MCSCPM -Chapter 82 Dissatisfaction

“Qingyue, I’ve come. Look at the herbs I brought—do they have any effect?” Nangong Mei entered alone, not even bringing her personal maid.

“Mm, put them here first. I’ll take a look in a moment,” Yin Qingyue replied, stirring the potion in her hands. She had added some bitter herbs to maximize the medicinal effect.

“Qingyue, why are you adding bitter herbs again? Didn’t you say last time that it was just for clearing heat and detoxifying?” Nangong Mei watched as Yin Qingyue carefully dropped the bitter herbs in, piece by piece.

“Perhaps these bitter herbs can help balance the properties of these herbs and maybe neutralize their toxicity,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

“Perhaps? Maybe? Don’t you even have confidence in this?” Nangong Mei frowned in confusion. Medicine demanded precision; misusing herbs could worsen the patient’s condition—or even be life-threatening.

“It’s fine. This is just an experiment. I won’t give this to the Empress,” Yin Qingyue reassured her, clearly explaining her reasoning.

Nangong Mei felt deeply inferior. She had loved medicine since childhood and had studied it diligently, yet she wasn’t even a third as skilled as Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue immediately saw her thoughts but chose not to comment. Nangong Mei had come voluntarily, and it was inappropriate to say more.

“Princess Mei’er, take a look—what is this?” Yin Qingyue handed her a bright red flower.

“This?” Nangong Mei took the herb in her hands. It emitted a faint fragrance, yet had a subtle bitterness.

“What’s going on?”

“This is what we found in the bamboo forest a few days ago. It’s Xianglan, a rare herb almost impossible to find. Unfortunately, some poisonous plants nearby contaminated its toxicity, which is why it looks like this now.”

“Xianglan?” Nangong Mei remembered seeing this in an old medical text. She hadn’t expected the herb in her hands to be Xianglan, long thought extinct. How could it grow in the bamboo forest?

“Qingyue, will this Xianglan help Mother’s condition?” Nangong Mei asked cautiously, not hoping for a negative answer.

“This herb might have a miraculous effect, but its toxicity is extremely high. If the toxicity isn’t removed quickly, the herb will be useless,” Yin Qingyue explained, stopping in her tracks to avoid attracting Nangong Mei’s attention with her movements.

“Qingyue, I saw a herb in the Imperial Hospital once, said to be able to remove toxicity. I don’t remember exactly who told me, but it seemed useful,” Nangong Mei said, trying to recall her source.

“Qingyue, let’s go to the Imperial Hospital,” she said, grabbing Yin Qingyue’s hand before she could respond.

“Princess Mei’er, I’ve already tried many methods. That herb won’t help,” Yin Qingyue said clearly, but Nangong Mei kept pulling her forward.

“Staying in the room won’t help. Maybe we’ll discover something at the Imperial Hospital,” she insisted.

Yin Qingyue had no choice but to follow her. Along the way, she thought it would likely be useless to consult the Imperial Physicians, who had already been unable to solve the problem.

Before entering the hospital, Yin Qingyue saw several Imperial Physicians dozing off. The Crown Prince had entrusted her with the matter, and these men clearly weren’t taking it seriously.

“Greetings, Princess,” they quickly rose to welcome Nangong Mei.

“Stand up properly. I’m here to find the herb the Imperial Physicians mentioned earlier, which can neutralize other toxins,” Nangong Mei said, searching the room but finding nothing.

“Princess, the herb you’re looking for isn’t here. It can neutralize other toxins, but it has long disappeared,” the physician said apologetically, occasionally glancing at Yin Qingyue.

“Isn’t she the divine physician? Perhaps she’s heard of it?” a hostile glance shot toward Yin Qingyue, laced with clear resentment.

A few days ago, Yin Qingyue had suddenly appeared at the hospital, upsetting the physicians. They hadn’t considered it important before, yet now their reaction was intense.

“Yes, the physicians are correct. The herb is indeed rare, but among the tribute from the outer regions, it might exist,” Yin Qingyue said silently, already planning to make them account for their words.

