After washing her face, Lai Jiajia insisted that Leng Yu Yan eat some pastries.
Out of courtesy, Leng Yu Yan ate a piece and gave one each to Miao Zhu and Mrs. Zhao, leaving the rest for Lai Jiajia's stomach.
Not only that, but Lai Jiajia also had her dinner at Qingyu Residence before returning to her own courtyard.
Miao Zhu tidied up the dishes and utensils, "The Sixth Miss is truly genuine."
Leng Yu Yan smiled slightly. She had cried and hadn't yet washed her face when she came to deliver the pastries.
It showed that she didn't regard her as an outsider.
The Leng Family raised their daughters to be gentle and demure. Her older sisters, who had married early, were just like that. Now seeing Man Ting and Li Lu's behavior outside, it was the same.
Lai Jiajia's disposition was quite good!
--
A few days later, it was a holiday at the academy.
While Leng Yu Yan was having her breakfast, Miao Zhu brought over a small bamboo tube, "Miss, another pigeon message has arrived, still from the Linqing Pavilion."
Leng Yu Yan unfolded it, took a look, and handed the letter to Miao Zhu to dispose of.
This time, the letter contained a set of codes, which Miao Zhu couldn't understand, "What is it this time, Miss?"
"Linqing Pavilion has received an order with an extraordinarily high offer, asking if I would go."
"How much?" Miao Zhu couldn't help but ask.
Although her miss usually charged a high consultation fee or accepted something valuable in exchange, or simply did it based on mood, it depended on the person.
Such as for bad people, no matter how high the fee, it was useless.
"The other party started with ten thousand gold and mentioned that the price was negotiable."
In Tiancheng, one gold was equivalent to ten silver taels, so ten thousand gold was one hundred thousand silver taels. Such an offer made Leng Yu Yan suspect the other party's intentions and even the origin of their wealth.
The maid she left at Linqing Pavilion handled the consultation fees privately and varied them based on the individual to avoid exposing her whereabouts and unnecessary troubles.
For those without money, one copper coin was enough.
If the person had money from dubious sources, naturally, more would be collected and then distributed to the poor.
"Are you going, Miss?"
"Let's see. For now, let Chun Liu handle it, and have Xia Tao check out the person's background."
Miao Zhu nodded and withdrew.
At the same time.
In the Eastern Palace, guard Mo Chen clutching an urgently delivered letter, hurried into Ye Yiheng's study.
"Your Highness, Ruofeng has sent a letter." Mo Chen kneeled on one knee and presented the letter, "In the letter, Ruofeng says that only when the offer reached ten thousand gold did the other side agree to consider whether the Divine Doctor would come out of seclusion, and further negotiations are needed. He can't return now, so he had to send the information urgently by fast horse."
Song Guo took the letter and handed it to Ye Yiheng.
Today, Ye Yiheng's eyes were half-closed, able to see a little clearer.
He immediately tore open the envelope, scanned the words on the letter, then violently slapped it, shattering the paper into dust.
Seeing the Crown Prince in great anger, Song Guo carefully reminded, "Your Highness, take care of your health!"
Mo Chen's brow furrowed deeply, "Your Highness!"
"Swindling and deceiving, be sure to apprehend this so-called Divine Doctor to face justice. I want to see if his life is worth ten thousand gold!"
Previously, he had heard from Ruofeng that the Divine Doctor scorned ten thousand gold, thinking it to be an exaggeration. He hadn't expected the other side to be insatiably greedy.
Mo Chen immediately bowed to receive his orders and left.
--
Leng Residence, Qingyu Residence.
As Miao Zhu prepared the homing pigeon to fly away, the palace summoned Leng Yu Yan.
Upon entering the palace, Leng Yu Yan asked the servant what urgent matter required her immediate presence.
The eunuch simply said, "Miss Lai will know once she arrives—it is an act of the Emperor's grace."
She hadn't done anything to deserve a reward. Unable to speculate, Leng Yu Yan decided not to think about it anymore.
