This palace comes back in this life, only to be Nian Shilan

Chapter 35: Zhou Ninghai's Story

The word Hua Fei used was "help", which gave An Lingrong encouragement. Perhaps she also had her value.

An Lingrong accepted the cloak given to her by Concubine Hua.

In An Lingrong's eyes, Concubine Hua views Zhen Huan the same way she does herself.

I heard that Sister Shen had invited Sister Zhen to eat hotpot together in Yikun Palace before, and Sister Zhen still rode in Concubine Hua's sedan chair to and from the palace. Now Concubine Hua treats her just as well. It can be seen that although she and Sister Zhen are both unfavored concubines, they are highly valued by Concubine Hua.

If she were favored before Sister Zhen, she might get more attention from Concubine Hua.

An Lingrong's plan had not been deliberately concealed. On the way back to the palace, Baojuan carefully looked at An Lingrong's expression and asked her a few questions about what she was thinking in an approachable manner.

Just now in Yiku Palace, Concubine Hua sent herself and Songzhi to get the cloak. Baojuan did not hear what An Lingrong and Concubine Hua said in the palace, so Baojuan asked carefully, and Baoque followed silently.

After An Lingrong left Yikun Palace, Song Zhi sized up Concubine Hua's expression and said: Your Majesty, An Lingrong's family background is too poor, she is timid, and her appearance is not the best among the new ladies in the palace. Wouldn't it be a thankless task to promote her?

Concubine Hua thought back to her previous life, when she was punished by the Emperor and forced to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors because of Zhen Huan's miscarriage. Zhen Huan also lost the Emperor's favor because of the miscarriage. At that time, An Lingrong was the only one who stood out in the palace for a long time.

"Songzhi, never underestimate anyone in this palace. Anyone who can enter the palace through the selection must have some ability, no matter what her family background is." Hua Fei thought for a moment and then reminded her, "Tell Baoque to keep an eye on Baojuan, who is next to An Dacheng, and report to me immediately if there is any movement."

"Yes." Seeing that her master had a plan in mind, Songzhi said no more.

It happened that Zhou Ninghai's young disciple Xiao Louzi brought Wen Shichu to Yikun Palace to reply.

When Concubine Hua was selecting the imperial physician for the Imperial Hospital, she decided to send Wen Shichu to diagnose Nian Xi's pulse.

After all, Wen Shichu's medical skills are far superior to those of the brothers Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shan.

And Wen Shichu's kindness and benevolence will ensure that he will do his best to save Nian Xi.

Wen Shichu was originally just an unknown little doctor in the Imperial Hospital. He was secretly entrusted by Concubine Hua to treat Concubine Duan. This was because doctors cure diseases and save lives. Seeing that Concubine Duan had suffered from illness for many years, he couldn't bear it, so he offered to treat her. However, Wen Shichu didn't want to have anything to do with Concubine Hua and the Nian family.

The Nian family is powerful, and the Wen family was able to retain an official position in the Imperial Hospital with the help of Zhen Yuandao. Now Wen Shichu just wants to practice medicine well and save lives, and keep the Wen family's place in the Imperial Hospital.

But ever since Wen Shichu agreed to help Zhen Huan avoid favor, he knew that as long as he stayed in the Imperial Hospital for one day, he would inevitably be involved in the disputes in the harem and would find it difficult to stay out of it.

Instead of making a passive choice, it is better to follow Sister Huan’s choice now and pave the way for her future.

A few days ago, Wen Shichu heard Zhen Huan talking about going to Yiku Palace with Shen Meiyu. Since Sister Huan was on good terms with Concubine Hua, he didn't have to be too distant from Concubine Hua as before.

Thinking about this, Wen Shichu came before Concubine Hua.

"Your humble servant Wen Shichu pays respects to Her Majesty Hua Fei."

"Please stand up, Doctor Wen. I'd like to trouble you to come to our mansion and ask how is the child Nian Xi's health?"

Concubine Hua was very worried that Nian Xi’s illness was difficult to cure and that he would eventually die at the age of twenty.

