Chapter 25: A Blockhead Only Brings Her Hatred

At the Prime Minister's Mansion, after Quan Quan Aoyu finished delivering the Emperor's decree, Guo Guo Yuanzheng said:

"Your Highness, this humble official will certainly do his utmost."

Quan Quan Aoyu narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice low and oppressive, filled with resolve and coldness:

"Guo Guo Yuanzheng, what I want is not 'doing your utmost,' but absolute certainty of success. If you fail, bring your own head before me!"

Guo Guo Yuanzheng shivered in fright, dropped to his knees with a thud, prostrated himself, sweat pouring from his forehead, his voice trembling:

"Crown Prince, please calm your anger. This humble official will surely exhaust his mind and strength to the utmost. However, the illness of the Grand Lady is extremely perilous; this humble official... this humble official... fears..."

Quan Quan Aoyu's expression softened slightly and he said:

"Rise. If you wake the Grand Lady, both the Emperor and I will bestow great rewards."

Guo Guo Yuanzheng knelt on both knees in fear and trembling, his head bowed to the ground, hurriedly chanting words of gratitude: "This humble official thanks Your Majesty for your great grace! Thanks to the Crown Prince for your great grace!"

Guo Guo Yuanzheng rose shakily, his heart already filled with fear, muttering to himself incessantly:

"This is truly the end... what shall I do?" Beads of sweat the size of beans slid from his forehead, cold sweat soaking his clothes. At that moment, he felt as if placed in an ice cellar, his whole body chilled, his hands and feet trembling involuntarily.

Guo Guo Yuanzheng slowly rose to his feet, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve while pondering inwardly. He knew the Grand Lady Gao's illness was thorny, but now the Imperial order could not be disobeyed; he could only steel himself and proceed.

Quan Quan Aoyu gave such an order to Guo Guo Yuanzheng not for the sake of the Prime Minister's Mansion; he feared that if the Grand Lady Gao came to harm, Jun Jun Zijin would be punished by association. Although with him present, such a thing would never happen, it was better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

But no one knew what the Crown Prince was thinking. The Prime Minister merely assumed the Crown Prince wanted the Grand Lady to recover. In his heart, he felt even more gratitude toward the Crown Prince.

Just as Guo Guo Yuanzheng trembled uncontrollably in fright, a servant reported that the Second Young Lady of the Jun family had arrived to diagnose the Grand Lady's illness.

Everyone was incredulous; who did not know that the Second Young Lady of the Jun family was a waste of talent? The Prime Minister was even more furious; the Jun family was simply pushing their luck too far. The Jun family's eldest daughter had caused a huge disaster in the mansion, and now they sent a waste of talent to watch him make a fool of himself. Prime Minister Gao's face turned red with anger, but with the Crown Prince present, he had reservations and dared not explode, forcing himself to hold it back tightly.

The news that the Jun family Young Lady had come to diagnose the Grand Lady's illness made Guo Guo Yuanzheng sigh with relief; no matter what, it was good to have someone to share the blame.

Among everyone present, only Quan Quan Aoyu believed in Jun Jun Zijin. Five years ago, when he was so severely injured, it was this girl who saved his life.

Quan Quan Aoyu raised his gaze toward the doorway and saw the girl approaching quickly, carrying a medicine box on her back.

How could the servants of the Prime Minister's Mansion possibly allow her to get even half a step closer to the Grand Lady? They stood as if facing a great enemy, blocking her tightly, not allowing her to take a single step inside the room.

Just as this stalemate continued, the silent Quan Quan Aoyu finally spoke:

"Let her treat her."

Quan Quan Aoyu's irresistible authority made everyone present tremble. A limb dared not twist against a thigh; even with a hundred unwillingnesses in their hearts, they could only let Jun Jun Zijin enter.

"Doesn't that waste of talent know her own weight? How dare she come here!"

"I'm afraid she was pushed out by the Jun family to be a scapegoat?"

She was let in anyway, and the crowd could not help but murmur amongst themselves.

Quan Quan Aoyu cast a cold glance, and everyone immediately fell silent.

Ignoring the crowd with their various thoughts, Jun Jun Zijin entered the room, her expression calm and composed, not even glancing at the contempt in everyone's eyes. She walked to the bedside, bowed slightly, and then began to examine the Grand Lady's condition.

Everyone waited to see her make a fool of herself; the Prime Minister even let out a cold snort.

Jun Jun Zijin extended her hand and gently placed it on the Grand Lady's pulse. After a moment, her brows furrowed slightly. Seeing this, the people around her showed expressions of mockery on their faces, and the Prime Minister could not wait to speak:

"If Young Lady Jun cannot do it, do not force yourself."

Jun Jun Zijin acted as if she had not heard, saying only:

"Please, Lord Prime Minister, prepare some high-proof white liquor."

She took silver needles from her medicine box, soaked them in the white liquor, and inserted them into the acupoints with skilled and precise technique.

