Leng Residence, Qingyu Residence.
Mrs. Feng's maid brought over the freshly brewed medicine, only to be stopped by Miao Zhu.
"Let me do it." Miao Zhu took the tray. "This sister has worked hard boiling the medicine, you should go back and rest earlier."
The maid glanced at Leng Yu Yan, who was still unconscious on the bed, and nodded, "Alright then."
After Mrs. Feng's maid left, Miao Zhu set the medicine bowl on the table and walked over to the bed, whispering, "Miss, now there are only three of us in Qingyu Residence."
Leng Yu Yan's eyes snapped open, and she slowly sat up: "Pour the medicine away."
"I'll take care of it. If it rains, the water will wash it away. If not, we'll need to find a hidden spot." Mrs. Zhao picked up the bowl, opened the window, and directly poured the liquid onto the muddy ground in the backyard.
Leng Yu Yan, with her shoes slightly askew, walked over to the window: "Mrs. Zhao, is the doctor who came today the one who treated my mother five years ago?"
"No," Mrs. Zhao shook her head, "not the same person, but they're from the same house."
Miao Zhu furrowed her brows: "Miss, could there be a problem with today's medicine?"
"The medicine today is fine. I was thinking about whether the medicine my mother had when she was ill was problematic," Leng Yu Yan extended her hand, the rain falling into her palm, cool to the touch.
Mrs. Zhao murmured, "Miss, the Lady also suspected there was something wrong with the medicine, which is why more often than not, she poured it away instead of drinking..."
Her voice faded towards the end.
The mistress and servants fell into a spell of silence.
Mrs. Zhao quietly wiped a tear away: "The rain is sweeping in, Miss, you shouldn't stand by the window."
"Okay," responded Leng Yu Yan softly.
Seeing their mistress in low spirits, Miao Zhu recounted all the rumors she had heard outside that day.
The speed at which rumors spread, together with the embellishments of the Capital City folk, had taken Leng Yu Yan by surprise.
She thought again how recently the Crown Prince's marriage had been causing an uproar; once there were rumors related to it, the reach was extraordinary.
--
Rain fell all night. The next morning, dawn broke with a soft glow.
Leng Yu Yan stood in the courtyard, gazing at the enchanting morning skies, pondering; surely, the rumors outside must impact her betrothal to the Crown Prince.
If the Crown Prince had any shame at all, he would have proposed to the Emperor to cancel the betrothal.
"Miss, a carrier pigeon has arrived," Miao Zhu approached holding a pigeon, removing the small bamboo tube from its leg and handing it to Leng Yu Yan.
Leng Yu Yan took the bamboo tube, withdrawing the message and glancing over it.
"Miss, the pigeon's leg tag shows it's from a nearby point, but the bamboo tube on its leg actually comes from Linqing Pavilion." Miao Zhu sounded uneasy. "Is there trouble at Linqing Pavilion?"
They needed to switch pigeons several times en route to keep their communication secret.
"There's no trouble at Linqing Pavilion," Leng Yu Yan said lightly as she set the message on fire with flint, "Many youths from noble families in the capital have gone to Linqing Pavilion seeking the Divine Doctor, hoping the doctor would emerge to cure the Ninth Princess' leg injury."
Miao Zhu chuckled lightly: "Then they've all made a wasted trip, because the Miss is already in the capital."
--
At that moment, Ye Yiheng, accompanied by Song Guo, climbed up to the Observation Platform of the Eastern Palace.
The platform was tall, offering a view for several miles around.
Ye Yiheng faced eastward, taking a deep breath; the freshness after rain lingered on his nose, it seemed the weather was good today.
It was just a pity that his eyes still couldn't see, wasting the splendid spring weather.
Just then, like a gust of wind, Guard Ruofeng approached not far from Ye Yiheng and bowed: "Your Highness, the rumors from yesterday were indeed deliberately spread in the East Palace Alley. Initially, it was said that the Fifth Miss Lai spent a night kneeling in the ancestral hall and could no longer walk, but somehow it turned into what we've heard today."
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"When did the rumors first start?"
