The sunlight fell into the youth’s eyes, making his amber pupils appear extremely clear.
He was like a wild beast, his whole body exuding aggression, yet there was a touch of innocence.
Faced with such a gaze, Wen Qingci suddenly felt a bit guilty.
He averted his gaze, glanced at the bamboo forest, then nodded gently and said, “Of course. Since there’s no difference, how can it be ‘can’t’?”
Still not fully recovered, Wen Qingci’s voice was slightly hoarse, but his words still carried his usual gentleness and calm.
He didn’t seem to think there was anything shocking about what he said.
Yet every word from Wen Qingci was like a needle, piercing deeply into Xie Bufeng’s heart.
Even the experienced Zhao Gonggong was startled.
Born in the Valley of Divine Physicians, Wen Qingci was not bound by conventional etiquette, and his shocking statements also stunned Zhao Gonggong.
The old steward’s smile froze on his face, his mouth opening and closing several times, unsure how to respond to Wen Qingci.
“Uh… yes, yes.”
Xie Bufeng’s heart was thrown into disarray.
…He had never seen, nor even heard of two men being together as Wen Qingci had described.
The youth instinctively found it absurd, like a fantasy.
On the contrary, the current emperor, indeed as Zhao Gonggong said, treated both men and women as mere diversions and playthings.
Xie Bufeng frowned and slowly nodded at Wen Qingci.
He suppressed the odd feeling in his heart.
But Wen Qingci’s words, like a curse, were deeply etched in Xie Bufeng’s mind, impossible to dispel.
With rewards and punishments concluded, the Taishu Palace finally calmed down.
Consort Lan’s belly had grown significantly, and the day of delivery was drawing near.
According to palace rules, before giving birth, consorts could have female relatives visit the palace to demonstrate the emperor’s great grace.
So, a few days later, Consort Lan’s mother brought her niece with her into the Taishu Palace.
Xie Bufeng was also summoned.
“…Your Highness, how many years has it been since we last saw each other?” Dressed in noblewoman’s attire and adorned with pearls and jade, Madam Su knelt before Consort Lan, performed a deep bow, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with hot tears.
Although her emotions were intense, Madam Su still managed to say with restraint, “Your Highness, you’ve lost weight…”
Seeing this, Ming Liu couldn’t help but sniffle.
“Mother, please get up,” Consort Lan’s breathing was unsteady as she quickly helped Madam Su up, “We… haven’t seen each other for at least three years.”
The walls of the Taishu Palace separated lives.
Consort Lan never expected that when she saw her mother again, her hair would have already turned white.
Today, to see her mother, Consort Lan deliberately wore a peach-pink palace dress.
However, even this color couldn’t enhance her complexion.
Consort Lan gently wiped the corner of her eye and said, “Just call me ‘Qiongmu’ as you did back then.”
After speaking, she turned to Xie Bufeng and said, “Your Highness, this is your maternal grandmother. Since you were born, you have never met her.”
Madam Su wiped her tears and turned to bow to Xie Bufeng, “This humble woman greets Your Highness.”
Then she looked up at Xie Bufeng.
Her eyes were filled with a grandmother’s tenderness and affection.
But at the same time, Xie Bufeng also heard: “Ah… if it weren’t for Xie Bufeng’s defects, being called a ‘monster’ and not favored by His Majesty since childhood, Qiongmu might not have suffered all these years.”
The youth was accustomed to such voices.
His grandmother’s complaints didn’t even ripple his mind.
He slowly nodded at Madam Su and then continued to drink his tea.
“Please sit, mother,” Consort Lan sighed softly and, with Ming Liu’s support, carefully returned to her seat.
This slight movement caused her discomfort, and cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
“Yes,” Madam Su slowly sat down with the help of the young girl beside her.
Seeing this, worry appeared in Madam Su’s eyes.
She opened her mouth, about to say something to Consort Lan, but the latter seemed to guess her intention and interrupted her.
“Is this young lady beside you, Yuzheng?”
“Ah… yes, yes,” Madam Su seemed to finally remember. She held the young girl’s hand tightly, gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and said, “It’s her. You last saw her when she was just born, and now she’s already eighteen.”
