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That familiar, light scent of apricot blossoms stunned Ji Lingchuan. As a result, he gripped the arm he was supporting a little tighter. But the next moment, he was forcibly pushed away.
The person who had bumped into him took a few steps back in a flustered manner, then, holding onto the veiled hat on her head, hurried past him and ran outside.
Without even saying a word of apology, she was moving as fast as if she were avoiding a monstrous flood.
The faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose instantly vanished, leaving only the thick medicinal smell of the medical hall. It was as if the fragrance from just now had only been Ji Lingchuan's imagination.
Ji Lingchuan's eyes followed her figure uncontrollably, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
The woman was wearing a mílí (veiled hat) on her head, and the light gauze obscured her figure.
Because she was moving too quickly and the brim of her hat was pressed down very low, he couldn't see her face clearly. He only remembered the large patches of apricot blossoms on her skirt, fluttering with her steps.
Fuzhou stepped forward, seeing Ji Lingchuan standing outside the medical hall, gazing into the distance, and asked strangely, "Heir, what are you looking at?"
The woman's figure had long since disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again. Ji Lingchuan came back to his senses, and without saying a word, strode into the medical hall.
Fuzhou scratched his head and followed closely behind him.
Finding the doctor, Ji Lingchuan got straight to the point: "Do you have any ointment for reducing swelling and dissolving bruises?"
The doctor could tell that he came from an extraordinary background, and replied very enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, yes, but I don't know where the guest intends to use this ointment? What does the injury look like? Is there any bleeding, redness, or pus?"
Fuzhou was even more surprised and flustered. "What? Heir, you're injured? Where are you hurt? Let this subordinate take a look!"
Ji Lingchuan: "..."
Coughing forcefully twice, Ji Lingchuan told Fuzhou to go outside and guard, and then said to the doctor, "The injury isn't on me. You just need to give me the best kind. I can't say much more, I hope the doctor understands."
"This ointment is made from twelve kinds of medicinal herbs, brewed for three days and three nights. The effect is gentle and non-irritating. It can make the injury as good as new in two days."
Ji Lingchuan accepted the medicine bottle, left the silver, and then got up to leave.
Returning to the Ning Prince Manor, Ji Lingchuan asked the steward who came forward to greet him as soon as he entered the door, "Is the Princess Consort in the manor?"
The steward, whose surname was Zhang, replied with a smile, "The Princess Consort was called to Songhe Courtyard by the Princess Consort early in the morning and has not left since."
Had not left?
Thinking of the encounter at the medical hall just now, Ji Lingchuan frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. He just nodded, and then walked towards the direction of Songhe Courtyard.
Inside Songhe Hall, Song Nanxin was sitting to the left of the Ning Princess Consort, holding herself in an extremely proper posture, her head slightly lowered. She would lean forward slightly when listening to the Ning Princess Consort speak, her etiquette very well done.
Standing beside the Ning Princess Consort was a momo (elderly female servant) holding a white handkerchief printed with red plum blossoms on a tray. It was the one that Song Nanxin had just taken from the bed.
As Song Nanxin expected, seeing this handkerchief, the Ning Princess Consort's attitude towards her was much better than before. She had even given her a pair of jade ruyi (scepters) and jade bracelets.
The Ning Princess Consort smiled and said, "You have been married into the Prince Manor for half a year, and only yesterday were you able to consummate the marriage with Chuan'er. You have indeed been wronged in these six months. Now that you have consummated the marriage, you should serve by the Heir's side properly in the future, and have children and grandchildren for the Ning Prince Manor as soon as possible, so that the Prince and I can hold our eldest grandson soon."
Four years ago, Ji Lingchuan was ordered to lead 100,000 Black Armored soldiers to the border to defend against the enemy. He fought on the battlefield at the border, endured several autumns, and only then did he kill the invading enemy general and achieve a great victory.
After that, an imperial decree was sent from the capital to the border. In addition to being granted the title of "General Weiyuan," the Empress Dowager had also arranged a marriage for him, marrying Song Nanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Ding'an Marquis Manor.
Half a year ago, he should have returned to the capital for a grand wedding, but a remnant of the enemy army had attacked a key point in the border town of Suicheng. He needed to lead the Black Armored Army to kill them, so he missed the day of the grand wedding in the capital. Song Nanxin could only hold a wedding ceremony with a set of armor and married into the Ning Prince Manor in this way, becoming his wife.
The two of them only met yesterday, and the two had successfully consummated the marriage upon their first meeting, which made the Ning Princess Consort extremely satisfied.
Song Nanxin knew this and said in a low voice with some shyness, "Daughter-in-law understands. Daughter-in-law will guard her duty as the Princess Consort well."
The Ning Princess Consort nodded and said, "This Prince Manor will ultimately be handed over to Chuan'er in the future. As the Princess Consort, you should also try to get in touch with the affairs of the manor. These are the account books for two shops under the name of the Prince Manor, and the expenses and income of the West Suburb Villa in the past six months. Take a look."
After speaking, another momo stepped forward holding three thick account books on a tray and handed them to Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin secretly gasped, and her graceful smile suddenly stiffened on her face. But facing the Ning Princess Consort's sharp gaze, she could only bite the bullet and take them, flipping through them in front of the Ning Princess Consort.
As soon as she saw the dense rows of small characters inside, Song Nanxin felt dizzy. Before the Ning Princess Consort could see anything, she closed the account books, put on a sweet smile and said, "Thank you, Mother Consort, for your trust. Daughter-in-law will try to learn to share your worries."
The Ning Princess Consort didn't notice the difference in her face, nodded, and suddenly remembered something: "That's right. I remember, you brought someone back to the manor a few days ago. It seems to be your legitimate younger sister and legitimate younger brother?"
Unexpectedly, the Ning Princess Consort would suddenly mention Song Yihuan and her brother. Song Nanxin's heart jumped suddenly, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on the account books. "That's right."
"Are they still in the manor?"
Before Song Nanxin could answer, Momo Hu beside the Ning Princess Consort said, "Returning to the Princess Consort, they are still here. Yesterday, Fourth Miss Song also attended the welcoming banquet for the Heir."
The Ning Princess Consort "hmm"ed and looked at Song Nanxin. Song Nanxin's heart instantly rose to her throat.
"Before, when Chuan'er wasn't here, it was fine to bring people back to the manor to accompany you and talk to you. Now that Chuan'er has returned to the capital and you two are newlyweds, it is no longer appropriate to keep them in the manor. Find an opportunity to send them back to the Marquis Manor," the Ning Princess Consort said with a light expression, as if she had never placed these two "guests" who were temporarily living in the manor in her heart.
The Ning Princess Consort was the mistress of the Prince Manor and the Empress Dowager's younger sister, and she was also the kind of person who did what she said. If she said she wanted to send them away, then she would naturally send them away, but Song Nanxin panicked.
That wouldn't do. She was still spotting blood from the consummation, and her lower abdomen was aching from time to time. She couldn't serve in bed at all. If she sent Song Yihuan and her brother away at this time, who would serve Ji Lingchuan on her behalf and hide the fact that she couldn't be intimate and couldn't conceive?!
The Ning Princess Consort was waiting for Song Nanxin's answer and was about to open her mouth to ask when, at this moment, the old woman's voice rang out from outside the house to announce:
"The Heir has arrived."