When the servants from Princess Shouyang’s Mansion arrived, Feng Qingsui was accompanying Madam Qi for a stroll in the back garden, basking in the sun.
Upon learning their purpose, Madam Qi frowned.
“You’ve just arrived here, unknown and without reputation. How could Princess Shouyang possibly seek you out to treat her son? Nine times out of ten, it’s Changqing’s second uncle up to no good.”
“Don’t be afraid, Mother will refuse on your behalf right away.”
“Mother, wait a moment.”
Feng Qingsui stopped her.
What had she schemed and struggled to enter these noble households for?
Wasn’t it to get close to the powerful and investigate the truth behind her sister’s family’s massacre?
If she weren’t Ji Changfeng’s widow, even if Princess Shouyang invited every doctor in the capital, it would never be the turn of an outsider like her, an orphaned girl.
An opportunity delivered right to her doorstep—even if she knew it was a trap, she had to seize it.
“Mother, since coming to the capital, I’ve only performed emergency treatment for you once. The Princess couldn’t possibly be unaware of that. Even so, she still sent someone to find me, which means her son’s condition has reached the point of desperation where they’ll try any doctor.”
“If I don’t go, and something unfortunate happens later, she’ll surely blame me.”
“If I go, examine him, and say I’m powerless, she can’t really say much. After all, so many imperial physicians and doctors have been unable to help—how could she possibly pin her hopes on me?”
Madam Qi said, “What you say makes sense, but Princess Shouyang is not easy to deal with. Mother is afraid you’ll suffer mistreatment if you go.”
Feng Qingsui coaxed, “We still hold leverage over the Imperial Son-in-Law Ji. If they dare mistreat me, would Imperial Son-in-Law Ji sit idly by and do nothing?”
Seeing she couldn’t dissuade her, Madam Qi had no choice but to say:
“Then take a few more people with you. If things go wrong, come back and inform Mother immediately.”
Feng Qingsui agreed.
She then took Wuhua and the two maids Madam Qi gave her to the Princess’s Mansion.
After entering the mansion, she was led to a hall filled with elderly physicians and told to wait there.
She immediately understood that even though Ji Peiyuan had strongly recommended her to Princess Shouyang, the Princess didn’t take her seriously at all—she was merely there to go through the motions.
The elderly physicians all wore grave expressions, remaining silent. When they saw her, they only glanced sideways briefly, not even bothering with a proper expression.
She chose a seat by the window and began admiring the wintersweet flowers planted in the courtyard.
Her sister loved wintersweet the most.
Every winter, when flower sellers cut blooming wintersweet branches from the suburban mountains and carried them into the city in bundles to sell, her sister would always use the money she saved from embroidering handkerchiefs to buy a bundle. She would arrange them in a vase and place it in the room.
Or she would weave wintersweet blossoms into her hair ribbons or braid them into her hair.
Back then, Feng Qingsui was still a little blind girl, very sensitive to smells. Whenever she caught the scent of wintersweet, she knew her sister was approaching.
With a thump, a round, rolling figure suddenly burst into her view, interrupting her memories.
It was a boy of about five or six, dressed like a little bear.
In his hand, he held a palm-sized string puppet, which he placed on the ground, making it walk back and forth.
Feng Qingsui glanced at the puppet, and her gaze suddenly froze.
After a moment’s pause, she left her seat, walked to the corridor, and crouched down to watch the child play with the puppet.
The boy peeked at her. Seeing her watch so intently, he felt quite proud and made the puppet dance in his hands.
“Where did you get this puppet?” Feng Qingsui asked.
“Someone gave it to me.”
“Who gave it to you?”
The boy’s eyes flickered slightly before he replied, “A patient of my grandfather’s gave it to me.”
Just as Feng Qingsui was about to ask who his grandfather was, she saw a thin, elderly man carrying a medicine chest hurriedly walking through the moon gate.
“What trouble have you caused now?”
The old man began to scold as soon as he opened his mouth.
The child pouted, “I didn’t cause any trouble. I was just chatting with big sister.”
