Jinyi Spring

Chapter 77 Just settle for the next best thing
That day, Shangguan Ruyu came to the Feng residence again, bringing with him four pots of famous chrysanthemums and a box of books he had used in his youth.

Once everyone was out of the room, he said in a low voice, "Lord Xiao can walk again now. Following your instructions, I removed his stitches and applied medicine. After much negotiation, he went home yesterday. If it weren't for Miss Feng, he wouldn't have been able to leave that place alive."

He then produced another silver note, saying, "Our explanation to the outside world and to him is that the person who saved him was an old military doctor who had retired from the army and was hired by the Duke of Ming. This is his way of thanking his savior."

It was a silver note containing six hundred taels of silver.

Feng Chuchen was also happy for that person.

When asked, "Who is he?" he added, "Tell me if you can, otherwise pretend I didn't ask."

Shangguan Ruyu whispered, "He is Minister Xiao of the Ministry of Works. Don't let his current low rank fool you; the Xiao family once held immense power in the court. His sister is the Empress, and his father is the Minister of Revenue and the Marquis of Cheng'en."

"Since Lady Xiao was deposed and became a nun, and Minister Xiao passed away and his title was stripped, he has fallen into poverty. Minister Xiao was reported for embezzling large sums of military funds and for using inferior military rations."

Shangguan Ruyu's face darkened. "It was Lord Wen who reported it. I really don't know how he got involved in such a thing. But behind it is the Xue family, the maternal family of Consort Xue. That family is arrogant and domineering. Don't tell anyone that you saved Lord Xiao."

Feng Chuchen already knew that the man was related to the eldest prince. It turned out that her sister had been the empress, so he was the eldest prince's maternal uncle.

The Xue family and the Xiao family had a feud. It's obvious that after a fierce palace intrigue, Xiao was defeated and forced into nunnery, while Consort Xue and her family were the victors.

She was just an ordinary citizen and had no desire to get involved in palace intrigue.

"I understand, I won't tell anyone."

Shangguan Ruyu stayed until noon, so we had to invite him to lunch.

Feng Buji ate with him in the main room, while Feng Chuchen went to eat in the east wing by himself.

This delighted the maids, who lined up to carry the food into the main room. Even Banxia came over to join in the fun. She didn't dare to be presumptuous, only stealing a quick glance before leaving.

Shangguan Ruyu particularly disliked women looking at him like that, but these were Miss Feng's maids, and he wanted to stay here for a long time, so he had no choice but to let them look at him.

Today there was a golden pork chop, and it was so delicious that Shangguan Ruyu ate most of the plate.

At the end of the Wei hour, Banxia came over and said, "Miss, the He family's daughter-in-law is going to have an episiotomy, and Aunt Wang asks you to go and watch over her."

Aunt Wang had previously performed an episiotomy on a woman who had given birth, and it was done very well.

But she didn't dare to do it herself and needed Feng Chuchen to stand by her side for courage, so that someone could save the day if something went wrong.

Feng Chuchen stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."

Shangguan Ruyu's eyes sparkled. "Miss Feng, may I go and take a look? I don't mean anything by it, I just want to learn medicine. Hehe, I'm best at dressing up as a woman. Back then, when I dabbled in opera, the audience all thought I was a real female opera singer."

Their attitude was exceptionally sincere, and they even made a delicate pinky gesture.

Duan Yan and the guards were terrified and tried to stop him, saying, "Second Master, you mustn't go. If you go, I'll be beaten to death."

This is even more unbearable than cutting a corpse.

Feng Chuchen looked at the crazy good student and disagreed, "No, if you go, I'm afraid my clinic will be shut down."

Shangguan Ruyu had no choice but to give up.

Feng Chuchen returned after a little over fifteen minutes.

"It's over so quickly?"

"With just a small opening, of course it'll be quick."

Shangguan Ruyu praised herself and said, "If my master is amazing, then I am amazing too."

It wasn't until sunset that Shangguan Ruyu finally got up to take her leave at Duan Yan's urging.

