Chapter 23: Old Lady Gao Suffers a Stroke

Jun Zijin and Jun Shuyan parted ways as soon as they returned to the manor. Jun Shuyan went to her own courtyard; she decided it was better not to see her grandmother yet. Given her temperament, she feared she might let something slip and anger her grandmother, which wouldn't be worth it. But feeling stifled, she decided to return to her courtyard to see her Yiniang.

Jun Yiyi checked the time and ordered Xiao He, who was quick on her feet, to return and fetch the golden needles, as it was time for the grandmother’s acupuncture today. She took Miaozhu directly to the grandmother’s Quiet Bamboo Courtyard.

After half a month of treatment and care from Jun Zijin, the grandmother’s paralyzed legs had shown improvement, her appetite had increased significantly, and her vitality had greatly recovered. Jun Zijin had been waiting day and night for the Gastrodia elata to fruit; once the fruit ripened and the seeds were saved, she would use it to prepare medicine for her grandmother.

Gastrodia elata is non-toxic, warm in nature, and pungent in taste. It possesses medical properties such as anti-rheumatic, analgesic, wind-expelling, and meridian-clearing effects, and is used for hemiplegia and tonifying deficiency. It can be used to treat conditions like tetanus, neurasthenia, headaches, and dizziness. It was extremely beneficial for the grandmother’s condition. With acupuncture and surgery on her knees, standing and walking would not be a problem. However, the poison the grandmother was afflicted with... for now, she could only suppress the symptoms while searching for the antidote.

Over the past half-month, Jun Zijin had not been idle. The anesthetic she was researching was nearly successful. In truth, Xiang Tianqi had "Mafeisan," but its side effects were severe and required oral administration for general anesthesia. The grandmother was elderly and frail, so she likely wouldn't be able to withstand it.

However, under current conditions, it was unrealistic to synthesize anesthetics like lidocaine or bupivacaine. She decided to use the knowledge from her past life to improve the Mafeisan, which had Datura flower as its main ingredient, and develop an injection based on it.

In fact, in the 1970s, the affiliated hospital of Xuzhou Medical College had already developed a traditional Chinese medicine anesthetic soup with Datura flower as the main ingredient, which was successful in clinical practice. Later, they developed an injection with Datura flower as the main ingredient, which acted faster during anesthesia. Over the following ten-plus years, it was promoted across various regions and used in over 100,000 surgeries, including successful resections of the stomach, lungs, gallbladder, spleen, rectum, and uterus.

Utilizing the successes of predecessors to develop an injection was not a problem for Jun Zijin, who had been a top student at the military medical academy. Since ancient times, it has been much easier for later generations to enjoy the shade once their predecessors have planted the trees.

The corners of Jun Zijin’s mouth curled upward; the anesthetic she was developing was nearing its final stages.

As soon as Jun Zijin entered the courtyard, she saw the grandmother half-reclining in a wheelchair under the shade of a tree, enjoying the cool air, while Wang Mama gently fanned her.

Jun Zijin walked to the grandmother’s side and carefully examined her complexion, feeling slightly relieved. She then began the daily massage she performed for the grandmother.

The grandmother looked at Jun Zijin with affection and asked:

"Why are you back so early today? Grandmother told you to play a while longer before returning. Don't worry about Grandmother; Grandmother is doing just fine."

"After the meal, everyone was playing the zither and composing poetry, so I felt bored and returned to the manor," Jun Zijin replied.

At this moment, Xiao He hurried over, holding the box containing the golden needles.

Jun Zijin took it and said to the grandmother with a smile:

"Grandmother, today your granddaughter will perform acupuncture for you once more; your legs and head will surely feel much more comfortable."

As she spoke, she skillfully took out the golden needles. The grandmother looked at her lovingly, letting her do as she pleased.

At this time, Jun Yiyi had also returned to the manor. She ran all the way back to Proud Snow Courtyard in a rush and collapsed onto her bed, sobbing. She had lost all face today, and the maids didn't dare to go up and comfort her, so they had to go and invite the First Lady.

Upon hearing the news, the First Lady hurried to Jun Yiyi’s courtyard. Seeing Jun Yiyi sobbing on the bed, she felt immense heartache.

"My child, what happened? Who bullied you?" the First Lady asked softly, sitting by the bedside.

Jun Yiyi sat up, threw herself into the First Lady’s arms, and choked out the story of what happened at the Prime Minister’s manor today. She added fuel to the fire, describing how Wu Yiniang had scolded her and how Jun Zijin and the others had gloated over her misfortune.

Jun Yiyi begged the First Lady to find a way; she had to marry the Crown Prince to shut everyone’s mouths.

Hearing Jun Yiyi’s words, the First Lady gritted her teeth in hatred. She hated not only Jun Zijin but also her younger sister, Wu Yiniang.

