The door of the Eight-Treasure Vermilion Wheel Canopy Carriage opened. As expected, the Grand Princess sat inside, looking at her with a smile. Chu Mingxi gave a graceful curtsy. Helped by the maids, she boarded the carriage. Yining and Qingdai, carrying the small medical chests used for house calls, joined the Marquis Mansion maids in the carriage behind.
“Qingchen was clamoring to come, but I persuaded him to stay. I was rather curious to see the Li family’s great display of power.”
After the carriage had traveled a short distance, Mu Yunxian spoke in a very casual tone, her smile gentle.
Chu Mingxi naturally understood that the Grand Princess was here to back her up. Although the Li family only held an official rank of the third grade, Li Shaohua was practically a guaranteed Prince Consort. By state ritual, he was His Majesty’s future son-in-law; by family ritual, he would be Wei Qingchen’s cousin-in-law. No matter how noble Wei Qingchen’s status, it wasn’t appropriate for her to overstep him at this moment.
“For troubling Your Highness to accompany me on this trip, the fault is mine.”
“What fault is there of yours? I heard all about yesterday’s events. They came slinking to your very doorstep—are they bullying my Marquis Mansion for having no one to defend it?!” Mu Yunxian let out a cold humph, then patted Chu Mingxi’s hand. “Don’t speak of trouble. From now on, we are family. I was just looking for a chance to have a quiet chat with you, and today suits perfectly.”
The carriage turned a corner. The streets gradually grew more bustling. They were still some distance from the Li Family Residence, so Mu Yunxian and Chu Mingxi chatted about everyday family matters. The main topic revolved around Wei Qingchen, that troublesome little child.
“Qingchen’s taste follows his father; he can’t eat chili peppers.”
“Yes. I’ll remember that.”
“No, you misunderstand.” The Grand Princess’s eyes curved, filled with a mischievous smile. “What I mean is, if he doesn’t behave, just feed him chili peppers! Guaranteed he’ll obey your every word!”
“…” Chu Mingxi blinked. “That’s…”
“If he bullies you, just tell me. I’ll have the cook make him chili peppers. There’s nothing chili peppers can’t solve. If one meal doesn’t do it, two will. I’m not afraid I can’t discipline him!” As the Grand Princess spoke, she laughed, her eyes bending into crescent moons.
She hadn’t expected the Grand Princess to tease her own child like this. Wei Qingchen must have been subjected to her fair share of this treatment. Imagining the scene, Chu Mingxi genuinely couldn’t help but laugh, too. The two chatted and laughed all the way. A little over half an hour later, the carriage stopped. The coachman reported from outside: they had arrived at the Li Family Residence.
Madam Li was indeed ill. However, it was Li Shaohua who had angered her into this state. Hearing that Li Shaohua had invited the Eldest Miss Chu, the very woman whose engagement he had previously broken, to come examine her, Madam Li’s chest ached with even more fury. Her illness indeed worsened by a few degrees. Pointing at Li Shaohua, she cursed him as an “unfilial, rebellious son” while simultaneously refusing to change her clothes to receive the guests.
A junior maid came running in, flustered. Seeing her, Li Shaohua immediately asked: Had the Eldest Miss Chu arrived? The maid answered “Yes.” Li Shaohua’s eyes lit up. Madam Li huffily turned her face away. The little maid grew even more panicked and hurriedly added to her report: “There is also a noble Madam accompanying the Eldest Miss Chu. She is called Her Highness the Grand Princess. The First Master and the Second Master are all out front accompanying her now.”
“What?!” Both Li Shaohua and his mother cried out together.
In this short time, the pleasantries in the front hall had already concluded. The Grand Princess stated that since the Madam was feeling unwell, it would be better to treat the illness sooner. Any delay causing some further incident would go against the original intent of the Imperial Medicine Hall’s physician.
These words were spoken without even the pretense of politeness.
The several men of the Li family, old and young, looked at each other. Who had invited this great Buddha here?
But since Her Highness had spoken, none dared disobey. They could only respectfully and obediently escort them to the rear courtyard.
Li Shaohua came out from his mother’s courtyard to greet them. Inside, he was both angry and anxious, yet on his face, he had to maintain the utmost respect. Seeing the Grand Princess, he clasped his hands and bowed from the waist, deeply, thanking Her Highness first for gracing them with her presence.
