Volume 1, Chapter 9: Falling Ill

Before long, Nanny Gui returned to the palace hall, accompanied by a man.

The man, carrying a wooden case, hurried to the side of the couch: "Your humble servant, Quan Ren, pays his respects to the Eldest Princess!"

Ning Yunshu, beads of cold sweat dotting her forehead, opened her eyes to look at him. He was in his early thirties, lean of face, and had not changed much in the seven years since she last saw him.

She extended her hand, and Quan Ren immediately stepped forward to take her pulse.

"Princess, this old servant will wait outside," Nanny Gui said, tactfully retreating from the bedchamber.

As Quan Ren carefully felt her pulse, his expression suddenly shifted to one of shock. He tentatively asked, "Princess, do you often suffer from a heavy, dragging pain in your lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and headaches?"

Ning Yunshu withdrew her hand, her gaze icy: "Do not ask further. With your superior medical skills, Physician Quan, you already have your answer. Just prescribe the medicine accordingly."

Shock was undisguised in Quan Ren’s eyes.

Seven years ago, he had been a mere junior physician, and it was only through the grace and protection of the princess before him that he had attained his current standing. Back then, in his eyes, the princess was a celestial goddess, a brilliant and radiant gem. Yet... after seven years of separation, she had returned in such a state, and had even contracted... a filthy disease!

He dared not imagine what manner of squalor she had endured in the lands of the Xiongnu, nor how many people had humiliated her.

Trembling, he reached into his case and drew out a set of silver needles. "Princess, allow me to administer acupuncture to relieve your pain."

His technique was skillful; he inserted needles into several acupoints on Ning Yunshu’s hands, and indeed, the dragging pain in her lower abdomen and the discomfort throughout her body subsided significantly.

"Can this illness of mine be cured?" Ning Yunshu asked.

Quan Ren nodded slightly: "Rest assured, Princess, this ailment is not difficult to treat."

"But I have heard that this condition is notoriously difficult to eradicate and often recurs," she countered.

When she was among the Xiongnu, she had tried to treat herself with herbs found in medical texts, but her condition had fluctuated, never fully healing.

Quan Ren kept his gaze lowered, not daring to look at her, his tone heavy with awkwardness: "Princess, this condition is actually easy to cure. The reason it recurs is not due to the pathology itself, but because it is difficult to abstain from carnal desires."

Ning Yunshu frowned, suspicious: "The physician means that as long as one abstains, it will not recur?"

"Yes. You must wait until the cure is complete before engaging in intercourse."

Her gaze deepened, a faint glimmer of murderous intent flashing within.

Yet, she had never engaged in intercourse—why, then, did this illness persist? When she first contracted it among the Xiongnu, she had been unable to fathom the cause. Later, as it returned again and again, she had assumed it was simply an incurable disease, but now it seemed far from simple.

She drew a sharp breath, a sudden realization dawning on her.

"Heh..." she chuckled softly, her fingers clenching the silk quilt until it rippled.

She should have guessed it sooner; the mastermind behind this was that woman!

"Princess, after I return, I will prepare two prescriptions. One is to be drunk daily, and the other is to be boiled for your daily baths. If you persist for three months and refrain from intercourse during this time, the illness will be cured," Quan Ren said, rising and bowing.

"Many thanks, Physician Quan." Ning Yunshu studied the man before her, her eyes filled with appraisal.

Quan Ren suddenly knelt: "I will never forget the great kindness you showed me all those years ago! It is my greatest honor to have the chance to serve you now!"

Ning Yunshu remained unmoved: "Mm. Do you understand what should and should not be said regarding today's events?"

"Yes. This humble servant was ordered to treat the Princess for physical weakness and discomfort caused by her monthly cycle, and she requires medicine for recuperation. From now on, I shall personally prepare and decoct all of the Princess's medicines."

Hearing this, Ning Yunshu nodded in satisfaction: "You have my thanks, Physician."

Quan Ren took a breath and bowed again: "Please rest well, Princess. I shall go prepare the medicine now."

"Mm."

After Quan Ren left, Nanny Gui entered, stepping forward with concern to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.

