Prince Bei Jing of the Red Chamber, starting from saving Qin Keqing

Seeing the prince's discomposure, Zhao Zhong's eyes flashed with understanding, but he dared not say a word. He turned and bowed towards the carriage, saying:

"Second Madam Lian, Mr. Jiang Zhushan is waiting in the side hall. I will take you there now."

Although Wang Xifeng's cheeks still had a lingering blush and her fingertips still felt the abrupt touch from earlier, she was, after all, the matriarch of the Rongguo Mansion who had long managed the household affairs and had already developed a calm and composed temperament. Moreover, she was a woman who had given birth to Qiao Jie'er, so her panic subsided in no time.

She raised her hand and gently pressed her burning cheeks with a handkerchief to calm herself down. She then reached out to straighten her crooked hairpin, tucked her stray hair behind her ear, and smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt. Every movement remained dignified and proper, with only a few lingering ripples in the depths of her eyes.

She then stepped out of the car gracefully, landing steadily on the snow, and said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Butler Zhao."

As for the seats, there was indeed a little bit of moisture.

As Wang Xifeng followed Zhao Zhong into the Prince of Beijing's residence, she was secretly taken aback. This was her first visit to the residence since she got married. Her memories of her childhood were already blurred, but upon seeing it today, she realized that the grandeur of the residence was hidden beneath its veil.

Entering the mansion and passing the screen wall, one sees a sense of loneliness and desolation in the vast mansion. Unlike the bustling scenes of ordinary noble residences, there are only a few lone plum trees blooming proudly against the cold wind in the corners of the courtyards, under the eaves and in front of the steps. The pure white petals against the green bricks and gray tiles add to the solitude.

Women were even fewer in the mansion. Occasionally, a few women with slightly graying temples could be seen coming and going. They all had their eyes lowered and their steps were steady. They looked like old acquaintances and must have been servants that the late princess had arranged for Shui Rong when she was alive.

Since Shui Rong inherited the title, he has often been away on business and rarely stayed at the mansion, which allowed these old men to fulfill their duties.

Wang Xifeng's gaze swept around, and her mind became clearer: In this mansion, apart from these few old women, all the servants exuded a chilling aura. Even the janitors who swept the courtyard had upright postures like pine trees, sharp eyes, and walked lightly and silently. They were definitely not ordinary servants, but were clearly disguised secret guards!

She couldn't help but admire him secretly. The Prince of Beijing's mansion was indeed well-established. It looked peaceful and relaxed on the outside, but inside it was heavily guarded and surrounded by secret guards, probably to protect Shui Rong.

To know how much effort and resources it takes to train highly skilled and loyal secret guards, such a feat is beyond the reach of ordinary noble families. No wonder the Jia family now relies on the Prince of Beijing's mansion.

Zhao Zhong led her through corridors and courtyards, and soon they arrived at a side hall.

The interior of the hall was simply furnished, with writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and several packets of medicinal herbs on the table. Jiang Zhushan was sitting upright in front of the table. When he saw the two of them enter, he stood up and bowed slightly.

Wang Xifeng looked up and sized up Jiang Zhushan. She saw that he had a gentle face and clear eyes, with the refined demeanor of a physician. She had not paid attention to his appearance before, and now she had no mind to observe him closely. She simply curtsied and stood quietly to listen to the diagnosis.

Jiang Zhushan gestured for her to sit down, lightly placed his fingertips on her wrist, and carefully took her pulse for a moment. He then observed her complexion, asked a few questions about her daily life, and then withdrew his hand, saying in a calm tone:

"The illness of Second Madam Lian is both easy and difficult to treat. I think the symptoms that the Prince mentioned to me before are exactly yours—years of managing the household finances have been exhausting, with constant social interactions, and your mind has been filled with pent-up emotions. Over time, this has led to liver stagnation, qi deficiency, and blood deficiency. Ordinary herbal medicine may not be enough to cure it completely. It requires a combination of internal and external treatments to be effective."

Wang Xifeng nodded upon hearing this. She had long been aware of the problems in her body, and hurriedly said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir. Please explain the treatment method."

