Divine Doctor: Daughter of the First Wife - Chapter 777

This Favor Must Be Remembered

As a prince, even if Xuan Tian Feng did not pay attention to the court’s affairs, his information network was established. All sorts of major events and minor incidents would reach his ears. Of course, this would include the things that had happened during the Winter Hunt.

He gently sighed and temporarily stopped thinking about this residence. He stopped lamenting his inability to do the things that he liked; however, Feng Yu Heng was able to bring his hopes out into reality in such a great way. He looked toward Feng Yu Heng with a deceptive yet grateful expression. Cupping his hands, he bowed deeply: “The matter from the hunting ground a few days ago, Feng thanks younger sister for being magnanimous and preserving my mother’s life. Younger sister repaid evil with good, and Feng is exceedingly grateful. This favor will be clearly remembered in my heart. If younger sister has any requests to make in the future, Feng will definitely do everything possible to repay this favor.”

He took the initiative to bring up the matter with Noble Lady Li, and Feng Yu Heng was not surprised. She had not interacted much with this sixth prince. She had seen him once during a palace banquet two years earlier, and the sixth prince left the capital after that, never returning. It was only today that the two met for a second time; however, it was the first time that they had a conversation. In the past, she may not have formed an impression based on what Wang Chuan and the others had said about the sixth prince, but meeting him today, she could see this person truly revered literature and had a thorough understanding of righteousness. He did not have any secretive thoughts, and he did not struggle for power. He was nothing but a scholar. His gaze looked cultured, his words were modest, and he saw things from a commoner’s perspective. With his earnest hopes and ideals, conversing with this person was an extremely pleasant experience. Even now, when he brought up Noble Lady Li, her mind could not be dragged from the world of the wild mountains into the lofty court.

Feng Yu Heng began smiling and replied: “If sixth brother says it like this, A-Heng will feel conflicted. After all, Noble Lady Li was demoted because of this. For an imperial concubine of the inner palace, it’s an extremely big matter.” Status was the foundation of life in the inner palace. To be demoted all the way to noble lady from imperial concubine, it sounded like just a change in titles, but the difference was actually massive.

Xuan Tian Feng shook his head with a bitter expression, “Rather than letting her stay in the position of imperial concubine, I think the position of noble lady is better. Living in a side hall that is far from the heart of power in the palace will also allow her to calm down. It will be better than spending her days thinking about what she does and doesn’t have.” Raising his head and looking into the distance, he looked toward the mountain range and took a deep breath, continuing: “I know what she intended. She felt that she had also given birth to a prince and should not watch me do worse than any of my brothers. What others have, I should also have. But in truth, she does not know that the things she thinks of as good are not worth a single cent to me. As for what my heart truly desires, it’s something that she would never be able to understand.” Xuan Tian Feng retracted his gaze then looked at Feng Yu Heng once more, saying very sincerely: “The reason that I thank you is because I know that it was your words that preserved her life; otherwise, just the practice of witchcraft and cursing you would have been a death penalty, and that’s not mentioning the stealing of your little white tiger, which led to the little beast injuring Fei Yu. Although my birth mother and I desire different things, she is still my birth mother. This favor is one that must be remembered.”

Xuan Tian Feng was persistent, thus Feng Yu Heng did not continue to push back. She just smiled faintly and replied: “I never intended to take the initiative in suppressing anyone, as I always hope that everyone is able to be harmonious. Noble Lady Li’s knot in her heart just happened to be difficult to resolve at a moment’s notice, and Fei Yu’s matter was not something that she had intended. I heard my two maidservants say that sixth brother was a scholarly prince, and I thought that sixth brother would be able to properly console noble lady after coming back. For this matter to be handled like this is fine. Sixth brother, there’s no need to bring it up again.”

Xuan Tian Feng nodded, but his gaze was still full of gratitude; however, he did not bring it up again. The two then continued to walk around the residence a few times before Xuan Tian Feng bid farewell. It was just that after the imperial carriage had traveled quite a distance, he still could not hold back and lifted the curtain to look back. From far away, only a small shadow of the residence could be seen, and not a single person could be seen clearly; however, he still felt that there was a young girl standing there with a radiant expression, pointing at the mountain range and speaking about the medical herbs that she had planted. He could even smell the fragrance of the medical herbs…

On the night of the 29th day of the 12th month, each family and each home’s kitchen had already begun preparing dinner for the following day. The fragrance of meat filled the air, and it was filled with a celebratory atmosphere. But the left prime minister’s manor was completely different. Not only was there no fragrance of meat, but there was also a thick medicine smell.