Su Yuzheng was Consort Lan’s brother’s only daughter. She was born not long before Consort Lan’s brother passed away from overwork.
Therefore, she had been raised by Madam Su since birth.
“Yuzheng, quickly bow to Consort Lan and His Highness.”
“Yes.”
The girl wore a light green silk dress, her eyes round like a deer’s, looking exceptionally pure and lively.
Although they were cousins, her features bore no resemblance to Xie Bufeng’s.
Only their eye color was the same light amber.
“Greetings to Consort Lan, greetings to Your Highness.”
Su Yuzheng’s movements were graceful and generous, clearly raised with care by her family.
Seeing this, Consort Lan’s eyes also showed a bit more satisfaction.
“Come, let me have a look,” she said with a smile.
Su Yuzheng obediently walked forward.
Consort Lan gently touched her hair that hung down her back, then took off the jade bracelet from her hand and put it on Su Yuzheng’s wrist.
“This bracelet is also light green, matching your dress perfectly.”
“This is too valuable,” Su Yuzheng was startled by Consort Lan’s gesture and tried to return the bracelet to her.
Ming Liu chuckled and said, “Miss Su, just keep it. Her Highness only has you as a dear niece, if not you, then who should she give this bracelet to?”
Consort Lan picked up the clear tea from the table and took a sip, then smilingly asked her, “Yuzheng, now that you’re eighteen, do you have a betrothal?”
The girl blushed slightly and shook her head gently.
Seeing this, Madam Su, who had been silent for a while, suddenly put down her teacup, took a deep breath, and said, “Consort Lan, you know that next year is the year of the imperial selection, so I was thinking…”
Madam Su hadn’t finished speaking when she was interrupted by Su Yuzheng’s loud “Grandmother!”
Her voice echoed repeatedly in the main hall of the Huixin Palace, even drawing Xie Bufeng’s gaze.
Just moments ago, the dignified and elegant Su Yuzheng suddenly frowned, looking somewhat unhappy as she said to Madam Su, “Didn’t we agree when we came, not to mention this matter again?”
The “imperial selection” of the Wei Dynasty took place every three years, specifically choosing women from prominent families to enter the palace.
Once they entered the palace, they would be conferred titles, considered the “best-born” among all the consorts.
Consort Lan’s hand paused with the teacup, and then she suddenly smiled and asked Su Yuzheng, “You don’t want to enter the palace?”
In this era, it was quite normal for an aunt and niece to enter the palace together.
When the time came, the two could support each other in the palace, having someone to talk to, and it would no longer be lonely.
Su Yuzheng shook her head, paused for a few seconds, and then suddenly said, “I want to find a man of similar age…”
“Yuzheng!” Madam Su was shocked by her words, her face turning pale on the spot, “Is this a place for you to talk nonsense?!”
Fortunately, there were no others in the main hall of the Huixin Palace at the time; otherwise, such words would have caused trouble.
Su Yuzheng’s words were extremely rebellious, yet after hearing them, Consort Lan was not only not annoyed but even couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright, your aunt also thinks so. I will choose the best one for you from among the princes, nobles, and talented court officials.” After saying this, she gently touched Su Yuzheng’s head.
It seemed that Consort Lan was very fond of this niece who appeared dignified and proper but was actually quite rebellious.
Madam Su sighed heavily and gave up.
Knowing that Consort Lan was pregnant, she had personally made several small clothes, all of which she brought to the Taishu Palace this time.
After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Madam Su remembered this and brought the clothes she had brought to Consort Lan.
“Your Highness, look at this little hat. I made a similar one for you when you were little,” Madam Su said with a smile.
Consort Lan gently took the items from her hand.
“So beautiful…” Her eyes were full of nostalgia.
Consort Lan’s hand slowly moved over the patterns.
The next moment, her fingers suddenly paused, and her eyebrows tightly furrowed.
Noticing something was wrong with the person in front of her, Madam Su immediately put down the items in her hand, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Consort Lan instinctively clenched her hands, her fingertips painted with rouge, piercing into her palm.
Beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared.
