Travels of a Female Physician in the Ming Dynasty

After the "donkey incident" a few days ago, although people in the palace were still making fun of me riding a donkey, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

Everyone just laughed it off and instead thought that "President Yang" was somewhat interesting and down-to-earth.

However, I know in my heart that this apparent calm cannot conceal the undercurrents.

Empress Defei will definitely not let me go easily, especially since her conspiracy was cleverly resolved by me this time. She must be harboring a new round of counterattacks in her heart.

I have to stay alert at all times and be prepared for her next move at any time.

That morning, as soon as I got up, Yuanbao rushed in with a visiting card in his hand and a look of confusion on his face.

"Yang Yuanpan, there's an important person outside the palace. He sent a visiting card and insists on seeing you."

"Outside the palace?" I frowned, took the visiting card and looked at it carefully. It said "Lord An from the Anguo Mansion requests an audience."

I was surprised - Duke Anguo was an important official in the court, so why did he suddenly come to me?

"What do the people from the Anguo Mansion want from me?" I muttered to myself, my heart full of doubts.

Duke Anguo and I have never met each other, so logically we should not have any intersection.

I put down the visiting card and thought for a moment, and suddenly a thought flashed through my mind: Empress Defei!

She has extensive connections, especially with some foreign officials, so it's possible that this wasn't arranged by her.

Thinking of this, I immediately became alert.

"President Yang, how about... we find an excuse to postpone it? The people from the Duke of Anguo's Mansion came a little suddenly. Maybe it's a trap set by Concubine De." Yuanbao suggested cautiously. Obviously, he also noticed something was wrong.

I smiled slightly and shook my head. "No, turning it down would make me look guilty. Since we're here, let's meet them and see what their plans are."

At noon, the steward of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion brought people over in person. When we met, he was very considerate and polite, as if I were his long-lost father.

"Sir Yang, our master heard that you have excellent medical skills, so he asked me to send you some small gifts as a token of his appreciation." The butler smiled widely as he asked his attendants to present several boxes of exquisite gifts, including precious medicinal materials, rare antiques, and even a few pieces of fine silk.

I stared at the boxes, muttering to myself, "These aren't just any small gifts! The Duke of Anguo is incredibly generous!" But I immediately became wary, thinking that when you give a gift, you must be asking for something. There must be something fishy going on behind this "gift."

"Butler An, your gift is too expensive. I am just a small imperial physician and cannot afford it." I declined with a smile, but I was thinking about his purpose in my heart.

"No, no, no, Lord Yang, you are the famous Yang Yuanpan in our palace. You saved the life of the third prince. This is a little gift from our master. Please don't refuse it!" The butler's attitude was extremely humble, with a bit of flattery in his tone.

I was moved. It seemed that this time they were really here for me to save the third prince.

Could it be that the Duke of Anguo's Mansion has already begun planning for the third prince's future?

"Butler An, you are too polite. But since your master is so polite, I guess he must have some instructions, right?" I changed the subject and got straight to the point.

The housekeeper smiled, took a few steps closer, and whispered, "Master Yang, to be honest, my master is very concerned about the Third Prince. He heard that you are close to the Third Prince, so he asked me to come here specifically. I would like you to say a few good words to the Third Prince."

After I heard this, my heart sank.

Duke Anguo is planning to place his bet on the Third Prince, but this generous gift is not something I can easily accept.

Once you become too deeply involved with these powerful officials, the situation in the future will only become more and more complicated.

"Butler An, you can't say that. The emperor and the empress dowager are in charge of the prince's affairs. We are just his subjects, so how can we interfere too much?" I smiled, with a hint of refusal in my words.

The butler's smile faltered for a moment, then he quickly put on a smile: "Master Yang is right, I spoke too hastily. However, since you have brought the gift, you should accept it. It is a token of our master's kindness."

I shook my head and insisted, "Butler An, I really can't accept the gift. Please tell Lord An that I, Yang, am just a nobody and I really don't dare to accept such a generous gift."

Seeing my firm attitude, the housekeeper had no choice but to take back the gift and leave.

After sending away the people from the Anguo Mansion, I didn't feel relieved at all. Instead, I felt that there was a bigger conspiracy brewing.

Sure enough, Zi Yu came to see me quietly soon and brought me news that made me even more uneasy.

"Sir Yang, Empress Defei has been secretly contacting several ministers in the court these past few days. I heard...she plans to set up a trap in the palace to make the Third Prince 'seriously ill' again, and then use this as an excuse to control his movements."

My heart sank. It was just as I expected.

Empress Defei did not give up because of the last failure. Instead, she became more aggressive and wanted to take control of the situation again by taking advantage of the third prince's illness.

"When is she going to do it?" I asked in a low voice.

"The exact time is still unclear, but Her Majesty has already sent someone to invite that 'miracle doctor'." Zi Yu whispered, her tone full of worry.

I sneered. It was that charlatan doctor again.

Last time he tried to embarrass me with a false diagnosis, and it looks like he's planning to do it again this time.

"Sir Yang, you have to be careful. Empress Defei is more insidious this time than last time. She is even planning to make trouble in front of the Empress Dowager." Zi Yu reminded.

"Don't worry, I already have a way to deal with it." I smiled slightly, already having a plan in mind.

The next day, I was about to pay my respects to the Queen Mother, but as soon as I reached the palace gate, the Third Prince's eunuch hurried over.

"Sir Yang, the Third Prince wants to see you and says he wants to discuss something with you." The young eunuch's face was filled with anxiety, and it was obvious that there was something urgent.

My heart tightened and I quickly followed him to the Third Prince's bedroom.

As soon as I entered the room, the third prince was sitting by the bed. He looked a little tired, but in good spirits.

When he saw me, he immediately smiled.

"Lord Yang, you are here." The third prince spoke in a gentle tone, but I could see some worry in his eyes.

"Prince, you are looking for me. What happened?" I asked with concern, with some vague guesses in my mind.

The Third Prince sighed and whispered, "I know what Mother has been planning lately. She wants to make me 'seriously ill' again so she can control me. But I don't want to. I don't want to be used by her anymore."

Hearing this, I was shocked. I didn't expect that despite his young age, the Third Prince had such a clear mind and had actually seen through Concubine De's conspiracy.

"Since the prince knows this, why doesn't he ask the Empress Dowager for help?" I asked tentatively.

The Third Prince shook his head, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "Although the Queen Mother loves me, she is old and I don't want her to worry about me anymore. Besides, my mother is my biological mother after all, and I don't want to break up with her..."

I nodded silently, feeling a little admiration for the child's maturity.

Although he is young, he can already see the big picture and know how to weigh the pros and cons.

"Don't worry, Third Prince. I'm here and will never let anyone manipulate you again." I said in a firm tone, and I had already made up my mind to protect this child.

The Third Prince looked at me, a trace of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "Lord Yang, you are the only one I can rely on."

My heart ached slightly. I never thought that in this deep palace, this young prince would be so lonely and helpless, and could not even fully trust his own mother.

After returning to the bedroom, I sat at the table, frowning and thinking about my next strategy.

This time, Concubine De clearly wants to use her "serious illness" to control the Third Prince. I must do something in advance and cannot let her succeed again.

Thinking of this, a sudden flash of inspiration came to my mind and a bold idea came to my mind.

"Yuanbao, go prepare some herbs. I have a plan." I stood up, a cunning gleam in my eyes.

Yuan Bao looked bewildered: "Sir, what are you planning to do...?"

I smiled mysteriously and patted his shoulder: "We might as well prepare a 'good show' for the Empress Defei."