"Second Madam, please be at ease."

Jiang Zhushan responded, took out two sheets of plain paper from the table, dipped a wolf-hair brush in ink, and first wrote down the prescription for internal use, saying as he wrote:

"This is a decoction for internal use. It contains three qian of Angelica sinensis and five qian of Paeonia lactiflora to soothe the liver and nourish the blood, two qian of Bupleurum chinense and three qian of Cyperus rotundus to regulate qi and relieve depression, four qian of Atractylodes macrocephala and four qian of Poria cocos to strengthen the spleen and harmonize the middle jiao, five qian of Astragalus membranaceus to replenish qi and consolidate the original qi, two qian of Ligusticum chuanxiong to invigorate blood and unblock the collaterals, three qian of Albizia julibrissin bark to calm the mind and relieve depression, and one qian of Glycyrrhiza uralensis to harmonize the other herbs."

"Soak the medicine in water for half an hour every morning, then simmer it over low heat until it reduces to one bowl. Drink it warm on an empty stomach. In the evening, boil a small amount of Albizia bark in water to make tea to help you sleep and calm your mind. After half a month, you will feel your chest and diaphragm feel more comfortable."

After speaking, he picked up a pen and wrote on another sheet of paper, continuing: "In addition to the oral medication, external massage therapy is also needed. The root cause of this condition is liver qi stagnation, so it is necessary to massage several acupoints such as Taichong, Qimen, and Tanzhong to unblock the qi flow."

"However, this method is quite different. It requires an adult male to use his own yang energy to massage the acupoints with steady force in order to guide the qi back to its source and achieve twice the result with half the effort. If a woman or a person with a weak constitution massages the acupoints, the strength and yang energy will be insufficient, and it will be like scratching an itch through a boot, with little real effect."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the handkerchief. She thought to herself that this method was quite sophisticated, but she also knew that doctors did not differentiate between men and women when discussing illnesses, so she could only listen quietly to what was to come.

Jiang Zhushan carefully arranged the two prescriptions and handed them to Wang Xifeng, his tone becoming increasingly earnest:

"Speaking of mature men with a strong and virile spirit, His Highness Prince Bei Jing is the most suitable one in the capital."

"His Highness has just come of age, is full of vigor and vitality, and has never been near a woman, still retaining the body of a virgin, with abundant and rich yang energy within him."

"Furthermore, His Highness has studied the art of massage under a famous master, and his acupoints are precise. When he massages Second Madam, it is much safer than when an ordinary person does it, and the medicine's efficacy can be increased by 30%."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's heart skipped a beat, a faint blush instantly rising to her face, and her fingers holding the prescription paused slightly.

She had already felt awkward with Shui Rong in the carriage, and now, hearing that he was to massage her acupoints, she was momentarily at a loss. However, she knew that Jiang Zhushan was speaking purely in a doctor's tone and there was no hint of jest in his words. Moreover, this matter was indeed relevant to her ailment and concerned her health. Therefore, she could only force herself to remain calm and lowered her eyes, saying:

"I have noted your words, sir. However... Your Highness is of noble status, and I am afraid it is inconvenient for you to disturb me."

Jiang Zhushan stroked his beard and smiled, "Second Madam, you are overthinking it. Since His Highness has instructed me to do my best to treat your illness, he must have been thinking of everything. Moreover, this method requires us to avoid being seen. The Prince's Mansion is secluded and much safer than the Rongguo Mansion. Furthermore, when massaging, we only need to dismiss any idlers and press the acupoints properly, without losing face. It is all for the purpose of treating the illness, and there is nothing wrong with it."

Wang Xifeng remained silent for a moment, knowing that Jiang Zhushan's words made perfect sense, and that such a method was indeed necessary to cure her hidden ailment. Furthermore, considering that the Jia family was currently relying on the Prince of Beijing's mansion, this matter might also be Shui Rong's intention. Therefore, she slowly nodded.

"In that case, thank you for your detailed instructions, sir. I will keep the prescription safe and will consider the follow-up matters later."

