MCSCPM -Chapter 45 Nangong Mei’er

“Why has Your Majesty thought of coming to visit this concubine today?” Consort Sun sat beside Nangong Lin and coquettishly said, “I thought Your Majesty had already forgotten me completely.”

Nangong Lin smiled. “I’ve been busy lately and didn’t have the time to see you. I’ve even gone to the Empress’s place much less than usual.”

Hearing this, the smile on Consort Sun’s face did not fade, but inwardly she felt a surge of resentment.

The Empress—again the Empress! What was so good about that sallow-faced old woman? He Minmin was already old! If it weren’t for her occupying the position of Empress, Nangong Lin wouldn’t even spare her a glance!

Nangong Mei’er had been sitting beside Consort Sun all along. Seeing that Consort Sun seemed momentarily distracted and the atmosphere grew slightly stiff, she spoke up, “Father Emperor seems to be in better spirits today. You don’t seem to be coughing much either?”

Consort Sun snapped back to her senses and smiled as well. “Indeed, Your Majesty looks quite well today.”

Nangong Lin stroked his beard and laughed. “Speaking of this, it’s actually worth mentioning. Chen’er reported two days ago that there was an ugly woman of questionable conduct in Luocheng Courtyard. Yesterday I ordered Xiao’er to bring her in for an examination.”

As he said this, seeing both Consort Sun and Nangong Mei’er looking concerned, the smile on his face grew even brighter. “Who would have thought that not only was that ugly woman chaste, she was also quite sensible. That would have been fine enough, but she actually understands medicine. With just one look she diagnosed my coughing ailment and even prescribed a formula for me. I had pills made according to her prescription and took them—today I feel much more comfortable.”

Nangong Mei’er’s eyes immediately lit up. There was actually a woman in the palace who knew medicine? Then she absolutely had to meet her!

Consort Sun’s thoughts also began to stir. A woman who could cure the Emperor’s long-standing cough just by looking at him? Her medical skills must be extraordinary. If she could recruit such a woman to her side, she would no longer have to worry about lacking beauty-preserving formulas, and Mei’er could marry without concern. It would truly be the best of both worlds.

Thinking of this, Consort Sun put on a curious smile and said, “This woman sounds quite interesting. I wonder where she is now? If there’s a chance, this concubine would also like to meet her and see what kind of remarkable person she is.”

Nangong Lin did not suspect anything and answered casually, “That ugly woman? She’s staying in Nanny Lai’s Buddhist hall. Speaking of her, she really is a strange one—her medical skills are superb, but her appearance is truly unbearable to look at, ugly beyond measure!”

Consort Sun silently took note of this, but inwardly she found it difficult. Nanny Lai was an old servant who had long been by the Empress Dowager’s side. In terms of seniority and prestige, she was highly respected, and she was also very important in Nangong Lin’s heart. No one in the palace dared offend her.

If that were all, it would be fine. The key point was that Nanny Lai’s elder sister was He Minmin’s wet nurse, and Nanny Lai treated He Minmin like her own niece. If this female physician fell into Nanny Lai’s hands, she would essentially become someone under the Empress’s influence!

Consort Sun frowned, secretly struggling in her heart, and sighed inwardly—this matter was truly difficult to handle.

Nangong Mei’er, however, did not think so much. She merely smiled slightly, her eyes curving with delight. Now that she knew where the female divine physician lived, she could go and exchange medical knowledge with her.

Although Nangong Mei’er was a princess, she had always loved tinkering with medicinal herbs and sometimes even liked to test medicines on herself. Such a medical fanatic naturally would not miss the opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with a renowned physician.

At this very moment, Nangong Chen was pacing back and forth in the study of his own residence, pondering how to get rid of Yin Qingyue.

That ugly woman actually dared to make him lose face. If he didn’t skin her, tear out her tendons, break her bones, and chop her into minced meat, it would be impossible to vent the hatred in his heart!

Thinking of this, anger surged within him. He grabbed the whip hanging on the wall and lashed it at the maid serving tea beside him.

The maid’s body trembled. With a miserable scream, she fell to the ground. The tea tray and cups in her hands overturned, and the cups shattered with a crisp sound.

Nangong Chen still was not appeased. The whip kept falling on the maid, beating her until she cried out for her parents, her body covered in wounds.

His handsome face was shrouded in gloom, his eyes narrowed, sharp and cruel. As he viciously lashed the maid, he sneered, “I told you to mind your own business. Let’s see if you still dare to resist me, if you still dare to make me lose face again!”

The maid was beaten until her face was drenched in tears. She screamed in terror and kept retreating, but no matter how she dodged, she could not escape the agile, snake-like whip. Each strike tore through her clothes and left a bloody welt on her skin.

Finally, the maid could no longer endure such torture. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted, collapsing on the ground like a heap of mud. No matter how Nangong Chen struck her, she no longer reacted.

Finding it boring, Nangong Chen threw the whip to the ground and snorted coldly at the unconscious maid. “She couldn’t even endure this—what a piece of trash!”

With that, he pushed open the door and ordered the guards outside the study, “Clean this up.”

The next day, in front of the Buddhist hall, Nangong Xiao and Nangong Mei’er ran into each other.

“Why would Second Sister come here?” Nangong Xiao looked at Nangong Mei’er in surprise. In his memory, this sister was obsessed with medicine; he had never heard that she was interested in Buddhist teachings.

