Ning Wanwan had long believed that to get close to Xu Fengyu, she needed to make her illness appear very serious, ideally so severe that ordinary imperial physicians were helpless. Only then could she find an excuse to seek Xu Fengyu’s diagnosis.
Ning Wanwan did not wait for Doctor Liu to finish speaking. She slapped the diagnostic table and exclaimed, “What? Are you saying that I, the noble Princess of Yunxiang, cannot request Physician Xu to see me?”
The maid standing to the side was stunned. She rarely saw her young mistress angry and had never seen her lose her temper in front of others. Now, her anger revealed an imposing aura that made people involuntarily want to kneel before her.
Doctor Liu was clearly intimidated, lowering his head and finding her argument reasonable. After all, she was the fiancee of Si Yiming and might become the future empress. He dared not offend her, quickly standing up and gesturing, “Princess, please.”
The door to Physician Xu’s private room was covered with a yellow curtain.
Doctor Liu lifted the curtain and respectfully called inside, “Physician, the Princess has arrived.”
A bearded physician walked out, slightly stunned upon seeing Ning Wanwan, and cupped his hands in greeting, “This official, Xu Shijie, pays respects to the Princess.”
“No need for formalities.”
“May I ask what brings the Princess to the Imperial Medical Bureau?”
“Seeking medical treatment,” Ning Wanwan answered simply before entering the curtained area, her maid following closely behind.
Xu Shijie looked confused and glared at Doctor Liu, “What is going on?”
Doctor Liu explained in a low voice, “The Princess caught a chill yesterday. I prescribed some medicine, but her condition worsened today. She specifically requested your diagnosis…”
Xu Shijie pondered, “…You may leave.”
“Yes.”
Xu Shijie entered the room and smiled, pointing to a rosewood chair, “Princess, please sit.”
Ning Wanwan nodded slightly and sat down, beginning to carefully observe her surroundings.
Her clothes made her tense. She nervously whispered, “Miss, I see a royal physician coming this way. What should we do?”
Upon hearing this, Ning Wanwan’s heart sank.
She had feigned illness to enter the Imperial Pharmacy, but too many visits would arouse suspicion, making it harder to steal Si Zhan’s medical records in the future. Today, she must find those records.
As she searched quickly, she said, “I must find the medical records today. You need to distract him.”
Fuyi, stunned, focused on “find a way.”
As the royal physician approached, Fuyi suddenly rushed out, determined.
Ning Wanwan then heard Fuyi exclaim, “Oh! I’m sorry, sir. I think I’ve sprained my ankle…”
Her heart raced; the cabinet contained hundreds of medical records, making a blind search difficult.
Moments later, Ning Wanwan thought of where Si Zhan’s records might be. Her eyes widened when she rushed to the top row and opened the drawer with the Empress Dowager’s medical records.
Inside were over a dozen thick green scrolls. Pulling one out, she confirmed it was indeed Si Zhan’s record. The royal physicians had hidden Si Zhan’s records in the Empress Dowager’s drawer, showing her constant wariness of him.
Without time to examine them closely, she quickly extracted two medical records, tucked them into her clothes, and hurriedly descended the ladder.
Due to her rushed descent and being top-heavy, she nearly missed a step but landed safely.
She straightened her clothes and walked out as if nothing had happened.
Lifting the curtain, she saw Fuyi practically hanging on the white-bearded royal physician, frightening him to the point of nearly collapsing.
“Fuyi,” Ning Wanwan called sternly.
Fuyi turned, her face looking relieved. She released the physician’s hand, smiled apologetically, and limped towards Ning Wanwan, “Miss?”
Fuyi’s eyes inquired if she had found what she needed.
Ning Wanwan imperceptibly nodded, feigning anger: “I told you to go pick herbs. What are you dawdling about?”
Fuyi pouted, “I walked too quickly and accidentally sprained my ankle, and bumped into that sir.”
The elderly physician, recognizing Ning Wanwan, quickly cupped his hands, “This official greets the Princess.”
Ning Wanwan regarded the physician calmly, “My servant is unrefined. I hope you can be tolerant.”
“Not at all,” the physician replied, though his eyes showed suspicion.
The Imperial Pharmacy was a crucial place, especially the royal physician’s office, which was strictly off-limits.
Ning Wanwan stopped engaging and coldly looked at Fuyi. “Fuyi, why are you standing there? Quickly prepare the medicine according to Xu’s prescription.”
“Yes,” Fuyi understood and went to prepare the medicine.
Hearing she was there for Xu’s consultation, the physician’s suspicions dissipated and he respectfully saw her off.
Before walking far from the Imperial Pharmacy, Ning Wanwan suddenly leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down.
Fuyi quickly embraced her, panicking. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Ning Wanwan, having forced herself to stay upright until obtaining the records, felt all her defenses collapse. Her body shivered, alternating between hot and cold. With reddened eyes, she grabbed Fuyi’s collar and pulled her close, breathing weakly. “Today’s events must not be told to anyone, including my grandmother.”
Fuyi cried, “Yes, I understand.”
Ning Wanwan smiled contentedly, then fainted.
*
“What happened to the Fifteenth Imperial Uncle?” the Fourth Prince asked in confusion.
Si Yi raised his eyes, looking at Si Zhan’s hurried back, slightly furrowing his eyebrows.
The Third Prince said, “Don’t mind him, he’s just a weirdo. Quickly tell me, what happened to Yun Xiang Junzhu?”
“Reportedly, the imperial physicians personally sent her back to the Ning Guo Gong Fu, and it seems she is still in a coma.”
As soon as Si Yi spoke, he stood up, causing everyone to look at him in bewilderment. After a moment’s hesitation, he strode out of the Zi Shan Hall, leaving everyone puzzled. The Fourth Prince called after him, “Hey… Your Highness the Crown Prince, class is about to start. Where are you going?”
Yuan Bi sat at the front of the carriage, looking at the gate of the Ning Guo Gong Fu, and asked Si Zhan, “Master, aren’t we going to send in our calling card?” They had been stopped for some time.
After a while, Si Zhan replied, “No, just stay here and watch.”
Yuan Bi fell silent, recalling how he had previously stopped Yun Xiang Junzhu to inform her that his master couldn’t take medicine, which inadvertently angered his master. He had never seen his master so angry before or show care for anyone.
However, he realized that his master seemed to care deeply about Yun Xiang Junzhu, which explained his willingness to offend the Crown Prince to assist her. Yet, he couldn’t understand why they had come but chose not to enter.
At that moment, three luxurious carriages suddenly stopped outside the Ning Guo Gong Fu gate.
Yuan Bi looked at the carriage decorations and called out to Si Zhan in the carriage, “Master, the Crown Prince’s carriage has arrived.”
Si Zhan raised his hand and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, seeing Crown Prince Si Yi descend from the lead carriage. Two medical officials in round-collared robes followed him, one being Xu Fengyu, who often diagnosed him.
Lin Zhengyang rushed out to greet them, exchanging pleasantries before leading them inside.
Si Zhan’s grip on the curtain tightened, then relaxed as he let it go. Yuan Bi heard a series of urgent coughs from within the carriage.
*
The setting sun bathed Biandu City in golden light, signaling the end of the day.
Yuan Bi called into the carriage, “Master, it’s getting late.”
Silence answered.
Yuan Bi frowned, advising, “Master, you haven’t eaten all day.”
