The moment these words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere abruptly froze.
The crowd looked toward the source of the voice and saw a noblewoman dressed in a purple-gold brocade apricot-blossom gown. A string of pearls hung from her hair accessory, and a jade pendant swung at her waist. She stood amidst the crowd with a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes filled with provocation.
"My Lord, should we help the Third Miss?" Mosong whispered into Song Xiuyuan’s ear, frowning at the scene.
"She can handle it," the man replied, his lips curling upward as he watched Fu Yingzhi with a faint gaze.
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, a glimmer of triumph flickered in the woman’s phoenix eyes.
Seeing that the woman was a stranger, Fu Yingzhi remained calm and composed. "Carrying medical supplies for emergencies is the duty of a healer. Today, it simply happened to come in handy—a matter of coincidence. As for your accusation of 'putting on a show,' that is truly absurd. The Princess’s seizure was sudden; had one not seen it with their own eyes, who could have predicted it?"
Her words were sincere, neither aggressive nor showing the slightest trace of a guilty conscience.
The noblewoman sneered and said slowly, "Then Miss Fu’s emergency medicine is certainly quite 'precise,' isn't it?" She emphasized the word "precise," as if hinting at something more.
Fu Yingzhi knit her brows. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a small, exquisite vial, and held it up for all to see. "The medicine in this bottle is merely a common sedative. It is not specifically for the Princess’s condition, but it is effective for sudden dizziness, nausea, and palpitations." She then turned to Princess Rongjia and bowed gracefully. "I humbly request that Your Highness summon an Imperial Physician to inspect this medicine and clear my name."
Princess Rongjia, hearing this and noticing the whispering among the crowd, nodded and announced loudly, "I trust you, but since there are doubts, we might as well have Imperial Physician Chen take a look."
"Sister, just admit your mistake!" Fu Jing'an’s voice rose from the crowd once more.
She hurried forward, and seeing that everyone was looking at her, she bit her lip and said with a tearful voice, "Second Sister, why must you be so stubborn? Why use such insidious means just to curry favor with the Princess?"
With that, she suddenly knelt before Princess Rongjia. Her lotus-like face was already streaked with tears as she sobbed, "Your Highness, our family had absolutely no knowledge of this! It is all because this sister of mine is lawless and reckless! I implore Your Highness to investigate thoroughly and spare our estate!"
She wept so piteously, with her hair slightly disheveled and her graceful figure faintly outlined, that she appeared all the more fragile and pitiful.
Fu Yingzhi watched coldly, her mind as clear as a mirror. Fu Jing'an’s cries, her posture, and even the timing of her tears were so perfectly calculated; such a performance must have been practiced painstakingly for a long time.
Seeing this, Imperial Physician Chen, who had been waiting in the crowd, stepped forward. After bowing respectfully to Princess Rongjia, he took the vial from Fu Yingzhi. He poured out the pills, crushed them to examine them closely, and even tasted a small amount. He then looked up at the crowd and declared loudly, "This is indeed a common emergency medication; it can treat various acute conditions. There is nothing wrong with it." He paused, turned to bow to Fu Yingzhi, and added, "I can taste the gastrodia, pinellia, and poria, but I am at a loss regarding the final few ingredients. I would appreciate your guidance, Miss."
Fu Yingzhi smiled faintly and opened her lips. "The remaining ingredients are uncaria, fluorite, and dragon bone. Taken together, they help pacify the liver and suppress wind, which is most effective for epilepsy caused by an excess of liver-yang. The other two are polygala and poria, which calm the spirit and treat deficiency of the heart and spleen."
After hearing this, Imperial Physician Chen fell into deep thought. He bowed deeply to Fu Yingzhi, visibly moved. "I have never heard of such a highly skilled physician in Ningdu. May I ask who was your mentor, Third Miss Fu?"
Fu Yingzhi mused for a moment, curtsied, and said softly, "I learned it from a mysterious master from the Western Regions whom I met by chance."
Imperial Physician Chen exclaimed, "Marvelous! I had long heard that the masters of the Western Regions possessed incredible medical skills; today, I am fortunate to have learned something!"
