Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 95: Piecing Together
Fu Feng's medical skills were truly amazing. He used an ointment on Zhou Wencong to remove dead tissue and regenerate new flesh. In just three days, Zhou Wencong's legs were able to move freely. He said that he would be able to get out of bed and walk in two days.

Captain Ling of the Zhenxi Army did not trust him very much. To be cautious, before the Third Prince used the medicine, he sent someone to deliver this unknown ointment into the city first, so that Doctor Qiu from Rusheng Medical Clinic could see if it was harmful. As a result, before the palace soldier who went to deliver the ointment returned, Zhou Wencong's leg had already healed.

Upon learning this, Captain Ling angrily cried out, "Nonsense! Can't you just wait a few more days? Who knows what this doctor from the Western Territory is up to? How could he so carelessly give the Third Prince medicine? Who will be held responsible if anything goes wrong?"

Fu Feng checked Zhou Wencong's wound, rolled his eyes and said, "Wait a few days? Wait until his legs rot away another circle of flesh? Wait until his tendons and veins rot away and he becomes a cripple forever? Who will be held responsible if the treatment is delayed?"

Shen Tu Zhuo was unconcerned: "Don't worry, I've used this ointment on injured cows in the village, and it's fine. I went to check on the cows a few times, and the wounds healed well, and they licked them from time to time, so it's clear they're fine after eating it."

Captain Ling: "Huh? Why didn't I think of that?"

Zhou Wencong: “…” Are you comparing me to a cow?
Fu Feng snorted coldly: "I said, what are you all doing with my ointment? You're giving it to people for examination and applying it to cows. You're wasting all the good stuff! If it weren't for the high price you paid, I wouldn't bother paying any attention to you!"

Tan Huaike tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, I can vouch for Doctor Fufeng's medical skills and character; he's absolutely trustworthy. Now that we've tried, and his condition has improved significantly, let's not hold it against him."

Zhou Wencong rubbed his trouser legs and complained, "It's just too itchy. It itches deep in my bones and I can't scratch it. Doctor Fufeng, when will this itch stop? I really can't stand it anymore."

Fu Feng said, "It's healing. It won't itch in two days."

Shen Tu Zhuo suddenly realized: "No wonder the cow kept licking, it turned out to be itchy."

Zhou Wencong was helpless: "Can you please stop talking about cows?"

Everyone was discussing when they could break camp and return home when the messenger brought back two pieces of news.

The news was that Fufeng's ointment was flawless, not only harmless to patients but even miraculously effective in healing injuries, prompting Doctor Qiu to personally consult the creator. Upon hearing that he was outside the city, the nearly 80-year-old man considered riding in a carriage to find him, but was persuaded to stop. He now waited anxiously at Rusheng Clinic for Fufeng to enter the city.

Another piece of news was about Xu Guanbai. The governor of Chi County personally wrote a letter to explain the whole story to the Third Prince.

Just as Tan Huaike expected, a maidservant beside Xu Guanbai put drugs in her tea, making her drowsy and temporarily losing her sense of smell, and replacing the incense pills.

Furthermore, the maid had secretly added the incense pill before County Magistrate Chi left the warm room. After that, she served outside and never approached the inner room again. Initially, everyone focused their attention on the person who had touched the incense burner after County Magistrate Chi left, so they didn't suspect her at first. They only pulled her out after discovering that the Xuguan white tea was poisonous.

Tan Huaike asked in confusion, "Chi Jun Shou added incense before leaving the warm room? Then why was Chi Jun Shou not affected?"

After reading the letter, Zhou Wencong said, "Because that fragrant pill is half Suchan Curcuma and half is a poison pill containing Yinxi and Aphrodisiac. When the maid put it in, the Suchan Curcuma half burned first. When Xu Guanbai's medicine took effect and the time was almost ripe, the Aphrodisiac was released."

