"You went out, did you rob some famous doctor?" the Old Madam said helplessly, looking at the bottles and jars on the low table.
"Cleaned them out," Qi Zhenzhen blinked. "You know Hundred Herbs Hall, right? When I went out this time, I happened to run into their owner, the one the Emperor has tried to get into the Imperial Hospital several times. These pills are all from her, you can't get them even with money."
The Old Madam's interest was piqued. "What does this divine doctor look like? Is she really like the rumors say, with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, like an old immortal?"
Qi Zhenzhen: ...
"I heard this old divine doctor's medical skills are so superb, she can bring the dead back to life and flesh to bones, is that true?" the Old Madam threw out another question.
"This old servant also heard that a woman died during childbirth, and this divine doctor encountered her, directly cut open the pregnant woman's belly, took out the infant, and sewed her up. The most miraculous thing is, the infant lived, and the mother didn't die either. Is this a celestial being descended to earth?"
(Luo Wanqing: Sob sob sob, I'm not a decrepit old man, I'm a beautiful young woman.)
"Grandmother, Granny Fang, you can't believe hearsay. This divine doctor's medical skills are indeed superb, but she's not some old man, she's a young woman, about twenty years old. She's very beautiful. To tell you secretly, she's also the Crown Princess of the Southern Chu Kingdom," Qi Zhenzhen explained.
"A young woman?"
"The Crown Princess?"
"You must be joking!"
The Old Madam and Granny Fang exclaimed in unison.
"It's true! It's because she always concealed her true appearance whenever she made house calls, and over time, she was rumored to be an old man," Qi Zhenzhen explained.
Granny Fang was skeptical, "So young, how did she become a divine doctor? Our Imperial Hospital's physicians, the ones with better skills, don't they all have long beards? This old servant still finds it a bit hard to believe."
The Old Madam nodded in agreement, "At that age, she'd still be an apprentice."
"Can't people have extraordinary talent? Besides, she studied under several famous physicians! Moreover, if it were false, would the Emperor be so concerned?" Qi Zhenzhen said, "The Heir Apparent has been feeling unwell lately, and he specifically invited her. When I found her, she was as thin as a rake. We were all helpless. Sister Wan only gave the Heir Apparent one pill, and within half an hour, he woke up."
The Old Madam and Granny Fang finally believed her, but then another question arose.
"I was wondering why the Heir Apparent looked so thin, it turns out he had a serious illness."
"Zhenzhen, do you think there's a chance to invite her over? She saved this old woman's grandson-in-law, and this old woman can't just do nothing. Besides, this old woman has obtained so many medicines that outsiders can't get, I can't just keep silent," the Old Madam asked.
"I'll ask her next time I see her. If she's willing, I'll invite her to the mansion," Qi Zhenzhen replied.
After chatting for a while longer, the Old Madam dismissed her. "Go see your concubine mother. Because you went out, your father put on a show and reprimanded her. Servants have a tendency to fawn over the powerful. When you were in favor in the mansion, she naturally rose with you. During the days you were away, your concubine mother's life hasn't been easy."
"What Grandmother says is just for show. Privately, can you and Father really mistreat Concubine Mother?" Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile. "However, after being out for these days, I do miss Concubine Mother. I won't keep you company any longer today. I'll go pay my respects to Father first, then go sit with Concubine Mother."