The Grand Princess rested one hand on her prospective daughter-in-law’s arm. With the other, she waved dismissively. “Spare me the empty formalities. Where is Madam Li?”
“My mother is slightly unwell. She is resting in bed and could not rise to greet your esteemed arrival. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
“Fine. Let’s go see.”
So saying, the Grand Princess lifted her foot and walked in. Li Shaohua had no choice but to accompany her into the courtyard.
All the titled men and womenfolk of the Li family had come and were waiting outside. Only Li Shaohua’s father, Li Min, followed them into the room.
For a household of the third rank, the rooms were not small. The Grand Princess glanced around. Before the bedchamber hung a curtain; presumably, the Madam was behind it.
Since arriving at the Li household, Chu Mingxi had remained tight-lipped, observing entirely how the Grand Princess handled things.
Li Shaohua also gave her a bow, requesting her to enter the bedchamber to take a look at his mother. Before Chu Mingxi could even open her mouth, the Grand Princess had already stepped forward. Li Shaohua urgently called out, “Your Highness!”
The Grand Princess stopped walking. “What is it?”
That voice was ice-cold, causing Li Shaohua to swallow involuntarily. He forcibly steadied his breath and said, “My mother’s illness is profoundly serious and deep-seated. Your Highness’s status is noble and exalted. I deeply fear the sickly miasma might transfer to you. That would be our Li family’s crime. I beg Your Highness to please take tea in the hall.”
“Didn’t you just say it was a slight ailment? Now that I merely take a look, it’s become a profound and deep-seated illness?”
“This humble official… this humble official did not mean it that way.”
“Or is it…” the Grand Princess spoke with a direct gaze fixed on the two Li men, the smile gradually freezing on her face, her brow carrying undisguised, aloof nobility, dignity, and icy sharpness, “that your Li family has some special circumstance which the royal house is not permitted to see?”
The words were too heavy. Li Shaohua’s father fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing. “Your Highness speaks too severely! This humble official’s life and possessions are all given by His Majesty. Every plant and tree belongs to the royal family. This humble official earnestly begs Your Highness to inspect whatever you wish.”
At this moment, Li Shaohua also came to his senses. He knelt down beside his father, pressed his hands to the floor, and knocked his head heavily against it.
The Grand Princess didn’t spare either of them a glance. She jutted her chin towards Chu Mingxi. “Go take a look at the Madam.”
Naturally, Madam Li in the inner room had heard all this conversation from outside. Originally, she had been so angry she was fit to burst, but now, all that was left was “fear.” The Grand Princess’s status was inherently noble—she was the current Emperor’s only full sister by blood. Her husband’s family was the current dynasty’s Grand General, holding great power. What did her own son count for? Never mind that he hadn’t even married the Sixth Princess yet; even if he had, he absolutely could not compare to the Wei family.
If the Grand Princess decided to squeeze them, today, a single sentence like “I wonder if there are any unauthorized items hidden here,” and their entire family would be dead!
When Chu Mingxi entered, Madam Li hurriedly shut her eyes. But she was too tense, and her eyeballs darted around uncontrollably beneath the lids. Chu Mingxi pretended not to notice and reached out to feel her pulse.
Before long, she emerged from the bedchamber. Those two Li men were still kneeling on the floor.
“Has Madam Li recently been unable to sleep at night, with palpitations and restlessness?”
Li Min was startled and looked towards his son.
Li Shaohua, still kneeling, replied, “Yes. My mother suddenly felt a pain in her chest the day before yesterday. She couldn’t sleep the entire night. I had no choice but to come and request the Eldest Miss Chu.”
Chu Mingxi gave a small smile to the Grand Princess. “This illness can actually be considered a sickness of the heart. The Madam’s liver qi is excessively intense. Qi moves through her chest, causing the palpitations and restlessness. If she can learn to let things go a little, it will naturally heal itself without the need for medicine.”
“Mmm. Lord Li, did you hear that clearly? Do fewer things that prick your conscience, and naturally, you’ll have no ailments.”
Grand Princess’s words were unanswerable for Li Min. He could only kowtow once more.