Lu Yan lay in bed with a face that was sickly pale. Her eye sockets were sunken, and she could not even get up. At her side, her maidservant Ru Yi’s eyes were red, as she stood there, holding a newly prepared bowl of medicine and advising Lu Yan to drink it; however, Lu Yan was very resolute. No matter what was said, she was unwilling to drinking, leaving Ru Yi to anxiously cry.

Ge shi also sat beside the bed to accompany her. With her brow furrowed, she looked at her extremely ill daughter and was very confused, “How did she suddenly become this sick?” While feeling puzzled, she asked the servants in the room, “How have you been taking care of her? Was a window opened at night? Or has the brazier not been burning properly? Tomorrow is going to be New Year’s Eve, and she will need to go into the palace on the day after tomorrow. With Young Miss becoming this ill, how could this possibly be good?”

Ge shi fiercely scolded them, scaring the servants in the room to kneel on the ground. Even the bowl of medicine that Ru Yi was holding spilled on the ground. Lu Yan lay in bed and also had a belly full of anger. At this moment, she also exploded, using what little strength she had to slap her bed while screaming herself hoarse: “Damn servant! You’re all looking at how the Lu family has not been doing as well as it has in the past and harmed me to this degree. I will definitely have all of your heads chopped off. All of your heads!”

Her voice became hoarse, as she continued to scream. She looked just like a crazy lady. Ge shi desperately tried to hold her down to prevent her from moving wildly and to have her calm down, repeatedly consoling her: “Yan’er, calm down, calm down. The angrier you get, the harder it will be to fully treat this illness. Let’s recover properly, and maybe it will be better by new year’s day!”

“How could it possibly get better.” Lu Yan had practically begun to despair, “I know my own body. Although I can’t feel anything seriously wrong, my entire body feels weak, and even getting out of bed is exhausting. How can I go into the palace?”

“Yan’er is right!” Outside the door, Left Prime Minister Lu Song stomped inside. While walking in, he said: “There are many rules inside the palace, and bringing in someone who is sick must not be done to keep them from bumping into the noble people present. If it’s seen that Yan’er was brought into the palace while being sick, perhaps our entire manor will be even more… Forget it, forget it, let’s not talk about this. The most pressing matter at this moment is to think of a way to have Yan’er treated.”

Ge shi had some doubts in her mind and began to ponder: “Exactly what would cause Yan’er to fall ill? Looking at the symptoms, it doesn’t look like a cold? The doctor that came to examine her also did not say that it was a cold, only saying that her body was weak. It’s as though something has eaten away at her from the inside, and everything needs to be supplemented from the outside. But we did supplement it, and Yan’er ate all of the nice things that the eighth prince gave her; however, it did not appear to have been effective. How could this possibly be handled?”

Lu Song was also curious, but it was Lu Yan that said: “It’s definitely not a cold. Daughter thinks that it’s most likely that someone has poisoned me.”

“What?” Lu Song and Ge shi were extremely shocked, and even the servants in the room trembled. Ru Yi said: “The things that Young Miss ate and drank, we all kept a close eye on. This servant would always go to the kitchen to keep an eye on things and personally brought them to Young Miss. This servant has been taking care of Young Miss from a young age and would definitely not hurt Young Miss!”

Ge shi also said: “At present, there are still some people in the kitchens that have not left, and they are all servants loyal to the manor. They are able to go through hard times with the family. They definitely would not harm Yan’er.”

Lu Yan spoke from the bed: “That’s right, it’s not possible that they would harm me, but it’s not so certain with others. Father, mother, you must support daughter!”

Lu Song nodded, “Don’t worry, father definitely will not let this matter go. The truth must be found. But these are all things for later. The most important matter right now is to have your illness treated.”

At this time, the kneeling Ru Yi suddenly said: “This servant has an idea.”

Ge shi nodded to her, “Speak.”

Ru Yi quickly said: “Let’s go to Hundred Herb Hall for a doctor! Regardless of who runs Hundred Herb Hall, that is a place that treats the sick. This servant heard that as long as the examination fee can be paid, Hundred Herb Hall’s doctors are miracle workers that can bring people back to life! Also, their medicine is also good. It’s not this sort of bitter medical soup. Instead, it’s little medical pills and tablets that are immediately effective.”