“My stomach…” Consort Lan took a deep breath and said through clenched teeth, “My stomach hurts a bit…”
“Quickly!” Her condition frightened Madam Su, who exclaimed, “Ming Liu, hurry and call the imperial physician!”
“Yes!” Ming Liu replied, her face pale as she ran out.
Madam Su quickly turned to support Consort Lan, asking in a panic, “Qiongmu, what’s wrong with you?”
“Ah…” Consort Lan, holding her stomach and taking a deep breath, replied with a trembling voice, “At the banquet that day, in the… chaos, I accidentally fell and was startled… At that moment, I was so nervous, I forgot about it, but after returning to the palace, my stomach started hurting intermittently.”
Even speaking became difficult for her.
Madam Su’s eyes filled with sympathy: “Did you call for the imperial physician?”
“Yes…” Consort Lan gripped the armrest tightly, enduring the pain as she said, “The physician said… there’s no serious harm, just need to be cautious…”
Normally, Consort Lan would be under the care of Wen Qingci.
But Wen Qingci had lost too much blood recently and was seriously injured, so he had been resting.
Not only did Consort Lan feel embarrassed to disturb him, but even the Emperor said not to bother him over such a trivial matter.
Therefore, during this time, Yu Guanlin had replaced the imperial physician to attend to her in Huixin Palace.
Unexpectedly, Consort Lan’s abdominal pain had not subsided.
Today, the pain was even worse than before.
Ming Liu rushed to the imperial physician’s office as fast as she could. She had just explained the situation when Wen Qingci, who had not yet recovered, came out from the side hall and volunteered to accompany her to Huixin Palace.
Ignoring the Emperor’s instructions and seizing what seemed like a lifeline, Ming Liu immediately brought Wen Qingci to Huixin Palace.
By the time he arrived, Consort Lan had collapsed in her chair.
People surrounded her, but all were helpless.
“Wen… Imperial Physician Wen…” Consort Lan instinctively called out for help.
Seeing this, Wen Qingci quickly stepped forward.
He placed a handkerchief on Consort Lan’s wrist and took her pulse immediately.
After a moment, he lifted his hand and swiftly took silver needles from his medicine box, piercing several of Consort Lan’s acupoints to relieve her pain.
Then, Wen Qingci took out a porcelain bottle from the medicine box.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally took out a pill from inside.
“This is also a kind of Fuxuan Flower Pill, which has a pain-relieving effect. If Your Highness trusts me, you may try it.”
The “Fuxuan Flower Pill” recorded in the medical book of Valley of Divine Physicians was primarily for treating headaches, but the original ingredients were available, and with slight modifications to the prescription, it wasn’t too difficult to make it a more “versatile” painkiller.
Recently, Wen Qingci had been studying the medical books of Valley of Divine Physicians and the “Fuxuan Flower” out of boredom while recuperating, and had casually made a pill.
He didn’t expect that the medicine he made would be needed so soon.
In her severe pain, Consort Lan couldn’t care too much.
She nodded with difficulty, took the pill from Wen Qingci’s hand, and swallowed it the next second.
At that moment, a woman in her fifties or sixties was also brought to Huixin Palace.
Although Consort Lan was not yet full-term and theoretically wouldn’t give birth so soon, once the news spread, the palace staff immediately called for the midwife.
As a male physician, there were some things Wen Qingci couldn’t conveniently do.
The midwife had just arrived and hadn’t had time to greet everyone when she reached out to touch Consort Lan’s abdomen.
After a few seconds, she suddenly furrowed her brows tightly.
Without a word, she slowly touched Consort Lan’s stomach again.
This time, the midwife finally furrowed her brows tightly.
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered her hand and said, “…Her Highness Consort Lan doesn’t seem to be in labor yet, but this pregnancy appears to be .”
With her extensive experience, the midwife dared to speak out, meaning she was at least eighty to ninety percent certain.
“Please, Consort Lan, go to the inner hall for a thorough examination.”
Upon hearing this, Ming Liu immediately helped Consort Lan walk to the inner hall.
The Fuxuan Flower Pill took effect quickly, and the pain Consort Lan felt had already lessened significantly.
