Chapter 15: The Heir Has an Affliction

Lady Lin sent a maid to make inquiries and took her two daughters to visit the Old Madam.

The Old Madam had not made any special preparations; after all, her daughter lived nearby and visited often. However, no matter how frequent the visits, she was still exceptionally happy to see her daughter and granddaughter.

"Mother, have you been sleeping well these past two days?"

"Very well." The Old Madam didn't bother to respond to her daughter, instead grabbing Wen Hao's hand. "Does A-Hao's foot still hurt?"

"Don't worry, Grandmother, my foot healed a long time ago."

"That's good. You must be more careful in the future; don't climb such high walls anymore," the Old Madam instructed with a chuckle, her eyes never leaving Wen Hao.

A-Hao sounded so sweet when she called her Grandmother.

Lady Lin couldn't bear to watch: "Mother, do you intend to stare A-Hao until flowers bloom on her?"

The Old Madam shot her a glance. "She is my own granddaughter; I can look at her as long as I want."

"I don't remember you looking at me like that before."

The Old Madam rolled her eyes. "When you were little, you only knew how to irritate me. You weren't nearly as well-behaved as Chan'er and A-Hao."

Back then, the old man had been a mountain bandit king and she had been his lady wife. Her daughter used to run all over the mountains every day, occasionally even participating in raids to gain experience.

Who could have imagined that when the chaotic times arrived, the old man would become the Duke of Ding, she would become the Duchess, and their wild little girl would become a noble lady of a prestigious family.

But she had always known that their family was different from those clans with centuries of heritage, and her daughter, as a noble lady, was different from other noble ladies as well.

By the time her daughter reached marriageable age, she actually took a fancy to a newly successful imperial scholar.

She and the old man had originally intended to betroth their daughter to a military family, but since the daughter was set on him, they eventually had to yield to her.

Fortunately, the son-in-law came from a humble background, and his family didn't have many rigid rules, so their daughter didn't have to suppress her true nature to live.

The son-in-law had one other great strength: he was handsome, which had blessed her with two lovely granddaughters.

Thinking of her daughter and son-in-law's harmonious marriage over the years, along with her two precious granddaughters, the Old Madam's past worries had long since vanished.

As the three generations chatted happily, Fangfei, the maid assigned a heavy task by Lady Lin, entered the room.

"Did you find out?" Lady Lin asked hurriedly.

The Old Madam was bewildered. "Find out what?"

Lady Lin smiled. "When we were getting out of the carriage, I noticed the gates of the Prince Jing Mansion were open. I saw a white-bearded old man in ordinary clothes being invited inside. I was curious about his identity, so I sent Fangfei to inquire."

The gates of great noble houses were not opened lightly; usually, people entered and exited through the side gates.

"When will you change that temper of yours?" the Old Madam said helplessly.

Lady Lin pointed at Wen Hao and said with a smile, "A-Hao is curious too."

Suddenly being pulled into the conversation, Wen Hao momentarily forgot to speak.

The Old Madam said as a matter of course, "A-Hao is still young; of course she has curiosity."

Lady Lin choked on her words, her gaze falling back onto Fangfei.

Fangfei hurriedly said, "It was a famous physician specifically invited by the Prince Jing Mansion for the Prince Jing Heir."

Lady Lin immediately took interest. "What happened to the Prince Jing Heir?"

"It is said that a few days ago, he suddenly experienced chest tightness and heart pain. This famous physician is an expert in this field and was difficult for the Prince Jing Mansion to invite from out of town."

Hearing this, Lady Lin grew angry. "The Prince Jing Mansion is going too far!"

The Old Madam gave Lady Lin a disapproving look. "Their son is ill; isn't it normal to invite a doctor? How is that going too far?"

"Mother, you don't know—" As soon as Lady Lin spoke, she remembered her eldest daughter was also present.

"Know what?"

Lady Lin was straightforward. Realizing her eldest daughter was a steady person, she couldn't hold it back: "A few days ago, people from the Prince Jing Mansion came to test the waters, wanting to ask for A-Hao's hand for the Prince Jing Heir!"

