Chapter 43 Mixed Feelings of Joy and Sorrow

This is an auxiliary palace within the Empress Dowager's residence, and the distance between rooms isn't great; they had already walked some distance and could now hear the laughter and frolicking of princes and princesses.

As Miss Jun posed this question, the night breeze of March gently tousled her hair. She reached out to smooth her hair, while with her other hand, she adjusted the slightly disheveled gown she had almost toppled in, looking quite at ease.

The little palace maid uttered a sound of surprise.

"Not that I know of," she said.

Bing'er had only one older sister, and whether her sister had any children was unknown; could it be that she had none?

Miss Jun's hand tightened slightly.

"Perhaps you remembered incorrectly, Miss Jun," the little palace maid continued, "The one who served you wine in the main hall was definitely not named Bing'er."

Miss Jun uttered a sound of acknowledgment.

"Perhaps that's the case; I was too nervous then and didn't hear clearly," she said somewhat sheepishly. "It sounded like Bing'er."

The little palace maid nodded.

"That's definitely a mistake, it couldn't have been Bing'er," she said.

Miss Jun pursed her lips into a smile and continued walking.

"From what you've said, it seems there indeed was someone named Bing'er?" she inquired.

The little palace maid nodded again, a flash of sadness crossing her face under the glow of the lanterns.

"There was one," she said. "But she passed away from illness the year before last."

Miss Jun's steps faltered, landing on the step in front of her.

Illness... passed away...

The year before last.

Was it after her own death?

Could it have been discovered?

But something wasn't right. If the truth had come out, why had Bing'er's sister only disappeared now? Shouldn't they have been dealt with together?

Miss Jun's thoughts became slightly disordered.

"I am truly sorry," she quickly said, with an air of apology.

The little palace maid shook her head at her.

"It's cold in winter, easy to catch a chill," she said softly. "Some people have a weaker constitution and can't survive it."

Winter.

Indeed, it was after her own death.

Miss Jun gave the little palace maid a smile and ascended the steps, as the palace maids from within took over, pushing open the palace doors. The sounds of children's laughter and the concubines' scolding poured out, creating a lively atmosphere.

Three days later, Miss Jun and Doctor Feng left the imperial palace to be greeted by generous rewards, as well as an eager crowd of nobles who surrounded them right at the palace gates.

"Doctor Feng, you must come to our house first."

"Miss Jun, we've already queued up."

The pampered nobles couldn't contain their eagerness, personally approaching to extend invitations, almost as if they wanted to grab Doctor Feng and drag him away on the spot. But they didn't dare offend him, and although anxious, they were careful not to step out of line.

"There's plenty for everyone, no need to rush," Doctor Feng said. His demeanor was calm; he wasn't intimidated by the crowd, nor was he flattered.

Nothing could scare or surprise him anymore; after all, he had seen the emperor, performed vaccinations on princes and princesses, and stayed in the imperial palace for three days.

"Don't rush, everyone, we have a plan for the vaccinations, and no one will be missed or delayed," Doctor Feng continued.

His composure calmed the somewhat restless crowd, who listened intently to what Doctor Feng had to say.

Perhaps knowing that Miss Jun wouldn't personally administer vaccinations, the crowd paid her no heed.

Miss Jun moved past the throng and saw Zhu Zan standing on Imperial Street.

It wasn't just Zhu Zan; the Zhou Family children were also there.

He seemed to be waiting for someone, and yet it looked as though he was just there by chance because when he caught Miss Jun looking his way, Zhu Zan immediately averted his gaze.

As he turned to hurry the Zhou Family children away, Miss Jun chased after them with a laugh, as always.

"I told you there's nothing to worry about, you need not concern yourself," Miss Jun said with a smile.

Zhu Zan stopped and turned around.

"Drop the formalities," he retorted.

Miss Jun laughed heartily.

"If I lacked even that little bit of ability and dared to enter the imperial palace to perform vaccinations, I would have died eight hundred times over, and there would be no need for anyone else's concern," Zhu Zan remarked.

Miss Jun nodded.

"You're right," she said with a smile, her gaze shifting to the Zhou Family children.

The Zhou Family's children were also stealthily watching her, and as they noticed her glancing their way, they all became somewhat shyly averted their gazes.

"Is their matter taken care of?" Miss Jun asked.

