After all, it concerned the affair of Thousand-Man Commander Lu and Princess Jiuli, one could say anything they wished behind closed doors, but care had to be taken in the presence of outsiders.
Someone saw Miss Jun give a soft cough, reminding everyone that certain things should not be mentioned recklessly.
"I'll go arrange it," said a maidservant.
Old Madam Lin nodded.
"Go ahead, it's just a kitchen maid, no need to worry about any taboos," she said.
The maidservant complied and left.
Miss Jun then stood up and took out some incense.
"It can be lit at night when the lady retires to bed," she said, and after finishing her sentence, she bowed and took her leave. "I will come again tomorrow."
Old Madam Lin looked even more satisfied.
She had seen many people over the years; in these inner quarters, every aunty and sister-in-law was incessantly striving to flaunt even the slightest usefulness, all eager to climb the ladder of wealth and honor.
But since this young girl had arrived, she spoke little, didn't even ask about the illness, merely diagnosed the pulse, prescribed medicine, finished, and left without delaying or making needless conversation.
Truly, this was the professionalism inherited from generations of practicing medicine, and she was, after all, a young lady from a bureaucratic family—her aloofness was innate.
It was more reassuring and relieving to deal with such a person.
"You have my thanks, Miss Jun," Old Madam Lin said cordially.
"I'll come again tomorrow," Madam Lin also said with a smile, feeling very close to the young girl despite having met her only twice.
Miss Jun did not speak further but bowed, taking Liu'er with her to take their leave.
"Miss, she will be cured tomorrow, that's really fast," Liu'er said excitedly while following.
Miss Jun hummed in agreement.
"Yes, truly fast," she said.
She indeed found things moved quickly within these inner quarters; it was quick enough to hear news about her sister.
When they reached the second gate, the carriages were already waiting. Aside from the one she arrived in, there was another; a maidservant was hurrying a kitchen maid onto the carriage.
"Don't talk too much when you get there, just do as you're told," the maidservant instructed.
The kitchen maid acknowledged repeatedly.
Miss Jun paused in her steps.
Was this the kitchen maid going to see her sister?
She watched the carriage drive past, and couldn't help but start forward.
She really wanted to go, really wanted to follow...
"Miss Jun," the voice of a maidservant near her ear spoke, "please get into the carriage."
Miss Jun withdrew her gaze and politely entered the carriage.
The carriage then left the Marquis Dingyuan's mansion, heading in a different direction from the first carriage they had followed.
Upon seeing Miss Jun's return, two attendants hurriedly greeted her.
"Miss, we have procured all the medicines you requested," they said respectfully.
"Should I prepare the medicine now?" Liu'er asked.
"Wash the herbs first, I need to step out for a bit," Miss Jun said.
Liu'er gave an affirmative sound, joyfully carrying the medicine chest inside, while the two attendants exchanged glances with each other and then back at Liu'er and the departing Miss Jun.
Should they let her go out alone?
But it seemed neither the master nor the servant had any objections, so they ultimately shut their mouths.
As noon approached, the streets grew more crowded, with tea houses and taverns packed to capacity. Miss Jun moved through the bustling streets without stopping, then entered an alley that led away from the noisy market to a quieter area.
A few steps after she emerged from the alley, she paused, her gaze somewhat confused as she seemingly wondered where to go next, or perhaps the quiet was making her anxious. Her hands clenched in front of her.
She had once done something that was, strictly speaking, both good and bad.
In her third year following her master, she began preparing specific medicines for her father's illness, and then spent two years under her master's mocking guidance developing a prescription.
"Have you thought this through? Your father's condition cannot afford a single mistake in the prescription; otherwise, why do you think after all these years none of the imperial physicians would prescribe your father anything?" her master warned her.
She hadn't understood before, but now that she had medical skills, she knew—it was indeed very dangerous. Hence, she held onto the prescription for a long time, hesitant to use it on her father.
Perhaps it was because of Heaven's pity for her pleas and efforts, that during her return to the capital, she unexpectedly encountered someone suffering from the same ailment as her father.
