Chapter 5

The next day at dawn, Pei Muheng entered the palace early, and Xu Yunqi stretched lazily amidst the frost. She had traveled the world with her grandfather for many years, moving swiftly and efficiently. Apart from a simple bundle, she carried a medical box, with no excess belongings. Now that she was married, her dowry filled an entire room. In the morning, Xu Yunqi instructed Yin Xing to tidy up the flower room while she led Nanny Chen to the storeroom.

Over the past two days, she had thoroughly explored the surroundings of Qinghui Garden. Qinghui Garden was located on the southwest side of the prince’s mansion, with five courtyards guarding it. From the main gate, a diagonal corridor led south to Pei Mucheng’s study, while the backyard was to the north. On the left, near the main axis of the mansion, there was a magnificent hall called Mingyu Hall used for receiving guests. To the right was a waterside pavilion, where the owner could leisurely enjoy the moonlight.

The storeroom of the third residence was embedded between the study and the waterside pavilion. It was a quadrangle courtyard with low houses on both sides, filled with Pei Mucheng’s belongings, while Xu Yunqi’s dowry boxes were still placed under the verandas.

Although the Princess Consort of Xi didn’t like Xu Yunqi, upon hearing that she had no one to serve her, she still assigned some staff: two coarse servant girls with ordinary looks and proper conduct and two old women to clean the courtyard. Xu Yunqi instructed these four to place the gold and jade treasures given as dowry by the Xu family into the storeroom while the remaining four large boxes were carried back to the backyard.

These boxes contained Xu Yunqi’s true “dowry.”

Xu Yunqi was skilled in medical arts and acupuncture. After her grandfather’s eyesight deteriorated with age, he passed on his life’s knowledge to her. Whenever he conducted consultations, it was Xu Yunqi who administered the treatments.

Once the boxes were delivered, Xu Yunqi dismissed the servants.

Qinghui Garden featured a large three-part main hall, with three main rooms on each side and adjoining side rooms. The side rooms were used as clean rooms, while the rooms at the ends were for storing clothes and personal items, commonly known as small storerooms. Xu Yunqi had no personal items to store, so she had the mahogany cabinet inlaid with ivory moved to the storeroom, leaving behind a yellow rosewood display shelf. She personally took out the medicine boxes from the four dowry boxes, organized them on the shelf, and then moved a small long table from the east side room. Within a day, she managed to set up a small pharmacy following the arrangement of their old house in Jingzhou.

Xu Yunqi, firstly, enjoyed quiet, and secondly, did not like being ordered around by nannies. That was why she initially refused the servant Madam Zhang offered her, and the same applied when she arrived at the prince’s mansion. Knowing her temperament, Yin Xing stood in the hallway, scolding the servant girls and nannies. “Stay in the back room or under the verandas, mind your own business and duties, and without the young madam’s instructions, no one is allowed to enter this main house.”

Hearing Yin Xing’s proud tone from outside the window, Xu Yunqi stood at the side room door, looking at the neatly arranged medical books and cases on the desk, smelling the familiar scent of herbs, and showing a pleased smile. She could say she had “settled down.”

Pei Mucheng left for five full days. For five whole days, Princess Consort Xi excused the younger generation from their morning and evening greetings, citing a headache. Madam Xie and Madam Li dared not act presumptuously and went to Jinhe Hall daily to pay their respects. Xu Yunqi knew this was an excuse for Princess Consort Xi not to see her, so she did not go to be disliked.

But on the sixth day, the eighth of the winter month, Xu Yunqi went to Jinhe Hall early in the morning with Yin Xing. The nannies were somewhat surprised to see her but did not dare to stop her and politely led her to the west side room. “Please wait a moment, Young Madam. Princess Consort has a headache and has not yet risen.”

Xu Yunqi glanced at the sun and felt a bit anxious. She needed to go out today. “Nanny, could you please help me report that I want to go out and hope the Princess Consort will permit it?”

So that was it.

Nanny Hao looked at the beautiful and serene Xu Yunqi, showing a sympathetic expression.

Nanny Hao was one of the four chief nannies of the Princess Consort and was in charge of her daily life. She had fair skin and slender eyebrows and was known for her good temper. Seeing a young girl marry into the prince’s mansion alone and not being well-treated inevitably aroused sympathy.