"Do you feel better, Princess?"

"Yes." Ning Yunshu looked at the nanny, a sense of warmth and comfort in her heart. The nanny had done well; she was one of the few people she could temporarily trust.

Nanny Gui nodded, relieved: "Physician Quan is a rare talent with exceptional skills. The Emperor appointed him to be solely responsible for Princess Mingzhu’s health. I was worried we wouldn't be able to secure his services, but I never expected he would come immediately upon hearing it was for you."

"He is currently Princess Mingzhu’s private physician?" Ning Yunshu knitted her brows. Her father was truly biased; he didn't keep the best physician for himself, but gave him to Ning Mingzhu instead.

"Yes. Princess, are you worried about today's events?" Nanny Gui asked.

Ning Yunshu pondered for a moment: "Send someone to investigate Physician Quan’s background."

There were always exceptions to every rule, and in this world, there was no one she could trust implicitly. But every snake had a vital spot; once she held that, she would have nothing to fear.

"Yes, I understand!"

Mention of Ning Mingzhu reminded her of the earlier incident. She glanced at the bottle of medicine on the table—the specialty ointment of the Xuanwu Army that Ning Mingzhu had sent over.

"Nanny, take that medicine and use it yourself."

"But..."

"No 'buts.' Remember, anything belonging to the Xuanwu Army is never to appear in Yongning Palace again. If anyone else sends such items, dispose of them as you see fit."

Nanny Gui paused, finally understanding why the Princess was so resistant to the medicine. It wasn't just because it came from Ning Mingzhu; it was because it was an item of the Xuanwu Army.

The leader of the Xuanwu Army was the Great General Shen.

The entire palace knew how passionately the Princess had once loved General Shen. Now that she had returned, the world had changed, and everything was different. Although General Shen and Princess Mingzhu had not yet wed because he was still in a period of mourning, their marriage had been requested from the Emperor by the General himself as a reward for his military exploits.

General Shen’s favoritism toward Princess Mingzhu, much like the Princess’s former devotion to him, was known to all.

The Princess had finally returned, only to witness the man she had once loved so deeply marry another princess. Her heart must be heavy with grief.

"Yes," Nanny Gui replied, no longer refusing.

Ning Yunshu’s gaze turned colder: "Nanny, prepare something for me."

"As you command, Princess."

The following noon, the scorching sun drenched the palace, the heat radiating off the blue-stone paths of the palace alleys.

In the courtyard of Yongning Palace, several hundred palace servants stood in formation. Most had been transferred here by the Imperial Household Department after Ning Yunshu was granted the title of Eldest Princess.

The midsummer sun left people feeling dizzy and parched. The maids and eunuchs endured the blistering heat with dry throats, but under the fierce, sweeping gaze of Nanny Gui, no one dared to utter a word of complaint.

Finally, the palace doors pushed open. Ning Yunshu, dressed in cool, light robes, walked out slowly. She stood in the shade of the eaves, looking down upon the crowd with disdain.

"This servant pays respects to the Princess! May the Princess live for ten thousand years!" the crowd cried out in unison.

Nanny Gui stepped forward to fan her: "Princess, there are currently one hundred and twenty-three maids, one hundred and fifty-five eunuchs, and eighty-seven guards in the palace. They are all here."

Ning Yunshu scanned the group. The youngest appeared to be no more than twelve or thirteen, and the eldest no more than twenty-six.

"Nanny, do you know why they are kneeling here today?" she asked.

"This old servant is slow-witted." Nanny Gui was puzzled as to why she had summoned the entire household; perhaps she intended to establish new rules.

Ning Yunshu curled her lips slightly: "People are born into different ranks and classes. That is the fundamental reason why they are kneeling here today."

Nanny Gui froze, her confusion deepening.

Ning Yunshu drew a deep breath and gestured to a maid behind her: "Bring it here."

The maid did not dare to delay, respectfully presenting a tray.

Ning Yunshu picked up a small bottle. It contained a poison known as "Voice-Silencer." A single drop was enough to ensure that a person would never speak again.

Today, she would establish her authority.