A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Physician Liu heard Prince Huai's words. She lowered her head, bowed slightly toward the door, and turned to leave.

Though she was a woman, the Liu Family had practiced medicine for generations, saving countless lives. Outside the palace, she had always been treated with respect—no one had ever been as rude to her as Prince Huai.

A physician's heart was compassionate, dedicated to healing and saving lives, but that did not mean a physician could be humiliated.

The young apprentice who had accompanied Physician Liu into the palace hurried after her, carrying the medicine chest, not daring to speak.

When they arrived, they had been welcomed with great fanfare, but now they were dismissed without a second glance. Prince Huai’s behavior was truly excessive.

Worried that Physician Liu might be upset, the apprentice wanted to comfort her but stumbled and nearly fell.

"Child, be careful where you step." Someone caught him from behind, lifting him into the air. His arms and legs flailed briefly before he was set back on the ground.

Looking up, he saw a fairy-like woman dressed in exquisite robes.

"Are you frightened?" Jiuzhu noticed the plump child staring at her in awe. She reached into her pouch, pulled out some snacks, and placed them in his hand. "Here, have something to eat to calm your nerves."

The apprentice blushed, clutching the treats, and glanced shyly at Physician Liu.

"Many thanks, Your Highness." Physician Liu observed the unfamiliar noblewoman, noting the attendants behind her—palace maids and eunuchs—and guessed she must be someone of high status. She bowed respectfully.

"No need for thanks." Jiuzhu laughed softly and turned to Physician Liu. "Are you a physician, miss?"

Having just had her skills questioned by Prince Huai, Physician Liu hesitated. "How did Your Highness know?"

"You carry the scent of medicine." Jiuzhu was particularly sensitive to the smell of herbs. "To study medicine and recognize herbs from a young age—you are truly remarkable."

"I do not deserve such praise." A faint smile appeared on Physician Liu’s face. "I merely inherited my family’s legacy."

"Besides..." She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "As a woman, young and with only average skill, how could I be called remarkable?"

"What does being a woman have to do with medicine?" Jiuzhu found some candies in her pouch and handed another handful to the apprentice. "My own master is a woman. Not only does she understand medicine, but she also cultivates her own herbs. She is extraordinary."

Physician ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‍Liu’s expression brightened. "Does that mean Your Highness is also skilled in medicine?"

"I only know the basics. I cannot treat or save people." Jiuzhu held great reverence for those who excelled in medicine.

"Why not?" Physician Liu was surprised.

"My master said that someone like me, who only grasps the surface, would harm rather than heal if I tried to treat others." Jiuzhu smiled sheepishly. "I have no talent for the art of medicine."

Her master had told her that everyone had strengths and weaknesses. Though she lacked aptitude in medicine, her second master had never blamed her.

Her first master, fearing she might feel disheartened, often reassured her, saying her second master’s crude medical skills were hardly worth learning anyway.

Still, Jiuzhu believed her second master must have some skill—after all, she had cured her childhood illnesses.

Physician Liu was puzzled. Among the nobility in the palace, who would take on an apprenticeship?

"Your Highness’s master must be a highly skilled physician." Physician Liu thought to herself—otherwise, why would a noblewoman treat a mere physician like her with such courtesy?

"She is unknown to the world. Only at the end of each month does she leave the mountains to offer free consultations and medicine to nearby villagers." Jiuzhu smiled. "But in my eyes, she is indeed a remarkable physician."

Leave the mountains?

Villagers?

Physician Liu realized who this noblewoman must be.

The Princess Consort of Chen.

At first, rumors had claimed that the Princess Consort of Chen had been raised in a Daoist temple, ignorant of the world, and that she had groveled before Prince Chen and his mother for wealth and status.

Later, the rumors changed. Some among the common folk said the Princess Consort and Prince Chen were a match made in heaven—he a celestial lord descended to earth, she an immortal fairy, destined to be together.