This was a young man, and she decided to test the medicine on him.
Her master would not have approved of this, and her father would have objected as well, so she dared not tell anyone—including the young man who was to be her test subject.
She secretly carried out this act, taking the young man to a place in the capital and administering the medicine.
She had an agreement with the young man that if he was safe and sound after half a year, she would give the prescription to her father and grant him boundless wealth.
However, she ended up not hearing any news from the young man; instead, she received news of her father's passing.
After her return, she never found the young man again.
Either the young man had fled or he had died; she asked her sister, who said their father had never used the prescription she asked someone to deliver.
That meant her prescription simply did not work.
Although reluctant, she had no choice but to accept her father's short-lived fate, her mother's devoted fate, and then married, resigning herself to a life trapped within familial constraints.
Unexpectedly, two years later while she was in the palace celebrating the Empress Dowager's birthday, a little palace maid named Bing'er secretly stopped her.
Bing'er had once served her, and she thought Bing'er was facing some troubles and needed her help.
Unexpectedly, with a pale face, Bing'er just knelt down.
"Princess, the prince didn't die of illness," she said with a trembling voice.
Reflecting on that moment, Miss Jun still felt her ears buzzing, and her entire being was struck as if by lightning.
She took several deep breaths to calm herself down.
Bing'er told her that her father had used her prescription, and the young man had also been cured; he hadn't died at all.
"His Highness the Prince had seen the young man, scolded you, Your Highness, for fooling around, and sent him away with some money."
"Later, His Highness the Prince took the prescription and kept it."
"His Highness the Prince actually used it; he had me and my sister make the medicine and used the recipe without telling anyone."
"The prince said it was your filial piety, Princess, and that it was worth trying no matter what."
"His Highness didn't want to tell anyone because he was afraid it would worry everyone."
But it still failed, didn't it?
"No no, it didn't fail." Bing'er lifted her head, her expression terrified, "My sister saw that man not long ago when she was out; Princess, that man is still alive."
Miss Jun closed her eyes, suppressed her tears, and her fingernails dug into her flesh as her hands clasped in front of her.
"Princess, if you don't believe me, you can ask my sister; after she left the palace, she married and lived in the alleyway behind the Guan Temple, the third house from east to west."
Miss Jun took a deep breath and steadied her trembling body.
At that time, she hadn't come here; she couldn't, for if she had, she would surely have been exposed—this was evidence, evidence of Prince Qi's conspiracy to murder his elder brother and create chaos.
After she killed Prince Qi, this would be evidence.
She stormed into the palace with a knife in hand, ready to fight to the death, for otherwise, even if Prince Qi had firmly secured his reign, he could still manipulate the situation with ease.
Only by killing Prince Qi first could she have a chance to contest.
Yet she had still failed.
But she had another chance now.
Miss Jun opened her eyes, looking ahead. The trial with the young man had been very secretive; no one knew, and after she suddenly learned the truth and made a sudden decision, she died suddenly—neither Bing'er in the palace, nor Sister Bing'er outside, nor even the young man, had been exposed.
As long as they were well and alive, they were still evidence.
Now was not the time to meet or make arrangements; she would wait a bit longer.
Miss Jun lifted her foot to step forward and turn into the alley, but suddenly someone came charging out of the alley, almost crashing into her.
Miss Jun let out a low cry as she was knocked backward, but the person caught her; upon seeing who it was, both exclaimed in surprise.
"It's you again," Zhu Zan said, immediately letting go of Miss Jun's hand which he had just grabbed.
Previously steady, Miss Jun nearly fell from the abrupt release, and after stumbling a few steps, she had to lean against the wall to steady herself.
**********************************
Keep it up, Monday.
Thank you, md12, for the reward of three Spirit Beast Eggs and a Fairy Charm Connection. (/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~
Thank you Ninety-six Jin waiting for me, Southern Ice One, Miss Jun, Feng Ryong for rewarding He's Bi.
I am profoundly grateful. (/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~