"My lady, Young Master Nian has had a weak condition since birth. If he doesn't take good care of his body during the autumn and winter, his body will lose more strength. Now that he is eighteen, he has accumulated cold symptoms in his body for many years. I'm afraid it will be difficult to cure."

When Concubine Hua heard Wen Shichu's words, her heart sank to the bottom.

"If the imperial physician treats him with all his strength, how long can Nian Xi live?"

"I have an ancient book at home, which records in detail how to treat and regulate congenital weaknesses. I will go back and study it carefully. Perhaps there is still a chance to cure Young Master Nian's illness." Wen Shichu did not dare to say it with certainty. There was indeed an ancient book at home that recorded this method, but Wen Shichu had never tried it on a patient. This time might be a chance.

When Concubine Hua heard Wen Shichu say that there was a way, hope was rekindled a little. Not to mention asking Nian Xi to come up with a plan to help the Nian family escape the disaster, Concubine Hua now only hoped that her first nephew could live well, see him get married, have children, and start a family.

Concubine Hua directly asked Songzhi to take a few hundred-liang silver notes to reward Doctor Wen, "My nephew's body is in the hands of Doctor Wen. This is just a small token of my appreciation, not a token of respect."

Wen Shichu actually ranked last in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Normally, officials from the previous dynasty would ask the imperial physician to treat their family members, which was a very lucrative job, and it was never his turn.

There are indeed many such diagnoses nowadays, but Wen Shichu accepted them openly. Since he wanted to be on good terms with Concubine Hua, there was no need to quibble over these minor details.

Only an equal relationship can make cooperation more long-term.

Wen Shichu resigned from the Imperial Hospital in the evening. When he returned home, he took out the ancient book from the study to look for a prescription to treat the old Master Nian's weakness. He put this matter aside for the time being.

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In the evening, Concubine Hua was having dinner when Zhou Ninghai came back limping from outside.

When Concubine Hua saw that Zhou Ninghai was feeling the coldness of the snow outside, she also knew that it would not be easy for him to do his job.

Concubine Hua drank the red bean and glutinous rice porridge that Songzhi had specially ordered the small kitchen to cook. She glanced at the weather-beaten Zhou Ninghai and said calmly, "You don't have to rush to reply now that the matter has been investigated. Go downstairs and change your clothes. Come back after dinner. Songzhi, bring a bowl of red bean and glutinous rice porridge to Zhou Ninghai."

Zhou Ninghai originally thought that he was slow in completing this task and that Concubine Hua would get angry and despise him for being useless. In order to find out the cause of Concubine Xiang's death, he hurried back as fast as he could, and had to be careful not to attract other people's attention along the way.

Unexpectedly, after he came back, his master did not despise him for being slow, but also understood his difficulties. Zhou Ninghai was moved again.

At the beginning, Zhou Ninghai's family was so poor that they could not even make ends meet, so his parents had no choice but to send him to the palace to be castrated and become a eunuch. As a young eunuch, Zhou Ninghai was bullied a lot. Often, several senior eunuchs teamed up to bully a young boy like him. Once, he could not help but resist, and was beaten up by a group of senior eunuchs, and his leg was accidentally broken.

It happened that at that time, Concubine Hua, who was still the concubine of the prince's mansion, came to the palace to pay a visit to Concubine De at that time, who is now the empress dowager. She saw Zhou Ninghai being beaten and rescued him.

Later, Hua Fei invited an imperial physician to treat Zhou Ninghai's leg injury. After the injury was healed, he became disabled. When Hua Fei learned of this, she specifically asked Empress Defei for grace to bring Zhou Ninghai to the palace to serve by Hua Fei's side.

From then on, Zhou Ninghai was always grateful to Concubine Hua. Of course, he also learned to be ruthless from Concubine Hua. He accompanied Concubine Hua from the palace to the Forbidden City, and eventually became the eunuch in charge of Concubine Hua, who was sought after by many young eunuchs.