Chapter 47: The Governor’s Mansion

In the days that followed, Chu Mingxi hardly left her quarters. Each day, she either tested the toxicity of the moldy corn with various medicinal reagents, or pored over medical texts hoping to find clues in ancient prescriptions. Yet, whether it came to a cure or even confirming that the corn kernels were the source of the illness, she was still unable to be certain.

By the afternoon of the fifth day, a servant came to report that Doctor Tang had returned. Hearing this, Chu Mingxi knew in her heart that Old Lady Wen must have passed. She instructed the servants to invite Doctor Tang to wait in the outer study with tea. She herself changed into a proper gown for receiving guests before going out with Qingdai.

Shopkeeper Yu had also arrived and was talking with Doctor Tang. Seeing the Head Proprietor enter, both men rose and bowed to her.

Chu Mingxi took her seat in the main chair, accepted the medical case files Doctor Tang handed over, and listened to him describe the changes in Old Lady Wen’s condition over the past few days.

The old woman had passed, her internal organs putrefying until her death—a testament to the virulence of the disease. In the final stages, Old Lady Wen was in unbearable agony. Every time she woke, it was to wail and beg for death. Left with no other options, Doctor Tang had no choice but to use four heavy drugs—Chinese Azalea, Jasmine Root, Angelica Sinensis, and Acorus Calamus—to concoct an oral Anesthetic Decoction. The old lady was made to take it with warm wine. The anesthetic was administered heavily, barely suppressing the pain, and Old Lady Wen slept in a stupor. So she passed her final days, drifting away in that deep sleep.

“That… was for the best. At least she wasn’t tormented to death. She suffered less.” Seeing the Head Proprietor silent, Shopkeeper Yu offered carefully.

Chu Mingxi flipped through the case files in her hands. It was impossible not to grieve—a life lost, after all. Yet, as a descendant of an Imperial Apothecary family, she was well-acquainted with life and death. What concerned her far more now was whether these corn kernels truly caused the illness. If the disease was so virulent, why was it so rarely seen in medical texts?

And, most importantly, how was she to find a cure?

Nearly two months had passed in the blink of an eye since they arrived in Peaceful Ease Prefecture. Chu Mingxi had written several letters, sending them back to the Capital City with her family’s medicinal convoy. The Grand Princess was extremely understanding; her replies told Chu Mingxi to rest assured while handling the matter. She also noted that if she saw Chen’er again, to tell her to focus on serving His Majesty without worry for the home.

As early summer arrived, the lotuses in Peaceful Ease Prefecture bloomed one after another. Chen Prefecture was in the Northern Region, so the lotus blooming season was short. The city’s residents all took advantage of the summer scenery to cruise the lake and admire the flowers. At the peak of the flowering season, the Governor’s Wife, née Bao, chose a day to reserve the Shattered Jade Pavilion by the lake and invited all the notable wives and young misses of Peaceful Ease Prefecture for flower appreciation.

On the surface, this appeared to be the Governor’s Wife being affable and elegant, but in truth, every level of the bureaucracy knew perfectly well: this was the time for the annual “ice tribute.” Sending gifts under the guise of a ladies’ flower-viewing gathering was discreet and not easily noticed. The Governor had held his post for many years; everyone had become accustomed to this routine.

The day before the flower banquet, Madam Deng, wife of Li County’s Deputy County Magistrate, arrived by carriage in Peaceful Ease Prefecture. It wasn’t that the family of a lowly eighth-rank official was highly esteemed; rather, she was a cousin of the Governor’s Wife, née Bao. Though the relation was twice removed, as long as there was a connection, shouldn’t she come and foster closeness?

Every year, she attended the lotus banquet hosted by Lady Bao, and every year, she never came empty-handed. Though her husband’s family were mere eighth-rank officials, with the Governor’s Mansion backing them—the ultimate authority in Peaceful Ease Prefecture—no one in the county ever dared bully her.

Preparations were underway inside the Governor’s Mansion for the next day’s banquet. With a set precedent from previous years, the servants were busy but not chaotic. The masters of the house were usually strict, but they would be lenient on these days. After all, it was the season for collecting silver once again.

The Governor’s Wife was overseeing the servants as they inventoried gifts sent in advance from various families when a young maid reported that her cousin from Li County had arrived. She had been wanting someone to show off to, so she giggled behind her hand and said, “Invite her in quickly.”

Madam Deng had also brought gifts. Upon entering the mansion, she first offered flattery, saying the Governor’s Wife grew ever younger and more beautiful, and that her sons and daughters were all outstanding talents.

Lady Bao, being older by several years, did look younger than most women her age because she maintained herself well. Hearing her cousin’s praise now, she couldn’t help feeling smug. As she idly picked up a gift or two from the pile on the table to admire, she casually asked, “You used to bring Young Miss Deng with you every year. Why is she absent this time? Could it be she’s betrothed?” She pushed a pearl necklace into her cousin’s hand. “If so, you must tell me. I’ll add to her dowry.”

Madam Deng’s heart leaped with joy as she took the pearl necklace. But mentioning her daughter made her sigh. She spoke honestly, “She’s been ill recently. We called several physicians, but she didn’t improve. Then we heard there was a very skilled female doctor here in Peaceful Ease Prefecture. I sent someone personally, escorting her all the way to Li County, and only then did my daughter begin to recover. She’s still at home convalescing now.”

“Oh?” The Governor’s Wife’s interest was piqued. “Which female doctor? How is it I don’t know of her?”

Just at that moment, another batch of gifts arrived. The Governor’s eldest son accepted the gifts outside, first sending his wife inside with the gift list for his mother’s inspection.

