Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Owed Her a Sky-High Favor

The Song Family practiced medicine for generations and had lasted through three dynasties. By the time it reached young Imperial Physician Song, no one knew how much prestige they had built up. Among the people, there were countless Healer who had made a name for themselves with a copy of the “Song Family Medical Classic”.

Imperial Physician Song’s Father even had his name carved into the Shrine of Sages. Young Imperial Physician Song truly could not understand why Father treated the Duke Qi residence so specially, especially now that it had even lost the Cinnabar Iron Charter.

Imperial Physician Song suddenly spoke a name: “Princess Qing Ning.” Young Imperial Physician Song froze.

Imperial Physician Song went on, “Our Song Family owes Princess Qing Ning a debt as vast as the sky. So long as Princess Qing Ning opened her mouth, even if I was so old that I could not get out of bed today, I would still come in person to take the Duchess’s pulse.”

Young Imperial Physician Song stared and asked, “Princess Qing Ning?”

After a long moment, young Imperial Physician Song finally remembered. Young Imperial Physician Song asked, “You mean that Princess Qing Ning who begged to marry down and even went on a hunger strike until she almost fainted?”

Ever since Princess Qing Ning married into the Duke residence, young Imperial Physician Song had not heard her name again. How could the Song Family owe her anything?

Imperial Physician Song glanced at young Imperial Physician Song and asked, “Do you remember the plague in the Northern Frontier army four years ago?”

Imperial Physician Song said, “That prescription that made the Song Family famous again actually came from Princess Qing Ning.”

Imperial Physician Song recalled those events, and young Imperial Physician Song jerked to his feet inside the carriage.

The roof went “bang” against his head, but young Imperial Physician Song did not even notice the pain. Young Imperial Physician Song only widened his eyes and blurted, “How could that be? How old was she back then? She had not even come of age, right? You’re saying she came up with that prescription?!”

Imperial Physician Song looked at his son with open disdain and said, “Fourteen!”

Young Imperial Physician Song opened his mouth, then asked after a long pause, “Are you serious?”

Imperial Physician Song could not be bothered to answer. Imperial Physician Song closed his eyes again.

Young Imperial Physician Song sat there in a daze, his expression shifting as he tried to dig up every rumor he had ever heard about Princess Qing Ning.

People said Princess Qing Ning was born to a Palace Maid who had once been favored. That Palace Maid died of a massive hemorrhage after giving birth, yet the newborn Princess Qing Ning smiled and grabbed Empress Dowager’s hand.

Because of that, Empress Dowager cherished Princess Qing Ning and personally raised her by her side. Even His Majesty favored her.

Because Princess Qing Ning had a weak body, she was sent to the Southern Travel Palace every winter, then brought back in spring. Her looks and talent were not bad.

But compared to all of that, what made her truly famous was the way she had begged to marry Qi Shu Xian. She knelt for three days and starved herself to force an imperial decree, and the entire capital city knew she loved Qi Shu Xian with all her heart.

Now Qi Shu Xian had returned from Cang Nan with a woman, and many taverns and teahouses had even opened gambling pools. They bet on how many days it would take before Princess Qing Ning agreed to let that woman enter the residence.

Everyone treated Princess Qing Ning like some inner-courtyard woman who only knew how to talk about love. Yet no one knew that the person who had saved a hundred thousand soldiers at the Northern Frontier had also been her.

Young Imperial Physician Song pinched his thigh again and again until the flesh turned blue. Only then did young Imperial Physician Song believe he was not dreaming.

*Qi Shu Xian returned in great triumph, and Eldest Sister Qi Fei Yan rushed back to her natal home at once. When Qi Fei Yan heard he was injured and had even stood in the rain for a full day and night just to coax Sheng Zhi Wan, Qi Fei Yan became so furious that Qi Fei Yan smashed the Talent Cup Token.

Green porcelain shards flew everywhere, but Qi Fei Yan did not even look at them. Qi Fei Yan shouted, “Absurd! This is completely absurd! You went to war for two years and barely survived. You finally came back, and it’s only taking in a person, yet Sheng Zhi Wan made you stand in the rain for a full day and night while you were injured?!”

As Qi Fei Yan spoke, the ornate Jadeite and Pearl Headpiece Set on Qi Fei Yan’s head swayed. Qi Fei Yan sneered, “A man having three wives and four concubines is normal! In the capital city, which man your age does not have pretty wives and beautiful concubines in his arms? Only you! I think she is relying on her Princess status and putting on airs in our Duke Qi residence!”

Qi Shu Xian had just changed his medicine, and Qi Shu Xian’s face still looked pale. Qi Shu Xian said, “Enough, Eldest Sister. This matter was me wronging her.”

Madam Cui doted on her son and had already ordered a refined, careful meal to be served. Madam Cui and Qi Fei Yan sat to the side and watched Qi Shu Xian eat a little.

Only then did Madam Cui speak. Madam Cui said, “Your Eldest Sister is not wrong. These two years, even though you were not in the residence, Mother already handed the household authority to her. Mother does not ask for much. Mother only wanted her to keep the inner residence steady while you built your career, but what she did today clearly lacked the dignity of a great clan matron.”

Madam Cui added, “Besides, you were set up, so it was not your fault in the first place. Yet when she saw me today, she did not even step down from her carriage, so her heart is clearly full of resentment.”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together and said, “But Sheng Zhi Wan still agreed.”

Qi Fei Yan scoffed and said, “Hah, did Sheng Zhi Wan dare not agree? Do not forget how eagerly she begged her way into this marriage. Our family did not marry a Princess as a consort. You should not give her too much face, or you will only spoil her temper. If you keep her cold, she will learn her place!”

Madam Cui sighed and said, “That petty temper truly is not proper. It is not that we want to bully her, but she is of the Imperial House, so she cannot help being proud.”

Madam Cui continued, “Between husband and wife, nothing is more taboo than a weak husbandly authority. Mother only fears trouble later. Since you are a husband, you should be able to keep her in hand.”

Qi Shu Xian did not want to deal with these inner-courtyard matters. Qi Shu Xian only answered, “Understood.”

Madam Cui saw Qi Shu Xian’s attitude and knew Qi Shu Xian had not taken it to heart. Madam Cui suddenly remembered something and said, “That red fox pelt you brought back is nice. I want to make a pair of knee guards for you, and I also want to make two hand-warmer covers for your Eldest Sister and Second Sister.”

Madam Cui added, “Right, and there is also Meng Yang. Meng Yang is carrying a child, so Meng Yang must be well cared for.”

Qi Shu Xian froze.

That pelt was something Qi Shu Xian had hunted to give Sheng Zhi Wan. On the day Qi Shu Xian left, Sheng Zhi Wan had said there were red fox in Cang Nan, and if Qi Shu Xian happened to meet one, Qi Shu Xian should hunt one for Sheng Zhi Wan. Qi Shu Xian had agreed without hesitation, but now Mother had opened her mouth.

Madam Cui saw Qi Shu Xian hesitate and asked, “What, do you have another use for it?”

Qi Shu Xian shook his head and said, “No. If Mother likes it, Mother can take it.”