Nanny Hao said gently, “Please wait a moment, young lady. I will immediately ask the Princess Consort for you.”

Xu Yunqi thanked her.

In no time, Nanny Hao returned with a full smile, saying that the Princess Consort invited her over. Xu Yunqi then followed her into the east side room.

Princess Consort Xi, covered with a headscarf, was sitting on the Luohan bed with the help of someone. Her eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and she leaned against the pillow with an unhappy expression.

By her side, the first young madam, Madam Xie, was wetting a towel, intending to help her wash her face, while the second young lady, Madam Li, held a bowl of porridge, waiting for Princess Consort Xi to enjoy.

No one paid attention when Xu Yunqi came in; only Madam Li quietly smiled at her.

Xu Yunqi nodded, her eyes involuntarily drawn to the bowl of medicinal porridge in Madam Li’s hands. Xu Yunqi had been practicing medicine for many years and was particularly sensitive to the smell of herbs. She could detect that the porridge contained ingredients like Ligusticum wallichii, red peony root, and Gastrodia elata. It seemed that Princess Consort Xi indeed had a headache.

Everyone orderly assisted Princess Consort Xi in washing her face and rinsing her mouth while Xu Yunqi silently stood beside Madam Li.

When the maid removed the headscarf from Princess Consort Xi, Xu Yunqi took a quiet glance at her face.

Near the Yangbai acupoint on the left side of her head, there were hints of bluishness. The kidney meridian was protruding, and the blood flow was obstructed. Her face was overly pale and lacked redness, a sign of years of luxury and inactivity. Such an illness couldn’t be cured by merely drinking some Ligusticum wallichii blood circulation soup.

Xu Yunqi pondered in silence.

After a while, when the attendants finished serving, Princess Consort Xi drank a bowl of medicinal soup and appeared slightly better. Holding onto the nanny’s arm, she looked at Xu Yunqi with impatience. “What do you want from me?”

Only then did everyone turn their attention to her.

Xu Yunqi stepped forward without raising her head and bowed. “Mother, your daughter-in-law wishes to go out.”

Princess Consort Xi scoffed lightly. This was a rare occurrence. Although she had excused the younger generation from morning and evening greetings, the first and second daughters-in-law dutifully came to pay their respects every day. Xu Yunqi, however, seemed like an inflexible block of wood, lacking any sense of tact, which the Princess Consort found displeasing.

People are like this: they disdain someone, yet at the same time, they wish for the other person to come and please them.

Princess Consort Xi, feeling unwell and unwilling to argue with Xu Yunqi, weakly waved her hand, “Go ahead.”

Xu Yunqi silently exited.

Before long, the Princess Consort dismissed the other daughters-in-law, leaving only her personal nanny to attend to her. At this moment, she no longer concealed her pain and cried in the nanny’s arms. “I’ve taken several doses of Doctor Fan’s medicine. Initially, it was effective, but now it has little effect, and the pain is unbearable.”

The old nanny hugged her with concern and worry, “My lady, please heed my advice and take it easy. Doctor Fan mentioned that headaches are a chronic condition, deeply related to your lifestyle and mood. Ever since the third young master got engaged, you haven’t relaxed. Now that it’s a done deal, why are you still so troubled?”

“The third young master is outstanding and doesn’t need any help from his wife’s family to achieve great success. Who can say that this Xu family girl isn’t a good match? If she is meant for the third young master, heaven will not mistreat him. Just wait and see.”

Princess Consort Xi was finally comforted by these words, and she wiped away her tears, letting out a long sigh.

“Fine. She’s been quiet these past few days and doesn’t seem to be causing trouble. As long as she doesn’t cling to Muheng, this household can accommodate her.”

Seeing her relieved, the old nanny smiled with satisfaction, “That’s right. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Don’t worry about the third young master’s marriage. The most important thing now is to take care of your health. In my opinion, why not consult another doctor?”

Princess Consort showed a weary expression, “I’ve had this illness for over ten years. Which doctor at the imperial hospital hasn’t seen me? It’s always the same prescriptions, and they no longer help.”

The old nanny suddenly sighed with regret.

Princess Consort Xi rubbed her forehead and asked, “What’s the matter?”

