Chapter 23: Old Lady Gao Suffers a Stroke

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and Jun Jun Shuyan parted ways as soon as they returned to the manor; Jun Jun Shuyan went back to her courtyard, deciding it was best not to visit Grandmother yet, as her nature might cause her to slip up and anger Grandmother, which would not be worth it. But feeling stifled, she decided to return to her courtyard to see Zhou Zhou Yiniang.

Jun Jun Yiyi checked the time, ordered the swift-footed Xiao He to go fetch the golden needles, as today was the day to treat Grandmother with acupuncture; she took Miao Zhu and went directly to the Old Lady's Jingzhu Courtyard.

After half a month of Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's treatment and conditioning, the Old Lady's paralyzed legs had shown improvement, her appetite had improved considerably, and her spirit was much better; Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had longed day and night for the Red Arrow to bear fruit, and now it had, waiting only for the fruit to ripen and seeds to be saved before using it to make medicine for Grandmother.

The Red Arrow is non-toxic, warm in nature and pungent in taste, possessing medical effects such as anti-rheumatic, pain-relieving, wind-dispelling and meridian-unblocking properties, treating hemiplegia, and tonifying deficiency; it can be used to treat tetanus, neurasthenia, headaches, and dizziness. It is extremely beneficial for the Old Lady's condition; combined with acupuncture and knee surgery, standing and walking would be no problem, but the poison Grandmother suffered from... currently can only be suppressed while searching for a medicinal guide.

Over these half months, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had not been idle; the anesthetic she was researching was nearly complete. In fact, Emperor Tianqi did have Mahuisan, but its side effects were severe, requiring internal ingestion for full-body anesthesia; the Old Lady was old and weak, and might not withstand it.

However, producing anesthetics like lidocaine or bupivacaine under current conditions was unrealistic; she decided to use knowledge from her past life to improve Mahuisan, whose main ingredient is Datura, and develop an injectable preparation based on Datura.

In fact, in the 1970s of the 20th century, the affiliated hospital of Xuzhou Medical College had already developed a traditional Chinese medicine anesthetic soup with Datura as the main drug, achieving clinical success. Afterwards, they developed an injectable preparation with Datura as the main drug, making the anesthesia process faster. Over the following ten-plus years, more than 100,000 surgeries were performed across various regions, including successful removals of the stomach, lungs, gallbladder, spleen, rectum, and uterus.

For Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, an outstanding graduate of the Military Medical Academy, developing an injectable preparation based on predecessors' success was no problem; since ancient times, when predecessors plant good trees, it is much easier for successors to enjoy the shade.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's lips curved upward; the anesthetic she was developing was nearing completion.

As soon as Seeing Jun Jun Zijin entered the courtyard, she saw the Old Lady half-reclining in a wheelchair under the tree shade, enjoying the cool, while Wang Nainai gently fanned her.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin walked to the Old Lady's side, carefully examining her complexion, feeling slightly reassured. Then she began the daily massage and manipulation she performed every day.

The Old Lady looked at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin with love and asked:

"Why did you return so early today? Grandmother told you to play longer before coming back; do not worry about Grandmother, Grandmother is doing well."

"After the meal, everyone played the zither and composed poems; finding it boring, this granddaughter returned to the manor," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin replied.

At this moment, Xiao He hurriedly arrived, holding a box containing the golden needles.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin took it, smiling as she said to the Old Lady:

"Grandmother, today this granddaughter will perform acupuncture on you once more; your legs and head will certainly feel even more comfortable."

Saying this, she skillfully took out the golden needles. The Old Lady looked at her lovingly, allowing her to do as she pleased.

At this time, Jun Jun Yiyi also returned to the manor; she ran hurriedly all the way back to the Aoxue Courtyard, threw herself onto the bed, and began to cry. Today she had lost all face; the maids dared not go up to comfort her, so they went to fetch the Eldest Lady.

Hearing this, the Eldest Lady hurriedly came to Jun Jun Yiyi's courtyard; seeing Jun Jun Yiyi lying on the bed crying, her heart ached greatly.

"My child, what is wrong? Who bullied you?" the Eldest Lady asked softly while sitting by the bedside.

Jun Jun Yiyi sat up, threw herself into the Eldest Lady's arms, and sobbed out the events of today at the Prime Minister's manor. She exaggerated the story, describing how Wu Zhou Yiniang scolded her and how Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and the others watched her misfortune with glee.

Jun Jun Yiyi begged the Eldest Lady to find a way; she must marry the Crown Prince to shut everyone's mouths.

Hearing Jun Jun Yiyi's words, the Eldest Lady ground her teeth in hatred, hating not only Seeing Jun Jun Zijin but also blaming her younger sister Wu Zhou Yiniang.