Arriving in the palace, the eunuch did not take her to the council hall, Xiande Hall, but instead to a side hall called Xingning Palace.
Seeing Leng Yu Yan's puzzled expression, the eunuch explained, "This is the Ninth Princess's sleeping quarters."
She had never met the Ninth Princess and could not fathom why she was brought here.
Just then, Ye Yiheng, guided by a little eunuch, also arrived.
The eunuch greeted, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
The conversation they had days earlier in the study had slightly annoyed Leng Yu Yan, and now seeing him again, she did not feel inclined to greet him.
As if he could see, his eyes, hidden behind a white gauze, seemed to stare directly at her, "Could it be that Miss Lai also is blind and cannot see me?"
Helplessly, Leng Yu Yan slightly bowed, "Your Highness."
"Ha," Ye Yiheng inexplicably felt very pleased and strode into the hall.
Leng Yu Yan gritted her teeth, straightened up, and followed the eunuch inside Xingning Palace.
Inside, the hall boasted beams of sandalwood and lamps of pearls; white jade covered the floor, and crystal bead curtains served as screens, with Chaoxiao Silk Gauze fluttering in the wind like mists over clouded mountains—a true epitome of luxury.
Such a residence for the Ninth Princess undoubtedly showed the Emperor's deep affection for her.
No wonder countless opportunists drooled over the position of Prince Consort for the Ninth Princess.
Suddenly, laughter from the Emperor resonated from within, "Does that mean there is hope for my daughter's legs?"
As Ye Yiheng approached, the stationed eunuch announced loudly, "His Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived—"
The palace maid lifted the Chaoxiao Silk Gauze, allowing Ye Yiheng and Leng Yu Yan, among others, to enter.
As the Crown Prince entered, everyone inside bowed to him.
"Let's dispense with the formalities today," the Emperor said cheerfully, waving his hand and then gesturing for Ye Yiheng and Leng Yu Yan to sit down.
Ye Yiheng settled next to a high table with the help of Song Guo.
Leng Yu Yan looked around, noticing the spacious room had several empty chairs, yet only the one next to Ye Yiheng was available.
She slowly walked over and gently sat down.
Simultaneously, she discreetly observed everyone in the room.
On the beauty couch lay a young girl in a crimson dress, her eyebrows arched beautifully, eyes bright and welcoming, her radiant face charming—a delightful beauty.
One had to admit, the Tian Family had excellent genes.
By the couch, the Emperor sat on a rattan chair, his gaze moving about with several people standing by.
Among them was Lai Hao, her so-called second brother, whom she had seen the day he returned to the capital.
From memory, her eldest brother had a more handsome face; Lai Hao, slightly less so. Five years later, Lai Hao had matured quite a bit but still didn't surpass their eldest brother.
Beside Lai Hao, there was a stool with an old man with a white beard sitting on it, and nearby stood a few imperial physicians.
Among those physicians, Leng Yu Yan recognized Grand Doctor Zeng, whom Ye Yiheng had sent to check her pulse at the Leng Residence.
In the entire room, aside from the Ninth Princess lying down, the only others seated were the Emperor, Ye Yiheng, herself, and the old man with the white beard.
This scenario made Leng Yu Yan wonder if Lai Hao had found the "Divine Doctor" and was now seeking credit.
At that moment, the Emperor said, "Divine Doctor, please examine the Crown Prince's eyes, and afterward, check on the Crown Princess Consort's facial spots to see if they can be removed."
Leng Yu Yan's lips curled beneath her veil—indeed, the "Divine Doctor" had arrived, and she was curious to see what skills this Divine Doctor possessed.
Ye Yiheng spoke indifferently, "Father, may I ask what the Divine Doctor has said about Ninth Sister's legs?"
The Emperor looked towards the "Divine Doctor," "Share with the Crown Prince what you just diagnosed."
The "Divine Doctor" stroked his smoothly maintained white beard, "The Ninth Princess's leg ailment requires only the finest Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, rhino horn, and leopard bone as medicinal catalysts. Following my prescription, taking it for seven treatment courses will definitely cure her."