Chapter 16: Change

The physician was asked to go downstairs to rest. Princess Jing was filled with anxiety. "Shuo'er is so young; how could he have a heart ailment?"

"Mother need not worry. Did the divine physician not say that your son is in no great danger?"

"Can a problem with the heart and spleen be called 'no great danger'?" Princess Jing shot a sharp glare at Prince Jing. "It was all because of your馊 (rotten) idea back then. Otherwise, Shuo'er wouldn't have suppressed himself into a heart ailment."

Prince Jing looked aggrieved. "How has this drifted back to 'back then' again?"

"Wasn't it you who said we must be cautious after entering the capital and told our Shuo'er to feign illness?"

Princess Jing felt irritated whenever this matter was mentioned.

Back in the North, Shuo'er had been a spirited youth, riding magnificent horses and living freely. By the age of ten, he had already slain Tartars. Yet, upon arriving in the capital, he had become a sickly invalid in the eyes of the world.

As his mother, seeing this made her heart ache; she dreamed of returning to the North as a family.

"Among so many vassal princes and heirs, not one is as wronged as Shuo'er," Princess Jing said, her eyes reddening.

He was at an age meant for flamboyance and unrestrained living; staying cooped up at home all day was bound to breed illness.

"Isn't Shuo'er a bit special?"

Princess Jing sneered. "It was nothing more than some baseless nonsense at his birth. It was only mentioned by a few people in the North; once in the capital, who would even pay attention?"

Prince Jing gave a bitter smile. "Princess, do not make a scene. It is better to be safe than sorry. Even if others do not pay attention, there is no guarantee that *that person* won't take offense."

On the day Qi Shuo was born, colorful clouds and auspicious light had shrouded the Jing Mansion, only slowly dissipating once he was born.

The people of the North all said that the Heir of Prince Jing was destined for greatness.

As parents, hearing such rumors would only bring joy; after all, Prince Jing was a king whose word was law in the North, with nothing to fear.

The trouble began when King An entered the capital to seize the throne, transforming from a vassal prince into the Emperor of Great Zhou.

If King An could become Emperor, other princes naturally could as well.

Emperor Tai'an's succession was neither legitimate nor well-founded, making him exceptionally suspicious. Prince Jing certainly had no such intentions, but who knew if the current Emperor would think so?

"Father, Mother, please stop arguing, or your son will feel even more guilty."

Princess Jing was actually just venting her frustrations. Hearing this, she hurriedly said, "Your father and I are just bickering for fun; do not worry needlessly. Your current task is to recover in peace. Taking care of your health and recovering quickly is the greatest act of filial piety."

"A few days ago, Mother mentioned letting me go to my maternal grandparents' house to fetch my cousin to the capital—"

Princess Jing waved her hand. "Just send your second brother. He has nothing better to do than drink and play."

At that moment, the maid Pearl entered to report, "Madam Lin has arrived."

Prince Jing and Princess Jing looked at each other.

"Did the Princess invite Madam Lin?"

"No."

"Could it be that the Wen family regrets it?" Prince Jing instinctively glanced at Qi Shuo.

The youth lowered his eyes, appearing calm and indifferent.

Prince Jing snorted.

His son was such a talent, yet he had been rejected; now they finally knew regret.

Princess Jing and Prince Jing thought the same thing, feeling a sudden sense of vindication. "I knew the Wen family would regret it. I just won't let them have an easy time of it this time."

"What does Shuo'er think?" Prince Jing looked at Qi Shuo.

Qi Shuo smiled. "Father, Mother, please decide as you see fit."

"Then we shall refuse?" Prince Jing asked tentatively.

"If Father and Mother feel unsatisfied, then refuse."

Prince Jing truly could not discern anything from his son's calm face, and he couldn't help but doubt what Princess Jing had said that day. "Didn't you say Shuo'er was devoted to the second Miss Wen?"

Princess Jing quietly pinched Prince Jing. "When did I ever say Shuo'er was devoted to the second Miss Wen? Shuo'er simply likes beautiful girls."

Qi Shuo:?