Seeing that Imperial Physician Chen showed no signs of stopping, Princess Rongjia gave a light cough. When the two looked at her, she said loudly, "Qinghuan’s condition is becoming increasingly urgent." She turned to Fu Yingzhi, bowed slightly, and said with respectful sincerity, "Third Miss Fu, your medical skills are remarkable. You have a connection with my sister and have earned the admiration of Imperial Physician Chen. Would you be willing to consult with Imperial Physician Chen and prescribe a treatment to help Qinghuan recover as soon as possible?"
A commotion broke out in the crowd at these words, and even Fu Jing'an was stunned.
"Yingzhi shall do her utmost," Fu Yingzhi replied with a curtsy.
"This girl’s medical skills remain to be verified. What if this was just a stroke of luck? Wouldn't that ruin everything? I ask the Princess to reconsider!" A shrill voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
Princess Rongjia frowned, her gaze turning cold as she looked toward the source of the sound. Seeing that it was the same noblewoman who had caused trouble earlier, she scoffed with displeasure. "Kangle, enough of your nonsense! I have yet to settle accounts with you for your earlier behavior, and here you are, still acting out. Apologize to Third Miss Fu at once!"
Intimidated by the Princess’s aura, the noblewoman gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and offered a perfunctory curtsy to Fu Yingzhi.
"It seems you have finally witnessed the Third Miss’s medical skills, Sister." A deep, cold male voice drifted over.
Song Xiuyuan arrived slowly, waving his ivory-carved pine-pattern folding fan. "A few days ago in Lin'an Alley, I was suddenly taken ill. If it weren't for Third Miss Fu chancing upon me and providing treatment, I fear I would have suffered a great ordeal."
He scanned the crowd with their varied expressions, his tone leisurely yet meaningful. "In gratitude for her timely rescue, I have gifted the Third Miss the datura from my estate."
"But the datura is so precious! How could you just give it to her? Isn't that a waste?" Kangle couldn't help but interject, her brows furrowed, her eyes flashing with jealousy and contempt as she looked at Fu Yingzhi.
Song Xiuyuan frowned, his voice cold with annoyance. "Does Kangle believe that my life is worth less than a datura? Where have your manners gone?"
Princess Kangle’s face burned, her lips trembled, and she could no longer utter a word, only staring at Song Xiuyuan with reddened eyes.
The repeated mention of "Kangle" stirred the original owner's memories. Fu Yingzhi finally recalled that the arrogant noblewoman before her was the legitimate daughter of Prince Huan—Princess Kangle.
In the original book, Princess Kangle was known for her flamboyant and domineering behavior, and she was deeply infatuated with her uncle, Song Xiuyuan.
Song Xiuyuan clearly sensed the Princess’s gaze. His brows furrowed imperceptibly before he turned his eyes toward Fu Jing'an, who was still kneeling on the ground, looking as pitiful as one could be. His eyes turned colder, and he said sharply, "When I visited your estate a few days ago, I had already spoken with Count Jingwen regarding the matter in Lin'an Alley. Now you keep insisting that the Third Miss was kidnapped. Tell me, has the Count gone deaf, or has he lost his memory?"
Fu Jing'an shivered at his words.
"Or perhaps..." Song Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice growing icier, "you simply do not take me seriously?"
Fu Jing'an’s face turned deathly pale. She looked up at Song Xiuyuan, trembling, and hurriedly defended herself. "No, it is just that I..."
"You?" Song Xiuyuan sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Didn't this young lady just claim to represent the Count’s estate?"
Princess Rongjia, watching from the side, showed deep disdain in her eyes. She gave Fu Jing'an a cold, dismissive glance and scoffed, "Second Miss Fu, I wonder how the Count would feel if he knew of your conduct today."
"Bad person!" little Qinghuan chirped in her milk-soft voice at Princess Rongjia’s side.
Laughter and whispers rippled through the crowd. Fu Yingzhi felt a buzzing in her ears, her mind a complete blank.
...
As the music began, the banquet officially commenced.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving Fu Jing'an kneeling alone on the ground. Her face was flushed deep red, fine beads of sweat trickling down her forehead, her body swaying as if she were about to faint at any moment.
Xiao Yu, hiding in the shadows of the crowd, observed everything. A hint of calculation flashed in his eyes as he stepped forward, walking straight toward that brilliant flash of purple...