The old man’s expression softened. He patted the child’s head and cast a puzzled glance at Feng Qingsui.
Feng Qingsui stood up and smiled, “Are you Doctor Huang from Bao Zhi Lin?”
A flicker of displeasure crossed the old man’s eyes. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I am Xun Shan, from Ping An Tang.”
“So you are the renowned pediatrician Doctor Xun Shan. I’ve long heard of your name.”
Only then did Xun Shan’s expression improve slightly.
“Just a humble reputation.”
“You’re too modest. Everyone in the capital knows your name…”
After Feng Qingsui offered some compliments, the servant who had earlier invited her to the Princess’s Mansion came over and called out, “It’s your turn now.”
“Alright.”
She bid farewell to Xun Shan and his grandson and followed the servant away.
On the way, the servant briefed her on his young master’s condition:
“About half a year ago, the young master’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He would occasionally stumble while walking. Later, it worsened day by day, with spasms and convulsions all over his body, weakness in his limbs, unable to stand or walk…”
“Imperial physicians and renowned doctors from the capital have all examined him, saying it’s… epilepsy or cerebral palsy.”
Feng Qingsui listened without comment.
Shortly after, she followed the servant into a lavish bedchamber adorned with silk carpets and filled with gold, pearls, and jade artifacts.
The room was heated with ample charcoal, as warm as spring.
A woman in her thirties, dressed in an embroidered golden peony brocade gown and exuding an air of grace and nobility, sat opposite Ji Peiyuan on either side of a luohan bed.
Feng Qingsui performed a curtsy to the woman. “Greetings, Princess.”
Princess Shouyang looked her up and down, puzzled. “Have I seen you somewhere before? Your face looks quite familiar…”
“I am from Wucheng, Fuzhou. This is my first time in the capital, so I likely haven’t had the honor of meeting you before.”
“From Fuzhou? Your Mandarin pronunciation is quite accurate.”
“I specifically studied with a tutor.”
Princess Shouyang had only asked casually. After the pleasantries, she said to Feng Qingsui, “Xuan’er is inside, just fallen asleep. Go and take his pulse, but be careful not to wake him.”
Feng Qingsui acknowledged and followed the servant into the inner chamber.
On the canopy bed inside lay a plump boy of eleven or twelve, his eyes tightly shut, his expression tinged with pain, his arms and neck trembling slightly.
Feng Qingsui tiptoed to the bedside, sat on a low stool, took his pulse, and then left the inner chamber.
After inquiring about Ji Xuan’s diet, daily routine, and medical history, she had a rough idea of what his illness was about. However, she said to Princess Shouyang:
“Young Master Xuan’s illness is unusual. I cannot draw a conclusion for now and need to go back and think it over.”
Ji Peiyuan clenched his fist.
Why wasn’t this Madam Feng following the usual script?
The servant had already told her it was epilepsy or cerebral palsy. Why didn’t she say it?
If she had spoken those words, Shouyang would surely have flown into a rage and ordered her to be dragged away and caned.
But Madam Feng didn’t say it.
He snorted coldly. “Aren’t you supposed to be quite skilled? How come you can’t even tell what illness Xuan’er has? Could it be that you don’t want to treat him?”
Upon hearing this, Princess Shouyang’s gaze sharpened.
Feng Qingsui replied calmly, “Since the Consort holds me in such high regard, how dare I be careless? Young Master Xuan is the Princess’s only child. Naturally, I wouldn’t dare to draw a hasty conclusion.”
Ji Peiyuan, noticing the emphasis on the word “only,” fell silent.
Xuan’er was Shouyang’s only child, but not his.
This woman was clearly threatening him.
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. “Indeed, caution is necessary.”
“It is good that the Consort understands.” Feng Qingsui turned to Princess Shouyang. “I recall seeing a similar case in my mentor’s notes. I will need to return and look it up before reporting back to you.”
Princess Shouyang had not held much hope to begin with, so she nodded upon hearing this. “Very well.”