She exchanged a glance with Ming Liu, and they both recalled what Wen Qingci had said… He had determined that her pregnancy would be breech the first time he took her pulse.
Although Consort Lan had always harbored a slight doubt about Wen Qingci’s reputation as a divine physician, the imperial physician who visited a few days ago had said that the baby was in a head-down position and told her not to worry.
She hadn’t expected it to be breech today.
Consort Lan’s heart sank heavily, and she couldn’t help but panic.
The midwife’s examination didn’t last long, and when she came out, she walked over to Wen Qingci and whispered the results to him.
Hearing those symptoms, Wen Qingci gradually formed a judgment…
Consort Lan’s condition was very likely caused by external trauma leading to placental abruption.
Fortunately, her symptoms were very mild.
But in modern times, this could only be confirmed by ultrasound or laboratory tests, so Wen Qingci dared not make a definitive diagnosis at this time.
And even if it was diagnosed… common treatment methods, such as terminating the pregnancy or cesarean section, were completely inapplicable in this era.
He paused for a moment, then shared his estimated diagnosis.
“Is there a way to deal with it?” Ming Liu couldn’t help but ask Wen Qingci.
Not wanting to worry her mother about her condition, Consort Lan hadn’t told Madam Su that she had been experiencing occasional abdominal pain recently and even felt discomfort with a slight touch to her stomach.
But on the way here, Ming Liu had already told Wen Qingci everything.
Therefore, Wen Qingci combined these situations and analyzed them together.
“As for the baby’s position… Consort Lan is already far along in her pregnancy, and at this time, the baby turning breech can generally only be corrected by external force, manually turning the baby’s position. However, given Your Highness’s recent abdominal pain, this method is probably not advisable,” Wen Qingci said with a slight frown, seriously analyzing the pros and cons for her.
The main focus of the Fuxuan Flower Pill was still pain treatment.
After taking it, Consort Lan indeed felt a bit better, but when the midwife lightly touched her stomach just now, she still felt a significant hidden pain.
At this time, to rashly attempt to turn the baby’s position through the abdomen would clearly disregard her health and feelings.
“As for the other option, currently, the only thing to do is bed rest, supplemented with herbal medicine and acupuncture, to undergo treatment to preserve the pregnancy,” Wen Qingci said.
Hearing this, Madam Su turned pale.
“Imperial Physician Wen, please save Qiongmu, she… she’s still young,” she said, about to bow to Wen Qingci.
“Please don’t be so formal,” Wen Qingci hurriedly helped Madam Su up, “These are my duties, and I will do my utmost to treat Consort Lan.” His tone was extremely serious.
The acupuncture and Fuxuan Flower Pill gradually took effect, and the pain slowly subsided.
Consort Lan finally sat up straight again.
“Thank you, Imperial Physician Wen…” Consort Lan took a deep breath, helped her mother over, and then said to Wen Qingci, “I’m not in serious trouble, please go back and rest well.” She hadn’t forgotten that Wen Qingci’s injuries had not yet healed.
“There’s no rush,” Wen Qingci smiled, took out paper and pen from the medicine box, and began writing the medical record and prescription.
His movements were neither hurried nor slow, and from a distance, he looked as elegant as a person in a painting.
The foundation of his serious injury couldn’t be recovered in such a short time.
At this moment, Wen Qingci’s lips still lacked color.
Only the cinnabar mole on his forehead was so red it was almost glaring.
Just now, everyone in Huixin Palace had gathered around Consort Lan, with only Xie Bufeng and Su Yuzheng who were still young standing outside the crowd, unable to help.
Coincidentally, at that moment, both of their gazes passed over the crowd and landed on Wen Qingci.
The afternoon sun shone through the flower windows of Huixin Palace, casting a soft glow on Wen Qingci.
His moon-white robe reflected a gentle light.
Wen Qingci lowered his eyes to write, and time seemed to stand still around him.
Xie Bufeng couldn’t help but hold his breath.
“All right, Consort Lan,” Wen Qingci stood up and bowed to Consort Lan and Madam Su, saying, “The medicine should be ready in about an hour.”
Consort Lan nodded at him.
