In the afternoon at Jing'an Courtyard, sunlight spilled in through the window lattice, casting warm yellow patches of light on the floor. A faint soothing incense burned in the bronze censer in the corner of the room, its curling green smoke filling the entire room with a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Hua Yuan sat on a round stool, three fingers resting on Cheng Lu's wrist, his eyes half-closed in deep concentration.
Cheng Lu sat upright.
Her gaze fell on the withered, aged hand on her wrist, then moved away to look at the wisteria trellis outside the window. Light purple flower spikes hung down, swaying gently in the breeze. A few sparrows hopped around among the vines, chirping merrily.
Having lived in the palace for sixteen years, she had never seen such a lively scene.
The flowers and trees in the palace were pruned too neatly, so neatly that they lacked vitality. The birds in the palace were also afraid of people; they would flutter away at the sight of a human shadow, unlike these little creatures who actually dared to land on the windowsill and tilt their heads to observe her.
She suddenly remembered that when she was still the Ninth Prince, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine who came to check her pulse were always trembling and walking on thin ice.
When their fingers rested on her, they always carried a bit of a tremble, their eyes dodging, never daring to meet her gaze.
At that time, she didn't understand.
Now she understood.
Those imperial physicians had probably long diagnosed that her pulse was abnormal, but they just didn't dare to say it, couldn't say it. They could only bite the bullet and use cliches like congenital deficiency and liver and qi stagnation to fool her.
And this fooling.
Lasted for so many years.
Cheng Lu's lips curved slightly, the arc so faint it was almost imperceptible.
Hua Yuan opened his eyes and withdrew his hand.
Miss, this pulse of yours... He paused, a hint of a smile appearing on his aged face, Compared to last time, it is much better.
Cheng Lu was slightly startled.
She subconsciously looked down at herself, then raised her eyes to look at Hua Yuan, a bit of uncertainty in her eyes: Truly?
Hua Yuan nodded, stroking his gray beard, his tone carrying a bit of relief: Your pulse is peaceful and strong, your qi and blood are abundant, and there is no longer the previous sign of stagnation. This old man has practiced medicine for decades, and such a change... is quite rare.
He paused and added, It seems the stone weighing on your heart has finally been removed.
Cheng Lu lowered her eyes and did not reply.
Of course she knew what Hua Yuan was talking about.
In those years, she didn't know why she was different from others, didn't know why she had to suffer that skin-peeling, cramp-like abdominal pain every month, didn't know why, even though she was clearly a prince, she was thinner and more delicate than her younger sister.
She desperately tried to find the answer, but she could never find it.
That confusion, that inferiority complex, that fear of having a major illness, was like a giant boulder pressing on her heart for a full sixteen years.
Now, that stone had finally been removed.
She knew the truth.
She knew she wasn't sick, knew she was inherently a woman, knew that the excruciating abdominal pain was nothing more than the menstrual cramps that ordinary women experience.
Cheng Lu suddenly felt her eye sockets grow hot.
She hurriedly lowered her eyes, suppressing that heat, and said softly, Thank you, Imperial Physician Hua.
Hua Yuan waved his hand and smiled, You are too polite, Miss. This old man merely checked your pulse; the one who truly made you better is yourself.
Hua Yuan took out a few pieces of paper filled with words from his medical box and handed them to her: This is a new prescription I wrote to regulate your qi and blood. Just take it according to the prescription. In addition, this dietary prescription—
He pointed to another piece of paper, his tone becoming more solemn: You must remember this well. In the coming days, you need to follow the dietary regimen on this prescription, eat more things that nourish qi and blood, and eat less raw, cold, and chilly foods. Only when your body is nourished better can we... proceed to the next step.
The next step.
Cheng Lu's hand paused slightly as she took the prescription.
She naturally knew what the next step meant.
Sixth Brother had told her that they needed to remove the lesion, return to her original source, and become a true woman. That process was probably similar to the castration of the little eunuchs in the palace—it required going under the knife, it required bleeding, it required... removing the useless thing that had troubled her for sixteen years.
Eunuch castration.
Cheng Lu had been stunned for a moment back then, and then, she suddenly smiled.
She thought of the eunuchs she had seen in the palace over the years, each with a high-pitched voice, bowing and bending, as humble as specks of dust.
She had never thought that one day, she too would experience something similar to them.
But so what?
To continue living as neither man nor woman, or to become a true woman again—she knew how to choose this with her eyes closed.
Cheng Lu looked down at the prescription in her hands, the handwriting swaying slightly before her eyes.
Was she afraid?
She asked herself.
It seemed... she wasn't that afraid either.
Sixth Brother had said that Imperial Physician Hua had a deep family background in medicine, his ancestors had studied this condition, and he already had a well-thought-out plan for it.
After her feigned death, according to the arrangements of Sixth Brother and the Empress Mother, Imperial Physician Hua was now practicing daily at the castration house, aiming to hone his skills to the extreme to ensure nothing went wrong.
Moreover...
Cheng Lu remembered the expression on Sixth Brother's face when he said this—that usually calm face carried a bit of heartache, a bit of guilt, and a bit of solemnity she had never seen before.
