Feng Xi Wu's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot. He decisively steered the four-wheeled carriage to the beauty couch.
Just as he was about to forbid her, he heard Lu Qing Wan say with great interest, "A mutated venereal disease, how novel! Who is the patient?"
Someone who could order the demolition of Bai Xing Lin and send Meng Tang to prison was definitely not ordinary.
It would be fun if such a person contracted this kind of illness!
Meng Sheng felt a chill down his spine. He wondered how the prince's mansion, despite its opulence, was not as warm as Bai Xing Lin.
His small frame shivered. Thinking that the sooner he finished speaking, the sooner he could leave, he blurted everything out like a string of beans.
"The person wore a veil, but produced a token from Prince Chen's mansion. My father had met Prince Chen a few times, and he guessed that person was Prince Chen."
Hiccup!
Lu Qing Wan was so surprised that she let out a hiccup. She turned to Feng Xi Wu, "A prince, could he contract such a disease?"
Feng Xi Wu's face darkened. "Why are you asking me? How would I know?"
As if he were the one who contracted such a dirty disease, he was actually very chaste!
However, Feng Qing Heng contracting such a disease and still asking Lu Qing Wan to treat him made him feel extremely disgusted. His face was as foul as it could be.
"Are you going to treat him?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I?"
Lu Qing Wan's eyes sparkled with greed. She completely missed the dark glint in Feng Xi Wu's eyes, and excitedly rubbed her hands together like a fly, "Do you know how much money Feng Qing Heng has?"
The situation felt a bit off.
Feng Xi Wu, remembering his little princess's greed for money, began to itemize Feng Qing Heng's assets for her like bait.
"Prince Chen is the legitimate son of the Empress. His maternal clan is the Chen clan of Yingchuan, a family of scholars. Chen Jian Zhang, the Minister of Revenue, is his maternal uncle.
Moreover, Prince Chen's enfeoffed territory is Liangxi, a land of fish and rice. It's hard to say exactly how much wealth he possesses, but it's definitely not a small amount."
Lu Qing Wan was overjoyed. "That's right. Doctors have the hearts of parents. How can we refuse a patient who comes to our door?"
She casually handed Meng Sheng a bottle of medicine. "Give this to the patient first. It's one million per pill, no bargaining.
I will make my regular rounds in five days. If he still wants treatment, he can find me. The consultation fee is ten million taels of silver. Have it ready in advance. I will treat him when he is ready with the consultation fee."
"Ten, ten million taels!"
Meng Sheng's mouth dropped open wide enough to swallow a whole egg.
Lu Qing Wan raised an eyelid. "What, are you feeling bad for him?"
"No, no!"
The young man was quite startled and stammered his reply, then drifted out like a wandering soul. m..oΓg
The joy of unexpected wealth chased away Lu Qing Wan's sleepiness. She looked at Feng Xi Wu languidly, "Why don't I treat Princess Feifeng's illness while I'm at it?
How much do you think I should charge her?"
Feng Xi Wu looked at his little princess with a numb expression. "As far as I know, Xiao Jing An is stingy. Much of the dowry he gave Xie Shi Luan was ostentatious but worthless.
The money probably won't exceed three million taels of silver."
"Tsk, as expected, quite stingy."
Lu Qing Wan was a little disdainful.
"Find a way to make Xie Shi Luan come to me herself. Don't waste my free time. It's the tenth day, she can wait.
Besides, I have to go to mourn for my mother tomorrow."
For the Empress's birthday celebration, Princess Anyang's funeral rites had been delayed for several days. Any further delay would be disrespectful to the deceased.
Mentioning Princess Anyang, Lu Qing Wan's mood inevitably became a little low.
Feng Xi Wu placed his hands on the armrests and, with seemingly effortless grace, jumped onto the beauty couch, placing Lu Qing Wan's head on his lap. "Sleep peacefully. Li Jin will handle the funeral rites. I'll accompany you to the Marquis's mansion tomorrow."
Lu Qing Wan, drowsy, said, "Have someone investigate the whereabouts of Madam Lan before her death, and also Steward Zhou."
Feng Qing Heng, a prince though he seemed somewhat useless, would only be close to people of impeccable family background, regardless of gender. To contract such a disease, Lu Qing Wan's first thought was Lan Yu Ru.
But if it wasn't her, then this matter would be worth investigating.
Feng Xi Wu patted her back like he was coaxing a child. "I will investigate. Sleep, don't worry about these things!"
Even though Feng Qing Heng was so tainted, and you are so tired, you still care about him?
Feng Xi Wu looked at Lu Qing Wan's serene face, and a deep jealousy suddenly arose in his heart towards his nephew, whom he had never truly considered before.
What right did he have to make the brightest years of this little girl's life spent chasing after him?
It was said to be the effect of the love-luring蛊 (gu), but after so many years, how much of it was the 蛊's influence, and how much was genuine affection? Could he still distinguish?
...
At the Marquis of Zhaolie's mansion, Princess Anyang's mourning hall was set up in the main courtyard hall.
Lu Zhenting sat in front of the coffin, gazing blankly at the portrait hanging above it, unable to snap out of his daze.
Lu Qing Wan, dressed in mourning clothes, added money to the brazier before the altar. Father and daughter had somber expressions, and neither shed tears, yet everyone present could see the sorrow in their hearts.
When the news of Princess Anyang's death spread, many people were indeed waiting to see what would happen. Therefore, after the obituary was sent out, people soon came to pay their condolences.
As a son-in-law, Feng Xi Wu accompanied Lu Qing Wan. After paying respects to Princess Anyang, Lu Qing Wan asked him to leave after calling her mother.
Feng Xi Wu was reluctant. "As a son-in-law, I should stay with you to mourn for my mother-in-law."
"Then you can sit by the side."
Lu Qing Wan did not insist. She merely instructed Li Yang, "I might be busy later and unable to attend to you. Take good care of your prince."
Li Yang respectfully replied, "Your subordinate understands. Princess, please go ahead with your duties. Your subordinate will take good care of the prince."
Thus, the visitors who came to pay their condolences were greeted by the sight of Feng Xi Wu and Lu Zhenting, two imposing figures, seated by the coffin. For a moment, they were unsure whether to pay their respects to the deceased first or to greet Feng Xi Wu.
Most of them were Lu Zhenting's colleagues in court. They offered incense to the deceased and offered perfunctory words of "please accept my condolences."
It wasn't until the afternoon that Li Jin reported, "Reporting to Your Highness, Princess, and Marquis, the wife of the Duke of Hua and the wife of the Duke of Xu have come to pay their respects."
Lu Qing Wan was still a little bewildered, but Lu Zhenting had already spoken, "Please invite them in."
Li Jin ran out. Lu Qing Wan only then belatedly remembered that these two ladies seemed to be her relatives.
The wife of the Duke of Hua had wanted to arrange her marriage, but she had refused, so did she want to acknowledge this relative?
In her confusion, Lu Zhenting spoke, "After all, they are your maternal grandmother and aunt. Let them send your mother off on her final journey for now.
In the future, as long as things appear to be in order, live as comfortably as you wish. Don't worry about them."
"Oh!"
Lu Qing Wan replied, feeling that her adoptive father didn't seem too welcoming towards these two relatives!
Her heart was filled with doubts, and before she could ask for clarification, the guests had already entered.