Chapter 188 Prince Huai Is Ill
Snow had fallen for only a day, but the post-snow chill compelled the people of the capital to hide away in their homes for several days.
This year's winter was especially cold.
The warmth and fragrance suffused the inner quarters of Marquis Dingyuan's mansion, where women adorned with pearls and jade filled the room.
The Marchioness of Dingyuan, dressed in a bright red silk jacket embroidered with flowers, was lightly applying powder at her vanity, while a few young maids held trays of jewelry for the hairstylist to select from.
"Miss Jun is here."
The voices of the maidservants echoed from outside, followed swiftly by the lifting of the door curtain.
Miss Jun entered without waiting for permission from the Marchioness of Dingyuan, an allowance long granted by the Marchioness herself, signaling the esteem in which Miss Jun was held.
This treatment was on par with Martial Master Puning, yet it had taken the master three to four years of devoted friendship to acquire such privilege, whereas Miss Jun had managed it in merely three days.
The Marchioness of Dingyuan watched Miss Jun enter through her mirror and smiled faintly.
"Is it cold outside?" she asked.
Miss Jun paid her respects.
"A bit cold," she replied.
The Marchioness laughed, then, as the hairstylist fixed a golden chrysanthemum hairpin in her hair, turned around.
"I hear that people from the north fear the cold," she said, chuckling.
Perhaps, but she had always been in the south, so it wasn't too bad.
Miss Jun smiled briefly, not elaborating further, and set down her medicine chest.
"The Marchioness looks very well," she said, as she brought out the pulse pillow.
The Marchioness touched her cheek and her eyes brimmed with mirth.
"That's what everyone says, that ever since I started on the pills you provided, my complexion has truly improved," she said, naturally extending her arm for the pulse examination, "Everyone's asking for your pills."
"Medicine should not be taken indiscriminately," Miss Jun said, taking the Marchioness's wrist to feel her pulse, "And it's not because of my pills; it's because the Marchioness's illness has improved, and with your mind at ease and your appetite restored, naturally your complexion has improved."
The Marchioness's smile deepened, saying nothing further as she watched Miss Jun take her pulse.
The room fell silent for a moment before Miss Jun withdrew her hand.
"There's nothing wrong with the Marchioness's health anymore," she proclaimed, putting away the pulse pillow and standing up, "You don't need to take any more medicine, nor use the Calming Incense."
After speaking, she paid her respects and bid farewell.
The Marchioness nearly laughed; where others would cling to the chance to speak more and establish connections upon entering the household, Miss Jun was straightforward – once she had completed her consult, she would leave, not dwelling on any matter beyond her medical inquiries.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Miss Jun," she said. "The elder lady has been feeling unwell recently, and since you're here, it would be good for her to be seen by you."
Countless people yearned for the chance to examine the elder Marchioness, but Miss Jun remained still.
"Has another doctor already seen her?" she inquired.
The Marchioness couldn't help but chuckle.
"Miss Jun, rest assured, the elder lady merely seeks a word of reassurance from you; she won't cling to you and disrupt your principles," she said, affectionately taking her hand, "Come, come with me."
Miss Jun thus had no choice but to accompany the Marchioness to see the elder lady of Marquis Dingyuan.
With little to do in the winter idleness, and the elderly matriarch fond of company, many women had gathered in her room to play cards and chat.
The elder Marchioness wasn't playing cards, but was watching a few young maids string beads. Upon seeing Miss Jun, she was delighted, and proudly introduced her to several ladies.
"This is the divine doctor, not everyone is as lucky to be treated by her," she declared, with a hint of bragging.
The women clearly knew of Miss Jun's reputation and watched her with smiling eyes.
Miss Jun also took the elder Marchioness's pulse and stood up.
"The elder Marchioness has a slight discomfort, but nothing serious; consulting an imperial physician for a few doses of medicine should do," she stated.
The elder matriarch glared at Miss Jun.
"You are not one to give face, child. I had just boasted, and you've slapped me in the face with your words," she said displeased.
Although her tone and face showed displeasure, her eyes were laughing.