Rest assured, he had said. Sixth Brother won't let anything happen to you.
Cheng Lu's lips curved slightly.
With Sixth Brother here, with the Empress Mother here, what was she afraid of?
As for the rest, such as the unavoidable issue of having her private parts seen, Cheng Lu raised her eyes and looked at Hua Yuan. Hua Yuan was lowering his eyes to pack up his medical box; no expression could be seen on that wrinkle-covered face, only a pair of steady hands making no superfluous movements.
This person.
Was old enough to be her grandfather!
A hint of amusement suddenly welled up in Cheng Lu's heart. If she were in the palace, she probably wouldn't even dare to think about having her body seen by an imperial physician, but now...
She was someone who had walked through the gates of hell once. Having even died already, did she still care about this?
Only a few people knew, and they were all people who treated her sincerely.
She was very open-minded about it.
Imperial Physician Hua, Cheng Lu spoke, her voice calm. I have memorized everything you just said. This matter... I will have to trouble you.
Hua Yuan raised his head.
And looked at her.
A trace of a complex expression flashed in those cloudy old eyes, along with a bit of... indescribable emotion.
You speak too heavily, Miss. He stood up and bowed solemnly to Cheng Lu. It is the best thing that you can think so openly. This old man will certainly do my utmost and not fail... the trust placed in me.
He paused, not saying what the trust was, but both of them knew it perfectly well.
Cheng Lu nodded slightly: Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Hua.
Hua Yuan packed up his medical box and was about to take his leave when his footsteps suddenly paused.
He turned back, looked at Cheng Lu, his gaze carrying a bit of complexity: Miss, the people over there... are all very worried about you.
Cheng Lu's body stiffened slightly.
She didn't speak, but simply lowered her eyes, looking at the few pieces of paper on her lap. The handwriting on the paper gradually blurred, and was forced to become clear again by her forceful blinking.
After faking her death, although it had not been too long since she left the imperial palace, the yearning inevitably welled up in her heart. However, Cheng Lu knew very well that now was far from the time to meet.
If possible, the contact between them should also be minimized.
Letters could not be sent!
After a long while.
She spoke softly, her voice drifting slightly, I must trouble Imperial Physician Hua to deliver a message for me.
Please speak, Miss.
Cheng Lu took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at the wisteria trellis outside the window. The flower spikes swayed gently in the wind, looking exactly like the wisteria she had planted with her own hands under the corridor of the Kunning Palace.
Just say... she paused, just say that I am doing very well here, and tell them... not to worry.
Hua Yuan looked at her.
Looking at the unspeakable, unmentionable, and unrevealable yearning hidden beneath that calm face, he nodded, his voice deep and solemn, This old man will certainly deliver it.
Cheng Lu did not speak, only nodding slightly as a gesture of thanks.
Hua Yuan said no more. He picked up his medicine chest, turned, and left. The sound of his footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared outside the courtyard gate.
The room returned to silence.
Cheng Lu remained sitting in her original spot, looking at the wisteria trellis outside the window.
The sunlight cast faint shadows on her face, making it impossible to read her expression. Only her slightly pursed lips leaked a trace of imperceptible emotion...
...
Before long, the sound of footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate again.
This time, the footsteps were brisk and unhurried, carrying a somewhat familiar rhythm.
Cheng Lu snapped back to reality and turned to look.
Shen Ninghuan stepped through the door, lifting her skirt. With a faint smile in her eyes, she asked with concern as soon as she entered, Sister Cheng, what did Imperial Physician Hua say? How is your health?
Cheng Lu stood up and went to greet her.
Thank you for your concern, Second Sister-in-law, she said softly. Imperial Physician Hua said that I still need to recuperate for a period of time. I can only begin treatment when my body is a bit better.
As she spoke, she handed over the few sheets of paper in her hand.
These are the medical prescriptions and dietary recipes left by Imperial Physician Hua. Cheng Lu looked at Shen Ninghuan, her gaze carrying a bit of apology. From now on, these... will probably trouble Second Sister-in-law.
Shen Ninghuan took them and lowered her eyes to glance at them.
The medicinal herbs on the prescription were all common items and not difficult to find. The dietary recipes were written even more meticulously, clearly listing what to eat at what time, how much to eat, and how to cook it.
She raised her head and smiled at Cheng Lu.
Rest assured, Sister. Shen Ninghuan put away the prescriptions, her tone gentle and certain. I will arrange all of this properly. I will have a trusted older female servant keep an eye on the kitchen, and I will also send someone to the best pharmacy to buy the medicinal herbs. There will be no carelessness.
Looking at her, Cheng Lu felt a slight warmth in her heart.
This Second Sister-in-law.
She truly treated her impeccably.
From the day she entered the manor, food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all provided for and arranged appropriately. Now, taking on so many trivial matters, she showed not the slightest impatience, not even a single polite word of decline.
Thank you, Second Sister-in-law, Cheng Lu said softly.
