Chapter 11: The Concubine

 Chapter 11: The Concubine

"Physician! Physician!" Aunt Wang called out anxiously. "Please take a look at our A'niu..." 

Physician Liu quickly approached and once again felt Wang A'niu's pulse. He checked his limbs and murmured, "Phlegm sounds greatly reduced, the limbs have regained warmth, the six pulses are weak, but no longer show signs of leakage."

Saying this, he looked at Chu Qianchen, who was sitting by the window drinking tea, and uttered the final four words, "He has a chance of recovery."

Wang A'niu, who had been on the brink of death, was miraculously showing signs of life after this young girl’s simple prescription!

Aunt Wang didn't understand the medical terms like "six pulses" or "leakage," but she could understand the four words, "He has a chance of recovery." A'niu was alive again!

Overjoyed, Aunt Wang clasped her hands in prayer, muttering, "May the Buddha bless him, may our ancestors protect him." 

The onlookers in the medical hall erupted into chatter, their discussions growing louder.

"He’s alive! He actually survived!"

"That little girl is so young, and her medical skills are so impressive. She’s like Hua Tuo reincarnated."

"That’s nothing! In the old days, there was Gan Luo, who became a minister at twelve."

Amidst the noise, Physician Liu hurried to Chu Qianchen’s side and bowed to her, "Thank you, young lady, for your help." He was sweating profusely, his clothes drenched, and he still felt a bit of lingering fear. Fortunately, Jishi Medical Hall had been saved!

Chu Qianchen stood up and said, "For the next day, let the patient continue with the original prescription for three more doses."

Physician Liu nodded in agreement. 

"Tomorrow, follow this new prescription, one dose a day, divided into three parts, and take it for three days," Chu Qianchen added, handing him another prescription.

At this moment, the assistant arrived with several medicine bundles, smiling broadly. "Young lady, here’s the medicine you prescribed." The assistant was incredibly polite, relieved that he hadn't driven Chu Qianchen away earlier.

Physician Liu bowed again, "These herbs and silver needles are a gift for you. Thank you for your assistance."

Chu Qianchen accepted without hesitation and was about to leave with Hu Po when she suddenly stopped and pointed to Hu Po. "From now on, I’ll have my maid visit here once every five days. If there are any difficult cases, you can inform her."

She needed to make a name for herself in the capital as quickly as possible!

Hu Po was stunned, her jaw nearly dropping, her mind in a whirlwind. She felt like the second young lady was no longer the same as before.

Physician Liu was overjoyed and repeatedly agreed. Although this young lady was still so young, she must have learned from a renowned physician and had a unique understanding of medicine. If she was willing to see patients at Jishi Medical Hall, it would greatly benefit the reputation of their hall.

Chu Qianchen left Jishi Medical Hall with Hu Po, and by the time she returned to her estate, it was already past noon.

A young maid was waiting at the entrance of Wanyan Courtyard and reported, "Young lady, Concubine Jiang is here."

Chu Qianchen responded and followed the maid to the east wing. There, she immediately saw a graceful woman lying on a beauty couch by the window.

The woman appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old. Her jet-black hair was tied in a loose bun, and her brows were like ink paintings, with eyes as clear as autumn waters. She wore a water-green silk robe embroidered with begonia flowers and interwoven vines, paired with a multicolored moonlight skirt. Over it, she wore a delicate green gauze cloak with golden threads, her figure delicate as if a gust of wind could carry her away. 

Concubine Jiang was a distant niece of the Old Madam Jiang, who had brought her to the Marquis’s household to raise her after the fall of her family. Concubine Jiang and Marquis Yongding had grown up together as childhood friends, and their bond was much stronger than that of any other concubine in the household, giving her a considerable standing in the estate.

Chu Qianchen walked slowly up to Concubine Jiang and greeted her with a bow. "Auntie."

As soon as Concubine Jiang saw her, she asked with a worried expression, "Chen'er, where have you been?"

Chu Qianchen casually replied, "I just went out for a walk."

With that, she sat down on a nearby armchair.

"Chen'er..." Concubine Jiang looked at Chu Qianchen, her gaze filled with emotions as though she wanted to say something but held back, as if to convey that she had asked Ju'er to call her earlier, but she had said she was tired.

Chu Qianchen pretended not to understand her meaning.

Silence filled the room, only the sound of wind rustling the leaves outside could be heard.

After a while, Concubine Jiang sighed and continued, "Chen'er, I'm not angry with you, nor am I stopping you from going out. It's just that I heard that the second madam has gone to the Madam to make a scene. The physician said that the third young lady will likely have scars on her face, and the second madam is furious, insisting that the Madam punish you."

Concubine Jiang paused, then added, "Chen'er, why don't you go to the Madam and the second madam to apologize?"

Chu Qianchen quietly stared at the delicate beauty before her, her eyes dark and filled with ink-like depth.

In the previous life, it was she who had been disfigured.

At that time, her legitimate mother, Shen, had fought for her, but Concubine Jiang had spoken in favor of Chu Qianling, "forcing" her to forgive her.

Now, it was Chu Qianling who had been disfigured, and Concubine Jiang was once again "forcing" her to apologize.

Chu Qianchen felt a mixture of sadness and irony in her heart.

At that moment, a nanny, dressed in a rust-colored robe, interjected, "Second young lady, I heard that you and the third young lady had a disagreement earlier, nearly injuring your face. The aunt was so frightened, she almost fainted. Later, we heard that the second madam went to the Madam, which made her even more worried, so she hurried here to find you."

The nanny looked toward Concubine Jiang, her face filled with concern as she advised, "Aunt, you must take care of yourself. If anything happens to you, the second young lady and the eldest young master will surely be very worried."

Concubine Jiang sipped her tea, her emotions calming a little, then said, "Chen'er, I know you're upset, but you are a concubine’s daughter."

"Before, the madam did favor you, but now that the third young lady’s face is ruined, things are different."

"I gave birth to your eldest brother, so how could the madam truly like you?"

As she spoke, Concubine Jiang appeared uneasy, her demeanor fragile, like a delicate white orchid in a storm.

Chu Qianchen stared deeply at Concubine Jiang, her memories of the past ten or so years slowly resurfacing. Time had blurred many things, including Concubine Jiang's appearance. But now, those blurred memories were gradually becoming clearer, and she could almost hear the words that Concubine Jiang had often said to her when she was younger:

"Chen'er, you are a concubine's daughter. You must understand your place. Stay away from the madam, so you don't become an eyesore to her."

"Chen'er, your elder sister is the legitimate first daughter, and her status is different. Even though you are both daughters of the Marquis’s household, there is a world of difference. Your elder sister is the sky, and you are just the dust on the ground. You must respect your elder sister and not compete with her. If the madam sees it, she won’t like it."

"Chen'er, the madam has never liked you. It's better to avoid her. If you suffer any injustice, I will be heartbroken."

With each of these words, memories from the past flashed quickly before her eyes. She looked into Concubine Jiang's eager gaze, her eyes as deep as a dark pool—bright, cold, and profound.

(End of this chapter)