Chapter Three: The Legend of Zhen Huan – Summer, Winter, and Spring 2

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After their mistress finished venting, the two young maids obediently began offering all sorts of advice. There was no choice—the young lady’s mind simply couldn’t grasp the key points. Bubble quietly handed freshly brewed tea to Xia Dongchun. "Miss, these are all secondary matters. The important one is that... Imperial Physician Wen."

Xia Dongchun blinked in confusion. What did that man have to do with anything? Weren’t they just talking about that pretentious Zhen Huan?

She racked her not-so-bright brain and finally, under their expectant gazes, shouted, “Right! How could I have forgotten? Let’s go report to Father.”

The two girls were speechless.

Sorry, their expectations had been a bit too high.

This was a wake-up call for the two maids’ minds. Having a personal imperial physician was crucial. The Xia family held influence within the Imperial Household Department, but not in the Imperial Medical Bureau. It was indeed necessary to inform the master and see if they could secure a personal physician for their young lady as well.

~~

After Xia Dongchun’s rapid-fire complaints, the clear but foolish-looking Master Xia slapped his thigh and said that the previous imperial physician, Yang Wanli, had been a sworn brother of the family’s late patriarch. They had grown up like brothers wearing the same pair of trousers. A year after the patriarch’s passing, Yang Wanli guarded his tomb and followed him in death, clutching a bottle of wine.

Of course, this referred to his son, Yang Wanqi, who had been working in the Imperial Medical Bureau for decades and was now deputy head.

And so, father and daughter grumbled and, quite honestly, forgot all about the crucial Wen Shichu.

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After nightfall, Bubble quietly went to Madame Xia’s courtyard once the young lady was asleep.

Madame Xia wore a faint smile as she slowly sipped her tea. “You two did well. Miss has a straightforward temperament, and the palace is perilous. Whether she gets selected this time or not, she must watch her every step.”

She paused before continuing, “After all, Wen Shichu is an imperial physician. His grandfather was once head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. The Xia family can’t move against him, nor should they act rashly. As for Miss Zhen, we’ll deal with her after the selection. If they both enter, then investigate; it’s no big deal.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Go now and take good care of Miss. Everything else will wait until after the palace selection.”

After Bubble left, Madame Xia held her teacup for a long time, her brow furrowed deeply. It wasn’t that she didn’t worry—she knew all too well what she had given birth to. With every mind replaced by different faces, they simply weren’t sharp enough to match the palace’s wolves and tigers. Master Xia’s official rank wasn’t high, so the support he could offer was limited.

The first two rounds of the selection screened candidates by family background and health. This time coincided with the new emperor’s first selection, which was extremely strict. The palace selection was no longer dominated by four imperial consorts like in Emperor Kangxi’s time, so there was no escaping it.

“Sigh.”

Well, fate would decide. After all, what had to be taught had been taught years ago—even if it was useless.

~~

The sky was high and clear, endless blue.

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Outside Yuxiang Gate, carriages and horses were lined up. Beautiful young ladies, like blooming flowers, stood in ranks under their nannies’ instructions.

~

“What happened? Why did you arrive so late?” Just as the task was about to end, a carriage came running from not far away. When a delicate-looking girl stepped down, the nanny furrowed her brow and asked.

The young girl politely chatted with the nanny and soon had her smiling brightly. Just as she was about to step through the palace gate, a sweet voice called out.

“Wait, wait, me! There’s still one more—me!”

Xia Dongchun jumped out of the carriage in a hurry and ran toward the nanny.

Startled by the shout, the nanny turned around and took in the sight. “Goodness, why is it that the last to appear are always the extremes? This one, with that face, could be chosen blindfolded.” Thinking this, the nanny warmly welcomed her, comforted her, and personally escorted her to the waiting area.

At that moment, Xia Dongchun had no idea how stunning her arrival appeared to the young girl who had just been about to step through the palace gate.

An Lingrong thought to herself that she might never forget that day’s Xia Dongchun. She had jumped down from the carriage like the scorching sun, almost burning her entire soul.

~