Shen Ninghuan smiled and waved her hand, Sister, you are speaking polite words again. Since you have come to our Second Branch, just treat it as your own home. A family does not speak two languages. If you have any needs in the future, just ask, and do not be a stranger.
A family.
Cheng Lu silently chewed on these words in her heart.
During her sixteen years in the palace, she had also experienced the warmth of a home. Although she was not her mother the Empress's biological daughter, the maternal love the other party gave her was not lacking in the slightest. Her sixth brother also treated her like a full sibling, being an excellent older brother who protected her in every way.
She originally thought that after faking her death and coming to a strange place, she would become a lonely person!
She didn't expect to still feel the warmth of a family here.
Cheng Lu lowered her eyes, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke.
Second Sister-in-law... She raised her head, her gaze carrying a bit of probing and uncertainty. Could I... ask someone to teach me some needlework?
Shen Ninghuan was slightly startled.
Since I am going to be a woman from now on, I should also learn the things a woman should know. Etiquette and such are easy to say; growing up in the palace since childhood, I have seen plenty of it. But this needlework...
I really haven't touched it!
After all, they previously thought I was a boy. Who would teach a boy these things!
I really don't know how to do it at all...
But I have to go back to being a woman after all. I don't know how to do it now, but I can't not know how to do it for a lifetime. Even if I don't learn it well, I absolutely cannot be completely ignorant. Otherwise, when I go out to meet people in the future and can't even embroider a handkerchief, what would that look like...
Well, holding a needle shouldn't be harder than holding a pen, right?
Listening to those inner thoughts drifting into her ears, the corners of Shen Ninghuan's lips couldn't help but curve up. So this was what this former prince was thinking in her heart.
Rest assured, Sister, there is no need to ask outsiders. If you want to learn, I will just come and teach you for a while every day, Shen Ninghuan said with a smile, her tone very serious.
Cheng Lu's words could be considered a reminder to her.
She currently claimed to be recuperating from an illness, giving her an excuse to stay in the inner courtyard and not step out the main gate. But over time, she would eventually have to go out and meet people, as a woman!
But the other party had, after all, been raised as a man.
Even if she changed into women's clothing.
When interacting with others, if there were some things she didn't understand, it would appear strange. If someone saw through the flaws then, it would be bad, so she still had to personally make up for this part of the knowledge for this prince...
Seeing Shen Ninghuan agree and even prepare to teach her personally, Cheng Lu's eyes lit up slightly.
Is that really okay? Her voice carried a rare bit of joy. Will it delay Second Sister-in-law's time?
Shen Ninghuan smiled and shook her head, It is no trouble! Every afternoon, I happen to need to come deliver the soups and drinks from the dietary recipes to you, Sister. I can teach you for an hour in passing, which is just right.
Cheng Lu looked at her.
That warmth in her heart surged up again.
She stood up and formally curtsied to Shen Ninghuan, Second Sister-in-law has gone to great trouble!
Shen Ninghuan quickly supported her, What are you doing, Sister? I already said there is no need to be polite.
She paused, then smiled again, If you do not mind, just call me Sister Huan from now on. Always calling me Second Sister-in-law makes me feel like you are treating us as strangers.
Cheng Lu raised her head and looked into those clear, smiling eyes.
Sister Huan, she called out softly.
Shen Ninghuan responded with a smile and reached out to tuck the loose hair by her temples, her movements as natural as a biological older sister.
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
The wisteria flowers swayed gently in the breeze, scattering light purple shadows all over the ground.
...
At the same time.
On the small path outside the courtyard wall of the Second Branch, a figure in pale lotus-root purple stood quietly. Shen Ningyue looked at the elderly figure walking out from the direction of the Jing'an Courtyard, her brows furrowing slightly.
Was that... an Imperial Physician?
She remembered that face.
In her previous life, she had seen this person a few times at the Marquis of Weiyuan's Manor. She heard he was the head of the Imperial Hospital. If Pei Ciling had not established major military merits, it would be absolutely impossible to invite such a prominent figure for a medical consultation.
But now, why would this person appear at the Second Branch?
Shen Ningyue stood in her original spot, watching that figure gradually walk further away, finally disappearing behind the moon gate.
Her brows furrowed even tighter.
In her past life... in her past life, no cousin had ever come to the manor, nor was there any honored guest worth the Old Madam taking such great pains to invite the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau to treat her. Who knew how many favors the Old Madam had to call in for this?
Hah!
Was everything really just an illusion?
Shen Ningyue suddenly remembered seeing Pei Cijing at Qingyun Temple that day. Holding Shen Ninghuan in his arms, he had drifted down from a tree canopy dozens of feet high, his posture as graceful as a crane, landing without a single sound.
She remembered the words on the divination slip from that day: Flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water are ultimately untrue.
She thought of everything over these past few days that failed to align with the memories of her past life.
Shen Ningyue lowered her eyes, and the corners of her lips suddenly curled. It was hard to tell if they curved upwards or downwards; the arc was so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it carried an indescribable nuance.
There was doubt.
There was relief.
And there was also a kind of... calm acceptance of the expected.
It turned out that from the very beginning, everything was already different...
