Chapter 236: Chapter 232: Changsheng Hall_1

Translator: 549690339

Chunniang was startled and turned to her daughter, “Baobao, something isn’t right with them.”

She found it strange when she’d seen so many servants carrying gifts.

They were here to treat a patient, not for a marriage proposal. They hadn’t even seen the patient yet, and they were already dressing up her daughter.

Yingbao was also confused.

She had never encountered such a situation in her past life, and the plot of the book did not include such a thing either.

“Should we go and ask Grandpa Li?”

No matter how crazy the Xiao Family was, they couldn’t possibly deceive an old doctor like Doctor Li.

Upon hearing this, Chunniang quickly led her daughter out of the room.

Just as they stepped out of the room, they saw Xiao Mo approaching.

Startled, Chunniang acted quickly to shield her daughter, casting a guarded look at the young man in the brocade robe.

Xiao Mo bowed slightly towards her and said, “Sister-in-law Jiang, I’d like to take Yingbao with me to examine a noble patient. Could you prepare her for this? We’ll be leaving soon.”

Chunniang frowned, glanced towards the adjacent room, and asked, “Mr. Xiao, what’s going on in the room next door?”

Xiao Mo was momentarily taken aback, then laughed, “My grandfather wants her to meet an extremely noble person, so he sent some clothes and jewelry, with no other intentions.”

Despite her doubts, Chunniang couldn’t find a proper reason to refuse and reluctantly started to help her daughter to pack for their outing.

In truth, Yingbao didn’t need much preparation. She was wearing an ivory-colored dress that her mother had made, paired with a green skirt. Her hair was tied into two small buns, giving her a clean and refreshing appearance.

Just that her medicine box was quite heavy and needed someone else to carry it.

Chunniang wanted to carry the medicine box for her daughter and accompany her on the visit. However, Xiao Mo stopped her.

“Sister-in-law Jiang, the residence of the noble person is not a place where ordinary people can easily enter. Let me carry the medicine box. Please wait here,”

Saying this, he took the medicine box, and left with Yingbao.

Helpless, Chunniang could only watch as her daughter left with Mr. Xiao while both she and Chen Zhao were unable to leave the courtyard.

For this outing, Yingbao and Doctor Li shared a carriage.

Doctor Li’s second grandson, Li Qing, was not allowed to accompany them.

The carriage quickly arrived near the Imperial City. Yingbao and Doctor Li dismounted and followed Xiao Mo over Zhou Bridge, arriving at the gate of the Imperial City.

The guards at the gate verified their identities before allowing them in.

Once inside the Imperial City, the three of them boarded an open-top carriage within the palace grounds.

Driven by a eunuch, the carriage took them straight to the entrance of Yingxian Yard.

The eunuch respectfully said, “Mr. Xiao, please alight.”

Xiao Mo stepped down from the carriage, nodded at the eunuch, and tossed a piece of silver at him.

The eunuch bowed in gratitude and drove the carriage away cheerfully.

After being announced, Yingbao and Doctor Li followed Xiao Mo into Yingxian Yard with the guidance of another eunuch.

Yingxian Yard was enormous, with three towering palaces and dozens of rooms.

The Changsheng Hall in the middle was the Empress’s main living quarters and the place where she received officials and noblewomen.

Standing at the bottom of the palace steps, they waited for a long time before finally being summoned by a palace attendant.

Xiao Mo adjusted his robe, climbed up the steps, with Doctor Li and Yingbao following closely behind him.

“Your servant Xiao Mo, pays his respects to the Empress!”

Xiao Mo performed a deep bow to the Empress.

Doctor Li and Yingbao also stepped forward and paid their respects.

The Empress sat on her dragon-embroidered throne. One hand rested on the armrest as she scrutinized the people in front of her. Her gaze lingered on Yingbao for a while, then she asked, “Mo’er, is this young girl also one of the doctors you’ve brought?”

Xiao Mo quickly replied, “Yes, Imperial Mother. It was I who brought them. My younger brother, Xiao Chengjun was cured by these two. Therefore, I dared to recommend them here to alleviate your worries.”

After the Empress gave a nonchalant hum, she asked, “What’s the girl’s name? How old is she this year?”