The old nanny smiled bitterly, “Princess Consort, you may not know, but over thirty years ago, there was a doctor named Liu in the imperial hospital. He was a master of acupuncture. Since his passing, no one has inherited his skills. If he were still alive, your illness would be easily cured.”

Princess Consort showed no reaction to this. Many people in this world seek fame and recognition; a person alive may not necessarily be capable, but once they die, they are often praised to no end.

Princess Consort drank a few more sips of ginseng soup and then fell asleep.

By then, Xu Yunqi had already gone out. When the carriage reached the bustling market, Xu Yunqi sent the accompanying maids and coachman to a tea house while she and Yin Xing entered a clothing shop. The shopkeeper, a familiar face, seemed to anticipate her arrival. As she welcomed Xu Yunqi inside, she glanced at the prince’s mansion’s attendants.

“Go ahead, young lady. I’ll handle everything here.”

Xu Yunqi thanked her and went into a private room at the back. She changed out of her bright silk attire and into a plain white dress, removing the gold and jade hairpins from her hair and using a simple white jade hairpin instead. Looking fresh and neat, she exited the shop through a side alley and entered the adjoining pharmacy through a side door.

A young attendant was already waiting at the door. Seeing her, he quickly approached with a smile, “Madam, you have arrived. The patient has been waiting for half an hour.”

Xu Yunqi nodded lightly and went upstairs. Upon opening the private room, she saw a woman in her thirties waiting inside. When the woman saw her, she beamed with joy and gratitude.

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you, Miss Xu. The prescription you gave me last time worked very quickly. I’m much better now, and I couldn’t wait for today’s appointment.”

After a few pleasantries, Xu Yunqi sat down and checked her pulse. A few moments later, she smiled and said,

“You are much better, and your tongue coating has lightened. Continue taking the Cangfu Dao Tan pills and add Yimu pills, one in the morning and one in the evening. Come back for a follow-up in a month. Avoid catching a cold and worrying too much.”

The woman asked numerous questions about her daily diet, and Xu Yunqi patiently answered them all.

After finally sending her off, Xu Yunqi sipped tea to moisten her mouth. At this moment, the door was pushed open from behind, and a tall man in a wide robe with a long black beard slowly walked in. “Why are you here? I already sent word to you to give up; the person is probably dead; stop looking.”

Xu Yunqi slowly stood up from the desk and turned to face him, the smile on her lips disappearing completely.

Two years ago, her grandfather had gone to the western region to gather herbs and never returned. After waiting a long time without receiving any word from her grandfather, Xu Yunqi arranged for people from the security bureau to go to the western region to search for him. Two months later, she received news that her grandfather had fallen off a cliff and died, and her world collapsed. She and her grandfather depended on each other for more than ten years, almost inseparable day and night. After her grandfather left, she felt like a kite with a broken string, lost and unsure where to go. With the belief that she must find him alive or see his body if he’s dead, Xu Yunqi set out alone with her luggage to the western region to search for her grandfather.

After half a year of traversing mountains and rivers, she found nothing. Her mother, Madam Zhang, urged her to accept the reality and repeatedly sent people to bring her back to the capital. At that time, Xu Yunqi was heartbroken and felt like a puppet, allowing her mother’s people to take her back to the capital. Perhaps it was fate or divine intervention, but she unexpectedly found a signal left by her grandfather in the capital’s outskirts.

It was the distress signal that she and her grandfather had agreed upon.

Xu Yunqi was moved to tears. After returning to the capital, she tried various means to contact her grandfather’s old disciples and friends, searching everywhere. Unfortunately, after a year, there was no news.

Xu Yunqi stood still for a moment and gradually revealed a look of realization. “Shopkeeper Hu, I haven’t been able to sleep these past few days. I’ve been thinking that maybe we’ve been looking in the wrong direction.”

Shopkeeper Hu was slightly surprised, “What do you mean?”

Xu Yunqi’s eyes shone brightly, “Leaving a signal in the capital’s outskirts doesn’t necessarily mean he entered the capital. He might have been taken to nearby towns by the culprits.”

Shopkeeper Hu clicked his tongue in surprise and then pondered, “To the east of the capital is Tongzhou, and to the west is Yanzhou. Did the signal left by Master have any direction?”