Initially, Zhu Zan had said that if the Zhou Family's children took part in the drug trial and it was a success, he would spare them from the death penalty. Now that the ban at Guanghua Temple was lifted, it was time to resolve this matter.

Zhu Zan acknowledged with a sound.

"I sent them away," he said.

"Back to Zhending?" Miss Jun asked.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Zhu Zan said with a raised eyebrow. "What do you want to do?"

Miss Jun laughed heartily.

"I don't want to do anything. Okay, I know you're going out. See you later," she said with a laugh, waving her hand.

Zhu Zan shook his head as he watched her.

"You really are too self-involved," he said and turned, striding away.

Indeed, for Miss Jun, it was so.

But for Chu Jiuling, it was not.

In Zhu Zan's view, everything that had happened today was due to treating Prince Huai, and he had also promised that if he cured Prince Huai, he would spare her life.

This favor was for Prince Huai, for her entire family.

Miss Jun watched Zhu Zan's retreating figure and did not speak again; the children who had been following Zhu Zan suddenly stopped.

First one then the rest also halted, followed by the lead one, Zhou Jing, turning around.

Zhou Jing bowed deeply to Miss Jun, the other children also bowed deeply, and Zhou Maomao, who had been held in arms, was put down and performed a proper bow.

They bowed deeply, lingering in their salute.

"You really don't need to thank me," Miss Jun shook her head and said. "For me, anyone would have been the same, the choice wasn't mine."

Zhou Jing and the others still did not rise, Zhu Zan turned back and with a large sweep of his arm pulled them up.

"What's with all the fuss, aren't we in a hurry?" he said.

The Zhou Family's children were hurried away by him, clustered together as if they were little chicks.

Doctor Feng also came forward to calm the crowd and joined Miss Jun in the carriage, leaving the Imperial City amidst the crowd's surrounds.

Imperial Physician Jiang once again stood outside the Imperial Hospital. For the past few days, he had been standing here, not waiting for anyone in particular but rather hoping never to see those two people again.

Those two who had entered the imperial palace, it would be best if they never came out again, either carried out by the eunuchs or dragged out by the Imperial Guard.

They had made a slip during the vaccination of the princes and princesses.

Imperial Physician Jiang harshly hoped so in his heart. He was not without attempts to enter the palace to see for himself, but because the vaccination was a matter of great importance, the Empress Dowager was very nervous and did not allow anyone into the palace these past two days.

Anyone.

He, Imperial Physician Jiang, the best Doctor in the world, Head of the Imperial Hospital, the Doctor most trusted by the emperor and Empress Dowager, the one everyone yearns to consult for an illness.

To think that there would come a day when he would be treated like anyone.

No, there had been one other time when Zhang Qingshan came to the capital, honored as a distinguished guest by the emperor, when he, like the other Doctors, was pushed aside.

Fortunately, this Zhang Qingshan was also a braggart, could not cure the prince's illness, and ran away, disappearing from sight ever since.

These people create a commotion as though it were fireworks, causing the public to scream in chase, but just like that, the excitement flickers out and turns into a pile of ashes.

Only he, still stood here and always would.

Imperial Physician Jiang let out the pent-up frustration in his chest with a long exhale, but before he could expel all of it, the clamor of horse hooves came from the street.

The carriage appeared.

Not just one carriage, but another piled high with imperial rewards covered in royal yellow silk.

And following these were a group of magnificently dressed, arrogant individuals with an air of majesty.

These people had never walked behind others before, but now they followed the two slow carriages without a hint of impatience, instead, their faces showed joy.

Heaven really is blind.

Imperial Physician Jiang felt the remaining breath stuck in his throat, turned, and swept back inside.

It was only then that a small official, who had been hiding, approached cautiously, peeping at the carriages and horses now far along the street and then looking back at the grand door of the Imperial Hospital.

The door had once been smashed by the Jinyiwei, of course, it had been repaired by now.

Looking through the door into the courtyard, it seemed peculiarly quiet even in broad daylight.

"Looks like it's going to be even quieter from now on," he murmured to himself.

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Thank you to Yuyu Chen, "The Last Shot?", and the ice from the south for rewarding He's Bi.

Thank you, Dong Venerable, for rewarding the little golden pig.

Thank you, everyone. I am very happy and fortunate to have your company. Have a pleasant weekend.