Jinyi Spring

Chapter 232 Heart Fluttering

Outside the palace gates, a squad of Flying Eagle Guards was already lined up and waiting. The one in the lead was not Ming Shanyue, but Guo Hei.

Shui Chuchen alighted from the carriage and transferred to a horse-drawn carriage.

Peony followed behind her, about to get into the car, when her gaze inadvertently met Guo Hei's. Their eyes met briefly in the air, they smiled, and then looked away.

Guo Hei felt a mix of emotions. He was happy that Shaoyao was now an eighth-rank lady-in-waiting to the princess, a respectable and stable position, and she would no longer be a slave after leaving the palace.

Unfortunately, palace ladies could only leave the palace after the age of twenty-five. Even if Shui Chuchen married a prince and moved to the princess's residence, Shaoyao would still have to wait until she was twenty-five to leave the palace and get married.

It will be another eight years before I can marry her.

The same applies to Duan inkstones; they must wait until Banxia "resigns from her official post," which means she will be twenty-five years old. Shangguan Ruyu also promised him that she would release him from slavery so that he could be a better match for Banxia, ​​who came from a female official background.

Banxia has another path: to get married at twenty-five and continue working as a female doctor, like Dr. Cai and Dr. Zhou—this is also Banxia's ideal.

Today is also the day Shui Raofu is released from quarantine.

Yesterday, she sent someone to Cining Palace to ask for leave, saying she wanted to visit her brother, Prince Zhao. The Empress Dowager, feeling sorry for her, having just lost her mother and being all alone, nodded in agreement and told her to go and return early so as not to worry her.

After breakfast, Shui Raofu left the princess's residence in a palanquin. Instead of heading north to the palace gate, she instructed the palanquin bearers to take a detour westward to the Taihe Gate. She had already learned that Sun Chengyu was on duty that day and was patrolling in front of the Taihe Gate.

As the palanquin turned past the palace wall, Xiaodie, who was walking beside her, whispered with a smile, "Princess, that one, counting from this side, the last one is General Sun."

Shui Raofu lifted the carriage curtain and saw the silver figure in the distance.

The young general, clad in silver helmet and armor, with a long sword at his waist, stood tall and straight as a pine tree beside a white marble balustrade. The early spring sunlight was particularly dazzling, casting a shimmering, gold-red glow on his armor, so bright it was impossible to look away.

He truly is a fine talent—handsome eyebrows and bright eyes, elegant and dashing. Although his features are not as refined as his cousin Shangguan's, his heroic bearing is in no way inferior.

Shui Raofu's heart fluttered, and at that moment she knew he was the one.

She subconsciously lifted the carriage curtain a little wider.

Beside and opposite Sun Chengyu stood a dozen or so guards on duty. They stood upright, eyes lowered, their posture impeccable. Sun Chengyu, their leader, stood alone in his military uniform, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards them.

The moment their eyes met, he seemed to be stunned for a moment, then hurriedly lowered his head, clasped his hands and bowed, his movements swift and decisive.

As the palanquin passed by him, Shui Raofu heard a clear and gentle voice, "Your Highness."

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it reached her ears perfectly, causing her heart to flutter.

This was due to Sun Chengyu's habitual flattery; apart from the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor's women, he would greet everyone else who passed by him.

The second princess, however, didn't think so. A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips—his initiative in greeting her meant he must be interested in her.

Indeed, I am a princess, beautiful, and of marriageable age. What single man wouldn't admire me?

She opened the carriage curtain again and smiled at him, her mind racing: if the eunuchs carrying the carriage slipped and the carriage veered off course, she would fall out and land right in his arms... how wonderful that would be.

Unfortunately, the road was flat and smooth, without a single pebble. The eunuchs walked steadily, and the palanquin didn't even sway.

The carriage and Sun Chengyu passed each other, growing further and further apart.

Shui Raofu glanced back. The silver figure had already stood up straight again, his gaze fixed elsewhere, as if looking at the distant palace gate, or perhaps at the clouds in the sky. A wave of inexplicable regret welled up in Shui Raofu's heart, like a delicious dish being served to her, only to be taken away just as she was about to take a bite.

She lowered the carriage curtain, leaned back in her chair, and twisted her handkerchief between her fingers. No rush. What Shui Raofu wanted, she had never failed to obtain. Even if they were engaged, she had the ability to snatch it away.

The palanquin gradually moved away, turned past the palace wall, and disappeared in the direction of the Taihe Gate.

In the distance, beside the white marble railing, a scarlet figure stood with his hands behind his back.

Ming Shanyue stood there, his gaze sweeping lightly over Sun Chengyu's exquisitely handsome face, then over the direction where the palanquin had disappeared. A slight smirk played on his lips, a faint hint of mockery, and a cold smile flickered in his eyes.

This... there's a chance!

Even if there's no door, he'll still break it open.

Inside the car, Shui Chuchen would occasionally peek out from behind a corner of the curtain. Along the way, people hung colorful ribbons and lanterns on trees and rooftops, their faces beaming with joy. It was Lunar New Year's Day, and there would be a lantern festival tonight.

When she arrived at the clinic, a large crowd was still gathered at the alley entrance. She took Feng Buji's hand as they got out of the car and quickly walked inside.

The few remaining families in the alley were packing up their belongings. They had never wanted to live next to the midwifery clinic—the constant crying of women in labor made them uneasy.

Princess Yongguan now adds an extra fifty taels of silver, which, together with the cost of the courtyard, brings the total to over five hundred taels of silver, enough to buy a nice little courtyard.

They all acted faster than the last, eager to empty the house immediately.

As usual, Peony distributed snacks and candies to the onlookers, and a chorus of "Thank you, Princess, for your generosity!" rang out from the crowd.

Inside the clinic, an elderly imperial physician was on duty. The line of patients stretched from the main hall all the way to the door, including wealthy merchants, low-ranking officials, and ordinary people.

There's not enough time to see all of this in half a day. If you can't see it all, take a number and come back on the 15th of next month.

At the accommodation department, Grandma Hu just gave birth to a son yesterday. Granny Wang performed the episiotomy, and both mother and child are safe.

Shui Chuchen changed into a plain-colored short jacket and began checking the rooms one by one. She had only gone halfway through when Uncle Qian from the countryside suddenly rushed in, covered in sweat, his voice trembling, "Princess, Miss Mujin... she's dying!"

Shui Chuchen was so startled that she almost dropped the pulse pillow in her hand. She said sadly to Shaoyao, "Prepare the car, I have to go back to see her."

Tang Jian knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling, "Princess, you cannot go! Your health is precious; if you succumb to your illness, I will be guilty beyond redemption!"

“Mujin has served me for several years, and we are like sisters. I must go see her.” Shui Chuchen’s voice turned serious. “I am a doctor. I know how to protect myself and won’t pass on my illness.”

Feng Buji grabbed her hand, "Sister, I'm going too." He not only wanted to see Mu Jin, but also didn't want to be separated from his sister.

Aunt Wang also advised, "Princess, you are of noble birth, it is better for this old servant to go."

Banxia also wanted to go back, but she didn't dare to bring it up.

Shui Chuchen shook her head, only taking Shaoyao, Tang Jian and other people who came out of the palace with her, as well as Guo Hei and the dozen or so Flying Eagle Guards, and hurriedly boarded the carriage.

Feng Buji was pulled back by Aunt Wang, stamping his feet in frustration, but his sister had already boarded the carriage, and he could only watch helplessly as it drove away. (End of Chapter)