After several encounters, Feng Chuchen's impression of Shangguan Ruyu improved even more.

He's nothing like the rumors suggest. He might be a bit of a playboy, and he might have niche interests. But he's simple-minded, doesn't bully the weak, studies diligently in the things he likes, and is very intelligent.

When Shan Yue explained, her eyes were clear, indicating that the two of them wouldn't have had that kind of unsavory relationship...

Feng Buji flipped through the book Shangguan Ruyu had given him, grinning from ear to ear.

"Sister, this book is extremely hard to find; only Mr. Shangguan has a copy. Oh my, it even has annotations... Sister, Brother Shangguan's handwriting was very beautiful when he was a child. I don't think he was an uneducated person at all."

Feng Chuchen picked up the books and glanced at them. They were all books from his early childhood education, and they were very old. There were some words written on them, written very neatly.

It is said that one's handwriting reflects one's personality; he probably wasn't as boisterous as he is now when he was young.

He's a playboy, not a good-for-nothing.

He said, "Young Master Shangguan is very intelligent, and he is also serious and hardworking about things he is interested in. You should learn from him in this respect."

"Well, I need to prepare some questions to ask him."

Shangguan Ruyu returned to the Princess's residence and went directly to Ningxiu Hall, where her mother lived.

Today I'm going to confront my mother and father; I'm going to become a prison doctor.

The food had just been set on the table when Princess Yanghe and Prince Consort Shangguan were both present.

Princess Yanghe smiled as she saw her son return on time.

He beckoned and said, "Come, sit down and eat."

The Imperial Son-in-Law asked with a stern face, "Why haven't you been to the palace for duty for several days?"

The eldest princess stopped him, saying, "My lord, don't be angry. Let's talk about this after we finish eating."

The Imperial Son-in-Law Shangguan disapproved, saying, "Yanghe has spoiled him too much. It's fine if he's not ambitious, but he can't be a bad person."

The eldest princess smiled and placed the dishes that the prince consort, Shangguan, liked into his bowl.

“My son is still young. He’ll be more settled when he’s a few years older. Look at He Changzhi. He was so naughty when he was young. He was beaten by his uncle almost every day. Now he’s a high-ranking official, a key minister, and is favored by the emperor.”

Shangguan Ruyu didn't dare to bring up that matter first, otherwise the meal would be unsettling.

He sat down and ate his meal obediently.

After the meal, Shangguan Ruyu helped the Princess to sit on the daybed, while the Prince Consort Shangguan sat beside her.

He lifted his clothes and knelt down, "Mother, Father, I have been neither good at literature nor martial arts since I was a child, and I have disappointed you."

Princess Yanghe guessed that her son had gotten into trouble again, but she couldn't bear to scold him.

She comforted him, saying, "Your son with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager doesn't need to take the imperial examinations. With the Emperor and Empress Dowager's favor, my influence, and the Emperor's title, as long as you don't cause any major trouble, you'll have a life of wealth and honor. If you have something to say, get up and talk to me."

The Imperial Son-in-Law asked sarcastically, "What good deed have you done this time?"

Shangguan Ruyu pursed her thin lips and said weakly, "I don't want to be a civil official, nor can I be a general. I like surgical procedures, I like seeing patients get better under my care, and I want to... I want to be a prison doctor in the imperial prison."

Knowing they wouldn't agree to him becoming a prison doctor, he deliberately started by saying the least likely option, making things much easier by settling for second best.

Enraged, the Imperial Son-in-Law slammed his fist on the kang table and roared, "You unfilial son, if you dare to become a prison doctor, I'll beat you to death first!"

He looked at his good-for-nothing only son, watching helplessly as people raised him to be like this, yet he was still so angry he felt like vomiting blood...

The words "prison doctor" almost made the princess faint and burst into tears.

Her trembling finger pointed at Shangguan Ruyu as she cursed, "How could I have raised such a rebellious son? You're such a worry! I risked my life to give birth to you, only to have you become a lowly prison doctor? Go ahead, I don't want to live anymore..."