The physician’s face twisted momentarily before regaining composure.

“This is a record of the herbs here. Take a look. I’ll find what you need,” he said, handing over a book detailing all the local herbs, including past or lost specimens.

“What use is this to me? I need the herbs, not a book,” Yin Qingyue said coldly, having already read the physician’s intentions.

“You’re right, Miss Yin. This is useless,” the physician replied, taking the book back with a complex expression.

“This ugly woman… what’s so special about her? She hasn’t even made the Empress’s antidote, and she’s doing all this?” Yin Qingyue read his thoughts through her mind-reading ability.

Palace officials were all self-serving, hiding behind humility while scheming for personal gain.

“Qingyue is right. Physicians, please give me some detoxifying herbs,” Nangong Mei said with a bright smile, trying to follow Yin Qingyue’s wishes.

The physicians quickly prepared the herbs. The Empress’s poisoning was a major issue, yet the Imperial Physicians were helpless. They resented that a plain-looking woman could outperform them, their faces contorting in anger.

“Princess Mei’er, the herbs are ready,” the physician said, handing them over. He accidentally met Yin Qingyue’s cold gaze, which made him flinch.

“Qingyue, let’s go back,” Nangong Mei said, holding the herbs and Yin Qingyue’s hand as they left.

“Mm, let’s go.”

The physicians couldn’t believe their eyes. Such natural, confident expression from a young woman was rare—completely unlike what her age should show. A chill ran down their spines.

This extraordinary woman was truly rare. If not for the Emperor, they wouldn’t have obeyed her command.

“Qingyue, do you think these herbs might help with the Xianglan?” Nangong Mei asked, sniffing the aroma of the herbs.

“Perhaps they might,” Yin Qingyue replied, still unsure if the herbs contained any hidden toxins. If added to the Empress’s medicine, the consequences could be serious.

After leaving the Imperial Hospital, the place buzzed with gossip.

“Why is this divine physician so ugly? Yet she’s amazing,” the Imperial Physicians whispered among themselves.

“Right? The illnesses they couldn’t cure are solved so easily by her. Incredible,” one said.

“Heh, I want to see what she can do to neutralize the Empress’s poison,” the physician who had fetched herbs for Nangong Mei said.

“This isn’t so simple,” another commented.

On the way back to the Eastern Palace Pavilion, Yin Qingyue restrained her emotions, knowing she had been too expressive at the hospital. She didn’t want Nangong Mei to suspect anything.

The two spoke little along the way.

“Princess Mei’er, I may have spoken abruptly just now. Please forgive me if I offended you,” Yin Qingyue suddenly stopped, facing her.

“Qingyue, you don’t need to be so polite. I wouldn’t take it to heart,” Nangong Mei smiled warmly, completely unbothered.

“I was overthinking,” Yin Qingyue said, lowering her head.

“Qingyue, are you leaving the palace once you cure the Empress?” Nangong Mei’s voice turned slightly melancholic. Over the past few days, she had learned much medical knowledge—things that no book could teach her.

“What’s wrong, Princess Mei’er? You’ll miss me?” Yin Qingyue laughed, genuinely amused. She understood Nangong Mei’s good intentions—living in the palace required such small emotional strategies.

“Yes,” Nangong Mei nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

Yin Qingyue was moved. Few people showed her genuine emotion, and seeing Nangong Mei cry so openly made her heart soften.

“It’s fine. I’ll return when I can. Is this the end of our meetings?” Yin Qingyue said playfully, trying to ease the mood, though her heart was unsettled.

“Really?” Nangong Mei’s voice trembled, tears pooling.

“Really. I swear on my reputation as a divine physician,” Yin Qingyue said, using her sleeve to wipe Nangong Mei’s tears.

“Go back now. Girls who cry too much aren’t very pretty. Careful, you might have trouble finding a husband someday,” Yin Qingyue teased, playfully pinching her nose.

“Qingyue, you think you can escape now?” Nangong Mei laughed brightly, though such moments were fleeting.