CHAPTER 455: CHAPTER 455: PRESCRIPTION

On this day, the sun was shining brightly.

The sky was as blue as jade, without a trace of clouds.

The breeze felt as if it had passed through layers of volcanoes, bringing an irritating heat.

The gauze-covered windows could block the wind but not the heat.

No matter how much ice was placed in the room, it never seemed enough; it felt necessary to hide in an ice cellar.

"Why is it so hot?" Su Jin said while fanning herself.

"Qingyun Mountain is much cooler," Xingxing reminisced.

In Qingyun Mountain, there wasn’t a time when you had to stay inside all day long.

In the woods, the gentle breeze was incredibly pleasant.

One could go down the mountain to play in the water, swimming back and forth; it was much more comfortable than staying in the Prince Mansion.

However, she also knew it was definitely impossible to return now.

Xingxing’s eyes dimmed.

But Su Jin said, "Next summer, we’ll go to Qingyun Mountain to escape the heat."

Xingxing’s previously dull eyes suddenly shone brightly.

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"Do you think I would lie to you?" Su Jin said, fanning herself.

Xingxing’s eyes curved with a smile.

Su Jin got up to make more ice, and Xingxing quickly took over the work.

While they were busy, a young maid knocked on the door and said, "Heir’s wife, Miss Zhou from the Right Minister Mansion and Eldest Young Madam Zhao are here."

Su Jin was slightly surprised.

Really?

They came to see her in such hot weather.

How eager was the Zhao family for a grandchild?

"Please come in."

Su Jin reclined on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch.

Since she had guests, she went to the dressing table, letting Xingxing help her with her makeup and hair.

Due to the scorching weather, and with the Old Madam going to the Great Buddha Temple for reflection, there was no need to go outside to pay respects. Su Jin felt the golden hairpin on her head was cumbersome, so she didn’t wear anything.

In the inner room, this was fine, but not suitable for meeting guests.

Since there were no ice basins in the main hall, Su Jin directly had Xingxing invite them into the room.

Su Jin recognized Miss Zhou, but it was her first time meeting Eldest Young Madam Zhao.

As they arrived, both had quite a bit of sweat on their cheeks.

"Please sit," Su Jin said.

"Xingxing, bring the mung bean soup."

Xingxing quickly opened the ice basin, took out the chilled mung bean soup, and served a bowl to each.

Being quite familiar with Su Jin, Miss Zhou thanked her and started drinking right away; she was genuinely thirsty.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao only took a sip before putting it down.

Su Jin looked at her, "Why not drink?"

Eldest Young Madam Zhao smiled awkwardly.

Over the past couple of years, she had almost no cold stuff in hopes of conceiving.

Just now, since it was served to her and she was really thirsty, she took a sip.

Looking at Su Jin, she really couldn’t imagine that the highly skilled doctor of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion could be her.

However, the Heir of Marquis Beining spoke so assuredly, fearing she wouldn’t dare to come to Prince Zhenbei Mansion alone, he specifically had the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo request Miss Zhou to accompany her.

Such seriousness indicated it was probably not a deception.

Of course, not only did Eldest Young Madam Zhao not believe it, but Miss Zhou also didn’t quite believe it.

Su Jin had saved her life, after all.

They were of similar age; she had never even touched a medical book, yet Princess Consort Zhenbei could heal and save people.

Avoiding cold things and focusing on health maintenance was good.

But coming from the sun, clearly wanting it yet restraining oneself, was also unhealthy.

Knowing she was anxious, Su Jin didn’t dawdle.

She asked Eldest Young Madam Zhao to extend her hand so she could check her pulse.

Su Jin checked once, then switched hands and checked again.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao’s heart was pounding, fearing she might be unable to conceive for life.

The Heir of Prince Zhenbei was poisoned for six years, and the Imperial Physician was helpless, yet the Heir’s wife saved him, proving her high medical skills.

If Princess Consort Zhenbei couldn’t heal her, what hope was there?

Eldest Young Madam Zhao was nearly in tears.

Then Su Jin simply said, "According to your pulse, there’s nothing wrong."

Eldest Young Madam Zhao looked at Su Jin with tears momentarily disappearing from her eyes, expressing some disbelief, "Really no illness?"

Su Jin laughed, "There really isn’t. Why would I lie to you?"

Could it be her husband was ill?

Eldest Young Madam Zhao harbored some doubts.

Su Jin withdrew her hand and asked about her relations with the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

While Su Jin remained expressionless, Eldest Young Madam Zhao, Miss Zhou, and Xingxing all blushed.

"Miss," Xingxing tugged at Su Jinyun’s cloud sleeves.

Su Jin looked at her, "What’s wrong?"

"Miss, how can you ask about...?"

Xingxing couldn’t get the words out.

