Golden Branch

"I'm honored to meet Princess Langya!"

Li Mingtang was wearing a Taoist robe and bowed politely.

"No gift!"

Wang Heng replied softly. She looked at Li Mingtang inconspicuously and found that she was indeed an unusual person as Amian said.

She wears a Taoist robe and a yellow crown, but she doesn't look so cold and aloof. She is a fairy who has been tainted by the worldly affairs.

She has the charm of a woman and the demeanor of a master. The secular and the fairy-like are perfectly integrated in her without appearing out of place.

"My grandmother has been ill for many years and has been bedridden, becoming increasingly frail. I've heard that Immortal Li has miraculous healing powers and a compassionate heart, so I'd like to ask him to help relieve my grandmother's pain."

Wang Heng didn't exchange too many pleasantries or beat around the bush. After exchanging greetings, she got straight to the point.

Li Mingtang had received a notice from the Princess's Mansion in advance and knew the purpose of Wang Heng's visit, as well as details such as the time of arrival.

After hearing what Wang Heng said, she was not too surprised.

"You are too polite, Princess. Treating patients is my duty!"

As he was speaking, Li Mingtang came to the upper room in the central courtyard of Tangquan Villa.

After Wang Heng arrived at Mount Li, she went directly to the newly completed Tangquan Villa and vacated the main courtyard on the central axis for Madam Xie.

Although Mrs. Xie was paralyzed for several years, she was gradually forgotten by the capital and her relatives.

Wang Heng, however, is well aware of the principle of "performing a full performance". Even if there are no audiences, she will never be negligent.

She is a good woman who is pure and filial, worthy of being included in the "Biographies of Women" as a role model!

Li Mingtang walked around the screen and came to the couch, where he saw a frail old woman lying there.

The old woman was in her fifties or sixties, and her hair was already gray.

He was very thin, almost skin and bones.

She looked sick, obviously having been bedridden for many years.

As a professional with many years of medical practice, Li Mingtang can guess the patient's condition just by looking at her state.

The old woman looked weak and miserable, but she was not treated harshly.

Being so thin that only bones are visible is not because of not eating enough, but because of a serious illness.

Li Mingtang sniffed lightly, and there was no stench of feces and urine in the entire room.

She sat down in front of the couch and smelled carefully, but she didn't smell any bad smell on the old woman.

If paralyzed patients are not taken care of carefully, it is impossible for them to be so clean and refreshed.

Of course, in the homes of the powerful, there are slaves and servants, so the masters don’t need to do anything themselves.

However, the servants of wealthy families are the best at changing with the times.

If the master does not pay attention to the servants, who are good at observing the master's words and expressions, will involuntarily become lazy and disrespectful.

This old woman, paralyzed for several years, can still behave so decently, which is enough to prove that Princess Langya is "truly" filial. Only then can the servants follow her example and serve her well.

"After arriving at Mount Li, I heard of Princess Langya's reputation for pure and filial piety."

"After meeting you today, I can see that Princess Langya is indeed a smart person."

Li Mingtang practiced medicine everywhere, and her patients included both poor people and wealthy families.

She has seen all kinds of private life in the inner chambers.

She will not believe rumors easily, and she can always see the truth through appearances.

Li Mingtang did not dare to make a hasty judgment on whether Princess Langya was truly filial.

However, Li Mingtang was certain that Princess Langya was very smart.

Even if it is fake, it is made almost perfectly without any flaws.

But if the fake is done well, it becomes real.

Moreover, it may not be "fake".

After all, "a gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart." Even if she is not so filial deep down in her heart, as long as her words and deeds are in line with filial piety, then she is a true filial daughter.

Li Mingtang likes to deal with smart people.

The Princess Langya in front of him was not only smart, but also as stunningly beautiful as the rumors said.

People instinctively like beautiful things.

Li Mingtang entered the Tao through emotions and refined her mind through worldly matters. She was both vulgar and elegant, and she loved beautiful women and beautiful scenery the most.

With all the preparations made by Wang Mian before, Li Mingtang also felt "like old friends" with Princess Langya at first sight.

She also did her best to help Princess Langya's request.

"Princess, your Madam has been ill for a long time and it is difficult to cure her completely."

"I can give Madam Tai acupuncture and moxibustion, supplemented by a medicinal bath, which should provide some relief."

Li Mingtang cautiously stated that she could not cure Mrs. Xie's paralysis, but she could reduce her pain and help her live for two more years.

"Madam Xuanmiao, this is enough!"

"For grandma's illness, I've consulted all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital and even searched for famous doctors all over the world, but to no avail. They even asserted that grandma might not survive this winter—"

There was sadness in Wang Heng's tone, but her heart was calm.

She really didn't have much feelings for Old Lady Xie.

At best, Old Lady Xie was just a tool for her to improve her reputation.

Wang Heng didn't care whether Old Lady Xie died this year or lived a few more years.

Lou Yu: ...Haha, Ah Heng, you don’t care, but I do!

You have been in mourning for three years, do you want to add another year of mourning for the whole family?

Lou Yu didn't want to wait another year.

If he endured it any longer, none of his methods of relief might be able to bring him relief.

A small pervert will eventually become a big pervert.

Wang Heng didn't know about the existence of a secret room, nor did she know some of Lou Yu's secrets, but she was familiar with Lou Yu and could feel that he was increasingly unable to control his emotions.

