Chapter 197: Accept My Auspicious Words

By the time the sky was fully light, several imperial physicians came to visit but were stopped outside the bedroom by Miss Jun.

"Miss Jun, what do you mean by this?" the lead imperial physician said with displeasure.

"The meaning is quite clear. I don't want you to steal my methods," Miss Jun looked at them and said, "or to sabotage."

The complexions of the imperial physicians instantly turned pale with indignation.

What kind of talk is that!

"Nonsense, what are you babbling about."

"You're treating this matter of saving lives and healing the sick far too lightly!"

The imperial physicians rebuked her one after another.

"I'll bet with you that it doesn't conflict with healing and saving lives," Miss Jun interrupted them, "You couldn't heal Prince Huai, and the matter has been handed over to me. Thus, I shall decide what happens here. If we follow your advice and the illness isn't cured, then who is to blame?"

Nonsense, of course it would be your fault, the imperial physicians thought with ashen faces.

"How arrogant, do you think this is Jiuling Hall?" one of the imperial physicians shouted.

In the bedroom, Princess Jiuli, who had previously been indifferent to the commotion outside, paused slightly and shifted her gaze from Prince Huai to the doorway.

The young woman stood at the entrance, her petite frame seemingly immovable as if she were single-handedly holding off an army.

Jiuling... Hall?

Lu Yunqi blocked her view as he approached and stood behind Miss Jun. His height towered above her's, allowing him to look over the top of her head and out the door.

The imperial physicians outside grew even more infuriated upon seeing him.

"Lord Lu, look at this, listen to what she's saying."

"This is simply a farce," they said one after another.

"Whoever is in charge of treatment should be listened to," Lu Yunqi spoke, his gaze sweeping over them, "Are you still intending to treat him?"

Of course, they didn't want to continue the treatment, otherwise, why would they have let Miss Jun take over?

The imperial physicians stiffened.

"I don't care whether it's a farce or not," Lord Lu continued, "Whether it's a farce has to be judged by the results."

If she could cure Prince Huai, then however ludicrous it would be acceptable.

If she couldn't cure him, then no matter how meticulous the attempt, it would be futile.

The imperial physicians exchanged glances. Should anything happen to Prince Huai, although the emperor would not truly punish the medical practitioners due to the Empress Dowager's persuasion, Yama Lu would not care.

In the past, what good did the emperor's interventions do? Lu Yunqi had still beaten a group of pleading officials to a bloody pulp, two of whom died right there.

What did the emperor do to him? The emperor promoted him instead.

He was a blade that didn't respect rules, reason, or sentiments – ready to cut or kill without warning.

Forget it, forget it.

"We are only concerned for Prince Huai's well-being," the imperial physicians said with a touch of grievance and helplessness, "Fine, have it your way."

Having said that, they left with a swish of their sleeves.

Miss Jun looked at the palace maids and eunuchs on either side of the door.

"None of you are to touch my things," she said. "Otherwise, if Prince Huai's illness isn't cured, it may not necessarily be my responsibility."

The palace maids and eunuchs looked at each other, knowing they could not bear such a charge, and immediately took several steps back in unison.

Only then did Miss Jun turn around to see the wall-like figure of Lu Yunqi behind her.

"Including you, Lord Lu," she said coolly without stepping back.

A flicker of confusion passed through Lu Yunqi's eyes as he looked down at the young woman, his expression returning to normal upon seeing her face.

This Jun Zhenzhen had been spoiled from a young age, speaking boldly and unabashedly, without understanding of her station; she regarded no one with respect and acted solely on her own whims.

This was arrogance, not openness and magnanimity.

A hint of disgust passed through his eyes at the thought of such people; the notion of comparing anyone to her was an insult.

He walked past Miss Jun and went out.

Although the imperial physicians had not been able to see Prince Huai, there were no secrets at Prince Huai's mansion, and they still learned that Prince Huai's condition had not improved.

"Just knew she was all talk."

"Why aren't you claiming it'll be cured in three days this time?"

"No one knows what condition Prince Huai has been tortured into."

Listening to the joyful discussions of the disaster by the imperial physicians, Imperial Physician Jiang coughed lightly to interrupt.

"As long as she can cure Prince Huai, it doesn't matter how she messes about," he said, "as long as she is dedicated to saving him."

"Lord, the point is that she isn't wholeheartedly trying to save him," an imperial physician said.

"Even if she's not wholehearted, it's okay," stated Imperial Physician Jiang, "as long as the patient is saved. Don't mention that she's not letting us see her treatment now; if she cures him, even if I have to kneel to her, I'm willing."

"Lord, you truly have the compassionate heart of a healer," the imperial physicians exclaimed in admiration.

Imperial Physician Jiang said no more and picked up a roll of medical records.

These imperial physicians didn't know, but he had learned through the Jinyiwei that the emperor was not pleased with the Fang Family, who held the first emperor's imperial decree.

After all, who would want a merchant, especially such an arrogant one, holding an imperial decree?

On this point alone, the emperor would definitely not have any good feelings or kindness towards Miss Jun.

Furthermore, no emperor would wish for there to be another person in the world with a famous and righteous claim to the throne.

A healer must be compassionate, but before being kind to others, you must first look after yourself. If you're gone, what does it matter to you whether others live or die?

What of kneeling? What does it matter to kneel to one who's dying? Once she's dead, such an act would only become an anecdote proving one's own character.

.....................

Watching Miss Jun bring in the medicine, Princess Jiuli took it upon herself to hold Prince Huai in her arms.

"You help His Highness with his breathing; I will feed him the medicine," she said, taking the spoon from the medicine bowl that Miss Jun held.

Miss Jun hummed a response without speaking and reached out to press on Prince Huai's chest.

After a burp from Prince Huai, Princess Jiuli scooped up the medicine and slowly fed it into his mouth.

"How old are you this year?" she suddenly asked.

Miss Jun was taken aback and glanced at Princess Jiuli.

Everyone is sick, and yet she still has the mood to chat idly like meeting with the daughters of ministers?

"Fifteen," she replied, continuing to press on Prince Huai's chest.

"Then next year you'll be sixteen," Princess Jiuli said, "and quite the young lady."

Miss Jun nodded with her head bowed and discreetly curled her lips.

"Is this clinic a family inheritance?" Princess Jiuli asked again.

So that's what it was—she must have overheard the physicians talking about Jiuling Hall.

Miss Jun bowed her head further, touching Prince Huai's chest, a slight smirk with a hint of mischief on her lips.

Scared, aren't you? Does it feel like a coincidence?

Behind her, she felt the gaze of Lu Yunqi sweeping over her, growing colder.

Miss Jun lowered her head even more.

"Yes," she said.

Prince Huai burped again, and Princess Jiuli fed him the medicine. After she was done, she looked up at Miss Jun.

Miss Jun was also looking at her.

Their gazes met, and Princess Jiuli smiled slightly.

"It's a pleasant name," she commented.

A bittersweet feeling surged in Miss Jun's heart, and she smiled faintly as well.

"Yes, thank you, Princess," she said, bowing her head once again to massage Prince Huai's chest to aid the medicine.

Princess Jiuli said no more, her eyes returning to Prince Huai as she gently patted his shoulder.

When the medicine was fed to him again, Miss Jun raised her head.

"My ancestors named our clinic with the hope that everyone could live a long life," she explained.

Princess Jiuli watched her, her expression soft.

"Therefore, I hope that Prince Huai can have a long life," Miss Jun declared.

Princess Jiuli laughed.

"Thank you for your kind words," she said.