“I came to see the famous female divine physician. Why did Eldest Brother come as well?” Nangong Mei’er also felt puzzled. In her impression, this brother was gloomy and suspicious—he really didn’t look like someone who believed in Buddhism.

“Where did Second Sister hear that there’s a female divine physician in the Buddhist hall?” Nangong Xiao frowned. In just one day, how had the news that Yin Qingyue was a divine physician already spread throughout the palace? A tall tree catches the wind—this was not a good thing.

“Father Emperor said so. He said that the female divine physician only used her eyes to prescribe medicine that could cure his cough. Mother and I were both very curious—what kind of divine physician could have such ability?” Nangong Mei’er smiled faintly, her brows full of admiration.

“Consort Sun also knows about this?” Nangong Xiao was shocked. Yin Qingyue was already trapped in the vortex of the power struggle between him and Nangong Chen, which was dangerous enough. Judging from Nanny Lai’s attitude yesterday, the Empress seemed to be planning to get involved as well. Now, with Consort Sun added to the mix, Yin Qingyue’s situation instantly became a hundred times more perilous!

One Nangong Chen was already enough to keep him on constant guard. Now Yin Qingyue was not only involved in court politics, but also dragged into the harem’s struggles…

This ugly woman was clearly so ugly, yet she could stir up so much trouble!

Nangong Xiao’s expression darkened, his brows clouded with gloom, as if a mass of dark clouds hung over him.

“Eldest Brother still hasn’t said—why did you come to the Buddhist hall?” Nangong Mei’er blinked, tilting her head with an innocent, curious look.

Nangong Xiao came back to his senses, turned his gaze away awkwardly, and coughed lightly. “Your elder brother also came to see that ugly… that female divine physician.”

“Huh? Eldest Brother knows her too? How did you come to know her? Did you come to seek treatment from her?” Nangong Mei’er blinked, firing off a string of questions like rapid gunfire, leaving Nangong Xiao somewhat overwhelmed.

Nangong Xiao was truly impatient, but had no choice but to endure it and respond. “Yesterday it was I who went to Luocheng Courtyard to bring her into the palace. Naturally, I know her. I just came to chat with her since I had nothing better to do.”

“That’s great then. I also came to chat with her since I had nothing to do. Why don’t we go together?” Nangong Mei’er smiled brightly and tugged Nangong Xiao along toward the inner part of the Buddhist hall. Nangong Xiao had no choice but to follow her inside.

Inside the Buddhist hall, after eating breakfast, Nanny Lai had disappeared to parts unknown. Yin Qingyue guessed that Nanny Lai had gone to consult the Empress about how to move her out of Luocheng Courtyard. She was not in a hurry. After leisurely finishing her meal, she practiced a set of Baduanjin exercises in the room.

When Nangong Mei’er and Nangong Xiao entered, what they saw was Yin Qingyue moving smoothly and gracefully as she exercised indoors.

Nangong Mei’er tilted her head and looked at Nangong Xiao. “Eldest Brother, does the female divine physician know martial arts?”

Nangong Xiao shook his head, equally puzzled. “This isn’t martial arts. No boxing or palm technique would be this flowing and slow.”

At this point, Yin Qingyue had already noticed Nangong Xiao and Nangong Mei’er. She withdrew her movements and walked over, first bowing slightly to Nangong Xiao. “Qingyue greets the Crown Prince.”

Then she turned to Nangong Mei’er, smiled faintly at her, and looked back to Nangong Xiao. “Crown Prince, this is…?”

“Rise. This is my second sister, Nangong Mei’er, the Second Princess of Xize Kingdom. Just address her as Second Princess,” Nangong Xiao said, tilting his chin toward Nangong Mei’er to indicate her to Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue smiled and nodded, then bowed to Nangong Mei’er. “Qingyue pays her respects to the Second Princess.”

Nangong Mei’er tilted her head in confusion, looked Yin Qingyue up and down, then turned to Nangong Xiao. “Eldest Brother, is she really that female divine physician?”

Nangong Xiao nodded and smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s her. Doesn’t she look the part?”

Nangong Mei’er frowned slightly, her lips pouting in a puzzled yet cute expression. “But Eldest Brother, her health isn’t very good either. It’s obvious she’s deficient in qi and blood. If she’s a divine physician, how could she fail to take care of her own body?”

Yin Qingyue was startled, looking at Nangong Mei’er in surprise. She hadn’t expected this princess to understand medicine as well. But if she did, why would she come here to find her?

Nangong Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words. Nangong Mei’er asked him—who was he supposed to ask? From the first time he met Yin Qingyue, he knew she had been collecting medicinal herbs. At the time, he didn’t know what she needed them for. Now, through Nangong Mei’er’s words, he finally understood—Yin Qingyue must have been gathering them for her own use.

So her health wasn’t very good either?

Seeing Nangong Xiao’s embarrassment, Yin Qingyue smiled slightly at Nangong Mei’er. “As the saying goes, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. Luocheng Courtyard isn’t a medical hall to begin with, and naturally there are no medicinal herbs available. Even if I want to recuperate my body, there’s simply no way.”

Nangong Mei’er nodded in realization. “Is that so? No wonder you’re so weak. How pitiful. Look at how thin you are—it doesn’t look good at all.”

Nangong Xiao stared blankly at Nangong Mei’er, as if she were some kind of strange creature. “Second Sister’s words are strange. It’s almost as if she would look good if she gained a bit of weight.”

With such an ugly face, what kind of figure could possibly make her look good?