Jiang Yunxu entered the palace with a heavy heart, the atmosphere within oppressive. After winding through countless corridors, her legs nearly sore, she finally arrived at the legendary Fengqi Gong.
A faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, calming and soothing.
Footsteps approached, and a gentle voice from a palace maid said, “Third Princess Consort, Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence.”
Passing another screen, Jiang Yunxu finally caught sight of a phoenix robe and knelt in reverence.
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Empress Mu gestured, “Third Princess Consort, there is no need for such formality. Rise.”
The events at Yi’an Bo Fu had already reached Empress Mu’s ears, and she felt a newfound appreciation for Jiang Yunxu before her. Yet, upon seeing the scars on her face, a touch of pity stirred within.
“We have heard you possess considerable medical skill. From whom did you learn it?”
Medical skill?
Summoned specifically to the palace and questioned about her medical abilities, Jiang Yunxu boldly speculated that perhaps Empress Mu had someone important who was ill.
“Yes! Your servant is indeed skilled in medicine, particularly in the area of Gu. I learned from my mother, who was a true master. Unfortunately, she has gone mad.”
Empress Mu had heard a little about the mad mother.
“If Third Princess Consort is skilled in medicine, why have you not treated the scars on your face?” Empress Mu’s sharp eyes fixed intently upon her.
Years of accumulated Fengwei would have terrified most, but Jiang Yunxu quickly analyzed the situation.
“Do not tell Us the adage that a physician cannot heal oneself. Third Princess Consort, look up.”
Empress Mu commanded.
Jiang Yunxu raised her head to meet the Empress’s gaze. Her keen nose detected a faint medicinal scent emanating from Empress Mu.
Suddenly, she made a bold decision and calmly stated, “Your Majesty, I require a basin of clean water.”
Empress Mu was puzzled but signaled to a palace maid, who soon brought a basin of clean water.
Jiang Yunxu took out a small porcelain vial from her sleeve and poured its contents into the water. Bending over, she cupped the water in her hands and washed her face.
Moments later, she lifted her head again, revealing a flawless, fair complexion—a face of breathtaking beauty without a single blemish.
Empress Mu frowned, surprised and confused. “Why conceal such a face?”
“To survive,” Jiang Yunxu knelt, her tone sorrowful. “In the second branch of Zaixiangfu, some died, others went mad. Were it not for the late Emperor’s arranged marriage, I would have perished long ago.”
Empress Mu fell silent. She had also heard of the affairs of the second branch of Zaixiangfu. The outside world called it an accident, but how many accidents truly exist in this world?
Prime Minister Jiang was ruthless, having climbed to his current position by stepping on the shoulders of the second branch. As fate would have it, Prime Minister Jiang’s legitimate daughter, Jiang Yan’er, also favored Chu Youqi. Yet, what could be done? Jiang Yunxu was bestowed by the late Emperor; this marriage had to proceed.
But how could Prime Minister Jiang tolerate his daughter becoming a concubine?
The best solution was to eliminate Jiang Yunxu on the wedding night.
Seeing Empress Mu moved, Jiang Yunxu directly lifted her sleeves and exposed her chest area. The horrifying, bloodied wounds from the beatings had not yet scabbed over, and the scars crisscrossing her chest were a shocking sight.
Empress Mu could not help but gasp at the sight.
“On the wedding night, I was beaten half to death, my Xinjianxue carved out. Having returned from the brink of death, since some things cannot be avoided, it is better to face them head-on and resist. Perhaps then, there might still be a sliver of hope.”
These words deeply shook Empress Mu, leaving her stunned for a long time. Afterward, her expression toward Jiang Yunxu softened considerably. She beckoned to her and pointed to the spot beside her. “You are also a pitiable soul, though your temperament is too reckless.”
Jiang Yunxu lowered her gaze, feigning a look of shame.
“Since your medical skills are exceptional, could you examine someone for me?” Empress Mu lifted the curtain, revealing a person lying on the bed—a four- or five-year-old boy, lying there with barely any breath, his complexion an unnatural pallor.
It was clear at a glance that he was unwell.
“I will do my best to try,” she said, reaching out to feel the little boy’s pulse and examining various parts of his body. She came to a conclusion: myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery stenosis, a congenital heart condition requiring coronary artery bypass surgery.
The surgery was somewhat complex.
“What is it?”
Seeing her troubled expression, Empress Mu shook her head in disappointment. “This child has faced misfortune since birth. He… he should never have been born into this world to suffer.”