With Ru Yi bringing this up, the members of the Lu family finally reacted. Of course, the best doctors in the capital were now in Hundred Herb Hall. The doctors that they had been accustomed to calling in the past were now falling out of favor. Now, anyone with power or wealth would go to Hundred Herb Hall whenever their family members fell ill, but the problem was… “I fear that our manor is unable to afford this examination fee.” Ge shi helplessly sighed, “The salary that husband brought back last time was given to Aunty Fang Yi.”

“Mother!” Lu Yan suddenly called out, “Go and grab an accessory that His Highness the eighth prince gave. Those are nice things worth money. Just any piece will be enough for the examination fee!”

“But those were given by His Highness.” Ge shi was a bit reluctant.

Lu Song, however, gave the order, “Ru Yi, go and bring the young miss’ accessory box!” He then scolded Ge shi: “Woman that values wealth over life, Yan’er is already sick to such a degree. Of course, seeing a doctor is most important. Those things that were sold can just be bought back later on. Even if they can’t be bought back, as long as Yan’er gets better and is able to go into the palace, what is there that can’t be obtained. Why bother worrying about one or two small things.”

Ge shi also knew that she had been short-sighted, thus she nodded fervently, no longer distressing over those things. In truth, she was not distressed over the items. Instead, she felt that they were things that the eighth prince had given her own daughter. If these gifts from the first time could be kept, in the future, the feelings between her and the eighth prince might be a bit deeper. But now was not the time to worry about such things. Lu Song was right. Getting the illness treated first was the most important thing.

Ge shi held Lu Yan and had her rest for a while and to ensure that she did not get angry once again. Like this, she had people go and invite a doctor from Hundred Herb Hall. As long as someone from that side came, this illness could be treated. Lu Yan closed her eyes and slept lightly; however, Ge shi gave Lu Song a look, and the two exited Lu Yan’s room. Standing in the middle of the yard, Ge shi began to say: “If it really was a poison, Yan’er becoming poisoned really is strange. This concubine thought about all of the possibilities, and they have all been excluded, except…”

“Except what?” Lu Song stared at Ge shi with a solemn expression.

“Husband has also thought about it, right?” Ge shi looked at Lu Song. Having been a married couple for many years, she immediately guessed Lu Song’s thoughts, thus she did not continue to drag it out, quickly saying: “Those bird nests, this concubine feels that there was something wrong with the bird nests sent by the palace!”

Chapter 778 : Finally Beginning to Envy Feng Yu Heng

Hearing Ge shi mention the bird nests, Lu Song did not immediately refute it. Instead, he stood in place and furrowed his brows in thought. It was clear that he had also suspected the bird nests in Lu Yan’s poisoning. But those things were sent by the Empress. Even if he had some suspicions, he did not dare rashly reach a conclusion.

He said to Ge shi: “Have some doctors come in. Remember, either pick ones that are honest and know the details or the type that are unfamiliar with the capital. The doctors that the other manors use, not a single one can be brought. Do you understand?”

Ge shi nodded, “Husband, don’t worry. This concubine knows how this should be handled. But in the end, is the problem really related to those bird nests? That was something sent by the Empress, and the Empress has no enmity with us. Why would she want to harm Yan’er?”

Lu Song snorted coldly, “What enmity or lack thereof? When the masters of the palace act, when have they ever been reasonable? The Empress has never paid any mind to such idle matters. If it really was her that did it, it was definitely in collaboration with someone. Perhaps she might be doing it for someone else, and that someone else is who we should be thinking carefully about.”

“She is the Empress. What sort of person could make her move?” Ge shi was even more puzzled but rushed to say: “Could it be that Imperial Daughter Ji An?”

Lu Song shook his head, “It wouldn’t be her. This engagement could be said to have been caused by Imperial Daughter Ji An. She could not slap her own face. Forget it, stop guessing. Go and investigate first. Once a result has been found, we’ll talk then.” Lu Song did not want to continue guessing. The Lu family and the eighth prince suddenly becoming engaged was something that had left him feeling uneasy. It continued to make him feel as if it was not realistic, and as the steps continued until this moment, which day was not spent on tenterhooks? He feared that something would suddenly go wrong. Now that the new year was about to arrive, just as the Emperor was about to sanction the marriage, as long as the marriage was sanctioned, it would be a done deal; however, who knew that at this critical moment, something really did go wrong.