But she was at least more rational than Jun Yiyi, and said:

"The Crown Prince already knows about your engagement to the Prime Minister’s third son; I fear this matter is not easy to handle."

"Moreover, after such a huge scandal, even if you break off the engagement with the third son, I fear you won't be able to marry the Crown Prince, and by then, you won't even be able to secure the Prime Minister’s manor."

Hearing this, Jun Yiyi cried even harder. Jun Yiyi sobbed:

"I don't care, Mother. That third son is a commoner; how can he compare to the Crown Prince? Even the Prime Minister himself cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the Crown Prince."

"Mother, think about it. If I marry the Crown Prince, I will be the Crown Princess, and in the future, I will be the Empress who commands the world. You will have a daughter who is an Empress; what an honor that would be! Besides, by then, Big Brother will also have something to look forward to."

The First Lady held her, a flash of hesitation in her eyes. "Child, don't be anxious. Mother will certainly not let you suffer such grievances."

The First Lady gently stroked Jun Yiyi’s back and, after a moment of contemplation, said:

"Yiyi, this matter cannot be rushed. That Prime Minister holds power over the court; we cannot easily offend him. However, if you want to break the engagement and marry the Crown Prince, it is not entirely without a way." Jun Yiyi’s eyes lit up, and she looked at the First Lady eagerly.

"Although that third son is a commoner, the Prime Minister dotes on him immensely. It is not easy for us to propose breaking the engagement, but the Imperial family can. If the Crown Prince could... there is a palace banquet during the Mid-Autumn Festival next month; that is our opportunity."

Hearing the First Lady’s words, Jun Yiyi wiped away her tears and smiled, nodding repeatedly. She gradually stopped crying, her heart filled with endless anticipation for the future.

The First Lady gave a few more instructions before leaving.

At the Prime Minister’s manor, the lights were bright. Old Lady Gao lay quietly on a carved wooden bed, covered by a thin quilt embroidered with exquisite patterns. At this moment, the Old Lady’s face was pale, her mouth and eyes were crooked, and her eyes were tightly shut. In the quiet room, the Chief Physician of the Imperial Hospital, Lord Guo, was taking Old Lady Gao’s pulse.

Chief Physician Guo’s brows were tightly furrowed. The people of the Prime Minister’s manor stood guard before the bed, not daring to make a sound. Maids and nurses went in and out, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After finishing the pulse check, Chief Physician Guo slowly stood up, bowed to the Prime Minister at his side, and said: "Prime Minister, the Old Lady’s illness came on suddenly; it is indeed an acute stroke. The situation is critical. Please, Prime Minister, forgive this old man for speaking bluntly, but I fear the Old Lady will not survive the night..."

At this moment, Fu Yiniang finally seized the opportunity and muttered in a voice neither too loud nor too soft:

"Today, when the eldest Miss Jun was dressed all in white, I felt it was a bad omen. Who would have thought..."

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister’s expression changed drastically, and he glared fiercely at Fu Yiniang: "Shut up!" In his heart, he added another mark against Wu Yiniang, who was currently being punished in the Buddha hall.

The Prime Minister said urgently to Chief Physician Guo:

"Chief Physician, you must cure the Old Lady; this Prime Minister will certainly reward you handsomely."

Chief Physician Guo shook his head and said:

"Prime Minister, please forgive this official for his shallow learning. This official can only temporarily prolong the Old Lady’s life... unless Master Fang were here, perhaps..."

The Master Fang mentioned by Chief Physician Guo was Fang Mengru’s father, Jun Zijin’s maternal grandfather, a renowned master of medicine known to all. Years ago, Master Fang’s only daughter, Fang Mengru, suffered a miscarriage, resulting in the death of both mother and child. Afterward, for reasons unknown, the six-year-old Jun Zijin stopped associating with her maternal family. Once, when Master Fang went to the Jun manor to visit his granddaughter, he was actually driven out of the manor by Jun Zijin. Since then, Master Fang had been depressed and passed away within a few years.

Prime Minister Gao’s face was extremely gloomy at this moment. He clenched his fists tightly, pacing back and forth in the room rapidly and rubbing his hands. A raging fire burned in his eyes; he felt hatred for the Jun family to the extreme! He gritted his teeth so hard they clicked, as if he wanted to crush his very teeth.

The anger and anxiety in Prime Minister Gao’s heart were hard to suppress. He stopped abruptly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Since the Jun manor acts this way, don't blame me for being heartless today." It was clear he hated the entire Jun family; they could no longer be in-laws. If his Prime Minister’s manor were to marry such a woman, wouldn't it be the greatest joke in the world?

Prime Minister Gao summoned a retainer to prepare the carriage and sped toward the palace gate, while sending the steward and a nurse to the Jun manor to argue the matter.