“Your Majesty, there are many extraordinary people in the world. The little imperial grandson will surely be safe and sound,” a palace maid comforted.
The little imperial grandson?
That must be the Crown Prince’s son, the Empress’s own grandson. She knew a little about the Crown Prince, who had died of illness years ago, leaving behind this son.
Goodness, this was a golden treasure.
Jiang Yunxu said, “I can try my best, but I would like to make a request.”
Empress Mu frowned at her. “Countless imperial physicians have failed to cure him. What ability could you possibly have? If you can heal the little imperial grandson, I will grant you not just one request, but ten!”
“However, if you fail to save the little imperial grandson, I will not spare you!”
Jiang Yunxu gritted her teeth. The surgery, combined with the Kongjian Yiqi, was challenging but not impossible.
So she said, “I need a suitable environment. I will return to the palace in one day to treat the little imperial grandson.”
Hearing this, Empress Mu’s nearly despairing heart reignited with hope. Excitedly, she said, “Good! I will summon you to the palace tomorrow!”
The biggest challenge now facing her was a sterile operating room to prevent infection during the surgery. She wanted to create a simple sterile operating room and sketched a design on paper, which required strict temperature control.
Faced with Jiang Yunxu’s series of strange requests, the palace maids had no choice but to comply.
By the time everything was arranged, it was already dark. Jiang Yunxu needed to leave the palace to prepare, but Empress Mu, uneasy, directly sent her personal attendant to accompany her.
It wasn’t that Empress Mu trusted Jiang Yunxu, but she had no other choice. The imperial physicians had all said that the little imperial grandson’s time was running out.
Empress Mu thought, what if Jiang Yunxu truly had the ability to heal him?
…
The carriage stopped at Sanwangfu.
Jiang Yunxu jumped down from the carriage. After a day of exhausting work, she was already worn out. As soon as she entered, the housekeeper struck her from behind with a stick.
Caught off guard, Jiang Yunxu fell to the ground.
“Sister, you are truly foolish. How could you fabricate lies to frame Auntie? Fortunately, Jingzhao Yin saw through your scheme. You nearly brought disaster upon the Wangfu.”
The speaker was Jiang Yan’er, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Your Highness, my sister has been erratic since childhood, just like her mad mother. Yesterday, she even had those two wild maids secretly cut off Nanny Lin’s wrist and sent it to Mother. If I hadn’t explained later, Father would have suspected that Your Highness harbored ill will toward Zaixiangfu.”
After investigating, Jiang Yan’er targeted Hong Qiao and Hong Fei, and had them captured that afternoon. Despite severe torture, neither of them said anything.
Yet there was no doubt this was Jiang Yunxu’s doing.
Chu Youqi stomped on Jiang Yunxu’s back, snarling, “Marrying you was the worst luck of my life…”
“Is that so, San Wangye?”
Empress Mu’s personal maid-in-waiting stood on the steps, watching the scene with a livid expression as she approached.
Only then did Chu Youqi notice the newcomer, stepping back. How had he missed someone arriving?
The maid-in-waiting bent to help Jiang Yunxu up. “Third Princess Consort, you have suffered. This servant will report everything truthfully to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Hearing this, both Jiang Yan’er and Chu Youqi paled.
“No need. This isn’t the first time,” Jiang Yunxu coughed weakly, waving a hand as if it mattered little. “It’s getting late. Thank you for escorting me out of the palace, Auntie.”
The maid-in-waiting said, “Third Princess Consort, this servant will come to fetch you into the palace tomorrow morning.”
“Very well, I appreciate it.”
Before leaving, the maid-in-waiting glanced back meaningfully at the two, then departed from the Wangfu.
Once she was gone, Jiang Yunxu fixed a deathly stare on Chu Youqi. “I remember warning you not to touch my people. I want to see them within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.”
“Jiang Yunxu, have you been spreading lies to Her Majesty the Empress again?” Jiang Yan’er stepped forward to confront her, but Jiang Yunxu publicly slapped her hard across the face, breaking Jiang Yan’er’s skin.
“Ah!”
“Yan’er.” Chu Youqi rushed to support Jiang Yan’er while signaling to the steward with his eyes.
Soon, Hong Qiao and Hong Fei appeared, carrying Tuan Ge’er, both limping and covered in wounds.
“Master, we protected the young master well. He is unharmed,” Hong Qiao said.
Jiang Yunxu took a deep breath, nodded, and without a word, her face taut, she led everyone back to her courtyard.