Chapter 93: Wasn't it this bad woman who pinched you just now?

Taking advantage of the moment Qi Mama was surprised, Du Ruo began to explain to Ningfei Niangniang: "Niangniang, the situation is like this..."

After Du Ruo finished speaking, she did not forget to add, "Niangniang, if it weren't for Lin Guniang shielding the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince would have fallen to the ground and cut his forehead."

"And when the Crown Prince fell, his head happened to bump into Lin Guniang's waist. I imagine Lin Guniang's waist must be bruised from the impact, right?"

After hearing this, Ningfei Niangniang nodded in realization, her gaze toward Lin Jiaojiao becoming even more appreciative: "So that is how it is. Is your waist alright? Shall I call for an imperial physician to examine you—?"

"There is no need," Lin Jiaojiao said politely, "For such minor injuries and bruises, I can treat myself."

"Lin Guniang is truly a divine physician with miraculous hands," Ningfei praised, while pulling the Xiao Taizi from behind her to stand before Lin Jiaojiao, "Imperial son, why don't you hurry and thank Lin Guniang."

Xiao Taizi shook off her hand and grumbled unhappily, "She clearly bullied Qi Mama! Who would want to thank her!"

But Qi Mama was no longer feeling dizzy or lightheaded at this moment, and upon hearing Ningfei Niangniang praise this Lin Guniang as a divine physician, she glanced at the tiger's mouth area where she had just been pinched by Lin Jiaojiao, even forgetting the moment her arm had been twisted in pain, and asked eagerly, "Are you truly a divine physician? Why is it that after you pinched this old servant, my head no longer aches?"

"This acupoint is called the Hegu point," Lin Jiaojiao saw that Qi Mama had completely changed from her earlier scolding demeanor and found it somewhat amusing, but she still patiently explained, "The ancient medical text 'Ling Shu' records that the Hegu point treats fever, headache, red and swollen eyes, nosebleeds, blood-related conditions, sore throat, and toothache."

"How marvelous!" Qi Mama did not understand medicine, but seeing Lin Jiaojiao speak so convincingly, she couldn't help but hand the bowl and spoon she was holding to Du Ruo, and then pulled Xiao Taizi over, "Then please, quickly take a look at the Crown Prince. He doesn't like to eat his meals every day, only thinking about the osmanthus cakes and peach shortbread sent over by Yu Fei. How should we adjust his diet?"

Guo Shi finally coaxed Zhu Geer into being quiet, and hearing this, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at Qi Mama: just a moment ago, she had a face that looked like she couldn't wait to beat Lin Jiaojiao out, and now she had changed her tune.

But since they were in the Huang Gong, she dared not say much, yet Xiao Taizi was full of questions and confusion, asking directly, "Qi Mama, wasn't this bad woman pinching you just now? Why are you now asking the bad woman to adjust my body?"

Qi Mama, however, had changed from her earlier hateful expression; now that the dizziness and lightheadedness were gone, she felt her head was no longer heavy, and her tone of voice became friendly, "Oh my, Crown Prince, just now Lin Guniang was pinching and pressing an acupoint for this old servant. After that bit of pain, my dizziness and headache actually vanished! It is truly miraculous! Your Highness, please cooperate quickly so the divine physician can adjust your body and help you eat more!"

Lin Jiaojiao squatted down to keep her gaze level with Xiao Taizi, and looking into his clear eyes, she asked: "Xiao Taizi, I heard you haven't liked to eat lately. Is it because your stomach is filled with other snacks?"

"You, how did you know?" Xiao Taizi muttered, hiding directly behind Ningfei, "It must be that Qi Mama secretly told you!"

Qi Mama clapped her hands together and hurriedly clarified, "Oh my, Crown Prince, this old servant is seeing this Female Physician for the first time, how could I have secretly told her?"

"How did you know the imperial son's stomach was filled with other snacks?" Ningfei Niangniang was somewhat curious; she hadn't even taken Xiao Taizi's pulse yet, and she had already determined the root of the problem.

