Chapter 29: Answering the Princess's Question

  Yao Yan was invited by Feng Lao's personal maid, Cai Luan, to ask about some food and desserts that would be suitable for the old lady.

  "All kinds of green, red and yellow vegetables and fruits must be eaten. Fish such as cod, trout, eel, tuna, carp and yellow croaker are all acceptable; meat must be lean, beef and mutton can be eaten, highland barley, oats, buckwheat, millet and the like can be eaten, red beans, green beans, broad beans and black beans can be eaten in large quantities. Fatty pork should never be eaten, try not to drink wine, glutinous rice and sweet sticky things should not be eaten..."

  Yao Yan said word by word, Cai Luan carefully recorded it. Later on, she was afraid of getting confused and asked someone to bring paper and pen. She bowed her head and said: "Trouble Miss to write it down, I'm stupid, if I remember wrong, it will be troublesome."

  "There are actually many things that can be eaten, so I'll just write down the taboos instead. Actually, my knowledge is limited, and Lord Feng and the princess will naturally ask the imperial physician for specifics."

  Caiyun smiled and said: "Miss is right, but as a servant who serves the old lady closely, I should also know more."

  Yao Yan's smile nodded: "Sister can be so dedicated to the old lady, it can be seen that the old lady is a kind and loving, benevolent person."

  "The old lady treated us very well, we did our best to serve the old lady is what should be done." Cai Luan smiled and slowly lowered her head.

  Yao Yan thought to herself, these maids serving the old lady, as long as the old lady is alive, they live a more comfortable life than those young masters and misses. But once the old lady dies, they will be in a pitiful state. Either they will become concubines for the young masters or be driven out to be married off, alas! They are indeed pitiful people.

  As they spoke, a maid in green clothing came in and said: "Cai Luan sister, the young lady of the county says to invite Miss Yao over for a chat."

  Yao Yan regretted it in her heart. She had sneaked out early in the morning without checking the almanac. One thing after another, this matter just wouldn't end.

  In front of the Lingxi County Master, Yao Yanyu still had to support her waist and legs in pain as she performed the national courtesy. The Lingxi County Master ordered someone to help Yao Yanyu up, and when Yao Yanyu got up, she used force to hold onto that maid for a moment before standing up, and couldn't help but let out another sigh in her heart.

  "Today's events are all thanks to Miss Yao. The old lady is full of praise for Miss Yao, and my son Chen also said that she remained calm in the face of danger and saved the day with her cleverness, truly admirable." The Lingxiang County Mistress spoke politely. By now, she had already figured out almost everything about Yao Yanyu's identity, the reason she came to the capital, and how she ended up at Cihexin Temple.

  Yao Yan brought out the words she had prepared earlier: "The princess is overpraising, my daughter's heart was also in a flurry, but because we had encountered such things before, we had some experience, so when we encountered such things again, our hearts were somewhat more at ease."

  "Oh? What do you mean by that?" asked the mistress of Lingxi County.

  "Several years ago, on a summer day after the rain had cleared up, my daughter's grandmother took my daughter and her sisters to the garden to see the newly bloomed lotus flowers. Due to the slippery road after the rain, she accidentally fell and was in a similar situation as the old lady. The whole family was frightened and didn't know what to do. Fortunately, on that day, there was a traveling nun who was staying at our house, and she used this method to save my grandmother's life. Later, my daughter asked this nun several times to teach her, and finally learned this acupuncture technique."

  This statement is half true and half false. Old Lady Song had indeed fallen, but she was not ill, nor did Master Tai appear. However, now that things have come to this point, Yao Yanru can only fabricate a story; otherwise, where would her medical skills come from? Moreover, she also believed that even if the news spread to the Two Rivers Governor's Mansion, someone would definitely help her come up with an excuse.

  Looking at the silent Lingxi County Master, Yao Yanyu continued: "Today's matter is indeed a coincidence. My daughter and her maid were also hiding from that group of horseflies and rushed to the mountain road in a panic. They happened to meet Old Madam when she was in trouble. The scene at the time was surprisingly similar to that summer day, so my daughter forgot about etiquette and dared to administer acupuncture on Old Madam's body. After the incident passed, my daughter felt frightened and trembling with fear. It was my daughter's fault, please forgive her, County Master."

  Lingxi County's mistress didn't quite believe that a girl raised in the inner chambers would be skilled in medicine, but after hearing Yao Yanru's words, although she thought it was too coincidental, she could only think that it must be so. She knew something about Yao Yuanqi's character, and his daughter wouldn't be too unusual. So she smiled and asked: "So to say, it's all just a coincidence? If it were some other illness, would you be able to cure it?"

  Yao Yan shook her head: "Today's matter is all a coincidence, although the minister's daughter is very interested in medicine, but..."

  She can't say that I'm a time-traveler, as I was already a Western cardiothoracic surgeon; she also can't say that I've done dozens of heart surgeries before without a single failure; nor can she say that all the acupoints she used today have been tried on her own body; nor can she say that our family's nanny has also received acupuncture from her.

  Yao Yan did not want to get herself into trouble, so she knelt down and kowtowed again, "Your humble servant was reckless, please forgive me, young mistress."

  "It seems that this matter is indeed a coincidence, at such a critical moment, Miss Yao happened to appear, who says it's not the Bodhisattva manifesting?" said the Lingxiang County Master with a smile.

  Amitabha! You think so, it's really great! Yao Yan silently recited a Buddha's name and continued the words of Lingxiang County Master: "The county master said that the old lady has accumulated virtues and done good deeds all her life, moved the heavens, and obtained the blessing of the Buddha to turn danger into safety."

  "You're a girl who doesn't seek to take credit." The Lingxi County Princess suddenly smiled, "Yao Yuanqi is truly fortunate to have a daughter like you."

  Yao Yan's heart was filled with excitement again, but she suppressed it and thought irritably, "What exactly does the young mistress of the county want?!"

  "In any case, it's a fact that Miss Yao saved our family's elderly lady. Since she is currently residing in the Dinghou Mansion, I will prepare a generous gift to go to the Dinghou Mansion another day to thank her."

  "Thank you, Your Ladyship!" Yao Yan hastily waved her hand and smiled awkwardly, saying: "To be honest with Your Ladyship, I am a concubine-born daughter. I came to Ci Xin An to pray for my deceased aunt's soul. If my sister finds out that I sneaked out, she will definitely be angry. So... please, Your Ladyship, just let it go. The old lady has great blessings and the protection of the Buddha, even if we don't meet again, nothing bad will happen."

  Yao Yan's face turned slightly red as she spoke, and she smiled coyly. Originally having a round face, her expression now resembled that of a child who had done something wrong and was afraid of being punished.

  Lingxiang Junzhu couldn't help but laugh again after hearing this and looking at her expression: "You little girl said so much, originally it was because you're afraid your sister will scold you for not listening?"

  Yao Yan smiled foolishly and nodded: "Yes, so, please, Princess, keep this a secret for my daughter. My daughter is eternally grateful."

  "Anyway, we can't have you help us and then get punished for it." The Lingxi County Master thought for a moment, then sighed and said: "But the kindness you showed today is genuine, if I don't thank you, it wouldn't be right. Why don't I go pick out some nice jewelry to send to Miss Yao at Cihexin Temple as a token of my gratitude? Don't decline, it's just a small gesture."

  Yao Yan thought to herself, "If I'm going to give them something, it's better not to be stingy. It would put their minds at ease and for me, it would be a small price to pay." She bowed her head in response, saying: "In that case, your humble servant will take her leave now."