Wang Xifeng carefully folded the two prescriptions, put them close to her body into a brocade bag, then bowed and thanked Jiang Zhushan. Just as she was about to follow Zhao Zhong out of the hall, she saw a moon-white figure standing under the corridor, which was none other than Shui Rong.

He had regained his composure and regained his earlier haste. His tall and straight figure was bound by a black jade belt, and the plum blossoms outside the corridor reflected his handsome features. However, there was still a trace of pink on the tips of his ears, which showed that his mind was not yet at peace.

Wang Xifeng's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a polite smile and stepped forward to curtsy, saying, "Your Highness."

Shui Rong's gaze swept lightly over her, landing on her tightly clenched handkerchief, and she said calmly, "Has Mr. Jiang finished his diagnosis? I imagine you have explained the symptoms and treatment method in detail."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The doctor has already provided the internal medicine and external treatment methods, which are very detailed."

Wang Xifeng spoke gently, paused slightly, and then added shyly:

"But the master said that the transfer requires a man to use his yang energy to massage acupoints, and he even recommended the prince. I feel that this is too much trouble, and I am thinking of finding another way."

Her words both acknowledged Jiang Zhushan's suggestion and left room for tact, half declining and half inquiring, which suited her thoughtful approach as the matriarch of the household.

Shui Rong's eyes flickered slightly. Recalling the treatment Jiang Zhushan had previously received, she understood his meaning and said slowly:

"Treating your illness is the priority; there's no need to trouble you. Your symptoms are caused by mental strain and accumulated stress. External acupuncture requires both strength and yang energy, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with that. Your residence is secluded, even more so than the Rongguo Mansion, making it easier to avoid attention. Consider this a way for me to repay the Jia family's kindness; there's no need to worry about it."

His tone was frank, and every sentence focused on "treating the illness" and "the secluded location of the mansion," which not only relieved Wang Xifeng's concern about her dignity but also subtly aligned with the relationship between the two families, leaving her with no way to refuse.

Wang Xifeng, being so perceptive, immediately understood and quickly curtsied, saying, "Your Highness's consideration is deeply appreciated. However, this matter must be kept extremely secret. If it gets out, it might tarnish Your Highness's reputation and jeopardize the Jia family's name. May I ask when Your Highness intends to administer the treatment?"

"I instructed Zhao Zhong to arrange this matter. We chose the afternoon of the day after tomorrow, when all the old nannies in the mansion will be working in the side courtyard. The guards will keep watch at the gate, ensuring no outsiders will disturb us."

Shui Rong spoke with certainty, then looked at Zhao Zhong and said, "At that time, you should tidy up the warm pavilion in the west wing, burn some calming incense, and bring the acupoint map marked by Mr. Jiang."

"Your subordinate obeys."

Zhao Zhong bowed in agreement, keeping his eyes down and not saying a word. As a steward who had taken care of the prince since childhood, he naturally knew the prince's intentions.

Wang Xifeng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and thanked him, saying, "Your Highness is very thoughtful. I am preoccupied with the trivial matters at home, so I will not stay any longer today. I will return to my residence to settle in and will come to visit you on time the day after tomorrow."

"Zhao Zhong, escort Second Mistress Lian out of the manor. Protect her carefully along the way, and make sure no one notices anything amiss."

Shui Rong gave the order, and when their eyes met Wang Xifeng's again, they both remembered the awkwardness in the carriage. They paused for a moment, then quickly looked away.

Wang Xifeng's cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to remain calm and said:

"There's no need for Your Highness to send anyone; I'll take the guards from my residence and return on my own."

After saying this, she curtsied and took her leave. As she turned around, she deliberately slowed her pace, straightened her skirt, and concealed the strange ripples in her heart.

Shui Rong stood on the veranda, watching her crimson skirt disappear behind the moon gate, before slowly raising his hand. His fingertips touched the fabric she had just touched, and the restlessness in his heart quietly resurfaced. He coughed lightly, turned, and instructed Zhao Zhong:

"Bring Mr. Jiang's acupoint chart to my study, and also prepare a top-quality muscle-relaxing and blood-activating ointment; we'll need it the day after tomorrow."