As Shen Xuejin had anticipated, Shen Wanya immediately looked at Huo Nanchi with anxiety upon hearing this. "Second Young Master Huo, pray do not listen to her nonsense. I was merely angry that she would talk of money rather than sentiment between sisters."
"What has that to do with me?" The expression on Huo Nanchi’s refined, handsome face remained indifferent.
What Shen Wanya was or was not concerned him little, and naturally, neither did the affairs of Shen Xuejin.
Yet, to Shen Wanya’s ears, his words felt like a mockery of her broken promise. Gritting her teeth, she pulled a one-hundred-tael banknote from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Xuejin. "Take it, then."
Shen Xuejin took the note and handed over the burn ointment. "Since Aunt Fang’s burns are so severe and brook no delay, you should return quickly to apply this for her, sister."
Knowing that if she did not leave, her actions would contradict her previous words, Shen Wanya had no choice but to depart, albeit with great reluctance.
"To gain one hundred taels and vent your anger without spending a single copper—Miss Shen, you have quite the methods," Huo Nanchi remarked coolly, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Since she wanted it so sincerely, it would have been unkind of me to refuse," Shen Xuejin replied, sitting down to sip her tea in silence.
Huo Nanchi stood up. As he lowered his gaze, the burn on the back of Shen Xuejin’s neck became clearly visible. He arched a brow. *Hmph. She doesn't even care about her own injuries, yet she goes to such lengths for this hundred taels.*
At that moment, Bizhu returned in a hurry, having dried her skirt. Upon seeing Huo Nanchi, she looked startled. "Second Young Master."
Coincidentally, the shopkeeper had prepared the trauma medicine and the other items on Shen Xuejin’s list, placing them in two large bundles on the table.
"Huo Dao," Huo Nanchi said indifferently. "Take the medicine and escort Miss Shen back to the residence."
Huo Dao, who was in the middle of peeling his fifth orange, shoved the entire fruit into his mouth and picked up the two large bags of medicinal herbs.
"My thanks to the Second Young Master."
Huo Nanchi rose and strode away.
Upon returning to the Huo Residence, Shen Xuejin began to sort through the herbs. Her expression shifted slightly when she noticed that the *pengcao* she had specifically requested from the clerk was missing.
Huo Nanchi had clearly seen through her; he had ensured that the herb was excluded.
As she picked through the ingredients, a mocking smile grew on Shen Xuejin’s lips. The Second Young Master was just like Madam Huo—constantly guarding against her.
It was not until she had finished sorting everything and looked at the herbs she had set aside separately that a faint smile appeared on her face.
When she had submitted the prescription to the pharmacy, she had not written down *pengcao* separately, but had instead subtly altered the quantities of three other herbs. Even if an imperial physician examined the prescription, they would find nothing amiss, yet the combined properties of the adjusted amounts could serve as a substitute for *pengcao*. While not as effective, it would suffice for her needs.
In this den of tigers and snakes, being cautious and having a few contingency plans was never a mistake.
Three days later, Shen Xuejin finished refining the new medicine and personally delivered it to Madam Huo.
"Look at you, you must be exhausted from all this preparation," Madam Huo said, her tone seemingly filled with concern. She had Nanny Wang take both the prescription and the medicine to be sent into the palace.
"I am merely worried about Imperial Concubine Mei’s psoriasis recurring, so I hoped to see it cured as soon as possible," Shen Xuejin said, lowering her head slightly.
Madam Huo smiled. "The kitchen made some new pastries; take some back to enjoy."
"Thank you, Madam." Shen Xuejin looked at the plate of osmanthus cakes, her expression turning sorrowful. "My mother is very fond of osmanthus cakes, but unfortunately, I have not been able to make any for her myself this year."
"Nanny, tell the kitchen to prepare some more osmanthus cakes and have them sent to the Shen Residence for Madam Shen."
"Yes."
It seemed she would not be able to see her mother today.
Since moving from the fire pit of the Shen Residence to the tiger's den of the Huo Residence, Madam Huo had kept her mother under close watch, not even allowing her to visit. To say she felt no resentment would be a lie, but for now, she could only rely on the Huo Residence.
It appeared that only by completely ingratiating herself with the Huo Residence could she and her mother find any freedom.
"By the way," Madam Huo suddenly asked, "since you are well-versed in medicine, do you know how to treat women’s ailments?"
"I have a little knowledge of it."
Madam Huo smiled. "Nanny, take Miss Shen to the West Courtyard and have her check on her."
"Yes."
Shen Xuejin followed Nanny Wang all the way to the West Courtyard.
"Aunt Fang has been living in the West Courtyard for over a month now, and she has been feeling unwell. The Madam has invited several physicians to take her pulse, but none could determine the cause."
"The Madam thought it might be a woman’s issue, making it difficult for the male physicians to examine her closely. As female doctors are rare, it has been delayed until now."
While they spoke, the two reached the West Courtyard.
Shen Xuejin had never met this aunt before. She had only heard that she was the descendant of a disgraced official and had been sent to the Jiaofang Si. Because Marquis Huo was grateful for her father’s past help, he had managed to secure her release and take her into the manor as a concubine.
Aunt Fang was not a beauty of legendary status, but she possessed a delicate, fragile quality that stirred pity. It was said that Marquis Huo held this concubine in high regard.
Nanny Wang stated their purpose, and before Aunt Fang could even speak, she pressed Shen Xuejin’s hand onto Aunt Fang’s wrist.
*A pregnancy pulse.*
Shen Xuejin was taken aback.
However, Nanny Wang, who had been watching her closely, knew by her expression that she had discovered the truth.
She immediately ushered Shen Xuejin out, saying to Aunt Fang, "This old servant must return to attend to the Madam, so we shall take our leave."
The arrival and departure were equally hurried.
Aunt Fang watched their retreating figures with a look of worry.
Her maid, Changpu, stepped forward and whispered, "Do you think Miss Shen was able to tell you are with child?"
Gu Xunfang clutched her embroidered handkerchief. "Judging by her look, she realized it."
Changpu became anxious. "What do we do? You’ve worked so hard to hide it for three months."
Gu Xunfang placed her hand gently on her lower abdomen. It was already starting to show, but she had been able to conceal it with layers of clothing. Yet, she had not counted on the sudden arrival of this Miss Shen. And seeing Nanny Wang’s demeanor earlier, she feared that it wasn’t that the previous physicians hadn't diagnosed her, but that they had and were forbidden to speak of it.
"That Miss Shen is clearly one of the Madam’s people. If she knows you are pregnant, she certainly won't let it be," Changpu said, pacing in circles. "What are we to do?"
"We can only delay," Gu Xunfang said, her voice tinged with sorrow. "We must stall until the Marquis returns."
Back at the Ranfeng Courtyard, Shen Xuejin’s thoughts were swirling.
She did not believe that those physicians couldn't diagnose something as simple as a pregnancy pulse. If they had diagnosed it but couldn't speak, then, given Aunt Fang's situation, it was highly likely that Marquis Huo had given instructions to his confidants before leaving that anything concerning Aunt Fang was to be deferred until his return.
Marquis Huo had even brought back the daughter of a disgraced official; he clearly felt some genuine affection for her. And Shen Xuejin, quite unintentionally, had been pushed by Madam Huo to become a pawn in this game.
"It really is a pregnancy pulse, isn't it?" Madam Huo asked, feigning surprise and delight, having concocted a story. "A previous physician said as much, but I was worried there might be a mistake."
Madam Huo looked up at Shen Xuejin. "Miss Shen, what is the state of Aunt Fang’s pulse? Is the fetus stable?"