Thinking of Wen Qingci’s health, she didn’t want to delay him any longer: “Ming Liu, please escort Imperial Physician Wen back.”
Wen Qingci hastily refused as he packed up his medicine box: “There’s no need for trouble, Consort Lan’s health has not yet recovered, and Miss Ming Liu should stay here to take care of Her Highness.”
Having said that, he prepared to leave with his medicine box.
He crossed the crowd and headed towards the outside of the main hall.
Just at that moment, the handkerchief that Su Yuzheng had been clutching tightly in her hand suddenly fell to the ground.
A breeze passed through the flower window, coincidentally dragging the handkerchief right in front of Wen Qingci.
Wen Qingci paused mid-step, instinctively bending down to pick up the handkerchief.
His body had not yet recovered, and the action of bending and standing up was slightly slow, while he subconsciously furrowed his brow.
As he stood up, Wen Qingci suppressed all discomfort and, as usual, smiled and returned the handkerchief to her.
“Your handkerchief.”
“Thank… thank you,” Su Yuzheng was taken aback and dumbly took the handkerchief.
After finishing his words, Wen Qingci lightly chuckled, nodded at her, and slowly left the main hall of Huixin Palace with his medicine box.
Not until his figure had completely disappeared from her sight did Su Yuzheng reluctantly withdraw her gaze.
At this time, Consort Lan’s condition had improved a lot.
She was sitting in the chair, smiling at Su Yuzheng.
Madam Su also smiled and asked her, “What’s wrong? You seem to have lost your soul.”
“I…” Su Yuzheng wanted to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, her reddened ears revealed all her thoughts.
At some point, Xie Bufeng in the corner of the front hall also cast his gaze over.
His eyes were exceptionally cold, making Su Yuzheng subconsciously feel a chill behind her.
“Yuzheng?” Madam Su called her.
“Ah?”
The next moment, the girl who had been clutching the handkerchief finally couldn’t resist mustering the courage to look at Consort Lan and asked, “I wonder… I wonder if the physician just now is bethroned?”
Xie Bufeng’s gaze darkened.
His hand also clenched tightly.
After returning to the imperial physician’s office, Wen Qingci went to prepare medicine for Consort Lan.
He had just placed the sand pot on the small stove when Xie Bufeng’s figure appeared before him.
“Your Highness?” Wen Qingci rose slightly surprised and asked, “What brings you here?”
Xie Bufeng did not speak, he glanced at the sand pot and said expressionlessly, “I thought Wen Xiansheng was solely devoted to medicine, without any distractions. I didn’t expect you to have a romantic side as well.”
Romantic side?
Wen Qingci was bewildered by Xie Bufeng’s words.
In his impression, Xie Bufeng was not a talkative person, nor would he chat without reason.
What did he mean by bringing this up suddenly?
As if sensing Wen Qingci’s confusion, Xie Bufeng said indifferently, “After you left Huixin Palace, Su Yuzheng became distracted.”
…Although he didn’t know who “Su Yuzheng” was, Wen Qingci paused and guessed that she must be the girl who had accidentally dropped her handkerchief just now.
Was picking up her handkerchief for her now linked to romantic feelings?
Wen Qingci: “…”
Seeing that Wen Qingci did not speak, Xie Bufeng’s amber eyes suddenly looked deep into his, as if trying to see through him.
As the words fell, the young man took another step forward.
At this moment, Wen Qingci was like a lamb being eyed by an eagle in the wilderness.
He involuntarily stepped back until his lower back hit the medicine cabinet heavily, and he had no choice but to stop in place.
He fell under Xie Bufeng’s icy gaze.
YOU GOTTA LOCK IN MY MAN, BEFORE HE GETS SNATCHED UP BY SOMEONE ELSE !
LOUDER PLEASE
Oh man! Really chugging the vinegar today aren’t we? What a jealous man lol.
Thanks for all of the updates! Loving your translation so far 💕
Ahhhhhhhh! The tension! I am fascinated! I am excited! This is wonderful. I am like a rabid beast slobbering before a cage with a live chicken. I am going “ahhhhhhhhh”.
I LIVE for moments like these.
This is soooo point I swear
You better put a ring on it before he’s snatched a way