Chapter 509: Spreading the News

Chapter 509: Spreading the News

This was exactly what Hua Feixue was hoping for. "Sister Yuntang, we've been traveling all day and haven't had a good night's sleep. Just agree to the General!"

Ji Yuntang shot her a look. That's easy for her to say—everyone knew she just wanted to spend more time with Shen Shiran.

However, considering their plans ahead might require the General's assistance, Ji Yuntang didn't decline. "Then I, along with my brother and sister-in-law, will be troubling you, General!"

Shen Xiangming waved his hand grandly and laughed. "What trouble? Having Doctor Yun stay at our Zhenguo General's Mansion is a real honor for our household."

"These days, there are few young physicians as skilled as you. Doctor Yun is a true young prodigy—a real heroine among women."

Ji Yuntang smiled and gave a polite, slightly awkward reply.

Shen Xiangming ordered the maids to serve a table full of fine dishes and began entertaining Ji Yuntang and her companions.

Midway through the meal, one of his concubines approached and remarked to Ji Yuntang with a smile, "So you're the Doctor Yun who cured the eldest young lady?"

"Even the imperial physicians were at a loss, yet you managed to cure her. You're truly an amazing young lady."

Madam Mo set down her chopsticks, her face turning cold. "Concubine Zou, shouldn't you be in your own room? What are you doing here?"

Concubine Zou gave a flirtatious smile and took a seat in an empty spot. "Madam, don't get so worked up. I was just thinking—since Doctor Yun's medical skills are so impressive, why not invite her to the palace to treat the Empress Dowager's headaches?"

"The Empress Dowager has suffered from headaches for over a decade. If Doctor Yun could cure her, wouldn't that bring us some glory too?"

Madam Mo shot her a cold glare. She knew Concubine Zou had always been after power and money, never content to stay in her place.

Now her true colors were finally showing!

Madam Mo sneered disdainfully, "I always knew you loved to suck up to people. What, now you're sucking up to strangers?"

Of course, the "stranger" was Ji Yuntang.

Hearing the sarcasm in Madam Mo's voice, Concubine Zou muttered, "General, can't you do something about your wife? How can she talk to me like that?"

"I'm only doing this for the sake of our mansion! Now that the Crown Prince is dead and the Empress Dowager controls the Xishu Kingdom, the whole royal family will soon have the surname Yuan."

"Doctor Yun was invited here by our mansion. If she can cure the Empress Dowager's illness, wouldn't that be a big achievement for us?"

Hua Feixue's chopsticks groaned under her grip. Just as she was about to rise and leave out of frustration, Shen Xiangming slammed the table and stood up. "Enough!"

"How dare a woman of the household meddle in court affairs! Get back to your room at once, or don't blame me for being rough on you!"

Seeing he was truly angry, Concubine Zou reluctantly rose and left.

Shen Xiangming hastily apologized to Ji Yuntang. "Doctor Yun, don't pay attention to Zou's nonsense. You are an honored guest of our Zhenguo General's Mansion. I have absolutely no intention of sending you to treat the Empress Dowager, nor would I ever use you to win favor with the powerful."

"I am not an ungrateful man, and the Zhenguo General's Mansion would never lower itself to such tricks. Please don't worry about that."

But Ji Yuntang didn't see it that way. A sudden idea struck her.

Treating Empress Dowager Yuan—how could she miss out on such a perfect opportunity?

She had been worrying about how to find a way into the palace, and now the opportunity had just fallen into her lap!

With that thought, Ji Yuntang said, "I naturally trust General Shen's words. It's just that I've never met the Empress Dowager and don't know what she looks like. I'd really like to meet her if I get the chance."

"Well..." Shen Xiangming started to speak, unsure how to respond.

Ji Yuntang didn't push him. "General, could you do me a small favor?"

"Please, go ahead, Doctor Yun."

Ji Yuntang said, "Tomorrow, could you have someone spread the word around the capital that I cured the eldest young lady of the Shen family? You can hype up my medical skills a little."

Shen Xiangming hadn't expected such a request. He furrowed his brow a little. "That's simple enough, but if word gets out, many important people will surely come seeking your treatment. I'm worried it might cause you trouble."

Ji Yuntang smiled lightly. "That's fine. I could use the money to improve my family's situation."

She wanted to cause trouble in the palace, but she didn't want to drag the Zhenguo General's Mansion into this.

As long as the news reached Empress Dowager Yuan's ears, it wouldn't be Ji Yuntang asking to see her—it would be the Empress Dowager summoning her!

Going to the palace on her own versus being summoned were two completely different things, and at least her motives wouldn't seem too obvious.

The next day, Shen Xiangming did what Ji Yuntang asked and spread the news that she had cured Shen Shiran.

It immediately caused a stir all over the capital.

The eldest young lady of the Shen family had fallen into the water, run a fever, and passed out. The mansion had posted notices seeking physicians, and at least twenty people had responded.

Add in the imperial physicians the mansion had called in, and over thirty doctors in total—none could cure her.

Yet the moment Doctor Yun Tang showed up, the young lady woke up and her fever broke. How could the people of Xishu not be buzzing about her?

Adding to that, Shen Xiangming had his people spread word that Ji Yuntang's skills could work miracles and raise the dead, which only made everyone in Xishu even more curious.

As it happened, the news reached the palace.

After finishing court and returning to Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Yuan had a splitting headache so bad she could barely walk. Nanny An rushed to her side to help her.

"Empress Dowager, is your headache acting up again?"

The Empress Dowager leaned back on the soft couch and rubbed her brow.

Looking worried, she said, "I've been getting headaches more and more often lately. Even the medicine Imperial Physician Wei prescribes isn't working as well anymore. If this continues, I'm afraid I won't even be able to handle court affairs."

"The matter of appointing a new Crown Prince needs to be dealt with as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Nanny An seemed to remember something and said to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, I've heard that a doctor named Yun has recently come to the capital with amazing medical skills."

"The eldest young lady of the Zhenguo General's Mansion fell into the water, ran a fever, and stayed unconscious. Dozens of doctors were called in, and even the imperial physicians were stumped. But the moment Doctor Yun showed up, the young lady woke up within an hour."

"I heard that today, the young lady even went out shopping with her maids, looking totally different from yesterday when she was out cold—not at all like someone who'd been sick."

"Would you like to invite Doctor Yun to the palace to examine you?"

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