Madam Lin waited in the flower hall for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before she saw Princess Jing.

"I have kept the Princess waiting."

Having a request to make, Madam Lin offered a warm smile. "The Princess is busy; I apologize for the interruption."

"Please, have some tea, Madam Lin." Princess Jing took a sip from her teacup and asked reservedly, "May I ask what business brings Madam Lin here?"

"It is like this. I heard that the Prince's Mansion has invited a famous physician—"

Princess Jing was stunned.

This was not what she had anticipated.

Wasn't the Wen family here to bring up the marriage proposal again?

Seeing Princess Jing's silence, Madam Lin's heart sank.

The Jing Mansion couldn't be that petty, could they? Just because they refused a marriage, they intended to monopolize a divine physician?

After a brief, awkward silence, Princess Jing regained her composure. "That is indeed the case."

Although calling a doctor was nothing to be ashamed of, the servants of the Prince's Mansion were quite tight-lipped. How did Madam Lin find out?

Seeing that Princess Jing did not look like she would readily agree, Madam Lin decided to take a leap of faith. "Princess, to tell you the truth, I have come today to beg of you."

"What do you mean by that, Madam Lin?"

Madam Lin wiped the corner of her eye. "After my husband passed away, my mother has been despondent. Lately, she frequently complains of chest tightness and pain. I heard that the famous physician invited by the Prince's Mansion is skilled in this area, so I have come specifically to ask the Princess to allow the divine physician to visit the General's Mansion to examine my mother."

Princess Jing felt a great sense of disappointment.

So Madam Lin had come to her door for this.

Though she felt aggrieved, she would not make things difficult for someone regarding health. "Pearl, go and invite the divine physician to accompany Madam Lin on a visit."

"Thank you, Princess." Madam Lin suddenly felt that Princess Jing was kind and approachable, and her dissatisfaction regarding the Princess's perceived refusal to marry her daughter to her "sickly" son faded slightly.

Not long after, Physician Zhu arrived with his medicine box, accompanied by the maid Pearl, and they headed to the General's Mansion with Madam Lin.

After Madam Lin left, Princess Jing's face immediately darkened. She ordered the steward to investigate how the news had leaked.

The steward quickly clarified the situation and came to report, "It was one of the household members who spoke out."

"Old Wang, who guards the gate, has been reliable all these years. How could he make such a mistake?"

The steward looked troubled.

Princess Jing frowned. "Speak plainly."

"The household member said... it was the Heir's instruction."

Princess Jing was utterly bewildered and walked straight to Qi Shuo's quarters.

"Why has Mother come?"

Princess Jing sized her son up a few times. Seeing that his complexion was decent, she said, "Madam Lin came to the door, and it turns out it was to request a physician for her mother."

"So that was it." Qi Shuo showed a look of surprise.

"Shuo'er, why did you instruct the household members to mention your doctor to anyone who asked?"

Qi Shuo pursed his thin lips and remained silent for a moment before saying, "It has been eight years since my last 'illness.' It is only right to occasionally remind the world. That is why I instructed the servants that if anyone asks, they need not hide it."

Princess Jing sighed, her confusion turning entirely into heartache, and she couldn't help but mutter, "Madam Lin is far too gossipy. Seeing a divine physician arrive at the door and actually sending someone specifically to pry."

"Indeed," Qi Shuo smiled.

Over at the General's Mansion, Physician Zhu carefully checked the Old Madam's pulse and truly discovered a problem.

Madam Lin was filled with fear. "Is Mother's heart ailment really that serious?"

"The Old Madam's ailment is caused by stagnant phlegm and dead blood. If the stagnation is not cleared and the meridians opened in time, it could lead to grave consequences. The Golden Fragrance Pills I have formulated are quite effective for this condition. She must take three pills each morning and evening..." Physician Zhu solemnly explained the matters.

Wen Hao listened silently to the physician's words. While feeling relieved that her maternal grandmother's illness had been discovered in time, her confusion deepened.

Where exactly had things changed? Why had a famous physician, who was never supposed to appear, come to the General's Mansion?

A name slowly surfaced in her mind.

(End of Chapter)