"...It's better not to embarrass my brother!"

"He is a normal adult man. At the age of eighteen, he should be getting married and having children."

Wang Heng's slowness in understanding doesn't mean she knows nothing.

It is not easy for my brother to wait for her for three years, and Wang Heng cannot take advantage of him.

Her brother loves her, pampers her, and indulges her, and she also feels sorry for her brother.

Thank you, old lady. Just live two more years.

Even if I have to die, I have to wait until she marries my brother before I die.

Wang Heng was very satisfied that Li Mingtang was able to extend Old Lady Xie's life for two or three years.

Therefore, Wang Heng will cooperate very well from now on.

This would not only save Old Lady Xie's life and not delay her wedding, but would also allow her to continue to build a good reputation.

In order to save her seriously ill grandmother, Princess Langya is willing to give up everything at any cost.

Acupuncture, Wang Heng can't help

However, medicinal baths seem to be able to...

"My Tangquan Villa has many hot springs, each with different temperatures and benefits."

"If it's a medicinal bath, wouldn't a hot spring be more effective?"

After listening to Li Mingtang's treatment plan, Wang Heng made suggestions at the right time.

Li Mingtang thought for a moment and said cautiously, "I need to go check out those hot springs first to determine their specific effects."

"However, I have seen some records of hot springs treating illnesses in some medical books, and I think it should be of some benefit."

Wang Heng nodded. "That's great! Tangquan Villa is completely open to Madam Xuanmiao. Just go and take a look. If you need any herbs, utensils, or anything like that, just let me know!"

Wang Heng, who was rich and powerful, was very generous and magnanimous.

Xuanmiao is Li Mingtang's Buddhist name. Wang Heng calls her "Xuanmiao Lady", which means respect and intimacy.

Of course, if Li Mingtang could demonstrate superb medical skills, Wang Heng would later honor her as a miracle doctor, or even a deity.

"Princess, please rest assured. I will do my best to treat the lady!"

Li Mingtang bowed and accepted the task.

In the following days, Li Mingtang visited all the hot spring pools, big and small, in Tangquan Villa.

Test the temperature and inspect the quality of the spring water.

Although Li Mingtang did not fully understand the minerals proposed by Wang Mian, he was able to accept them and confirmed them one by one according to the testing methods provided by Wang Mian.

After a few days, Li Mingtang selected one or two hot spring pools that could be used for medicinal baths.

Since it was determined that hot springs combined with medicinal baths would be more effective, Wang Heng would fully cooperate.

She took Madam Xie with her and settled down directly at Tangquan Villa.

In the following days, Li Mingtang would give Madam Xie acupuncture every day and give her medicinal baths at regular intervals.

While Wang Heng was "attending to the sick", she continued her "mourning" - copying scriptures every day and urging her half brothers and half sisters to study and learn the rules.

Although she moved to a new place, Wang Heng's daily life did not change.

Her scope of activities did not extend beyond the entire Tangquan Villa.

Li Mingtang watched coldly, and sighed in his heart again: This Princess Langya is not only smart, but also has an extremely tough character.

It is truly rare for a teenage girl to be rich and prominent yet be able to remain calm and endure loneliness.

Wang Heng was quite comfortable in Tangquan Villa.

Lou Yu was not so happy.

Although he was in the capital before, he couldn't do anything.

But he could see Ah Heng every day and get along with her face to face.

The two of them drink tea together, chat, and occasionally hold hands. Although it cannot completely solve the problem, it can provide some relief.

But now, Wang Heng was in Mount Li. If Lou Yu wanted to continue, he could only leave the yamen, ride a fast horse in a hurry, and rush all the way here.

If there is no grand court meeting the next day, Lou Yu can stay in the villa for one night and then rush back to the yamen as early as possible the next morning.

If there is a grand court meeting, Lou Yu will have to rush back overnight, otherwise he will miss the important matter.

Unfortunately, this matter concerns the life of Old Lady Xie and even more so Wang Heng's reputation for filial piety, so Lou Yu cannot stop it.

"Forget it, let's leave it at that for now! I'm tired, but it's better than being separated from Ah Heng!"

Moreover, subsequent facts told Lou Yu that there were also "surprises" in Tangquan Villa.

On this day, Lou Yu once again wore his official uniform, covered in dust, and arrived at the villa on horseback before dark.

"Tomorrow is a day off, so I can stay at the villa for one more day!"

Lou Yu finally waited for the day off that came once every ten days, and he finally didn't have to rush around so much.

He wanted to accompany Ah Heng to play in the mountains and take a bath in the hot springs with her.

Ahem, don't get me wrong, they are an unmarried couple and one of them is still in mourning, so they cannot do anything intimate that would exceed the proper limits.

But, soaking your feet should still be possible!

"Yeah! I'm with my brother!"

Wang Heng nodded obediently. When they were little, they used to play in the pond and the Yi River together. Wang Heng's good swimming ability was cultivated by Lou Yu accompanying her.

Although they are grown up now, they are engaged, so as long as they abide by the rules, there will be no problem.

……

In the evening, under the hazy moonlight, Lou Yu held Wang Heng's hand and came to a hot spring pool. However, before they could play, they heard some movement next door.

Listen carefully, wow, the "battle" is quite intense!