"I see." Tan Huaike nodded. "Such an elaborate arrangement could only have been done by someone with a meticulous mind and a deep understanding of incense making. I think when Lady Guan Bai went to fiddle with the incense burner, she also noticed something amiss and wanted to see if there was anything wrong with the incense balls, but it was too late." "That was her maid. Do you really think she's innocent?" Shen Tu Zhuo asked. "You said it took someone with a deep understanding of incense making to do that. How do you know it wasn't Xu Guanbai who ordered the maid to do it? It's also possible that she fainted to distance herself from herself and then claimed she didn't smell anything."

"That being said, doing so would be both cumbersome and easily expose oneself. If Lady Bai really wanted to attack the eldest prince and the third prince, there would clearly be many more suitable opportunities."

"Although Xu Guanbai is shrewd and calculating, he carries the title of Imperial Concubine, so he wouldn't be so reckless." Zhou Wencong pondered for a moment. "Besides, the Chi County Magistrate only said that the maid was secretly involved. I believe there is some evidence to clear Xu Guanbai of suspicion. We can ask for details after we return to the city."

After hearing this, Tan Huaike was secretly surprised.

It was not because Xu Guanbai was cleared of suspicion, but because of the Third Prince’s words “good at calculating”.

According to Shentu Zhuo, the two had a verbal engagement. Given the Third Prince's character, how could he easily apply such a comment to a young lady? And while the Third Prince didn't specifically target White Snake, he was clearly indifferent, even vaguely avoiding her. I wonder what else might be going on here.
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Three days later, Zhou Wencong was able to walk without any problems. After discussion, everyone decided to return to the city immediately.

Thus, under the promotion of the Magistrate of Chi County, the Zhenxi Army and the palace soldiers who were ordered to retrieve His Royal Highness the Third Prince became the legitimate wedding procession. The Wuxu caravan that had stumbled into the pass turned into the wedding procession of Princess Mohe. The two people who fled in a carriage to avoid the assassination, one became the Third Prince of Daxuan who came to welcome his new bride, and the other became the Princess Mohe who arrived late.

What a hodgepodge of marriages!

Fu Feng fiddled with Tan Huaike's face for an hour, pinching and pressing here and there, and even repainting her makeup with rouge and powder. This caused Shen Tu Zhuo, who was standing behind the screen, to sneer: "Hey, can you do this? If not, get someone else to do it. I don't think there's any need to rush. Just let Xu Guanbai do her makeup when we get back to the city."

Fu Feng kept moving his hands: "Didn't you say it yourself? When entering the city, it will be Princess Mo He's first appearance in Daxuan. It must be done in a grand and meticulous manner, without any mistakes, so as to give the greatest impact to those who are getting in the way."

Zhou Wencong said, "Although we don't need to show up in public when entering the city, the more openly we act, the more panicked those people will become. If possible, it would be best to create a few unintentional appearances. Once the people of Zhangye County have seen Princess Mohe's true appearance with their own eyes, we will be more confident going forward."

"They don't know what the princess looks like anyway, so they can just dress her up casually." Shen Tu Zhuo stretched his neck to look inside. "Did you touch her ear again? You quack doctor, are you molesting my sister-in-law?"

"Oh, she's so jealous. If you understand this, then you can draw it for her yourself." Fu Feng said sarcastically.

"I just don't understand. Aren't you a doctor? Do doctors in your Western Territory know how to disguise themselves and apply makeup?"

"I studied under the great doctor Mo He, but I learned more than just medical skills." Fu Feng sighed, "Alas, the water here is much deeper than the Juyan Lake. Even if I tell you, you won't understand."

"...Are you ready? Everyone outside is ready to go. How long do we have to wait?" Shen Tu Zhuo urged.

"Alright." Fu Feng finally withdrew his hand and said to Tan Huaike in front of him, "So, you are Her Royal Highness the Princess."
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　Next chapter: Dual identity.

　　(End of this chapter)