Regretting the slowness of her hands, unable to keep up with her boundless imagination.
While her movements were fluid and her brushstrokes like dragons and snakes, Lu Qingwan did not forget to set her sights on Feng Xi Wu's flower bed. "I see many rare and exotic plants in the princely garden. May I pick some?"
Feng Xi Wu's eyes were completely captivated by the diverse styles of clothing and accessories depicted in his drawings. He replied absently, "Why not? However, many flowers have already withered at this time. If you desire them, I can take you to the palace's greenhouses. They house all sorts of rare and exotic flowers from across the land, and you are sure to find what you seek."
"Wonderful!" Lu Qingwan was delighted. This was perfect; now she wouldn't have to worry about sourcing ingredients for her rouge and cosmetics! Her hand moved with renewed vigor, completing dozens of design drafts in rapid succession, her inspiration flowing like a spring.
Feng Xi Wu had been engrossed in reading memorials for a while. Seeing her diligently sketching designs, he reminded her, "Rest for a bit. You've been drawing for so long, aren't you tired?"
"I'll just finish one more piece, the shop's masterpiece," Lu Qingwan replied. With that, she assumed the posture for drawing the masterpiece, smoothing out a pristine white sheet of paper on the table, securing the ends with paperweights, and began to sketch meticulously.
Just as the garment destined for immortality was about to leap onto the page, Li Yang's voice announced, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, Meng Sheng requests an audience!"
Lu Qingwan's hand froze. A blob of red ink splattered onto the center of the drawing, instantly spreading. Lu Qingwan erupted in fury, "Li Yang, get out!"
Outside the door, Li Yang, Meng Sheng, and Li Su all trembled, and the hidden guards in the shadows stumbled out of their concealed positions. Li Qing, who had come to report to Feng Xi Wu, witnessed this mishap. "Your basic defense is so poor, go to the Dark Hall for punishment!"
The guards, unable to voice their grievances, inadvertently created more individuals who harbored a deep, teeth-gnashing resentment towards Li Yang. Despite the unceremonious dragging of Li Yang away for a group beating, Meng Sheng still needed to be seen.
Lu Qingwan tossed the ruined drawing into the waste bin and turned to face Meng Sheng's dejected expression. "Whenever you and your father come, nothing good ever happens. Who is this distinguished guest this time?"
Meng Sheng, startled by Lu Qingwan's earlier outburst, hunched his shoulders and stood there like a timid quail, speaking tremulously. "Reporting to Master, it's the family of the woman who brought the child yesterday. They did not reveal their identities, only stating that you must see a noble person tomorrow, and that you *must* go."
"Must go?" Lu Qingwan scoffed. "What? Is it another noble who will threaten to make Bai Xing Lin disappear from the capital if I refuse?"
Meng Sheng weakly shook his head. "That person did not say so, only that you would face the consequences if you did not go."
Lu Qingwan rolled her tongue against her cheek, unable to resist looking at Feng Xi Wu. "Is there a way to conceal my identity but still curb these people's arrogance? Threatening the entire Bai Xing Lin and demanding I see them whenever they please—do they want Bai Xing Lin to continue to operate?"
Feng Xi Wu, playing along, responded, "There is a way, but you may have to suffer a slight disadvantage."
"What way?"
"Shen Ci's identity is also quite mysterious outside of here. If you don't mind impersonating Shen Ci's fellow disciple, I can place Bai Xing Lin under the protection of the princely manor." Feng Xi Wu held a position of immense power in Da Gan, second only to the emperor. If it became known that he stood behind Bai Xing Lin, no one in the capital would dare to trouble them. Furthermore, no one would dare to arrogantly demand that Lu Qingwan attend to their medical needs. It would be a permanent solution.
Lu Qingwan considered it briefly and agreed, "Alright. Impersonating a fellow disciple solves such a major problem. If Doctor Shen has no objections, I am more than willing."
"I will discuss this matter with Shen Ci. As for the family of Madam Xu, you can treat them if you wish, or not. I will investigate for you and ascertain the identity of this so-called noble."
Suddenly, a sly voice from outside the door chimed in, "Your Highness, Your Highness, your subordinate may know the identity of that Madam Xu."
Lu Qingwan looked up in astonishment, only to see something fly past her eyes, followed by a thud—the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. It was as if a sack had been dropped from a height.
Feng Xi Wu coldly commanded, "Get in here!"
Lu Qing Wan blinked curiously as Ying Yi limped into the room and approached the two of them. "Your subordinate greets Your Highness, greetings Princess Consort."
Feng Xi Wu remained silent, his gaze cold. Lu Qing Wan had to prompt herself, "You know the identity of the woman from yesterday?"
Ying Yi nodded. "Reporting to Princess Consort, if my memory serves me correctly, that was the wife of the eldest son of Duke Xu's manor. The child with the peanut allergy is Duke Xu's eldest grandson."
"Someone from Duke Xu's manor?" Feng Xi Wu's voice held a hint of doubt. "Are you certain you didn't misidentify her?"
Ying Yi's tone was resolute. "I have met Madam Xu several times, so I should not be mistaken."
Feng Xi Wu's confusion was evident on his face. Lu Qing Wan asked, puzzled, "Is there something wrong with Duke Xu's manor?"
"Precisely because there isn't, I find it strange," Feng Xi Wu mused, his brow furrowed. "Duke Xu served in the military in his youth, then abandoned the sword for literature, and later became the Minister of Works, enjoying the esteemed position of a Duke of the first rank. The physicians in his household are as skilled as imperial physicians; ordinary ailments can be treated by the household physicians. I haven't heard of anyone suffering from a serious illness, so why would they be so eager to find you? Who could it be that requires a physician's treatment?"
Lu Qing Wan agreed with a nod. "It is indeed quite urgent."
Feng Xi Wu's eyes shifted. "What do you mean?"
"Do you recall the child with the peanut allergy from yesterday? This is not the first time he has suffered from a peanut allergy and sought medical attention. The last time he came, I sternly advised Madam Xu that the child's peanut allergy was very severe and that he must never come into contact with peanuts again."
Feng Xi Wu nodded. "I remember. Ying Yi mentioned it to me when he first discovered it. Peanut allergies were quite novel to us, so it's a fresh memory."
"But yesterday, when he came, his allergic reaction was even more severe than last time. I overheard Madam Xu say she didn't believe anyone could be allergic to peanuts. She deliberately chose a day when I was in attendance to feed the child peanuts, thinking that if he did have an allergic reaction, I could save him and prevent him from losing his life." Lu Qing Wan was enraged thinking about the child's discomfort. "Initially, I thought it was the stubbornness of elders or a mother-in-law conflict that caused the child to suffer. Now, I wonder if someone deliberately used that child to test my medical skills? Seeing that the child's symptoms had improved, they decided to send me to treat that so-called noble?"
Their eyes met. Without a word, Feng Xi Wu immediately issued an order: "Investigate who has entered and exited Duke Xu's manor recently. Find that so-called noble at all costs."
Ying Yi received the order and departed. Meng Sheng tentatively inquired, "Then Master, how should I respond?"
"Tell them that if they wish to seek treatment, they should come to Bai Xing Lin. I will be available in ten days, and no later!" Meng Sheng hastily acknowledged the order and scurried out of the study. "Heavens, the Regent and Master are equally terrifying. I don't want to come to the manor again!"