Everyone was shocked; they did not expect that the woman usually called a waste of talent possessed such skill.

Before long, the Grand Lady slowly opened her eyes, and her breathing became much steadier. Everyone was stunned, and the Prime Minister's eyes widened.

Guo Guo Yuanzheng, from the moment Jun Jun Zijin took out the golden needles, had been staring at her fixedly, muttering, "It is actually golden needles."

Since the Divine Physician Fang passed away, people in the world had probably never seen anyone use golden needles again.

Jun Jun Zijin did not care about the crowd with their varying expressions; she stood up and said calmly:

"The Grand Lady's illness was caused by an old ailment combined with the invasion of evil qi, triggering a stroke. Special needle techniques must be used to disperse the blood stasis, followed by herbal medicine for regulation. In over half a month, she will be able to speak. With proper care, even if she cannot move as before, she will be able to take care of herself. Fortunately, Lord Guo Guo Yuanzheng timely administered the Life-Continuing Soup to the Grand Lady; otherwise, the Grand Lady would not have lasted until now. My ability to wake the Grand Lady is truly due to luck." She did not take credit.

After speaking, she wrote down a prescription and handed it to Guo Guo Yuanzheng standing nearby, saying:

"Lord Guo Guo Yuanzheng, I am still young and my knowledge is shallow; I am unsure if the prescription I wrote is suitable. Please, Lord Guo Guo Yuanzheng, examine it."

Guo Guo Yuanzheng took the prescription and examined it carefully, his eyes revealing surprise and praise. He inwardly praised, "Wonderful, wonderful!"

He stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly, and sincerely praised:

"Young Lady Jun's prescription is extremely ingenious; the use of medicine is bold yet not lacking in stability. This old man is impressed. The Divine Physician Fang has a successor."

Jun Jun Zijin smiled slightly:

"Lord Guo Guo Yuanzheng overpraises me; I merely attempted a little based on what I have learned."

Guo Guo Yuanzheng laughed, "Young Lady Jun is being modest. With such medical attainment at such a young age, you will surely become a great talent in the future."

Guo Guo Yuanzheng understood; the Jun family's Second Young Lady intentionally wanted to teach him how to treat the Grand Lady Gao in the later stages without losing his face. A wave of gratitude rose in his heart. This girl, truly worthy of being the descendant of Old Master Fang. The Jun family's Second Young Lady, with such skill and magnanimity, is certainly not a creature of a mere pond.

Upon these words, a clamor erupted around them.

A trace of approval flashed in Quan Quan Aoyu's eyes; he knew this girl could do it.

Those who had originally waited to see Jun Jun Zijin make a fool of herself now showed expressions of embarrassment.

Prime Minister Gao, who had originally been furious, was now slightly calmer. His gaze toward Jun Jun Zijin held a bit more complexity, containing both gratitude and confusion. Yet he still could not believe that the waste of talent known to all possessed such medical skill.

Prime Minister Gao, who had originally wished to beat Concubine Wu to death, now feared he wished to flay Concubine Wu alive.

He believed that if Concubine Wu had not whispered in his ear, his Prime Minister's Mansion would not have so easily swapped the marriage engagement for the Jun family's eldest daughter. For this, the Prime Minister's Mansion had also been left with the label of kicking someone when they are down. That wretched woman truly accomplished nothing but ruined everything.

Prime Minister Gao's face turned red then white; he was secretly cursing Concubine Wu for ruining the great matter, regretting his son's loss of a good match, and marveling at Jun Jun Zijin's medical skill.

In just a moment, Prime Minister Gao's thoughts had turned a thousand times. He had not forgotten that the Crown Prince was still present, and so many people were watching him; he could not let people say that his Prime Minister's Mansion was petty.

Prime Minister Gao's expression softened slightly, and he said:

"I, the Prime Minister, have recorded the grace of the Second Young Lady Jun. On another day, I will certainly visit to express my thanks."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled faintly:

"My lord the Prime Minister, people's words carry weight. There is no need to mention past matters; I only wish for the Old Lady to recover soon. There are still affairs at home, and I humbly request your permission to take my leave."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin was certain Guo Guo Yuanzheng could handle the subsequent care arrangements for Old Lady Gao, bowed to everyone, and prepared to take her leave.

She was stopped by Quan Quan Aoyu, who had not spoken until now:

"Miss Jun, please stay."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin turned around and asked, "Does Your Highness have something else to say?"

Quan Quan Aoyu said:

"I am about to return to the palace to report to my father the Emperor. My guards will escort Miss Jun on the way."

Hearing this, everyone's mouths gaped open, staring blankly at Quan Quan Aoyu, then at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin; since when had the Crown Prince been so close to a Miss?

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin rolled her eyes; it was hardly on the way. This blockhead would only bring her hatred; afterward, the Misses and Young Ladies in Jingcheng, driven mad with jealousy, would likely tear her apart. But Seeing Jun Jun Zijin did not refuse Quan Quan Aoyu, as she had something to say to him anyway.