Yingbao immediately stepped forward, folded her hands and replied, “Your Majesty, my name is Jiang Yingbao. I am six years old and have been studying medicine for three years.”

Having been taught in her last life the etiquette of meeting nobles in a dance troupe, she mimicked Xiao Mo’s actions well after observing him.

“She started learning medicine at three and can diagnose at six,” the Empress chuckled lightly, waving her hand, “Take her to Qing Palace, I want to see if she truly lives up to her name.”

And so, Yingbao, along with Doctor Li and Xiao Mo, sat in an open horse carriage, leaving the imperial city, turned a corner, and arrived at the entrance of the East Palace.

This palace group was the Qing Palace, the residence of Prince Murong Xian.

Seeing that the people were led by Li Li, the steward eunuch by the Empress’s side, the gatekeeper soldiers immediately let them pass.

After this delay, by the time Yingbao and the others arrived at the entrance of the prince’s bedroom, it was already late afternoon.

Yingbao’s stomach was growling with hunger, which led to her internal complaints.

No wonder the prince’s disease hadn’t improved for so long. Even a doctor visiting him had to pass through multiple checkpoints and take half a day. She wondered how the prince endured till the doctor arrived.

Wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, Yingbao quickly stuffed a piece of cantaloupe into her mouth when no one was looking, and slowly chewed on it.

She was helpless, both thirsty and hungry, if she didn’t eat something, she might not have the strength to walk.

She was still a child, continuously walking for that long inside the Imperial Palace had caused blisters on the soles of her feet.

After the final message was passed, Yingbao and Doctor Li finally entered the prince’s sleeping quarters.

Several doctors were already standing in the hall, the youngest in his thirties, and the oldest, around seventy, all with bitter faces.

Among them was an old man with white hair, who Yingbao seemed to have seen somewhere.

She suddenly realized, wasn’t this Old Mister Wen, Wen Shu’s grandfather? It was unexpected to see him here.

Just, he has completely white hair and looks much older compared to a few years ago.

Wen Jingyan also looked at Yingbao and nodded at her.

“Grandfather Wen.” Yingbao approached and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with the patient?”

Wen Jingyan shook his head and said softly, “It’s a long story. We’ll talk about it later.”

Just as Yingbao wanted to ask more, someone from the side called her over.

Helpless, she had to go into the inner hall, where there was a large carved wooden bed in the center of the main hall.

The carved wooden bed was enclosed by a mosquito net, which was rolled up high, and a weak boy was lying on the bed.

Doctor Li sat on a low stool in front of the bed, taking the boy’s pulse.

Finishing the diagnosis, he frowned and signaled Yingbao to come over and check the pulse.

Yingbao did as instructed, carefully studying the teenager on the bed.

Judging by his looks, he was about twelve or thirteen. He was scarily thin, his cheeks were deeply sunken.

Moreover, his face was pale, and his lips were almost the same color as his face, without a hint of red.

He looked as if he was on his deathbed.

Yingbao was a bit nervous.

No wonder Xiao Mo said that if she failed to cure the nobleman, he wouldn’t be able to help her. It was indeed the truth.

If she had known earlier that the patient she would be treating was the son of the Empress, she would not have come at all.

If this youngster passed away, it was likely that none of the people present would be able to leave the palace alive.

Biting her teeth, Yingbao quietly said to Xiao Mo standing on the side, “Bring me my medicine box.”

Without a word, Xiao Mo went out, brought the medicine box and put it on the ground.

The box was very heavy, even heavier than Doctor Li’s, and she did not know what was inside it.

Yingbao turned her back to Xiao Mo, opened the medicine box, and felt around for a while before pulling out a small porcelain bottle about the size of her palm.

“This is a special medicine of mine, are we allowed to try it on the prince?” Yingbao asked Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo replied, “We need to inform Yao Yuanzheng, the dean of the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

“Where is Yao Yuanzheng?” Yingbao asked.

She was feeling anxious, fearing the young boy wouldn’t be able to hang on and die; then, she and everyone else would likely be taken out and executed.

Xiao Mo replied, “I will call him.” and walked out of the inner hall.