Chapter 317: Chapter 284: Guan Biyun’s Request
"Has the family prepared anything to supplement the nutrition for the mother, like an old hen or carp?" Lin Miao asked directly.
"Well..." The old man didn’t understand this at all and became flustered.
"You should prepare some. Besides, I’ll write a prescription, and you must follow it strictly. The mother is suffering from severe malnutrition during pregnancy, resulting in ascites. She must take the medicine as per my instructions. This won’t affect breastfeeding, so don’t stop the medication arbitrarily. For the sake of your grandson during the nursing period, do you understand?"
Lin Miao knew that if he didn’t mention it was for their grandson, the family might not pay attention to the mother.
The son is gone; the daughter-in-law is still young. What if she’s thinking of remarriage...
One mustn’t imagine the vileness of human nature.
Sometimes, it can truly send chills down your spine.
After the mother drank the first decoction prepared by Lin Miao, she regained consciousness and some strength. After giving some instructions, Lin Miao handed over the baby.
The child was already fed, but the first taste wasn’t his mother’s milk. Unfortunately, given the mother’s condition, she couldn’t produce milk.
Before leaving, Lin Miao asked Sun Youwei to discreetly leave a silver ingot. As a doctor, witnessing a young life arriving, he must help.
But he could only provide emergency aid. The future is long; he couldn’t take care of everything forever.
Returning home, after lunch, he quickly took a cool shower.
Changed out of the soaked clothes.
On checking the time, it was already time for the afternoon consultations. The lunch break had essentially been bypassed.
There was no choice; trading one lunch break for saving two lives, both big and small—it was quite a worthwhile deal.
"Mr. Lin?"
"Hmm, I told you to come in the morning, didn’t I? Why, don’t fear me telling your master?" Lin Miao gave a cold snort. Pei Rui was supposed to arrive early in the morning, yet there was no sign of him until the afternoon.
"Please, Mr. Lin, I hadn’t been home for some time. I returned yesterday and had drinks with friends, so I didn’t wake up this morning. I didn’t want to delay my appointment with you..." Pei Rui explained.
"Is life at the monastery too harsh?"
"You wouldn’t believe it, life at the monastery is bearable—what’s more, they don’t even have alcohol, it’s so dull. I can’t understand what’s good about being a monk..."
"Logically, since you’re from a secular family, Fahai shouldn’t be too strict with you. Is he setting standards for monastic life for you?"
"Exactly, but my master, being unreasonable, I have no choice. I can’t overpower him, so I must accept my fate."
"Alright, when you’re with me, you won’t be bound by those rules. But there are conditions: don’t bully innocents, dominate the villagers, and complete my assigned training tasks daily. Then, do whatever you like!" Lin Miao chuckled.
"Alright!"
"Then let’s set three basic rules." Lin Miao took out a paper and asked Pei Rui to stamp his fingerprint on it.
Pei Rui didn’t even look, eagerly pressed his fingerprint.
"Rest assured, I keep my word. As long as you complete the daily training tasks I assign, I won’t interfere in whatever you choose to do!" Lin Miao showed a fox-like smile and put away the signed paper.
"No problem!"
"Lin Mao, acquaint Mr. Pei with your daily training regimen. From tomorrow, he will practice with you. If he doesn’t complete all subjects, he won’t eat or leave!" Lin Miao instructed.
"Yes, sir." Lin Mao responded.
"Mr. Lin, my father asked me to inform you that he’ll visit you tonight." Pei Rui remembered his father’s instruction.
"Mr. Pei wants to see me, why?"
"I don’t know; he never tells me his business."
...
The afternoon consultations went smoothly, finishing thirty patients quickly; they were simple cases.
Prescribed the medications and advised taking them accordingly at home.
"Lin, I need to talk to you, please come." Guan Biyun came from the back after Lin Miao had finished, calling him aside.
"Master Guan, you’re so solemn, is there something serious?" Lin Miao rarely saw Guan Biyun with such a serious and stern expression.
"About Yurou, I want to discuss with you."
"Master, Yurou is your disciple. Consulting me about her affairs seems somewhat..." Lin Miao felt Guan Biyun was at odds in seeking him out.
"Lin, Yurou’s matters might not concern you much, but did you know, the Lien Family wants to send Yurou to the palace."
"Enter the palace, let Yurou enter the palace to serve the emperor, who is even older than her father?" Lin Miao exclaimed with surprise. Although this was a common occurrence in feudal dynasties, what parents were truly willing to send their daughter into such a perilous place?
Entering a marquis’s mansion is already like plunging into the deep sea; entering the palace could mean being buried for a lifetime.
If she meets a good emperor and isn’t favored, she might have a chance to be released at thirty, but by then, marrying into a good family would be difficult for a woman of thirty.
"No, it’s for selecting a wife for the Fifth Prince."
"That’s better, the Fifth Prince, wait a minute, isn’t he the son of Consort Xue, Marquis Lingyang’s nephew?" Lin Miao finally realized.
His relationship with Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion had long been irreparable. They currently coexisted peacefully only because the Marquise lacked the means to exact revenge.