Her grandfather had once mentioned that the Emperor and Empress adored their daughter-in-law. After Prince Chen became engaged to her, he had grown diligent and ambitious, altering many officials’ opinions of him.

She had wondered what kind of extraordinary woman could bring about such a change in Prince Chen. Yet now, seeing her in person, she seemed... pure.

Pure in a way that felt out of place in this palace.

Perhaps, as a physician, she was especially drawn to someone so full of vitality.

"The Princess Consort is right. Healing knows no rank. A physician who treats villagers for free, even if unknown to the world, is truly remarkable." Physician Liu smiled gently and beckoned to her apprentice. "Child, the Princess Consort of Chen helped you just now. Thank her properly."

"Thank you, Princess Consort." The apprentice bowed obediently.

"No need for thanks." Jiuzhu chuckled. "I wasn’t saving you—I was saving a future great physician for the people."

The apprentice’s cheeks flushed. Did the fairy-like Princess Consort truly believe he would become a skilled physician one day?

"Yes!" He nodded vigorously. "I will study hard under my master and not disappoint you."

"This child has talent in medicine, but he is young and easily distracted." Physician Liu patted his head. "With Your Highness’s encouragement today, he will surely become more diligent."

Prince Chen had gone to Bright Moon Palace to inform his mother about Prince Huai’s request for Imperial Physician Liu. On his way back, he spotted Jiuzhu standing by the palace wall and quickened his pace. Just as he was about to cover her eyes from behind, she turned around, smiling at him.

"Your Highness."

"Weren’t you resting in Qilin Palace? Why are you here?" Prince Chen clasped his hands behind his back. "Not tired?"

"I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk." Jiuzhu glanced at Physician Liu. "I happened to meet this physician and spoke with her for a while."

"This official greets His Highness Prince Chen."

Physician Liu held a distinguished position in the Imperial Medical Bureau, equivalent to a sixth-rank official. Thus, even as a woman, referring to herself as "this official" before a prince was not improper.

Jiuzhu saw determination and resilience in her expression.

Prince Chen turned to Jiuzhu and raised a hand. "At ease."

"You look familiar." He took Jiuzhu’s hand, tucking it into his sleeve. "What is your relation to Imperial Physician Liu?"

"He is this official’s grandfather." Physician Liu cupped her hands respectfully. "My grandfather is advanced in years and has been unwell lately. Upon hearing of Consort Xu’s grave illness, he was deeply concerned, but his own condition prevented him from entering the palace. Thus, he sent me in his stead to treat Her Ladyship."

"How is Consort Xu’s condition?" Out of the faintest brotherly obligation, Prince Chen asked.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. Prince Huai doubted my abilities due to my youth and gender, so he refused to allow me to examine Consort Xu. I never had the chance to see her."

"Tch." Prince Chen couldn’t help clicking his tongue. Noticing Jiuzhu’s disapproving look, he added, "Medicine has nothing to do with gender. Do not take it to heart, Physician."

"This official would not dare."

"Would not dare" and "would not" were two different things.

"Since you are already here, Physician, might I trouble you to examine Her Majesty the Empress as well?" Jiuzhu interjected. "With the weather fluctuating between warm and cold, perhaps you could prescribe some mild tonics for her."

"I obey your command." Physician Liu bowed deeply to Jiuzhu.

If word spread today that Prince Huai had questioned her medical skills, many others would follow suit in doubting her abilities. For a woman to practice medicine was already difficult—a single remark from someone in power could undo years of her hard work.

By inviting her to examine the Empress, the Princess Consort of Chen had effectively rescued her from this predicament.

She bowed deeply to Jiuzhu once more before leading her apprentice away, following the palace attendant toward Bright Moon Palace.

"My eldest brother’s temperament hasn’t changed in all these years." Prince Chen seized the moment to distance himself from his brother without hesitation—after all, the bond between them was thinner than paper. "I’ve never agreed with his way of thinking, even as a child."