On the 30th, the imperial daughter’s manor was a bit quiet. Although the servants had decorated the manor with lanterns and streamers to give it a festive look, there were only two masters. Feng Yu Heng was also someone that did not like liveliness, and even Feng Zi Rui was no longer as lively as before. For the celebration of this new year, aside from eating dumplings, it was no different from a normal day.

Wang Chuan advised Feng Yu Heng: “The manor prepared some fireworks. How about young miss brings young master to light some fireworks!” After saying this, she said to Zi Rui: “Young master, let’s go set off some fireworks, alright?”

Wang Chuan had already done her best to lift their spirits, but Zi Rui did not seem to have been affected by her spirit in the slightest, as he just shook his head and expressed that he was not interested.

Huang Quan had brought the little white tiger over. Zi Rui did indeed like it, but he was only willing to hold it in his embrace and had no intention of playing with it. In addition to this, the little white tiger was a lazy one. Laying in Zi Rui’s embrace, it just closed its eyes and slept, which made Huang Quan so angry that she hated that she could not slap it.

Feng Yu Heng saw that the two maidservants were trying to make them happy and could not bear to see it, thus she finally spoke up: “There’s no need for you to do this. I feel that the current situation is also quite good. There’s no need to cause a stir to celebrate the new year. Quietly staying up to see in the new year and enjoying a peaceful new year is also quite fortunate.”

Zi Rui also said: “That’s right. Back in the Feng manor, there were many people, but not many were wholehearted. Even just eating at the same table could cause some sort of trouble. Not a single year was peaceful. I also feel that the current situation is pretty good. As long as I have elder sister at my side, I am satisfied.”

Wang Chuan thought a bit then said: “I wonder if His Highness the ninth prince will be coming later. If His Highness comes, it will be far more entertaining.”

Feng Yu Heng smiled and told her: “He won’t come. I already spoke with him. This year is the last year before I get married, so we will be celebrating on our own. Moreover, the Yu Palace has him as the only master. If he comes out, the servants will no longer have their pillar of support, and they too will feel bored. Either way, I will be going into the palace tomorrow to participate in the palace banquet, and we will naturally meet.” While she spoke, she reached out to pat the little white tiger in Zi Rui’s lap and asked Zi Rui: “Zi Rui is a good child. Elder sister knows that you want for things to be lively. Speaking that way is simply to make sure elder sister doesn’t feel sad.”

Zi Rui shook his head, “No, I really quite like this current situation. It’s just… It’s just…” He fiddled with his fingers, “It’s just that I miss third sister a little. Also, Zi Rui really wanted to go and be with grandfather’s family. Sixth brother said that he would give me a treasured sword after the new year, and I wonder if that will still happen.”

Hearing the child bring up the Yao family, Feng Yu Heng also felt a bit bitter. It was for no other person than for Yao Xian, her own grandfather. If it was not for the earlier things, she would have been able to celebrate the new year with her grandfather. How happy a situation would that have been! But after thinking a bit, the “reconciliation” with the Yao family was just around the corner. Perhaps in a few more days, they would be back on good terms with the Yao family. To meet at that time would not be too late. Thus she said to Zi Rui: “Don’t rush, after a bit more time, elder sister will bring you to grandfather’s family to pay a new year’s visit.”

Wang Chuan and Huang Quan heard this and knew that their young miss had made up her mind to reconcile with the Yao family, and they could not help but begin smiling. The group began smiling, and the atmosphere of celebrating a new year was finally found.

The imperial daughter’s manor had become joyous, but the Feng residence’s atmosphere was like something out of the underworld!

Feng Fen Dai rushed into the courtyard that had belonged to Feng Jin Yuan and smashed all of his things, even the bed that Feng Jin Yuan had been sleeping in was chopped up with an axe from the kitchen. Because she had been smashing things, her hands ended up quite haggard, and her maidservant, Dong Ying, was anxious to the point of crying. She repeatedly tried to stop her but could only advise from the back: “Young Miss, stop smashing things. Stop chopping things up. Ruining things is fine, but your hands are quite valuable! You need to go into the palace tomorrow for the banquet. If your hands are covered in injuries, His Highness the fifth prince would die from the distress.”

However, Feng Fen Dai was presently incapable of worrying about such things. She was someone that had always been easy to anger, and her anger could never be reined in. If it did not get vented out, perhaps other problems might arise! What hand injuries; what fifth prince’s distress? These were all things that had long been cast to the back of her mind. She only knew that if she did not completely destroy Feng Jin Yuan’s courtyard, she would die from the irritation or from anger. Not to mention destroying some items, but if she did not scare away the courtyard’s servants, she would definitely have slaughtered all of the servants that usually took care of Feng Jin Yuan.