Lin Jiaojiao stood up, bowed to Ningfei, and said, "Niangniang, I also know that the Crown Prince has difficulty with bowel movements and is prone to nosebleeds."

"Yes, yes, yes!" The more Qi Mama looked at Lin Jiaojiao, the more she felt her abilities were heaven-defying, "She is truly amazing!"

"Just now, while the Crown Prince was speaking, I observed his tongue coating and discovered that there is dryness in the lower burner and fire in the middle burner, which is affecting the upper burner; that is why he has difficulty with bowel movements, sneaks snacks, dislikes his main meals, and is prone to nosebleeds."

"Who says I sneak snacks!" Xiao Taizi refused to admit it; he secretly touched a piece of shortbread in his sleeve pocket and stubbornly said, "I did not sneak snacks!"

Lin Jiaojiao smiled gently and patiently explained, "I heard just now that the Crown Prince enjoys snacks like osmanthus cakes and peach shortbread. Firstly, they are difficult to digest, and secondly, they easily accumulate internal fire, damaging the spleen and stomach, so naturally, he would have no appetite."

"Then how should we adjust his diet? Is it necessary to decoct medicinal soups—?" Ningfei Niangniang nodded repeatedly; she was very satisfied with Lin Jiaojiao's diagnosis, so the next question was how to treat him.

"I don't want to drink medicinal soup! Medicinal soup is bitter and smelly! I don't want to drink medicinal soup!" Xiao Taizi shouted and ran away, and Qi Mama hurriedly chased after him, fearing he might get into trouble again.

"There is no need for medicine. Every day, take one apple and ten hawthorn fruits, boil them in water for half an hour, then add three to five pieces of rock sugar, and drink the sugar water," Lin Jiaojiao said, reciting the prescription. Qingdai immediately pricked up her ears to listen carefully, and Du Ruo followed along, memorizing it in her heart.

"Then the glutinous rice cakes and osmanthus cakes that Yu Fei sends for the Crown Prince every day should not be eaten anymore," Ningfei Niangniang said thoughtfully, "Du Ruo, send someone to Ruyi Palace—"

"That won't do." Lin Jiaojiao hurriedly stopped her. She roughly understood the root of Xiao Taizi's lack of appetite: the things Yu Fei was feeding the Crown Prince were not right. Although there was no poison in the food, it was ultimately damaging the Crown Prince's spleen and stomach. There must be someone who understands medicine who gave her advice, which is why she would do such a thing!

Moreover, Xiao Taizi had received many good things from Yu Fei and must still be thinking about the snacks from there. Over time, he would grow to like Yu Fei more and more, and in the long run, it would be very easy for him to develop a rift with his own mother who urged him to eat every day!

If she sent someone to explain this to Yu Fei now, the blame would certainly be pointed at her! Wouldn't Yu Fei then harbor an even deeper grudge against her?

It wouldn't matter if the grudge deepened, even if Yu Fei openly targeted her it wouldn't matter; the problem was fearing that Yu Fei and Ningfei would join forces, one working in the open and one in the dark to deal with her!

If this Ningfei Niangniang had such intentions, she was truly unfathomable!

"Why not?" Ningfei Niangniang looked puzzled, "You just said that the food Yu Fei sends over for the imperial son is all food that affects the spleen and stomach—"

"Yu Fei Niangniang also has good intentions," Lin Jiaojiao instead spoke well of her enemy this time, "If you refuse her like this, I fear a rift will grow between you sisters. You can accept the cakes and snacks from her, and later distribute them to the servants as a reward; wouldn't that be better?"

"What you say does indeed make sense." Ningfei Niangniang nodded thoughtfully, "Since that is the case, Du Ruo, there is no need to make that trip."

But who could have expected that just as they spoke of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrived; a palace maid came to report, "Niangniang, Yu Fei Niangniang is here to visit, saying she has made delicious donkey-roll cakes and brought them for the Crown Prince to taste."