"Heaven and earth are divided into yin and yang, and people are divided into men and women. Yet every man in this world was born of a woman." Prince Chen reached out and pinched Jiuzhu’s cheek. "Take our little piglet here, for example—beautiful, kind-hearted, and incredibly capable. You can identify poisons by scent alone. No man in the world could compare to you."

"And Her Majesty the Empress—gentle, lovely, and full of kindness." Jiuzhu stood obediently, letting him pinch her cheek. "Your Highness, that tickles."

"Silly girl." Unable to bear using too much force, Prince Chen cupped her face and planted a loud kiss on her forehead. "Come, let’s go back and read together."

"Your Highness, I don’t like reading."

"I have the newest romance novels. Want to read those?"

"Is it about a domineering prince?"

"..."

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Jiuzhu tugged at his sleeve. "I want to read about a domineering prince!"

Prince Chen looked down at her. "What’s so interesting about a domineering prince? You should just look at me instead."

Jiuzhu turned her head away. "Then I won’t go read with you. I’ll go help Her Majesty pick out jewelry instead."

"Come back here." Prince Chen wrapped an arm around her waist. "I’ll have Yang Yiduo buy you all the novels you want—domineering princes, domineering young masters, domineering martial arts alliance leaders. Whatever you like."

"No young masters or alliance leaders. Just princes."

Prince Chen: "..."

"Fine!"

Other men worried about their wives not getting along with their mothers, but he had to worry about the two women bonding so well that they left him out entirely.

Ah well. A man had to be adaptable.

If buying novels about domineering princes would make his wife happy, so be it. If necessary, he could even play the role of a domineering prince for her.

"Your Highness is the best!" Jiuzhu nuzzled against his chest, her voice softening into a sweet, coquettish tone.

"Hmph." Prince Chen turned his head away. A woman’s words were as deceptive as a ghost’s.

Yet his hands still carefully steadied her shoulders, lest she stumble.

"Your Highness, didn’t you say Prince Huai is very filial toward his mother?" Jiuzhu suddenly remembered something and lifted her head from his embrace. "How could a filial son refuse a physician when his mother is seriously ill?"

When consumed by worry and desperation, one would grasp at any possible hope.

Yet while Consort Xu lay gravely ill, Prince Huai had the leisure to fuss over the physician’s gender—hardly the behavior of a devoted son.

Even if Physician Liu couldn’t cure Consort Xu, why not let her examine her first before calling another physician? Why refuse outright?

"Indeed. How could a filial son be so picky about a physician at a time like this?" Prince Chen sighed, gently patting Jiuzhu’s back. "Eldest Brother... truly is filial."

"Your Highness." A eunuch in blue robes approached Prince Chen and whispered, "Prince Huai remains at Zhao Xiang Palace, keeping Consort Xu company."

"Has he summoned any other imperial physicians for her?"

"Before this servant left, no other physicians had been called."

"See, little pig?" Prince Chen sighed. "Human hearts are so disappointing."

Just then, Prince An’s energetic voice rang out behind them.

"Fifth Brother!" Spotting Prince Chen, Prince An jogged over. "What a coincidence, running into you here."

Jiuzhu hesitated to speak.

She had seen Prince An pacing back and forth behind the palace gate earlier.

It wasn’t much of a coincidence.

"I’ve just received some venison. How about we brothers gather tonight for a barbecue and drinks?" Prince An grinned warmly. "I remember how much you loved grilled meat as a child. I wonder if your tastes have changed."

To secure his younger brother’s favor, Prince An was pulling out all the stops.

"Very well." Prince Chen lowered his gaze. "Let’s invite Eldest Brother too. A proper reunion among brothers."

Meanwhile, the very brother they were thinking of—Prince Huai—sat in silent bewilderment, staring at his mother as she leaned weakly against the bed. Not a word escaped his lips.