Seeing his strong-willed mother so heartbroken, Shangguan Ruyu felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He crawled a few steps on his knees and hugged his mother's knees.

"Mother, your son is unfilial. What can I do? Your son is obsessed with medicine and dislikes being an official. Since your son cannot assist the emperor in governing the country and bringing peace to the people, he wishes to practice medicine and save lives, and serve the court in this way."

The Imperial Son-in-Law finally understood why his son was putting on this show. He wasn't against his son becoming a royal physician; it was just that the Princess found it hard to accept.

Since our son has made up his mind, let's grant his wish.

The princess gently advised her, "You said it yourself, with the Emperor and Empress Dowager's favor, and with your reputation and my title, your son can live a life of wealth and honor without doing anything."

"Too much leisure can easily lead to trouble. Rather than letting him hang out with Xue Si and Jiang Er every day, it's better to let him do what he likes. If he can't be a good prime minister, then he can be a good doctor. Saving lives and healing the wounded is also a noble cause. Yanghe, let's do as he pleases."

He then said to his son, "But you can only become a royal physician in the Imperial Hospital. If you dare to become a prison doctor, I'll break your legs first."

Things indeed went according to my plan.

Shangguan Ruyu quickly replied, "I will listen to Father and go to the Imperial Hospital to become a royal physician."

First, become an imperial physician, then use that identity to hone your skills in the imperial prison and the Ministry of Justice...

Although the imperial physicians were a thousand times better than the prison doctors, Princess Yanghe was still unwilling to accept it. She was the Emperor's elder sister and the Empress Dowager's own daughter; how could her son be sent to serve others? Her half-sisters would surely laugh at her.

She would rather her son be a wealthy idler, doing nothing.

Now that the prince consort also supports her, she was so angry that she covered her face and wept.

Princess Yanghe is very strong-willed; this is the first time she has lost her composure like this.

Despite the prince consort's coaxing and her son's pleading, she remained unmoved.

The next day, Shangguan Ruyu went to Ningxiu Hall to pay his respects, but was not even allowed to enter the door.

But he knew that once his father relented, his mother would eventually relent as well. And once his mother relented, his maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother would relent as well.

He got what he wanted.

As September arrives, the autumn atmosphere deepens.

After an autumn rain, the puddles on the ground reflected the sunlight, shimmering like scattered gold.

At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), Shangguan Ruyu's carriage arrived again.

He was dressed in the robes of a seventh-rank civil official, and upon seeing Feng Chuchen, he smiled and said, "I've become an imperial physician."

According to custom, those who fail the medical examination can only be considered interns in the Imperial Hospital, without any official rank. However, since he was previously a seventh-rank official and went to the Imperial Hospital with that rank, he became a seventh-rank imperial physician.

Feng Chuchen asked in surprise, "You really became a royal physician?"

Shangguan Ruyu said smugly, "Of course it's true. In a few days, I'll secretly go to the Imperial Prison to work as a prison doctor."

Only low-ranking ulcer doctors with poor medical skills and no connections would be assigned to be prison doctors. When he went, only the person went; the official documents didn't travel there. In other words, his official status remained that of a seventh-rank imperial physician in the Imperial Medical Academy.

"Did your parents agree?"

“The more useless I am, the happier my dad is. When he’s happy, he’ll slowly persuade my mom.”

There is something else behind this.

Feng Chuchen looked at the unlucky fellow and understood why his reputation was so bad.

For members of the imperial family, there are always power struggles that are more important than their future prospects.

This child is not stupid at all.

Feng Chuchen already knew that Princess Yanghe was the only legitimate eldest princess of the dynasty, that is, the emperor's elder sister and Empress Dowager Xue's biological daughter. Shangguan Ruyu was extremely favored by the emperor and Empress Dowager Xue.

There must be a reason why someone of such background would choose to keep a low profile.