If she had the ability, would he be living so freely and easily?
Lin Miao certainly wanted to solve the big problem of the Marquise, but taking down a marquis, especially royal kin, involved too great a risk.
No matter what, the court has to protect these meritorious clans. Even if Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion was guilty of many crimes, using private punishment was not allowed, as it would be seen as contempt for the court’s laws.
Lin Miao understood Guan Biyun’s point. Once Lien Yurou was selected and became the Fifth Prince’s consort, she might become his adversary.
He also realized the mentor-student relationship between Guan Biyun and Lien Yurou. It was impossible for Lin Miao and Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion to become friends, meaning that one day, they would necessarily be on opposing sides because of this relationship.
Guan Biyun didn’t want to be enemies with Lin Miao, nor did she want Lien Yurou to become a casualty of the struggle. For once the Fifth Prince came of age and married, he would inevitably contend with the Crown Prince for the throne—it was already apparent.
Although the Lien Family currently enjoyed ongoing favor, it did not belong to the Crown Prince’s faction. They were currently loyal to the emperor himself.
And Lien was old enough that he would retire in a few years. The Lien Family was left without a successor; how could they ensure their continued wealth and honor?
The Crown Prince, though granted significant power, seemingly trusted by the emperor, actually caused the emperor much grief with his lack of heirs.
The Crown Prince’s own personality was kind and timid, not favored by the old emperor; now over thirty, he had many concubines yet none bore him children. If the throne were passed to the Crown Prince, who would inherit it next?
The old emperor placed great importance on this aspect; otherwise, how could he bear expectations for the Third Prince, only for the prince’s mother to plot against the Crown Prince and ruin everything, resulting in the Third Prince’s complete downfall?
Now it seemed there was only the nearly-grown Fifth Prince left.
This was almost the only choice for the old emperor. Once the Fifth Prince came of age and married, then bore a grandson, the Crown Prince’s position would inevitably be shifted.
"Master Guan, neither of us can change this situation, right? If Miss Lien’s parents insist on her marrying the Fifth Prince, it is considered quite an honor to marry a prince, and we have no reason to stop it." Lin Miao thoughtfully considered before speaking.
"Yurou is fond of you, haven’t you noticed?" Guan Biyun asked.
"Master Guan, I am already engaged to someone..."
"You don’t have a shortage of women around you, do you?" Guan Biyun rolled her eyes at Lin Miao. She wasn’t a fool; those women around Lin Miao came as maidens, and now each had lost her chastity. Who defiled their purity?
"Master Guan, saying it like that isn’t fair. Just because a girl likes me doesn’t mean I have to take responsibility for it, can I? Can I even manage that?" Lin Miao touched his nose and replied.
"Although Yurou can be a bit willful, she is essentially a kind girl. I don’t want her to fall into that fiery pit. Consort Xue has already chosen her, and barring any surprises, the emperor shouldn’t oppose it. The emperor plans to arrange marriages for the Fifth Prince with three women at once, one primary consort and two secondary ones. The Lien Family probably aims to push Yurou for the primary consort position. But one of the women chosen by Consort Xue is Qingtang, the daughter of Grand General Wuan Marquis Qingye. Yurou has almost no chance of competing against her," Guan Biyun explained.
"Master, do you hope for Yurou to marry the Fifth Prince or not?"
"Of course, I don’t hope for it; but if it came to that, what would Yurou do? I haven’t told her this yet," Guan Biyun said.
"Master, Miss Yurou is nearly of age. She should have her own say, don’t you think? Keeping this from her is useless; she ultimately has to face it herself."
"I know, but right now, you can stop this. If Consort Xue knew Yurou was involved with someone else, she might give up the idea."
"So, you want me to be that someone, right?"
"Yes, before the Lien Family arrives in Dongshan, you and Yurou should confirm your relationship, and this matter would naturally end!" Guan Biyun said.
"Master, confirming a relationship, as you say, isn’t just about committing to each other for life, is it? Does it not also mean..." Lin Miao hesitated.
"Yes, for those chosen as princess consorts, there will be an inspection. If they lost their chastity, marrying into the royal family would be impossible." Guan Biyun, having been in the palace for years, was well aware of the rules.
"Master, you’re asking too much." Lin Miao frowned. Such things weren’t a joke. Although he didn’t initially like Lien Yurou’s high-and-mighty demeanor, over time he understood that it was her living environment that shaped her character, which wasn’t inherently bad.
After all, as a young lady from the Lien Family in the capital, it was natural for her to be a bit superior, and having a bit of a temper was understandable.
He neither disliked her nor liked her.
He was born a commoner and had a natural aversion to the nobility.
Though Lien Yurou’s aristocratic demeanor had mellowed significantly in Dongshan, becoming much more mature, accepting her into the Lin Mansion?
He had never entertained such a thought.
Guan Biyun was simply overanxious. Even if Lien Yurou married the Fifth Prince as a secondary consort, it wouldn’t affect him.
Even if he were to oppose the Fifth Prince in the future, as long as Lien Yurou didn’t cause him trouble, he wouldn’t act against her.