"The Prince Jing Heir wants to marry A-Hao?" The Old Madam was so shocked that her teacup nearly fell to the ground. "Even if he were to marry, shouldn't it be Chan'er?"

Chan'er was the elder sister, two years older than A-Hao.

Wen Chan: "..."

Lady Lin felt a sense of suffocation. "Mother, does it matter which one he asks for? What matters is that the Prince Jing Mansion is being unscrupulous, trying to marry off their sickly son to our daughter!"

"It is unscrupulous." The Old Madam had already quickly reviewed the Prince Jing Heir's height, looks, and temperament in her mind, and couldn't help but feel a bit of regret. "I had only heard before that the Prince Jing Heir was somewhat frail, but I hadn't heard he had a heart condition."

Lady Lin nodded repeatedly. "Indeed. I was somewhat tempted when I first heard, but luckily A-Hao reminded me. Fortunately, A-Hao is observant and knew the Prince Jing Heir had a heart condition."

Wen Hao: "..." Since when did she know this?

Did the Prince Jing Heir have a heart condition?

She remembered that not long after, the Prince Jing Heir went on a long journey. Would the Prince Jing couple allow their son, who had just summoned a famous physician, to endure the exhaustion of travel?

Or did that famous physician possess great divine powers and immediately cured the Prince Jing Heir's heart condition?

If that were the case—Wen Hao's eyes lit up.

Grandmother had likely suffered a surge of anger affecting her heart. Perhaps there were already underlying issues with her heart and spleen; there would be no harm in inviting that famous physician to give her a diagnosis.

Just as Wen Hao was thinking this, she heard Lady Lin say, "Mother, didn't you also say your chest felt tight a while ago? It just so happens that the Prince Jing Mansion has invited a famous physician. Once the physician finishes seeing the Prince Jing Heir, we shall invite him to see you as well."

The Old Madam waved her hand dismissively. "There's no need. It's inevitable to have chest tightness and shortness of breath as one gets older. The regular doctors who come to consult haven't said anything."

A hand reached out and pulled her sleeve.

"Grandmother, let the famous physician take a look at you."

The young girl, who still had a bit of baby fat, tilted her head slightly, her eyes like autumn waters, filled with worry and pleading.

The Old Madam's heart immediately softened, and she agreed.

Because A-Hao had been unable to speak since birth, she was naturally more sensitive than other young girls; it was better not to let this girl worry.

Lady Lin muttered a complaint about her own mother's favoritism, but thinking of how much the Prince Jing Mansion valued the physician, she personally made a trip to the Prince's mansion.

At this moment, the famous physician was checking the pulse of the Prince Jing Heir, Qi Shuo.

"Divine Physician, how is Shuo'er?"

"This—" Physician Zhu looked at Qi Shuo pensively.

Qi Shuo watched him silently.

Seeing Physician Zhu hesitate to speak, the Princess Consort of Jing grew anxious. "Divine Physician, please speak freely, I can take it. Could it be—"

No, she was going to faint!

Prince Jing hurriedly supported the swaying Princess Consort, his expression incredibly solemn. "Divine Physician, please look more closely. Shuo'er... Shuo'er should be fine, right?"

Qi Shuo gave a light cough.

In the suffocating silence, Physician Zhu finally spoke: "The Heir's heart condition... is not serious."

The Princess Consort did not believe him. "If it is not serious, why is the Divine Physician being so hesitant?"

Physician Zhu gave Qi Shuo a deep look.

The youth had an innocent expression, sitting quietly.

"This old man is merely being cautious; one cannot easily make a diagnosis."

"That's good, that's good." The Princess Consort breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly raised the subject again. "But this is, after all, an issue with the heart and spleen. Even if it isn't serious, one cannot be careless. May I ask the Divine Physician how he should be nurtured in the future?"

Physician Zhu stroked his beard and said unhurriedly, "The Princess Consort's concern is valid. Heart ailments often arise from excessive thought and stagnant qi. Once I prescribe a formula, he should take the medicine according to the prescription. Additionally, he should try his best to live a life of contentment."

"Contentment?" The Princess Consort caught the key point.

She didn't understand medical matters, but making her son live a life of contentment was something she could certainly do.

(End of Chapter)