Xu Yunqi shook her head, “No, but you can send people to inquire in Tongzhou or Yanzhou.”

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Hu hesitated and looked at Xu Yunqi, then showed a troubled expression, “Junior sister, it’s not that I am unwilling, but it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, a futile effort.”

Shopkeeper Hu had a brief mentor-student relationship with Old Master Zhang. Out of respect for this relationship, he had helped Xu Yunqi a lot in the past year, spending money and effort to help her gather information in the capital. However, going to Tongzhou or Yanzhou was beyond Shopkeeper Hu’s capabilities.

Xu Yunqi naturally understood his concerns. She took a step forward and said firmly, “I’ll help you with consultations for another year without taking any share of the earnings.”

Shopkeeper Hu choked up, feeling a sense of pity for his junior sister, and remained silent.

Over the past year, Xu Yunqi had helped his medical clinic gain a lot of reputation, allowing him to gradually establish a presence in the southern part of the city and showcasing her abilities. However, it still wasn’t enough.

Seeing that he remained silent, Xu Yunqi guessed his thoughts and, after some hesitation, made a major decision. “One year. I’ll help you for a year as long as you help me find my grandfather. I’ll give you the acupuncture notes my grandfather left behind.”

Shopkeeper Hu’s eyes flashed with joy, but he quickly concealed it and sighed, “Ah, junior sister, how can I refuse now? Fine, I’ll help you one more time. I’ll send people to Tongzhou tomorrow…”

Xu Yunqi didn’t linger and returned to the clothing shop, bought a winter jacket as a cover, and then went back to the mansion. When she arrived at Qinghui Garden, Yin Xing asked her while serving her meal, “Miss, are you really going to give the acupuncture notes to Shopkeeper Hu? I don’t think he has good intentions.”

Xu Yunqi appeared calm, “Everyone seeks profit in this world. How can I ask him to do something without offering a reward? My grandfather wouldn’t want his skills to die with him.”

Two days later, on the day of a patient’s follow-up appointment, Xu Yunqi asked to see the Princess Consort again under the pretense of returning to her maiden home. This time, the Princess Consort didn’t see her but complained to the old nanny, “Look, she could only stay quiet for a few days. Her true nature is showing. Does she think our mansion is a marketplace, coming and going as she pleases?”

The old nanny, seeing Princess Consort getting angry, tried to console her, “When you first married into this family, didn’t you also want to return to your maiden home every day? The third young madam is young; it’s natural for her to want to see her mother.”

Although Princess Consort didn’t like Xu Yunqi, she couldn’t be too harsh and prevent her from going out. Taking a deep breath, she instructed the maid, “Tell her that she must report to her eldest sister-in-law before going out in the future and not to bother me.”

Xu Yunqi then went to the discussion hall to find her eldest sister-in-law, Madam Xie and stated her intention to visit her maiden home. Madam Xie had no reason to make things difficult for her and granted her permission.

Another half-month passed, and it had been almost a month since her marriage to Pei Muheng.

Since the day Pei Muheng left, Xu Yunqi hadn’t seen him again.

Recently, the state was frequently troubled by invasions, and the court was at a loss regarding military provisions. The emperor blamed the Ministry of Revenue, and the Minister of Revenue naturally shifted the blame to the granary in Tongzhou. Pei Muheng served the emperor daily, assisting with state affairs and documents, staying so busy that he had forgotten about his newlywed wife at home.

Xu Yunqi, on the other hand, left early and returned late every few days, gradually adapting to life in the prince’s mansion and nearly forgetting she had a husband. She was living quite well in the mansion. The food was excellent, with a variety of delicious dishes delivered on time every day. Xu Yunqi was not picky and enjoyed whatever she ate. Moreover, two days ago, the needlework room in the mansion measured her for clothes and made her a few winter outfits. Compared to her past days of roughing it, it felt like she had entered a wealthy nest.

Additionally, she didn’t have to serve her mother-in-law. The only headache was the inconvenience of going out. Every time she needed to leave the mansion, she had to report to Madam Xie.

Today, she wanted to visit her mother’s home; tomorrow, she wanted to go to the market. She was running out of excuses.