Watching Fen Dai cut her way from the inside to the yard, not a single blade of grass nor piece of wood was spared. Dong Ying also knew that any advice would be pointless. She could only quietly stand to the side and stand next to housekeeper He Zhong. She did not say another word.

Finally, Feng Fen Dai’s axe landed on a large tree in the yard. She had used a bit too much force, and she could no longer pull the axe out. She could only give up on it. She had also become tired and no longer had the energy to muck about. Her body swayed, and she was about to fall. Fortunately, Dong Ying moved quickly and supported her. Fen Dai leaned against Dong Ying and repeatedly muttered: “Go and get a torch. Simply burn this courtyard. Either way, the deed belongs to Feng Jin Yuan. It’s impossible for us to retrieve it. It would be better to just burn it down with fire.”

“Young miss, don’t say anything silly.” Dong Ying helplessly advised, “Even if it is to be burned, it needs to wait until after we have moved out. Fire is without emotion. To say that just this one courtyard will be burned, but who can guarantee that the fire would not spread to elsewhere? At present, the manor does not have many servants. If something really did happen, there would not be enough people to put out the fire. This idea must not be put in action!”

Feng Fen Dai was also just saying it for the sake of saying it. For her to truly set the residence on fire, she was a bit reluctant. But she could not just give up on the idea, and she could not help but raise her hand and point at the room that she had ruined and say: “Bastard! He is just a bastard! Don’t assume that if His Highness the fifth prince did not tell me, I would not know! Right now, he, Feng Jin Yuan, and that slut Yao shi leaving is no longer a secret. Hasn’t that bastard just gone to the South? Haven’t those two become an improper couple, and they even got a fake daughter. They want to go there to live an illicit life there. That Feng Jin Yuan is just the worst. His crown jewels are already gone, yet he still wants to daydream! It would be best if he died on his way there and got eaten by wild dogs. Later on, I would definitely have that wild dog taken care of and raised to give thanks for helping get rid of a pest.”

Feng Fen Dai was like this. Once she got angry, she was able to say any manner of disgusting and vile thing, and the servants could not stop her. Either way, this was her own manor, and she was in the middle of being furious. They just let her carry on cursing. Moreover, Feng Jin Yuan’s actions were something that even the servants of the residence felt were shameful. He Zhong even felt that Fen Dai cursing him like this was light. If it was up to him, he would have been chasing him to the South. Once that person was caught, he would definitely be cut into a million pieces; otherwise, this hatred could not be resolved.

Fen Dai grew tired from cursing and had Dong Ying supported her to sit on the stone chair in the yard. Having cursed Feng Jin Yuan enough, she slapped the stone table and cursed An shi: “That one is also lacking in female virtues. Is she still part of the Feng family! Instead, she brought Feng Xiang Rong, that little slut, and moved out of the residence! What does she think the Feng family is? Is it a place that can be entered and left that easily?”

Dong Ying quickly advised her: “Young Miss, don’t keep being angry. The new year is not a good time to be angry! Concubine Mother An and them moving out is good. This servant inquired about it, and they moved to the embroidery shop, and they are living in the backyard of the shop. Young Miss, even master doesn’t want this residence, so let’s not worry about it. Hasn’t His Highness the fifth prince prepared a new residence for you? After the new year, we should prepare to get moving. With the Feng family in its current state, don’t stay sentimentally attached to it. Just be like the second young miss and live your own life. Isn’t that also quite good? In the future, you will be the Li Palace’s official princess. It’s not worth ruining your health over this hopeless family.”

Everyone had given up hope on the Feng family, and the servants did not advise Fen Dai to remain. They just thought that everyone dispersing would be best. Just like Feng Yu Heng, living in her own residence to live her life. In the future, nobody would be able to control anyone. Perhaps life would slowly get better.

This time, Fen Dai listened to the advice and nodded. With tears in her eyes, she began to envy Feng Yu Heng and understand Feng Yu Heng. If she could foresee Feng Jin Yuan as being such a shameless and irresponsible father, she would have copied Feng Yu Heng long ago. She would have left the residence on her own and stayed as far away from this family as possible.

“Tidy things up. Pack up anything that can be taken away from this residence. Once the new year comes, we will move out, and we will no longer have any relation with the Feng family!”