Most of the accompanying maids had been left outside. Only Qingdai had followed, carrying the wooden physician’s chest. According to the rules, she had already laid out brush and ink on the table, ready to assist her Miss in writing the prescription. Chu Mingxi casually scribbled a prescription. She didn’t hand it over but merely left it on the table. She took a clean cloth prepared by her own maid and wiped her hands, then smiled. “This is not some hidden ailment. If Young Master Li encounters similar illnesses in the future, he can simply ask a physician at any medicine shop. It may sound like a joke, but though I am the proprietor of Imperial Medicine Hall, my diagnostic skills are far inferior compared to the Old Master Healers in the shops.”
Everyone could hear the meaning in and between her words: Li family, don’t come looking for me for no reason, and even more so, don’t come looking when there is a reason! Li Min and Li Shaohua both vomited a mouthful of blood—internally.
With the prescription written, the Grand Princess led Chu Mingxi away, surrounded by their maids. The Li family, old and young, stood there in the autumn wind for a long while, yet the Princess dispensed with even the basic pleasantries.
The Li father and son were still kneeling on the ground. The Grand Princess had not dismissed them, so they could not rise. They simply changed their direction, kneeling while respectfully sending the Princess out. The hem of Chu Mingxi’s skirt, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance, was always about two feet away from Li Shaohua. Prostrate on the ground, Li Shaohua felt that cool fragrance slowly, bit by bit, leave his line of sight—leaving the trajectory his life was supposed to follow, too.
Only after the Grand Princess’s entourage was long gone did Li Min slowly struggle up from the ground. Without knowing when, his back was already entirely drenched in cold sweat. His son was still kneeling. He very much wanted to kick him flying with one foot, but in less than half a month, his son would be marrying the Emperor’s daughter. He had to forcibly swallow that kick.
“You invited that Chu girl over here? What were you trying to do?” He suppressed his voice, staring intently at his son.
“Father doesn’t know what I was trying to do? Why did you withdraw the engagement in the first place? I don’t want to marry a princess.”
“You’re about to be married, and now you say you don’t want to marry a princess!”
“If you hadn’t kept me locked away in the other estate, would I only be saying this now? If I could have been in the capital two years ago, I would have acted then!” Li Shaohua raised his head, stubborn and unwilling.
“Ridiculous wretch!” Li Min still couldn’t hold back, slapping him across the face! The blow knocked his youngest son’s head to one side. He paced back and forth in the room twice, then pointed a trembling finger at his son. “I don’t care what intentions you have regarding that Chu girl—pack them all away! Look at the situation today. Just think about whether you have the life for it!”
After throwing these words out, Li Min flicked his sleeve and stormed out. Li Shaohua’s head, which had been knocked to one side, slowly turned back. His eyes were a bloodshot crimson, filled entirely with hatred.
The whole incident at the Li household hadn’t lasted even the time it takes to burn an incense stick. The Jingyuan Marquis Mansion’s Eight-Treasure Vermilion Wheel Canopy Carriage was once again moving at a steady trot. The Grand Princess leaned against the carriage wall, pondered for a moment, and then said earnestly, “Li Shaohua has a deeply scheming mind. In the future, if I am not by your side, try to avoid him if you can. I’m afraid he might resort to underhanded tactics.”
“Alright.” Chu Mingxi nodded.
“Why so quiet and subdued?” The Grand Princess asked half-jokingly, “You and him…”
Chu Mingxi hurriedly shook her head. “Lord Li and I never had much contact to begin with. It’s just that before, he didn’t seem like this kind of person. I originally thought it was merely the Li family’s ambition to climb higher. But seeing him now, this person’s mind and methods—most likely he was never an honorable man from the start.”
“Knowing a face is easy; knowing a heart? Not so simple.” The Grand Princess also sighed, but then broke into a smile again. “However, there are always exceptions. That little rascal of my family doesn’t have these kinds of calculations. I suppose it’s because he grew up following his Father Marshal in military campaigns and on the battlefield. Those crooked, twisting schemes, in his eyes, are nothing but petty plots and narrow calculations worthy only of contempt.”
Chu Mingxi pursed her lips in a smile. That point, she also knew.