Su Jin said with a resigned expression, "It’s so hot, and Eldest Young Madam Zhao came all the way here. I can’t let her make this trip for nothing. I have to ask clearly to identify where the problem lies."

I can’t possibly invite Young Master Zhao, the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, to check his pulse?

Even if I checked his pulse, I’d still have to ask clearly.

Isn’t it better to ask Eldest Young Madam Zhao than Young Master Zhao?

Miss Zhou, blushing, quietly moved to sit a bit further away.

Su Jin looked at Eldest Young Madam Zhao.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao blushed and lowered her head. Whatever Su Jin asked, she answered.

After asking, Su Jin thought that either Eldest Young Madam Zhao couldn’t get pregnant because of over-nourishment, psychological pressure, or the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice had some issues.

But Su Jin could not determine exactly which.

What she could do was have Eldest Young Madam Zhao stop all those haphazard supplements, eat normally for three meals a day, and walk in the garden for half an hour after meals each day.

However, Eldest Young Madam Zhao’s mental pressure might not be easy to relieve unless she could get pregnant.

But that was precisely where her stress lay.

Su Jin had to think of another way.

She said, "Follow me to the bamboo house in the backyard. I’ll prepare some pills for you to take back."

Then Eldest Young Madam Zhao and Miss Zhou followed Su Jin to the backyard.

The two were captivated by the scenery and the bamboo house in the backyard.

The place was tranquil and elegant, making them almost want to claim it as their own.

Upon entering the bamboo house and seeing the wall full of medicine cabinets, they no longer doubted that Su Jin truly had medical skills.

Su Jin invited them to sit down.

She began preparing the pills.

Seeing Su Jin pour out a pill from the jade bottle, Xingxing’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t that pill returned by the second young lady?

Su Jin crushed the pill, then rolled it into a size of a soybean, wrapped it in medicinal paste, and reformed it into pills.

Six pills in total.

Once the pills dried, Su Jin placed them into a bottle.

She also wrote two prescriptions, sealed them in an envelope, and handed them to Eldest Young Madam Zhao.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao was a bit bewildered.

She was right there.

Why wasn’t the prescription given directly to her to see?

"What is this letter?" Eldest Young Madam Zhao asked.

"This is for Mrs. Zhao," Su Jin replied.

"...."

Eldest Young Madam Zhao didn’t dare ask more and carefully put away the envelope and medicine before handing the silver note she’d brought to Su Jin.

A full five thousand taels.

Su Jin did not accept; she smiled and said, "I won’t take the consultation fee until you’re pregnant."

Eldest Young Madam Zhao didn’t know what more to say.

She wasn’t usually at a loss for words, but when facing Princess Consort Zhenbei, she suddenly felt like a mute gourd.

After staying for a moment, she took her leave and returned to the mansion.

Back at the Zhao family, Mrs. Zhao dismissed all the servants and asked, "What did the doctor from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion say? What prescriptions did they give?"

Eldest Young Madam Zhao shook her head, "I still don’t know what prescriptions were given."

She handed the letter to Mrs. Zhao.

With a suspicious expression, Mrs. Zhao opened the letter.

Taking out the two pieces of paper inside.

After looking at the first one, her brows furrowed tightly.

After looking at the second one, her face turned completely red.

"Which scoundrel doctor wrote this prescription?!" Mrs. Zhao said angrily.

She threw the prescription to the ground.

"It was prescribed by Princess Consort Zhenbei," Eldest Young Madam Zhao said weakly.

"...."

"Hurry, pick up the prescription," Mrs. Zhao instructed.

"...."

Eldest Young Madam Zhao picked up the prescription and handed it to Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao did not take it.

"Since it’s prescribed by Princess Consort Zhenbei, just follow the prescription," Mrs. Zhao blushed as she spoke.

Only then did Eldest Young Madam Zhao begin to look at the prescription.

With just one glance, her face turned redder than Mrs. Zhao’s.

What kind of prescription was this?

Since when does a prescription include instructions on when to have intercourse?

Her face was burning, steaming hot, and she turned to leave.

Mrs. Zhao called out to her.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao turned back.

Mrs. Zhao hesitated to speak.

Eldest Young Madam Zhao had never seen her like this before.

"Mother, feel free to speak," Eldest Young Madam Zhao said.

Mrs. Zhao sighed, "If...."

"If it’s indeed Minmin who has the problem, don’t... don’t blame him."

The heavy weight that pressed on Eldest Young Madam Zhao’s heart for over two years suddenly lifted.

She shook her head and said, "I won’t blame my husband."

After she left.

Mrs. Zhao looked at the crumpled letter in her hand.

Her brows furrowed like a knot.

On the letter were two lines of words:

Bother Mrs. Zhao to relay the following to Eldest Young Madam Zhao.

— If it’s indeed Minmin who has the problem, do not blame him.