The familiar faint fragrance of apricot blossoms made Ji Lingchuan pause for a moment. Unconsciously, he tightened his supporting hand, but the next moment, he was forcefully shaken off.
The person who bumped into him hurriedly took a few steps back. Then, supporting the veil hat on her head, she quickly walked around him and rushed out.
She didn't even say sorry, moving so fast as if she was evading some ferocious beast.
The faint fragrance lingering around his nose suddenly vanished, leaving only the strong smell of medicine in the medical clinic, as if the fragrance just now had been a figment of Ji Lingchuan's imagination.
Ji Lingchuan's eyes involuntarily followed her figure, and his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
The woman wore a veil hat on her head, and the light gauze obscured her figure.
As she took such hasty steps and the brim of her hat was pressed extremely low, he couldn't see her face clearly. All he remembered was the large expanse of apricot blossoms fluttering on her skirt with each step.
Fu Zhou stepped forward and saw Ji Lingchuan standing outside the medical clinic, staring out. He wondered, "My lord, what are you looking at?"
The woman's figure had already disappeared into the crowd. Ji Lingchuan came back to his senses, said nothing, and strode into the medical clinic.
Fu Zhou scratched his head and quickly followed behind him.
Finding the doctor, Ji Lingchuan got straight to the point. "Do you have any ointment for reducing swelling and dispelling stasis here?"
The doctor could tell that he was of noble birth and replied very enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, yes. But I wonder where the guest intends to use this ointment. What does the wound look like? Is there any bleeding, swelling, or suppuration?"
Fu Zhou was even more alarmed. "What? My lord, you're injured? Where is the injury? Let this subordinate take a look!"
Ji Lingchuan: "..."
Coughing forcefully twice, Ji Lingchuan told Fu Zhou to go and guard outside. Then he said to the doctor, "The injury is not on me. You just need to give me the best one. I'm afraid I can't elaborate further. I hope the doctor will understand."
The doctor had seen many people in his life and instantly understood. He quickly took out a small porcelain bottle from the box and stuffed it into Ji Lingchuan's hand. Winking, he lowered his voice.
"This ointment is made from twelve kinds of medicinal materials after three days and three nights of boiling. Its medicinal effect is mild and non-irritating. The wound will be as good as new in no more than two days."
Ji Lingchuan took the medicine bottle, left the silver, and then got up to leave.
Back at the Prince Ning's Mansion, as soon as Ji Lingchuan entered the door, he asked the steward who came forward to greet him, "Is the Princess here in the mansion?"
The steward, surnamed Zhang, replied with a smile. "The Princess was called by the Princess Dowager to the Pine and Crane Courtyard early this morning and hasn't left yet."
She hadn't left?
Thinking of what had happened in the medical clinic just now, Ji Lingchuan frowned slightly but didn't say anything. He just nodded and then walked in the direction of the Pine and Crane Courtyard.
In the Pine and Crane Hall, Song Nanxin sat below the Princess Dowager of Prince Ning. Her posture was extremely proper, with her head slightly lowered. When listening to the Princess Dowager, she would lean forward slightly. Her etiquette was impeccable.
Beside the Princess Dowager, an old maid was holding a white handkerchief printed with red plum blossoms on a tray. It was the one that Song Nanxin had just taken from the couch.
As Song Nanxin had expected, seeing this handkerchief, the Princess Dowager's attitude towards her was much better than before. She even gave her a pair of jade ruyi scepters and jade bracelets.
The Princess Dowager said with a smile, "You've been married into the Prince's Mansion for half a year, and it was only yesterday that you could consummate your marriage with Chuan'er. You've really been wronged in these half a year. Now that you've consummated your marriage, serve the Prince well from now on and give birth to an heir for the Prince's Mansion as soon as possible, so that the Prince and I can hold our eldest grandson soon."
Four years ago, Ji Lingchuan was ordered in a critical moment and led 100,000 Black Armored Troops to the border to defend against the enemy. He fought on the battlefield at the border for several years, and only after beheading the invading enemy general did he achieve a great victory.
After that, an imperial edict was sent from the capital to the border. Besides being conferred the title of "General Who Conquers the Distant", the Empress Dowager also arranged a marriage for him. The bride was Song Nanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an.
Half a year ago, he should have returned to the capital for the wedding, but there was still a remnant force of the enemy. They sneaked an attack on an important pass in Suicheng at the border. He had to lead the Black Armored Troops to kill them, so he missed the time for the wedding in the capital. Song Nanxin could only hold the wedding ceremony with a suit of armor and thus married into the Prince Ning's Mansion and became his wife.
It was only yesterday that the husband and wife finally met each other, and they consummated their marriage smoothly at the first meeting, which made the Princess Dowager extremely satisfied.
Song Nanxin knew this very well. With a bit of shyness, she said in a low voice, "Your daughter-in-law understands. Your daughter-in-law will fulfill her duties as the Princess."
The Princess Dowager nodded and said, "This Prince's Mansion will ultimately be handed over to Chuan'er in the future. As the Princess, you should also try to get involved in the affairs of the mansion. Here are the account books of two shops under the name of the Prince's Mansion and the income and expenditure of the western suburb villa in the past half a year. Have a look."
After saying that, another old maid walked forward with three thick account books in her hands and handed them to Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin secretly took a deep breath. Her proper smile instantly froze on her face. But facing the sharp gaze of the Princess Dowager, she could only grit her teeth and take them. She began to flip through them in front of the Princess Dowager.
As soon as she saw the dense small characters inside, Song Nanxin felt dizzy. Before the Princess Dowager could notice anything, she closed the account books and put on a sweet smile. "Thank you, Mother, for your trust. Your daughter-in-law will study hard to share your worries."
The Princess Dowager didn't notice the strangeness on her face. She nodded and suddenly remembered something. "By the way. I remember that you brought some people back to the mansion some time ago. They seemed to be your half-sister and half-brother?"
Unexpectedly, the Princess Dowager would suddenly mention Song Yihuan and her younger brother. Song Nanxin's heart skipped a beat. Unconsciously, she tightened the account books in her hands. "That's right."
"Are they still in the mansion?"
Before Song Nanxin could answer, Nanny Hu beside the Princess Dowager said, "Replying to the Princess Dowager, they are still here. Miss Song the Fourth even attended the welcoming banquet for the Prince yesterday."
The Princess Dowager gave a soft "hmm" and looked at Song Nanxin. Song Nanxin's heart instantly rose to her throat.
"Before, Chuan'er was not here. You lacked someone to talk to in the mansion, so it was okay to bring them back to accompany you. Now that Chuan'er has returned to the capital and you two are newlyweds, it's not appropriate to keep them in the mansion any longer. Find an opportunity to send them back to the Marquis's Mansion." When the Princess Dowager said this, her expression was calm, as if she had never paid any attention to these two "guests" who were temporarily staying in the mansion.
The Princess Dowager was the mistress of the Prince's Mansion and the younger sister of the current Empress Dowager. She was also a decisive person. Since she said they should be sent away, then they naturally had to be sent away. But Song Nanxin panicked.
That wouldn't do. She was still having her period, and her lower abdomen twitched from time to time. She simply couldn't accompany the Prince to bed. If she sent Song Yihuan and her younger brother away at this time, who would serve Ji Lingchuan for her and conceal the fact that she couldn't enjoy the Prince's favor and couldn't get pregnant?
The Princess Dowager didn't get an answer from Song Nanxin. Just as she was about to ask, at this moment, the voice of an old woman came from outside the house to announce.
"The Prince is here."