Ch 51: A Time Of Calamity

When Meng Tingyue awoke, she smelled a familiar scent. She turned her head slightly and saw Qin Mama keeping watch beside her. Her gaze lingered, taking in the familiar furnishings in the room.

She was back at the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

“Thank goodness, Buddha bless, she’s finally awake,” Qin Mama said, her anxiety finally subsiding.

Qinglan and Qingdian approached, their eyes shining with unconcealed joy.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“An hour and a half. The Imperial Physician said that Crown Princess took a hard fall and needs to rest and recuperate properly,” Qin Mama said, her words full of concern for Meng Tingyue.

Upon hearing this, Qinglan’s eyes welled up, filled with guilt. “It’s all my fault. I didn’t protect the Crown Princess…”

“It’s alright, alright. I’m fine now. He was aiming for me, and you couldn’t have known beforehand, how could you possibly guess his intentions?”

Seeing Qinglan crying, Meng Tingyue quickly comforted her.

Getting up caused pain in her head wound, making her frown.

Seeing this, Qinglan’s tears instantly stopped. She hurriedly said, “Miss, please lie back down, don’t move anymore.”

Meng Tingyue obediently lay back down.

“What about Meng Yitang? What does Father intend to do with him?”

Upon hearing this, Qingdian was furious. She said indignantly, “I heard that he’s going to be left to Master’s judgment, but Master loves the Third Young Master so much, I’m afraid it will only be a symbolic punishment. He won’t even touch a hair on his head.”

But Meng Tingyue said, “No, this time he injured me in public, with His Highness the Crown Prince present. Father won’t handle it the way he has in the past. He needs to give His Highness the Crown Prince an explanation, and Meng Yitang will undoubtedly suffer physical punishment.”

“He’d better be unable to get out of bed for a month.”

“Even that wouldn’t be satisfying enough. Crown Princess is so precious, her neck wound isn’t even healed yet, and now she’s hurt her head. Are you cursed or something? How can you suffer so many injuries in just three days?”

Qinglan complained.

Shen Yunheng stopped outside the door, overhearing this conversation.

“Should His Highness go in?” Ling Xiao’s voice was low and soft, with a hint of probing.

Shen Yunheng gently shook his head and turned to leave.

“Forget it, let’s not mention this anymore,” Qin Mama said.

Several servants, each carrying a tray, entered one after another.

Qingdian quickly stepped forward and carefully examined the items on the trays.

“Crown Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince sent some things over,” Qingdian said in a clear and pleasant voice.

“Oh? What is it?” Meng Tingyue tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.

“Some medicinal herbs to nourish the body.”

“Then let’s accept them.” Meng Tingyue’s interest immediately vanished, her tone laced with a hint of disappointment.

She thought to herself, why didn’t His Highness the Crown Prince come to see her after she was injured?

Is he really just a wooden man without any feelings?

A surge of irritation welled up in Meng Tingyue’s heart.

…

Meng Tingyue’s head wound healed after a few days. After staying in the room for a few days, she was feeling stifled and couldn’t take it any longer. When the wound had scabbed over and was almost healed, she couldn’t wait to go out.

“Crown Princess, you’ve only rested for three days. The wound hasn’t fully healed yet. You shouldn’t go out.” Qingdian worried.

“I am a physician, I say I’m fine, then I’m fine.”

She snatched the veil from Qingdian’s hand and put it on.

She left the mansion and rushed to Renxin Hall without stopping.

There were several guests buying medicine at Renxin Hall, so she waited to the side.

After all the guests had finished buying medicine and left, Qingdian went to find the apothecary’s assistant.

“Is Physician Guo here?”

The apothecary’s assistant, naturally recognizing Qingdian, pointed towards the inner room, “Physician Guo is inside.”

Meng Tingyue, accompanied by Qinglan and Qingdian, entered the inner room together.

Physician Guo was inspecting newly arrived medicinal herbs in the inner room. Hearing the sound of someone entering, he walked directly to a small table nearby.

After sitting down, he slowly raised his head, “Something is not right…”

Seeing Qingdian, his expression turned slightly awkward. “Oh, it’s Miss Qingdian. Are you here to see a doctor or pick up medicine today?”

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell on the veiled person behind her.

Meng Tingyue sat down calmly and lifted the veil, revealing a clean and elegant face, free of cosmetics.

“Physician Guo.”

Without Meng Tingyue’s introduction, Physician Guo immediately understood and quickly knelt down.

“Your Humble Servant greets the Crown Princess.”

The two Meng Family daughters, one married into the Eastern Palace and the other betrothed to the Fifth Prince, were already well-known throughout Jingdu. Moreover, Physician Guo had met Meng Tingyue once before. Although time had passed, the memory was still clear.

“Physician Guo, please rise,” Meng Tingyue gestured lightly.

Physician Guo wiped his sweat and sat down.

“I wonder if Your Highness the Crown Princess has any discomfort?”

Meng Tingyue gently shook her head.

Qinglan quickly took out two packets of medicine and a prescription and placed them on the desk in front of Physician Guo.

Physician Guo slowly reached out to take the prescription.

His eyes narrowed as he read the writing, his heart suddenly jolted. “Isn’t this the prescription I wrote for the Crown Princess to nourish her body?”

Meng Tingyue nodded slightly, “Please examine these two packets of medicine, Physician Guo.”

Physician Guo opened the two packets of medicine and began to examine the medicinal herbs inside under Meng Tingyue’s gaze.

“Physician Guo, have you found anything wrong?” Meng Tingyue spoke lightly, her voice clear and melodious.

These words fell on Physician Guo’s ears like a death knell, every word striking his heartstrings, making his back go cold.

“Your Humble Servant doesn’t know what the Crown Princess is talking about,” Physician Guo feigned composure, but his trembling voice betrayed him.

Seeing him refuse to admit it, Meng Tingyue calmly mentioned a few names of herbs.

“If Physician Guo still insists on his innocence, This Palace doesn’t mind sending these two packets of medicinal herbs to the Palace and having the Imperial Physicians of the Taiyuan Hospital carefully examine them.”

Hearing this, his face instantly turned pale, his legs seemed to lose all strength, and he involuntarily knelt down.

“Crown Princess, please understand, this was not my intention. Your Humble Servant was coerced and had no choice but to replace those herbs.”

Meng Tingyue’s eyes were calm and still, without a trace of surprise.

On the other hand, Qinglan and Qingdian behind her, their eyes were like turbulent waves, their shock unconcealed.

“When were the herbs replaced?”

At this point, Physician Guo had no more reason to hide anything.

“Nine years ago.”

These three words fell on Meng Tingyue’s heart like a thousand-pound hammer. She unconsciously tightened her grip on her handkerchief.

“Nine years ago? That’s not long after Crown Princess returned to Jingdu from Jiangnan, is it?”

Qinglan’s voice was filled with rage, like a volcano about to erupt. She could no longer hold back, and kicked Physician Guo hard on his frail shoulder.

Physician Guo collapsed to the ground, his weather-beaten face now filled with despair and defeat.

“No wonder my illness has never been cured all these years. So that’s how it was,” Meng Tingyue nodded understandingly, then asked sharply, “Who ordered you to do this?”

“The Xiao Family.”

Meng Tingyue was startled and could hardly believe her ears. “Which Xiao Family?”

“The Xiao Family of Jiangnan.”