"About the end of the yin hour," Ruofeng said with embarrassment. "It was still dark at that time, and I couldn't see people's faces clearly, which is why I haven't been able to find out who was spreading the rumors. Please give me some more time, Your Highness, and I will definitely find out!"
"No need for further investigation," Ye Yiheng raised his hand, signaling the guard to withdraw.
Kneeling all night and spreading rumors by dawn, it was clear that the initiator of the rumors was someone from the Leng Family.
As for the evolution of the rumor into harming his wife, his brothers must have had a significant hand in it.
Leng Zongfa and his wife doted on their legitimate daughter Lai Manting, while the pushed forward Leng Yu Yan didn't receive as much affection. Thus, the person who started the rumors must have done so with Leng Yu Yan's consent.
If she had the strength to direct others to spread messages, it was clear that she was in good health.
Ruofeng bowed again and quietly backed away a few steps before leaving.
Behind a thin white veil, Ye Yiheng gently pressed on his eye sockets.
Seeing this, Song Guo took a few steps forward, "Your Highness, would you like to have the Imperial Physician examine your eyes again?"
"No need to check them again."
It had been checked for so long with no signs of improvement; on the contrary, it was getting worse.
Ye Yiheng turned around and added, "Send the Imperial Physician to Marquis Ningyuan's Mansion, to say that I am very concerned about Miss Lai's condition."
Regardless of whether Leng Yu Yan didn't want to marry him or if she was trying to lower his guard to serve as Consort Xian's spy, as her fiancé, he should naturally show concern.
"Yes, Your Highness," Song Guo immediately left the Observation Platform to give orders.
Listening to Song Guo's footsteps fading away, Ye Yiheng sighed softly.
Being unable to see was truly vexing.
Perhaps, as Jian Lecheng had said, he should also send someone to seek out that so-called Divine Doctor.
--
Just as the Imperial Physician arrived at the Leng Residence, Leng Zongfa was thundering in rage in the front courtyard hall.
Each manager in the house was being scolded with their heads hung low, not daring to make a sound.
In Leng Zongfa's view, the rumors had spread from his own house, after all, punishing his daughter was a family matter.
There were only three servants in Qingyu Residence; Leng Yu Yan was unconscious, and Miao Zhu had knelt for a long time that night and likely didn't have the energy to gossip. As for Mrs. Zhao, who was deaf and mute, that was even less likely.
After a long scolding, still no one came forward to confess.
At that moment, seeing an Imperial Physician accompanied by a medical woman being led by the butler, he hurriedly went to greet them with a smile, bowing, "Grand Doctor Zeng."
Grand Doctor Zeng returned the bow, "Marquis Lai, I have been ordered by the Crown Prince to take your daughter's pulse to ensure her wellbeing."
"Yu Yan just caught a slight cold, her health is nothing serious. It's too kind of the Crown Prince to be concerned," said Leng Zongfa, then turning his head to the butler, he commanded, "Please fetch the Lady to Fifth Miss's quarters."
He himself led Grand Doctor Zeng towards Qingyu Residence.
The butler waved for the managers to leave and then hurried to Mrs. Feng's quarters at Lanxiang Court.
By the time Mrs. Feng arrived at Qingyu Residence, Grand Doctor Zeng, accompanied by the medical woman, was taking Leng Yu Yan's pulse.
A brocaded tent hung down, with a fair hand extended from inside the tent, a handkerchief laid over the wrist, and Grand Doctor Zeng was carefully discerning the pulse.
Mrs. Feng, clutching the handkerchief, dabbed the corners of her eyes, forcing out a look of sorrow, and wept to Leng Zongfa beside her, "My Lord, Yu Yan has been unconscious since yesterday, and it truly pains my heart to see her like this, I wish I could take her place."
Hearing this, Grand Doctor Zeng's brows twitched slightly.
Leng Zongfa coughed lightly, "Say no more and let Grand Doctor Zeng concentrate on his examination."
After Grand Doctor Zeng finished taking the pulse, the medical woman put away the silk handkerchief and pillow, and Miao Zhu, who stood by the bed, timely lifted and arranged the tent.
Mrs. Feng stood there, stunned, to see that Leng Yu Yan, who was half reclining on a pillow, was calmly looking at her.
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