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

"The Crown Prince already knows about your engagement to the Prime Minister's third young master; this matter will be difficult to handle."

"Moreover, now that such a huge joke has been made, even if you break off the engagement with the third young master, you likely won't be able to marry the Crown Prince; by then, you won't even get the Prime Minister's manor."

Hearing these words, Jun Jun Yiyi cried even harder; Jun Jun Yiyi sobbed:

"I don't care, Mother. That third young master is a commoner; how can he compare to the Crown Prince? Even the Prime Minister himself cannot be compared to the Crown Prince."

"Mother, think about it: if I marry the Crown Prince, I will be the Crown Princess, and in the future, the Empress who rules the world; you will have a daughter who is an Empress, what an honor! Besides, by then, my eldest brother will also have hope."

The Eldest Lady held her, a flicker of hesitation passing through her eyes. "Child, do not rush; your mother will certainly not let you suffer this humiliation."

The Eldest Lady gently stroked Jun Jun Yiyi's back, pondered for a moment, then said:

"Jun Yiyi, this matter cannot be rushed. That Prime Minister holds immense power over the court; we cannot easily offend him. However, if we wish to break the engagement and marry the Crown Prince, it is not entirely impossible." Jun Jun Yiyi's eyes lit up, and she looked at the Eldest Lady eagerly.

"Although that third young master is a commoner, the Prime Minister dotes on him greatly. We cannot propose breaking the engagement, but the Imperial Family can. If the Crown Prince can... next month's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the palace will be our opportunity."

Hearing the Eldest Lady's words, Jun Jun Yiyi stopped crying and smiled, nodding repeatedly; her tears gradually ceased, and her heart was filled with endless expectation for the future.

The Eldest Lady gave a few more instructions before leaving.

At the Prime Minister's manor, lights burned brightly. The Old Lady Gao lay quietly on a carved wooden bed, covered with a thin quilt embroidered with exquisite patterns. At this moment, the Matriarch's face was pale, her mouth and eyes crooked, her eyes tightly closed. In the quiet room, Guo Guo Yuanzheng, the Head Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, was taking the Old Lady Gao's pulse.

Guo Guo Yuanzheng frowned deeply. Everyone from the Prime Minister's manor stood by the bedside, daring not make a sound; maids and nannies came and going, not daring to breathe heavily.

After taking the pulse, Guo Guo Yuanzheng slowly rose and bowed to the Prime Minister standing nearby, saying: "My Lord Prime Minister, this illness of the Matriarch came suddenly; it is truly an acute stroke, and the situation is critical. Please forgive me for speaking bluntly, my Lord Prime Minister; the Matriarch may not survive the night..."

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

"Today, when the Eldest Young Lady of the Jun family wore white clothes, I felt it was an ill omen; who would have thought..."

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister's face changed drastically; he glared fiercely at Fu Zhou Yiniang and shouted: "Shut up!" In his heart, he added another mark against Wu Zhou Yiniang, who was currently being punished and reflecting in the Fotang.

The Prime Minister urged Guo Guo Yuanzheng anxiously:

"My Lord Head Physician, you must cure the Matriarch; this Prime Minister will surely reward you greatly."

Guo Guo Yuanzheng shook his head and said:

"My Lord Prime Minister, please forgive this humble official for his limited knowledge and learning; this humble official can only temporarily extend the Matriarch's life... unless Old Master Fang were here, perhaps..."

The Old Master Fang Guo Guo Yuanzheng mentioned was Fang Fang Mengru's father, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's maternal grandfather, a renowned medical saint known to all. Years ago, Old Master Fang's only daughter, Fang Fang Mengru, miscarried and died along with her unborn child. Afterwards, for unknown reasons, the six-year-old Seeing Jun Jun Zijin ceased all contact with her maternal grandparents' family. Once, when Old Master Fang visited the Jun manor to see his granddaughter, he was actually driven out by Seeing Jun Jun Zijin. Since then, Old Master Fang became depressed and melancholy, and within a few years passed away.

At this moment, Prime Minister Gao's face was extremely dark; he clenched both fists, pacing back and forth rapidly in the room, rubbing his hands, with burning fury in his eyes. He hated the Jun family to the extreme! He gritted his teeth so hard they clicked, as if he were about to grind his steel teeth to pieces.

Prime Minister Gao's anger and anxiety were unbearable to contain. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Since the Jun family acts this way, do not blame me for being ruthless today." Clearly, he hated the entire Jun family; the alliance of in-laws was impossible. If his Prime Minister's manor married such a woman, would it not be the greatest joke under heaven?

Prime Minister Gao summoned a Retainer to prepare a carriage and hastened toward the palace gates, while sending the steward and a nanny to the Jun manor to argue the matter.