biyue Alley now?"
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Let's go back to the clinic first."
Gu Jiao returned to the clinic and placed a hundred-tael silver note on the counter. Manager Wang looked at her in surprise: "What's this?"
"Consultation fee," Gu Jiao said.
"No... how come you brought back so much consultation fee after just one trip?" Manager Wang said, then remembered that last time she had inexplicably brought back one hundred taels of consultation fee from Zhuque Street.
Shopkeeper Wang blinked: "Miss Gu, you didn't go to rob someone, did you...?"
Gu Jiao glanced at him lazily: "Who do you think you are?"
Shopkeeper Wang chuckled awkwardly, "That's true, that's true. Miss Gu is a gentleman, why would she go and rob someone?"
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Jiao said, "What's so great about robbing a hundred taels? If you're going to do it, do it big."
Shopkeeper Wang: "..."
Gu Jiao didn't stay at the clinic for long before Princess Rui arrived.
Gu Jiao wasn't seeing patients today, so Princess Rui went to her courtyard without any trouble.
Gu Jiao was drying medicinal herbs when Princess Rui walked over and happily called out, "Miss Gu."
"Princess Rui?" Gu Jiao greeted her with a hint of surprise.
Princess Rui, panting, said, "You walked too fast. If you had been half an incense stick later, we could have met at Prince Ning's residence!"
Gu Jiao asked, "Did you go to the Prince Ning's residence?"
Princess Rui said with a solemn expression, "I heard that Princess Ning was not feeling well, so I went to see her. It's strange, she was perfectly fine when she entered the palace this morning, so why did she feel chest tightness and discomfort after returning home? What's wrong with her?"
So Princess Ning was fine in the morning, but started feeling unwell in the afternoon. What could have triggered her in the middle of the day?
People with depression are most susceptible to stimulation.
However, it's not only when a person is stimulated that they will develop symptoms. Sometimes, a patient's mood will suddenly drop and they will not be able to control it.
Gu Jiao wouldn't discuss the patient's condition with anyone outside the patient's family. She carefully considered her words and said, "The patient has a weak spleen and stomach, and hasn't fully recovered after the miscarriage. She still needs careful recuperation, and she may also be feeling a little unwell."
Princess Rui sighed, "Alas, my sister-in-law is so pitiful. Fortunately, my elder brother is a good man and has always treated her with great affection. Oh, by the way, I ran into the hostage prince of Chen today!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Rui's expression turned serious. "So he's the man who had a secret rendezvous with the Crown Princess behind the artificial hill!"
(End of this chapter)
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