One afternoon at the end of winter, Xu Yunqi received an urgent letter from the gate. A five-month pregnant woman at the Chengyang Medical Clinic was experiencing severe abdominal pain and bleeding, and specifically requested Miss Xu from the clinic. Upon receiving the letter, Xu Yunqi was filled with urgency and quickly instructed Yin Xing, “No matter what excuse you use, inform my eldest sister-in-law. I’ll leave the mansion first.”

Xu Yunqi picked up her cloak and hurried to the gate.

Delicate snowflakes were flying that day, and the road was covered with icy debris. The entrance to Prince Xi’s Mansion was laid with a thick red carpet, and the steward was directing servants to clear the snow in the courtyard to prevent the master from slipping.

Xu Yunqi, dressed in a plain dress and wrapped in a thick cloak, stepped over the threshold. Snowflakes drifted in the wind, stinging her thin eyelids. She turned her face away from the wind, and when she looked up again, she saw a carriage suddenly stopping in front of the gate, and a tall, slender figure lifted the curtain and stepped out.

Their eyes met.

The couple was stunned.

It had been so long since Pei Muheng last saw Xu Yunqi that he didn’t recognize her pale face at first.

Xu Yunqi, on the other hand, immediately recognized her husband and found herself in a dilemma.

Of all times, he chose now to come back, blocking her path.

Xu Yunqi racked her brain for an excuse to convince Pei Muheng to let her go out.

Pei Muheng quickly regained his composure and began to examine his petite wife. She looked frail and delicate, her small face nestled in the fluffy white rabbit fur, making her appear pitiful and timid.

Pei Muheng noticed that she was about to go out. At this hour, if she wasn’t staying at home and wanted to go out instead, it must be something urgent.

Pei Muheng strode up the steps. The fine snow fell on his shoulders like frost, complementing his handsome face shrouded in mist as if he had stepped out of a painting.

Xu Yunqi looked at her imposing husband and suppressed her worry, giving him a cheerful curtsy. “You’re back, Third Master.”

It had been a long time since he had heard her voice, soft like a feather brushing his ear, causing some discomfort. Pei Muheng involuntarily lowered his voice and asked gently, “Are you going out?”

Xu Yunqi was about to reply when Yin Xing rushed out from inside the threshold, shouting, “Young madam, I have informed the eldest young madam, and she has given us permission to go out…”

Xu Yunqi turned and quickly signaled to the noisy maid. Only then did Yin Xing notice that Pei Muheng had returned. She quickly stopped and hid behind Xu Yunqi.

Xu Yunqi rubbed her forehead and looked at Pei Muheng, seeing that her husband’s face had suddenly turned gloomy. She feared he might get angry and hurriedly explained, “Third Master, please don’t be upset. There are reasons for this. The maid has a hasty temperament…”

Pei Muheng didn’t care about what Xu Yunqi was saying. His mind kept replaying Yin Xing’s words.

Xu Yunqi needed permission from her eldest sister-in-law, Madam Xie, to go out? Who was Madam Xie to dictate Xu Yunqi’s actions?

Although it was true that he was not familiar with his wife and had almost forgotten what she looked like, he would not allow her to live under someone else’s control.

Suppressing his anger, Pei Muheng asked Xu Yunqi, “Why do you need to ask Madam Xie for permission to go out?”

Xu Yunqi was taken aback, realizing that Pei Muheng was focusing on the wrong issue, “Mother is ill and excused me from my morning and evening greetings. She said if I need to go out, I should ask my eldest sister-in-law…”

There was no need to hide such matters, and it couldn’t be hidden anyway. Xu Yunqi was unsure of Pei Muheng’s thoughts, so she could only tell the truth.

Pei Muheng, being the person he was, discerned the situation from these few words and let out a laugh. How could he not know his mother’s temperament?

He pointed to his own carriage, “Take my carriage. I’ll handle the matters at home.”

Xu Yunqi found Pei Muheng’s expression somewhat strange and couldn’t understand it. However, she had no time to dwell on it. Remembering the pregnant woman in critical condition at the clinic, she hurried down the steps and onto the carriage without saying another word.

Pei Muheng watched her leave until she was out of sight, his eyes losing their warmth. Then, he turned towards Jinhe Hall.