The room erupted into laughter.
Miss Jun smiled faintly without continuing the conversation and lowered her head to pack her medicine chest.
At the card table, the game continued amid casual chitchat mixed with card playing.
"...speaking of the divine doctor, I believe the Imperial Hospital has run into some trouble this time..."
"...Is it about Prince Huai being ill?"
Miss Jun's medicine chest paused ever so slightly; the maidservant beside her, eager to help, looked at her, puzzled.
"Miss Jun..." she asked.
Miss Jun's hand, which had emerged from the medicine chest, reached back in and pulled out a small porcelain bottle.
"The Marchioness must have that recurring headache," she said.
The maidservant nodded, and the Marchioness Dingyuan, who heard this, was quite pleased and reached for the porcelain bottle.
"Can my chronic affliction really be cured?" she asked.
Miss Jun answered her one by one and instructed the maidservant and maids nearby on how to administer the medicine, but her ears remained perked, listening to the laughter and conversation at the card table nearby.
"…They say it's a cold, not too serious…"
"…A cold, but he's just a child, with no parents to take care of him…"
"…What are you saying, hurry up and play your card…"
The conversation was abruptly cut off and veered towards discussing which lady wore what kind of dress, made what kind of shoes, and decorated with what sort of novelty at the banquet—an array of inner mansion gossip.
Miss Jun finished speaking, shouldered her medicine chest, bowed, and took her leave.
Everyone knew of her habits and did not try to persuade her to stay, leaving maidservants to see her out.
Once the card players had dispersed, the Marchioness Dingyuan personally saw to the Marchioness's needs for a restful midday repose.
"Mother, I dare not say Miss Jun's medical skills are the best, but I believe she has a genuine talent for treating women and children. As for Prince Huai's illness..." she suddenly said, thinking of something.
Her unfinished sentence was interrupted by a stern look from the Marchioness.
"Is that something we can discuss?" she said.
Clearly, the Marchioness Dingyuan knew that as well, and she lowered her gaze.
"I just feel that, for such a young child, it's quite pitiable," she said softly.
"There are many pitiable people in this world; what can be done about it?" said the Marchioness, "The imperial physicians are not willing to wade into murky waters, why bother involving others?"
Upon hearing this, the Marchioness Dingyuan's heartbeat quickened.
That meant...
But the Marchioness closed her eyes again, choosing not to speak further, and the Marchioness Dingyuan, not daring to ask more, ensured the blankets were properly placed and instructed the maidservants to remain vigilant as she withdrew.
Inside the tent, the Marchioness opened her eyes once again, her expression somber.
"Pitiable, pitiable, life itself can be pitiable, better to be liberated early, and not to be born into the Imperial Family in the next life," she murmured before closing her eyes again.
............…
She knew for certain that something had gone wrong.
Miss Jun walked briskly down the street, completely unfazed by the chill.
She declined the carriage ride offered by Marquis Dingyuan's household; managing to leave Marquis Dingyuan's mansion on steady feet was hard enough. Now she had to walk, let the cold wind blow over her; otherwise, she would go mad if she sat still in the carriage.
Ever since she left the alleyway of Lu Mansion that day, she had been trying to gather information, but Prince Huai's mansion was a forgotten taboo in the capital, and nothing about it leaked out, leaving her nowhere to start.
Fortunately, she had become acquainted with the inner circles of the influential and noble clans. Through revisiting and conducting follow-up visits to several households, she finally overheard bits and pieces in Marquis Dingyuan's mansion.
Even just bits and pieces were sufficient to confirm that Jiurong had encountered trouble.
Sick?
Did those women say he was sick?
Was it true illness, or merely an excuse?
The tightly shut doors of Prince Huai's mansion and his status insulated it from all news; even if she had the means to inquire, no one would tell her due to her status.
Miss Jun stood still, staring down the street where Prince Huai's mansion was located, hand pressing the medicine chest at her side.
If she were to go to the gates of Prince Huai's mansion now and ring a bell, proclaiming dire premonitions, how likely would it be that she would be invited in?