Resplendent – Chapter 460

Chapter 460: The Hidden Flaw of the Pig-Headed Prince

After the Zhu family was exonerated and granted the Duke of Zhen title, the two families restored their previous close relationship. Back then, when Shangguan Fei was born, the Marchioness of Yongning and Lady Jun, who were close friends, half-jokingly and half-seriously said they would betroth her to the third son of the Chu family.

Unfortunately, Shangguan Fei got along well with the other five sons of the Chu family, but whenever she saw Chu Mutong, she reacted like a mouse seeing a cat. Their ‘grudge’ traced back to when Shangguan Fei was five and Chu Mutong was seven.

Chu Mutong, constantly teased by his brothers that Fei was his young bride, couldn’t bear the embarrassment. He killed a small snake and threw it onto Shangguan Fei’s neck, scaring her so badly that she cried loudly and ended up sick for three days.

Since then, snakes became Shangguan Fei’s greatest fear, and Chu Mutong became someone she kept at a respectful distance.

Lady Jun looked at the frank, straightforward, and unpretentious Shangguan Fei and felt a deep sense of regret. She genuinely liked Fei and sincerely wished her to be her daughter-in-law.

If she didn’t like the third son, weren’t there five other sons to choose from? Yet, in the end, the child married the capital’s most notorious playboy. Although Prince Tai had mellowed considerably after marriage, Lady Jun still felt he was unworthy of Fei and lamented the match on her behalf.

“Aunt, I never expected that Miss Ye is actually your daughter! Sure enough, no discord, no concord! With such a beautiful and capable daughter, it’s no wonder that Aunt’s complexion keeps looking better and better!” Shangguan Fei said, holding Gu Ye’s hand, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

These past few days, she had been at the most remote manor, keeping an eye on her ‘Pig-Headed Prince Tai’ while he recuperated. Over the past few days, the prince had almost finished his medicine, so she had no choice but to return to the capital to make arrangements. As soon as she arrived, she heard that the Chus’ most precious youngest daughter, Xiaoqi, had finally been found, and Aunt Chu’s illness had mostly subsided.

When she was little, Aunt Chu doted on her even more than on her own sons. Now that Gu Ye had been found, she genuinely felt happy for the Chus. Barely had she settled in when she went straight to the Duke’s Manor to offer congratulations to Aunt Chu. Who would have thought—the Chu family had a big surprise in store for her!

“From what Fei says, you seem to know our Bao’er?” Lady Jun carefully observed. She noticed that Shangguan Fei looked healthier than before her marriage and spoke and moved with greater ease. She realized that her life in her husband’s household had been quite good, and she felt genuinely happy for her.

“It’s all because of our Pig-Head Prince’s foolishness. Little Sister, I apologize on behalf of our Pig-Head!” Shangguan Fei stood up and bent at the waist to pay her respects to Gu Ye.

Lady Jun hurriedly said, “Sit down! We’re family—why be so formal? What on earth happened?”

Shangguan Fei then recounted to her, in detail, how Prince Tai had nearly trampled Gu Ye with his horse in the street that day, and how, upon learning her identity, he had tried to save face by pretending to be grand and hosting a banquet at Qingfeng Pavilion without making a prior reservation. It was an embarrassing situation that only didn’t turn into a fiasco because of Gu Ye’s composure.

Hearing that her daughter had just arrived in the capital and had scolded the city’s top dandy prince like a child, Lady Jun verbally scolded her for being reckless, but her smile couldn’t be contained. This was exactly the kind of spirit a young lady of the Duke of Zhen’s household should have!

Finally, Shangguan Fei spoke about Prince Tai’s illness. Knowing that Lady Jun could be trusted, she spoke with a mixture of concern and indignation, revealing all the details of her Pig-Head Prince’s misdeeds in front of the mother and daughter.

In the end, Shangguan Fei sighed deeply and said, “That Pig-Head regrets his foolish actions now, but what good does that do? The doctor said his illness may affect his ability to have children…”

No wonder, even after two years of marriage, Shangguan Fei had yet to conceive. Concerned about her daughter’s future offspring, Lady Jun also felt a pang of worry.

She thought of her own illness; how the imperial doctors had all said there was no cure, yet after taking the medicine her daughter had made, she had been reborn with new vitality. Chief Physician Zhang came for a follow-up and said that with continued medication, she could be fully recovered before the end of the year. But could her daughter also help with the kind of ‘illness’ that men sometimes have?

She hesitated and looked at her daughter, unsure whether to ask, when she heard Gu Ye laugh and reassure Shangguan Fei, “Sister, don’t worry. My brother-in-law’s condition is serious, but it’s not without remedy.”

“Bao’er, you have a treatment?” Lady Jun was delighted to hear this. Shangguan Fei had practically grown up under her watchful eye until she was six.  Back then, she had longed for a daughter. Shangguan Fei had been as beautiful as a doll and full of life, and she loved her to her bones. She sincerely wished for Shangguan Fei to have a happy and fulfilled life.

Gu Ye, looking into the hopeful eyes of her mother and Shangguan Fei, nodded firmly: “I know a prescription that harmonizes yin and yang, warms yang, tonifies the kidneys, and strengthens the body. It uses twenty-two carefully selected precious herbs. I once took Prince Tai’s pulse. After preparing this medicine, three courses of treatment will cure him. A final consolidation course will ensure that Sister Fei can conceive a healthy baby.” Hearing this, Fei was both excited and shy, blushing with gratitude in her eyes.

Lady Jun, however, laughed and scolded: “A young girl talking about conceiving a baby? Shameless!”

“Mother, besides being a pharmacist, I’m also a physician. I’ve even performed C-sections to help deliver babies!” Gu Ye said.  The ancients were so pure. What’s there to be shy about?

“My goodness! How could you be so daring? And the baby—did it survive?” Lady Jun’s face paled a little as she pictured the scene, her concern showing in her voice.

“Both mother and child are safe!” Gu Ye walked over, taking her hand with a smile. “At the time, one of the baby’s feet came out first, and the mother was at risk of severe hemorrhage at any moment. But a C-section isn’t as dangerous or bloody as you might imagine. In Hua Tuo’s medical techniques, it’s just a minor procedure.  The mother only needs a few extra days to recover compared to a normal birth!”

Lady Jun let out a quiet sigh of relief.  Then, thinking further, she said, “They say childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell. Difficult labor has claimed so many innocent mothers and children. If this C-section technique could be widely taught, it could save countless innocent lives!”

“Mother, you’re right! After the Great Pharmacists Convention, once I’ve settled in the capital, I’ll train some experienced female physicians, teaching them C-section surgery and post-operative care. That way, more women can benefit from Hua Tuo’s medical techniques!” Gu Ye had long planned to train surgeons and obstetricians; she just hadn’t had the opportunity until now.

With her father’s protection as the Duke of Zhen, she no longer had to restrain herself like before.  Power truly is the best shield. No wonder so many people scramble to climb the ranks!