The daughter-in-law, Lady Wen, entered the main room with the list and paid her respects to her mother-in-law and maternal aunt. Lady Bao acknowledged her without much interest, took the list, and glanced over it. Lady Wen stood obediently to the side and only when her mother-in-law told her it was done did she quietly withdraw.

Madam Deng then launched into another round of praise for Lady Wen, extolling her cousin’s excellent household management. The Governor’s Wife let out a scoff and glanced dismissively in the direction her daughter-in-law had left. “In principle, she is filial. There’s just one thing: she married in over a year ago, and there’s still no sign.”

This was a difficult topic for Madam Deng, so she could only suggest with a placating smile, “Perhaps worship at a temple and pray to the Bodhisattva of Childbearing?”

“We’ve already visited temples countless times!” Lady Bao was still deeply displeased. Recalling their unfinished conversation, she gestured with the gift list in her hand. “You mentioned a very skilled female doctor here in Peaceful Ease Prefecture?”

“Ah?” Madam Deng paused, then quickly nodded, thinking that recommending a good doctor was beneficial to all parties. “Yes. At the Imperial Medicine Hall. Her surname is Chu, I hear. A relative of mine—an aunt—told me about her. Doctor Chu has treated many difficult illnesses. People have sent inscribed plaques to the Imperial Medicine Hall, calling her a living Bodhisattva.”

“Oh? Such a talent emerged in Peaceful Ease Prefecture, and I knew nothing of it?” Lady Bao nodded, pleased. Accustomed to commanding others, she immediately summoned a maid. “Go! Send a servant to the Imperial Medicine Hall and invite a female doctor named Chu here.”

Seeing her manner, Madam Deng was taken aback and hastily added, “I heard from my husband that she seems to be a relative of an affluent family, not someone putting out a sign and practicing publicly. Madam, perhaps more formality would be appropriate?”

Lady Bao let out a hearty laugh, smugly declaring, “In this entire Peaceful Ease Prefecture, there is no one my Governor’s Mansion cannot summon!”

Thinking it over, Madam Deng found that true and said no more. She changed the subject, “Whose family sent this antique? Truly beautiful. And that scroll—it’s clearly an authentic masterpiece! Madam Governor, you are so blessed!”

The Governor’s Mansion occupied the finest location in Peaceful Ease Prefecture. The Imperial Medicine Hall, being an open business, naturally couldn’t be set up too far away. So, even though the servant departed the mansion near dusk, he managed to return before dark.

Hearing that the masters were dining, the maids didn’t dare barge in and make nuisances of themselves. It wasn’t until the entire mansion was lit that the Governor’s Wife was entertaining a few early-arriving relatives—sisters and daughters-in-law—with tea in the side hall. Only then did a young maid cautiously approach and whisper, “The man sent to invite the doctor has returned. Doctor Chu said… she won’t come.”

“Won’t come?!” The Governor’s Wife’s eyebrows shot up as she barked, “What do you mean, she won’t come? How much nerve does she have to refuse?”

The young maid was nearly in tears from fright. She knelt down. “The servant said Doctor Chu asked him what person had what illness. He couldn’t answer. Doctor Chu then said she wouldn’t come. The servant said… it was the Governor’s Mansion requesting her presence, and she’d know upon arrival. But Doctor Chu still refused.”

The Governor’s Wife was panting with rage. Hah! A female doctor, completely unknown, dared refuse an appointment from the Governor’s Mansion on her turf in Peaceful Ease Prefecture?

By now, Madam Deng deeply regretted her earlier flapping tongue, but she had to step forward and bite the bullet. “I have met this Doctor Chu. She cares for nothing beyond healing. A mere servant of ours going, speaking so vaguely, how could she possibly know it was you, Madam, who invited her? If she knew, she certainly wouldn’t be so improper.”

Everyone chimed in with agreement.

After the flattery, Lady Bao’s anger finally subsided. She supposed talented people always had their quirks. Suppressing her temper, she pointed at the reporting maid and ordered, “Early tomorrow morning, have the Steward go with my personal name card to invite her. If he fails to bring her back, tell him he needn’t return either!”

The assembled wives and ladies stared at each other. The young maid, holding back tears, retreated.

Inside the rear residence of the Imperial Medicine Hall, Chu Mingxi truly had no time to spare. Moments ago, the kitchen staff had reported that the sack of corn had inexplicably lost half its contents. No one knew when, or by whom, it had been taken.

She had been careless. It should have been locked in the storeroom.

She ordered an immediate and severe investigation into who had touched the corn in that sack. Anyone who came forward immediately would not be held accountable!

Yet not a single person dared step up. Even after she stated the corn had molded and was likely toxic, no one dared admit taking it.

Sitting at the table, Chu Mingxi propped her forehead on her bent fingers, feeling agitated.

This was practically a sack of some unknown poison!

The thought that its toxicity could invade the organs with no cure made Chu Mingxi clench her fingers hatefully.

Yining, holding a bowl of hot congee and two small dishes, arrived at the doorway. The door was ajar. Qingdai stood outside and gently shook her head.

This congee had just been freshly made. The Eldest Young Miss hadn’t eaten dinner. They all knew the situation was dire, and no one dared urge her. Even the Second Young Miss had been sent away.

Yining, holding the congee, was truly in a dilemma.

“Someone!” Chu Mingxi called from inside the room.

Yining and Qingdai entered together. “Eldest Young Miss.”

“Send an order to the entire residence: anyone who knows the whereabouts of that sack of corn is to be immediately rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! Anyone who finds and returns it intact gets two hundred! If the one who took it returns it themselves, no punishment, and the reward still stands!”

Both maids stared in astonishment, eyes wide. Chu Mingxi, her face somber, waved them off. “Go, now!”