Shangguan Ruyu asked some questions, then stayed for lunch, ordering his favorite golden pork chop, and didn't leave until late afternoon.

He had intended to stay there for dinner, but Song Yan advised, "Second Master, Her Highness the Princess is currently very angry. You need to behave well so that Her Highness can calm down sooner."

Once he heard that this made sense, he obediently left.

He also said, "I'll go into the Quanju Restaurant when I pass by and buy a roast duck to honor my mother."

September 10th, at the end of Chen hour (7-9 AM).

A strange old woman came to the Feng residence.

She was slightly plump, adorned with gold and silver, and had an arrogant demeanor.

Mulan, who opened the door, asked, "May I ask who you are looking for, ma'am?"

The old woman said, "I am Granny Li from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. I have something to discuss with Doctor Feng."

Mu Jin quickly invited her into the main room and then went to the clinic to invite Feng Chuchen.

Feng Chuchen was quite puzzled.

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion was Ming Shanyue's home.

She didn't like dealing with this family.

If you need to see her for treatment, you should go to her clinic. Going to her residence is probably a private matter.

He came over and asked, "What does Granny want with me?"

Granny Li gave Feng Chuchen a haughty look.

She had a childish face, was very thin, and was overly beautiful; she didn't look like an experienced doctor at all.

He then said, "My wife is not feeling well, so I would like to invite Miss Feng to come to our residence to take a look."

Feng Chuchen asked instinctively, "What's wrong with Madam Ming?"

The old woman said, "Won't Doctor Feng know after he takes a look?"

Feng Chuchen was speechless.

Why are even the servants so sarcastic?

Is it really true, as the rumors say, that the Duke of Ming is the only normal person in the Ming family?

She dared not say more and, with Banxia carrying the medicine box, boarded the carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

The carriage traveled for more than half an hour to reach the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. The long blue brick courtyard wall had layers of upturned eaves inside.

After passing through the East Corner Gate, we switched to a mule cart and traveled for nearly fifteen minutes before arriving at the Second Gate.

After walking for another quarter of an hour, they arrived at the main courtyard where Madam Ming, née Shangguan, lived.

The main courtyard has three courtyards, with the main courtyard in the second courtyard.

The courtyard is large, and even in autumn it is still full of flowers, with various famous chrysanthemums and orchids vying for attention. A dozen or so birdcages hang under the eaves, and the birds inside chirp and sing beautiful songs.

Several pretty young girls were there; some guarded the gate, some fed the birds, and some tended the flowers and plants.

It's refreshing.

The gatekeeper lifted the crimson curtain. "Madam, Granny Li has returned."

The group entered the main hall and went around the nine-panel screen to the east side room.

A beautiful woman in gorgeous clothes is reclining on a daybed.

Granny Li curtsied and said, "Madam, Doctor Feng has arrived."

Feng Chuchen lowered her eyes and curtsied, saying, "This humble woman greets Madam Ming."

Madam Ming remained seated, smiling, and said, "Dr. Feng, please sit down."

Her voice was soft, and her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Feng Chuchen followed the maid's instructions and sat down to the right of Madam Ming.

"My mistress often suffers from back pain," said Granny Li.

Madam Ming remained silent, resting her left wrist on the armrest.

Except for Granny Li and a head maid, everyone else withdrew, including Banxia.

Before leaving, Banxia placed the medicine box she was carrying on the small table next to Feng Chuchen.

Feng Chuchen extended two fingers and gently placed them on Madam Ming's wrist.

Madam Ming was startled and withdrew her hand, saying, "Your hands are so cold, are you sick?"

His voice betrayed his displeasure.

Feng Chuchen smiled and said, "Reporting to Madam, since I started using the Yin Shen Needle, my body temperature has been cooler than that of ordinary people. I have no abnormalities and am not sick."

Upon hearing this, Madam Ming placed her hand back on the armrest.

The room was silent, except for the chirping of birds outside that came in through the small window.

After examining the left wrist, Feng Chuchen sat down opposite to examine the right wrist.

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