After a long pause, Si Zhan finally replied, “It’s fine.”
*
In Chu Yun Yuan, Ning Wan Wan felt sore and numb, as if ants were gnawing at her. She furrowed her brow and slowly opened her eyes.
Chang Nanny’s joyful voice rang out, “She’s awake, she’s finally awake…”
Looking closely, Ning Lao Tai’s anxious face came into view.
“Grandmother,” Ning Wan Wan called softly.
Ning Lao Tai quickly sat by the bed, holding her hand and patting it, choking with emotion, “You child, are you trying to scare your grandmother to death? Fainting every other day.”
Ning Wan Wan felt a pang of guilt, “I’m sorry for worrying you again.”
Her peripheral vision caught an imperial physician, Xu Fengyu, kneeling by the bed, removing the silver needles from her body. She wondered why he was in the Ning Guo Gong Fu.
Her grandmother’s gaze flickered, “It’s good that you’re awake. You should be grateful to the Crown Prince. If he hadn’t brought the two best imperial physicians from the palace to treat you, you might still be in a coma.”
Ning Wan Wan was stunned and noticed Crown Prince Si Yi sitting upright on the yellow rosewood luohan bed.
Si Yi saw her looking and quickly raised his chin, “Don’t get any ideas. I’m only doing this out of respect for Ning Lao Tai.”
Ning Wan Wan smiled bitterly, “Your Highness, I absolutely will not overthink it. Thank you, in any case.”
She never expected Si Yi would personally bring imperial physicians to visit her.
Wasn’t he always disgusted by her?
Ning Lao Tai’s probing gaze swept between the two, understanding something in her heart.
Si Yi stood up, hands clasped behind his back, and said proudly, “Since you’re awake, I’ll take my leave.”
As Ning Lao Tai prepared to see him off, Si Yi quickly added, “Ning Lao Tai, please stay.”
Ning Lao Tai nodded, instructing Chang Nanny, “Chang Nanny, personally see the Crown Prince out.”
“Yes.”
As Si Yi was about to leave, he remembered something and turned back to the imperial physicians, saying, “You two stay. Wait until the Junzhu can get out of bed before leaving.”
The physicians quickly responded, “Yes.”
After Si Yi left, Ning Wan Wan looked around the room and frowned, asking Ning Lao Tai, “Grandmother, where are Bai Yi and Zhan Xiang?”
Ning Lao Tai glared at Ning Wan Wan, saying, “These two knew you were ill but didn’t notify me, hiding and causing mischief, almost causing a major mistake.”
Ning Wan Wan’s heart tightened, thinking her grandmother had discovered her stealing medical records, and nervously asked, “What big mistake?”
Ning Lao Tai’s voice rose as she looked at her in disbelief, “Do you know that you have been in a coma for three full days? If you hadn’t woken up, you might have never woken up.”
She had actually been in a coma for three days?
Ning Wanwan sighed inwardly, surprised by her body’s fragility after nearly drowning.
“Grandmother, this is all my fault. I didn’t want to worry you, so I asked Fuyi and Zhanxiang to hide it.”
Ning Laotai retorted, “Those two wouldn’t dare to conceal anything from me.”
Ning Wanwan grabbed Ning Laotai’s hand and pouted, “Grandmother.”
Ning Laotai turned to the maidservant, “Let the two kneeling girls outside come in.”
A while later, Fuyi and Zhanxiang hurried in, supported each other, and knelt by the bed, calling out, “Miss!”
Seeing their tearful faces, Ning Wanwan felt self-blame. “I’m sorry for making you both suffer.”
Fuyi and Zhanxiang shook their heads, “Please don’t say that, Miss. We’re just grateful you’re awake.”
Ning Laotai glared at them, “Let this be a lesson. If you dare to be negligent again, I’ll have your families take you back.”
Fuyi and Zhanxiang kowtowed, “Yes.”
Ning Wanwan then decided to transcribe part of her medical records and consult several physicians for their opinions.
As soon as the thought was set, Ning Wanwan quickly found two sheets of ordinary xuan paper, copied several sections from the medical records, folded them, and placed them in her pouch.
At this moment, Fuyi had just brought in some pastries.
Ning Wanwan said, “The weather is nice today. I’ve been cooped up in the room. Fuyi, come and walk with me.”
Fuyi looked reproachful. “Miss, you’ve just recovered and want to go out. Your condition might worsen.”
Ning Wanwan pretended to be stern. “If you won’t accompany me, I’ll ask Zhanxiang to go with me.”
Fuyi sighed. “Alright, I’ll go. That Zhanxiang girl is too careless.”
*
In Qi Song, the women of Biandu loved to compete in beauty, and young women often vied for attention in the streets.
On ordinary days, Ning Wanwan carefully dressed before going out, but today, she wore men’s clothing, tied her hair on top, and inserted an ordinary jade hairpin.
Fuyi was surprised but remembered not to pry into her miss’s secrets.
The Ning Guogong residence was near Caomen in the inner city, leading to Zaozongzi Lane upon exiting the gate.
Going west three li along Zaozongzi Lane was Panlou Street. Going south from Panlou Street to the area around Daxiangguo Temple Bridge, the buildings were magnificent, and it was the most prosperous street in the inner city.
Ning Wanwan and Fuyi reached Panlou Street and continued walking south.
The street was filled with colorful flags, bustling crowds, and carriages, presenting a scene of prosperity.
Whenever Ning Wanwan saw a medical clinic, she would enter and seek the most skilled physician. However, every time she showed them the transcribed medical records, the result was always the same—a short-lived fate. Some physicians suggested that a wealthy background might extend life, while a lack of resources would lead to an early death. Yet, when she inquired about the cause of the illness, they could only stammer in response.
Despite searching throughout Biandu city, no physician could diagnose Si Zhan’s illness, leaving Ning Wanwan discouraged.
She wandered and soon arrived at Daxiangguo Temple Bridge, where both sides of the bridge were lined with small vendors, and the central bridge was crowded with people.
Fuyi, concerned about Ning Wanwan, stayed close and helped divert the crowd.
Normally, Ning Wanwan enjoyed collecting novel trinkets, sampling handmade foods, and watching street performers. However, she had lost interest, feeling that the once lively ten li of prosperity had become bland.
Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Fuyi quickly pulled her to a nearby snack stall. “Miss, look, your favorite honey-fried carved pastries and sweet sugar candies are here.”
Ning Wanwan glanced at the neatly arranged snacks. Not wanting to dampen Fuyi’s spirits, she took a sweet sugar candy, chewed it, and nodded while eating.
Just as she was about to ask the vendor to wrap some up, she saw a small pleasure boat moored at the corner of the bridge. It was modest in size, not more than two zhang long, with a four-pillar canopy and plain curtains, looking much simpler than typical pleasure boats.
Two signs hung on the boat’s front eaves. The left sign featured “Hanging Pot to Save the World” with a gourd beneath it, while the right sign read “Consultation Fee: Twenty Taels.”
The surroundings were noisy and bustling, but this boat was quietly moored on the river, seeming out of place with the mundane world.
Ning Wanwan felt curious. She had seen many traveling doctors before, but they always set up clinics. This was the first time she’d encountered a medical practice on a moving boat.
This unique approach caught her attention, and even if there was just a glimmer of hope, she wanted to try. Without hesitation, she turned and strode towards the boat.
Fuyi was busy selecting fruits when she realized Ning Wanwan had disappeared. Anxiously, she put down the fruits and began searching.
Ning Wanwan reached the riverbank, jumped onto the boat’s gangplank, and called out, “Is anyone inside?”
